Five stats about Barcelona’s clash with Bayern Munich

Barcelona/Bayern, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 3, Free Bets, Best Odds

These two teams are the highest scorers in this year’s Champions League so this clash has the potential to be the most exciting of this year’s competition so far. Last year’s “dream match” between Barcelona and Manchester United was such a letdown that even Liverpool/Chelsea managed to be more exciting. Hopefully this one won’t go the same way:

1. The two sides last met ten seasons ago in the Champions League group stages. On that occasion Bayern Munich won both ties, triumphing 1-0 at home and 2-1 away. The German side are 28/1 with Boylesports to win by that scoreline tonight.

2. Barcelona are yet to keep a home clean sheet in the tournament proper this season and have conceded five goals in their last two European matches at the Nou Camp.

Posted: April 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

How not to prepare for the Champions League 1/4-finals

Villarreal and Bayern Munich wave goodbye to any momentum

While all of the Premier League’s Big Four head into the Champions League quarter-finals on the back of victories and Barcelona and Porto both won at the weekend, Villarreal and Bayern Munich were humbled.

Wolfsburg and reigning champions Bayern Munich were inseparable on points, goal difference, goals scored and conceded heading into their clash. However, there was a huge difference on the day as Jurgen Klinsmann’s side, who recently embarrassed Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate and travel to Barcelona on Wednesday, were stuffed 5-1.

Posted: April 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Das Big Match: Bayern Munich host surprise league leaders Hoffenheim

Bundesliga, 7.30pm, Setanta Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Newly-promoted Hoffenheim, whose town has a population of 3,272, tonight host title favourites Bayern Munich in a battle of the Bundesliga top two.

Earlier this season Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s job was supposedly under threat after a slow start but they are now the form team in the division with seven wins from their last eight.

The reigning champions have been installed as general 8/13 favourites but Hoffenheim won’t be rolling over.

Posted: December 5th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The five favourites to succeed Mark Hughes at Man City

4/1 Mourinho leads a host of big names in the betting

In the summer, Mark Hughes was one of the frontrunners to take Jose Mourinho’s old job at Chelsea but just five months after Sparky took charge of Manchester City, Mourinho has been installed as the favourite to succeed him. Here’s our take on the frontrunners in SkyBet’s market:

Jose Mourinho 4/1
It’s only five months since Mourinho took charge of Inter Milan yet he finds himself in the curious position of simultaneously being favourite to become the next manager of Manchester City and Manchester United. The former Chelsea boss became the first man ever to win the Premier League in his first season but do City really want a manager who will turn their exciting young attacking talent into flair-free workhorses?

Frank Rijkaard 5/1
Two years ago Rijkaard guided Barcelona to a La Liga/Champions League double but his stock has plummeted since then and he was axed earlier this year after a run of just three wins in thirteen league games saw Barca finish trophyless in third. The fact his inexperienced successor Josep Guardiola has instantly taken the Catalan club to the top spot while scoring seventeen goals in their last three home games makes you wonder where the Dutchman was going wrong.

Roberto Mancini 5/1
The Italian kindly ended Inter Milan’s seventeen year wait for the title by winning three in a row (the first of which was handed to them after Juventus’ enforced relegation and Milan’s points deduction) but his reward for such drastic over-achievement was the sack this summer. The best jobs he’s been linked to recently have been at West Ham and QPR so he would probably jump at the chance to manage Manchester City.

Posted: November 12th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment