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The first knockout round of the Champions League kicks off on Tuesday, next week, and BetUS has rolled out some scintillating market prices on the eight fixtures in the last 16. Barcelona swaggering into the competition as the defending champions and the outright market favourites (listed at +250 to win outright) are set to take on Stuttgart VFB. The two-leg-tie between the reigning European champions and the Bundesliga side Stuttgart however is not going to get underway until the week after next. Similarly, the much-anticipated clash between Chelsea FC (second and co-favourites in the market with Real Madrid at +450) and Serie A giants Internazionale Milan (large at +1400 to win outright) will not take place until Wednesday, February 24. This includes the two other fixtures on each respective day between Olympiacos and Bordeaux and CSKA Moskva and Sevilla.
The first week is the turn of group winners Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Fiorentina. Though neither of the foursome is strongly favoured to win the competition – save for Real Madrid who are second in line after Barca – the mood in the market would quickly change should either launch a positive start to their survival campaign in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Manchester United, 2007/08 champions, vs. AC Milan , perhaps the most successful Italian outfit in the history of the competition, will be the marquee match of the first instalment of R16 Champions League matches. The clash is much anticipated not only because of the history both clubs lay claim to on this illustrious stage but also because it would hold a special significance for British fans, who might see a renaissance by David Beckham at his old haunting grounds at the Old Trafford, wearing Milan colours this time around. The bookies are almost poker faced about this match to boot, listing both Man U and AC Milan a hairbreadth apart on the soccer money line with AC Milan marginally shorter at +160 to Man U at +170. The first leg is a tossup in more ways than one but I am sure Italian fans are imagining the possibility of what a victory at home would mean to their chances on the return leg at the Old Trafford.
Olympique Lyonnais vs. Real Madrid rekindles an age-old French/Spanish rivalry that has many barely contained in excitement. Lyon finished second in Group E and beat out Liverpool FC, group favourites, for one of the two qualifying spots. The reward for their credible performance in the group stage is a tie against one of the most decorated (expensive as well) benches in club soccer boasting names like Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Raul, to name a few.
It won’t come as a great surprise they are disadvantaged in their opening R16 match against Real Madrid, even with home edge to get the proceedings going. Trading at + 230 in the market, Lyon have an uphill battle against Real Madrid, who are favoured at +120. But is the market a little too hasty in snubbing the French outfit. The tipping facts are simple, a) Lyon have shown they could be resilient and tenacious against some of the big boys in the Group stage and b) more significantly, Real Madrid have shown some vulnerability in both their domestic and international campaigns. Such an enviable bench, a formidable forza in the front flanks, the unanimous opinion was they would come off the boil. Management and Galacticos fans certainly had hoped so; the rest were simply afraid so. But they haven’t come off the boil. And they don’t look quite as alarming or threatening as they did (on paper mind) before the season got underway. It would be one of the most embarrassing exits if Lyon masterminded the unthinkable at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on the return leg.
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More Champions League betting odds comparison from many online sportsbooks can be found here.
Barcelona vs Manchester United – Champions League Final 2009 Video
httpssv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QzktydJC1A
