Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg

MAN UNITED v BAYERN MUNICH, Tuesday 1st April, 19:45, ITV

If the Champions League was seeded then this would be your number one v number eight match up as the weakest team in the competiton (United) face the strongest (Bayern). This is shown in the odds to qualify market with Bayern are as short as 1/7 (GENERAL) while Man United can be backed at 6/1 (bet365) to make the last four. The German side are the 1/2 (GENERAL) favourites for the first leg in Manchester having wrapped their own domestic title with seven weeks to go while United sit a disappointing seventh in the Premier League. Munich have also won each of their last seven Champions League away games and are unbeaten in their last nine away in all competitions. Visiting England should be of no concern having won already at Arsenal and Man City this season.

The Red Devils are as big as 13/2 (bet365/boylesports/CORAL) for victory at Old Trafford something which would have been unthinkable during the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson. Moyes though has seen his side lose games to West Brom and Newcastle at Old Trafford. United can take comfort from the fact that they have won each of their last five games in this competition against German sides and have won all four home games at Old Trafford in the Champions League this season. Though none of these sides are anything like as strong as the current Bayern Munich team.

It is hard to feel comfortable for the chances of United when you consider what happened to them in the biggest games in the Premier League with Liverpool and Man City hitting them for three. The Germans are a little short in price so why not enhance it by taking them to win this game not to nil. This has been the result in four of the last seven Bayern games while the Red Devils have found the net in 15 of their last 16 home games in this competition.

RECOMMENDATION: Bayern to win but not to nil, 7/4 (WINNER)

BARCELONA v ATLETICO MADRID, Tuesday 1st April, 19:45, SKY SPORTS

The two Spanish sides are no strangers to each other with this being the fourth meeting between the pair already this season.All three meetings have ended all square and this game to end in a draw is a 38/11 (888 SPORT/unibet) chance. If you fancy Barcelona to come out on top then you can back them at 11/20 (YOU WIN) while Atletico are 6/1 (GENERAL).

Barca are rated 2/5 (boylesports/betway) to qualify from the two legged affair and considering the three meetings that have ended drawn this season it is clearly that the gap between the two sides should not be as big. True, the Catalans have more Champions League than Atletico, but Madrid are unbeaten in the competition this season and appeal at 9/4 (GENERAL) to qualify for the next round. Especially when you consider that Barcelona have won just two of their last six Champions League games against Spanish sides.

Those looking for a goalscorer bet will look to Lionel Messi for Barcelona who is 9/4 (GENERAL) to net first and just 5/8 (888 SPORT/unibet) to net anytime. Diego Costa is the main man for Atletico and he has seven goals already in the competition this season and he is a generous 11/4 (betfair SPORTSBOOK) to score at anytime.

RECOMMENDATION: Atletico to qualify for the semi-finals, 9/4 (GENERAL)

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01/04/2014     © Frixo 2024