WhoScored Tipster: Champions League Semi-Final Betting

Real Madrid and Barcelona embark on what most believe will be missions that prove to be impossible, even with the talent at their disposal this week. Jose Mourinho's side are looking to become only the second ever team to overturn a 4-1 first leg deficit in the knockout stages of the Champions League. That team was Deportivo La Coruna, achieving the almighty overhauls back in 2003 to beat AC Milan 4-0 in the reverse fixture at the Estadio Riazor.

However, Barcelona will have to make history to progress. No side have ever come back from 4-0 down in the first leg in a knockout match in the tournament as we know it. They will feel that it isn't over just yet, having overturned a 3-0 advantage, again held by Milan, to win 4-0 in the quarter finals. Such a result would be enough to take them to extra time against Bayern Munich, but the odds are stacked hugely in the Germans' favour.

To bet on either of the La Liga giants progressing may be a little far fetched, but you can be sure that they will give it one hell of an effort this week. The mentality of the two Bundesliga powerhouses will have altered in their respective matches, and though both will stick with their ever present 4-2-3-1 formations, the plan will be to soak up the pressure and strike on the counter, even more so than in the fixtures last week.

To say that Barcelona and Real Madrid have to go on the offensive from the outset is somewhat obvious, with 3 goals without reply enough to see the latter complete a miracle, while Barca need at least 4. In turn they'll leave holes in the side and few clubs in Europe are better at exploiting such opportunities to break than Bayern and Dortmund. Both have scored 9 goals on the counter in the league despite being the side that do the vast majority of attacking in their matches, so we're backing goals, goals and more goals this week.

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund - Preview

As mentioned, three goals would be enough to see Mourinho's side through if they can keep and admittedly unlikely clean sheet. Real Madrid have played 26 games at the Bernabeu this season in all competitions, scoring 78 goals in the process. On average then, Madrid have scored exactly 3 goals per game in home matches this season, and if you fancy them to manage that the odds are 2.30 on over 2.5 goals from the home side.

The two sides have met at the Bernabeu already this season, with the game ending in an entertaining 2-2 draw, so the hosts know that they are capable of opening up Dortmund's defence. In the three encounters between the sides already this season, however, they've failed to stop Klopp's side from scoring less than twice, and while both teams to score may be a more obvious choice at 1.45, a bet on over 3.5 goals between the side's could be a safe, but more profitable option at 1.79.

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich - Preview

It's fair to say that Barcelona's task, against what many now believe to be the best team in the world at present, is more difficult. Vilanova's side don't have the luxury of an away goal to potentially profit from and they face a side that haven't failed to score since their shock defeat to Arsenal in the round of 16. The fact that Heynckes side had a comfortable lead in that tie before letting the Gunners back in it in the second leg will give the Catalans hope.

In the league and Champions League combined, the last away team to score more than once at the Camp Nou was Real Madrid back in October and Barca have kept clean sheets in 4 of their last 6 home games. If you fancy them to do so again, the odds are understandably high, at 3.50, on Bayern to fail to score. A more likely outcome could see Barcelona win by at least two goals, as they have in 12 of their 16 league home games this season, and Barcelona to win with a -1 handicap is out at a very tempting 3.00.

All Champions League odds have been provided by Ladbrokes