Real Madrid vs Man City: Champions League Betting Guide

The Champions League hots up in a big way this week with the tie of the round taking place on Wednesday with Spanish giants Real Madrid hosting Premier League big spenders Manchester City in the first leg of their mouthwatering last 16 clash.

It’s a game that is heaped in significance and is all the more tasty given the possibility of Pep Guardiola’s Etihad Stadium side being banned from European football for two seasons, ban permitting.

Real Madrid relinquished their top spot in La Liga this weekend as they fell to a surprise defeat at Levante while Barcelona star Lionel Messi netted four in their 5-0 win over Eibar, and it’s fair to say that Zinedine Zidane is suffering with injuries to some key personnel.

He’ll be without Eden Hazard for this clash and as such a great deal will depend on how tight his back-line performs and in recent months the likes of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have done well and will have to be at their best to keep City at bay.

Real Madrid vs Man City Champions League 1st Leg best bets from Intertops

Both teams to score -200

Real Madrid to win +175

Real Madrid to win 2-1 +850

Zidane has always had a soft spot for French forward Karim Benzema and much as he did in his first spell in charge at the Bernabeu, the former Lyon striker has been at his best this season and we can see the wily attacker making life very hard for the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte.

Manchester City have zero chance of making it three Premier League titles in a row and they will therefore be fully focused on finally winning a Champions League crown, which would be their first.

However they are known for choking at the key moments and we’d back Real Madrid to win the first leg encounter in what will be a great, but closely fought, match-up.