Real Madrid v Liverpool Tips: Best plays for this quarter-final showdown

One of the first two Champions League quarter-finals pits two of the competitions most successful clubs together as Real Madrid welcome Liverpool this evening. I have picked out a couple of selections that have taken my fancy at 10, 17/4 and a long-shot at 31.5/1. 

The hosts come into this one without the services of some of their most important players; Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde are all sidelined. Zinidine Zidane will have Casemiro, who missed the last UCL game with suspension, and Toni Kross back available and both of which are expected to start in midfield here. 

Real Madrid are one of only two sides to have won more European Cups than the Reds, however, Jurgen Klopp will struggle to add to that tally with a host of pivotal players missing. Liverpool’s boss will have the same squad available from the Arsenal match. Georginio Wijnaldum is expected to replace James Milner in the middle of the park, however, the uncertainty lies in who he will opt for upfront with both Firmino and Jota contesting for the spot. 

The last time these sides met was in the 2018 final where Real Madrid came out 3-1 winners. With the quarter-finals spread over two legs these fixtures promise to be a different proposition and the bookies are struggling to call this leg with both sides priced around 8/5. 

• Casemiro Headed Shot on Target at 10/1 with Betfair
• Eder Militão Booking at Odds of 17/4 with BetVictor 
• Casemiro to Score Anytime and Eder Militão to be Booked at 31.5/1 with Bet365

This campaign Casemiro has registered 41 shots in the Champions League and La Liga for Real Madrid, staggeringly, 49% have come via his head as have 67% of his goals! That is seven shots in the UCL with this bet landing in Los Blancos bout with Atalanta. 

Since joining Real Madrid, the Brazilian has made his name as the enforcer amongst the Galacticos often providing the balance in midfield. However, this campaign he has popped up with some important goals in some lacklustre Madrid performances. 

In the EPL, a quarter of the goals Liverpool have conceded have come via set pieces. In La Liga, 18% of the goals Real Madrid have come courtesy of them and in a UCL quarter-final - where the margins are razor thin - they could be the difference at Bernabeu. 

With Sergio Ramos ruled out here and Zidane expected to deploy a three-man defence Eder Militão could get the nod this evening. BetVictor’s price of 17/4 - and Bet365 of 4/1  - for  him to receive a booking is worth a punt.

The young Brazilian centre back has only featured in the UCL and La Liga for a combined total of 410 minutes this campaign, yet with three yellows and one red to his name he has averaged one card every 103 minutes played! 

Eder Militão most recent feature in a back three game in the last round vs Atalanta when he made a short cameo at RCB. If he features in that position tomorrow it would pit him against Liverpool’s most fouled player; Sadio Mane. Mane has drawn an average of 2.3 fouls per game - in the UCL and EPL - and could provide Eder Militão with a lot of issues.

With six goals in 33 appearances for Real Madrid, Casamiro’s price of 11/2 with Bet365 does represent some value as is as it implied probability of it landing according to their odds is 15.4% yet he has scored in 18.2% of his starts.

As I previously alluded to, the majority of his goals have come with his head and with Sergio Ramos unavailable he will be the target from set pieces. 

Using Bet365’s ‘Bet Builder’ you can combine him to score with a Eder Militão card at odds of 31.5/1. Best of luck if you are backing any of these selections and please remember to gamble responsibly.