Good Ebening

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Let's get straight into it.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

🇪🇸 Name a better couple than Real Madrid and the Champions League... you can't. Los Blancos pulled out the magic again this week, after falling behind 3-0 to Chelsea in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie. It was looking bleak for Madrid, until Luka Modrić pulled off this peach of a ball for Rodrygo's tying goal. Karim Benzema (who else) netted the winner in extra time. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Honours even between Manchester City and Liverpool after another 2-2 draw in the Premier League. These two are just so so good, they keep matching each other at every turn. It was another enthralling encounter between these two heavyweights, and a draw that sees the title race well and truly alive with 7 games left to play. 

🇪🇺 Around Europe:

Champions League: Liverpool glided home comfortably against Benfica, whilst Man City did the same––just much less comfortably. A heated 0-0 draw spilled into a tunnel skirmish after the game, but ultimately City find themselves into the semis against Madrid. Bayern were left shocked by the tactical wizardry of none other than Unai Emery––GOOD EBENING––as Villarreal dumped the German giants out of the competition. The final four is set: City v Madrid, Liverpool v Villarreal. 

Europa League: Barcelona crumbled at home vs Frankfurt and were knocked out of the competition; the first blip in the Xavi project for some time. David Moyes Hammers progressed through to the semi-finals as well, while Red Bull Leipzig and Rangers did the same.

Conference League: José's still got it? Roma dismantled Glimt, while Marseille, Leicester City, and Feyenoord also find themselves through to the semi-finals. 

Quiz Of The Week

Five English teams have won the Champions League/European Cup throughout history. Can you name them all?  (Hint: Man City isn't one of them ;))

Scroll to the bottom for the answer...

England's Oldest Rivalry

Tuesday 3:00 PM ET –– Liverpool (-235) vs Manchester United (+600)

It's truly the biggest and baddest rivalry in the English game––despite the falloff in the levels of Manchester United in recent years. Liverpool are no strangers to seeing diminished returns between the two, spending the better part of Sir Alex Ferguson's 26 years firmly in United's shadow. Now, the tables have turned; I won't say Liverpool are United's daddy, but some might. 

Klopp has arguably a bigger game in the meantime––Manchester City (again) in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. You might give the edge to Liverpool after resting a number of important players, and after City played full strength and suffered injury setbacks to both Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker. In terms of rivalries, however, no matter how good City and Liverpool are at the moment, it doesn't get bigger than United and Liverpool head to head. 

81 United wins, 58 draws, and 69 Liverpool wins up against one another. 20 league titles for United, 19 for Liverpool. 3 European Cups for United, 6 for Liverpool: It's the two most storied clubs in England, who have deep seated hatred for one another.

Despite the fact United's season is coming crashing down upon them, and Liverpool need to win their games in this title chase, Ragnick's men will give it all they have come Tuesday. If they don't, the fans will let them have it... especially on the back of a 5-0 drubbing on home turf in the reverse fixture.

A Title Race That Could Have Been 

Sunday 3:00 PM ET –– Sevilla (+195) vs Real Madrid (+150)

In a title race that could have been, Sevilla and Real Madrid square off this weekend in Seville. Sevilla, for a hot second, were neck and neck with Real Madrid in what could have been a magical chase for a first league title for the Sevillistas since 1945. However, after a really poor run of form in 2022, Sevilla has not only fallen out of the title race, but are now in jeopardy of missing out on top four entirely. Sevilla will have to rely on an unbeaten record of home games as a precursor for this duel.

Real Madrid are in top form at the moment. First they knocked off PSG in an epic two-legger in the Champions League. Then they knocked off Chelsea in an epic two-legger in the Champions League. Karim Benzema is the star of the show, but Carlo Ancelotti has really reinvigorated the spirit within this team––particularly during times where Real Madrid have been rather exposed financially amidst the pandemic. He's been the right man to steer the ship, and if the club sorts itself out and gets Mbappe on board next year, watch out...

Dan & Billy's Betting Picks

Dan's Picks: I didn't hit on two of my three bets last week, but if you stuck with me you HIT BIG on Everton beating United. Feels good to service all of you guys. This week, let's start with Liverpool to beat City in 90 minutes at Wembley in the FA Cup (+185). I think Liverpool's resting of players midweek will get them over the line. I also like a little parlay with United and Spurs both to win (-104). Let's round off with Sevilla tie no bet (+110) against Real Madrid and see how we go.

Billy's Picks: Dan got one right and thinks he's a guru? That's funny. I feel pretty good about delivering to my disciples last weekend. Tottenham and Leicester both cashed, with a little heat-check prop on Jimmy Maddison the only non-cash. Let's kickoff with Spurs (-175) over Brighton. It's a little minus money but I just don't see Spurs not getting the job done here at home. Too much on the line, too good of form with that front three. I'm also going to say (reluctantly) take Arsenal (-115) away to Southampton. I think Arteta pulls something off here, especially against a messy Southy. My reach of the week: Burnley +400 against West Ham away. West Ham have been giving everything, week after week in the midweek Europa League games. Their squad is terribly thin to boot. This is a sharp pick. Good luck this weekend chaps!

Goal Of The Week 

Rafael Borré cranks one past Ter Stegen en route to dropping Barcelona out of the Europa league. Big time. Look away now, little Daniel.

Red Card Of The Week 

Now this I haven't seen... Villanueva del Pardillo manager comes ONTO THE FIELD to stop a late counter attack in a deadlocked game and was shown red. Incredible. 

Quiz Answer: Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

Have a great weekend and continue to spread the Straight Red love if you want a chance to win a jersey of your choice!