Betting Tips
Can Real Madrid Stage A Comeback? - Champions League Q-Final 2nd Leg Preview
by Chike Nwoye
14 Apr 2025
The first leg of the quarter-finals definitely delivered the drama, with a wild 14 goals scored across the ties. But the real headline-grabber was Arsenal’s 3-0 demolition of defending champions Real Madrid — still hard to believe, honestly. I can still picture Declan Rice’s two inch-perfect free-kicks flying past Courtois every time I close my eyes. Ahead, of the second leg ties, here are a few of our betting tips:
Our Picks:
● Ousmane Dembele Anytime Scorer @2.60
● Robert Lewandowski Any Time Scorer @2.15
● Arsenal Over 0.5 Goals @1.37
● Inter vs. Bayern: Under 3.5 Total Goals @1.41
● Total Odds: 10.80
● Booking Code: 4M1HHE
Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (1-3 Agg)
You know that “I saw terrible things” meme with the kid from Beasts of No Nation? Yeah — that had to be exactly how Matty Cash and Axel Disasi felt after the way PSG ripped them apart in the first leg. Luis Enrique once again showed why he’s one of the sharpest minds in European football, spotting a weakness in Aston Villa’s setup and hammering it over and over until it cracked.
All three of PSG’s goals came down their left side, flipping the game after going behind early on. We even hit our bet of the day for teenage sensation Désiré Doué to get on the scoresheet which landed us a delicious 4.20 odds.
In the first half, Kvaratskhelia had Cash on skates every time he touched the ball, and once the Villa full-back picked up a yellow, Emery had no choice but to hook him at half-time for Disasi. Kvaratskhelia must’ve smelled blood, because within 4 minutes of the restart, he twisted Disasi inside out before smashing one past Emi Martinez at the near post.
Then, in stoppage time, Dembele slipped Nuno Mendes through on goal, and the full-back danced past Villa’s back line before scoring PSG’s 3rd, and giving them a well-deserved 2-goal cushion.
Now, we all know being attacking isn’t Emery’s default setting and the numbers from the first leg say it all: PSG had 76% of the ball, fired off 29 shots (Villa managed 7), hit 10 on target (Villa had 2), and racked up 841 passes to Villa’s 271. However, being two goals down leaves Emery with no choice but to go for it — which honestly feels like PSG’s dream scenario given how deadly they’ve been in front of goal.
And just to pile on, PSG got their weekend Ligue 1 match against Nantes postponed so they could get a full week to prepare, while Villa had just two days’ rest. Historically, PSG haven’t exactly enjoyed their trips to England (4 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses in 17 visits), so it makes sense they’re pulling out all the stops as they aim for a fifth Champions League semi-final appearance in club history and a second in a row.
Like I’ve said in the past, this PSG side are peaking at just the right time and I see them not only going through but making the Champions League final.
Key Stat: Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Unai Emery has only lost 1 of his 13 home games in major European competition, with 11 wins and 1 draw.
Betting Tips:
● Double Chance: PSG to Win or Draw @1.35
● Boosted Odds: Over 2.5 Goals @1.66
● Ousmane Dembele Anytime Scorer @2.60
Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona (0-4 Agg)
Some things in life are guaranteed — death, taxes, and Lewandowski finding the net against Dortmund. Last week’s first leg was no different, as he bagged a brace in the 4-0 rout, pushing his total to 22 goals in 28 games against his old club.
That little stat bagged us to a tidy 1.95 odds win. This week, the price is sitting at 2.15 — easily the best odds you’ll spot across any online betting site. Dem no dey tell pesin two times. Let’s go with that.
Having a clash as physically and mentally intense as Der Klassiker right before a Champions League quarter-final second leg isn’t exactly ideal prep — but maybe, just maybe, it’s the spark Dortmund need if they’re dreaming of one of the greatest comebacks in UCL history.
They soaked up heavy pressure from Bayern and left the Allianz with a point, which they were really excited about. However, I think it’s safe to call time on this tie with Barcelona. The Catalans are flying right now, and not only do I expect them to go through, I’m backing them for another big win.
Last week, I highlighted Hansi Flick’s flawless record against Dortmund — 6 wins from 6, with Bayern hitting 3+ goals in 5 of those games — and the trend held firm with a 4-0 win.
Now Dortmund will have no choice but to throw everything at Barca, which basically plays straight into the hands of their attack. Raphinha (12 goals) and Lewandowski (11 goals), two of the UCL top scorers in this campaign, are both chasing Ronaldo’s single-season UCL record of 17, and judging by their hunger in the first leg, it wouldn’t be a shock to see more goals fly in.
Key Stat: 160 teams have now lost the first leg of a European Cup/UCL knockout tie by 4+ goals. Out of the previous 159, only one turned it around — Barcelona against PSG in 2016/17 (0-4 down in the first leg, 6-1 winners in the second).
Betting Tips:
● Double Chance: Barcelona To Win or Draw @1.27
● Robert Lewandowski Any Time Scorer @2.15
● Bet Builder: Over 2.5 Goals + Over 8.5 Corners @2.00
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (0-3 Agg)
Yeah, so... that really happened. That first leg scoreline wasn’t a dream. You could actually see the disbelief on the Madrid players’ faces when Mikel Merino fired in Arsenal’s third. At that point, Madrid’s hopes of reaching the semi-final were pretty much toast.
Looking back, the signs were there all along. Madrid had shown cracks all season, but we all turned a blind eye. Barcelona had already battered them twice, while both Liverpool and Milan outplayed them earlier in the campaign.
Add in recent losses to Valencia and Betis, plus that crazy 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, and the warning signs were clear. But, you know, because it’s Real Madrid and it’s the Champions League, we gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Arsenal didn’t — and they absolutely punished them for it. That night at the Emirates will go down as one of the club’s all-time great European performances, and now they head to Spain with all the momentum.
I can’t confidently predict who takes it over 90 minutes, but one thing feels pretty clear: Arsenal are excellent against teams that don’t sit deep. Just ask Man City about their trip to the Emirates this season. Madrid have no choice but to go full-attack from the first whistle, and honestly, I’d be surprised if Arsenal don’t grab at least one goal. At 1.37, that feels like easy money.
This will also be the fifth time Madrid have gone into a second leg trailing by 3+ goals in this competition. Only once have they pulled off the comeback — and that was way back in 1976 against Derby County. So sure, anything is possible, but history isn’t on their side here.
Key Stat: In their 53 Champions League meetings with English clubs, Real Madrid have only won by 3+ goals twice: a 5-1 thrashing of Derby County in 1976, and a 4-0 win over Spurs in 2011.
Betting Tips:
● Arsenal Over 0.5 Goals @1.37
Inter vs. Bayern Munich (2-1 Agg)
Three of the four ties in this round feel done and dusted, with PSG, Arsenal, and Barcelona fans already clearing their schedules for the semi-finals. But this one? This is the closest Champions League fixture of the round and is still very open.
Inter edged the first leg 2-1, making the most of Bayern’s wastefulness in front of goal - not something I ever thought I’d say about a team with Harry Kane leading the line. The stats tell the story — Bayern racked up 20 shots (Inter had 10), hit the target 7 times (Inter managed 4), and bossed 59% of the ball. But for all that, they couldn’t make it count. That same problem showed up again at the weekend during Der Klassiker, where they were held to a 2-2 draw.
Bayern fired off 28 shots (Dortmund had 11), forced 11 saves (Dortmund only 3 shots on target), and still only walked away with a point — and even that was thanks to two flashes of individual brilliance from Serge Gnabry. It’s becoming a real headache for Vincent Kompany, especially against an Inter side that’s been rock solid in Europe this season.
Missing Jamal Musiala hasn’t helped Bayern either, and Neuer’s injury from celebrating against Leverkusen is still haunting them. The veteran keeper is officially ruled out for this one with a calf tear, which means 21-year-old Jonas Urbig will be in goal again.
He’s only started 8 games this season and has just 1 clean sheet in that span while shipping 13 goals — hardly confidence-boosting numbers. Inter will lick their lips at that. They’ve looked the sharper, more consistent, better-coached, and healthier side, and I fully expect them to take advantage again.
Key Stat: Bayern have actually won all 4 of their away games against Inter in European competition, including 3 clean-sheet wins in the Champions League. But Inter have advanced from 21 of their last 23 knockout ties after winning the first leg.
Betting Tips:
BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on UEFA tournaments like the Champions League, Europa League & Europa Conference League. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.
The first leg of the quarter-finals definitely delivered the drama, with a wild 14 goals scored across the ties. But the real headline-grabber was Arsenal’s 3-0 demolition of defending champions Real Madrid — still hard to believe, honestly. I can still picture Declan Rice’s two inch-perfect free-kicks flying past Courtois every time I close my eyes. Ahead, of the second leg ties, here are a few of our betting tips:
Our Picks:
● Ousmane Dembele Anytime Scorer @2.60
● Robert Lewandowski Any Time Scorer @2.15
● Arsenal Over 0.5 Goals @1.37
● Inter vs. Bayern: Under 3.5 Total Goals @1.41
● Total Odds: 10.80
● Booking Code: 4M1HHE
Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (1-3 Agg)
You know that “I saw terrible things” meme with the kid from Beasts of No Nation? Yeah — that had to be exactly how Matty Cash and Axel Disasi felt after the way PSG ripped them apart in the first leg. Luis Enrique once again showed why he’s one of the sharpest minds in European football, spotting a weakness in Aston Villa’s setup and hammering it over and over until it cracked.
All three of PSG’s goals came down their left side, flipping the game after going behind early on. We even hit our bet of the day for teenage sensation Désiré Doué to get on the scoresheet which landed us a delicious 4.20 odds.
In the first half, Kvaratskhelia had Cash on skates every time he touched the ball, and once the Villa full-back picked up a yellow, Emery had no choice but to hook him at half-time for Disasi. Kvaratskhelia must’ve smelled blood, because within 4 minutes of the restart, he twisted Disasi inside out before smashing one past Emi Martinez at the near post.
Then, in stoppage time, Dembele slipped Nuno Mendes through on goal, and the full-back danced past Villa’s back line before scoring PSG’s 3rd, and giving them a well-deserved 2-goal cushion.
Now, we all know being attacking isn’t Emery’s default setting and the numbers from the first leg say it all: PSG had 76% of the ball, fired off 29 shots (Villa managed 7), hit 10 on target (Villa had 2), and racked up 841 passes to Villa’s 271. However, being two goals down leaves Emery with no choice but to go for it — which honestly feels like PSG’s dream scenario given how deadly they’ve been in front of goal.
And just to pile on, PSG got their weekend Ligue 1 match against Nantes postponed so they could get a full week to prepare, while Villa had just two days’ rest. Historically, PSG haven’t exactly enjoyed their trips to England (4 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses in 17 visits), so it makes sense they’re pulling out all the stops as they aim for a fifth Champions League semi-final appearance in club history and a second in a row.
Like I’ve said in the past, this PSG side are peaking at just the right time and I see them not only going through but making the Champions League final.
Key Stat: Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Unai Emery has only lost 1 of his 13 home games in major European competition, with 11 wins and 1 draw.
Betting Tips:
● Double Chance: PSG to Win or Draw @1.35
● Boosted Odds: Over 2.5 Goals @1.66
● Ousmane Dembele Anytime Scorer @2.60
Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona (0-4 Agg)
Some things in life are guaranteed — death, taxes, and Lewandowski finding the net against Dortmund. Last week’s first leg was no different, as he bagged a brace in the 4-0 rout, pushing his total to 22 goals in 28 games against his old club.
That little stat bagged us to a tidy 1.95 odds win. This week, the price is sitting at 2.15 — easily the best odds you’ll spot across any online betting site. Dem no dey tell pesin two times. Let’s go with that.
Having a clash as physically and mentally intense as Der Klassiker right before a Champions League quarter-final second leg isn’t exactly ideal prep — but maybe, just maybe, it’s the spark Dortmund need if they’re dreaming of one of the greatest comebacks in UCL history.
They soaked up heavy pressure from Bayern and left the Allianz with a point, which they were really excited about. However, I think it’s safe to call time on this tie with Barcelona. The Catalans are flying right now, and not only do I expect them to go through, I’m backing them for another big win.
Last week, I highlighted Hansi Flick’s flawless record against Dortmund — 6 wins from 6, with Bayern hitting 3+ goals in 5 of those games — and the trend held firm with a 4-0 win.
Now Dortmund will have no choice but to throw everything at Barca, which basically plays straight into the hands of their attack. Raphinha (12 goals) and Lewandowski (11 goals), two of the UCL top scorers in this campaign, are both chasing Ronaldo’s single-season UCL record of 17, and judging by their hunger in the first leg, it wouldn’t be a shock to see more goals fly in.
Key Stat: 160 teams have now lost the first leg of a European Cup/UCL knockout tie by 4+ goals. Out of the previous 159, only one turned it around — Barcelona against PSG in 2016/17 (0-4 down in the first leg, 6-1 winners in the second).
Betting Tips:
● Double Chance: Barcelona To Win or Draw @1.27
● Robert Lewandowski Any Time Scorer @2.15
● Bet Builder: Over 2.5 Goals + Over 8.5 Corners @2.00
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (0-3 Agg)
Yeah, so... that really happened. That first leg scoreline wasn’t a dream. You could actually see the disbelief on the Madrid players’ faces when Mikel Merino fired in Arsenal’s third. At that point, Madrid’s hopes of reaching the semi-final were pretty much toast.
Looking back, the signs were there all along. Madrid had shown cracks all season, but we all turned a blind eye. Barcelona had already battered them twice, while both Liverpool and Milan outplayed them earlier in the campaign.
Add in recent losses to Valencia and Betis, plus that crazy 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, and the warning signs were clear. But, you know, because it’s Real Madrid and it’s the Champions League, we gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Arsenal didn’t — and they absolutely punished them for it. That night at the Emirates will go down as one of the club’s all-time great European performances, and now they head to Spain with all the momentum.
I can’t confidently predict who takes it over 90 minutes, but one thing feels pretty clear: Arsenal are excellent against teams that don’t sit deep. Just ask Man City about their trip to the Emirates this season. Madrid have no choice but to go full-attack from the first whistle, and honestly, I’d be surprised if Arsenal don’t grab at least one goal. At 1.37, that feels like easy money.
This will also be the fifth time Madrid have gone into a second leg trailing by 3+ goals in this competition. Only once have they pulled off the comeback — and that was way back in 1976 against Derby County. So sure, anything is possible, but history isn’t on their side here.
Key Stat: In their 53 Champions League meetings with English clubs, Real Madrid have only won by 3+ goals twice: a 5-1 thrashing of Derby County in 1976, and a 4-0 win over Spurs in 2011.
Betting Tips:
● Arsenal Over 0.5 Goals @1.37
Inter vs. Bayern Munich (2-1 Agg)
Three of the four ties in this round feel done and dusted, with PSG, Arsenal, and Barcelona fans already clearing their schedules for the semi-finals. But this one? This is the closest Champions League fixture of the round and is still very open.
Inter edged the first leg 2-1, making the most of Bayern’s wastefulness in front of goal - not something I ever thought I’d say about a team with Harry Kane leading the line. The stats tell the story — Bayern racked up 20 shots (Inter had 10), hit the target 7 times (Inter managed 4), and bossed 59% of the ball. But for all that, they couldn’t make it count. That same problem showed up again at the weekend during Der Klassiker, where they were held to a 2-2 draw.
Bayern fired off 28 shots (Dortmund had 11), forced 11 saves (Dortmund only 3 shots on target), and still only walked away with a point — and even that was thanks to two flashes of individual brilliance from Serge Gnabry. It’s becoming a real headache for Vincent Kompany, especially against an Inter side that’s been rock solid in Europe this season.
Missing Jamal Musiala hasn’t helped Bayern either, and Neuer’s injury from celebrating against Leverkusen is still haunting them. The veteran keeper is officially ruled out for this one with a calf tear, which means 21-year-old Jonas Urbig will be in goal again.
He’s only started 8 games this season and has just 1 clean sheet in that span while shipping 13 goals — hardly confidence-boosting numbers. Inter will lick their lips at that. They’ve looked the sharper, more consistent, better-coached, and healthier side, and I fully expect them to take advantage again.
Key Stat: Bayern have actually won all 4 of their away games against Inter in European competition, including 3 clean-sheet wins in the Champions League. But Inter have advanced from 21 of their last 23 knockout ties after winning the first leg.
Betting Tips:
BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on UEFA tournaments like the Champions League, Europa League & Europa Conference League. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.