There is enough juice left – just about – to render the second legs of these Champions League ties of interest.
Monaco will have to overcome a two-goal cushion against the mighty Juventus if they are to reach a first Champions League final in quite some time, but this young side is excellent on the front foot and more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net.
And while the Real vs Atletico Madrid derby is all over bar the shouting courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s first leg hat-trick, there is still local pride to be played for in the second leg. It will be a feisty encounter with no quarter given, that’s for sure.
So where does the pick of the betting value lie?
Juventus vs Monaco Betting Tips
There was an element of surprise in Juventus’ 2-0 win against on Monaco on French soil, that has to be said.
Monaco, one of Europe’s most free-flowing attacking sides, were expected to find the scoresheet on home soil, and while Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao had good chances they could not find a way past Gigi Buffon.
Against a Juventus side that is this good, you’re always likely to be punished for such wastefulness and so it proved with Gonzalo Higuain bagging a brace to give the Italians a commanding lead heading into the second leg.
What makes Monaco’s task even harder here is that Juve haven’t been beaten by two or more goals on home soil since 2013, and while the young French contingent has the quality to end that run you would suspect that the nous and experience of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at the heart of the Old Lady backline will pay dividends.
Talk of the Italians strangling the hosts in the first leg was fairly accurate even if they did spurn half chances, but the fact that Juventus enjoyed 50% possession and recorded only one shot on target fewer than their opponents suggests they are willing to fight fire with fire.
So onto the second leg we go, and as mentioned Juventus are formidable in front of their own fans. How will the Monaco players respond: with the arrogance of youth, or the naivety that their lack of experience brings?
If they can get an early goal you would fancy them to kick on and really pile into Juve; if they don’t, you would assume that Juve will turn out as convincing winners. That latter option appeals, and while we wouldn’t expect Monaco to go two games without scoring – the stats suggest that is almost an impossibility – we can back Juventus to win and both teams to score at 23/10.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Betting Tips
Whenever the knives are sharpened regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity at the top, he goes and responds in the most timely fashion possible. A steady hat-trick, against your team’s bitter rivals, in a Champions League semi-final is about as good as it gets when sticking the metaphorical V signs up at your detractors.
The upshot is that this tie as a whole is all but over, and instead pride is the only prize at stake. Happily, given that this is a fierce local derby, there is still plenty to be played for on Tuesday.
This will be the fourth time that Atletico have tasted defeat to Real in the latter stages of the Champions League after losing in the finals of 2014 and 2016 and the quarters in 2015, and so Diego Simeone must be sick of the sight of Ronaldo and co.
The fact that Atleti managed just one shot on target against the Galacticos speaks volumes, and while they looked a class above against Leicester in the last eight how much of a guide is that really?
Real are probably the best club side in world football, so any opportunity to bet on them to win a game at 17/10 simply has to be taken.