SL expert Martin Green, who knows more about soccer than I ever will, likes Under 2.5 goals. This is clearly an alt total in our feed but I'll happily take it. Again, with my limited knowledge feels like Dortmund has to play conservative to have a shot. There have not been more than three goals scored in a UCL final since 2018.

Dortmund have done well to reach the final, but Real Madrid feature an array of talent that will be too much. Vinicius Jr. has recorded five goals and four assists in this competition and his pace and creativity will likely be the difference. Englishman Jude Bellingham was named La Liga’s Player of the Year in his first season in Madrid after racking up 19 goals and six assists and he’ll be facing his former team on soccer’s biggest stage. Plus, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is the winningest coach in UCL history, so he knows what it takes in a final. I expect the combination of experience and overall talent will be the difference as Real Madrid hoists the trophy at Wembley.

Over 2.5 goals has paid off in 15 out of 16 away games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season. The Bavarians are very dangerous in attack, but they are defensively vulnerable, so their away games have averaged 4.25 goals. Real Madrid’s home games have averaged 3.07 goals in La Liga, and they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City at the Bernabéu in the last round. This should be another open, entertaining game between two attacking teams, and we should see over 2.5 goals.

All of our soccer experts like Real Madrid at home, so who am I to argue? This season at Bernabéu, Los Blancos are unbeaten in La Liga action (15 wins, two draws). They have scored 43 goals and conceded just nine times. Madrid also has not lost a Champions League home game since the 2022 quarters vs. Chelsea. The winner would advance as the teams drew last week, and Real Madrid is the overall favorite to win the Champions League. Who really wants an all-German final? (well, besides Germans)

Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Bayern Munich in Champions League play, winning six of those meetings. The two sides settled for a 2-2 draw in the first leg, but I think Real Madrid’s experience at this stage will be too difficult for the visitors on Wednesday. Real Madrid have yet to lose on home soil this season and they’ve outscored their opposition 15-5 over their last five games across all competitions at the Santiago Bernabéu.

This should prove to be an entertaining game between two teams that boast a wealth of elite attacking talent. Harry Kane is in superb form for Bayern, and the likes of Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala are also very dangerous. Yet Real Madrid is terrific on the counterattack, and the pace of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo could cause plenty of problems for the Bavarians. Both teams are missing key defenders, so this should be a high-scoring match.

These teams played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in London last week. They both looked shaky in defense and dangerous in attack, so the stage is set for an enthralling second leg. Bayern Munich has had no trouble finding the back of the net this season, with 49 goals in 15 home games in the Bundesliga. However, a weak defense has been its downfall on several occasions, and the Gunners have enough quality to exploit those frailties, so we should see both teams scoring and Over 2.5 goals in this game.

Manchester City should be too strong for Real Madrid when these teams meet at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola’s men should have a psychological advantage, as they eased to a 4-0 home win against Real Madrid last season. They are no longer quite so solid in defense, as evidenced when these teams drew 3-3 in Madrid last week. However, Man City has a lot of firepower within its ranks, and the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Julián Álvarez should fire the home side to victory.

Don't watch much soccer outside of the World Cup but did watch the first leg of this match and wow was that fun. Hopefully more of the same. Man City led twice in Madrid but had to settle for a 3-3 draw. Feels like last season in the Champions League when Pep Guardiola's side left Madrid with a draw (1-1) then rolled into the final with a 4-0 home win. Real Madrid are without the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni. He has played the full way in Madrid's past three UCL matches and also had a goal Saturday in La Liga action. City has won its last six home games against Spanish clubs.

The rubber is meeting the road for Arsenal and we are hardly sure the Gunners can keep course. Fortunate perhaps to pull back an equalizer last week to level the first leg at the Emirates, but subsequently Mikel Arteta's men were flustered at home by Aston Villa, putting their EPL title challenge into jeopardy. The Champions League could still prove a salvation, but that's been a role more reserved across the decades for Bayern Munich, which seems to have rallied for the outgoing Thomas Tuchel. Harry Kane is also haunting Arsenal again, now up to 15 career goals vs. the Gunners after the first leg. Germany's best week in Europe in years can continue on Wednesday. Play Bayern Munich on Money Line

Real Madrid are the most decorated club in Champions League history, but I expect Manchester City to secure the win at home. Man City battled Real Madrid to a 3-3 draw on the road in the first leg and they did so without superstar Kevin De Bruyne. Pep Guardiola’s side has scored 16 goals in their last four matches across all competitions and they’ve conceded just twice in their past four games at the Etihad. Man City recorded a 4-0 home win against Real Madrid in the UCL last season and I think they’ll do enough to claim victory again on Wednesday.

Atlético Madrid’s players will be hell-bent on earning a draw in this game. Los Rojiblancos are 2-1 up on aggregate after winning the first leg in Madrid last week. A draw would be enough to see them through to the Champions League semifinals, and they will fight tooth and nail to avoid defeat. They are resolute in defense and dangerous on the counterattack, so they look perfectly capable of getting a result at Westfalenstadion.

The teams combined for three goals in the first leg and if it's 1-1 in the second half today, Atletico will go into a defensive shell as it only needs a draw to advance because it won the first leg 2-1. The SL Model has 2.5 goals being scored, and I will be a touch surprised if they total four. May well push.

Second legs in European ties often feature plenty of goals, though this Champs League quarterfinal got a jump in that regard in the first leg when Barca won 3-2 at Parc des Princes. The elimination of the road-goals rule means PSG doesn't necessarily need to break the scoreboard to force OT or advance, but Luis Enrique will have his men playing on the front foot, and Kylian Mbappe should be more involved after his disappearing act last week in Paris. Xavi, however, expertly countered everything Luis Enrique did in the first leg, and running the wings like Raphina and eventually Pedri off of Robert Lewandowski to put PSG's defense in distress. More goals tonight at Montjuic! Play PSG-Barcelona "Over"

Score one for Xavi last week, outmaneuvering Luis Enrique at Parc des Princes as Barca brings a 3-2 lead back to Montjuic for the second leg. That's the way it has gone for Barca almost since the day Xavi announced he won't return to the pressure-cooker on the bench next season, but things continue to go splendidly, and PSG was unable to counter Xavi running Raphina and, in the second half, Pedro running off Robert Lewandowski on the wings. Alarmingly for PSG, Kylian Mbappe was almost invisible last week, and one wonders if the Champs League failures will be on the epitaph of this PSG superstar era, after Lionel Messi and Neymar also fell short. No surprise at another similar result. Play Barcelona