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This midweek marks the return of the Champions League, with German teams Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich hosting PSG and Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Back in 2013, these Bundesliga rivals clashed in the final at Wembley, and with this year’s final also set to take place at England’s iconic stadium, there’s a chance for history to repeat itself. In this football prediction post, we’ll examine the chances of this happening and also have a look at some key fixtures in the Europa League, Europa Conference League and in one English Premier League game. 

● Double Chance: Real Madrid to Win or Draw 

● Bet Builder: PSG to Win and Kylian Mbappé to Score Anytime 

● Cole Palmer Anytime Scorer 

● Atalanta to Win

● Double Chance: Bayer Leverkusen to Draw or Win 

● Bet Builder: Aston Villa to Win & Ollie Watkins to Score at Anytime 

● Bet Builder: Club Brugge To Win & Igor Thiago to Win 

**Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid**

While not commonly perceived as a fierce rivalry among most football fans, this fixture holds significant historical importance. It is the most played matchup in the history of the European Cup/Champions League, with 26 encounters, including 24 knockout meetings – also the highest between any two sides. That said, Bayern Munich hasn’t fared well against Los Blancos in recent times. The German giants have failed to win any of their last 7 encounters with Real Madrid, suffering 6 losses and managing just one draw. Their clashes in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons resulted in eliminations for Bayern Munich in both knockout ties. Though the teams have evolved since their last meeting, there remain players on both sides, such as Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Luka Modrić, and Toni Kroos, who understand the significance of this fixture. With this in mind, and considering Real Madrid’s current unbeaten streak of 10 Champions League games (W7, D3), we’ll rely on history and predict that Real Madrid will avoid defeat in this match. 

Our second betting tip for this match is inspired by Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. On Monday, Tuchel confidently stated that Serge Gnabry would score in this tie. While it may seem unconventional for a non-striker to be singled out for such a prediction, who better understands a player’s capabilities than his manager? Therefore, we’ll trust Tuchel’s judgement on this one. 

It would be remiss not to mention Harry Kane. The Englishman is currently having his most prolific season to date, tallying 42 goals and 13 assists in just 42 games. This includes an impressive 7 goals in the Champions League, where he trails only Kylian Mbappé in the scoring charts. Following his disappointment in missing out on the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal, the Champions League represents Kane’s sole opportunity to claim silverware this season – a feat that has thus far eluded him throughout his career. 

Betting Tips 

● Serge Gnabry Anytime Scorer 

● Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals 

**Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG**

This will be the third meeting between these sides this season, following their double-header in the group stage. Dortmund made headlines by not only qualifying but also topping a Group of Death that included Milan and Newcastle United. However, it’s worth noting that the Germans didn’t get a win against PSG in either of those two matches. The game in Germany ended in a draw, while PSG were 2-0 winners in France. Dortmund is entering this match on the back of a heavy defeat to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, suffering a 4-1 loss over the weekend. So, while they’ll be eager to get back on the win-column, PSG will have studied that game to find out the weaknesses to exploit.  

Ahead of this match, the goal market appears to be the most enticing option for our online betting community. Newly crowned French champions, PSG have been on a scoring spree in recent weeks, finding the net in 12 consecutive games. They have scored three or more goals in each of their last five matches, including a three-game winning streak with 4-1 victories. Fortunately for Dortmund, PSG has also shown vulnerability at the back, keeping just one clean sheet during this 12-game scoring streak. With “both teams scoring” in 11 out of 12 matches, one of our betting tips today is for both Borussia Dortmund and PSG to score on Wednesday. 

As expected, all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappé in this match. The French captain tops the charts in goals scored in the competition, with 8 to his name, and boasts an impressive tally of 43 goals and 10 assists in 44 games this season. Despite ongoing tension between him and manager Luis Enrique, this has been his most prolific season in front of goal, and we have him finding the back of the net at Signal Iduna Park. 

Betting Tips 

● Both Teams to Score 

● Over 2.5 Goals 

**Chelsea vs. Tottenham**

Having both suffered bitter losses to Arsenal over the past week, these two sides come into this game hoping to breathe life into their run-in. Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat in the North London Derby has severely dimmed their top-four aspirations, adding extra pressure to this game. On the other hand, Chelsea will lean on their impressive home record against Spurs for confidence. The Blues have suffered just one defeat in their last 33 league matches at home against Tottenham, a 3-1 loss in April, notably under Mauricio Pochettino’s management.  

Despite Chelsea’s recent shaky form, their home performances in the league have been solid. After enduring a challenging run with just one win in 14 league games at Stamford Bridge between March and November last year, they have rebounded impressively. In their last 9 home league matches, they have won 7 (with 1 draw and 1 loss). Also, there’s been a noticeable uptick in their attacking output during this period, as they’ve netted 29 goals in their last 10 home league games, matching their tally from the previous 27 matches.

The last time they met, Chelsea were 4-1 winners following a double sending off for Spurs, coupled with Ange Postecoglou’s insistence on sticking to a highline. Nicolas Jackson notably scored a hat-trick in that fixture, but we expect a different scenario this time around. A more dependable pick to score would be Cole Palmer who currently has 20 league goals and has his sights on becoming the first Chelsea player to win the Premier League golden boot since Didier Drogba in 2010. 

Betting Tips

● Double Chance: Chelsea to Win or Draw 

● Bet Builder: Both Teams to Score + Over 9.5 Corners 

**Marseille vs. Atalanta**

Jean-Louis Gasset might have suffered a humiliating firing at the AFCON 2023, watching from his couch as Ivory Coast lifted the trophy, but the Europa League could provide some redemption for the Frenchman. Since assuming the role a few months ago, he’s overseen a notable improvement in the team, guiding them to victories over Shakhtar Donetsk, Villarreal, and Benfica in this competition. A key factor in this resurgence has been former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who boasts 27 goals and 11 assists this season, including a tournament-best 10 goals in the Europa League. Marseille also benefits from the contributions of Amine Harit and Jonathan Clauss, each tallying 6 assists in the tournament, providing multiple avenues to threaten the opposition.
 
Atalanta’s triumph over Liverpool in the previous round speaks volumes about their quality. Stepping into Anfield, they secured a convincing 3-0 victory, and frankly, they could have scored more with better finishing. Gian Piero Gasperini, often underrated in world football, deserves recognition. Though he hasn’t won a silverware in his career, he has consistently produced overachieving sides in Italian football, such as his Genoa team that featured players like Diego Milito and Thiago Motta. With a Coppa Italia final against Juventus already secured, Gasperini now has two opportunities to finally lift a trophy. Our bet of the day is for his team to secure an away victory in a high-scoring game on Thursday as he inches closer to his dream. 

Betting Tips 

● Bet Builder: Aubameyang To Score + Over 2.5 Goals 

● Atalanta to Win x

● Both Teams To Score 

**AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen**

You remember that scene from the first Captain America movie where Steve Rogers gets roughed up by some bullies in the alley but keeps fighting back, saying “I can do this all day”? Well, that’s pretty much how Bayer Leverkusen have been this season. The newly crowned Bundesliga champions have simply refused to lose, scoring 10 stoppage-time goals across all competitions to extend their unbeaten streak to 46 games. It’s a new European record in the 21st century, surpassing the previous record jointly held by Rijeka and Dinamo Zagreb. 

These teams will face each other for the second time in two seasons, following their clash last season which AS Roma won, thanks to Jose Mourinho’s defensive masterclass. Bayer Leverkusen won their first-ever meeting with Roma back in 2004 but have since failed to secure a victory in their last five encounters, losing two of those. We can go on and on about Florian Wirtz and his 36 goal contributions in 44 games or Paolo Dybala and his 26 goal contributions in 35 games, but considering it’s Bayer Leverkusen, we’ll keep it simple and predict that they won’t lose. Naturally, we have the best odds for this.  

Betting Tips 

● Double Chance: Bayer Leverkusen to Draw or Win

● Bet Builder: Patrick Schick Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals 

● Higher Scoring Half: Second Half 

**Aston Villa vs. Olympiacos**

Aston Villa’s pursuit of a Top 4 finish took a hit on Saturday when they squandered a 2-goal lead to settle for a draw against Chelsea. However, Spurs’ loss to Arsenal on Sunday widened the gap to 7 points between Aston Villa and the North Londoners, giving Unai Emery some relief. Despite this, Aston Villa left the game with a problem - a huge one. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was substituted off at halftime due to a hamstring injury, sidelining him for at least two games. Martinez’s significance to the Aston Villa team cannot be overstated. With his quick reflexes and annoying but effective mind games, the Argentine goalie instils a sense of composure in goal and unsettles the opposition, and his absence will surely be felt. Nevertheless, Aston Villa will have to soldier on in his absence. They are expected to rely on their attack, led by one of Europe’s most in-form strikers, Ollie Watkins. The Englishman has notched 26 goals in all competitions this season, including 4 in this tournament and is expected to play a huge role on Thursday night. 

Olympiacos also carry their own substantial threat. Kostas Fortounis had 7 assists in the Group Stage of the Europa League before they dropped to the Europa Conference League. He still leads the assists chart of that competition despite being out of it for almost half a year and he’ll undoubtedly be one to keep an eye on.  

Olympiacos knocked out Turkish giants Fenerbahçe in the last round on penalties, but their most impressive feat came in the Round of 16. Trailing 4-1 after the first leg against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the Greek side staged a remarkable comeback in the second leg with a 4-1 score of their own after 90 minutes. They then sealed the tie with two goals in extra time, securing a 6-1 win. This display showcased their resilience and fearless attack, and with Emiliano Martinez missing for Aston Villa, we believe Olympiacos will get a goal or two. 

Betting Tips 

● Bet Builder: Aston Villa to Win & Ollie Watkins to Score at Anytime

**Fiorentina vs. Club Brugge**

Fiorentina has shown a lot of mental toughness in their quest to end a 23-year trophy drought. Last season, they reached the final of this competition which they lost to West Ham. The Italian side has bounced back in fine form, and are unbeaten in this year’s edition of the tournament. They topped their group before eliminating Maccabi Haifa and Viktoria Plzen in the Round of 16 and Quarter-Final, respectively. Although they suffered a heart-wrenching 4-1 elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Atalanta last Wednesday, they rebounded with a convincing 5-1 victory over Sassuolo on Sunday, providing them with a psychological boost ahead of Thursday’s match. 

Club Brugge has been one of this tournament’s outstanding teams. They might not be unbeaten like Fiorentina having lost to Molde in the Round of 16, but they boast a better win rate. They’ve picked up wins in 8 of their 10 games so far, scoring an impressive 22 goals. Players such as Vanaken, Skov Olsen, and Igor Thiago, each with 4 goals to their name, are ones to watch in what promises to be a closely contested encounter. 

Betting Tips 

Betting Tips

Betting Tips for Midweek European and EPL Games

● Double Chance: Real Madrid to Win or Draw

● Bet Builder: PSG to Win and Kylian Mbappé to Score Anytime

● Cole Palmer Anytime Scorer

● Atalanta to Win

● Double Chance: Bayer Leverkusen to Draw or Win

● Bet Builder: Aston Villa to Win & Ollie Watkins to Score at Anytime

● Bet Builder: Club Brugge To Win & Igor Thiago to Win

● Serge Gnabry Anytime Scorer

● Bet Builder: Harry Kane Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals

● Double Chance: Real Madrid to Win or Draw

● Bet Builder: PSG to Win and Kylian Mbappé to Score Anytime

● Both Teams to Score

● Over 2.5 Goals

● Double Chance: Chelsea to Win or Draw

● Bet Builder: Both Teams to Score + Over 9.5 Corners

● Cole Palmer Anytime Scorer

● Bet Builder: Aubameyang To Score + Over 2.5 Goals

● Atalanta to Win x

● Both Teams To Score

● Double Chance: Bayer Leverkusen to Draw or Win

● Bet Builder: Patrick Schick Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 Goals

● Higher Scoring Half: Second Half

● Bet Builder: Aston Villa to Win & Ollie Watkins to Score at Anytime

● Over 2.5 Goals

● Both Teams To Score

● Over 2.5 Goals

● Bet Builder: Club Brugge To Win & Igor Thiago to Win

● Both Teams to Score