Champions League and UEFA Cup Betting Preview 21-22 October

Bet on this Week’s Football

European football returns this week with seven British clubs in action across the Champions League and UEFA Cup. Manchester United and Celtic meet each other again in the Champions League in what has been dubbed the "Battle of Britain", as the English Champions meet their Scottish counterparts. Arsenal face a tricky trip to Fenerbache on Tuesday, while on Wednesday Chelsea welcome Roma to Stamford Bridge, and UEFA have decided that Liverpool will now face Atletico in the Vicente Calderon. As the UEFA Cup reaches the group stages, Tottenham will be looking to forget their poor league form as they face Udinese, while Aston Villa face Ajax at Villa Park in one of the bigger ties of the UEFA Cup this week.

Manchester United v Celtic, Tuesday, ITV 1, 7:45pm

Manchester United meet Celtic in the Champions League for the second time in two years when the two sides face each other on Tuesday. When they last met in the group stages of this competition Celtic earned a famous 1-0 win at Parkhead thanks to a Shunsuke Nakamura free kick and a penalty save from Artur Boruc. That result earned Celtic a place in the next round, and they will need a similarly historic result if they are to reach the next stage this year. Defeat to Villareal and a disappointing draw at home to minnows Aalborg has left the Glasgow giants in trouble, and they will find a United side beginning to hit top gear. United are joint top of Group E, and know that a victory here will more or less guarantee a top two spot, and qualification to the next stage.

United are big favourites at 2/9 with Pagebet to effectively seal qualification, while Celtic are massive 11/1 outsiders with Centrebet.

If Ryan Giggs scores at anytime during Manchester United v Celtic, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Fenerbahce v Arsenal, Tuesday, ITV 4, 7:45pm

Arsenal make the difficult trip to Istanbul on Tuesday in the knowledge that a victory would put them in prime position to win Group G. They were in magnificent form when disposing of Porto 4-0 in their last European game, and will be looking for a similar result against a Fenerbache side that sit bottom of the group. Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor both hit doubles that night, and with impressive new boy Sami Nasri also expected to be involved, Gunners fans can once again look forward to watching some breathtaking stuff from their side. Nasri was the catalyst to Saturday’s 3-1 comeback win over Everton, and Arsene Wenger will again look to him to provide the creativity in the Arsenal midfield.

Fenerbache are the 3/1 underdogs with VCBet, while Arsenal are Evens with BGbet.

If Niklas Bendtner scores at anytime during Fenerbache v Arsenal, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Atletico Madrid v Liverpool, Wednesday, Sky Sports 2, 7:45pm

The top two in Group D meet on Wednesday in Madrid, although only after protests from both sides. UEFA had originally wanted the game to be played at a neutral venue as punishment for Atletico fan’s behaviour in their game against Marseille earlier this month. However, both teams protested against this, including Liverpool who felt it was unfair to their fans, some of whom had already paid for the trip to the Spanish capital. The match will see reunions on both sides, as the Atletico pair of Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle face their ex-team for the first time, while former Atletico hitman Fernando Torres will have to watch from the stands as his new team take on his old one.

Atletico are 11/8 with Pagebet to record their second home win, with Liverpool 7/4 at Centrebet to take control of Group D with a win.

If Xabi Alonso scores at anytime during Atletico Madrid v Liverpool, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

If Atletico Madrid v Liverpool finishes 0-0 BGbetwill refund all losing correct score bets on that game.¹

Chelsea v Roma, Wednesday, Sky Sports Xtra, 7:45pm

Chelsea welcome Roma to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday fresh from their 5-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough on Saturday. That game was perhaps the clearest indication yet of the difference new boss Luis Felipe Scolari has brought to the Blues, as they continued to go forward even after the game was won. This is in contrast to the way former Blues boss Jose Mourinho set out his team, and is more in keeping with the way owner Roman Abromovich wants to see the side play. He is also desperate to win the Champions League, and as such will be looking for a better display than they produced last time against CFR Cluj-Napoca. A 0-0 draw in Romania dented Chelsea’s hopes of winning Group A, and they will be looking to bounce back against a Roma side that were upset by Cluj in their opening game.

Chelsea are the 4/9 favourites at VCBet, while Centrebet make Roma big outsiders at 7/1.

If Florent Malouda scores at anytime during Chelsea v Roma, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Udinese v Totenham, Thursday, Five, 6:10pm

Tottenham’s awful start to the Premiership season continued last Sunday as they were beaten 2-1 by Stoke, in a game which saw Stoke also miss a last minute penalty and Spurs finish with nine men. Boss Juande Ramos is now under tremendous pressure, and once again will welcome the break that the UEFA Cup has given his side this year. Their only victory of the campaign came in this competition a month ago, and Ramos will view this as a springboard for better things. They will not have an easy task when they visit the Stadio Friuli however, as Udinese currently sit second in Seire A, just two points behind Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

Udinese are Even money with BGbet to continue their impressive form, while Spurs are 5/2 with Pagebet to finally kick start their season.

If Luka Modric scores at anytime during Udinese v Tottenham, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Aston Villa v Ajax, Thursday, Five, 8:15pm

Aston Villa entertain the four times European Cup champions on Thursday in their opening group game. Villa have made a solid start to the Premiership, and currently sit sixth after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Portsmouth. They easily overcome Bulgarian side Litex Lovech 4-2 over two qualifying legs, with the tie effectively over in the first leg after Villa’s 3-1 win. They have a difficult looking group, with Hamburg joining Ajax and Villa in the hunt for top spot in Group F, and Martin O’Neill’s side will be looking to get off to a good start in such a quality group. Ajax also easily came through their qualifying stage 6-1, and will be one of the favourites for the competition, despite the strength of the sides competing for it this year.

Villa are 4/5 with Pagebet to start the group stages with a win, with Ajax rated at 11/4 at VCBet to continue their great European tradition with a win.

If Ashley Young scores at anytime during Aston Villa v Ajax, BGbet will refund all losing first goalscorer stakes on the match.¹

Place a correct score bet on any of the above listed matches this week, and if it gets beat by an injury time goal BGbet will refund all losing correct score stakes on that match.¹

The Late, Late Show…

Applies to all Champions League matches Tuesday & Wednesday

If there is a goal scored in INJURY TIME in any Champions League match VCBet will refund all losing in-running bets on that match as a free bet!2

Open an account with any of the following bookmakers and receive a free bet:

Pagebet £25 Free Bet VCBet £100 in Free Bets
Centrebet £20 Free Bet BGbet £100 Free Bet

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Odds subject to fluctuation – Odds taken at 10.00am on 21/10/2008

1. Refunds will be in the form of free bets. Maximum Stake £50. Singles Only. Web Customers Only.

2.Maximum free bet £100 per person per match. Applies to internet and telephone bets, singles only.Applies to in-running bets only. Injury time is deemed as any goal scored after 90.00mins.