The Champions League quarter-finals reach their conclusion on Wednesday and Arsenal and Bayern Munich will be looking to finish the job in style in front of their home supporters.
Arsenal saw their lead at the top of the Premier League cut to six points after Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth but they return to the Emirates in control of this Champions League tie following last Tuesday’s last-gasp 1-0 win at Sporting.
Bayern also carved out an aggregate lead on the road with a 2-1 victory at Real Madrid and they should be confident of completing the task in hand at their beloved Allianz Arena.
There are also two League One fixtures on the menu as Stockport County bid to strengthen their play-off position at AFC Wimbledon and Luton Town look to put Northampton out of their misery and send them down.
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Wednesday’s football tips
Bet of the Day
Bayern to win & both teams to score @ 13/10
Bayern got the better of Real Madrid 2-1 in a captivating encounter at the Bernabeu and it is difficult to see roles being reversed at the Allianz Arena.
Vincent Kompany’s side have triumphed in all five Champions League home fixtures this season, scoring 16 goals, and they have been truly explosive in the Bundesliga, winning 24 of their 29 matches and hitting the net 105 times.
There were 40 shots, 17 of which hit the target, in an entertaining first leg but Real have to force the ascendancy and that will only leave them vulnerable defensively.
With no Thibaut Courtois in goal to bail Real Madrid out, Bayern should be confident of recording another victory, although they will still need to be wary of the attacking threat the visitors pose through Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Bayern have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 matches so can be caught out at the back, but Real have recorded only one shut out in their last 11 outings and are winless in three matches after Friday’s 1-1 draw with Girona.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have suffered defeat in five of their last 10 road outings and there are few places more intimidating than Bayern’s fortress.
Bet Builder
Both teams to score in Arsenal vs Sporting & Maximiliano Araujo to be shown a card @ 14/5
Kai Havertz’s injury-time goal has put Arsenal in the driving seat of this Champions League quarter-final clash with Sporting, but the Gunners are looking vulnerable and may not have things all their own way at the Emirates.
That victory in Portugal has come either side of 2-1 defeats to Southampton and Bournemouth and Sporting forced five saves from Arsenal ace David Raya at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting have scored on Champions League trips to Napoli, Juventus, Bayern and Athletic Bilbao this season and they can breach Arsenal, who have conceded in eight of their last 12 matches.
There was only one booking in the opening leg but Sporting left-back Maximiliano Araujo was lucky to escape one having committed seven fouls, struggling to cope with Arsenal’s pacey attack.
The Uruguayan international has been carded 13 times in 37 appearances for club and country this season.
Acca
Bayern, Stockport and Luton to win @ 27/10
Bayern impressed in last week’s 2-1 success at Real Madrid and, having won 18 of their 20 matches in Munich this season, they should be able to double the dose.
Stockport were beaten 3-1 by Luton in Sunday’s EFL Trophy final at Wembley but they are fifth in League One and will be keen to strengthen their play-off place.
The Hatters can respond with victory at AFC Wimbledon, who are only three points above the drop zone following a seven-game winless run.
EFL Trophy winners Luton complete the treble and should make light work of Northampton, who have lost seven on the spin and will be relegated with defeat.
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