Using Inter, rather than Benfica, as the better comparison given they also play in one of Europe’s ‘big four’ leagues, Villarreal are significantly longer than Simone Inzaghi’s team were (12\/5) to win the home leg of their last-16 tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given the Yellow Submarine have to go for it and Liverpool can afford to draw or narrowly lose, for once it’s worth opposing Jurgen Klopp’s side – at least to some degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villarreal are unbeaten in 12 home games stretching back to November, beating Bayern Munich and drawing with Juventus at El Madrigal on their way to the last four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that sequence they have also drawn league matches with both Madrid clubs and an Athletic Bilbao team currently a place and a point below them in the La Liga table. The DRAW is what I am advising here at a standout price of 13\/4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liverpool’s incredible form means it’s difficult to make the case for Unai Emery’s men to turn them over, whatever the circumstances of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Spaniards can be backed at a best price of 4\/1 with the 14\/5 about Villarreal draw no bet also tempting. Not tempting enough, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another selection I like is the 8\/11 about BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Game state really plays into this bet given that Villarreal must score twice to have any chance of qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liverpool’s recent record in these knockout ties adds to the notion that their usually watertight defense may be breached when their opponent is throwing the kitchen sink at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Klopp refused to criticize his team after the 3-3 draw with Benfica in the last round, instead saying it was “normal” for players to become complacent and lose concentration when qualification was virtually guaranteed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not difficult to make a case for Liverpool to find the net, but just for the record they have scored in 53 of 56 games in all competitions this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finishing with a longshot, I wouldn’t sleep without including RAUL ALBIOL TO SCORE ANYTIME to small stakes after it leapt out at an eye-watering 40\/1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albiol may only have one goal to his name this season but after a quiet start in terms of attacking involvement, he has registered an attempt in five of Villarreal’s past nine home league games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His price is an outlier compared to his team-mates, with both Albiol and Juan Foyth at 2\/1 and 11\/2 to have a shot and a shot on target respectively, yet Foyth is 28\/1 to score for the first since October 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Score prediction: Villarreal 1-1 Liverpool (+700)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manchester City\u2019s 4-3 win in the opening leg of this tie was quickly labeled by swathes of the media as one of the greatest matches in Champions League history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That kind of hyperbole is often rife in the immediate aftermath of a good game. In reality it was hugely one-sided, with Real Madrid needing an incredible amount of fortune to go into the second leg only one goal down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karim Benzema, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, scored against the run of the play after City swept into an early lead before John Stones – already playing as makeshift right-back – limped off injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Pep Guardiola\u2019s side re-established a two-goal lead, Vinicius Junior exploited the use of emergency right-back Fernandinho to race past him and score. At 4-2 it looked as though City would finally keep, or even extend, the significant advantage they deserved. Instead Aymeric Laporte inexplicably handballed in the box to allow Benzema to panenka home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of non-penalty expected goals (xG) it was City 3.23-1.09 Real.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReal Madrid vs. Manchester City (agg: 3-4)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n