Last weekend’s collaboration between BallStreet Trading and Bettors Insider went well, so Friday will bring another opportunity to win some money betting, and trading on the BallStreet app.
BallStreet has one game Friday and Saturday, focusing on the two Spanish powerhouses and a Manchester City team that is going to be polarizing for the rest of the time it is in the UEFA Champions League.
The Cityzens two-year ban was overturned, but there was a huge fine, and many people still see them as guilty. Friday, in the BallStreet/Bettors Insider collaboration of the day, Manchester City will host La Liga champions Real Madrid in a Round-of-16 second leg contest. City won 2-1 in Madrid way back in February, and Sergio Ramos is suspended for the game today after he was sent off late in the first leg.
Now I don’t believe in conspiracies, but there is a school of thought that there is NO WAY that UEFA is going to have Manchester City run the table in this tournament to lift its first European Cup. I actually think this team is the favorite to win the title, but Pep Guardiola’s side has rarely been able to put together four good games in a row this season.
To win this, City is going to have to beat the Spanish champion in the RO16, then possibly the Italian champion (Juventus) in the quarters, German champion (Bayern Munich) in the semis, and French champion (PSG) in the final.
Now, the bracket may blow up today, as Lyon holds a 1-0 lead over Juventus heading to Italy and is actually favored to advance (-125 to +100). I can’t see Cristiano Ronaldo not dragging his team through to the quarters, just like I can’t see Lionel Messi falling in the RO16 Saturday in the BallStreet Match of the Day.
I like Juventus to move on, but I am really torn about the other contest. City is better, but an early red card, or some dodgy penalty, and this Real Madrid side that is currently +2200 to win the tournament might actually advance.
Barring that, though, I just don’t see Manchester City losing by two goals. A 2-1 Real Madrid win would see extra time, while any one-goal win for Madrid higher than that (eg. 3-2, 4-3, 5-4) would see the Spanish champs move on due to away goals.
Check Fubo.tv for channel listings
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-OF-16 SECOND LEGS
Juventus (-195) vs. Lyon (+500), draw (+340), 3 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access and Fubo.tv; Lyon leads 1-0 on aggregate)
Manchester City (-165) vs. Real Madrid (+390), draw (+340), 3 p.m. EDT (CBS Sports, UniMas, TUDN, and Fubo.tv; City leads 2-1 on aggregate)
THE PICKS:
Juventus to advance (+100)
Manchester City -0.75 (-125)
City/Madrid over 3 goals Asian handicap (-120)