Whereas the second leg of the first Champions League semifinal is likely to be a bore, the second leg of the semi between Real Madrid and Juventus on Wednesday is sure to be a thriller at the Bernabeu.
ODDS ANALYSIS
For all intents and purposes, the second spot in the Champions League final is totally up for grabs after a 2-1 Juve win on Italian soil. Real needs a 1-0 victory or a victory by multiple goals to advance without extra time, and that's why it is a slender -133 favorite to get the job done.
As far as this match itself, the Spaniards are -1 ( +121 ) on the Asian handicap and -159 on the moneyline. The total is high by UCL standards at 2.5 ( over -118 ), though a lot of that is due to the fact that this match could really open up if Juventus strikes first.
KEY INJURY
Paul Pogba is one of the best midfielders in the entire world, and he didn't play in that first match against Real Madrid last week thanks to a thigh injury. Now, Pogba is back in the saddle and is coming off of a match where he scored against Cagliari, which gives him some confidence for sure. Whether he can play a full 90 (or more) or not in this match remains to be seen, but we expect him to be in the Starting XI.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Pressure on Pirlo made us open our midfield line too much, and it allowed them to find a through ball for Tevez, something that happened a lot in the first half. We have to clean that up in Madrid." – Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on the problems defending against Andrea Pirlo in the first leg of this two-legged tie
RECENT FORM
Though Juve did beat Real Madrid at home, it hasn't been in fine form at all of late. The team hasn't won a match by more than a goal since April 18, and it is coming off of a lifeless 1-1 draw against Cagliari.
Ancelotti is under a ton of pressure right now to succeed in this match. Chances of winning La Liga are basically over after drawing 2-2 at home against Valencia over the weekend. That ended Real's stretch of seven straight La Liga matches with victories. Still, in the UCL, Real is just 1-1-1 in its last three.
TALKING TOTALS
The Italian champs have played two of their last three matches under the total, but the one exception was the duel against Real, which eked past the 2.5 early in the second half of a relatively wide open match.
Real has had a knack for keeping games low scoring here in the Champions League. There was only one goal to speak of in the two matches against Atletico Madrid, so it was a bit of a surprise to see three goals hit the board in the first match against Juventus.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Andrea Pirlo and his Juve teammates were all over the pitch in the first match, but the men from the San Siro could be in some serious trouble on the road in Madrid with all to play for.
Cristiano Ronaldo was fantastic as well on the road, and he should again be great up top. However, will he be up there with Javier Hernandez instead of Gareth Bale? We believe if he is, this match will have a totally different complexion to it.
Expect to see Real play with a lot more of the ball this time around than it did in Turin, and that should change things dramatically. A prototypical and businesslike 1-0 victory should see the hosts through to the finale.
Real Madrid 1, Juventus 0
The Champions League lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker Sportsbook with Real Madrid lined as a -159 moneyline favorite and a total of 2.5 ( over -118 ). Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, spreads and totals. Live betting is open during every step of this match!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Real Madrid and Juventus is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 2:45 p.m. ET at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
