UEFA Champions League 2018-19 Semi-Finals: Preview

Tottenham Hotspur vs Ajax

UEFA Champions League 2018-19 | Semi-final, first leg
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Kick-off time: 9pm CET

Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax have pulled well above their weight and exceeded expectations to reach the semi-finals of 2018-19 UEFA Champions League competition. Both teams have played attractive attacking football and have been successful against more experienced opponents. 

Tottenham defeated Manchester City after a nail-biting tie (4-4 on aggregate) while Ajax produced a magnificent second-half display in Turin to end Juventus dream (3-2 on aggregate), after eliminating Real Madrid in the Round of 16.

This semi-final is definitely promising and goals are guaranteed. One of the decisive factors in the tie could be the Pochettino's limited attacking options, forward Son Heung-min is suspended for Tuesday's game, while the Argentinian manager could not count on Tottenham’s best goal scorer Hary Kane for the rest of the season. 

Dusan Tadic has been a revelation for Ajax this season and will play a major role as a winger. Moussa Sissoko versus Frenkie de Jong will be another interesting battle.

Ajax play away from home the first leg, unlike their round of 16 and round of 8 fixtures against Real Madrid and Juventus respectively. So, Spurs will try to make the most of home advantage in the first leg. Spurs at this point have a slight edge but Ajax are brimming with confidence. A place in the Champions League Final is at stake and this should be cracking contest.

Spurs’ record v Dutch clubs: W9 D5 L3
Ajax’s record v English clubs: W7 D7 L8

Tottenham v Ajax match odds

•    Tottenham to win on the night: 2.60
•    Draw: 3.40
•    Ajax to win on the night: 2.90

Semi-final odds
•    Tottenham to qualify for the final: 2.00
•    Ajax to qualify for the final: 1.75

Both teams to score
•    Yes: 1.66
•    No: 2.10

First goalscorer odds
•    Fernando Llorente: 6.50
•    Klass-Jan Huntelaar: 7.00
•    Dusan Tadic: 7.00
•    Lucas Moura: 7.50

Barcelona vs Liverpool

UEFA Champions League 2018-19 | Semi-final, first leg
Venue: Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Kick-off time: 9pm CET

Barcelona are currently looking the best team in the competition, with Lionel Messi at his very best in the season. A couple of days ago they celebrated the title in La Liga, they are one win away from winning the Copa del Rey for a fifth consecutive season and have reached the last four of the UEFA Champions League. 

The Reds, losing finalists against Real Madrid last season, are also much stronger defensively this term in Virgil van Dijk's first full season, and they have conceded just 20 goals in their 34 Premier League fixtures in 2018-19, losing only one of those, a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in early January.

Although Liverpool lost all three of their group games on the road, Klopp’s side have since beaten Bayern Munich 3-1 and Porto 4-1 on the road in their two Champions League knockout matches.

Liverpool’s defense will have to be alert for the full 90 minutes as a slight error would be punished by Messi and Suarez. Undoubtedly their main challenge will be to stop Messi and, in that Virgil Van Dijk, has to play a pivotal role. Messi versus Van Djyk is a much-awaited contest.

However, Barcelona have much more world-class attacking options apart from Messi in the form of Luis Suarez and Phillipe Coutinho.

Liverpool’s best chance will probably be on a counterattack with the trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane. Their contest against Pique and Jordi Alba will also play a decisive role in the tie.

Barcelona’s record v English clubs: W35 D21 L18
Liverpool’s record v Spanish clubs: W14 D12 L12

Barcelona v Liverpool match odds

•    Barcelona to win on the night: 1.90
•    Draw: 3.80
•    Liverpool to win on the night: 4.20

Semi-final odds
•    Barcelona to qualify for the final: 1.80
•    Liverpool to qualify for the final: 1.95

Both teams to score
•    Yes: 1.61
•    No: 2.20

First goalscorer odds
•    Lionel Messi: 3.75
•    Luis Suarez: 5.00
•    Mohamed Salah: 6.50
•    Sadio Mane: 8.00

* Odds correct as of 10:30pm, Monday 29th Apr 2019