AC Milan V Manchester United Betting: UEFA Champions League

 

UEFA Champions League – Round of 16

 

 

AC Milan V Manchester United

 

Tuesday, 16^th February – 19:45 GMT

 

 

The fact that these two clashed in the semi-finals two seasons ago has barely been mentioned, and it’s all because of one man – David Beckham. The former United wingman is still renowned for being one of Manchester United’s greatest ever products but this will be a first for him as he pits his wits against a familiar foe in Sir Alex Ferguson at the San Siro in Italy. For all of you who can remember the last encounter between the two, that of the Semi in 2007, United took a 3-2 lead into the away leg in Italy before crumbling at the San Siro in the deciding encounter, losing 3-0 on the night. Will this United side consisting of several players who took to the field that night, handle the pressure of the Italian spotlight at the second time of asking? Or will Beckham lend a helping hand in giving Milan the initiative.

 

 

 

AC Milan

 

Match Odds: 2.75 (7/4) SkyBet

Recommended Bet: Score First – 2.15 VCbet

  

While all the talk is about David Beckham playing against his old employers, the fact remains that the former captain of his country might not even start on Tuesday night as since his loan spell from LA Galaxy kicked into life Beckham hasn’t exactly excelled. The press were quick to jump on his back and his mediocre performance on Friday night, despite being just a brief 10 minute second half stint, might just have put him firmly on the Milan bench ahead of this clash. Leonardo, the AC manager, can ill-afford to let sentiment get in the way of a potential last sixteen victory so Beckham could be sacrificed in a bid to push United to the limit at San Siro.

  

While Milan lye 2^nd in Serie A and look to be having an enjoyable campaign thus far, it’s worth remembering that matters weren’t always this rosy as Milan’s start to the season wasn’t great. Just two wins from their opening seven league games left Milan playing catch up before the season really established itself, but they come on strong ever since and their form has been staggering. Since the 23^rd September, a span of eighteen games, Milan have lost just twice, with one being against the best team in Italy, Inter Milan. The other was a bizarre home defeat to Palmero, but if you disregard those two blips Milan have been arguably thee in form side in Italy. The evidence to back up this statement is the gap between them and the league leaders, Inter, is now just eight points, which was a whole lot bigger a little earlier in the season. 

 

As far as their chance in this opening leg go, Milan have strong claims for a vital first leg victory. After all, they’ve lost just once at the San Siro in eleven games, league games that is as they did succumb to an embarrassing defeat in this competition when they lost 1-0 to FC Zurich, the shock result thus far. However, in recent home fixtures, Milan have proven they are a prolific side when they want to be and are in a rich vein of scoring goals. Back in the Serie A, Milan have notched up a total of twelve goals from three games at home, averaging four goals a game, and this ample run of form in front of goal has been aided by the return to form of former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, who put in another inspirational performance on Friday night in a 3-2 victory over Udinese. Add this to the fact that Klass Jan Huntelaar is finally getting in amongst the goals and Milan are rapidly becoming a more favourable punt for the competition outright let alone just this encounter.

 

Milan aren’t exactly bang in form as their victory over Udinese recently did end a baron run of three league games without a win. However, despite some odd blips, Milan have been extremely strong on their own patch and the return to form of Ronaldinho could be key in both legs, especially the home leg, as the Brazilian maestro has never really put in a performance to remember against an English side. However, Milan aren’t a one trick pony, they aren’t full to the brim of talent either, but there are a few danger-men that Sir Alex will need to keep an eye on, more notably Alexandre Pato, a Brazilian forward is tipped to go all the way in football and has already given Real Madrid a taster of what’s to come when he smashed two in as Milan earned a sensational 3-2 win at The Bernabeu. Milan proved that night that they could raise their game for the big occasion and that’s something all you United fans will need to bare in mind.

  

 

Manchester United

 

Match Odds: 2.85 (24/13) Expekt

Recommend Bet: Total Goals (2) – 3.80 bWin

  

While Sir Alex will have preferred to have been in action over the weekend in the FA Cup, the week and a bit off will have down his squad the world of good as he hardly possess the fittest of teams right now. The Red Devils, by the time match day arrives, won’t have played football for a little under a week whereas their opponents were in action two days later, which won’t be a huge advantage but it could play a small part in the latter stages of the game. However, United have been to the San Siro before, just two seasons ago in fact, and got off to a terrible start in that fixture. While United may have the edge going into the final stages of the tie on Tuesday night, a similarly poor start could spell the end of their San Siro chances before that crucial period even arrives.  

 

It was just as well United weren’t involved over the weekend after their gruelling encounter with Aston Villa, of which they spent the majority of the game down to ten men. Nani was dismissed for a rash tackle during the first period but will still be available for action if given the nod by Alex Ferguson. The Portuguese flops, whom has actually been enjoying a decent spell of form of late, might just lose his place after that outburst to Antonio Valencia, but even the Ecuadorian has yet to prove himself in a United shirt and could well be found wanting in such a big occasion, what would be his biggest game thus far.

  

Wayne Rooney, though, looks likely to outshine the both, and probably the rest of the United starting eleven, as he’s been sensational for the reds all season and is not only their leading goalscorer but also the Premiership’s with a staggering 21 goals to his name. If we’re honest, we don’t actually rate this United crop too highly, actually very little, but the form of Wayne Rooney makes United a big threat in this competition and he has the talent and attributes to be the driving force behind a successful Champions League push. He has been instrumental in United’s bid for a fifth successive league title, almost single handily keeping them in touch with Chelsea at the top, while his antics up front saw him claim the winner in the Carling Cup semi-final, with United now already jotting in a final date for the season, thanks to their superstar. For us, Wayne Rooney is pivotal in United’s chances as a fired up Rooney will be hard to stop, both home and in Italy.

 

The rest of the United squad will be eager to prove that the 2008 Champions aren’t a one man band and that a team effort is what got them here in the first place. They are, though, unbeaten in eight back home in the Premiership, and while they only drew in their last away encounter, a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, the fans and players can seek inspiration from their performance the away game before that draw when they tore Arsenal to pieces in a 3-1 victory. United were lethal on the counter that day and against a Milan side which doesn’t boast the sturdiest of defences, who would back against another United demolition job as Milan aren’t the side of old that emphatically beat the Red Devils 3-0 in their last visit.

 

  

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.20 Bet365

 

This will look a ‘sissy’ prediction but it’s not as though I feel this will be a boring stalemate, No, rather an exciting score draw with plenty of goals and goalmouth action actually. United have been scoring more than enough goals of late to have us thinking they could do the same at the San Siro, against what is an exposed and weak Milan backline, while Milan have been scoring goals for fun in their recent league fixtures and could carve out opportunities with relative ease against a United defence which is far from stable, mainly due to so many injuries to key defensive players. We expect both sides to go for it in this opening leg and an early goal for either side could spark off a cracker of an encounter at the San Siro.

 

 

SoccerBetting Goal Scorer Picks:

 

AC Milan – Ronaldinho

 

The former FIFA Player of the Year isn’t back to his glorious best but he’s certainly hit a rich vein of form and has been by far and away Milan’s best player of late, with his match winning displays catapulting Milan up the Serie A table. He still has silky touches, his jaw-dropping skills and a lean finish, while he’s also Milan’s free-kick and penalty taker, so the Brazilian is surely worth a punt at tasty looking odds.

 

First Goal Scorer – 6/1 Boylesports

Anytime Scorer – 2/1 Boylesports

 

 

Manchester United – Wayne Rooney

 

He’s up their with the very best on present form and he’s been deadly in front of goal for United this season, leading the way with 21 league goals. Like Ronaldinho, only much better, Rooney has been at the forefront of this United charge for yet another league title and his goals have kept his sides well and truly in the hunt. He has the ability to score goals, create goals and create a goal out of absoulouetely nothing. Even if United are seemingly banging their heads against a brick wall, fear not as Wayne Rooney could, or should we say probably will, pop up with an unbelievable goal or pass to turn the game on it’s head. He’s the favourite to strike for United at the San Siro and we must say we do like his odds of silencing the home crowd.

 

 

First Goal Scorer – 11/2 Boylesports

Anytime Scorer – 15/8 Boylesports

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

AC Milan – 2.75 SkyBet

Draw – 3.20 Bet365

Manchester United – 2.85 Expekt

 

 

To Qualify:

 

AC Milan – 2.63 BetFred

Manchester United – 1.53 Bet365