Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog
Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog
The return of Manchester United to the Champions League is a welcome sight, and you get the impression that television broadcasters are also happy to have one of the world’s biggest teams back in Europe’s premier club competition.
That said, Reds are relatively split on what United will do in the competition when they get there, especially now that United have had an uneven transfer window and an up-and-down start to the season.
The return of the Reds to the competition will ensure plenty of betting volume, with some games offering the big-match feel for bettors, similar to when American football fans look for Sunday Night Football odds before a major NFL clash.
But what do the bookies think of United’s hopes in the Champions League? Here’s a breakdown:
United Are 8th Favourites Overall
The Red Devils are placed 8th favourites to win the trophy they last held aloft in 2008, placed behind PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. United’s odds are somewhere in the region of 20/1, but that varies by bookmaker.
Top 8 Finish
This is probably the most important market for United fans. They are priced at 6/4 to finish in the top 8 and secure automatic qualification. All will not be lost if they don’t, of course, as the 9th to 24th placed teams will feature in the Playoffs. If you fancy United to top the 32-team league, the odds are 14/1.
Top Scorer Odds
As you may imagine, players like Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland top the betting markets here. You have to go further down to find Marcus Rashford (40/1) and Bruno Fernandes (50/1). If you believe Benjamin Sesko will become the prolific scorer all fans know he is capable of, he’s available at 100/1 with some bookies.
Opening Game Odds
United will open the campaign at home against FC Sabah, representing perhaps the easiest assignment of their fixtures. Unusually, it’s on a Thursday night (10th Sept). The reason is that UEFA likes to stretch out the opening week to a wider TV audience. The usual Tuesday/Wednesday slate will be in play for the rest of the competition.
All the same, United will be hot favourites to take the win over the Azerbaijanis at Old Trafford under the lights. 1/7 is widely cited in the odds for a home win.
Analysis
United’s draw is a tough one. The nature of the League Phase means that is true for most teams, but there are certain pitfalls. Most notably for United, there is the tough four-game finish of Sporting Lisbon (A), RB Leipzig (H), Bayern Munich (H) and Villarreal (A). Michael Carrick will hope to have the team in a strong position for that run, especially going into the last two games against Bayern and the one in Spain against Villarreal.
Expectations
Most fans will believe that United are not quite ready to challenge for the Champions League yet, and bookmakers tend to agree. The squad is arguably stronger in attack and midfield, and Carrick will have enough rotational options to cope with the demands of the competition. But there are questions in defence, especially in the full-back positions. Success, therefore, would probably mean qualifying for the knockout rounds, perhaps winning a few games while there.
That said, Reds are relatively split on what United will do in the competition when they get there, especially now that United have had an uneven transfer window and an up-and-down start to the season.
The return of the Reds to the competition will ensure plenty of betting volume, with some games offering the big-match feel for bettors, similar to when American football fans look for Sunday Night Football odds before a major NFL clash.
But what do the bookies think of United’s hopes in the Champions League? Here’s a breakdown:
United Are 8th Favourites Overall The Red Devils are placed 8th favourites to win the trophy they last held aloft in 2008, placed behind PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. United’s odds are somewhere in the region of 20/1, but that varies by bookmaker.
Top 8 Finish
This is probably the most important market for United fans. They are priced at 6/4 to finish in the top 8 and secure automatic qualification. All will not be lost if they don’t, of course, as the 9th to 24th placed teams will feature in the Playoffs. If you fancy United to top the 32-team league, the odds are 14/1.
Top Scorer Odds
As you may imagine, players like Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland top the betting markets here. You have to go further down to find Marcus Rashford (40/1) and Bruno Fernandes (50/1). If you believe Benjamin Sesko will become the prolific scorer all fans know he is capable of, he’s available at 100/1 with some bookies.
Opening Game Odds
United will open the campaign at home against FC Sabah, representing perhaps the easiest assignment of their fixtures. Unusually, it’s on a Thursday night (10th Sept). The reason is that UEFA likes to stretch out the opening week to a wider TV audience. The usual Tuesday/Wednesday slate will be in play for the rest of the competition.
All the same, United will be hot favourites to take the win over the Azerbaijanis at Old Trafford under the lights. 1/7 is widely cited in the odds for a home win.
Analysis
United’s draw is a tough one. The nature of the League Phase means that is true for most teams, but there are certain pitfalls. Most notably for United, there is the tough four-game finish of Sporting Lisbon (A), RB Leipzig (H), Bayern Munich (H) and Villarreal (A). Michael Carrick will hope to have the team in a strong position for that run, especially going into the last two games against Bayern and the one in Spain against Villarreal.
Expectations
Most fans will believe that United are not quite ready to challenge for the Champions League yet, and bookmakers tend to agree. The squad is arguably stronger in attack and midfield, and Carrick will have enough rotational options to cope with the demands of the competition. But there are questions in defence, especially in the full-back positions. Success, therefore, would probably mean qualifying for the knockout rounds, perhaps winning a few games while there.