PSG, Barca, Bayern and Real to take first leg spoils in Champions League quarters

Holly Thackeray | April 4, 2016

There are four cracking Champions League quarter-final first leg fixtures to take place this midweek, so Coral highlight the best bets and chances of each team in a bumper preview for punters.

First up in the Tuesday tussles, Barcelona face fellow Spaniards Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich battle Benfica; while on Wednesday, PSG host last English hope Manchester City and Wolfsburg rally for a visit from giants Real Madrid. Who will edge closer to reaching the final four on the road to Milan?

Barcelona v Atletico Madrid

• Champions League
• Tuesday, April 5th
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST
• Nou Camp, Barcelona
• Live on BT Sport Showcase/BT Sport Europe

Can Atleti capitalise on past Catalan capitulation?

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will both be decked out in their second kits for this Tuesday evening encounter in Catalonia, where Luis Enrique’s men are odds-on 1/2 match favourites with Coral to make the most of their home advantage.

Despite Atletico’s emergence as a real La Liga force, they still find Barca to be one of their biggest Achilles heels, having lost all of their last seven scuffles across all competitions.

Even in Diego Simeone’s tremendous 2014 Spanish title-winning term, Atleti managed to beat Barcelona just once in a whopping six attempts. However, that crucial win did occur in a Champions League quarter-final, helping the Madrid men win 2-1 on aggregate to progress past this same stage.

With that in mind, Atletico are intriguing at 11/4 to qualify for the semi-finals again, but don’t look as tasty at 13/2 to leave Nou Camp with a win in 90 minutes – a feat they have not managed since 2006. Instead, a sixth draw in their past 12 tussles is a more tempting 3/1.

Barca bristling after Real blow

Usually cautious Atletico enter this duel on the back of a bombastic 5-1 drubbing of Real Betis, with fierce France forward Antoine Griezmann having bagged a brace.

The Gallic goal-getter is a tremendous 2/1 to strike again anytime, while Atleti academy products Koke (who ousted this opposition from Europe in 2014) and Fernando Torres, a regular scourge of Barca, are 11/2 and 10/3 in the same market respectively.

As for the hosts, Barcelona will be dangerous as they smart from an El Clasico defeat, with talisman Lionel Messi a fantastic 3/1 to fire in first, having dispatched in five of his last six versus the capital club. While, usual suspect Luis Suarez sank Atletico at the Nou Camp earlier this campaign and is 7/2 to deliver the final blow again.

Bayern Munich v Benfica

• Champions League
• Tuesday, April 5th
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST
• Allianz Arena, Munich
• Live on BT Sport 2

Do Benfica have the bottle to beat Bayern?

German giants Bayern have never been beaten by Portuguese royalty Benfica in four previous continental clashes, and notched nine over their two historic home victories against the Eagles.

So, Pep Guardiola’s guys, who have been slain just once at the Allianz Arena in 19 games this term, are understandably heavy odds-on 1/5 shouts for home spoils.

The Eagles, who visit Munich here, will undoubtedly be soaring high on confidence as they arrive fresh from thrashing Braga 5-1 and perch proudly on the Primeira Liga summit. Yet they face a different quality of competitor in Bayern, and look unlikely 6/1 to emerge from the Allianz on even terms, or 16/1 for a shock victory.

Greek goal threat Kostas Mitroglou (5/1 to notch anytime) and Brazilian Jonas Goncalves Oliveira (7/2) are the Portuguese outfit’s best chances of poaching, with 53 goals between them already this season.

Guardiola spoiled for choice

The Munich men ground out a tough victory against Eintracht Frankfurt last time out, thanks to an exceptional Franck Ribery (6/1 to score last) overhead kick, meaning gaffer Guardiola could face a selection headache, with fellow French winger Kingsley Coman (2/1 to be on target anytime) also pushing for a spot after his last 16 heroics.

“We definitely already had Tuesday’s Champions League game against Benfica on our minds, but we’re going to have to play much, much better in that game,” said prolific Poland predator Robert Lewandowski, who has already hit 36 strikes this season and is a superb 7/2 to bag a brace or better.

PSG v Manchester City

• Champions League
• Wednesday, April 6th
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST
• Parc des Princes, Paris
• Live on BT Sport Europe

PSG to stay on path to San Siro showpiece

As their domestic domination continues, impressive Ligue 1 leaders PSG eye their second English scalp of this successful Champions League campaign, as they seek to reach the San Siro finale.

Both PSG and first leg guests Manchester City are at an impasse in their nouveau riche projects, with only European glory able to satiate the two sides now, and the Parisians are odds-on 4/6 favourites to take City to task on French soil.

A humongous 25 points clear in the Ligue 1 title race, Laurent Blanc’s boys have suffered just three defeats all season, but did concede both home and away as they ousted Chelsea impressively in the last 16. So, the French big-guns look best at 5/2 to win in 90 minutes but both teams score.

City boosted by dangerous De Bruyne return

Man City will certainly miss skipper Vincent Kompany as they prepare their defence for a trip to Paris, where Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic is waiting to pounce.

PSG’s main striker hit a hat-trick at the weekend, taking his tally to a terrific 30 league goals plus 11 assists. Ibrahimovic struck in both legs against the Blues and is 3/1 to be first one the scoresheet, while exquisite Argentina international Angel Di Maria is a 7/4 anytime shot.

As for the Citizens, hopes will rest with Belgian whizz Kevin De Bruyne (11/4 anytime), who dazzled upon his return from injury last time out, alongside lethal frontman Sergio Aguero (6/1 to fire in the final goal).

Wolfsburg v Real Madrid

• Champions League
• Wednesday, April 6th
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST
• Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
• Live on BT Sport 2

Die Wolfe must defend against rampant Real

Spanish juggernauts Real Madrid (odds-on 7/10 for victory on the night) make their way to Germany for a duel with Die Wolfe, buoyed by their recent Barcelona victory and the fact that only defender Raphael Varane is their only injury absentee of note.

Wolfsburg host their first-ever Champions League quarter-final and must be prepared for a baptism of fire against Zinedine Zidane’s men, who are on a roll with six wins in succession across all competitions.

Consequently, Die Wolfe have been far from deadly since De Bruyne left in the summer, languishing eighth in the Bundesliga, are just 3/1 to force a draw. Though they still possess plenty of talent in Germany international pair Julian Draxler (7/2 for a goal anytime) and Andre Schurrle (11/4).

Ronaldo revived by Barca bag

Of course, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are the heroes of the hour after downing great rivals Barcelona, and the deadly duo are excellent shouts at 5/1 and 3/1 to find the target first and last respectively.

Ronaldo has replied to criticism with seven strikes in his last five outings, so looks as usual the most lethal of Real’s superstars, but Gareth Bale is also a stupendous punt at 6/4 anytime.

And, after Bayern Leverkusen smashed three past Wolfsburg with no reply, Los Blancos are 19/10 to net three or more and make this a mauling.

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Check out more in our Champions League section.
Coral’s top tip: PSG at 5/2 to beat Man City in 90 mins and both teams to score.