Manchester United travel to Italy tomorrow night to take on an AC Milan side that now features David Beckham.
Monday 15th February 2010
The knockout stages of this season’s UEFA Champions League begin this week with Manchester United travelling to the San Siro to take on AC Milan in a first-leg match-up.
Although AC Milan have star players including Luca Antonini, Mathieu Flamini, Ronaldinho and an on-loan David Beckham, they have not won in four and bookmakers are making the home side only slight favourites to win.
PaddyPower.com has AC Milan at odds of 7/5 to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men while BetFred.com, ToteSport.com, StanJames.com, Bwin.com and Expekt.com show 6/4. Slightly longer, BetDaq.com is offering 38/25 while SportingBet.com shows 8/5.
Although AC Milan have won the Champions League on seven occasions, they have not tasted triumph in Europe’s ultimate soccer tournament since defeating Liverpool in Athens in 2007. 888Sport.com, SkyBet.com and BlueSq.com have the Italians at odds of 13/8 to beat Manchester United tomorrow evening while Bet365.com is offering 13/8.
Currently sitting in third spot in Serie A well behind Roma and leaders Internazionale, new AC Milan coach Leonardo is under pressure to win a trophy this season but Betfair.com is only offering odds of 173/100 on Champions League success Tuesday night while VictorChandler.com shows 7/4.
As a contrast, Manchester United are currently neck and neck with Chelsea in the English Premier League and last appeared in the Champions League final last season, losing against Barcelona. SkyBet.com, ToteSport.com and BetFred.com list the visitors at odds of 6/4 to taste victory tomorrow night while SportingBet.com is offering 31/20.
Manchester United have won four of their last five domestic matchups with BetDaq.com listing of odds of 39/25 that this trend will continue in Italy while StanJames.com shows 8/5 before VictorChandler.com slightly longer at 13/8.
The English side boasts one of football’s star players in striker Wayne Rooney with 888Sport.com, Bwin.com, Bet365.com and BlueSq.com currently offering odds of 17/10 on an away win while PaddyPower.com shows 7/4.
Manchester United last won the Champions League in 2008 and a win tomorrow would almost certainly guarantee passage to the last eight of the competition. Betfair.com lists odds of 91/50 on a win for United while punters can get 24/13 from Expekt.com.
A draw would also not be a bad result for the visitors either ahead of the second-leg on March 10 and selected odds for this eventuality include 2/1 from SkyBet.com and VictorChandler.com and 21/10 with Expekt.com, SportingBet.com, BlueSq.com, 888Sport.com and WilliamHill.com. Slightly longer, ToteSport.com, BetFred.com StanJames.com, Bwin.com and Bet365.com are offering a draw at 11/5 while PaddyPower.com shows 9/4.
