Europe’s elite competition returns this week and we analyse the UEFA Champions League goal time betting picks. Who will be the fast starters and late finishers in the round of 16 Champions League second-leg clashes?
UEFA Champions League goal time betting – games in focus
Real Sociedad vs Paris Saint-Germain (HT – 75 minutes)
Paris Saint-Germain were in control in the first leg against Real Sociedad. Les Parisiens cruised to a 2-0 home win, with second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola putting the Ligue 1 side in the driving seat.
A different type of match could unfold in the Reale Arena due to Sociedad’s defensive setup under Imanol Alguacil.
A backfoot tactical approach has often led to low-scoring results for Erreala, as the Basque side have conceded just one first-half goal in their last five on home turf. Two of Sociedad’s four goals conceded in their last two games at home have also come just after half time in the 47th and 49th minute respectively.
PSG are also less likely to fly out of the traps when playing away. Luis Enrique’s side has scored three goals after the break in their last three Ligue 1 away matches. Two of these strikes also came between the 49th and 60th minute, so another late opener could be on the cards in Spain.
Bayern Munich vs Lazio (Second half)
Lazio stunned Bayern Munich in Rome two weeks ago with a shock 1-0 win over the Bundesliga champions. Ciro Immobile’s 69th-minute penalty was decisive as the Eagles prevented Die Roten from registering a shot on target.
Maurizio Sarri’s side will likely head to Bavaria with similar tactics that yielded a huge win in the first leg. Lazio should be confident of holding out for the first half, considering Bayern have failed to score in the first half in three of their last four home Bundesliga matches.
The Eagles’ recent Serie A matches have also seen late opening goals. The first strike for either side has come after the break in three of the Eagles’ last four fixtures in all competitions.
While Thomas Tuchel’s side is likely to put the pressure on from the outset against Lazio, Sarri will have his side well-drilled. Lazio will ultimately be confident of holding out and possibly hitting on the break late on.
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig (0 – 30 minutes)
Real Madrid head to the Santiago Bernabéu with a slender 1-0 aggregate advantage over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Brahim Díaz’s 49th-minute strike at the Red Bull Arena helped Los Blancos to edge the Bundesliga side in the first leg.
Although Carlo Ancelotti’s side had to wait for the second half to make a breakthrough, the first-leg tie saw plenty of early chances. A combined 10 shots came in the opening 25 minutes as both sides looked to make a fast start.
This gung-ho early approach was on trend for Real Madrid and Leipzig. Four match openers in Los Blanco’s six previous La Liga matches have come in the opening half hour. Similarly, Leipzig has seen the opening match goal in the first 30 minutes in six of their previous eight games,
Early goals are anticipated as this clash heads back to Madrid. Los Blancos will want to extend their lead early, while Leipzig must try and restore parity early to keep their UCL hopes alive.
