Tuesday’s Champions League Tips: Man City can edge home tie against Bayern Munich

The Champions League returns on Tuesday with two fascinating quarter-finals and football tipster Greg Lea has provided his thoughts for the first-leg matches in Lisbon and Manchester.

Benfica v Inter Milan

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday 

With five Champions Leagues stored in their respective trophy cabinets, Benfica and Inter are among the most historic clubs on the continent. And one of them will be in the semi-finals of this season’s edition of Europe’s premier tournament. 

Benfica have impressed throughout the campaign. Champions-elect in Portugal, they have failed to win just four of their 27 Primeira Liga fixtures up to now. Even more magnificent is their record in this year’s Champions League.

Benfica upset the odds to top their group ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa, before they demolished Scott Parker’s Club Brugge in the first knockout round. It is fair to say that manager Roger Schmidt has got a good thing going at the Estadio da Luz. 

However, they can’t underestimate Inter despite the fact that they will arrive in Lisbon on the back of a disappointing run of results in Serie A, picking up just one point from the last 12 on offer. 

While chronic inconsistency has left Inter fifth in Italy’s top flight, they remain a force to be reckoned with in one-off matches. Simone Inzaghi’s men are better suited to knockout competitions like the Champions League and they will be quietly confident of reaching the last four at Benfica’s expense.

In the first leg, though, I fancy the Portuguese outfit’s chances of victory. Inter’s confidence must have been dented after six games without a win in all competitions, so now is the time to back a home win.

Prediction: Benfica to win @ 2.24 

Manchester City v Bayern Munich

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Thomas Tuchel denied Pep Guardiola his first Champions League as Manchester City manager in 2021 when Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners in the final at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto.

Tuchel has a pretty decent record against Guardiola overall, so the City boss probably did not welcome last month’s news that the German had been appointed as the new Bayern Munich gaffer. 

Not for the first time during their current manager’s tenure, City are the favourites to win the Champions League this season - they are 3.2 to lift the famous trophy for the first time. But they have a complicated route to the final, with Real Madrid likely to face the winners of this tie in the semis.

Pep Guardiola: has seen his team improve in recent weeks

City head into Tuesday’s game in fantastic form having won eight matches in a row in all competitions. That run included three 4-1 victories, a 3-0, 6-0 and 7-0, so Guardiola’s side is clearly playing better than they have all season.

Meanwhile Bayern have won both of their Bundesliga games under Tuchel, who will encourage his team to play on the front foot at the Etihad Stadium. That will not be easy, of course, but no-one should expect the German champions to simply shut up shop.

That is good news for the neutrals, who should be treated to a brilliant first-leg match. It is hard to see either team keeping a clean sheet given the attacking talent on display, but home advantage could help City to edge it.

Prediction: Manchester City to win and Both teams to score @ 3.3

Tuesday’s Champions League Tips

Benfica v Inter Milan: Benfica to win @ 2.24
Manchester City v Bayern Munich: Manchester City to win and Both teams to score @ 3.3