UEFA Champions League QFs Leg One Preview

There are four cracking Champions League quarter-finals taking place this week with the first legs being played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Arsenal host Real Madrid at the Emirates and Inter Milan travel to Munich to face Bundesliga leaders Bayern on Tuesday night. Wednesday sees Barcelona host last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund while Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa face off in the French capital. 

Tip 1: Arsenal to beat Real Madrid

Arsenal have some injury concerns when they host Real Madrid on Tuesday night, but the Gunners are a well-drilled, structured, disciplined and dangerous outfit and can secure a first-leg advantage. 

Clearly, Real Madrid have a glorious history in European competition, but Los Blancos were fortunate to get past Atletico Madrid in the previous round of this season’s competition and the recent form of Carlo Ancelotti’s men does not inspire confidence. 

Real were beaten 2-1 by struggling Valencia last weekend and prior to that Los Blancos were held to a 4-4 draw by Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, having lost 4-3 in 90 minutes at the Bernabeu. 

Arsenal have enough quality, defensive solidity and set-piece threat to take a first-leg lead to Spain. 

Tip 2: Inter to beat Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich got the better of Bayer Leverkusen in comfortable fashion in the previous round of the Champions League, but that was a curious tie, which rather got away from Leverkusen, and it looks dangerous to rate Bayern on that effort. 

Vincent Kompany’s men were given a rough ride by Celtic in the Champions League play-off round and the Bavarians have not been the most convincing under the former Burnley boss. 

Inter are coached by the excellent Simone Inzaghi and the Serie A leaders look like a cracking bet to secure a first-leg advantage in Munich.

Tip 3: Over 2.5 goals in Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund

Barcelona are well-fancied to get the better of Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the last-eight Champions League tie, but there doesn’t appear a huge amount of value in a home win. 

However, there have been 48 goals in Barcelona’s 10 Champions League matches this season – which includes a 3-2 win in Dortmund – and keeping a high-scoring contest on side looks the way to play. 

Dortmund have conceded 26 goals in 14 away Bundesliga matches this term and Niko Kovac’s men may be forced to go toe-to-toe with Barca at the Camp Nou. 

Tip 4: Aston Villa or draw double chance v PSG

PSG played well in the two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie with Liverpool, but the Parisians may have been overrated following that victory.

Liverpool have since gone on to lose the EFL Cup final to Newcastle as well as being defeated 3-2 at Fulham in the Premier League, and the Reds haven’t been anywhere near their best in recent weeks. 

Of course, PSG still put in an impressive performance to get past the Merseyside outfit, but Luis Enrique’s men were also beaten by Arsenal in the group stage of the competition and the Frenchman can’t be considered good things against Aston Villa. 

Unai Emery’s men are playing their best football of the season as the campaign comes to the business end, and it’s now seven wins on the bounce for the Villans. 

Take Villa and the draw on the double chance market.