Bayern Munich v Real Madrid Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 25th April 7.45pm
A true European heavyweight clash and this will be the fourth two-legged meeting in the last seven seasons. They were paired up in the quarter finals last season with Real Madrid powering through on their way to successfully defending their title. Bayern Munich will be looking to secure a positive advantage though on home soil in this first leg as they try and snap their current losing streak against the Spaniards.
Bayern Munich News and Form
Bayern are going to be pretty sick of Spanish opposition at this point. They have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in each of the last four editions by a Spanish side. It was Real Madrid who halted their progress in the quarter finals last term. This is the 11th appearance in the European Cup semi-finals for Bayern Munich and their 19th semi final appearance in all UEFA competitions, holding a W10 L8 from those previous semi-final visits. The Germans have lost each to their last three semi-final ties though and they are level with a W10 L10 record in two-legged ties against Spanish sides. The Bundesliga powerhouses have already enjoyed some success against Spanish opposition this season, having squeezed past Sevilla 2-1 on aggregate in the last round. Bayern won on the road, before playing out a 0-0 draw back on home soil. That success snapped a losing sequence of four straight two-legged tie defeats against Spanish opposition.
Bayern were on a four-match winning streak at home in the UEFA Champions League this season before playing out that 0-0 draw with Sevilla, in which they were comfortable and coasting for much of it. They also looked as if they had extra gears to get themselves up through. Their run of wins included an 8-1 success over Besiktas in the round of sixteen. Bayern have already captured the Bundesliga title this season and haven’t lost a home game in any competition all season (W13 D3), and in that sequence of games have collected twelve clean sheets. Robert Lewandowski has 17 goals in 16 games in 2018 (at the time of writing) while Sandro Wagner has eight goals in his last ten appearances. They have clear form, scoring power and both teams to score at bet365 is at 8/15 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). They have what it takes to trouble the reigning champions.
Real Madrid News and Form
Having survived a scare against Juventus at home in the second leg of their quarter-final with the Italians (which was just their third loss in 29 European home games), Real Madrid finds themselves back in the semi finals. They squeezed past Juve thanks to a dramatic injury-time penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo just before the tie was set to go to extra time. That goal means that Ronaldo has scored in every Champions League game played this season and he is an 11/8 anytime goalscorer option at bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). The numbers that he has in the Champions League are pretty much insane, netting 25 goals in his last 15 Champions League games, fifteen in this season’s tournament alone. Real Madrid hold a W15 L13 from previous semi final appearances in Europe and they have won three of their last four semi-final tie.
Real Madrid have lost two of their last six European away games, including this season’s defeat at Tottenham in the group stage. Their defence has been their weakness this season without question, having produced only four clean sheets in their last 24 games in all competitions. In the bet365 correct score market a Bayern Munich 2-1 is a reasonable option at 15/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). Real Madrid have met German opposition already this season having won both group stage games against Borussia Dortmund. Overall Real Madrid’s record in Germany is nothing to write home about at just W6 D7 L19, but they have won five of their last eight there so have been steadily improving that record. Los Merengues’ record in two-legged ties with German clubs in UEFA competition is W17 L8, winning each of their last six.
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid Head to Head
So three times in the last seven seasons these two giants have met for a two-legged Champions League affair. From those three it is Real Madrid with two successes to the one from Bayern. Of the overall eleven previous knockout contests between them (all European Cup) Madrid are narrowly ahead 6-5. Last season’s quarter final duel was controversial with 2-1 away wins traded, but Bayern received a dodgy red card towards the end of the second leg in Spain. In extra time Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock with an off-side goal and Bayern collapsed. That leaves Real Madrid on a five-match winning streak against the Germans.
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid Betting Odds*
Bayern Munich evens, Real Madrid 5/2, Draw 11/2* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018)
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid Predictions
Increasingly so, Real Madrid are just dependant on Cristiano Ronaldo. Bayern are such a powerful team that they can gain themselves an advantage in this tie. They are playing with confidence and belief and are strong enough to break Madrid’s flimsy back line.
