Champions League betting – Schalke vs Man Utd

Schalke vs Man Utd betting preview, odds and tips

Shalke are struggling in the Bundesliga this season, sitting in a miserable mid table 10th place and will be looking to distract attention from the woeful domestic form with another slaying of one of Europe’s giants. Shalke’s 5-2 routing of Inter Milan earlier this month was arguably their best performance of the season, bar United target Manuel Neuer being lobbed from thee half way line early on. Neuer has been impressive though this season and has cemented himself as Germany’s number 1 much like his idol former Shalke keeper and Arsenal player Jens Lehman. With him in goal Shalke can assure themselves that they will not concede many easy goals so a bet on a home clean sheet may not be too far off at odds of 3.25 on Bet365.

Manchester United

United are looking ever more certain to win the Barclays Premier League, their late goal against Everton epitomised how resilient this United squad can be. Javier Hernandez is proving week in week out that he can provide goals from nowhere; in 24 matches he has given 12 goals that’s a goal every 2 games. Chicarito is not a certainty to start though, while he has built a good partnership up with Wayne Rooney let’s not forget, United hadn’t gone a staggering 390 minutes without scoring, is the pressure of the title race and the Champions League starting to get to them? Well Chicarito scored the first and the last goal against Everton at the weekend and is tipped at good odds to score first again at odds of 7.5 on BetFred.

United’s Champions League performances so far have been good having only dropped points at Valencia who were in flying form and at Rangers when they parked the bus against the Red Devils. Sir Alex Ferguson has thought about this fixture though and rested key men Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov and while none but the Serbian centre back are certain starters it will be a great help to their aspirations in this fixtures.

United have been in an odd sort of form lately and with Shalke stuttering domestically, Fergie’s men should be seen as favourites, their wins at home and away at Chelsea in the Champions League being testament to how good and clinical they can be in this competition. There may not be many goals in this fixture and if it goes to form a 1-0 United victory could be comfortable value at 7.5 with Totesport.

Highlighted Bets

Shalke Clean Sheet 3.25 Bet365
First Goalscorer Javier Hernandez 7.5 BetFred
Correct Score 1-0 Manchester United 7.5 Totesport

By John Fernandez

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