Last night we saw some dramatic action in the Champions League semi-final second leg in Spain as Villarreal and Liverpool clashed.
Tonight, the focus switches to the Spanish capital of Madrid where Real Madrid will take on Manchester City in their second leg tie, with a place in the final in Paris at the end of the month on the line.
And if you are quick, then you may well have a little surprise waiting for you if you have a bet365 Sport account, as the site is offering new and eligible customers a Free £5 Bet on tonight’s second semi-final.
There’s no deposit required for this offer, and you don’t even need to make a pre-qualifying bet. Simply log in to your account and if you are eligible, then you can place a free £5 bet on any single market or Bet Builder market for the Real Madrid v Manchester City game tonight.
Real Madrid v Manchester City £5 Free Bet
Enjoy a £5 Free Bet on Real Madrid v Man City with bet365.
No deposit required. New & eligible customers only. Account must be fully verified to place the bet. Applies to single bets and Bet Builders only. Returns exclude Free Bet stake. T&Cs apply.
Let’s now preview tonight’s second leg tie in Madrid, before we recap how last night’s first semi-final saw one team make it through to the final.
Claiming Your Bet365 Free £5 Bet Offer
If you want to access the offer for tonight’s game at bet365 Sport, then the easiest way to do that is log in to your account and then head over to the betting section for the match and then add a single selection or a bet builder selection to your bet slip.
If you see the “Use Free £5 Bet” option available on the bet slip, check the box and then place the bet, it is that simple! There’s no deposit required for the bonus and no other bets need to be made beforehand to qualify you for the bonus.
The question is what market you want to bet on, because tonight’s game is going to be a cracker!
Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Real Madrid (3) v (4) Manchester City
First Leg Roundup
An incredible first leg at the Etihad saw Manchester City race into a 2-0 lead early in the game. Kevin De Bruyne scored after just 94 seconds, for the fastest ever Champions League Semi Final goal, and then on 11 minutes Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 with another fine finish.
At this point and for the next 20 minutes, Real Madrid were on the ropes and City missed a number of other good chances to extend their lead and they were made to pay for that on the 33rd minute when Karim Benzema brilliantly turned home a cross from Ferland Mendy to make it 2-1.
In the second half, the game started more evenly but City began to get on top and Phil Foden restored their 2-goal lead with a fine finish. Once again Real came back, just two minutes later Vinicius Jr. outpaced Fernandinho and raced through on goal to slot past Ederson to make it 3-2.
Once again City came back with Bernardo Silva scoring a fantastic fourth, but with 8 minutes to go, City conceded a penalty which Benzema chipped down the middle to cut the deficit back to one goal once again, setting up an incredible second leg.
Second Leg Team News
Real Madrid have good and bad news for this game. Key centre back David Alaba is likely to miss the game after being injured in the first leg and he joins Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard as probably not likely to play.
Casemiro is back though and after playing an hour at the weekend, the Brazilian midfielder could start.
Up front it looks like a choice between Rodrygo and Valverde for the third attacking spot alongside Benzema and Vinicius Jr.
Predicted Real Madrid Team – (4-3-3) – Courtois, Carvajal, Mendy, Eder Militao, Nacho, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Manchester City have injury worries in defence ahead of this game. Joao Cancelo is likely to return at full back, and that may be at right back with Kyle Walker still not fit and looking some way away from fitness.
Nathan Ake and John Stones are also doubts, which may mean Zinchenko continues at left back.
Guardiola also has a decision to make over who to play in attack with Grealish, Sterling and Mahrez all vying for a place in the team.
Predicted Manchester City Team – (4-3-3) – Ederson, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Laporte, Dias, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jesus, Foden
Top Tips For Real Madrid v Manchester City
The bookmakers have Real Madrid 11/5 to win tonight’s game, City are even money and the draw is 31/10, which would mean City go through.
I do feel City will progress into the final here and I actually feel they stand a good chance of winning the game tonight, so I’d take the even money on a City win here. Or, you could go for Manchester City to win and both teams to score which is a 9/4 shot with bet365 Sport.
If I was going to go for a correct score bet, then I’d go for City to win 2-1, which is an 8/1 shot.
As for anytime goalscorer bets, Phil Foden at 13/8 is a very intriguing option, while Karim Benzema at 11/10, given the form he is in, is a solid option if you want to back a Real Madrid player to score at any time in the game.
Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 5-2 on aggregate)
Liverpool made it to their third Champions League Final in five years but had to come from a 2-0 half time deficit to do so as Villarreal put up a sterling first half display to level the tie up at half time.
In an unusually poor first half display, Liverpool could not match the Spanish team’s intensity and after Dia put Villarreal ahead on three minutes, the Spanish side dominated the first half and deservedly added a second through Coquelin’s header not long before half time.
At that point, Liverpool looked in danger of capitulating, but the second half saw a completely different performance from the Reds.
As Villarreal’s players intensity waned, Liverpool took control of the tie as they had the entire first leg. Fabinho put the Reds in front on aggregate after his shot went through Rulli’s legs and the Luis Diaz header from Alexander Arnold’s cross made it 2-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
By now Villarreal were shot and Liverpool had plenty of chances to add a third, Sadio Mane eventually applying the coup de grace to hand Liverpool a stunning 3-2 comeback win on the night and a 5-2 win on aggregate.
And whoever gets through tonight’s game will be in for a tough game against Jurgen Klopp’s mentality monsters.