Champions League Offer: Man City vs Real Madrid Odds Boost With Betnero

Manchester City and Real Madrid have become well accustomed to facing each other in the Champions League, and the pair resume hostilities in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Etihad this evening.

Pep Guardiola’s charges face a tall order trying to turn things around as they were thrashed 3-0 in the first leg last week in the Bernabeu, and Federico Valverde stole the headlines.

Yes, the Real midfielder rattled home a stunning first-half hat-trick, and the scoreline could have been much greater had Vinicius Jr. not missed a penalty. Betnero, one of the fastest-growing UK betting sites, has posted an intriguing bet builder, where the odds have been boosted from 9/1 to 10/1 to whet the appetites of punters.

Anytime goalscorer (Vinicius Jr.)

A thorn in most sides, Vinicius may not have been as lethal as last season, but don’t overlook his influence. Boasting plenty of flair, Vinicius loves to go on mazy runs, draw defenders out of position, and he has a penchant for scoring spectacular goals.

He’s netted three times in Europe’s elite competition, and he could have put the tie against City beyond all doubt had he not been too casual with his spot-kick, which was comfortably saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. His temperament and ability to rise to the big occasions often make the Brazilian striker stand out.

Real, who warmed up for this clash with a 4-1 win at home to Elche last weekend, need their top players to step up to the mark. Despite his quiet spell in front of goal, Vinicius to net at any time across the 90 minutes seems reasonable.

Manchester City to score in both halves

Given the way City were ruthlessly dealt with in the first leg at the Bernabeu, the odds seem stacked against them. This will be the fifth season in a row that City are facing Real in the knockout stages of the Champions League, and overall, Los Blancos edge the head-to-head record with six wins.

More disconcertingly, the only other occasion where City lost the away first leg of a two-legged Champions League tie was against Liverpool (3-0) in the first leg of the 2018 quarter-finals. City ended up losing the second leg 2-1 at home, bowing out 5-1 on aggregate.

An early goal for City could put some pressure on Real, who thought they may have been home and hosed after the first leg. Although City have only scored in both halves in one European game this campaign, and Real have been offered a short price for a +1.5 handicap, the 2023 winners could hit their stride and make the second leg entertaining.

Tijjani Reijnders over 0.5 shots on goal

Having signed for City from AC Milan last summer in a deal worth £46.5 million, it was hoped Tijjani Reijnders would hit the ground running. However, he has struggled to cement a regular berth in Guardiola’s starting XI.

Although he’s scored seven goals and laid on seven assists in all competitions, representing a decent return for a midfielder, Reijnders hasn’t always been played in his preferred role. Nevertheless, his trademark late dashes into the penalty area are an asset.

Reijnders has often given Nico O’Reilly the nod over Reijnders, but if Reijnders does start, he will need to bring his shooting boots. Over 0.5 shots on goal doesn’t seem too fanciful.