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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Why Manchester United can’t lose focus in the closing stages

Man Utd/Inter, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than concentrating on their gameplan to eliminate Manchester United, Inter Milan have been busy calculating what percentage chance they stand. Jose Mourinho says 50% while Mario Balotelli goes with 45% but both are wrong as the actual figure is 33%. Here we present the case for both teams, leaving you to assess whether the 8/15 on the holders breaking the curse is better value than the 7/4 Ladbrokes are offering on Inter progressing, while providing you with useful tips on other markets:

In the red corner…

» Manchester United have won eight and lost just one of their last ten home games against Italian opposition, triumphing in their last four.

» The Red Devils are unbeaten at home in over a year in all competitions and have gone more than four years without a Champions League loss at Old Trafford, a run stretching nineteen games.

Posted: March 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment comment

COUNTER ARGUMENT

Five reasons why Tottenham could retain the Carling Cup

Man Utd/Spurs, Sunday 3pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

We’re not pretending for a second that you spend your whole month’s wages betting on a Tottenham triumph but here are five reasons why a Manchester United victory isn’t the sure thing that many are suggesting:

1. Tottenham have a brilliant record against the Big Four and have only lost one of their seven meetings with them this season - the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Manchester United when they played their “mish-mash” side.

2. And Spurs have already got past the other three Big Four sides in this competition over the last fourteen months - beating Arsenal in last season’s semi-finals, Chelsea in the final and Liverpool in this year’s fourth round.

3. Both sides have contested six Carling Cup finals but Tottenham have a 67% win rate in them compared to Manchester United’s 33%. Spurs have triumphed on four occasions, with United lifting the cup just twice.

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment comment

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Man Utd face Jose Mourinho and the curse of the holders

Inter Milan/Man Utd, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

The football in the last two Sir Alex Ferguson/Jose Mourinho encounters - in the 2007 FA Cup Final and the Community Shield three months later - may have been awful but there is no denying the sense of anticipation brewing as the two great managers prepare to collide once more. Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game:

GRAVEYARD OF THE CHAMPIONS
In each of the last four years, the Champions League holders have been eliminated at this stage of the competition. Inter Milan were the team who started that tradition by knocking out Porto four seasons ago. Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho’s first ever meeting came in the round of 16 five years ago, when Mourinho’s Porto won the home leg 2-1 before holding Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Manchester United and Inter Milan last came to blows ten years ago at the quarter-final stage. On that occasion, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side played the first leg at home and won 2-0, before drawing 1-1 at the San Siro. On that day Nicola Ventola put the Italian side ahead in the 63rd minute only for Paul Scholes to equalise with two minutes to go.

MOURINHO v FERGUSON

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment comment