Liverpool vs Real Madrid prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-02-20 20:00.
Arguably the UEFA Champions Leagueâs (UCL) most blockbuster last-16 tie sees a replay of the 2021/22 and 2018/19 finals, with six-time winners Liverpool taking on defending and record holding 14-time champions Real Madrid. Liverpool will host the first-leg after finishing second in Group A, and JĂŒrgen Kloppâs men may be breathing a huge sigh of relief after back-to-back 2-0 wins in league action has released some of the growing pressure on the German boss and his side.
Despite the Redsâ poor season by their own exceptionally high standards, a fiery Anfield atmosphere on a European night will still be expected. Although theyâve lost only one of their last 23 home games (W16, D6), Liverpool probably couldnât have handpicked a tougher opponent to extend that record against than Madrid, especially as Klopp's side have failed to get the better of their Spanish counterparts in each of the last six H2Hs (D1, L5).
The reigning UCL, La Liga (LL), and Club World Cup champions punched their tickets to the last-16 by topping Group F, as they bid to take one step closer to a remarkable sixth UCL final in the last ten seasons. Madrid currently look like the world-beaters theyâve come to be known as, winning each of their last four fixtures with a mammoth 15 goals amassed in that time, most recently securing a 2-0 win against Osasuna as they continue to hunt down Barcelona at the LL summit.
Besides their impressive form, Los Blancos will feel theyâll still be required to up their game, having won only once in their last seven UCL visits to England (D2, L4). A potentially hostile welcome awaits manager Carlo Ancelotti too, especially since he guided Liverpoolâs city rivals Everton to a 2-0 win in his last visit to Anfield, meaning heâs lost only twice in his last 11 managerial meetings with the Reds (W6, D3).
Players to watch: Liverpoolâs Mohamed Salah is one UCL goal away from tying Didier Drogba (44 goals) as the highest scoring African player in the competition. Meanwhile, Karim Benzema could become the first Madrid player to ever score in six different competitions in a single season should he find the net during these two ties.
Hot stat: Only one of Liverpoolâs nine previous matches in the UCL last 16 produced over 2.5 goals in 90 minutes.