Old Trafford Hosts Messrs Messi And Ronaldo

Argentina take on Portugal at Old Trafford tonight (18th November) with two of the greatest players ever to grace a football field expected to start in the friendly. A familiar face at the home of Manchester United is Portugal`s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo whilst Lionel Messi will make an appearance for the 2014 World Cup runners-up.

Domestically, former United star Ronaldo secured three consecutive Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup with Sir Alex Ferguson`s Red Devils. Together, they also captured a Champions League back in 2007-08 before the former Sporting Lisbon youngster upped sticks and left for Real Madrid.

The 29 year old scored 118 goals in 292 appearances during his six seasons in the North-West. His current tally is 275 goals in 263 games over six seasons at Madrid, having earned one La Liga title and two Copa Del Reys and another Champions League. The Portugal captain has bagged 52 goals in 117 games for his country and is 8/5 with betfair to add to his running total. Nine to two (bet365, paddy Power, Skybet, william hill) says Ronaldo will grab the first whilst it`s 10/1 (unibet) should you think La Liga`s current top scorer can bag at least a brace.

Barcelona`s Lionel Messi is lagging behind Portugal`s main man in terms of goals scored in La Liga this season. Messi has hit the back of the net seven times compared to the latter`s 18 goals in 11 games.

A one-club man, the 27 year old has netted a total of 364 goals in 437 games for Barcelona`s A team. As a consequence the Rosario-born star has lifted the domestic title six times and the Copa del Rey twice. Messi has also been a part of a Champions League-winning team three times. It would be wrong to underplay Messi`s role in his national side picking up World Cup runners-up medals, being their top scorer with four goals and an assist in Brazil. In total, Messi has scored 45 goals for his country and is 21/20 (betfair) to add to his record at any time tonight. Both ladbrokes and william hill have 10/3 on Argentina`s captain grabbing the first, whilst it`s 9/1 (unibet) on him scoring at least two.

Indeed Gerardo Martino`s South Americans are betfair`s strong evens favourites for the clash, whilst it`s 7/2 (betfred, Totesport) on a happy return to Manchester for CR7. Most bookmakers are offering 5/2 on the match being tied after 90 minutes.

The favourites have bounced back from their 1-0 defeat in the World Cup final with three wins in their four matches since world football`s quadrennial highlight. Martino`s men got their revenge over Germany less than two months since losing out to them with a 4-2 victory in a Düsseldorf friendly. La Albieceleste failed to score past South American rivals Brazil who netted twice though thrashed Hong Kong 7-0, thanks to braces from Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Nicolas Gaitan, and saw off Croatia 2-1 at home.

Portugal, on the other hand, have failed to score more than one goal in a match since their World Cup exit. They lost their first European Championships qualifier 1-0 at home to Albania before beating both Denmark and Armenia 1-0 with goals from their impressive talisman. A friendly in France prior to this pair of victories ended 2-1 to the home side. Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba put the French 2-0 up before a late consolation from Ricardo Quaresma. Bwin are offering 9/5 on the Iberian side grabbing exactly one goal at Old Trafford.

After struggling to score past a selection of European minnows, it`s bet365 who are offering 12/5 on an Argentina win to nil.

Go To bet365

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18/11/2014     © Frixo 2026