Champions League
2012-04-03 - Bayern Munich vs Marseille
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League, Quarter Final Second Leg
Tuesday 3 April 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Bayern Munich lead 2-0 from the First Leg
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have taken a big step into the Semi Finals after recording a comfortable 0-2 win in France last week, but Jupp Heynckes has made it clear that he doesn't want his side to rest on their laurels in this one. Heynckes has warned his side about Marseille's recovery at Borussia Dortmund earlier in the season when they won 2-3 after being 2-0 down.
The side are still on course to winning the treble this season and have closed the gap on Dortmund in the Bundesliga to 3 points, while their place in the Champions League next season is almost secured. They have a 6-1-2 record this season, while Bayern have won all 4 home games at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League.
A 0-1 win at Nurnberg over the weekend means Bayern Munich have won their last 7 games in all competitions since a defeat at Bayer Leverkusen. They have won their last 9 home games in all competitions since a League defeat to Borussia Dortmund, and they have won 18 of their last 19 here. Bayern have scored at least 2 goals in all of those wins.
With Jupp Heynckes taking this game very seriously, there has been no indication of any players being rested in this one.
Marseille
It seems Marseille are already out of this competition this season following their 0-2 home loss last week, but they have had a week to prepare for the game and manager Didier Deschamps has not given up just yet. However, their form recently has been very poor and it will take something truly special for them to turn this around in Bavaria tonight.
The team are 9th in the French domestic table and they are already looking in danger of missing out of Europe altogether next season. The Champions League is already looking out of the question for Marseille, unless they can perform miracles and actually win it this season. They have a 4-1-4 record in the Champions League this season, which becomes 2-1-1 away from home.
Marseille have not won any of their 9 games since beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the first leg of the last 16 in the Champions League, and they have lost 7 of those games. They have drawn their last 2 away games in all competitions in regulation time, although Marseille had lost 4 in a row on their travels before that. They have lost just 3 of their last 10 away games in the Champions League.
Steve Mandanda will return in goal after missing last weeks game with a suspension, but Alou Diarra is out through suspension.
Head to Head
This will be the first competitive meeting in Munich between these two former European Champions.
Bayern Munich have a 7-2-3 home record against sides from France in European competitions.
Marseille are just 1-2-2 when playing games in Germany, although that win did come earlier this season at Borussia Dortmund.
Prediction
Bayern Munich have been scoring heavily at home all season and they could really take advantage of a Marseille side that may leave gaps at the back in search of the two goals they need to at least push this game to extra time.
Those gaps could get a little bigger if Marseille fall behind here tonight and the likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez could all profit on the counter.
Bayern Munich are going to play a strong team with the intention of completing the job tonight and that bodes well if you are playing the home side.
I think the circumstances also means it could be worth taking the home team on the Asian Handicap considering Marseille may be a little open if they fall behind here as they search for goals. My only concern is that Didier Deschamps decides to prevent an embarrassing scoreline instead of going for the win, but I expect Bayern to be winning by at least a couple of goals before that is to happen so I will take the home side on the handicap.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bayern Munich 3-0 Marseille
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Bayern Munich -1.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.35 (188Bet)
