Champions League Betting 2009

Final Score :

Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0

With the draw for the quarter-finals/semi-finals of the 2008/09 Champions League having just taken place at UEFA HQ in Nyon, Switzerland (Friday 20th March 2009), and therefore as the foremost club football competition across Europe builds towards its dramatic climax, we seize this opportunity to address and analyse the potential of the teams remaining in this year’s competition, and doggedly decide who’s best equipped to go all the way to the final in the Stadio Olympico in Rome on Wednesday the 27th May 2009.

Aiding and abetting the Betting football fan as they pragmatically plump for one from a possible eight candidates is never going to be easy, despite the underlying fact that FC Porto remain in contention for the honours; however give it our best stab we will.

Champions League Hot Favourites

As usual during the run-up to a draw as important as this, players, managers, fans, stewards, tea ladies and ball boys have been adding their tup'peneth about who they’d like their employers to pit their footballing wits against; or avoid like the plague. Manchester United’s Rooney and Ronaldo (which as ever sounds like a suspect Mediterranean holiday singing duo) piped up and tantamount to a demand pointedly requested a rematch with Liverpool to exercise their own personal ghosts.

Albert Riera of Liverpool on the other hand doesn’t care who he gets, providing they don’t play in a Barcelona kit, whilst Chelsea’s Frank Lampard wouldn’t want to meet either Liverpool or Barcelona down a dark alley. Or the Stamford Bridge tunnel any time soon. For some reason Catalan coach Pep Guardiola doesn’t want any of his Barcelona charges to be on the receiving end of one of Arsene Wenger’s fixed (and slightly disturbing) stares, with the French philosopher countering by admitting it doesn’t matter who you play at this juncture. Probably because any one of the seven will get the better of his team; so it’s a big thank you UEFA for affording the Gunners a two-legged tie with arguable Champions League makeweights, Villareal.

Liverpool versus Chelsea Again

Despite the usual protestations from the usual suspects, the remaining English teams weren’t awarded immunity from being paired against one another at this quarter-final stage in proceedings, as has happened in previous rounds of the competition. Which goes some way to explaining why Liverpool will meet Chelsea (again) for the umpteenth time (5th consecutive as it happens) in as many seasons. (Liverpool 7/1 on average to win Champions League after Q/F draw, Chelsea newly installed also at 7/1) And another chance for players from opposing sides to reacquaint each other with dangerous and late tackles and face-to-face conflicts of interest. Mores the pity that Jose Mourinho won’t be at Anfield to stir up the growing animosity between these two highly charged teams otherwise attempting to whittle away at Manchester United’s domestic dominance.

European Champions League

Derived from accumulative results during the preceding five years of histrionics (and subsequent points and trophy pillaging) across the continent’s most imposing stadia, Liverpool are technically classed as Europe’s top team as we go to press; and consequently they’re positioned on a precarious plinth to have pot shots taken at. Although when the mighty Real Madrid can’t muster a single shot on the netted target there’s not a lot of hope for the pretenders to UEFAs most revered crown. With the hugely entertaining double act of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres being the best the red half of Merseyside have offered since Beryl and Sandra from ‘The Liver Birds’. Less the women’s clothes and Alice bands. Or not in Torres’ case.

Gerrard remains upbeat and spoiling for a (purely pitch-side) fight with all comers, with footballing icon Johan Cruyff echoing the talismanic Liverpool captain’s ballsy sentiment by suggesting that they’re the team everyone else will want to avoid. So spare a thought for the now slump-shouldered Lampard.

In terms of Football Betting on this particular fixture, and early indications suggest Liverpool are strongly positioned, if only to take advantage of the first leg being at Anfield, as on average punters are currently looking to receive 5/4 for the win, with Chelsea at 9/4.

Villareal versus Arsenal (Arsenal now 8/1 on average to go all the way and win Champions League outright)

League Betting

On paper – and by that token we mean the talent pool from which Arsenal have at their disposal, barring injury – this debacle might be construed as a no-brainer from the outset; had it not been for the Gunners patchy form this season and inability to string together a decent run of form until this eleventh hour.

But Villareal aren’t exactly push-overs as Wenger’s men discovered back in 2006 when but the solitary Kolo Toure goal settled the difference between the warring factions in the aftermath of much drama having unfolded at Highbury. Arsenal old boys Robert Pires and Pascal Cygan now make up the Villareal ranks, so expect a bit of argy-bargy once the cordial hand-shakes and pleasantries are out of the way as the Spanish outfit’s El Madrigal stadium plays host for the first of the two-legged encounter.

Villareal are offered at around the 6/4 mark early doors, with Arsenal being an attractive price this far in advance of the game at 15/8.

Manchester United versus FC Porto (United now 2/1 favourites to win Champions League final with most bookmakers)

Defending champions Manchester United would have wanted an early chance to avenge the mauling they suffered at the hands of deadly rivals Liverpool in the quarter-finals, however instead have to concern themselves with the impending threat that FC Porto bring to Old Trafford. Seconds later and we’re sure Sir Alex will crack open one of his finest wines to toast his team’s smooth passage into the Champions League semi-finals and have a little chuckle to himself at the expense of Liverpool and Chelsea who’ll effectively cancel one or the other out of the running.

It’s like a mini reunion for Porto and United as well, although they’re not quite as familiar with each other as Liverpool and Chelsea in Europe. Porto if you recall put paid to United in 2004, when, under the guidance of a certain Jose Mourinho they ran out eventual winners of the famous trophy; not before the ‘special one’ ingratiated himself with the Old Trafford faithful by way of charging up to the touchline amid scenes of frenzied delight after a 90th-minute goal took the Portuguese side through.

Manchester United across the current markets are looking good on average for 4/9 for the win on the day, with FC Porto almost considered out of the running at 15/2 according to the bookmaker’s aggregates at this juncture.

Barcelona versus Bayern Munich (Barcelona 3/1 second favourite behind Manchester United to lift trophy on average

Bayern Munich have emerged as this year’s surprise package in the eyes of everyone outside of this rediscovered and apparently simmering hotbed of German football. Having disposed of Sporting Lisbon in the last round 12 – 1 on aggregate, Manchester United wind-up merchant Ronaldo was moved to comment that’ “Bayern Munich are very strong”. Which other than being the understatement of the current campaign, should send out warning signals to teams left in the mix. Under the guidance of German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, the erstwhile sleeping giant of European football have made massive strides forward in recent times, thanks in no small part to the contributions of both Miroslav Klose (joint top scorer) and on-off Arsenal target and midfield wizard, Franck Ribery firing on the full compliment of cylinders.)

2006 champions Barcelona are presently perched at the top of La Liga, and their coach Pep Guardiola spoke of no qualms about staring out/locking horns with any of the English contingent, prophetically quipping that, “If you want to win the Champions League you have to play with the best in Europe.” Just before being handed the poisoned chalice of getting the better of in-form, goal crazy Bayern Munich.)

All the first legs will be played out on the 7th and 8th April 2009, with the return journeys taking effect on the 14th and 15th April. An all-English Champions League final remains a distinct possibility (and evident mathematical equation) courtesy of the way in which the quarter-final (and subsequent semi-final) draw has worked out.)

Quite possibly the hardest one of all to call, something reflected in the early prices marked up by the nucleus of the big name bookmakers here who have put Barcelona on 8/13, whilst Bayern Munich pointing toward a 5/1; and in our book therefore worthy of a punt.)