FOOTBALL BETTING: Live On Sky Sports 1: Tues: 19:45
It’s AC Milan V Manchester United and Lyon V Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Chris Hutcheon previews the action.
When AC Milan and Manchester United were paired together in the first knockout stage of the Champions League it became clear that the build up to the match would be dominated by talk of David Beckham facing his former club. With the contest fast approaching, bookmakers have also now got in on the act, introducing a series of specials surrounding the reunion.
Online firm bet365, for example, make the ex-England skipper 12/1 to fire in a free-kick over the two legs and 20/1 to see red at some stage, Ladbrokes rate Beckham at 5/2 to be booked in the first leg and Betfred offer 33/1 for him to eventually score the goal that eliminates United.
However, Beckham-related flutters are somewhat ambitious and it’s another high profile figure, Wayne Rooney that can play a more pivotal role in a tie that his side are 8/15 (Stan James) to progress from. Rooney is a tasty 15/8 with Paddy Power to get on the scoresheet at any stage in the first leg at the San Siro, where Betdaq price Sir Alex Ferguson’s troops at 15/8 to come out on top but the draw looks the best bet at odds of 11/5 courtesy of Jaxx.com.
Given the unreliability of the two defences, it seems likely that both teams will find the net (7/10, Partybets) and subsequently the correct score value arguably lies with 888Sport’s 11/2 for it to finish one-each.
In Tuesday’s other Champions League game, Lyon and Real Madrid face off at Stade Gerland and this one could also finish all-square (12/5, Stan James), although at 2/7 with Totesport, it’s the Spanish outfit that can book their place in the last eight.
Compare odds on the Champions League
