With the decisive second legs of the playoff round taking place on Wednesday night, two more heavyweight clashes headline the action as qualification to the next stage hangs in the balance. We take a closer look at both encounters below.
Outright Betting Snapshot
In the outright market, Arsenal remain favourites at 4.50, followed by Bayern Munich at 5.50. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are both priced at 8.00, while Barcelona trades at 9.00. The remainder of the field is available at 10.00 and bigger.
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Juventus vs Galatasaray – Click here to bet
Juventus return to Turin with a mountain to climb after suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat away to Galatasaray in the first leg. Defensive vulnerabilities were exposed throughout that encounter and recent domestic form has done little to ease concerns, with 2-0 and 3-2 defeats to Como and Inter as well as a draw against Lazio highlighting inconsistency at the back.
They will need a fast start and a far more disciplined defensive display if they are to overturn the three-goal deficit.
Galatasaray produced a clinical attacking performance in the first meeting, scoring five times and capitalising on Juventus’ defensive errors. Their recent form has been impressive overall, including dominant 5-1 and 4-0 league victories over Eyupspor and Kayserispor, as well as a convincing 3-0 away win over Rizespor.
Although they were beaten 2-0 by Konyaspor on the weekend, they travel with a significant aggregate advantage and confidence in their attacking firepower.
Head-to-Head
Galatasaray’s 5-2 first-leg victory was the latest chapter in a competitive European rivalry. Previous meetings include a 2-2 draw in Turin and a 1-0 win for the Turkish side in Istanbul during the 2013/14 Champions League campaign.
Match Odds (1X2)
Juventus: 1.50
Draw: 5.00
Galatasaray: 5.75
Verdict
Juventus are likely to push aggressively from the outset, which should create an open contest with opportunities at both ends. While the Italian side are strong favourites on the night, Galatasaray’s counter-attacking threat makes them dangerous.
BET: Juventus to win and Both Teams to Score – Yes at 2.60
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Real Madrid vs Benfica – Click here to bet
Real Madrid carry a narrow 1-0 advantage into the second leg after securing an important away victory in Lisbon. That result followed an earlier 4-2 defeat against Benfica in the competition, underlining how competitive this matchup has been across recent meetings.
Domestically, Real Madrid have remained strong despite a recent setback against Osasuna where they lost 2-1 on the road.
Benfica arrive knowing they must score to keep their qualification hopes alive. The Portuguese side have been in good form in recent weeks, including 2-1 league wins over both Santa Clara and Alverca, as well as a commanding 3-0 home victory last time out when they met with AFS.
They have also shown on multiple occasions in recent seasons that they can compete with Europe’s elite.
Head-to-Head
Real Madrid’s 1-0 win in Lisbon last week gives them the aggregate edge, though Benfica’s 4-2 triumph over the Spanish giants earlier in the competition highlights their attacking capabilities and why they are still very much in this fixture.
Match Odds (1X2)
Real Madrid: 1.54
Draw: 4.75
Benfica: 5.50
Verdict
With a one-goal advantage and home support behind them, Real Madrid are well positioned to progress. Benfica are likely to adopt an adventurous approach in search of goals, which could result in another entertaining encounter.
BET: Real Madrid to win and Over 2.5 Goals at 2.10
Odds correct at time of writing but subject to change.
