Paul Higham is backing a home win when European footballing royalty collide in Munich in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final.
Champions League recommended bets
2pts Bayern Munich to beat Real Madrid & both teams to score at 21/10
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Two European giants will do battle for the 25th time on Wednesday as Bayern Munich host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
If familiarity breeds contempt then these two must be sick of the sight of each other as this is the fourth time in seven seasons that they’ll meet in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
These two don’t do draws, in their overall head-to-head they have 11 wins each with just two stalemates.
The games are usually packed with goals and excitement – Real Madrid have gone through in the last couple ties by winning in extra time last year and a 5-0 aggregate thumping in 2014.
Bayern Munich had the better of the previous two meetings though – winning once on penalties and once on away goals, so there should be drama in next week’s return in Madrid and it’ll be interesting how they approach this first leg.
There’s been 25 goals in the last eight games between the teams, and with Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski leading the lines then goals should again be on the menu.
They are the top two scorers in Champions League semi-finals – Ronaldo has 13 semi-final goals and Lewandowski six – they’re 4/1 and 3/1 respectively to open the scoring on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo’s goal scoring exploits are just mind-boggling. He’s bagged 13 Champions League goals this season, that’s the same as Roma have managed, and is just two short of his own tournament record.
He’s also scored in 11 consecutive Champions League matches and has scored twice in five of the last 10, he’s 5/1 to add another brace to his record.
It’s Real’s eighth consecutive semi-final but they don’t have a great record in away first legs – losing three – but they have scored in all three so you’d expect both teams to find the net again.
Bayern have been in the better form of the two – they’ve walked away with the Bundesliga title again and have been banging in goals for fun at the Allianz.
They get the nod to win the leg, and with five of the last seven games ending 2-1 after 90 minutes that looks the way forward again if you're looking at backing the correct score.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)
Best Bet: Bayern Munich to beat Real Madrid & both teams to score at 21/10
Alternative: Ronaldo to score & Real Madrid lose at 11/2
Posted at 1400 BST on 24/04/18.
