UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg Of Games

The Champions continues today with the second leg of games, after the first resulted in a few unexpected surprises. Today, Tuesday April 12th, sees Real Madrid face off against Wolfsburg and Manchester City receiving Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid vs Vfl Wolfsburg

• Time: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 2:45 PM ET

Real Madrid Betting

Who could have expected the Spanish giant to be in such a compromised position? Yet, after losing to Wolfsburg 2-0 in the first leg in Germany, Real Madrid is now forced to give anything it takes to pass through lest it be knocked out.

However, it’s not over for Real Madrid and if any team can pull this off it’s this one. Considering they’ve made it to the semifinals so many times, it’s not crazy to believe they’ll overcome the goal deficit.

Real is also playing at home, a place that’s been a fortress for them, winning 14 games while only losing 2 and drawing on 1 in La Liga matches (the losses came to Barcelona and Atletico).

They’ve also been effective in this competition, winning all four home matches, while scoring just as many goals in each of those matches. Led by their Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now the leading scorer in the Champions with 13 goals to his name, along with the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, the Spanish team’s attack can cut through Wolfsburg’s defenses for the likely score.

If Real can hold off Wolfburg’s score, they have a great shot at passing through. With goalkeeper Navas guarding the net, it’ll be quite a task to score even one goal.

VFL Wolfsburg Betting

The Germans are two goals ahead in this series. If they can hold off Real Madrid in this game, it’ll be a historic event for this team.

However, holding off the Spaniards at Bernabeu is a difficult task to say the least and Wolfsburg hasn’t quite been as effective in away matches. All in all, they’ve only won four of 18 Bundesliga and Champions League away matches, scoring 17 goals in total.

If they can manage to score just once, they’ll be well positioned to pass through. With a goal, they’ll force Real to have to put up at least four goals to even out the total score. Julian Draxler, Andre Schurrle and Max Arnold can all wreak havoc in Real’s defenses, striking early with a combination of speed and the counterattack.

Injuries:

Real Madrid:

• James Rodriguez
• Sami Khedira
• Sergio Ramos

Wolfsburg:

• Ismail Azzaoui
• Vieirinha MF
• Felipe Lopes
• Moritz Sprenger
• Sebastian Stolze
• Oskar Zawada

Game Prediction: Real Madrid wins 3-0

Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain

• Time: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 2:45 PM ET

Bet on Manchester City

Manchester achieved the unlikely, sticking it to the Parisian’s on their home pitch. With two great away goals in Parc des Princes, the Citizens are now well-poised to pass through if they can hold off PSG’s attack at home.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoreboard for MC last week in the first game and has led this team in his return as the creative play maker. A win or a draw will mean the pass for this team and they’re now the favorites heading into this game.

However, a few crucial injuries for City may open up some opportunities for PSG to crack through their defenses, which may force them to adjust their structure and move Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi to center to defend. Vincent Kompany is now on the injured list and will be unable to play in this match.

This is an attacking team. With 41 goals in 17 home games in the Premier this season, the Citizens will be looking to strike early to secure their ticket to the semis. Sergio Aguero will lead the attack, which will be set up by David Silva and De Bruyne in the City midfield.

With the first leg result, Pellegrini's squad are now favored to advance in the Final Four of the competition even without Kompany. Manchester City starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, De Bruyne, Silva; Agüero

Bet on Paris Saint-Germain

PSG has their work cut out for them, after not being able to win at home in the first leg. Matters are complicated further by the absence of David Luiz and Blaise Matuidi, who are suspended.

Though Luiz’ absence will be felt on defense, Brazilians Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are more than capable of defending the French’s backfield.  Matuidi’s suspension at mid is much harder to overcome. However, Marco Verratti might play and this make a difference.

Verratti is key to PSG’s ability to set up plays at midfield, along with Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura at wings, it gives the French team ample chances to widen the field and set up scoring opportunities for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibra is PSG’s leading scorer, with 39 goals in 39 games. Though Ibrahimović missed a crucial penalty kick in the early part of the game, he managed to redeem himself with an equalizer four minutes before the break at the 41st off a Fernando error to make it level at 1-all during the half.

PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot put the hosts on top at the 59th, but the Citizens found the equalizer again at the 72nd courtesy of a short-range shot by Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho off the poor defense of Ivorian right back Serge Aurier. Paris Saint-Germain starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Trapp; Aurier, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell; Rabiot, Motta, Matuidi; di Maria, Ibrahimović, Cavani.

Injuries

Manchester City:

• Vincent Kompany
• Raheem Sterling
• David Silva

Paris Saint-Germain

• Marco Verratti (Possible)
• Javier Pastore

Game Prediction: Ibra scores and PSG passes through with a 1-0 score.