The derby of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals awaits us on Wednesday when Real Madrid hosts PSG at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. These two powerhouses are ready to go to war to secure the quarterfinals and eliminate the rivals. At the same time, Manchester City plays with Sporting in a game that will be just a formality after their 0-5 win in the first leg.
The focus of the BetXchange tipsters’ crew will be on the game between Real and PSG.
Real Madrid vs. PSG
Preview
Real is coming with high hopes in this event, because the Los Blancos lost the last time at home some five and a half months ago, when Sheriff Tiraspol shocked Ancelotti’s boys and got away with a 1-2 win from Madrid. The Spanish powerhouse didn’t suffer a loss in front of their fans ever since. However, they will need a win in this one, because a draw leads PSG in the next stage.
For the moment, Real has three victories in a row, not allowing goals in two. The most recent was against Real Sociedad at home, 4-1, and that one came following a comeback.
On the other side, PSG comes to Madrid heavily wounded, because Kylian Mbappe probably won’t play. The absence of the young French star could be a fatal blow, despite the team having both Messi and Neymar ready, because Mbappe is the best player on the team, whether you like it or not.
Two defeats in the recent three events are another problem for the head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian’s unit lost both of them on the road, which only increases the concern of the fans. We have to say, that PSG didn’t leave a good impression over these past few matches and that their defense struggled a lot.
Head to Head games
Real didn’t win in three straight games against PSG. In the 2019 UCL group stage edition, the first game in Paris saw the hosts smashing the Los Blancos, 3-0, while the second in Madrid ended without winners, 2-2.
The one played on February 15, finished with PSG’s 1-0 win, with Mbappe netting the only goal in the closing minutes of the event. PSG was pressuring Real throughout the entire event, and they even had a penalty, but Messi missed it.
Prediction
Both teams are not very shiny, but we believe that there are enough resources here to see goals on both ends of the pitch. The French team has problems in defense, and they aren’t that confident in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, Real has to open up and play more aggressively, which leaves enough space in the back line, and pacey players like Neymar, Messi, Di Maria, and others will use that.
Pick: both teams to score 0.47 at BetXchange
Manchester City vs. Sporting Preview and Prediction
We aren’t going to waste too much of your time here. After 5-0 in Lisbon, things are crystal clear, and the Citizens are already in the next stage, because there is not even a theoretical chance to see some result that could eliminate them.
We expect to see Pep making some changes and mixing up the lineup slightly. He will give a chance to some players who weren’t in the position to play that often, and no doubt, the quality of City’s play will be a bit lower than usual.
That is why we think that Sporting might score a goal. Of course, City will too, and that is why we bet on both teams to net in this clash as well.
Pick: Both teams to score 1.15 at BetXchange
