h1>Champions League betting – Milan vs Spurs

Milan vs Spurs betting preview, odds and tips

AC Milan     Form: DDWWDD    League Position: 1sr

AC Milan edged out of group G in second place with only a single point over 3rd placed Ajax. However the Italian giants have some real firepower in their side and currently sit top of the Italian Serie A. Milan also boast an impressive goal record after managing 40 goals in 24 league games this season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Rossoneri’s top scorer this season with 13 league goals and 4 in the Champions League and a great price at 9/2 with Stan James to open the scoring on the night. Milan may though have to be a bit more careful in defence if they are to come out on top over the two legs after they conceded 7 goals in just 6 group games. Despite this they are strong favourites to win the first leg at home and best priced at 5/6 with Betfred and plenty of other bookmakers.

Tottenham     Form: WDDLWW    League position: 5th

Tottenham’s European adventure continues on Tuesday night when they face a tough clash away at Giuseppe Meazza after exceeding expectations and finishing top of their group above Inter Milan. Although Tottenham have had a good season in the Premier League, Redknapp’s men have perhaps not scored as many goals as they would have liked. Rafael Van Der Vaart has been central to their success this season after scoring 10 goals in the league so far this season and the Dutch is a good bet at 8/1 with Stan James to score at any time in the game. Gareth Bale has also shone this season and Tottenham’s chances may depend on the fitness of the left-winger. Despite being clear underdogs for the first leg, Spurs are still seen as able to progress over the two legs and are best priced at evens with most bookmakers to do so.

Match Prediction Milan WIN best priced at 1.75 with Paddy Power

Tottenham’s chances look slim in Italy on Tuesday when they could be facing a front line of Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Antonio Cassano, which should give their back four a real test. Spurs have saved their best performances for Europe this season though and if you feel they could cause another shock on Tuesday then odds of 37/10 are available from Unibet for an away win. On the other hand a 3-1 Milan win is showing great odds of 15/1 with Unibet. It is also worth bearing in mind that Tottenham have been very resilient this season and have taken more points than any other team in the Premier League from losing positions.

Highlighted Bets

3-1 Milan WIN – 14/1 best odds with William Hill

R Van Der Vaart Anytime goal scorer –Best odds 5/2 with Sky Bet

Z Ibrahimovic 1st goal scorer – 9/2 with Stan James

By Sam Markham

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Champions League betting – Milan vs Man Utd

AC Milan vs Man Utd betting preview, odds and tips

Two sides who have won the Champions League no fewer than nine times between them – AC Milan (7) Man Utd (2) – prepare to lock horns in the last 16 of the competition on Tuesday evening. The San Siro plays host to two of Europe’s most decorated clubs and whilst their European pedigree’s cannot be doubted; but will the return of David Beckham overshadow the importance of this star-studded clash? Beckham’s Milan are 9/5 with Boylesports to take a first leg lead against United, and the bookmakers are finding this one very tough to call with the Red Devils a short 8/5 price to win in Italy. The draw is chalked up at 11/5 with Bet365.

Winners three years ago, AC Milan scraped through to this years knockout rounds after pipping Marseille to second place in Group C behind group winners Real Madrid. The Rossoneri managed by former Brazil ace Leonardo, amassed just nine points in the group stages but did beat the Galacticos of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ironically, Madrid’s long list of Galacticos consists of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, two players who could have been facing each other on Tuesday had Real President Ramon Calderon not snared the pair last summer. Despite the departures of their key men, the ten other areas on the pitch boast quality, quality which sees both clubs challenging both domestically and in Europe.

Ex- Milan player Leonardo replaced the Chelsea bound Carlo Ancelotti in late 2009, and whilst his side have reached the last 16, they have somewhat played second fiddle to city rivals Internazionale in Serie A. AC currently find themselves third in the league – a massive 8 points behind leaders Inter – and last Friday’s 3-2 win over Udinese ended a four game winless run. A brace from Dutchman Jan Klass Huntelaar ensured the Rossoneri kept pace with second placed Roma and maintained their slim hopes of catching Inter. Milan and United have met just four times in the Champions league in the 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 seasons respectively. However, Manchester United fans look away now because their head to head records don’t make pleasant reading. United have only managed to defeat Milan once in all four of these meetings and that was a 3-2 win at Old Trafford almost three years ago. This result did not prevent the Italian club knocking out the Premier League Champions however, as United couldn’t avoid defeat in the reverse leg at the San Siro. Something they will have to do this time around to increase their chances of progressing to the quarter final stages.

So, Sir Alex Ferguson’s long, illustrious and distinguished career has had just four meetings with AC Milan and if head to head’s are anything to go by, the United chief faces an uphill struggle to outwit his opponents this year. However, Fergie’s side are on a great run of form and the Scot will be delighted with his team’s current level of performance ahead of this crunch tie. United topped Group B with considerable ease with 13 points, losing only once against Besiktas. Master Fergie with all his European experience takes on the apprentice in Leonardo and the former must plot his battle lines in the knowledge that Milan have still to come to Old Trafford to face his 2008 winners.

The midweek draw at Aston Villa ended United’s four game winning run which saw them defeat neighbours City and rivals Arsenal. But Chelsea succumbed to a Louis Saha brace at Everton which meant the point gained at Villa Park closed the gap to just a solitary point between them and the Blues. And with Wayne Rooney in the form of his career, it seems nailed on that the England striker will score at anytime during the tie. Bank on Roon at 15/8 with Boylesports to add to his 23 goals in all competitions this term in the San Siro. Milan’s main goalscoring threat lies with fans’ favourite Ronaldinho who represents good value at 6/1 to open the scoring, young Brazilian starlet Alexandre Pato is next best at 11/2. Goalscoring aside, both teams ooze quality all the way through the park and Hills offer a poor 11/10 that both teams score on Tuesday.

AC Milan’s squad has an average age of 31, but can their experienced veterans stop a rampant United at the San Siro?

The appearance of David Beckham, whether this is a cameo one or the full ninety minutes, it is sure to steal all the headlines either way. Becks is back for a second stint at Milan after returning on loan from LA Galaxy and he has already singled out the return leg at Old Trafford as his ‘big day’ out. Beckham hasn’t played on the hallowed turf he used to once grace weekly during his ten years at United which ended infamously in 2003. His time in Manchester might have ended prematurely but the man dubbed ‘Golden Balls’ will be vying to put one over his former employees. Can Beckham deliver one of his trademark free kicks or can United keep him quiet over the two legs? The bookies think Beckham is a longshot to score in either leg, SkyBet offering a best price of 11/4. To score at Old Trafford Becks is 9/2, he is priced at 2s to receive a yellow card which seems more reasonable than the 20s he is quoted as to receive his marching orders. And finally just for fun on the Beckham specials, the former England skipper is 5/1 to exchange shirts with Wayne Rooney at the final whistle.

Recommended bets: Draw at 11/5 with Bet 365

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Champions League betting – Marseille vs Manchester United

Marseille vs Manchester United betting preview, odds and tips

United domestically in the league have been infallible, it has been in cup competitions they have come unstuck. Last weekend’s fragile display against Crawley being a prime example of this, while it’s not expected that Sir Alex will send out the kids for such a crucial tie, performances like that are definitely ones the Red Devils will be looking to avoid. Players like Gabriel Obertan, Tiago Bebe and Michael Carrick who underperformed heavily at the weekend will struggle to find a space in the team.

United’s main threat this season has come from Dimitar Berbatov, but he may strangely in this European tie be dropped to the bench in favour of a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, with Wayne Rooney leading the line. So with Rooney still struggling for form of late where will the goals come from, look no further than the one and only Luis Nani. Nani has scored 9 goals this season in all competition and thrives under the pressure of big games, and the 4-5-1 compliments him nicely allowing him to almost play as a 2nd deep striker. So with odds of 11.0 on Victor Chandler to score first he could be great value. With United likely to play 4-5-1 and stifle the game you can almost guarantee that it will be a low scoring game, just like when United play any big team. So a bet on the total goals being less than 2 at odds of 2.62 on Bet365 looks very good.

Marseille

Marseille are currently sitting in third place in the Ligue 1 table after winning the title last year. Manager Didier Dechamps has already come out and said how important a game this is, and that they need to get some kind of advantage before the 2nd leg in Manchester. Star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, is already out of the fixture and goalscoring duties fall too top scorer this season Lucho Gonzalez, who with odds of 6.5 to score anytime in the fixture on William Hill could be a veery good bet seeing as he in such good form at the moment.

Marseille’s domestic form has been very strong, winning there last 3 games and not being defeated in 6, but in Europe we all know that form back home counts for very little, a lot comes down to simply who wants it more on the night. United look set to be very fired up after the Crawley debacle and will most likely win this game and with odds of 7.0 on Totesport for a 1-0 United win.

Highlighted Bets:

First Goalscorer Nani 11.0 Victor Chandler
Total Goals Under 2 2.62 Bet365
Anytime Goalscorer Lucho Gonzalez 6.5 William Hill
Correct Score 1-0 Manchester United 7.0 Totesport

By John Fernandez

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Champions League betting – Man Utd vs Valencia

Man Utd vs Valencia betting preview, odds and tips

Champions League Group Position: 1st, Champions League Form: DWWWW

Imperious Manchester United lost their shine last week after an awful performance in the Carling Cup against West Ham. A weakened side it may have been, but in a team that prides itself on its strength in depth this was an embarrassing result and performance.

However, many a team will have faced an angry Manchester United side, and even if the players may not be the same as in that defeat, the manager still is. Alex Ferguson doesn’t take defeat lightly, and he won’t want any sort of negative run have its chance to fester ahead of crucial games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

With the return of form for five goal Dimitar Berbatov against Blackburn and Wayne Rooney returning to full fitness, along with supporting cast Nani and Park Ji-Sung, Manchester United at full flight still scare anyone. A point takes them through top of the group, which can be vital come the knockout draw. They’d expect at least that.

Valencia: Champions League Group Position: 2nd, Champions League Form: WLDWW

Valencia were unlucky to lose at home to United in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, making the better chances and having more control of the match. However, they were taught a lesson by an incisive and experienced European side, who drew them on before counter punching fantastically.

The threat they carry in La Liga has waned slightly of late, where early form suggested they could maintain an outside title push, they now trail league leaders Barcelona by 13 points, and Espanyol in the Champions League spot by four points.

The most impressive part of their continued attacking threat is how they’ve coped with the loss of world class talents David Villa and David Silva. Juan Manuel Mata and Roberto Soldado have filled the shoes of these stars impressively. These two, along with the likes of Joaquin and Vicente, carry enough threat to cause damage in any game, and they’ll travel to England knowing they’re capable of getting points.

Match Prediction: Manchester United Win – 1.73 Victor Chandler  

Both teams are safe as far as qualification goes, and as such this game could fade into a bit of a damp squib. If United can score early, there’s a chance Valencia will drift through the rest of the game and let this game finish without event.

It could be a game neither side wants to lose without forcing themselves forward in search for a win. United will be content to control the game without too much hassle, and a clean sheet after letting in four the week before would be ideal.

Of course, with little to lose, there’s also a chance that both sides will approach this game with no fear and trust their attacks to damage the others. A watching neutral can only hope.

If any player needs a goal rush to start then it’s Wayne Rooney. Berbatov isn’t a prolific scorer and certainly isn’t value at the same price as the England striker. It’s only a matter of time until the goals start to flow, the old adage applies here; Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Highlighted Bets:-

Over/Under: Under 2.5 goals – 1.9 Bet 365

First Goalscorer: Wayne Rooney – 5.5 Stan James

Correct Score: 1-0 – 7.0 victor Chandler

Match Odds:-

Manchester United – 1.73 Paddy Power

Draw – 3.6 PaddyPower, William Hill

Valencia – 5.25 Victor Chandler

By Chris Wilkerson

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Champions League betting – Man United v Marseille

Man United v Marseille betting preview, odds and tips

Manchester United will be looking to build on the 0-0 draw achieved in France by going into the quarter finals of the competition for the 5th successive season.  But Marseille are looking for a major upset and to reach the last 8 for the first time since the 1992/1993 season. Manchester United came through group C with a fair amount of ease to reach this stage. As Marseille came through in second from group F after winning 4 of their 6 group matches.

Man United

Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2-0 at home on Saturday evening to reach the Semi Final of the FA Cup and continue challenging for 3 trophies. The Red Devils have never lost at home to French first division opposition or at home at all this season and are therefore firm favourites and best priced at 1.5 with Bet365 to win on the night. Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have struck up a good partnership recently and should continue upfront together on Tuesday after contributing 22 goals between them so far this season. Hernandez is therefore a good bet at 6.0 with Skybet to open the scoring on the night. Man United have the best defensive record in the competition this season after only conceding 1 goal so far in their 7 matches and so a 2-0 home victory is definitely worth a look at 6.75 with Unibet.

Marseille

Current Ligue 1 holders Olympic Marseille currently sit 4th in the league this season but only a point behind top of the table Lille. Although L’OM are most definitely under dogs and priced as much as 8.0 with Paddy power to win on the night they have a decent away record this season. Marseille have lost only 3 of their 14 away games in the league and only once away at Chelsea in the Champions League. L’OM will also be taking some confidence to Old Trafford after winning 5 of their last 6 league games.  Andre-Pierre Gignac is fit for the trip to Manchester after missing the first leg and the striker is a good price at 4.2 with Paddy Power so score at any time, despite a difficult season so far.

Highlighted Bets

Javier Hernandez first goal scorer – 6.0 Skybet
2-0 Man United correct score – 6.75 Unibet
Andre-Pierre Gignac anytime scorer – 4.2 Paddy power
Both teams to score first half – 6.5 Skybet

By Sam Markham

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Champions League betting – Man United v Chelsea

Man United v Chelsea betting preview, odds and tips

Manchester United won the first leg at Stamford Bridge thanks to a first half goal from Wayne Rooney and  it was a precious away goal that could be crucial come Tuesday evening. Although Chelsea had a decent record against Man United at home recently it was  fairly comfortable for the Red Devils as the Blues didn’t play anywhere near their potential. There is though still only one goal in it and everything to play for.

Manchester United

The Red Devils are still on for a successful season as they currently lead the Premier League and are progressing well in both the domestic and European cup competitions. Man United haven’t lost at home so far this season and will take plenty of confidence going into the return leg. Alex Ferguson’s side also boast an impressive defensive record in the competition after conceding just 2 goals. Comparatively though they have only managed to find the back of the net on 10 occasions, which is an average of just over one goal per game.  With this in mind Man United are looking good for a 1-0 home win that is nicely priced at 7.75 with Bwin. Wayne Rooney was rested for the weekend game against Fulham but should be back on Tuesday and is definitely worth a bet after scoring 4 goals in his last 2 games.  The striker is a great bet then at 6.4 with Unibet to open the scoring on the night.

Chelsea

With a chance of reclaiming their Premier League title looking all the more out of reach, Chelsea have only the Champions League left to gain any silverware this season.  The Blues will though have to improve on their performance in the first leg which saw them play nowhere near their potential, and it has been this stuttering form which was been their downfall in the second half of the season. Goals have also been hard to come by for Ancelotti’s men, despite signing Fernando Torres, they have only scored 4 goals in their last 5 games. Fernando Torres is also still waiting for his first Chelsea goal and if you think he can do the damage on Tuesday then Unibet are offering great odds of 4.5 for the striker to score at any time.

Highlighted Bets

1-0 Man United WIN – 7.0 Blue Square
Wayne Rooney first goal scorer – 5.5 Will Hill
Fernando Torres anytime scorer – 3.6 Paddy Power
DRAW – 3.3 Paddy Power
Both teams to score first half – 5.5 Skybet

By Sam Markham

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Champions League Group H betting

Group H Champions League odds and tips

Group H looks like Arsene Wenger’s and Arsenal’s to lose in all honesty and the 1-2 odds at Victor Chandler for them to top the group must be snapped up early before it shortens up fast. Shakhtar Donetsk could be second best while Sporting Braga and Partizan Belgrade should give a good account but look the two most likely not to make grade.

Group H winner odds

The club from North London for all their football flair have come unstuck in the Champions League in recent years after they were beaten finalists in 2006. Their group opposition will attempt to disturb Arsenal’s scintillating football by adopting aggressive tactics. But Arsenal’s early season form seems to suggest that have much more resolve now and it would be a travesty if they weren’t to make it through to the last 16. The Gunners had to settle for third place once more in the Premier League last term and they can’t buy silverware of late, their last title success coming way back in the invincible 2003/04 season. They will certainly go quite far again in the Champions League but how far id the ultimate question. The 11/4 (William Hill) for them to get knocked out at the quarter-final stage seems very reasonable indeed.

Ukrainian champions Shakhtar were UEFA Cup winners in 2009 and are a real force in European competition but can they produce winning displays now up in Champions League grade? While this question remains unanswered for now, there seems no reason why not! The team are tough to beat at home and their UEFA cup winning campaign was certainly no fluke. Their squad has a somewhat Brazilian contingent to it and for that reason they will not be lacking in flair and can comfortably secure second place in Group H behind the Gunners. For this 10/11(Bet365) seems like a snatch for them to make the second round. They begin with a home tie against Partizan Belgrade and should get off to the perfect start at 4/9 (William Hill). Arsenal old boy Eduardo has transferred to Ukraine and he will sure receive a hostile reception when returning to the Emirates.

Portuguese runners-up last season, Sporting Braga and defied the odds to beat both Celtic and Sevilla to book their place in Group H. It will be very interesting to see how they fair in their debut Champions League season and the bookies seem reluctant to overprice them for Group H qualification at just 11/10 (Bet365). But their downfall might be on the road, Celtic ran out comfortable 2-1 winners at Parkhead in qualifying and they will face much sterner tests than the Hoops. Expect them to pick up nil points at the Emirates in their opener.

Partizan Belgrade have won the Serbian SuperLiga an unprecedented twenty-two times and had to go through qualifying to appear in last Thursday’s draw. They did however account for Anderlecht en route and for that performance they must be taken seriously. But the other three in the group just look far too strong and should outclass and outplay the Serbs this being reflected in the 1/7 (general) odds for them not to qualify. Picking up a point or two would prove a real achievement.

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Champions League Group G betting

Group G Champions League odds and tips

Group G – the aptly named ‘group of death’. Real Madrid, AC Milan, Ajax and Auxerre all stand a chance of qualifying but only two can make the cut. The Jose factor will be quite significant when analysing the chances of Madrid who are unsurprisingly favourites to top the group at 8/13 (Stan James) but the remaining three clubs shouldn’t be too far behind.

Group G winner odds

The ‘Special One’ led Inter Milan to last years Champions League overcoming Bayern in the Bernabeu finale. Now, the Portuguese boss will be sat in the home dug-out in the Madrid stadium after swapping it for the San Siro. Inter hadn’t previously won the Champions League but Mourinho quickly settled that score and he can continue his excellent record in the competition at Madrid, who are second favourites at 11/2 (Betfred) to win the Wembley final. Real must first negotiate Group G which looks all set to produce some mouth-watering clashes. Madrid must aim to overhaul Barcelona’s tag as the best team in the world and have set about doing so with the signings of Germany star duo Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. They will be pivotal in their European adventure when they kick off at home to Martin Jol’s Ajax. The nine time winners of this trophy must be warned against complacency in a group which could potentially catch them out.

AC Milan at present seem to be on a downward spiral and have arguably been replaced by Inter as the top Italian club. They have not won Serie A since 2004 but do have good history in Europe’s elite competition winning it seven times, second only to Madrid, and being runners-up on four occasions. But last seasons miserable third place finish in the league does not send confidence roaring and they could well be the first big-name to enter the 2010-11 Champions League. Head coach Massimiliano Allegri’s ageing squad have however been boosted by the double capture of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho and they can provide the spark that has been missing since their 2007 winning year. Milan have to be taken seriously of course in Group G, and are available at 7/2 (Bwin.com) to finish as group winners and are as short as 2/5 (Paddy Power) just to progress to the knockouts. They will come head to head with Real Madrid in a carbon copy of last years group stages and it was the Italians who had the edge a year ago with a win and a draw. Auxerre are first up at the San Siro but there is little value at 2/5 (general) for them to start with a win.

Martin Jol resisted the clutches of Fulham over the summer in order to stay at Ajax and that says something about how highly he rates the team he has assembled there. But Ajax have been out of the European limelight for a while now since their European success in 1995 and had to book their place this year through qualifying and have not won the Eredivisie since the 2003/04 season. They will need to improve if they are going to trouble the likes of Madrid and Milan and Uruguayan Luis Suarez musr be on top of his game if Ajax are to make an impact in Group G. Odds of 3/1 (Coral) are available for them to make it through the group and the club from Amsterdam start with the toughest of tasks in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Perhaps the nightmares of draws for A.J Auxerre, which was their reward for finishing third in the French league and beating Zenit St.Petersburg in qualifying. Jean Fernandez’s team will know the size of the task ahead of them but they can play in the knowledge where nobody expects them to progress. This underdog tag could work in their favour and some punters might nibble at the 5/1 Totesport are offering for them to qualify. While this may seem unlikely, the French outfit will not give up the ghost easily and could shock a few of their more fancied rivals. If they get anything in Milan on September 15 it will deliver a real statement of intent.

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Champions League Group F betting

Group F Champions League odds and tips

Premier League title winners Chelsea recorded their best ever finish in the 2007/08 Champions League season when they were beaten in the final by Manchester United. Penalty kicks were their downfall that night at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and this year they face another trip to the Russian capital when they do battle with Spartak. French champions Marseille and Slovakian newcomers Zilina make up the rest of Group F.

Group F winner odds

Carlo Ancelotti guided old club AC Milan to the Champions League in 2003 and 2007 but will be hoping to lead the Blues to their maiden European success this time when they kick off their campaign in Zilina. The West Londoners won the Premier League by the narrowest of margins last season from United but realise they need to add the Champions League to their honours list before they can be considered true European greats. But their double winning season has seen them installed as third favourites at 6/1 (SkyBet) to win the competition outright and should finish as runaway leaders in Group F but are unbackable at 3/10 (Boylesports) to do so. They will get off to the perfect start away to Zilina on September 15 and can reward punters at 7/4 (Victor Chandler) by being the British team to progress furthest. The longshot wager regards the Stamford Bridge club comes in the highest scoring group market, 6/1 (Stan James) says Group F clubs net more than any other. This seems overpriced considered Chelsea’s emphatic start to the new Premier League season which has seen them bag fourteen goals in just three games.

Olympique de Marseille finally clinched the French title for the first time in eighteen years and can boast winning the Champions League in 1993. The club from the Stade Velodrome are the only French winners of the competition thus far and will enter this years in buoyant mood and have a serious chance of progression in the group. While they may have to settle for second placed, reaching the last 16 will be an achievement in itself. Manager Didier Deschamps a Champions League winner with Marseille in ’93 will lock horns with his former employers in Chelsea aiming to put one over his old club. They can be backed quite easily at 7/10 (Bwin.com) to qualify through Group F pipping Spartak Moscow to the runners up spot. They kick off with a home tie against the Russians and this represents a good early chance to get points on the board.

Spartak manager Valery Karpin has transformed the clubs fortunes of late and will be hoping his side perform well in the competition with the help of new signing Aiden McGeady from Celtic. It could be a battle between them and Marseille for second placed and the sides are no strangers to each other in Europe. The pair met in the semi-final of the 1990/01 Champions League with Marseille running out 3-1 winners in Moscow. Spartak will need to prevent a repeat scoreline when they travel to France for the opener and bookies SkyBet list them at 6/4 to go further than the group stages.

Little is known about Slovakian side Msk Zilina and had to book their place the hard way disposing of Birkirkara, Litex Lovech and Sparta Prague in qualifying. Zilina have won five Slovakian championships since the start of the league in 1993 and are the current holders. Their squad consists of many of those who starred for Slovakia in the 2010 World Cup but they will struggle in Group F. They face stiff competition in Chelsea, Marseille and Spartak who will prove just to strong for them. Destined for an early exit as justified by the 10/1 (Bet365) just to qualify through the group.

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Champions League Group E betting

Group E Champions League odds and tips

Last years Champions League runners-up Bayern Munich will be hoping to go one better this time around and they have been drawn with Roma, FC Basel and CFR Cluj. Louis Van Gaal’s Bavarian’s should negotiate Group E and will be bidding to win the trophy for the first time since 2001. Germany’s most successful club justify favouritism at 4/6 to finish as group winners and they begin with a testing tie against Roma at the Allianz Arena. Bayern should however overcome the Italians at home and look backable at 8/11 (Bet365) to collect all three points and make the perfect start.

Group E winner odds

Ex-Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri led A.S Roma to a second placed finish in Serie A last season but have been unable to finish at the summit since 2001. However, they did perform well in both the Coppa Italia and the SuperCoppa Italiana but again had to settle for second best in both. And they may have to do so again behind Bayern in Group E but if they are to stick their heads in front and win the group they can be backed at 11/5 (Bwin.com). If they can avoid defeat in Munich in the opener they stand a chance of nicking a draw at Paddy Power’s 12/5. Roma will be solid in the Stadio Olimpico and are just 2/9 (Stan James) to qualify through the group.

Swiss side FC Basel had to go through qualifying in order to make last Thursday’s Champions League draw in Monaco. They dispatched of Debreceni and Sheriff Tiraspol and Thorsten Fink’s side will be a tough nut to crack in the competition. They are no strangers to European competition since bursting onto the scene in the 2000-01 season and have won the Swiss Super League a massive thirteen times. Their best success in Europe’s elite tournament came in the 2002/03 season when they made it to the knockout rounds. It is unlikely they are going to go this far this year but they can continue their European adventure in the Europa League by finishing third. They begin with a trip to Cluj on September 15 but could struggle to get anything in Romania and are best priced 2/1 (William Hill) to win the game and a larger 9/2 (Victor Chandler) to qualify through Group E.

Romanian football seems to be on the up after CFR Cluj and rivals Unirea Urziceni have both recently made their Champions League bows. The former is their only representative this year but caught the eye in the 2008/09 competition winning their opener with Roma and holding Chelsea to a draw. Cluj are the current Romanian champions having achieving this accolade for only the second time in their history but are the outsiders at 7/1 (Paddy Power) to make the last 16. But they are capable of causing a few upsets in Group E albeit en route to their inevitable early exit. However, Bwin.com offer odds of 13/10 that Cluj mastermind a win against Basel in the first and this certainly seems worth a small stake.

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