With just four teams remaining in the 2022/2023 Champions League tournament, the draw could not have thrown up a more fascinating Semi Final draw.
It kicks off in Spain with the defending champions Real Madrid hosting tournament favourites Manchester City, who are chasing their first continental triumph since the 1970’s Cup Winners’ Cup.
However that may be topped by what has been served up in the other half of the draw, with the Derby della Madonnina between Inter and AC Milan in the Champions League since the 2005 Quarter Finals.
We’ve got you covered with our Champions League previews and best bets below so read on and see who we are backing.
First Legs
Fresh off winning the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid will return to continental duties as they seek their 15th Champions League title while retaining their crown as European football’s elite club.
However they will find themselves in an unfamiliar position starting as underdogs against a rampant Manchester City side looking for their first Champions League title.
Few teams head to the Bernabeu as favourites but few teams have the imperious form line of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Since their last defeat on February 6, City have won 17 of 20 matches in all competitions, advanced to the FA Cup Final and retaken the Premier League lead.
However the Champions League remains their white whale with the side falling at this same hurdle last season.
In just about any situation you would see Real as underdogs and think that it was an automatic must bet, however City’s form is so good you can’t help but pause and re-examine the market.
Two of City’s three draws on their run have come on the road in the Champions League and this is still a damn good Real Madrid side.
Neither team will want to blow this tie in the first leg and it might turn into a bit of an arm wrestle with both sides happy to have it all to play for when they head to Manchester next week.
Draw @ $3.50
For the fourth (and fifth) time this season, Milan’s main rivalry will resume, but this time on the continental stage.
Inter Milan is chasing its first Champions League title since 2010, while AC Milan’s drought extends back to 2007.
While this might be an AC Milan home game, there will be no shortage of support for the nominal visitors in what is their home stadium as well, plus Inter does bring a strong form line into this fixture too.
Not only have they won their last five fixtures, but they have the confidence of winning their last two matches against AC Milan including the final of the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh in January.
AC is on a nine match unbeaten run however five of those matches have been draws, which have seen them slip into a battle for fourth place in Serie A and they will have to find a way to scrap through this tie.
There is a slightly more clear gap between these teams and the form they are bringing to the tie, and Inter looks well placed to take an advantage into the second leg back at the San Siro next week.
Inter to Win @ $2.45
Second Legs
FIRST LEG: Inter Milan Won 2-0
The first leg of the tie could not have gone better for Inter Milan, going up 2-0 in the opening 11 minutes and closing down the match from there.
Even without the advantage of the away goals rule, Inter is well placed to defend their lead at the San Siro, considering the last time they lost a competitive fixture by a two goal margin came on November 7 last year against Juventus.
Not to mention AC Milan’s season appears to be crumbling in the closing stages, with their top four hopes being dealt a massive blow on the weekend with a 2-0 loss away to Spezia.
Their injury depleted squad just looks like it has fired all of their bullets and while there will be a sense of desperation around the “visitors” here, it’s tough to see them rallying against Inter.
Inter to Win (90 Minutes) @ $2.00
FIRST LEG: 1-1 Draw
2-0 might be the most dangerous scoreline in football, but there is no proposition more dangerous than Real Madrid in the second leg of a Champions League knockout tie.
Whichever side emergers from this heavyweight bout at the Etihad will go into next month’s Champions League Final in Turkey as heavy favourites over their Italian opponents and justifiably so.
City’s all conquering side is on the verge of a historic treble while Real Madrid remains the dominant force in this competition.
There was nothing between the two a week ago in Madrid, with goals from Vinicius and Kevin De Bruyne the highlights of the match.
Despite the market heavily favouring City to win the match ($1.57) and progress to the final ($1.29), there is not as much between the two clubs and it is always a massive risk to count out Real in the Champions League.
City at the Etihad is a tough prospect but if anyone is capable of knocking them off, it’s a Real Madrid side that specialises in these sorts of occasions.
Real Madrid to Qualify @ $3.40