David Beckham returns to Old Trafford tonight as AC Milan attempts to overcome its deficit in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Wednesday 10th March 2010
The second legs of the knockout stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League are under way with Manchester United welcoming Italy’s AC Milan tonight in a match-up the home side are favoured to win.
Manchester United travelled to the San Siro last month and triumphed by three goals to two and now AC Milan must win by at least one goal in order to progress to the quarter-finals.
United are currently neck and neck with Chelsea and Arsenal in the English Premier League and appeared in the Champions League final last season, losing to Barcelona. SkyBet.com lists Manchester United at odds of 8/15 to win at Old Trafford this evening followed by ToteSport.com and Ladbrokes.com showing 8/13.
Manchester United last won the highest honour in European club football in 2008 and are being offered at odds of 11/17 by Bwin.com while ExtraBet.com and BoyleSports.com are showing 4/6. Slightly longer, WilliamHill.com, StanJames.com, PaddyPower.com, Expekt.com, BetFred.com and SportingBet.com are going with 7/10 while Coral.co.uk, Betfair.com, 888Sport.com, WBX.com, BlueSq.com, VictorChandler.com, Bet365.com and BetDaq.com show 8/11.
Although AC Milan has won the Champions League on seven occasions, it has not tasted triumph in Europe’s ultimate soccer tournament since defeating Liverpool in Athens in 2007. Bettors can get odds of 7/2 on an Italian triumph tonight from SportingBet.com and ExtraBet.com while Bwin.com has 39/10.
AC Milan will be boosted by a return to fitness for injured striker Alexandre Pato but Manchester United could include star player Wayne Rooney in a line-up slowly getting back to winning ways. Coral.co.uk, 888Sport.com, Bet365.com, BlueSq.com, VictorChandler.com, PaddyPower.com, StanJames.com, Expekt.com and WilliamHill.com are offering odds of 4/1 on an AC Milan win in England while WBX.com, BetDaq.com and Betfair.com show 43/10.
Currently sitting second in Serie A four points behind leaders and local rivals Internazionale, AC Milan did not even make the knockout stages last season and new manager Leonardo is under extreme pressure to win a trophy this time. However, Ladbrokes.com, SkyBet.com, ToteSport.com, BoyleSports.com and BetFred.com show odds of 9/2 that the Italians can win this evening to guarantee progression.
Although it would do no good for AC Milan’s Champions League hopes, favourable odds are available on a draw with SportingBet.com offering odds of 12/5 followed by BetFred.com, BoyleSports.com and Coral.co.uk with 5/2. Slightly longer, Expekt.com shows 28/11 on a tie with StanJames.com, WilliamHill.com, 888Sport.com, PaddyPower.com, BlueSq.com, VictorChandler.com and Bet365.com offering 3/5.
The night should be especially poignant for former Manchester United player David Beckham as he returns to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003. The Englishman is expected to start in midfield for AC Milan with Bwin.com showing odds of 45/17 on a draw followed by ToteSport.com, ExtraBet.com, Ladbrokes.com and SkyBet.com offering 11/4.
