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Wednesday's Champions League predictions including Man City vs. Real Madrid

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 April 2024, 05:00
Bayern vs. Arsenal (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Returning to the scene of many a Champions League capitulation, Arsenal step foot onto the Allianz Arena turf on Wednesday night for the second leg of their mouthwatering quarter-final with Bayern Munich.

Last week's opening battle at the Emirates certainly lived up to the hype, but Mikel Arteta's men were left to lament uncharacteristic mistakes in a 2-2 draw with the former Bundesliga champions, who came away with a hard-fought stalemate despite the absence of an away end.

We say: Bayern Munich 2-1 Arsenal (Bayern win 4-3 on aggregate)

For the most part, Bayern boss Tuchel oversaw a tactical masterclass in last week's first leg, where the Bavarians' centre-backs, midfielders and wingers all terrorised an Arsenal side evidently lacking experience of such a momentous European occasion.

While Arteta's men are usually defensive powerhouses on the road, their lack of ruthlessness and second-half capitulation versus Villa was worrying, and with Bayern working with an extra day's rest, we expect the Gunners to wake up from their Champions League dream.

> How Arsenal could line up against Bayern Munich

> How Bayern Munich could line up against Arsenal

> Arsenal injury list vs. Bayern - Odegaard doubt, Timber return date edges closer

Man City vs. Real Madrid (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

After the first leg lived up to the hype and then some, Manchester City and Real Madrid cross paths once again for the return fixture in their Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad on Wednesday night.

An evening of spectacular strikes at the Bernabeu saw the two European titans share the spoils in a 3-3 thriller last week, and the reward for Wednesday's victor will be a semi-final test versus either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.

We say: Manchester City 3-2 Real Madrid (Man City win 6-5 on aggregate)

Twenty-three goals have flown into the back of the net during City and Real's last five contests - an average of 4.6 per game - and another engrossing encounter ought to be on the menu between two sides boasting fully-fit attacking contingents.

There ought to be no repeat of the four-goal drubbing dished out by Guardiola's charges a little under 12 months ago, but with the holders imperious on home soil - albeit without the defensive solitude to match - we expect Man City to remain on course for back-to-back continental triumphs and inflict a familiar sense of Mancunian misery on Los Blancos.

> How Real Madrid could line up against Man City

> How Man City could line up against Real Madrid

> Man City injury news and return dates for Real Madrid - John Stones concern

> Real Madrid injury, suspension update vs. Man City - Rodrygo emerges as a doubt

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