Champions League: Betting Update

You can never be sure in football, so if you used a free bet offer to back Barcelona or Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals then your confidence will have taken a knock. It looks certain that there will be no El Clasico final this time around.

Just days ago bookies had both Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Madrid favourite to go through. Now, with the first two games in the semis over, the picture has changed completely.

Champions League Favourites

Most bookies had Barcelona as favourites, expecting them to go one better than their runners-up finish last year. So if you used a Champions League betting offer to back Bayern in the first match of the two leg semi-finals, you made the right decision.

The game took place on 23rd April and saw Bayern attack Barcelona from the start. Their strategy was all about balance: treading a careful path between physicality and technique whilst playing their own highly structured game and quickly reacting to Barcelona's mistakes.

There’s no doubt Bayern Munich’s approach paid off; with goals from Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben, and two from Thomas Muller. If you used free bets on the match to predict the incredible 4-0 thrashing the German team delivered to Barcelona, you really hit the jackpot!

Most online bookies believe that it’s an impossible task for Barcelona to come back from this one and so there's some good odds to be had.

Already four goals down, even Messi, who looked unfit, isn’t going to help. It would be the longest of long shots. But if you really want to use your bet offers to back Barcelona to win the second match Betfred offers odds of 10/11. Meanwhile Ladbrokes offers 11/4 on Bayern.

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

The Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid game followed the day after on the 24th, and for a second successive night a Spanish mega-team conceded four goals in Germany.

It was Dortmund’s game all the way with a speed to their play that was breathtaking.

Alternatively, if you used a bookies free bet to back Madrid you were disappointed; they looked confused and unable to keep up during their Champions League semi-final.

It says something about the two teams, last season Madrid and Dortmund won the Spanish and German league titles and either looked strong contenders for some free bet action.

It just goes to show how quickly things can change when football betting at this level. At least Madrid managed to score an away goal, giving them some hope for the second leg. But you may want to think carefully before pinning yours on either Spanish team.

Currently Coral offers odds of 9/20 on Dortmund and 4/7 on Madrid to win the second Champions League semi-final.

So far it’s Germany 8 – Spain 1 and your'e probably thinking about using a free bet on an all German Champions League final. It will take a miracle to stop it happening.

Of course it isn’t over yet, currently most online bookies offer members odds of 4/6 on Bayern Munich, 2/1 on Dortmund, 10/1 on Madrid and 40/1 on Barcelona to win the tournament.

Of course there are always plenty of other ways to use Champions League betting offers. Ronaldo remains the favourite to become the tournament’s top goalscorer.

Or why not use a betting offer to predict the scores of the next semi-final games which take place on 30th April and 1st May.