Otelul Galati v Manchester United Champions League Betting Odds – 18.10.11

Manchester United have just been halted a bit in their tracks after their explosive start to the new Barclays Premier League season. They head to Romania for Tuesday’s match against Otelul Galati on the back of a draw at Anfield on the weekend. Substitute Javier Hernandez was again the rescuer with a late goal after Steven Gerrard had put Liverpool ahead in the match. That has been two draws in their last three league matches now, and just four goals in those three matches. Not the blistering form we have come to expect from the Red Devils, and Sir Alex Ferguson has been shuffling his back, putting out of a very unadventurous and pragmatic side to face Liverpool at Anfield, highlighted by the appearance of Phil Jones in midfield. Ferguson wanted his side to be tougher after they had been bullied into submission at Anfield last season. It was a surprisingly cautious approach, which almost cost them, and the biggest news of all was that striker Wayne Rooney was left out. Ferguson dropped Rooney after the striker had received the news about his three match international ban, which will rule him out of the first stage of Euro 2012, which he helped England qualify for. With allegations surrounding his father and a betting scandal, Ferguson didn’t see Rooney as being in the right frame of mind, so left him out of the side. While United’s form has just dipped a little in the Barclays Premier League, they simply have not got going in the Champions League at all, and are without a win after their first two matches. They scraped their way to an unimpressive draw out in Portugal against Benfica in their opening fixture, and were expected to pick up an easy three points back at Old Trafford against Swiss side Basel on Match Day two. It was however, the Swiss who took control of the game, needing a late equaliser by Ashley Young in the 90th minute to rescue a point in a 3-3 draw. That was after United had gone two up in two minutes in the first half with a double strike from Danny Welbeck. Again, Ferguson juggled his squad then, not playing his best options.

Having conceded four goals already in their opening two matches, United aren’t setting their stall out as strongly as last season. On their way to the final, United never conceded a single goal up until that defeat by Barcelona in the final. So now both United and their Romanian counterparts Otelul Galati are in the same position of looking for their first win. Are the Romanians capable of causing a massive upset? They haven’t looked as if they are going to cause anyone too much trouble in their group to be honest. They went down 2-1 at Basel in their opening fixture, and then lost at home against Benfica on Match Day Two. So this will be a big night for Otelul Galati, who are new the adventures of the Champions League. The Romanians have never faced an English side before in competition, while United have only faced Romanian opponents once in their long history. That was back in 2004 when they played Dinamo Bucharest in the 2004/05 Champions League. United won both home and away back then. So an interesting Match Day three fixture for United. It will probably mean more rest for Wayne Rooney, meaning that like last season, United will be just happy to scrape through their matches in the group stage, doing just enough to get the job done. Even after a slow start, they don’t look in any danger of not qualifying. Interestlingly though, as there is no panic button about to be hit by Ferguson, the last time that United failed to win in their opening two matches in the Champions League, was in the 1998/99 tournament, the same season which they went on to win it for the very first time.

Otelul Galati v Manchester United betting odds
Otelul Galati to win: 14/1 at Bet365
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Man United to win: 1/5 at Paddy Power

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