Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with seven experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
We’re down to the semi-final stages of all three European competitions now and the tension is ramping up as clubs eye up potentially the biggest prize available to them this season.
The United Kingdom is well-represented with five British teams among the remaining 12 teams, with two apiece for Spain and Germany along with a French, an Italian and a Dutch entry.
This week, we ask our experts who they think will make the finals of each of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Champions League – All-English final beckons
Every one of our experts backed at least one British team to make the Champions League final in this battle of England vs Spain and it’s easy to see why an all-English final is as short as 4/7 with the bookies, with Ian Wilkerson the only one to predict a final appearance for Real Madrid and James Mason bravely suggesting Villarreal can pull off another tactical masterclass.
Alex Wrigley
Sports editor at Free Super Tips
It’s hard to look beyond an all-English final in the Champions League. Villarreal have been written off before but Liverpool are a class apart at the moment should end the Spaniards’ incredible run, while Manchester City have won their last three meetings with Real Madrid and Los Blancos had some difficult moments against Chelsea and PSG.
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at Free Super Tips
Villarreal have shocked both Juventus and Bayern Munich in Europe this term, but both of those sides offered the Europa League holders routes back into the game. Liverpool simply won’t give them that room, so expect the Reds to cruise through.
Meanwhile, Chelsea effectively beat themselves in the last eight, so I have little faith in Real Madrid doing anything in the last four. Having seen how the Blues blew them away in the last round, City should ensure it’s an all English final for the third time in four seasons.
Joe Casey
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Manchester City and Liverpool have shown in the last week or so that they are the best two teams in Europe and I think they’ll meet again in Paris for the Champions League final.
The Reds won’t be as predictable going forward as Bayern Munich were and it’s hard to see Pep Guardiola’s side giving Real the first leg headstart that Chelsea did.
Ian Wilkerson
Sports journalist at Racing Post
There looks to be an excellent chance that the Premier League will have at least one representative in each of the three European competitions.
A place in the Champions League final is there for Liverpool to take after Villarreal produced the shock of the competition after knocking out Bayern Munich. The pressure will be on Manchester City following their FA Cup exit and I just fancy that Real Madrid will see them off in the other semi.
James Milton
Sports journalist at Racing Post
It is hard to bet against a Manchester City-Liverpool Champions League final, which would be a tantalising prospect for neutrals. Real Madrid have ridden their luck to get past PSG and Chelsea and City, who showed great character and discipline to see off Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, should progress while Liverpool’s attacking firepower looks too much for Villarreal.
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
In an England v Spain battle in the Champions League, there looks to be only one outcome.
Man City have won the last three meetings with Real Madrid and a potential injury crisis at the Etihad is the biggest obstacle to that record continuing, while Villarreal have done remarkably to get this far, but have run into the juggernaut that is Liverpool.
James Mason
Sports journalist at ICS
As long as Manchester City don’t pick up any major injuries, they should have enough to reach the Champions League final at the expense of Real Madrid, who have ridden their luck against PSG and Chelsea to reach this stage. Standing in the way of the Citizens will be Villarreal, who have produced tactical masterclasses to knock out Juventus and Bayern Munich and they can pull off another against Liverpool.
Europa League – Little love for Rangers in Leipzig showdown
All seven of our experts have predicted RB Leipzig to make it past a Rangers side that continue to defy expectations, but the other semi-final is somewhat more competitive. Four of the seven have opted for the Barcelona-beating Eintracht Frankfurt to edge it against West Ham to make it a double whammy of disappointment for British sides.
Alex Wrigley
Sports editor at Free Super Tips
Things don’t look so promising for the British in the Europa League, though. RB Leipzig have kicked on since the turn of the year and their only defeat since 2022 began came against Bayern Munich. They have the quality to see off Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt could make it an all-German final. They put Barcelona to the sword at the Camp Nou and the Hammers have dropped off a bit in the last couple of months.
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at Free Super Tips
West Ham should continue to fly the flag for the Premier League in the Europa League, despite Eintracht Frankfurt’s shock win over Barcelona. The German side are 10th in the Bundesliga, so West Ham are strong enough to progress. Meanwhile, Leipzig’s impressive away form should see them edge out Rangers at Ibrox.
Joe Casey
Sports journalist at Racing Post
West Ham face a tricky tie against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League and if the German team can reproduce their performances against Barcelona, they should win. In the other semi-final I can’t see a way past RB Leipzig for Rangers, the Bundesliga squad have been in great form since Domenico Tedesco took over.
Ian Wilkerson
Sports journalist at Racing Post
West Ham were excellent in seeing off Lyon in the Europa League and will be delighted to be facing Eintracht Frankfurt rather than Barcelona and they should get through to the final and probably face RB Leipzig, who may be too strong for Rangers.
James Milton
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Having knocked out Sevilla and Lyon, West Ham can be confident of getting past Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League but Rangers’ amazing run is likely to come to an end against a Leipzig side who have blossomed since the turn of the year.
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
RB Leipzig have shown they can mix it with anyone and look too strong for Rangers with more intrigue in the other Europa League semi-final between West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The mid-table Bundesliga side has been somewhat erratic this season but winning at an in-form Barcelona shows that they can beat anyone on their day, and they can sneak past the Hammers.
James Mason
Sports journalist at ICS
I fancy an all-German affair in the Europa League final with RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt battling it out for glory. Die Roten Bullen boast a talented squad and they should have enough to overcome Rangers, who were made to work hard by Braga in the quarter-finals and may just fall short in their quest for the final. Frankfurt were brilliant in their quarter-final triumph over Barcelona and they will have enough in the tank over the two legs to send West Ham packing.
Europa Conference League – Mourinho to inflict more British heartbreak
The British disappointment could be set to continue in the inaugural Europa Conference League as just over half our experts backed Jose Mourinho’s Roma to get one over Leicester, while the other semi-final could be less of a contest after every single one of us went for Marseille over Feyenoord.
Alex Wrigley
Sports editor at Free Super Tips
There could be more English heartbreak in the Europa Conference League as Leicester come up against Jose Mourinho’s Roma. The Special One knows what it takes to win trophies and Roma have been very tough to beat in the last few months. It will be close but I fancy Roma to edge it. The other semi-final could be less competitive as Marseille, with a 100% record in this competition, come up against a Feyenoord side that have conceded seven goals in four games against Partizan Belgrade and Slavia Prague.
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at Free Super Tips
Roma have been frontrunners for the Conference League all season and I’m backing them to progress. Jose Mourinho has five European trophies to his name and his side have been in fantastic form over the last month. The same goes for Marseille, who won their eighth straight game to progress to the last four. I see them having too much for Feyenoord in the other semi.
Joe Casey
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Roma have been inconsistent this year and Leicester have a good chance of beating them and reaching the Conference League final, while they should be joined by Marseille who may have too much for Feyenoord.
Ian Wilkerson
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Leicester were excellent in battling back to beat PSV and while they have a tough semi-final against Roma, it is a tie they can get through. In the other semi, I would take Marseille over Feyenoord.
James Milton
Sports journalist at Racing Post
After a tough, injury-hit season, Leicester have finally hit a prolonged run of good form and they can come through a tight clash with Roma in the Europa Conference League. The other semi may be less competitive as Marseille look a cut above Eredivisie opponents Feyenoord.
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
Jose Mourinho has a habit of annoying detractors by winning a trophy and could have inconsistent Leicester’s number in the Conference League, while Marseille have a 100% record in the competition and can edge out Feyenoord.
James Mason
Sports journalist at ICS
Jose Mourinho has a habit of winning trophies and Roma may just have enough to overcome an inconsistent Leicester side to reach the Europa Conference League final. Awaiting the Italian side is likely to be Marseille, who have enough quality in the final third to outgun fellow high-scorers Feyenoord.
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