Strong defence can win Manchester United the Champions League
Published:They may have missed out on becoming the first team in Champions League history to keep a clean sheet in all six group games, but the strongest defence in the Champions League can lead Manchester United to the final.
The point against Valencia in the final group game was crucial, meaning Man Utd avoid playing Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the last 16.
The adage you have to beat the best to be the best rings true, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will face one of AC Milan, Copenhagen, Inter Milan, Lyon, Marseille, Valencia or Roma.
At 8/1 to win the Champions League, Man Utd offer plenty of value and will be confident of beating any of their potential opponents and advancing to the quarter-final stages.
Having conceded just one goal in six games, Man Utd may not be able to boast the scoring power of teams like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich, but when you keep clean sheets, just the one goal is needed.
Having made the final twice in the last three years, punters would be unwise to rule out Fergie’s side making that three finals in four years, and are arguably the most likely to go the furthest of the four Premier League teams considering Chelsea’s recent form.
Chelsea are 9/2 in the Champions League betting and with 15 points from the group stages, statistically they are the best English team in the competiton.
But the London club have only ever made one Champions League final in their history and Manchester United offer the better value at almost double Chelsea’s betting odds.
When it comes to value Manchester United offer plenty of it, but after witnessing Barcelona’s demolition of Real Madrid in La Liga, the 2/1 for Barcelona to win the Champions League looks very tempting.
A £10 stake on Man Utd winning the Champions League would return £90. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
