Real Madrid vs Wolfsburg Prediction and Preview – 12/04/16
Champions League preview – Real Madrid vs Wolfsburg prediction.
Real Madrid look likely to be without centre-forward Karim Benzema who was substituted during the first half of the first leg after hurting his knee. James Rodriguez, Isco and Jese provide options. Sergio Ramos is expected to return to the defence after being suspended for La Liga victory against Eibar on Saturday. Pepe looks his most likely partner at centre-back in the continued absence of Raphael Varane.
Dieter Hecking as another option up front after Bas Dost made his first appearance for Wolfsburg on Saturday after almost four months on the sidelines. Left-back Ricardo Rodriguez and midfielder Julian Draxler started on the bench against Mainz but could return to the lineup in Madrid. Hecking has a decision to make at right-back where Portuguese winger Vieirinha was preferred to conventional full-back Christian Trasch in the first leg.
Possible Line-ups
Real Madrid 4-3-3 formation: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Ronaldo, James
Wolfsburg 4-2-3-1 formation: Benaglio; Trasch, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez; Guilavogui, Gustavo; Henrique, Arnold, Draxler; Schurrle
Statistics
- Real Madrid have won 7 drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Wolfsburg have won 4 drawn 3 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Real Madrid have scored an average of 2.5 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Wolfsburg have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 1 goal per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Real Madrid’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Wolfsburg’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Real Madrid reacted positively the 2-0 first leg defeat by beating Eibar 4-0 at the weekend when Jese and James Rodriguez staked their Champions League claims by getting on the score sheet. Real’s chances of qualifying may swing on being able to keep a clean sheet at the Bernabeu, something they have achieved in all four home games in this season’s competition.
Wolfsburg failed to win for the fourth consecutive league game when drawing 1-1 with Mainz at the weekend but have won their last five in a row in the Champions League. Hecking’s men may not be expected to extend their winning run when taking on Real in the Bernabeu but minimising the damage threatened by Ronaldo, Bale and co will be decisive to their chances of qualifying. They have not conceded more than two while on the road in this season’s Champions League which has included trips to Manchester United, PSV, CSKA Moscow and Gent where they only failed to score once, at PSV.
Real Madrid can overcome the 2-0 deficit on the evidence of scoring 17 goals in the last four games at the Bernabeu.
Tips
Real Madrid to win at 2/9 with William Hill
Over 2.5 goals at 3/10 with Betfair Sportsbook
Real Madrid to win 4-0 at 21/2 with BetVictor
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