Sheriff Tiraspol vs Real Madrid Predictions

• Real Madrid are unbeaten in 7 games, winning 6 during that run.
• Carlo Ancelotti’s team are yet to concede on their away trips in the UEFA Champions League this campaign, winning 1-0 at Inter and 5-0 at Shakhtar.
• Sheriff have had no shortage of luck during their fairytale Champions League campaign, having created the second-lowest expected goals tally in the entire competition.

Real out to Secure Progress, and Enact Revenge

13-time European champions Real Madrid will secure qualification from Champions League Group D with a win on Wednesday night. Los Blancos are also looking to avenge September’s shock 2-1 home reverse to Sheriff when they travel to Moldova for what is surely the biggest game in the Tiraspol club’s history.

Back-to-back wins over Shakhtar Donetsk have put Carlo Ancelotti’s La Liga leaders on the brink of qualification, which they would secure with a game to spare by winning in Moldova. Since a turbulent week in which Real lost to Sheriff and Espanyol, they have gone unbeaten in 7 games, of which they have won 6, including an impressive away triumph in the Clasico at Barcelona, and a 5-0 demolition job in Ukraine.

Sheriff Overperforming, Real Should Coast Through

Despite the Moldovan minnows looking likely, at the very least, to secure a place in the Europa League knockouts, an exceptional achievement in such a tough group, it could be said that they have proven fortunate in this competition to date.

Their expected goals tally of 1.8 is the second worst in the Champions League group stage, yet they have netted 6 goals from the few quality chances they have created. Their fairytale win at the Bernabeu, meanwhile, was the result of a Sebastien Thill wondergoal, after Real had peppered the Sheriff goal with 31 shots. The Moldovan champions have conceded more shots than any other Champions League team, and, still smarting from their embarrassing defeat in the reverse fixture, Karim Benzema & co should be expected to punish Sheriff this time around.

Real have yet to concede an away goal in the group, a record which I’m backing them to maintain on Wednesday. Considering the good value available on this market, I’m backing Real to win to nil for a third time on their European travels. If the likes of Benzema and Vinicius bring their shooting boots, they should win at a canter; 3-0 to the visitors seems a good correct score prediction for this clash.