Although Manchester City avoided a repeat of their Real Madrid nightmare, they can’t dream about winning the Champions League just yet. Last Tuesday, the fear and respect displayed by both sides in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu served a purpose. But the side which cuts loose and risks at Wednesday’s return leg at the Etihad will make it to the final in Istanbul on June 10. When a team emerges unbeaten from the away fixture of a two-legged tie, gamblers consider them soccer odds favorites for the home game.
2023 UEFA Champions League
| Date: | May 9, 10, 16, and 17, 2023 |
|---|
2023 UEFA Champions League Odds at SBG
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | -150 |
| Real Madrid | +300 |
| Inter Milan | +450 |
| AC Milan | +2800 |
2023 UEFA Champions League Semifinal Schedule
Tuesday, May 9: Real Madrid 1 vs. Manchester City 1 (1st leg)
Wednesday, May 10: AC Milan 0 vs. Inter Milan 1 (1st leg)
Tuesday, May 16: Inter Milan vs. AC Milan (2nd leg)
Wednesday, May 17: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (2nd leg)
Man City vs. Real Madrid SBG Odds Overview
Certainly, offshore betting action will expect Man City to reach their second final of the competition when Real visits Manchester on Wednesday. But for that to happen, Pep Guardiola’s side must look to dominate, intimidate, and overcome a historic side. Indeed, Real Madrid is arguably the most accomplished in world football regarding holding its nerve and getting a result.
Guardiola said that Real is so demanding, with the experience and quality. Hence, teams playing this kind of game are like a playoff. So from his perspective, hopefully, Man City can learn, defend, and attack better.
Back To The Future for Real Madrid?
Last season, Real Madrid returned from the dead in the semifinal second-leg match with a pair of 90th-minute goals. As a result, they wiped out City’s two-goal advantage, with Karim Benzema winning the game in extra time. And in this season’s round of 16, Carlo Ancelotti’s players were down two goals after just 14 minutes of the first leg at Liverpool. Yet they were able to win 5-2 on the night. Nobody comes back from that kind of position at Anfield. Barcelona’s 4-0 collapse in the second leg of the 2019 semifinal is the ultimate example of that. But Real did.
Kevin De Bruyne’s 67th-minute equalizer followed Vinicius Junior’s unstoppable opener in the first half, tilted the tie in City’s favor. Still, the margins are so tight. Real can destroy any opponent on the counterattack. Hence, City held something back in the Bernabeu. The fear of being subjected to the same kind of ruthless finishing that cost them a place in last season’s final was clearly on their minds. And it will still be there on Wednesday.
But dealing with that is the barrier that City must cross. They will have to take the risks that will create chances for Real in a high-stakes game of football roulette. In turn, Real will attempt to capitalize on City’s pressure to win the Champions League finally.
Real will strut into the Etihad as 14-time tournament winners. Correlate that they will take every opportunity to make City suffer a soccer betting odds inferiority complex. Ultimately, every major team has to overcome that challenge.
SBG Best Bet: Manchester City.