Wednesday’s Champions League Tips: Real Madrid can continue their defence

Europe’s biggest and best clubs, which includes Real Madrid and Chelsea, are back in action for the second day of Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

As well as the highly anticipated match between the reigning champions and Frank Lampard’s Londoners at the Bernabeu, there is also an all-Italian affair at the San Siro as AC Milan play host to in-form Napoli. 

Two sets of hallowed turf and 90 minutes of football to be played as four teams seek to draw first blood on their way to the final four. Football expert Joe Crann is on hand to have a closer look at what could lie ahead.

AC Milan v Napoli

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Only one thing is for certain in these quarterfinals: There will be at least one Italian team in the final four by the time this round is over. For the first time since 2005/06, there are three Serie A clubs in the final eight, and Inter made a great start to their quarter-final tie by beating Benfica 2-0 away from home on Tuesday.

Based on their respective league efforts, you would think that there is only one winner here as table-topping Napoli are 22 points clear of Milan in their dominant push for the title. However, a shock result earlier this month saw the Rossoneri thump the Partenopei 4-0 in Naples, which makes things more interesting.

Talisman Victor Osimhen is an injury doubt and back-up Giovanni Simeone is also missing, so Luciano Spalletti’s side certainly won’t be at full strength. Perhaps that will stop them hitting the high-scoring heights that they have reached so often this season.

Given how rare a Napoli defeat has been in recent times, it would be a surprise to see another Milan victory (2.92), especially given the away side have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 games. I’ll take Napoli.

Prediction: Napoli to win and Over 1.5 goals @ 3.45

Real Madrid v Chelsea

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Real’s LaLiga form may be indifferent, but everybody knows that they’re an entirely different beast when it comes to this competition. Frank Lampard’s Blues are far from flying themselves, and there is very good reason for the hosts to be clear favourites (1.75) in this match-up.

Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit has scored 11 goals in their last three Champions League matches and, with Chelsea keeping just one clean sheet away from home since November, it’s safe to say that the statistics aren’t in their favour. 

Karim Benzema (2.08) is down as the most likely goalscorer for the tie, but Vinícius Júnior is worthy of a shout at 3.15 given his recent form in this competition.

In an interesting quirk, this is the third year in a row that these two sides have met in the knockout stages. There were 13 goals in the previous four matches – and both times the winner has gone on to lift the trophy.

Prediction: Real Madrid to win and Over 1.5 goals @ 2.04

Wednesday’s Premier League Tips

AC Milan v Napoli: Napoli to win and Over 1.5 goals @ 3.45
Real Madrid v Chelsea: Real Madrid to win and Over 1.5 goals @ 2.04