Barcelona FC needs to do something that no other teams have been able to do, while a Man United win will be the expected. The first leg of the UEFA Champions Semi-finals ended in a 0-0 draw in Spain and now Barca heads into Old Trafford where Man United rule! Oddsmakers at BetUS.com have Man United at EVEN while Barcelona is an underdog at +265. Get your Manchester United vs Barcelona in now at BetUS.com where real players play!
Barca need to win or draw to advance into the finals. This is a daunting task considering Man U is 11-0 SU on home pitch where they’ve conceded one goal in the last five home games. Good news for Barca is that they’ve only had one game in CL play where they’ve been held scoreless. The only previous time Barcelona played out a 0-0 home draw in the first leg of a European tie was against Liverpool FC in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup semi-final. The Spanish outfit lost the return 1-0. Barcelona is 6-6-11 SU in 23 visits to face English opposition. Their most recent triumph on English soil came in last season's first knockout round where they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield. Barca is 3-5-2 in their last ten where they’ve outscored their opponents 12-10. They are 1-2-2 SU in their last five road games, where they’ve been outscored 7-9. Eto’o Samuel leads his team with 14 goals, but has been held to one goal in CL action. Lionel Messi leads with six goals in CL play. Barcelona forward Thierry Henry spent eight years with United's Premier League rivals Arsenal (1999-2007) and scored nine goals in 18 appearances against the Old Trafford outfit. However, he found the net only once in six visits to Old Trafford
If, or when, Man U advance it will be the third time there’s been an all England final. Chelsea and Liverpool play their second leg on April 30th at Stamford Bridge. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will need no reminder that on the last three occasions they’ve returned from Europe after a goalless first leg, they proceeded to surrender the initiative at Old Trafford. United have a strong home record against teams from Spain, 7W-7D-2L SU from 16 matches played. They are 4-5 SU in nine previous two-legged ties against Spanish opposition. Man U lost on the road, in EPL play, against Chelsea on the weekend, their first loss in 15 games. They are now tied at 81pts in the EPL with two games left. They’ve outscored their opponents 18-6 in their last 10 games and they’ve outscored their opponents, at Old Trafford, 13-1 in six home games. Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded player of the year, finishing with 28 goals, seven of which are in CL play.
Prop Bets: BetUS.co is also offering odds on which team will advance onto the UEFA Champions League Finals in Moscow, Russia. Manchester United is heavily favored at -150 odds to make the Final over Barcelona who are listed as +120 underdogs.
Manchester United FC vs Barcelona FC
When: Tue, April 29, 2008 2:45 PM ET
Line: BetUS.com
PICK: Man United (EVEN)
The Bottom Line: Man U just lost their first home game in a while, but they haven't been held scoreless. Barca needs a win or draw to advance. Man U will bring out everything they've got at home where they've shutout 13 teams this year. Get your Manchester United vs Barcelona in now at BetUS.com where real players play!
