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Man Utd avoid Greek tragedy as CL glory odds are slashed

| 20.03.2014
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Manchester United fans have not had much to cheer about this season, but their second leg Champions League victory over Olympiakos in the last 16 was a reminder that the English giants are not ready to sleep just yet.

After losing 2-0 in a horrifically lifeless first leg in Greece, Coral gave the Red Devils odds of just 40/1 to win the European competition. However, a fantastic hat-trick by a spurred-on Robin van Persie saw them through to the quarter finals by winning 3-0 on the night.

United are still outside chances at 20/1, despite their odds being exactly halved, but poor domestic form (they are currently seventh in the Premier League) has not stopped English clubs in the past from winning the Champions League.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool finished outside the top four and were given no hope winning Europe’s elite competition – but ended up lifting the trophy anyway – so David Moyes will take confidence from that.

Coral don’t fancy United’s chances of progressing far, however, as they are odds-on at 8/15 to get knocked out at the quarter-finals stage against their yet to be announced opponents. A 9/4 price says they’ll be eliminated form the semis, while they are 9/1 shots to be beaten finalists.

Premier League leaders Chelsea (2/1 to win the English top flight) have been given a slightly better chance of progression to the next stage, but are still odds-on at 8/11 to get knocked out in the quarters. You can go with Coral at 11/5 for Jose Mourinho’s men to exit the competition in the semi-finals and 7/1 to finish runners-up.

The Blues comfortably beat their last 16 opposition Galatasaray 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the tie, to win 3-1 on aggregate. Back them at 10/1 (fourth-favourites) to go all the way to win their second Champions League crown.

Bayern Munich remain the team to beat in this year’s tournament with odds of 15/8 to be the first club since AC Milan in the 1989/90 season to defend the European Cup. The Germans saw off Arsenal 3-1 over their last 16 tie.

La Liga side Real Madrid are looking the best bet to claim their 10th competitions title with odds of 4/1 (third-favourite), as they destroyed Schalke 9-2 on aggregate and possess Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal’s captain now has 13 goals from just seven Champions League games this season, and is odds-on favourite at 2/9 to win the Golden Boot.

Barcelona (7/2 to win their first title in three years) made light work of Manchester City in their head-to-head, beating them 4-1 over two legs. While French heavyweights PSG, who convincingly saw off Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate, are 10/1 to lift their first crown.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid (12/1) and Borussia Dortmund (14/1) are through to the quarter-finals after beating their respective opponents AC Milan (5-1) and Zenit St Petersberg (5-4).

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Author

Sam Barnard

Sam has been writing for Coral since January 2014, and is the assistant editor of the news site. As well as the main betting sports, football, tennis and cricket, he covers the likes of golf, F1 and darts too, the latter of which has become a particular favourite. Sam enjoys playing as much as writing about sports, but niggling injuries have limited his participation in recent years, so is happy to mainly watch the pros such as Manchester United, Yorkshire CCC, Raymond van Barneveld and even Gibraltar national football team instead.