Three reasons why Man United can qualify in the Allianz Arena
Published:It’s not often a backs-to-the-wall draw at home, with all 11 men playing behind the ball at times, would be considered a good result for Manchester United but these are the footballing times with which we live nowadays.
However, the 1-1 result with Bayern Munich gives them plenty of hope in qualifying for the Champions League semi finals, something that Ladbrokes give a 4/1 chance to, and we’ve got three reasons why that’s a price our customers should be snapping up:
Munich’s missing midfield
Whether Wayne Rooney bought the German’s dismissal or not, Bastian Schweinsteiger will be absent for the Allianz Arena battle.
Although easy to write off as straw clutching (but then again this is Bayern Munich we are talking about), Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten when the 29-year-old starts a match, with both their losses coming when the midfielder has been absent.
With Javi Martinez also suspended and Thiago Alcantara out with injury, the Spanish boss faces a midfield reshuffle that could play into United’s hands.
Welbeck’s running
FCB right-back Rafinha is unquestionably the weak link in the German champions’ armour. So deciding not to instruct Danny Welbeck to track the Brazilian’s forward runs gave United a simple, but effective, outlet when they finally won back the ball.
The England forward’s strong running in behind the Bayern back line was the one threat to the Germans that the hosts posed and a repeat of that trick in Munich will surely reap greater rewards than the fluffed chip Welbeck attempted when through on goal in the first half.
United’s containment strategy
Arjen Robben has likened the sea of red often parked in front of Bayern’s attacks to the kind of defending you find in handball.
While the Dutchman may be bitter, Nemanja Vidic and co won’t mind a jot as exactly half of the visitor’s shots came from long range.
Another 90 mins of staunch defending like that and United will be in with a crack at a semi-final spot.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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