TUESDAY:
INTER MILAN V AC MILAN
Inter won the first leg pretty comfortably last week and they could've won the game by a lot more. Their strong start gave them the confidence to win the game and you could see that in the way they were playing as they cut their rivals open on several occasions and were clinical in front of goal.
Inter are the side in form and the side with more firepower as the first leg showed. Simone Inzaghi's side have scored more goals than their rivals in Serie A this season and have three forwards who are proven goal scorers. Two of them have shown it in on multiple occasions in Lautauro Martinez and Edin Dzeko.
Milan really missed Rafael Leao in the first leg as they lacked that ball carrier and threat in the final third. He's missed four games for Milan this season and they have lost all of them which shows how important he is for them. He's a doubt heading into this second leg and with Milan 2-0 behind, their chances of turning the tie around look very slim.
Their defending in the first leg was poor and especially for the second goal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan being given too much space to run into the box and slot the ball home. They'll need to defend much better in this one otherwise they'll be beaten very convincingly.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm going for Inter to finish the job here because they're ahead in the tie and are the side in better form. Milan are likely to still be without Rafael Leao and because of Inter having more firepower and in better form, I think they'll win this one as comfortably as they won the first leg.
WEDNESDAY:
MAN CITY V REAL MADRID
This fixture last season was one of the best semi finals ties in Champions League history and this one should be nearly as good.
Man City needed a brilliant strike from Kevin De Bruyne to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive in the first leg as Real were the side on top before that game changing moment. Erling Haaland was kept quiet for the majority of the game and for this one he'll surely be up for it after a rare off day last week.
Pep Guardiola has overthought things in this competition in the past but there is a feeling this time round that it won't be the case. They look more complete than they have done in recent seasons and having a man like Haaland up top certainly gives them that little bit extra.
Real Madrid made a lot of changes for their win over Getafe on Saturday with the likes of Karim Benzema being rested. Those rested players will be brought back in for this second leg and they'll be feeling fresh and ready to go after being rested at the weekend.
The goal they scored in the first leg was the first real chance they had on the night and it gave them more control on the game. They had a good spell after going ahead and they had chances to add to their lead which they didn't take. They'll need to make the most of any advantage they have in this one and they'll know it because of the experience they have and the calibre of manager they have in charge.
PREDICTION: 3-2
This game will be more open than the first leg as both teams will really go for it with the attacking players they have. I'm backing City to make it through here because they'll have home advantage and are the side in better form. Having Haaland in the side will make a massive difference and I can see him make the difference in this one. He'll be eager to after a quiet first leg.
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