Champions League semi-final first-leg betting tips – CopyBet
We’ve reached the last-four of this season’s Champions League, with the first-legs of the semi-finals taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Two previous winners will meet in one, while two clubs seeking their first European Cup clash in the other.
Arsenal, having missed out on the Premier League title, will target their first Champions League success as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain. There are eight European Cups between Barcelona and Inter Milan and both will feel they can add another going into their two-legged encounter.
Tip 1: This will be the second time Arsenal and PSG have faced each other in this season’s Champions League, with the duo having met in the league phase.
Arsenal won 2-0 at the Emirates in early October, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bakayo Saka, but both teams are in a different place six months on.
The Gunners have been hit by injuries to key players, with the likes of Havertz, Gabriel and Gabriel Jesus missing.
Meanwhile, PSG have already secured the Ligue 1 title and are arguably playing the best football of the remaining teams.
Luis Enrique’s men have beaten Premier League teams in the last two rounds – Liverpool and Aston Villa – and will believe they can make it a hat-trick.
The Gunners, though, are unbeaten in their six European home matches this season and have made the Emirates something of a fortress.
Mikel Arteta’s men have beaten the likes of Real Madrid and Monaco on home soil en route to the semi-finals and are likely to need a lead to take to the French capital for the second leg.
PSV Eindhoven are the only away team to have scored in those six matches at the Emirates, but PSG can end that run.
The French champions have found the net in each of their last five Champions League away days and scored 13 goals during that run.
Tip 2: Barcelona are the outright favourites going into the semi-finals, but they face a tough test against an Inter Milan team who were finalists two years ago.
The Italians have the best defensive record in this season’s competition, keeping eight clean sheets in their 12 matches.
They will need all their defensive knowhow to keep Barca at arm’s length, with the Catalan giants topping the goal-scoring charts, finding the net 37 times.
Hansi Flick will be without his veteran frontman, with injury keeping Robert Lewandowski out of both legs.
Barca will also not have the intimidating arena of the Camp Nou as an advantage, with the La Liga leaders playing at the 55,000 Estadi Lluis Companys while their home ground is updated.
With the second leg still to come at the San Siro, Inter will know a draw will keep them in a strong position to make it to the final in Munich.
It’s worth noting that there hasn’t been more than a goal between the sides in their last five meetings. It was a 3-3 draw when they last met, at the Camp Nou in 2022.
18+. UK residents only. Football betting tips are for entertainment purposes only and reflect the author’s personal opinion.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. No guarantees of outcomes.
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