The UEFA Champions League quarter-final second legs will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Three of the four ties have a large aggregate margin already after the first leg, but that means we could see a thrilling upset.
The exception is the UEFA Champions League tie between Inter and Bayern Munich, which is fairly evenly poised heading into the second leg. Inter hold a 2-1 lead ahead of their home leg at the San Siro, but Bayern have a superbly balanced squad and cannot be written off.
In the three other ties, Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will be looking to stage stunning comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Arsenal, respectively.
Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain (1-3)
Aston Villa took a shock 1-0 lead in the 35th minute of their first leg clash with PSG. The French champions rallied back with goals from Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes at the Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique’s men are favourites to see out the tie at Villa Park on Tuesday as PSG (2.11) visit the home of their former boss, Unai Emery. The Spaniard is currently in charge of Aston Villa (3.30).
Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona (0-4)
Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace against his former club in the first leg. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored for Barcelona as they put one foot in the semi-finals.
Now, Barça will look to finish the job at Signal Iduna Park. It would take a huge upset for Borussia Dortmund (3.90) to turn this around. Even with the tie effectively in the bag, Barcelona (1.82) are the favourites for the second leg.
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (0-3)
Declan Rice wrote his name into Gunners folklore with his stunning brace in the 3-0 win over Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
Now, Arsenal will travel to the Bernabeu determined to write their names in the history books. Real Madrid are European champions, and one should never completely write them off. For the second leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid (1.69) are favourites, but Arsenal (4.30) do not need to win the leg to advance. Rather, they need only protect their three-goal advantage.
UEFA Champions League Tie to Watch: Inter vs. Bayern (2-1)
Inter hold a 2-1 lead against Bayern Munich after stunning Vincent Kompany’s men at the Allianz Arena. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 38th minute, but Thomas Muller equalised in the 85th. However, three minutes later, Inter scored a winner through Davide Frattesi.
Bayern (2.55) are narrow favourites for the second leg against Inter (2.65), but this one could go either way. If there is to be a tie turned on its head in the second leg, this one is the most likely candidate.
Conclusion: UEFA Champions League Tale of the Tape
With three of the four UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties looking all but settled, the spotlight firmly falls on Inter vs. Bayern Munich. Inter’s narrow 2-1 aggregate lead offers the only real sense of jeopardy heading into the second leg. While the Italians hold the advantage, Bayern’s quality and depth make them more than capable of turning the tie around at the San Siro.
Elsewhere, PSG, Barcelona and Arsenal are expected to finish the job after strong first-leg wins. Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will all need nothing short of a miracle to progress. Still, the Champions League has always been a stage for drama, and shock turnarounds are not out of the question.
From a soccer betting perspective, the second legs offer intriguing value, particularly in the Inter vs. Bayern clash. There, the odds are closely matched. Bettors will be watching closely to see which underdog, if any, can defy the odds. This could shake up the semi-final lineup.
Whether you’re backing the favourites or chasing an upset, this week promises top-class entertainment as Europe’s elite battle it out for a place in the final four.
