After four incredible games last week with the two Champions League semifinals 
followed by the two Europa League semifinals, this week the teams meet once again in the return legs and in each game, there is still plenty to play for, although the chances of progress into the final for each of the teams differ from game to game.
Of course, these massive games also attract plenty of betting and at the moment Coral are offering punters a fantastic deal to sign up with their sports betting site. Place a £1 bet on the player to receive a yellow card market on the Real Madrid v Bayern Munich game as a new customer and you’ll receive boosted odds of 25/1 on that bet, meaning if any player gets a caution, you win.
However, if no player receives a caution, then you won’t lose your bet as Coral will give you a free £5 bet as consolation. You only have until the Real Madrid v Bayern Munich game kicks off to take advantage of this offer (though Coral will likely offer a similar offer for the AS Roma v Liverpool game on Wednesday evening too).
Alternatively, you can sign up with Coral’s great value new player bonus, which offers you £20 of free bets when you make your first £5 bet with Coral. The choice is yours!
So, once you are signed up and ready, you’ll no doubt want to know which way to bet on this quartet of key matches this week, so let’s take a look at how each game stands, before we bring you how we see each of the second leg games going and which bet takes our fancy.
Champions League Semi Finals – First Leg Results
Liverpool 5 (Salah 34,44, Mane 55, Firmino 60,67)
AS Roma 2 (Dzeko 80 Perotti 84 pen)
After 30 minutes Roma looked to be well in this game and had hit the bar, but then Liverpool took over and in a blistering 30 minute spell, smashed home five goals. Mo Salah’s substitution however signalled a change in the game and Roma took full advantage to grab two late goals and a lifeline in the second leg. The Romans now need a 3-0 win, as they achieved against Barcelona in the last round, to progress into the final for the first time since 1984.
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 27)
Real Madrid 2 (Marcelo 43, Asensio 56)
Two poor defensive errors, combined with some wasteful finishing was the difference between these two teams as Real Madrid took full advantage of Bayern’s generosity to earn a 2-1 win in Germany for the second Champions League campaign in a row. Bayern will miss the injured Robben and Boateng in the second leg, while Carvajal is ruled out for Madrid, but it will be the Spanish side who feel most comfortable following this crucial first leg win.
Europa League Semi Finals – First Leg Results
Arsenal 1 (Lacazette 60)
Atletico Madrid 1 (Griezmann 81)
A sucker punch goal inside the final ten minutes was an Arsenal fans nightmare at the Emirates last Thursday. The Gunners spurned several opportunities against an Atletico side, who played for over 80 minutes with 10 men after Sime Vrjsalko was sent off for two bookable offences. The Spanish side put in a sterling defensive display to keep the score down low and Griezmann’s late equaliser now puts Atletico firmly in the driving seat on Thursday.
Marseille 2 (Thauvin 14, Njie 62)
Red Bull Salzburg 0
Marseille will take a solid lead with them into the second leg of the tie in Salzburg after a strong performance at the Stade Velodrome, inspired by the creative genius of Dmitri Payet. A goal in each half from Thauvin and Njie was enough to hand the French side a lead which Salzburg, while having plenty of possession, never really threatened to reduce on the night.
Champions League Semi Final Second Legs
Tuesday 1st May (7.45pm Kick Off)
Real Madrid (2) v (1) Bayern Munich
Real Madrid head into the home leg having secured a somewhat fortuitous 2-1 lead from the first leg in Germany, but they’ll be aware that the same scenario last season ended with them needing extra time to defeat Bayern.
The German side know that a win is a must here but with Real focused only on the Champions League, having endured a pretty poor La Liga season, I think the Spanish side will manage to get the job done, though I do think there will be one or two scares along the way. The injuries Bayern have to key players I think is crucial in Real probably progressing here. You can get Real Madrid to win an both teams to score at 12/5 with Coral Sport and I think that is a great value bet here.
Wednesday 2nd May (7.45pm Kick Off)
AS Roma (2) v (5) Liverpool
Can Roma do the improbable again and win this by three goals to progress? Certainly Liverpool have shipped goals at times this season and there are times when the Reds defence does tend to capitulate under pressure.
The problem I have with Roma is not so much them scoring the three goals they need, it is more keeping Liverpool out at the other end. It seems they will change tactics for the second leg but will that make much of a difference against a Liverpool side that have been rampant away from home in the Champions League this season? I can see Roma winning here but I am backing Liverpool to score enough goals to put themselves into the final. Get on Roma to win and both teams to score at 13/5 with Coral.
Europa League Semi Final Second Legs
Thursday 3rd May (8.05pm Kick off)
Atletico Madrid (1) v (1) Arsenal
Antoine Griezmann’s crucial goal was a massive boost for 10-man Atletico Madrid in the first leg and that ensured they earned a hugely important draw in London ahead of the second leg in Madrid. Diego Simeone will know that keeping 10 men on the pitch is the first step his team need to make in order to progress here.
Arsenal’s best wins away from home in 2018 have come in the Europa League but this is a huge ask against an Atletico side that have conceded just four goals at home in La Liga all season long. With home support behind them, I am backing Atletico to win this one to nil, which is a 9/5 shot with Coral Sport.
Red Bull Salzburg (0) v (2) Marseille
Marseille will be happy having secured a two goal lead an perhaps even more importantly, not conceding an away goal at the Stade Velodrome. A goal here means Red Bull need four to win against the French side and while they achieved that against Lazio in the last round, I think that is a big ask here against a well-marshalled Marseille team.
Red Bull have consistently surprised supposedly bigger teams in this tournament thus far and they have beaten Marseille at home in this competition this season (1-0 in the Group Stage), but I think a 2-0 win to force extra time or a 3-0 win to win the tie outright may be asking a lot here. I’m backing this one to end in a draw which is a 13/5 shot with Coral Sport.