MariamCHAMPIONS LEAGUE GETS INTERESTING
The Champions League is starting to take shape and punters are again expecting the latter knockout stages to have an English flavour. The four Premier League representatives are all in the top six of the winners’ market in Champions League betting, and with good reason.
Each of England’s ‘big four’ have reached the final in recent years, making five of the last eight finalists, and it would be no surprise if we were to witness a second consecutive all-Premiership final.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have already secured their places in the last 16 and it would be a major shock if current second favourites Chelsea fail to join them, despite their poor recent form.
Indeed, England are the hot favourites in the winning nation market and with the ‘big four’ guaranteed to avoid each other in the last 16, punters should have faith that all English representatives will reach the quarter finals, as they did last season.
However, form team Barcelona are the current favourites. The Catalans hold a four point lead at the top of La Liga and are the only team to have won four of their five Champions League group fixtures.
Since beating Arsenal in the 2005/06 final Barcelona have been eliminated by English opponents twice and will be hoping to avoid a Premier League outfit in the first knockout stage draw.
One team who would relish English opposition is Inter Milan. José Mourinho would love to lock horns with his former employers Chelsea but the ‘special one’ would be equally happy with another showdown against Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafa Benitez.
Inter continue to be dominant in Italy but have struggled to make an impact in the Champions League. That will surely change with Mourinho in charge and I expect the Milan blues to be the most likely team to upset the English charge for the trophy.
Written by Philip Oliver, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting at Betfair.
Each of England’s ‘big four’ have reached the final in recent years, making five of the last eight finalists, and it would be no surprise if we were to witness a second consecutive all-Premiership final.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have already secured their places in the last 16 and it would be a major shock if current second favourites Chelsea fail to join them, despite their poor recent form.
Indeed, England are the hot favourites in the winning nation market and with the ‘big four’ guaranteed to avoid each other in the last 16, punters should have faith that all English representatives will reach the quarter finals, as they did last season.
However, form team Barcelona are the current favourites. The Catalans hold a four point lead at the top of La Liga and are the only team to have won four of their five Champions League group fixtures.
Since beating Arsenal in the 2005/06 final Barcelona have been eliminated by English opponents twice and will be hoping to avoid a Premier League outfit in the first knockout stage draw.
One team who would relish English opposition is Inter Milan. José Mourinho would love to lock horns with his former employers Chelsea but the ‘special one’ would be equally happy with another showdown against Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafa Benitez.
Inter continue to be dominant in Italy but have struggled to make an impact in the Champions League. That will surely change with Mourinho in charge and I expect the Milan blues to be the most likely team to upset the English charge for the trophy.
Written by Philip Oliver, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting at Betfair.
