Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Champions League fixtures, including Manchester City vs. Real Madrid.
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Returning to the scene of many a Champions League capitulation, Arsenal step foot onto the Allianz Arena turf on Wednesday night for the second leg of their mouthwatering quarter-final with Bayern Munich.
Last week’s opening battle at the Emirates certainly lived up to the hype, but Mikel Arteta’s men were left to lament uncharacteristic mistakes in a 2-2 draw with the former Bundesliga champions, who came away with a hard-fought stalemate despite the absence of an away end.
We say: Bayern Munich 2-1 Arsenal (Bayern win 4-3 on aggregate)
For the most part, Bayern boss Tuchel oversaw a tactical masterclass in last week’s first leg, where the Bavarians’ centre-backs, midfielders and wingers all terrorised an Arsenal side evidently lacking experience of such a momentous European occasion.
While Arteta’s men are usually defensive powerhouses on the road, their lack of ruthlessness and second-half capitulation versus Villa was worrying, and with Bayern working with an extra day’s rest, we expect the Gunners to wake up from their Champions League dream.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
> How Arsenal could line up against Bayern Munich
> How Bayern Munich could line up against Arsenal
> Arsenal injury list vs. Bayern – Odegaard doubt, Timber return date edges closer
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After the first leg lived up to the hype and then some, Manchester City and Real Madrid cross paths once again for the return fixture in their Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
An evening of spectacular strikes at the Bernabeu saw the two European titans share the spoils in a 3-3 thriller last week, and the reward for Wednesday’s victor will be a semi-final test versus either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
We say: Manchester City 3-2 Real Madrid (Man City win 6-5 on aggregate)
Twenty-three goals have flown into the back of the net during City and Real’s last five contests – an average of 4.6 per game – and another engrossing encounter ought to be on the menu between two sides boasting fully-fit attacking contingents.
There ought to be no repeat of the four-goal drubbing dished out by Guardiola’s charges a little under 12 months ago, but with the holders imperious on home soil – albeit without the defensive solitude to match – we expect Man City to remain on course for back-to-back continental triumphs and inflict a familiar sense of Mancunian misery on Los Blancos.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
> How Real Madrid could line up against Man City
> How Man City could line up against Real Madrid
> Man City injury news and return dates for Real Madrid – John Stones concern
> Real Madrid injury, suspension update vs. Man City – Rodrygo emerges as a doubt