Ahead of Historic UEFA Champions League Semifinals, Can Manchester City Win a First Title?

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After a somewhat straightforward quarterfinal round, the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League now heads into what could be a historic semifinal round. 

One two-legged tie will be a rematch of last year’s epic semifinal battle between Manchester City and Real Madrid, which saw the Spanish side stun Pep Guardiola’s team with two injury time second leg goals to go through 6-5 on aggregate, on the way to a 14th European Cup.

And while that one is clearly the headline tie, the other one is not bad, either.

The second semifinal will be a San Siro Derby, an all-Milan affair, between Serie A sides AC Milan and Internazionale (Inter). It offers us a chance to possibly recreate the greatest sports photo of all time (please check it out, it is mega), and also to give us two home and home matches in the same stadium. 

Imagine that: a trip to the Champions League Final is on the line, and you get to play both your games at home.

Real Madrid will host Manchester City in the first leg, which kicks off Tuesday, May 9 at 3 p.m. EDT. Last year was epic, but the Cityzens have more than revenge on their minds right now: they are still alive to match city rivals Manchester United for a few records.

Manchester City has never won a European Cup, despite spending billions of dollars to do it since the takeover happened 15 years ago, but this could finally be the year that hex is broken. Manchester City currently (based on what New Jersey apps offer) has betting odds of -130 (with this betMGM NJ promo code) to win the Champions League, and those will drop further if it can get past Real Madrid and back into the final for the second time in three years. You will not find many people that think either of the Milan teams will be able to defeat City or Madrid, so this could be the real final.

Manchester City still harbors hopes of a treble, with the FA Cup semifinal against Sheffield United on the cards April 22 and a possible Premier League title decider coming up on April 26 against current leaders Arsenal. Only one club has ever won three Premier League titles in a row: Manchester United did it twice, from 1998-1999, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 and 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09. Both times United did it, they also won a Champions League in that stretch, and in 1998-99, United also won the treble: the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League.

That is the history Manchester City is chasing. The odds are now in their favor to do just that.

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