Champions League Betting Preview 4th March 2008
AC Milan v Arsenal
Having kept a clean sheet at the Emirates, Arsenal travel to the San Siro on Tuesday with the upper hand in this tie, knowing a clean sheet against Milan will see them through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. Defender Kolo Toure is still struggling with a calf injury, whilst striker Robin van Persie should return to the squad. AC Milan will be without Clarence Seedorf and Emerson, although Kaka should be available for the return tie.
Arsenal will be looking to put a difficult couple of weeks behind them, having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and dropping league points to Birmingham and Aston Villa, enabling Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to close the gap at the top of the Premiership. Exit from the Champions league is not in the Gunner’s plans, but they will have their work cut out against a strong Milan side, but who have also drawn their last two league games 1-1. The job is half done. Can they see it through to the end?
The bookies have AC Milan as clear favourites to progress to the Quarter Finals, with the best available odds for AC Milan to win being just 11/10, whilst the odds for Arsenal to beat AC Milan are currently 3/1 (Both with Boylesports). skybet have the best odds for the draw, which is currently priced at 11/5.
Barcelona v Celtic
Celtic face the dauting task of having to win at the Nou Camp if they are to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter finals of the Champions League. Not only that, but they are going to need to score at least two goals to avoid going out on the away goals rule, having lost the first leg at Celtic Park 3-2. Gordon Strachan’s men will take heart from the fact the Barca lost 4-2 to Atletico Madrid at the weekend – a scoreline that would see them through.
Boylesports have the best odds for Celtic to beat Barcelona, all the way out at 12/1. Barca are priced well to retain their unbeaten record though, and the best price you can get for the home win is just 2/7 with VC Bet, whilst Bet 365 price the draw at 9/2.
Manchester United v Lyon
Manchester United secured a draw in the return fixture in France, and a win at Old Trafford on Tuesday night will see them safely through to the Quarter Finals. They warmed up for this tie with a comfortable 3-0 win against Fulham at the weekend, and Sir Alex Ferguson has pretty much a completely fit side to choose from, with both Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic returning from injuries that forced them out of the Fulham game.
United are one of three teams left in the Champions League who have yet to taste defeat in the competition – with Barcelona and Chelsea being the other two. Their last defeat came at the hands of last season’s eventual winners AC Milan in the second leg of their Semi-final showdown last May.
VC Bet have the best odds for Lyon to cause an upset and snatch the win at Old Trafford, with their best available odds currently standing at 9/1. Blue Sq have the current odds for a United win at 2/5. Boylesportsd price the draw at 10/3.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds.
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