We’re down to the last four of the 2023 Champions League and the semi-final line-up could hardly be more mouth-watering, as favourites Manchester City will meet holders Real Madrid and AC and Inter Milan will clash at the San Siro.
FC Bayern started their home tie with Manchester City three goals down and they could only match the Sky Blues 1-1 on the night. In a dramatic first half the Bavarians could have scored twice and might have been down to ten men, while we also saw the almost unbelievable sight of Erling Braut Haaland missing a penalty. Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka missed golden chances to drag the hosts back into the tie and then the action switched to the opposite end of the pitch.
Bayern centre back Dayot Upamecano had a chaotic first half, which saw him red carded for a trip on Haaland but, when the assistant flagged for offside the ref rescinded the card. Then when Ilkay Gundogan unleashed a fierce shot which hit Upamecano on the elbow the referee pointed to the spot and up stepped Haaland. The Bayern fans made a racket as the big Norwegian lined up his shot and, to the surprise of every football fan in Europe, he skied it.
Haaland did get his goal though, early in the second half, to make it 4-0 on aggregate with his 48th of the season; and then Bayern had a late consolation gifted to them by the referee. Sadio Mane’s cross hit Manuel Akanji from point blank range and the official pointed to the spot. Leon Goretzka nonchalantly stroked home the penalty as if it didn’t matter… and it didn’t.
The Champions League 2023 betting odds have backed the Sky Blues from the off and there’s no reason to doubt them now.
Milan’s power over Napoli continues
Of all this week’s Champions League 2023 results, it was the all Italian affair between Napoli and AC Milan which captured the imagination the most, as runaway Serie A leaders from Naples were trying to buck a trend of losing to I Rossoneri. Luciano Spalletti’s side was spanked 4-0 by AC Milan just two weeks ago and they also lost the first leg of their Champions League quarter final clash 1-0.
Gli Azzurri would have fancied their chances at home but Olivier Giroud scored the crucial goal on the brink of half time after a brilliant run from Rafael Leao and, while Victor Osimhen pulled one back in injury time I Rossoneri ran out 2-1 winners. Both sides had a spot kick saved, Giroud for Milan and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli. And now Milan can look forward to another blockbuster all Italian clash.
Inter make it a Milan Derby
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan love playing in Europe and they booked their place in the semi-final with an aggregate 5-3 victory over Benfica. I Nerazzurri have been in poor form at the San Siro, losing their last three Serie A games at home, the most recent to struggling Monza, but they started in electric form against Benfica on Wednesday night. They already had a two goal lead from their visit to Portugal and when Nicola Barella picked up a pass from Lautaro Martinez he rifled home his shot high into the top left corner.
Benfica have enjoyed a superb tournament and they made a game of it with a brilliant goal, as Fredrik Aursnes powered a header in from a pinpoint Rafa cross, but any thoughts of a fight back were ended when Martinez slotted home from close range. Joaquin Correa had only been on the pitch a few minutes when he scored a lovely goal to make it 3-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.
Job done; but Benfica didn’t go down without a fight as Antonio Silva headed home on 85 minutes and Peter Musa levelled on the night, deep into stoppage time.
Chelsea are out of their league
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea continued their wretched run with an aggregate 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid, losing 2-0 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. After escaping the Santiago Bernabeu with the tie just about alive, all hopes of an unlikely recovery ended when Rodrygo finished off a fast break with a smart finish on the hour. And when Federico Valverde waltzed his way through the Chelsea defence he teed up Rodrygo’s second with ten minutes remaining. Lampard has overseen four defeats since his return to the Stamford Bridge hot seat and Chelsea look way out of their depth among Europe’s elite. So Los Blancos will now take on Manchester City and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be all over that tie!
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