UEFA Champions League knock-out action continues this evening with current English Premier League front-runners travelling to Italy.
Wednesday 24th February 2010
Tonight sees English Premier League football club Chelsea travel to Milan to face former manager Jose Mourinho and his new Internazionale side in the two-leg knockout stages of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Mourinho guided underdog Portuguese side FC Porto to Champions League glory in 2004 before being appointed as Claudio Ranieri’s successor as manager for Chelsea. Despite assembling a very talented side, Chelsea failed to win the Champions League under ‘The Special One’ but did progress to the semi-finals in 2005 and 2007.
However, Israeli coach Avram Grant was able to take Chelsea a step further the season after Mourinho’s departure as the London side made it to the finals only to be defeated on penalties by Manchester United.
The Italian side is a slight favourite to win tonight’s contest with ExtraBet.com offering odds of 7/5 on a home triumph while BetFred.com, SkyBet.com and SportingBet.com show 6/4.
Mourinho replaced Roberto Mancini as manager of Milan-based Internazionale in June of 2008 and went on to win the Italian Supercup by beating Roma on penalties. In his first season in Italy, the Portuguese supremo also won Serie A by a margin of ten points but is often criticised by supporters for not concentrating enough on the European competition.
Bwin.com is offering odds of 17/11 on Internazionale beating Chelsea tonight while Coral.co.uk and WilliamHill.com show 8/5. A good showing at home will be essential if the Italian side is to progress with punters able to get 13/8 from Ladbrokes.com, StanJames.com and BoyleSports.com on a home win. BetDaq.com and Betfair.com are offering Internazionale at odds of 169/100 to win this evening while 888Sport.com, PaddyPower.com, BlueSq.com, Expekt.com and Bet365.com show 17/10. Marginally longer, WBX.com has Mourinho’s men at odds of 171/100 to win tonight while ToteSport.com is going with 7/4.
Chelsea are now managed by Italian Carlo Ancelotti following the departure of Dutchman Guus Hiddink in June and are currently riding high in the English Premier League a point ahead of Manchester United with eleven games to play. SportingBet.com and ToteSport.com show the visitors at odds of 13/8 to win tonight while PaddyPower.com and Expekt.com offer 17/10.
Last season, Chelsea were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League by eventual winners Barcelona with odds of 7/4 on victory this evening available from BoyleSports.com, Bet365.com, StanJames.com, BlueSq.com, 888Sport.com and Bwin.com. A bit longer, Ladbrokes.com has 9/5 while WilliamHill.com and Coral.co.uk are going with 15/8 followed by ExtraBet.com and BetFred.com at 19/10.
As if the ties with Mourinho were not enough, tonight’s competition will be further enlivened due to the fact that Ancelotti previously served as the manager of AC Milan, Internazionale’s local rival, for almost a decade. WBX.com is offering odds of 97/50 that the Italian can guide Chelsea to a win while Betfair.com and BetDaq.com show 19/10.
A draw would not necessarily be a bad result for either side ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 16 but SkyBet.com, Coral.co.uk, WilliamHill.com and ExtraBet.com are only offering odds of 2/1 on this eventuality followed by Bet365.com, BoyleSports.com, ToteSport.com, BetFred.com, SportingBet.com, PaddyPower.com, Bluesq.com, 888Sport.com and StanJames.com showing 21/10.
