Football Betting

Manchester United vs Barcelona and Liverpool vs Chelsea Betting Preview

Second Leg Semifinals in Champions League

Manchester United and Chelsea may have just played their biggest game of the season on Saturday in the Premier League but they will get little rest as both teams are in prime position to advance to the final of the Champions League this week.  On Tuesday, Manchester United hosts Barcelona and a win will put them into the Champions League final.  Chelsea is in even better position as they host Liverpool on Wednesday, as either a win or a draw will have them advancing.  Manchester United is a half goal favorite with a total of 2.5 under at SBG Global against Barcelona.  The three-way line has United at -105, Barcelona at +300 at the draw at +220.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson rolled the dice and took a huge gamble on Saturday by resting stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez for Tuesday’s match.  He had better hope that his team wins its next two Premier League games and that decision doesn’t come back to haunt him.  He also better hope his team wins on Tuesday at home against Barcelona.  United is facing injuries to striker Wayne Rooney (hip) and defender Nemanja Vidic (face).  "We've got to pick ourselves up," said winger Ryan Giggs, "There's no bigger game than Barcelona. We want to win the league and we want to reach the Champions League final, and it's still in our hands."  United is expected to take out Barcelona and advance to the final.  Ronaldo was just recently named player of the year for the second straight season and he will be playing with a vengeance on Tuesday after missing a penalty kick in the first leg against Barcelona last week.  "I look forward to Tuesday against Barcelona; it is the biggest game of the season in my opinion. If you win, you are in the final," Ronaldo said, "It is a good motivation for me, for my colleagues, for my friends, everyone. I hope to win and the two league games are very important as well."

Barcelona faces a difficult task since United has won their last 11 home games. "If we can get past their first line of pressure and play with the same intensity as the first leg, we have a lot of possibilities," said Barcelona’s Deco, "(United) will pressure us more, but we will have more possibilities when we have the ball."  Barcelona will be getting captain Carles Puyol back from suspension. Coach Frank Rijkaard also rested his top players this weekend and it didn’t work out as his team lost at Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish League, taking them out of any chance for the title. Forward Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o were rested. "We need to improve what is not working. We need solutions, we need results," Rijkaard said. Barcelona has also been without Ronaldinho, who is out with an injury for the rest of the season.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant had no such luxury to rest players on Saturday as he needed everyone to defeat Manchester United.  Chelsea does get an extra day of rest though as they don’t play Liverpool until Wednesday.  One question for Grant on Wednesday will be whether or not to recall Frank Lampard, whose mother died last Thursday.  He did not play in Saturday’s game against United but was back in training on Sunday. Many of the Chelsea players were talking about Lampard and how much he means to the team. "The victory is for Frank and his family," Michael Ballack said. "It is a difficult time for everybody, especially his family, so we do not forget this.”

Lampard has not trained much during the past week but Grant may put him right back into the lineup. "Frank wants to play all the time," Grant said. "When I put him on the bench after many years of playing, he didn't feel good with it. He wants to play but we need to respect his situation.”  Grant has said he will leave it up to Lampard as to whether he can handle the big game pressure on Wednesday. "We will leave the decision about Wednesday to him," Grant said. "I will respect any decision he makes. Football is exciting, but there are things that are more important. I say to the players that on the way to excellency you need to be human, so I think we need to respect what has happened to him."

Chelsea is the favorite on Wednesday against Liverpool.  They just need a draw to advance since the teams tied 1-1 in the first leg.  The away goal could be important for Chelsea. The Blues haven’t lost at home in over a year and Liverpool has had no success at Chelsea in recent seasons. "A win gives us confidence," Ballack said. "We have it and we have shown that we can play very well, but on Wednesday it is a very different game - it is the Champions League. So on Wednesday, we are expecting a very different fight. But I think we look fresh, we look better than all other teams have in the Champions League now, so we will see. We want to get to the final."  Chelsea is a half goal favorite at SBG Global with a total of 2 under.  The three way line has Chelsea at +125, Liverpool +250 and the Draw at +200.

Receive up to 135% in Total Bonuses from SBG Global!

• 50% Casino Deposit Bonus
• 30% Initial Deposit Bonus
• 30% Re-Up Bonus
• 10% Buddy Referral

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Chelsea Gets Lucky Draw in Champions League

Chelsea got a very fortunate 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday as John Arne Riise scored an injury-time own-goal. Riise's header went into his own net in the fifth minute of added time. It was a crushing blow for Liverpool who was just minutes away from a 1-0 win.  Now Chelsea is the definite favorite to advance to the Champions League Final since they will host the second leg against Liverpool. "At the end, you must be really disappointed," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "One minute in the first half, four minutes in the second half. Everyone was really disappointed. In these situations the only think you can do is try to be positive and try to think about the next game and be ready."

This is the third time in the last four years that Chelsea and Liverpool have met in the Champions League semifinals. "I think we deserved definitely to get the draw at the end," Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. "They had chances, we had chances. It was a battle and we carried on to the end." Liverpool actually played better for most of the game and had a number of quality chances.  Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had to turn away Fernando Torres in the 31st minute but Liverpool got their goal in the 42nd minute as Dirk Kuyt was able to get one by Cech.  It was the only goal Liverpool was able to get though as Cech denied Torres again in the second half and later stopped Steven Gerrard with a great save to keep it 1-0.  "We had the better chances and we know we must play another 90 minutes," Benitez said. "The team today was working really hard, especially creating chances, and we must do the same away."

Cech believes that the good fortune has put Chelsea in position to win the Cup. "I am positive if we will go through, we will win it," said Cech. "We found ourselves 1-0 down which is something we didn't want to do. But then we put a great effort into the game and we were a bit lucky with our goal. But for the character and the effort we showed, we deserved it. We are only at half-time but we need to make sure the goal is crucial. Now we have the advantage of playing at home and I hope we can use it.”  Chelsea will have to wait another week before the second leg and they will have their concentration elsewhere since they host Manchester United in a huge Premier League contest on Saturday.  United will have played Barcelona on Wednesday in the other Champions League semifinal so Chelsea will get an extra day of rest compared to United before Saturday’s key clash.

Receive up to 135% in Total Bonuses from SBG Global!

• 50% Casino Match Play Bonus
• 30% Initial Deposit Bonus
• 30% Re-Up Bonus
• 10% Buddy Referral

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Champions League Semifinals Begin Tuesday with Liverpool vs Chelsea

The Soccer Betting Champions League semifinals begin on Tuesday with first leg action as Liverpool hosts Chelsea.  Barcelona plays hosts to Manchester United on Wednesday.  Liverpool is led by Fernando Torres who has 30 goals this season including five in the Champions League.  He was rested in Saturday’s Premier League win at Fulham so he would be fully fit for Tuesday’s match against Chelsea. "People ask me if I am getting tired now because I am coming to the end of my first season in England," Torres said. "Of course it is a hard league, but I do not feel tired at all. When you are scoring goals and the team is winning games, you have more energy. It is only when the team is struggling and you are not playing well or scoring goals, that you don't feel your best."

Liverpool has yet to lose in Champions League action.  They defeated Arsenal in the quarterfinals. "The emotion I felt after the Arsenal game was very, very strong," Torres said. "I have never felt like that before. I was almost in tears at the end of the match when the crowd were singing. If that was a quarterfinal, I can't imagine what it will be like playing Chelsea."

Soccer Betting at SBG Global.

Chelsea is trying to win two titles this season as they are just three points back of Manchester United in the Premier League.  Manager Avram Grant may have to win at least one of the two titles to keep his job. "They were in the final of the (League) Cup, they are in the race for the title still, and in the Champions League semifinal, so he must be doing a good job," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "I understand why he is under pressure but that is nothing unusual for a top side." Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be available on Tuesday.  He has been with his mother who is very ill but said he will be available on Tuesday.  Chelsea will probably be without striker Didier Drogba who is doubtful.  Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is also doubtful and midfielder Michael Essien is suspended.

Barcelona is trying to save their season in the Champions League.  They won the title just two years ago but are playing poorly of late and are 11 points behind leader Real Madrid in the Spanish league.  The good news for Barcelona is that they will get back forward Lionel Messi from injury. He has made a couple of appearances in league play but coach Frank Rijkaard has been targeting the match against United for his full return.  It will not be easy for Barcelona, even at home against a very talented United team. "They have great players who change a game at any moment," Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "I'm worried about the entire team, not just one player." Barcelona will probably be without forward Thierry Henry who is doubtful.  Captain Carles Puyol will also be out due to suspension. United rested goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, and midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Anderson on Saturday against Blackburn so they should be ready on Wednesday.

Receive up to 135% in Total Bonuses from SBG Global!

• 50% Casino Match Play Bonus
• 30% Initial Deposit Bonus
• 30% Re-Up Bonus
• 10% Buddy Referral