*matches in all competitions

Manchester last 5 matches: 

Manchester last 3 home matches: 

Benfica last 5 matches: 

Benfica last 3 away matches: 

Group C table positions: Manchester - 1, Benfica - 2

Champions League back in action on Tuesday and a very interesting fixtures as the top two teams in Group C take to the field as Manchester United welcomes Benfica.

Manchester United currently top of the group after 4 games played, totaling 8 points, same as their opponents but with a superior goal balance.

Nothing is settled in this group and although Manchester and Benfica look like clear favorites for the top two spots, Basel is only 3 points away with two more rounds to go. Regarding their latest form, the English side flying high with no less than five consecutive victories in all competitions but more importantly managing to keep a clean sheet in all of them.

Benfica managed to hold Manchester to a one all draw in the first leg of this duel with a very close contest from both sides. They are second in the group with a +3 goal balance whilst their opponents have a +4.

Two victories for the in latest matches, a 2-0 victory over Galatasaray in a friendly match and a one all win away to Naval de Maio last week, helping them to maintain pressure on Porto in the Primeira Liga.

My pick:  Manchester to win ( under 2.5 goals )

Despite criticisms about he quality of the squad last season compared to those of the past, United never really looked like not winning the Premier League title and progressed to the Champions League final with relative ease before eventually losing to a ‘much better’ Barcelona side by Ferguson’s own admission.

United have been busy in the transfer market this Summer having spent close on £60millions for three new signings, with the arrival of Luke Young from Aston Villa the most significant. Whether the £19 million capture is the difference between United winning the Champions League certainly remains open to debate, nobody would argue that he’s not got the game changing abilities of Messi or Ronaldo but there’s no questioning his ability as a Premier League player and his inclusion in the team certainly strengthens United’s challenge.

Young is joined at Old Trafford by defender, Phil Jones, who signed for a fee believed to be in the region of £16 million from Blackburn Rovers and looks more a player for the future but will no doubt play his fair share of games and provides solid cover alongside Chris Smalling for the first choice centre half pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

The spotlight on the three new signings however will firmly be placed on United’s new goalkeeper, David de Gea, who has joined from AtleticoMadridand has the daunting task of replacing the now retired, Edwin van der Sar. It took Sir Alex Ferguson several years and several years to find a replacement for Peter Schmeichel at Old Trafford that he was happy with and putting the responsibility on the shoulders of a 20 year old is a huge gamble and one which could backfire on Fergie. Nobody knows how good de Gea is and the Spanish Under 21 International could be the difference between United winning the title come May.

With the transfer window still open, there has also been much speculation about United possibly signing Wesley Sneidjer from Inter Milan. The signing of the classy midfielder would certainly signal United’s intent for the season, particularly in the Champions League where the Dutchman’s influence would be vital. However, as it stands his transfer to Old Trafford remains speculative.

As it stands, United have a more than good enough squad to once again challenge for the top prizes in 2011/12, goals should not be a problem with Hernandez emerging last season along with the ever reliable Wayne Rooney and the defence is undoubtedly one of the best and depending on how de Gea takes to life in England, United look justified favourites in the Premier League odds, however, with such fierce competition from rivals Man City and Liverpool expected, as well as Chelsea, there will be little room for Fergie’s side to make errors but for a side that has won the Premier League title 12 times since 1993, it is difficult to oppose them adding a 13th title to the Ferguson dynasty.

*matches in all competitions

Barcelona last 5 matches:

Barcelona last 3 UCL matches:

Manchester last 5 matches:

Manchester last 3 UCL  matches:

The highly awaited Champions League final will kick off this Saturday with a big match between Barcelona and Manchester United on Wembley stadium.

Barcelona regarded as favorite for this one with lower odds for winning as they defeated Manchester United once before to lift up the Champions League trophy in the 2008-2009 season.

Two years have passed from that match and the fact that this will play out on English soil is likely to give Manchester United an advantage.

Barcelona finished this season with the Primera Division title in the bag as they toped the table 4 points from rivals Real Madrid in the end , managing to rest some players in the final matches after an exhausting season.

Manchester United eager to take it’s revenge and win yet another Champions league trophy. As their rivals Barcelona, Man U managed to win only the Premier League title with a comfortable 9 point advantage over second Chelsea.

They cruised through the UCL this season totaling no less than 7 victories and 3 draws in all 10 played and hoping to remain undefeated after this one as well.

My pick:  Barcelona to win ( over 2.5 goals )

There is no surprise that Barcelona are favourites to emerge victorious on Saturday, they can be backed at around 1/2 to lift the trophy whilst they are a fair price of even money to win the game in 90 minutes. Man Utd are around the 3/1 mark to win in 90 minutes whilst their best chance of victory could be in extra time or on penalties so they appeal somewhat to lift the trophy at slightly reduced odds of 7/4 and the draw looks a fair bet at 5/2 currently.

Man Utd have a slight home advantage with this game being played at Wembley, it is interesting that out of the last four Champions League Finals played in the country of one of the finalists, only one has been won by the ‘away’ side and that was on penalties. That is certainly a plus for Man Utd backers whilst the fact that three of those games went to extra time would suggest that 5/2 on the draw available at the time of writing should prove a good bet.

The game being at Wembley should certainly level the playing field somewhat whilst it is worth noting that Man United are playing as well currently as they have done all season, meanwhile Barcelona don’t seem in as good form as the were in the first half of the season but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still playing well. Both teams are expected to score in this match so 1-1 could prove a smart bet at around the 6/1 mark whilst correct score bets on either side to win should only really include one goal winning margins, 1-0 or 2-1 look the likely winning scorelines if the game is settled in 90 minutes.

In terms of goalscorers in the game, Lionel Messi is rightly the favourite to open the scoring and it has to be said that 5/1 on him netting first looks a rather generous price, he is often only half those odds. He can also be backed at 11/8 to score at anytime and that will appeal to anyone who thinks Man Utd will score the first goal. For United it is likely that Rooney will be the best fancied to score but he will be providing the ammunition for Hernandez so it is the Mexican who appeals more at a rather large looking 9/1 to score first or 10/3 to score at anytime.

Visit OLBG.com for the latest Champions League final oddsand get some tips from the experts before placing your bets this weekend.

*matches in all competitions

Manchester United last 5 matches:

Manchester United last 3 away matches:

Schalke last 5 matches:

Schalke last 3 away matches:

With a 2 goal advantage taken in Germany last week, Manchester United should have no problem in disposing of Schalke 04 this Wednesday and reach the final of the 2010-2011 Champions League season.

Manchester United once again in the hunt for the Champions League trophy and a qualification to the final most likely in the bag after they managed a good performance away to Schalke 04 last week that gave them an important 2 goal advantage.

Some problems for them in the Premier League as they lost away to Arsenal and now hold just a 3 point advantage over Chelsea, which they will meet this weekend for a league final.

It’s hard to predict how these series of though matches will affect them and how motivated they will be with their current lead against the most surprising of teams in the UCL this season.

Schalke’s dream run this season seems to be over. The German side managed a great performance to reach this semi-final as their position and results in the Bundesliga would not have gave them any hope as the season unfolded.

They are currently on the 10th spot of their domestic league with virtually no chances in getting a spot in next season’s European tournaments and with 3 straight losses in all competition to date their morale is low to even attempt a major surprise here.

My pick:  Manchester United to win ( under 2.5 goals )

*matches in all competitions

Schalke last 5 matches:

Schalke last 3 away matches:

Manchester last 5 matches:

Manchester last 3 away matches:

Semi-Finals in the Champions League with the first one to begin on Tuesday as the surprising Schalke 04 will welcome Manchester United.

Although they have had a very though season in the Bundesliga, Schalke’s run in the Champions League is to be admired as the German side managed to eliminate Valencia and especially last year’s champions Inter in the Knock out stages.

They will have a though match on their hand against one of the teams favorite to win the trophy but Schalke has been showing a different side in this competition when compared to the domestic league and with a home match it’s a great opportunity for them to prove that their run was more than luck.

Manchester United apparently with the easiest opponent that they could have gotten in this stage as in the other semi-final Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona go head to head.

They top the Premier League with another champions title to their name this season but with some problems lately, especially in away matches.

My pick:  Draw ( under 2.5 goals )

*matches in all competitions

Manchester last 5 matches:

Manchester last 3 away matches:

Chelsea last 5 matches:

Chelsea last 3 away matches:

Second leg in the Champions League quarter-finals and Manchester United start off as favorites against Chelsea after the previous victory and the home pitch advantage.

Manchester United managed a narrow victory on Chelsea’s pitch 2 weeks ago but more importantly they managed a crucial away goal making their mission in this one considerably easier.

They are on a very good run with no less than 6 consecutive victories in all competition and a decent advantage at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea on the other hand has showed great fluctuation in results lately, losing valuable points in the domestic league to end up on the third spot with an 11 point gap from their adversaries.

Only a draw in their last away match for Chelsea against the modest Stoke City and a record full of draws this season.

My pick:  Manchester United to win ( under 2.5 goals )