Semi-Finals 2nd Leg - All to do at home

By Andrew, bettingexpert.com | Edited 18:08 23.04.2012

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It all comes down to this. Both Bayern Munich and Chelsea were able to take advantage of their opening home legs and now travel to Spain with the home clubs with all the work to do.

Barcelona vs Chelsea

Barcelona enter this 2nd leg coming off both a crucial loss at home to Real Madrid in the Primera over the weekend and a surprise loss to Chelsea in the opening leg of this semi-final a week ago. In front of 38,000 at Stamford Bridge, Barcelona would waste many opportunities to grab a key away goal or even an outright victory, collecting 24 shots while conceding just 4 to the home club. In fact, Barcelona would end the match with 6 shots on goal, 2 more than Chelsea's entire number of shots, conceding just 1 shot on goal and a mere 21% of possesion to the London club. Unfortunately for Barcelona, it was the only shot the home club would need as they managed to hold on to win 1-0, taking not only the victory but doing so without conceding a crucial away goal.

Chelsea knew going into the match that nothing but a 'perfect' performance would be good enough. And it's what they delivered. Now the task is much more difficult as they head to the Camp Nou. The reigning Champions League title holders will be keen to redeem themselves and will go in feeling full on confidence to do just that despite the fulltime scoreline in London a week ago. Both Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez came as close as possible to getting on the scoreboard each hitting the woodwork at Stamford Bridge while Petr Cech had his hands full all night long in keeping Barcelona without an away goal.

Weekend league results all but sealed the Liga crown leaving Barcelona stranded in 2nd place, while with 4 matches to play Chelsea have plenty of work to do to ensure a return to the elite European stage next season. Both clubs have everything to play for as Barcelona hunt for back-to-back European crowns while many of Chelsea's old-guard will be hoping for perhaps one last chance of European glory.

Barcelona has been installed as 1.25 favourites for this return leg with hopes for a Chelsea victory in the 10.00 range receiving a +1.75 goal handicap.

Verdict - Chelsea will look to keep it tight but it could get well out of hand late should things go south. Take the Under 2.5 goals with the Over 3.5 goals.

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Having all but claimed their first Liga title since 2007/2008 with an away win over Barcelona across the weekend, Real Madrid enter this return leg feeling full of confidence. Despite their late goal loss to Bayern in Munich a week ago, Real Madrid were able to grab a key away goal and were moments from only requiring a home win this week to see passage through to the final back in Munich next May.

It was a hotly contested opening leg which saw the German club take the lead with a Franck Ribery goal in the 17th minute. The home club would hold that lead until Mesut Ozil equalised in the 53rd minute before Mario Gomez scored a 90th minute winner sending the home Munich fans wild. Both clubs collected 15 shots on goal with the visitors from Spain delivering 6 on target to Bayern's 4 while Bayern held possession for 55% of the match.

Like their fellow travellers Chelsea, Bayern know they have plenty of work ahead of them to secure a place in this season's edition of the Europe championship. With the Bundesliga title on its way to Dortmund for the second consecutive season, Bayern could well see their season defined by 90 minutes of football at the Bernabeu this Wednesday night. It will be a difficult task to keep Real under control, a club that has now won 10 of their last 11 Champions League fixtures as hosts, a run that extends back to late 2009, with that lone home loss a 0-2 result to Barcelona in April of last year.

Real Madrid will enter this leg as 1.50 favourites with the German visitors receiving handsome 6.50 odds and a +1 goal handicap.

Verdict - Opportunities should present themselves for both clubs. Let's take Over 3 goals.

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