Two Uefa Champions League Round of 16 second legs take place on Tuesday night when Real Madrid host Atalanta and Manchester City look set to finish the job against Monchengladbach
Note all prices quoted are subject to change
Real Madrid evens Draw 5/2 Atalanta 5/2
Real eventually made their numerical advantage count, scoring the only goal of the firstleg through Ferland Mendy late on in game where Atalanta played with 10 men since the 17th minute.
Real's home form in the group stage started with a shock defeat to Shakhtar (3-2) but they recovered to beat Inter and Gladbach (both 2-0).
Real have won 5 and drawn 2 of their last 7 La Liga matches to move within 6 points of Atletico at the top of the standings.
After the early red card Atalanta tried to shut up shop in the first leg and they failed to register a worthwhile attempt. However they have a reputation as a free scoring side (63 in 27 league games), they won all 3 of their group stage road trips and the circumstances dictate they will be forced to be positive here.
In Serie A Atalanta are again pushing for a top 4 finish and their away record comprises of 7 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats with 25 goals scored and 15 conceded.
Real were knocked out by Manchester City on away goals at this stage of last season's Champions League whilst Atalanta progressed to the quarter finals where they bowed out with some credit to PSG.
Verdict:
Atalanta might not be out of this just yet and this could be well worth a watch. I fancy goals and especially so after half time where the price for 2 or more took the eye.
Bets: 2nd half total goals, over 1.5 at 9/10
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Manchester City 0.22/1 Draw 5/1 Monchengladbach 11/1
This always had the “plum draw” look about it for Manchester City and they won the first leg 2-0 thanks to a fist half goal from Bernado Silva and a second after the break from Gabriel Jesus. The first leg was staged in neutral Budapest and that will also be the venue for this clash. City remain unbeaten in this competition this season having come through the group stage with 5 wins and 1 draw and they have conceded just 1 goal (in a 3-1 home win over Porto on Matchday 1).
As far as the Premier League is concerned it's pretty much race over and City are still in the FA Cup and have a League Cup final to look forward to as they hunt for 4 possible trophy's this season. Since the first leg City did lose a league game at home to Manchester United, ending a 21 game winning streak in all competitions but they have bounced back with wins at home to Southampton (5-2) and at Fulham (3-0).
Gladbach had very little threat in the first leg and it will be a major surprise if they cause City problems here. They did really win to come through the same group as Real Madrid, taking 8 points from their first 4 matches which proved just enough after defeats on Matchday's 5 and 6. They thrashed Shakhtar twice and drew 2-2 at Inter and at home to Real to put themselves in a strong position before later results went their way in what was a chaotic quartet.
In the Bundesliga Gladbach are no higher than mid table, without a win in their last 7 outings (2 draws, 5 defeats).
Verdict:
I can't argue with odds chalked up for another City win and in a betting of very limited interest I will go with the English side to win the game and keep a clean sheet.
Bets: City to win “to nil” at 9/10
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Note all prices quoted are subject to change
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