The global betting company 1xBet evaluates the participants’
chances in the 1/8 finals return matches.
March 14, Porto – Inter (0-1 after the first leg)
Inter defeated Porto in front of UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. The match
was not as spectacular as the others, but it was still quite decent. The game had
it all: Barella’s emotions, Darmian’s screams, Otavio’s sarcastic smile after the
sending-off and the incredible game of Inter’s keeper Andre Onana. The
Cameroonian became a real hero: he saved Evanilson’s shot and reacted to
Taremi’s finishing – it’s a pity that after these exploits, the judges recorded
offside.
A few months ago, Onana fell out with Cameroon’s national coach Rigobert
Song (he didn’t like that the manager asked him to play more long passes), but
he is doing great at the club. In 2023, the goalkeeper played 11 games (he did
not concede in 7), won the Italian Super Cup, and is fighting for the TOP-4
place in Serie A. And although Inter is unlikely to catch up with Napoli after
losing to Bologna, the team can win the Italian Cup and wipe at the Champions
League quarter-finals this season.
Porto let Otavio down in the first game. Even in the first half, the Brazilian
midfielder received a yellow card, knocked down Çalhanoğlu and went to rest
early. For Dragons, it’s not so much the fact of the sending-off that is sad
(although Inter scored after it), but the fact that they will have to play the return
game without their leader. The unsuccessful trip to Italy also affected the
domestic championship, where Porto sensationally lost to Gil Vicente (1-2).
Dragons started that match with a goal in the 4th minute and finished with nine
players – a flash mob on red cards was supported by João Mário and Mateus
Uribe.
Porto coach Sergio Conceição said his team lost the battle but not the war. After
unsuccessful matches, coaches always say something like that, but this time the
opponents’ chances really look equal – Blue and whites will be angry and will
play against Napoli in their home stadium.
You can bet on the match Porto – Inter here:
(line/football/118587-uefa-champions-league/161993366-
porto-internazionale-milano)
March 14, Manchester City – RB Leipzig (1-1 after the first leg)
Whatever Guardiola says, Man City’s cunning plan for the away match against
RB Leipzig looked like this: deprive the opponent of the ball, score if possible
and save your breath. At the same time, the Citizens did not expect an easy
victory.
Nevertheless, the game began rosy and beautifully for Man City. Total ball
control (the Bulls made their first meaningful attack in the last minute of the
first half) and high pressure made Leipzig make mistakes and get nervous. And
there’s Konrad Laimer, who decided to take a better look at his partner on the
right edge and didn’t notice a simple pass from another one. Outcome: an
interception, several passes and Mahrez’s stylish shot from the penalty line.
The Bulls looked like calves, but only before half-time. The Saxony favorites
went into the second half with the understanding that the future is not
predetermined and this Manchester is not as good as it seems. Leipzig’s barrages
of attacks followed, diluted with Erling Haaland’s unsuccessful shot in a
promising counterattack and defender Joško Gvardiol’s wonderful jump, which
helped the German team equalize after a corner. After that, it turned out that
Leipzig was not too eager to win, and Man City got tired and generally came
not so much to play football as to indulge in self-education. Indeed Pep could
put the squeeze on the Saxons by releasing fresh Foden and Grealish, but he did
not make a single substitution – it’s the first time for him in the Champions
League. After the match, Guardiola explained that it was an optimal line-up for
such an opponent, but we think he decided to show his displeasure to the first-
team players.
Maybe the manager decided to save the players’ strength for the next FA Cup
match against a mighty second-division team (this is sarcasm). In this game,
Guardiola’s team beat Bristol City with a score of 3-0, then outplayed Newcastle
2-0 in the Premier League and continued to dream of how they would catch up
and overtake Arsenal.
After the battle against Man City, Leipzig threw all its forces into the
championship, where the Rose team had the task of surviving the struggle for a
place in the TOP-4. Incredible density at the top of the standings makes the
team play every match like a final. One rival is behind (Eintracht), but with
Borussia Dortmund, everything turned out to be more difficult. They didn’t
make it in the attack due to Werner’s terrible aim and Nkunku’s lousy game
after the injury. Rosé switched to a scheme with three center-backs, and in the
Champions League second leg, he is waiting for an improved version of his top
scorer and other leaders. Manchester plays much better at home than away, so it
will be difficult for any team to reach a positive result at the Etihad.
You can bet on the match Man City – Leipzig here: (line/football/118587-uefa-
champions-league/161993367-manchester-city-rasenballsport-leipzig)
March 15, Napoli – Eintracht (2-0 after the first leg)
Eintracht has made a lot of noise in Europe in the last couple of seasons, but the
next journey to fame may be interrupted in a few days – after all, Napoli turned
out to be very strong.
In the first match, Osimhen and Khvicha stood out as usual – in front of these
players, the Eagles lost their temper like students on the final exam. The
Georgian did not score a goal but made an assist for Di Lorenzo, and the
Nigerian scored his 20th goal of the season after Lozano’s pass. Kolo Muani
also aggravated the situation a little for Eintracht, receiving a red card.
With all this, the Neapolitans switched to the championship, where they lost for
the first time in 2 months. The victory from the Diego Armando Maradona
stadium was taken away by Lazio (0-1). But Napoli made such a significant gap
from their opponents that they could rest at the finish line like Usain Bolt.
Eintracht cannot afford this. Every game is like a battle for a better life. And
Oliver Glasner’s team is losing it – they lost to their direct competitor RB
Leipzig and tied with Wolfsburg.
The Germans’ prospects are vague before the return game, although the players
and the coach maintain optimism. An impressive mob of the Eagles fans is
going to Naples, whose performances deserve a separate article.
You can bet on the match Napoli – Eintracht here: (line/football/118587-uefa-
champions-league/161887997-napoli-eintracht-frankfurt)
March 15, Real Madrid – Liverpool (5-2 after the first leg)
In the first match, Madrid scored five goals against the Merseysiders at their
stadium (so far, the Reds have never conceded more than three goals in a
European Cup matches at Anfield). Liverpool also became the first team in
Champions League history to lead 2-0 but then lose with three goals difference.
After the Champions League, Liverpool went to improve the situation in the
tournament, where the team is doing much better. Let’s forget the matches
against Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton and discuss the struggle with Man
United. At Anfield, Klopp’s team defeated, destroyed, crushed, and broke
(choose the best) opponents with a score of 7-0. It was a night when one team
had everything, and Man United had nothing (if anything can go wrong, it will
go wrong). The latest results allow Liverpool to wedge for the TOP-4 place. But
who cares if the team needs to win back three goals on the field of the main
European rival?
As for Real, after an impressive British voyage, the team began to feel dizzy
with success – after a draw with Atlético, the team lost to Barcelona for the
second time in 2023 in the King’s Cup semi-finals. And intrigue is gradually
dying in La Liga: Madrid lost four points in two matches, and now it will be
challenging for them to catch up with Barcelona.
Will Liverpool repeat the “The Miracle of Istanbul”, or Real continue their
Champions League ascent?
You can bet on the match Real – Liverpool here: (line/football/118587-uefa-
champions-league/161887998-real-madrid-liverpool)
