Who do Bettors Favor?
The best online sportsbooks are strongly indicating that they expect an English Premier League winner in this tournament, with both remaining EPL clubs available at short odds. Right now you can bet on Liverpool at +125, while Manchester City are around the same price. If you think that this will be a Spanish year in the Champions League, however, you can bet on Real Madrid at +550 or Villarreal at +1900.
Plenty of Quarter Final Drama
The last eight stage of the Champions League produced plenty of drama and goals, with the games at Liverpool and Real Madrid providing a combined 19 goals.
Liverpool held a 3-1 lead going into their home second leg against Benfica and scored three more at Anfield, although the visitors also found the net three times. In Madrid, Chelsea almost pulled off a dramatic victory as they led 3-0, for a 4-3 overall aggregate lead with just ten minutes to go, before Rodrygo levelled the tie and Karim Benzema won it in extra time.
There were fewer goals in Munich, but a big shock as Bayern went out to Villarreal, thanks to a stout defensive display from the visitors, and a winner from Samuel Chukwueze two minutes from time. And there were no goals at all in Manchester Cityâs second leg tie against Atletico Madrid, which saw the EPL club go through after a bruising and contentious game.
Liverpool On Course for a Double
After languishing behind Manchester City in the Premier League during the winter, Liverpool have closed the gap inexorably and at the same time their progression through the knock-out stages of the Champions League has been impressive, as they have once again demonstrated their impressive ability to hit peak form in the crucial final third of the season.
Jurgen Kloppâs side have always been able to score goals, but what has been most impressive this season is the return of a degree of defensive solidity and an even greater depth of squad that has enabled them to compete to the highest level in two tough competitions. As an extra bonus, theyâve drawn the easiest of the three possible semi-final opponents and are well equipped to break down a stubborn Villarreal side en route to the final.
Manchester City Feeling the Heat
For much of the season, Manchester City have been in top form, cruising into a huge lead in the Premier League, but in the last few weeks, they have started to look less than invincible. Their Premier League advantage has been slowly eroded and after a bruising quarter-final with Atletico, their famously deep squad is starting to look a little thinner than Liverpoolâs. Whereas the Reds were able to rest seven players for their game against Benfica, Pep Guardiola could only make two changes to the team that fought out an entertaining 2-2 tie with Liverpool at the weekend.
Worse still, Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker both picked up injuries in Madrid at a time when the games are coming thick and fast. Throw in Cityâs recent record of failure in this competition and the fact that they have a tough semi-final against the most successful team in European club football, and they make very little appeal as a betting proposition at this stage.
Real Madrid Underrated
The thirteen-time European Champions donât often find themselves as underdogs at this stage of the Champions League, but they will go into their semi-final against Manchester City as significant outsiders.
It is unlikely that Carlo Ancelotti and his team will be complaining, as all the pressure will be on their opponents over the two-legged semi-final. And unlike City, Real have very Iittle to worry about on the domestic front, with a healthy 12-point lead over Barcelona, their nearest challenger in La Liga. With plenty of top-class experience in their squad and a manager who has won the Champions League three times (one more than Pep Guardiola) they look an obvious value bet.
Villarreal Fairy Tale to End
Unai Emery has performed miracles to get Villarreal to this stage of the Champions League, but his  European club football credentials are well known. Emery has coached three different teams to a total of five Europa League finals, winning four of them, all within the space of eight years.
But while his knock-out football expertise has shone in the wide-open Europa League, success in the Champions League requires a little extra. It is extremely rare for any team outside the elite to reach the final, let alone win it, and Villarrealâs relative lack of talent is likely to find them out against a Liverpool team with a potent array of attacking options at their disposal.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on Soccer
Check out the best soccer betting sites onlinebelow. You can get the best odds on Champions League football when you bet through these top betting partners.
