- Two more Champions League quarterfinals start on Wednesday, April 9
- Barcelona and PSG are big home favorites over Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa, respectively
- See my favorite Champions League picks and predictions for Barcelona vs Dortmund and PSG vs Aston Villa today
The second pair of UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clashes get underway on Wednesday, April 9, with Barcelona hosting Borussia Dortmund and PSG hosting Aston Villa. Both matches kickoff at 3:00 pm ET with the second-leg reverse fixtures on Tuesday, April 15. The table below sets out the three-way moneyline odds for today’s first legs, along with the over/under and odds to advance to the quarterfinals, and my score predictions and best bet for both games.
Champions League Predictions & Picks (April 9)
Barcelona and PSG head into the quarterfinals as +275 co-favorites in the Champions League odds. Aston Villa is a +3000 longshot, but that’s still ahead of Dortmund (+4000), who have the longest odds of all eight remaining teams.
Odds as of April 9 at Caesars. Read SBD’s Caesars Sportsbook review to find the latest info on bonuses and promo codes.
Sascha Paruk’s UCL betting record: 8-5 (+3.81 units). All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction & Pick
- First half under 1.5 goals (-120)
Yesterday’s pair of Champions League matches – Arsenal vs Real Madrid (3-0) and Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan (1-2) – both went over their totals of 2.5 goals, but they combined for just one first-half goal, and that came from Inter’s Lautaro Martinez in the 42nd minute. They were just the most-recent illustration of how cagey teams can be in the first halves of first legs deep in these competitions. There is, almost inevitably, a feeling-out process.
That will be especially true of Dortmund, I expect. Manger Niko Kovač will be playing to keep the score close, hoping to win this quarterfinal at home in six days’ time. Barcelona’s attack can be overwhelming at times, but that hasn’t been the case in the last 180 minutes. Barca drew 1-1 at home with Betis last time out and earned a 1-0 away victory over Atletico in the Copa Del Rey the game prior, combining for just 3.09 xGF across the two matches.
A defensively-sound first half from the Germans will keep this game within reach for at least 45 minutes. I’m betting the first half to stay under 1.5 goals at a price of -120.
PSG vs Aston Villa Prediction & Pick
- PSG -1.5 (+115)
As impressive as Aston Villa has been throughout their Champions League campaign – the team’s first in over two decades – I’m betting on the Parisians to win by multiple goals. The last time PSG hosted an English side was just over a month ago, when they fell 1-0 at Parc des Princes to Liverpool. But, if you didn’t watch the game, take a closer look at the statistics. PSG carried 71% of possessions and directed 27 shots towards goal (10 on target) while Liverpool managed to score in the 87th minute on their only shot on goal of the entire game.
It was absolute robbery by Liverpool.
The Reds, who lead the EPL by 11 points over Arsenal and sit 22 points up on Villa, were thoroughly outclassed by PSG, despite the scoreline. PSG, of course, got its revenge with a 1-0 away win at Anfield a week later (plus a 4-1 penalty victory) to set up this quarterfinal clash with the Villains.
Aston Villa has been in excellent form, winning eight straight across all competitions. But look at the last time they faced a truly elite team: Feb. 19 at home against Liverpool. They managed a 2-2 home draw, but Liverpool were clearly the better side, finishing with 2.44 xGF on 17 shots to just 0.73 xGF on nine shots for Villa.
This is going to be a rude awakening for Villa faithful.
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The highly anticipated Champions League matches between Barcelona and Dortmund, as well as PSG and Aston Villa, are set to take place today. Football fans around the world are eagerly awaiting these matchups, as they feature some of the top teams in Europe facing off against each other.
In the Barcelona vs Dortmund match, both teams are coming off strong performances in their respective domestic leagues. Barcelona, led by superstar Lionel Messi, will be looking to continue their winning streak and secure a victory at home. On the other hand, Dortmund, with their young and talented squad, will be aiming to pull off an upset and come away with a win on the road.
Based on recent form and overall team strength, Barcelona is favored to win this match. However, Dortmund should not be underestimated and could potentially cause problems for the Spanish giants. A close and exciting game is expected, with Barcelona ultimately coming out on top with a 2-1 victory.
In the PSG vs Aston Villa match, PSG will be looking to bounce back from a recent loss in Ligue 1 and secure a win in front of their home crowd. With a star-studded lineup including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, PSG will be looking to dominate the game and put on a show for their fans. Aston Villa, on the other hand, will be looking to pull off a major upset and come away with a surprise victory.
Despite Aston Villa’s best efforts, PSG is expected to come out on top in this match. The French champions have too much quality and firepower for Aston Villa to handle, and they should secure a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Overall, football fans can expect two exciting matches in the Champions League today. Barcelona and PSG are favored to come out on top in their respective matchups, but anything can happen in football. Tune in to watch these games and see which teams will emerge victorious in the end.
