SFM Preview Tuesday: Champions League Edition! 🏆

The last hurdle on the road to the UEFA Champions League Finals in Budapest on May 30th: the second leg of the semi finals starting off tonight with Arsenal London vs. Atletico Madrid and Bayern München vs. Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

After last week’s results, this could be another long, exciting, and dramatic nights – exactly the kind of stuff that the Champions League is made for!

So, let’s get right into it and have a look at the Soccer Factor Model (SFM) predictions for players’ scoring probabilities for the upcoming matches!

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🌍 On our website: https://www.soccerfactormodel.com

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But before doing so, let’s first take stock of how the SFM’s predictions fared over the weekend...

📝 Recap – Matches

Como 1907vs.SSC Napoli

📣 SFM Outlook

Como ~ Napoli

📚 Bookmakers’ Outlook

Como > Napoli

⚽ Result

0:0

Manchester Unitedvs.Liverpool FC

📣 SFM Outlook

ManU > LFC

📚 Bookmakers’ Outlook

ManU > LFC

⚽ Result

3:2

Espanyol Barcelonavs.Real Madrid

📣 SFM Outlook

Espanyol < Real

📚 Bookmakers’ Outlook

Espanyol < Real

⚽ Result

0:2

🥅 Preview – Champions League Matches

Arsenal Londonvs.Atletico Madrid

After last week’s 1:1 draw in Madrid, this is literally a win-or-lose match – especially after the UEFA cut the away-goal rule with the start of the 2021/22 campaign. A pitty, actually, as it added that additional pinch of excitement to these elimination games.

Anyway, the home advantage, which is a crucial component of the SFM as well, is definitely on the Gunner’s side when about 50,000 fanatic English fans will cheer on their team in the Emirates Stadium. But these are exactly those games in which the kinds of Diego Simeone strive, and the legendary coach will undoubtedly inculcate his players with that spirit.

Both teams also seem to be well prepared, winning both their respective league matches at the weekend. Even more so: Arsenal might have been given an additional confidence boost after ManCity’s dramatic 3:3 draw against Everton, giving the Gunners now a two-point lead over the Citizens with only 3 games left to go in the Premier League!

This is not just a side note for tonight’s match: over just 90 minutes, the right mindset and the belief in one’s own strength can carry one way further than the physical fitness alone.

🤓 The SFM has a clear tilt: as it is with Arsenal, there is no single marquee player standing out. Rather it is the breadth forwards with decent probabilities that skews the odds in their favor.

📣 SFM Outlook

Arsenal > Atletico

📚 Bookmakers’ Outlook

Arsenal > Atletico

Bayern Münchenvs.Paris St. Germain

No holds barred between the two: 5:4 at Parc des Princes! What a masterpiece of a match that was! — or wait...was it really?!

It was praised overwhelmingly by media outlets all around the world. It was great to watch as a fan of course! But honestly, as a team, when you concede 4 goals or more in a Champions League semi-final, maybe some soul searching might be warranted. Especially for Bayern, who have – yes, scored 8 goals in their last two Champions League matches – but also, conceded 8 goals at the same time!

The Allianz Arena is definitely a stronghold, but that won’t deter a reigning European champion like PSG from their mission to defend their title and keep the trophy in Paris (*though better not in the Louvre maybe).

Just in the last round, Real Madrid has shown hat it is by no means impossible to have Bayern at the edge of elimination by being a bit obstreperous.

🤓 Other than with Arsenal, the SFM unambiguously singles out the one marquee player: and that is the English international Harry Kane... followed, well, by Nicolas Jackson. PSG’s top forwards’ probabilities pale in comparison with those two. But will it be enough in the end to proceed to the final?

📣 SFM Outlook

Bayern > PSG

📚 Bookmakers’ Outlook

Bayern > PSG

Further SFM Resources

Link to the Paper: Unveiling True Talent.

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