Manchester United V Besiktas odds

Manchester United V Besiktas

Wednesday 25^th November – 19:45 GMT

Group B

Manchester United

Group B Position: 1^st

Group B Form: WWWD

Were United to have won in their very last outing, a 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford, then the Red Devils would not only have been safely through but they would have also all but secured a top place finish with two games still left to play. However, that wasn’t the case and the point they did earn did at least earn them progression into the very next stage of the competition which doesn’t take place into well after Christmas. Now the focus will turn towards winning the group itself, something which does tend to come with an easy or an easier opponent when it comes to the draw for the last sixteen.

We are still unsure as to how Alex Ferguson will set up his side on Wednesday night, nor who will actually start. However, we expect a few of the United fringe players to play a big part in this game, what with United already through and their opponents being a very weak Besiktas side from Turkey. With this, Michael Owen could boost his England chances with a rare start, although, the England hopeful did start United’s previous Champions League encounter at home to CSKA, of which he had very little impact on the game. Some of the youngsters; Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, new summer signing – Gabriel Obertan, and perhaps Federico Macheda, the wonder-kid of last season who has yet to reach the heights set from the previous campaign, although, we’ve not been a huge fan of him from day one, could all feature at some point against Besiktas. 

It will probably be a mixture of the United tag-a-longs and first team against the strongest possible side from Besiktas. If this is the case then we still expect United to run out relatively comfortable winners, although, we said something similar just before United took on CSKA a few weeks ago, and just look how that panned out. However, after watching the first meeting between the two, Besiktas really didn’t show an awful lot of quality, especially in the attacking third, an area where they clearly lacked that cutting edge. United, on the other hand, are more than accomplished at the back, although that has been too evident this season, while their ability in the final third should be far too much for the Besiktas back four to handle.

A win for United, nothing less is expected, then it would take them to the 13 point marker. Wolfsburg are their closest pursuers back in second but they are three points behind United and face a tough and awkward trip to a bitter cold Russia as they take on CSKA Moscow. If Wolfsburg fail to win and United do get the three points against the Turkish outfit then United would finish the group top, regardless of the results on Match Day 6, of which United travel to Germany to take on Wolfsburg.

Besiktas

Group B Position: 4^th

Group B Form: LDLL

The Turkish side do sit rock-bottom of Group B and only have a solitary point to their name, but they aren’t out of the running just yet, mathematically anyway. They would, however, need several results to go their way between now and the end of Match Day 6. For starters, they would need to win both their remaining two Group B fixtures – An away trip to Man Utd, followed by a home encounter with CSKA. We can’t see them earning the win they so desperately need at Old Trafford so we think it’s pretty safe to say that they are out, just not officially.

However, third place is still a real possibility but they could also be out of the hunt for a third position finish if CSKA beat Wolfsburg in Russia earlier in the day. Besiktas face CSKA at home in the final set of fixtures so they will be confident of getting a good result there, but firstly a point at Manchester United would not only aid them nicely but it would more than likely keep them in the hunt for a Europa League finish right up until the very end, baring a CSKA win in Russia. A win for the Russian’s and Besiktas will finish bottom, unless the United defence curls over and allows Besiktas to walk it into the net, on several occasions.

The end of the road is Nye for the only Turkish competitors still in the competition. Their form while in domestic action has been superb, winning their last seven in succession. However, they haven’t pushed on from their morale boosting league form and have failed to replicate some of their league form into their Champions League games. Their only point thus far came in a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg, in Germany, but that was aided by the fact that Wolfsburg were reduced to 10 men just after the interval. They have scored just the one goal in four outings, that coming in Russia against CSKA, while they’ve shipped an unpleasant 6 in return.

Besiktas shouldn’t be too short of motivation ahead of the trip to England, especially seeing as their last visit ended in complete and utter misery when they previously travelled to Anfield and left with a 9-0 spanking. Still, with that result to one side, Besiktas are still in that ‘got to win’ mindset and hopefully they can convert that thinking into a good performance at Old Trafford, although, a good performance may not be enough as they have to at least match CSKA’s result in Russia against Wolfsburg, or their fate within Europe could be settled a game too early.

Match Verdict:- Manchester United to WIN – 1.40 Bet365

We were made to look right mugs by Manchester United last time out, a ridiculous 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow, a team they worked so hard to beat 1-0 in Russia the game before. Fergie opted to rest most of his big guns, with Wayne Rooney not taking to the field until midway through the second half. Besiktas are a much poorer outfit then CSKA, we are sorry to say, and we fancy Fergie to do much of the same in terms of who starts for United. This is a good opportunity to rest the big names and give those who are desperate for some first team action a piece of the limelight. With this said, we still fancy the United second string to be too strong for a travelling Besiktas.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.40 Bet365

Draw – 4.50 SportingBet

Besiktas – 10.00 SKyBet

SoccerBetting Value Bet: Manchester United/Manchester United (Half-Time/Full-Time) – 2.00 PaddyPower