Schalke vs Man Utd – Hosts to witness winning run ended
Published:Schalke seem set to lose their 100 per cent winning record at home in the Champions League this season as they host Manchester United in the first leg of their semi final.
Match Odds
The Germans have never previously reached a Champions League final and know that a victory at home is likely to be paramount if they want to progress past Manchester United.
Schalke are 23/10 in the Champions League odds to take a first-leg lead to Old Trafford and have won all five of their matches at home this season.
A strong defensive backbone has been pivotal to Manchester United’s European run and they put their own impressive record on the line of having not let in a goal when playing away in the competition.
At least one of these records will end and it is 6/5 that Manchester United take victory and 23/10 that the result in Gelsenkirchen is a draw.
One interesting statistic is that Manchester United have lost all four of their previous knockout stage ties with German opposition, including when they were defeated over two legs by Bayern Munich last season.
It is 5/2 in the Champions League betting that Schalke qualify for the final.
First Goalscorer
Top-scorer Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of the trip to Germany with a groin strain, which may put added pressure on Wayne Rooney to perform well.
Rooney will not have fond memories of Gelsenkirchen having been sent off at the ground playing for England against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter finals, but is 9/2 to score first.
Raul is likely to prove Schalke’s biggest threat and has four Champions League goals against Manchester United from three appearances during his time with Real Madrid.
The Spaniard is 6/1 to open the scoring.
A £30 stake on the first leg between Schalke and Manchester United ending goalless would return £210. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet.
