Champions League Semi Final - Barcelona v Manchester Utd

onaed · Last edited by onaed on Thu May 01, 2008 11:52 am; edited 1 time in total

All selections here please (both legs)

Thanks

seanmac · 2yo Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

0-0 draw at the nou camp , 1-0 to man utd at old trafford

seanmac · 2yo Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

my reasoning for this is that barca havnt won in there last 4 la liga games while man utd have been rather good , i think man utd will be able to hold barca to a draw at the nou camp and then when it goes to old trafford i believe man utd will be too good for barca .

betking · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:08 am Post subject:

Barca with Messi back, and with a point to prove, against a United side who generally play on the counter away from home in europe. Honestly I cant call it. Messi makes a big difference to Barcelona. I'm leaning towards goals, but I think this is one of those matches where its just best to watch!

Lampah · Group 2 Class Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 220

Barca have looked frail recently and were poor against Espanyol. They struggled to find the back of the net. Puyol was like a immobile lampost in defence and didn't look up for it. I really fancy United to get a draw or possible nick the game so I went for Man United on the AH +0.25..I also went for HT:draw

fairfranco · At Stud Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 4244

Lampah Puyol is out suspended for this game and went went off injured anyway. He is replaced by Marquez.

Barcelona seem to have a lot of players that aren't fully fit, Messi is only really just building up fitness after injury, Henry has been ill this week and didn't play at the weekend while Marquez only played 20 minutes at the weekend in his first game back from injury.

as lampah said Barcelona really struggled on Saturday, creating nothing until Messi came on at half time. He produced some decent stuff and showed some flair but some of the players just aren't on his wave length!

They had 20 shots on goal on Saturday and I think only 8 were on target none of which hitting the back of the net. Espanyol defended pretty heavily but Barca didn't look great at the back and will face much tougher opposition from the United attack than they did from Espanyol.

From the Barcelona domestic games i've seen this season I wouldn't back them against Man Utd.

My Bets would be Man Utd AH + 0.25 also.

Ronaldo to score.

Correct Score Man Utd 2-1

maddog27 · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:48 am Post subject:

Very difficult to call tonight IMO. Two teams with so much quality, anything could happen, look at what happened at Anfield last night!

hornybaby90 · Group 1 Class Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 382

There is definate value in the corner betting tonight.

13 or more corners @ 3.9 (Betfair)

Barca's two home knockout matches so far have produced 15 and 19 corners.

Man Utd's two away knockout matches so far have produced 11 and 13.

Therefore this would have come off 3 out of the 4 matches played by these teams this season and 3.9 is too high a price to turn down and is definately a value bet for me!

Good Luck. Fingers Crossed

king pete · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

Barcelona Vs Manchester United - United +0.25
What a mouthwatering clash between these two greats.Barcelona are looking to win their 2nd CL in 3 seasons having beaten Liverpool in 2006.They also won this comp in 1992 when beating Sampdora 1-0.United have also won this twice in the past, firstly when beating Benfica in 1968 and then more recently beating Bayern Munich in 1999 in their historic treble winning season.United are favourites to progress to the final due to their brilliant form this season compared to Barcelona's poor season.Barcelona though have history on their side tonight.They have an impressive record when playing English sides, winning 13, drawing 8 and losing only 2.United have been far from impressive when travelling to Spain and facing spannish opponents.They have only won 1, drawn 6 and lost 9.United return to the Nou Camp where they won the CL in 1999.They have been really impressive this season scoring 101 goals.They are on course to capture the Premiership title and the CL.They are unbeaten in their last nine games in all comps and unbeaten in 10 CL games.They have been solid defencively, only conceding 5 goals in this comp and only 19 goals in the league.Barca on the other hand have slipped away from their league title, 11 points behind top of the table Madrid.Their main problem has been their away form and they have not looked as solid at the back.Injurys have been a problem aswell.They are unbeaten in their last 5 games only conceding 2 goals but they have only won 3 of their last 9 games in all comps.They have been quite the opposite in the CL though.Like United they are unbeaten in this comp and have won their last 5.They have been pretty solid at home in this aswell having won their 5 home games this season, conceding only 1 goal.I dont think Barcelona pose as bigger threat as they could as they are without Ronaldinho and skipper Puyol who is suspended.Thuram and Edmilson are doubts.They do still have enough quality upfront to hurt any solid defence in Messi, Henry, Deco and Eto'o but 3 of them may not be at their best.Messi has only played twice as a substitute so wont be 100% match fit.Henry has yet to really settle in.He has had injurys to contend with, personal problems and playing out of position at Barca has not helped at all.Deco is also returning from an injury so like Messi probably wont be match fit.They are the players United need to keep quiet as Messi, Henry and Eto'o have scored half of Barca's goals in the CL and 5 of their last 8 domestic goals have come from them.If they are at their best they will punish any mistakes made in that United back four.United though have more to give.They have a solid back four with decent back up.Their midfield and Attacking options are far greater.The players Barca need to watch is all of them as United have match winners everwhere.Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez are the three key players to score for United.They have scored 13 of United's 16 CL goals and 9 of their last 12 domestic goals.United are expected to play the 4-2-3-1 formation which has worked well for them.Rooney is likey to play upfront with Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes and Hargreaves in midfield.Vidic is now a doubt for the game as he was rushed to hospital yesterday with stomach pains.United can call on either Neville to fill in for Brown if hes needed in the centre or Oshea is available if prefered.I cant see Barca winning this one going on current form but with United's history in Spain and Barca's home form it could be a draw so im going with United on the AH.
Main Bet:United +0.25 @ 10/13 with Canbet

Good Luck People Win

betking · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject:

An update for United backers, Vidic may not be playing after being taken to hospital today with a stomach complaint. Could be worth waiting for the teamsheet, as United aren't as solid at the back without Vidic Confused

welshie1 · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

Draw game @ 3.1

These are two teams very evenly matched on paper and I dont think there will be much between them in either leg. Barca have had a very poor season, it went pretty much worse on Saturday as they were held by local rivals Espanyol at the Nou Camp 0-0. They played very poorly in their last Champions League match against Schalke and I think chances will come for United. Man United have drawn their last 2 away matches on the road at Middlesbrough and Blackburn and I think a draw would be a decent result for them. Barca are not in the best of form but they still have the players to trouble United. These two sides have met 7 times and their has been 3 draws between them, I fancy it to be a fourth draw tonight.
_________________
Read my Boxing blogs, previews of fights happening all over the World. Previews and tips on the wonderful sport of Boxing!

Just go to Welshie1's blog, look at the categories and select Boxing, simple!

Chapman25 · Group 2 Class Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 234

Manchester United Draw No Bet@11/10 SJ

It pains me to say but United are awesome, I think there going out to win tonight and put this game to bed before Old Trafford, Barcelona have so many things going wrong for them at the moment and although Messi is back I just United are a better team and cant see them losing tonight, over evens on that is a good enough price for me.

Others to consider are:

Ronaldo 1st Scorer @6/1

Scholes anytime @4/1 (just a feeling after Eidur came out in the papers declaring Scholes is who Barca fear most)

Mostly what I'd say though, is enjoy the game, its going to be a proper game of football! Very Happy

	Working together to beat the Bookies!