Man City v Real Madrid Betting Tips Champions League

15th April 2024

Wow. What else can we say about that first leg?! Real Madrid 3-3 Manchester City. 

These two teams are almost certainly the two best attacking teams on the planet right now and they served up an absolute football feast in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

They met in the semi-final last season, of course. The first leg was in Madrid, and was a draw then too, 1-1. But City absolutely smashed the Spanish side 4-0 in the return leg at the Etihad, so will we see similar this season?

The head to head record is very close; they have played each other 13 times, with City winning 5, 4 were draws, and Madrid won the other 4.

Real Madrid are 8 points clear at the top of La Liga and look sure to reclaim the title they lost to Barcelona last season, with just 7 games remaining. Man City went top this weekend after hammering Luton Town 5-1 on the Saturday, before Liverpool lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace and Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa on the Sunday. City now lead the table by 2 points from the other two, with all three clubs having played 32 matches. This is sure to give them a confidence boost going into the second leg with Madrid, as City chase an unprecedented second treble.

Manchester City v Real Madrid Match Winner Market

(Please note all odds are correct at time of article publishing)

Man City 4/6 Coral

Draw 16/5 (Bet365)

Real Madrid 4/1 (BetFred)

Let’s just get this out of the way straight away; we do think Man City will win. BUT, we certainly don’t think it will be as convincing a win as last season. Madrid are a much better team than last season, and City have had injury problems, and defensive problems, and have probably been 5% worse than last season. It’s not a lot, but those fine margins can be vital.

However, are City worth backing at 4/6? If you seriously fancy them – and don’t let us put you off – and you want to have a real lumpy bet on them, then yes, 4/6 is worth it. Lots of people scoff at odds on shots, but it’s much better to back a 4/6 winner than a 4/1 or 40/1 loser. But there are other markets that we feel are more lucrative here…….

Both Teams To Score

Yes 8/13 (Bet365)

No 5/4 (Ladbrokes)

We will start with this one. We feel that both teams to score is an absolute banker – a bigger banker than City to win, which we fancy. It’s almost the same odds, but there’s a chance that Madrid could nick a draw or even a win. However, if they did, City would score, almost certainly. But unlike last season, where Madrid failed to score, they have Vini Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, amongst others. And City have had defensive problems for months now, but again, have ridiculous attacking talents. This is surely the banker bet of the month, and even at 8/13, it is worth doing. But that does bring us to the next bet, for bigger odds….

Match Result and Both Teams To Score

Man City and Yes 21/10 (Bet365)

Man City and No 9/4 (Bet365)

Draw and Yes 4/1 (Bet365)

Draw and No 14/1 (Bet365)

Real Madrid and Yes 13/2 (Coral)

Real Madrid and No 9/1 (BetFred)

This is the one for the bigger odds, a combination of the two outcomes that we believe will happen: City to win and both teams to score. You can just imagine City winning 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, even 4-1 or 4-2. This game has goals written all over it again. So the Man City win and both teams to score with Bet365 at 21/10 is delicious.

Total Goals Over/Under (Selected)

Over 2.5 goals 4/7 (Bet365)

Over 3.5 goals 7/5 (Coral)

In our opinion both of these selections have a very good chance of coming in. If you aren’t sure who will win the game, but you really fancy goals, then go for one of these instead.

Injury News

Man City have had lots of injury problems lately, but the good news for City fans is that most players should be back and fit for this game. Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker have been injured but returned to the bench for the Luton game, and Rodri has been rested recently, but was also on the bench, although none of the three played. Walker and Rodri will be sure to play against Madrid, you’d feel. John Stones missed the game against Luton after suffering “muscle tightness” against Madrid, but City boss Pep Guardiola claimed it is just a niggle and he will be fine.

Real Madrid will be without three big players, in defensive areas, which again emphasises how this game could see lots of goals. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been out all season, David Alaba is out with a cruciate ligament tear and Aurelien Tchouameni was booked in the first leg meaning he is suspended for the second leg.

Betting Recommendations

Both Teams To Score 8/13 (Bet365) – 5 points

Over 2.5 goals 4/7 (Bet365) – 5 points

Man City and Yes 21/10 (Bet365) – 3 points