Man City vs Real Madrid
They couldn't do it, could they? Our official partner, Manchester City, are four wins away from winning the treble. They would become the second English team to achieve the feat after bitter local rivals Man Utd sealed the trinity in 1999.
It would cap off a remarkable period of dominance for the Cityzens, who are on the brink of a fourth Premier League title in five seasons.
They have played some scintillating stuff at times this campaign and go into the Champions League semi-final second leg as hot favourites to qualify. At LeoVegas sport, you can back them to win the match at odds of 11/20 and they are even shorter to qualify at odds of 1/4.
However, is it dangerous to underestimate the ultimate Champions League conquerors? Does Carlo Ancelotti have a plan for the high-octane Man City style? Will Pep Guardiola deviate from the inverted centre-back/midfielder pivot that has proven so awkward for teams this season? Or has tactical tinkering stung the Spaniard one too many times?
Man City vs Real Madrid Head-to-Head (Last Five Games)
Man City have won three of the previous five games against Los Blancos in this competition (including the previous 1-1 draw in this tie at the Bernabeu). Across those five games, 19 goals have been scored with both teams scoring in each of them.
In short, this fixture hasn't disappointed in recent times. The odds of 13/10 on over 3.5 goals in the game with LeoVegas is an attractive-enough price. Alternatively, you can pump up the odds of Man City advancing by picking them to win and both teams to score at odds of 9/5.
Key Battles
In what was a highly-enjoyable encounter brimming with quality last week, one duel stood out above all others. It wasn’t the balletic tussle between Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan against Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Nor did it involve the spiky and confrontational duel between Dani Carvajal and Jack Grealish.
The physical match-up of Antonio Rudiger against Erling Haaland was a fascinating lesson in gamesmanship and temperament. The insatiable Haaland was elbowed, jockeyed, tapped, pulled, pushed, and whispered to in an unstoppable tirade of defensive know-how from Rudiger.
As a result, the mighty Norwegian endured a torrid evening, touching the ball just 21 times in what was a rare off-night for the striker.
It could be a different story at the Etihad. Haaland is an animal playing for Man City at home in the Champions League, hitting nine goals in four games so far, and he'll have his eyes lasered on a few more here.
The critical confrontation will be between Rudiger and Haaland, and we think the latter will come out on top.
You can back Haaland to score 2+ goals at odds of 12/5 with LeoVegas. Remember, he achieved that feat nine times at the Etihad in all competitions this year.
Our Prediction
It would be foolish to underplay the chances of Real Madrid. They have won the Champions League 14 times for a reason. They know how to get over the line and, in Ancelotti, they have a sage mind for the task. In Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr, they have genuine match-winners and there isn't a more experienced or talented midfield on the planet than Modric and Kroos.
However, everything seems to be falling into place for Man City. There is such a thing as momentum and the Cityzens have it in spades. We can see the hosts comfortably advancing.
Bet Builder Top Tip: Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals, Real Madrid to score 1+ goal, and Man City to win by more than one goal - 8/1.