2021 EHF Champions League Semi-Finals Predictions: PSG and Barcelona Are Favored to Win

Image source – Armin Kuebelbeck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After the thrilling Women’s Champions League Final Four last weekend, the four top men’s handball teams will meet next weekend in Cologne. Last year’s champions THW Kiel didn’t reach the final four this time. Unlike the other two teams from 2020, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. Both of them are favored to win their games in the 2021 EHF Champions League semi-finals predictions. Let’s see the odds for both matches. 

The 2021 EHF Champions League Final Four is held next weekend, 12-13 June at the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany. Defending champions THW Kiel were eliminated in the quarter-finals by PSG who also took part in last year’s final four. The French top club will play against Danish side Aalborg. While last season’s runner-up, Barcelona will meet another French team, HBC Nantes in the other semi-final. Nantes have also played in the final once before, in 2018 when they lost against Montpellier. Aalborg’s best result has been reaching the last 16 so far, so the team has already surpassed all the expectations. But after a strong season they might cause further surprises next weekend.

2021 EHF Champions League semi-finals predictions favor PSG against Aalborg

The 8-time French champions Paris Saint-Germain have never won the Champions League but might do it this season. First though they need to win against Danish champions Aalborg in the first semi-final. Online sportsbooks in Germany massively favor them to do so with the odds of 1.32. Which makes sense as PSG have world-class players in their squad. Like Danish superstar Mikkel Hansen, French talent Dylan Nahi or the Karabatic brothers. The older Karabatic brother, Nikola has returned back from his injury and is ready to help the team. But the game will be even more interesting for Hansen, who will join Aalborg next season.

PSG finished third in last season’s Champions League after losing against Barcelona in the semi-final. Surely they’ve learnt a lot from that game and will give their best to reach the final. Which seems like an easier job this time against Aalborg. The Danish team reached the last four for the first time in the club’s history. But no one should underestimate them. As they knocked out German top side SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the quarter-final. They are also in great form after reaching the final of the Danish league where they can win their 6th title. So who knows, Aalborg can even cause a huge surprise in Cologne. The odds of 4.75 are offered for their victory in the 2021 EHF Champions League semi-finals predictions.

Barcelona are also favored against Nantes

In the other semi-final the Spanish record holder, the 9-time Champions League winner Barcelona will meet the other French team, Nantes. The Catalans have just won their 28th Spanish title and seem unstoppable. They’ve won all their games in the 2020-21 Champions League season so far. Including all group stage matches and the games against Elverum and Meshkov Brest. Looks like they’d like to improve on last year’s result when they finished as the runner-up. It’s no surprise at all that online gambling sites in Germany predict their victory with the odds of 1.18.

Certainly their team is also full of top players. Like goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas, Icelandic centre back Aron Palmarsson or Danish Casper Mortense. But several players and their long-time coach, Xavi Pascual will leave at the end of this season. Which can motivate them for a last great performance. But the 2018 runner-up, Nantes will aim for the victory too.  Led by their superb goalkeeper, Emil Nielsen and 41-year old Macedonian star, Kiril Lazarov they’ve managed to knock out Kielce and Telekom Veszprem from the tournament. Now their odds to get an even bigger win is 7.00 on bet365.

You can discover more about Bet365 Sportsbook here.