Betting tips for UEFA Champions League semifinals

The two best teams in England this season are also the two best teams in Europe. Manchester City and Liverpool are both heavily favored to advance in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, both facing Spanish clubs that seem to have magical powers.

Here are my betting tips for this week's first legs in England.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid 3 p.m. ET

Pick: both teams to score (-125)

Real Madrid is an underdog for the third time in this knockout stage, after upsetting both PSG and Chelsea, on the strength of seven Karim Benzema goals over the four games. The 13-time European Cup champions now face Premier League leader Manchester City, the narrow second title favorite at +120.

City has four shutouts in the knockout stage, cruising through the round of 16, 5-0 over Sporting, then battling past Atletico in the last round 1-0 on aggregate. After losing to Chelsea in last year's final, City still seeks that elusive first European crown.

City has allowed a total of 23 shots and 1.8 expected goals in the knockout stage this year. However, Pep Guardiola's side may be without three-fourths of its preferred backline on Tuesday. Left back Joao Cancelo is suspended for yellow-card accumulation. Right back Kyle Walker and center back John Stones are both likely out with injuries.

The remaining defense was good enough on Saturday against lowly Watford, but stopping Benzema and Real Madrid is obviously a tougher task. Madrid has scored in 40 of 48 games this season, and I don't expect the conservative approach Madrid took in the first leg against PSG. Look for Real Madrid to find a way to steal a goal against City's makeshift back line.

City is of course expected to score, having done so in 22 of