Inter Milan

Group A

Inter Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

Inter Milan to win: 3/4 at Boylesports
Draw: 14/5 at Bwin
Spurs to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

See our full match betting preview here

FC Twente v Bremen

Twente to win: 7/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Werder Bremen to win: 2/1 at BetFred

Just as the other match is a battle for the top of Group A, this one is to see who get further away from the bottom. Twente and Bremen are both on one point at the moment, with Bremen holding Spurs, and Twente holding Inter for their respective points. A lot more was expected from German side Bremen really, as German sides are usually tough and difficult to beat. However, Bremen are in some very poor form this year and it shows in the Champions league. They were outclassed in a heavy 4-0 away defeat to Inter, and they should have been buried at home by Spurs when they fell 2-0 behind. You put these two sides on paper and you would fancy Bremen as the stronger team. However the form is letting them down, and confidence as well, and you could visibly see that in their last outing. This will give Twente a good chance to shine again at home, and after holding Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw, they actually go into the match as favourite. However there really is little to separate them, and it’s a tough call picking a winner out of them. If you want a winner then a simply betting strategy is to go with the narrow home advantage this one will bring. However, a draw is a plausible outcome here.
Tip: Draw

Group B

Schalke v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Schalke to win: 1/2 at victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at Totesport
Hapoel Tel Aviv to win: 7/1 at Bet365

This is one your football predictions will have home win written all over it. After losing to Lyon in their opening fixture, German side Schalke overturned Benfica 2-0 in a comfortable home victory. They will have been happy to get that one under their belt, and having seen Lyon beat Hapoel away from home, Schalke will see this as an easy two points. You football betting should as well. Schalke are actually in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga and could only manage a home draw against bottom side Stuttgart on the weekend. They aren’t in great form, but they should still have the energy and quality to beat Hapoel who have shipped five goals in two matches in the Champions League. They have Klaas Jan Huntelaar up front who is firing on all cylinders at the moment at international level, and in the domestic league. Huntelaar is 11/10 at Bet365 to get on the score sheet as Anytime Goalscorer. They also have ex Real Madrid legend Raul who is 11/8 at SkyBet. As for Hapoel, the really haven’t managed to pose much of a threat to anyone. Look for a home win in this one, as German grounds are notoriously intimidating at the best of times to travel to.
Tip: Schalke to win

Lyon v Benfica

Lyon to win: 5/4 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at SkyBet
Benfica: 13/5 at BetFred

Lyon are always one of those sides which you look to and think that they should be a banker at home. They are always hanging around the Champions League, and always give a good account of themselves. They reached the semi finals of the competition last year, ousting Real Madrid along the way, and they are very sound group stage players. After seeing off the main threat of Schalke in their opening match, and backing that up with a comfortable win over Hapoel, they now have a comfortable home match against Hapoel. Another three points will see them on maintain at least the three point lead they hold now. Six goals in two games shows that there is no shortage of confidence up front. Portugal’s Benfica got themselves off to a nice start by beating Hapoel, who are regarded as the weakest side in the group, before falling to Schalke on match day two. That was really a missed opportunity for the Portuguese, who didn’t find the Germans in great form, but still couldn’t get the better of them. Now they have the extremely hard task of trying to get the better of one of the best Champions League performers around in Lyon. They travel to France as underdogs, and your football betting should easily reflect that. Expect Lyon to push on comfortably with a win and maintain expected progress towards winning the group.
Tip: Lyon to win

Group C

Manchester United v Bursaspor

Man Utd to win: 2/9 at 888Sport
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Bursaspor to win: 14/1 at Bodog

See our full match betting preview here

Rangers v Valencia

Rangers to win: 13/5 at BetFred
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Valencia to win: 5/4 at Totesport

It may be a little bit of a surprise to some as to how well Scottish Champions Rangers are do in the Champions League so far. With no automatic place in the competition from next season for the winners of the Scottish Premier League, Rangers have to go for broke. They sit on four points, level with Man Utd at the top of the group, and a lot of that was down to the incredible amount of hard work which they put in to earn themselves a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. Many had expected the Scots to go there and get walked all over, but they didn’t. In many ways they generally held on comfortably and made Man Utd look a bit lethargic and devoid of ideas. That was to their credit, and even more to the credit of Rangers, they sneaked themselves a win against Bursaspor in their second match, leaving them unbeaten after two matches. Man Utd and Valencia were supposed to be the strong teams to lead the way, and that may yet happen. Valencia really were the better team against Man Utd, but they just never took their chances, and the Spaniards paid the price when United stole a late goal through Hernandez to claim all three points. Up until that point, Valencia really had looked the most likely to win, and with their 4-0 thumping of Bursaspor prior to that, Valencia have to be strong favourites in your betting for this one. They are a good, quality side, and could over power Rangers. Rangers need one of their biggest European nights at home to stay in contention in the group with this one. However, you have to question the lack of firepower in Europe, and it is hard to see them outscoring Valencia.
Tip: Valencia to win

Group D

Panathinaikos v Rubin Kazan

Panathinaikos to win: 9/5 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler

There is still a lot to play for in this group really, and this is an important match. Rubin were seen as one of those potential dark horses in the tournament, and difficult to beat. Their opening day loss against Copenhagen really put the dampeners on that reputation, and now they find themselves on one point from two matches and in danger of being out of the qualification race. However, a win for them here would really get them back on track with Copenhagen and Barcelona squaring off. Rubin put in a better performance on match day two, frustrating the might of Barcelona in Russia in a 1-1 draw. That was more of what was expected from them, and you have to look at them as favourites to go on and win this one, if they are to give a serious account of themselves. Panathiakos haven’t shown up to the races yet, as the Greeks have suffered two defeats and only one goal. They got hammered 5-1 by Barcelona on the opening day, and then lost at home to Copenhagen, leaving them bottom and without a point. There doesn’t look enough quality to really challenge for a qualification spot, but this is their best chance of picking up at least a point. A draw here looks very promising, otherwise would lean towards  Kazan sneaking it by the odd goal. Nothing more than that, in what should be a tight match.
Tip: Draw

Barcelona v Copenhagen

Barcelona to win: 1/7 at Bet365
Draw: 15/2 at Victor Chandler
Copenhagen to win: 20/1 at BetFred

Not many would have expected to see Copenhagen topping Group D after a couple of matches. TO their credit though, the Danes have done what Barcelona have failed to do, and that is win their opening two matches. What is more pleasing about the performances of the Danes, is that they have really ran a tight ship and kept two clean sheets with good, organised defensive displays. While the win against Panathinaikos was somewhat expected, holding on to a 1-0 against Rubin showed some good mettle. With Barcelona trailing Real Madrid in La Liga, and after only managing a 1-1 draw away at Rubin on match day two, the mighty Catalan side really need a victory here. It looks as if it is not going to be as comfortable as a ride as they would have thought when the draw was made. Anything less than a win for Barcelona would really set the cat amongst the pigeons and in situations like this, your football betting is generally well served by backing the favourites to come through any little awkward tricky patch. A good away win would put Barcelona firmly in the driving seat of Group D, in which they sit in second place at the moment, two points behind Copenhagen. Barcelona will have home advantage left against Copenhagen and Rubin still to come.
Tip: Away win

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Group A

FC Twente v Inter Milan

The defending champions Inter Milan kick off the defence of their title away to FC Twente of the Netherlands. Twente came from nowhere and shocked the establishment in Dutch football last year when they won the Eredivise. That was the first time they had won the domestic title, and it secured their unexpected place amongst Europe’s elite in the Champions League this year. Being newcomers to the top stage in European club football, Twente look, to some degree to be making up the numbers in Group A. Scour Dutch newspapers and sports feeds and you will see that there they are expected to be heavy underdogs in the group, and especially against the illustrious team that Rafa Benitez can field for Inter Milan. Tests don’t get much tougher than meeting the European Champions in your first ever Champions League match, but, with the Dutch side being at home, you can expect plenty of spirit and a lot of that underdog passion to shine through. Twente have gotten off to an OK start again this year in their domestic league, sitting third with their most notable stat showing that they have only conceded one goal in their five league games. As for Inter Milan, they have lost their most important part, Jose Mourinho, to be replaced by former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Inter are not expected to come close again to winning the tournament this year, and you can see that in Champions League betting. They have won one and drawn one in their first two league games so far, and while they will be expected to get out of the group, they may not have it all their own way. They won’t be as defensively sound as last year, adding some vulnerability to their results. They probably don’t have enough in the tank to win the tournament, but they should get off to a good start here, but it won’t be easy at all. Twente will come at them with pace, not something Inter is particularly well built to deal with, but they have enough quality individuals to battle through.
FC Twente to win: 7/2 at Bet365
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Inter Milan to win: 10/11 at BetFred

Werder Bremen v Tottenham

Tough start to their first Champions League venture for Tottenham. Werder Bremen at home is not an easy place to go to, and with Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson, and awaiting full fitness of Luka Modric, Spurs are up against it. They need to play a very smart defensive game and not get carried away by the emotion of the night. Read our full Werder Bremen v Tottenham betting review here:
Werder Bremen to win: 5/4 at Paddy Power
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Tottenham to win: 11/4 at SkyBet

Group B

Lyon v Schalke

This seems as if it will be one of the more entertaining matches of Match Day one and a close contest. Lyon have a great history in the Champions League and came close again to glory last year when they reached the semi finals. They are wonderfully hard working and diligent team, and enjoy causing upsets in the Champions League. They got the better of Real Madrid in the first knockout stage last year to progress, and that is how much of a force they can be when they get it right on the night. As for German teams, you can generally back them to put in a good performance in the Champions League. Schalke made it to the quarter finals in 2007/08 but didn’t get through qualification last year to enter the Champions League proper. They did pick up Dutch striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar to boost their forwards, and he will likely be a threat during the tournament. These two teams look fairly evenly matched as both have gotten off to pretty poor starts to their new domestic seasons. Schalke have lost all three of their opening Bundesliga matches, while Lyon have picked up just one win from five matches (with two drawn). A draw here would not be too much of a surprise, but if you are looking for a winner, Lyon generally have a habit of sneaking matches by the odd goal in the Champions League. Both of these teams should be front runners to qualify from Group B.
Lyon to win: Evens at Totesport
Draw: 5/2 at Stan James
Schalke to win: 10/3 at Ladbrokes

Benfica v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Another fresh face in the Champions League this year, Hapoel are only the third team from Israel to take part in the competition. They are one of five clubs making their Champions League debut, and that lack of experience will naturally be some kind of hindrance to them in the long run. Portuguese opponents Benfica on the other hand, have had plenty of cracks of the Champions League whip and their best effort in the competition came back in 2005/06 when they reached the quarter finals. Neither team are expected to be much of a threat, and in a group with Lyon and Schalke, if either get into the knockout stages it will be something of a surprise. Benfica will have the best chance of doing so though, and you can expect them to edge this one, even though they are another team which is having a poor start to the season. In the Portuguese league, they have won just one of their opening four matches. Hapoel did come through qualification quite well, helped nicely along by Mahran Lala who hit three goals in four matches. They could cause an upset, but being away from home will make things all that much more difficult for them.
Benfica to win: 4/9 at Paddy Power
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
Hapoel Tel Aviv to win: 8/1 at Ladbrokes

Group C

Bursaspor v Valencia

What do we know about Bursaspor for our Champions League betting? Well, the Turkish side are one of the debutant sides in the competition this year, and they have an interesting opening against Italian side Valencia. To back up their efforts of getting into the Champions League, they have climbed straight back to the top of their domestic league, with four wins out of four for the new season. They have also only conceded one goal in those matches. Turkish sides are usually quite physical and like a good midfield battle, but then at the flick of a switch pull out some wonderful creative move. This should be a good match, especially with the fanatic home crowd pulling out the stops. Valencia though, look to be a good quality side, and could be one of the dark horses of the tournament. They have won their opening two matches in Spain’s La Liga, and really gave a great account of themselves last year in the tough league. Don’t forget, Valencia reached two Champions League finals back in 2000 and 2001 and there is a lot of belief that they can make and impact here. They will be favourites to qualify from Group C which also houses Manchester United and Rangers, and they could give teams a big headache. Not the easiest of starts because of the enthusiasm of the Turks, but nonetheless, you have to look towards them to run out as winners here, however uncomfortable if they are going to stand up and be counted.
Bursaspor to win: 9/4 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 9/4 at Bet365
Valencia to win: 6/4 at Paddy Power

Manchester United v Rangers

A nice Battle of Britain scenario to get the Champions League underway this year. Scottish champions Rangers head south with the formidable task of trying to unseat Manchester United at Old Trafford. United though are showing defensive frailties at the moment, failing to kill of games. Is this the right time for Rangers to cause a major Champions League shock? Read our full Manchester United v Rangers preview here
Manchester United to win: 1/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 18/1 at Totesport

Group D

Barcelona v Panathinaikos

Here come the mighty Catalans Barcelona, now with the added factor of Spain’s goal machine David Villa playing up front for them. But wait, in their opening La Liga fixture, Josep Guardiola saw his side defeated at the Nou Camp by two goals to nil by Hercules. That was the big shock of the football betting weekend as Barcelona, pre tournament favourites to win the Champions League will have been rocked by that. Quite where that came from, Barcelona fans will be left wondering. Barca were expected to deliver the goods last year in the Champions League, but they found Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan just too much of a defensive stalwart to break down. The pressure is always on them to deliver, and now with Mourinho at rivals Real Madrid, the two Spanish clubs are expected to press hard for European glory here. They still have a squad which is an embarrassment of riches, and they will make for a sensible Champions League bet as outright winners. When you field Lionel Messi, David Villa, Xavi, Iniesta and co, then you are always in with a chance. Barca also picked up Javier Mascherano from Liverpool and really once they start clicking again and getting momentum, they will hard to take down. They fire off this new campaign against Panathinaikos who are just two matches into their new domestic season, and remain unbeaten there. The Greeks are one of those teams which pretty much continuously just grace the group stages of the competition, and they never look as if they have enough quality to really threaten the top sides. They could face a bit of a Barca backlash after that shock defeat, and anything less than a comfortable pick up of maximum points for Barcelona, really would be an even bigger shock than the La Liga loss. They have a lot to prove and need to come out firing.
Barcelona to win: 1/7 at Bet365
Draw: 8/1 at Stan James
Panathinaikos to win: 20/1 at SkyBet

FC Copenhagen v Rubin Kazan

This is quite an interesting match, from the point of view of who should finish second in the group behind Barcelona. Copenhagen make their Champions League return after four years out, and they could be quite a handful if their league form are anything to go by. They are strong leaders at the top of the Danish league, and while the Danish league may trigger raised eyebrows over the quality levels, they are full of optimism and see this match as a massive chance to take out one of the strongest competitors in the group. Rubin Kazan caused a shock in last year’s Champions League when they beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and held Inter Milan to a draw as well. They looked to be a breath of fresh air, but they couldn’t hold everything together in the end, and the Russian champions finished third behind Barca and Inter. Now they are paired back with Barcelona in Group D, and while we await that rematch, they should be the stronger force in this match, and should be able to build on their experience of last year. Rubin Kazan themselves appear confident of getting a draw out of this match, at the very least, and will be worth looking at if you want to edge a winner. However, this looks as if it will end up in some form of parity, as Rubin drew three of their group matches last year. Neither team will have enough of a cutting edge to threaten if they make it through to the knockout stages, but realistically, behind Barcelona, you would tip the Russians to take that spot.
FC Copenhagen to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 23/10 at Stan James
Rubin Kazan to win: 9/5 at Boylesports

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Champions League Match Day One Fixtures (14th/15th September)
FC Twente v Inter Milan
Werder Bremen v Tottenham Hotspurs   
Benfica v Hapoel Tel Aviv
Lyon v Schalke 04
Bursaspor v Valencia   
Manchester United v Rangers
Barcelona v Panathinaikos
FC Copenhagen v Rubin Kazan
CFR Cluj v Basel
Bayern Munich v Roma
MSK Zilina v Chelsea
Marseille v Spartak Moscow
AC Milan v Auxerre
Real Madrid v Ajax
Arsenal v Sporting Braga
Shakhtar Donetsk v Partizan Belgrade

If you think that you can easily predict the outcome of all those match day one fixtures, then SportingBet is the place to go to in order to make your football knowledge work for you. There looks to be some certain bankers in there such as Real Madrid, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United, but can you pull all sixteen fixtures out of the bag? £10,000 is on the line. The usual suspects will be the main challengers for the biggest prize in European football again this season, with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid leading the charge. Let’s take a look at the Champions League contenders in a little more detail with Champions League football betting at SportingBet.

Barcelona: 5/2
Well, they didn’t get Cesc Fabregas, but how much of a difference will that really make to their chances of winning the Champions League? They fell short last year, and that hasn’t stopped them gunning for the prize they covet most. Interestingly they were drawn against Russian champions Rubin Kazan as they were last season, and Kazan managed to take five points off the Catalan giants. Will Barcelona be out for big time revenge this season? In a group with Panathinaikos and Copenhagen, they will be clear favourites to progress. Barcelona have moved Zlatan Ibrahimovic on loan to AC Milan, and moved Thierry Henry to the New York Red Bulls. They’ll hardly be missed after Barcelona signed David Villa and Adriano, along with Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano. They look much stronger than last year and are rightly instilled as favourites. They will have learned lessons from last year’s failures.

Real Madrid: 9/2
What can Jose Mourinho do here? He as hired at Inter Milan with the sole purpose of winning the Champions League, and he achieved that last year with a victory in the final over Bayern Munich. Now Mourinho has one of the biggest resources at his disposal and again, Real Madrid want Champions League glory. They will never get a better chance than with Mourinho at the helm, and with such a strong squad including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Germany World Cup star Mesut Ozil, Mourinho’s Madrid will have to be watched out for. Mourinho is a winner and he will make Madrid a much more economical and efficient outfit. They square off against Auxerre, Ajax and the tough challenge of AC Milan. Mourinho has proven himself time and time again, and can he bring European glory back to the new Galacticos, who have been hungry since 2001/02. Mourinho will make a huge difference to one of Europe’s already powerhouses. Very strong challenger.

Chelsea: 11/2
Boss Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping for more progress on the European front than what they achieved last season. Chelsea were beaten by eventual champions Inter Milan in the first knockout round of the competition last year, and was actually something which probably propelled them on to win the Barclays Premier League. Prolific striker Didier Drogba will get the chance to return to Olympic Marseille to face the club from which Chelsea purchased him, and on the other side of that, it will give Marseille boss Didier Deschamps a return to Stamford Bridge. The Blues will be favourites to win the group ahead of the French side, Spartak Moscow and Zilina, but Chelsea need to be a bit more savvy on the continent than they were last year. There have been changes at Chelsea with players departing, and Brazilian midfielder Ramires coming in, and the London side have blitzed their way to a fierce 100% winning record for the start of the new Premier League. This is the title which the club really want though, having come so close so many times.

Manchester United: 8/1
Alex Ferguson will want more from his men this year too. Last season they threw away a good position against Bayern Munich to crash out. It could really be the last chance for some of United’s aging stars to add more glamour to their trophy cabinets, and United will always be a threat. There is a sense that United and Chelsea are falling some way behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, but United have all the experience needed to go the distance again. Probably not as strong as they have been in past years, but they have a great draw for themselves against Valencia, Rangers and Bursaspor, that they have pretty much already booked their place in the knockout stage. Can they go all the way though? They showed frailties last year, just as Chelsea did, and remain firmly behind the favourites, but still worth a shot nonetheless.

Inter Milan: 12/1
Rafa Benitez took over where Jose Mourinho left off at Inter Milan, but there is just the feeling that there is no way they are going to be able to repeat the success of last year. The managerial difference between Mourinho and Benitez is vast, and that already puts the Italian side behind other challengers. They are back in the Champions League football betting because they haven’t got as good a squad as the teams listed above, and it will be such a tough task for Benitez to emulate Mourinho and win the Champions League for the club again. It is a most unlikely scenario and they will probably be found wanting.

Arsenal: 14/1
A great Champions League side which tries to do everything the right way. But Arsenal are a young side and they probably haven’t quite got the necessary experience to go all of the way. Arsene Wenger has a wonderful crop of young players, but it is unlikely to be enough. They will have some fantastic nights in Europe again this year, and at the Emirates they will always be strong. They were blown away by Barcelona last year in the knock-out stage, and defensively they will have to be much stronger.

AC Milan: 18/1
They picked up striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but as shown when they played Manchester United last year, they looked a yard short of pace and quality to compete with the very best in Europe. They did a good job of turning their season around after a slow start, but can the capture of Manchester City’s Robinho push them on a little further this year. They need an injection of pace and that’s what he will bring alongside Ronaldinho and Andrea Pirlo. They have good parts, but not strong enough of team most likely.

Tottenham: 33/1
Not the easiest of welcomes for Tottenham in the Champions League. Boss Harry Redknapp will be licking his lips at his first taste of Group action. He pulled off quite a coup on the transfer window deadline day by signing Holland World Cup star Rafael Van Der Vaart from Real Madrid. His playmaking skills will add a little experience and quality to the side. They have Inter Milan, FC Twente and Werder Bremen to contend with. For a team making their Champions League debut, that’s not a particularly easy ride. Spurs may well grow in to the role of Champions League participants this year, but they really need to grab this chance with both hands as a return next season is no guarantee with the competitiveness of the Barclays Premier League.

Next Fulham Manager and Specials on Torres and Gerrard

With Liverpool set to announce the arrival of manager Roy Hodgson into the hot seat at Anfield, the next round of managerial musical chairs in the Premier League, falls on Fulham. Hodgson, who did a great job of saving Fulham from relegation and then took them all the way to the final of the Europa League this season, looks to have been rewarded for his impressive work by stepping up to manage one of the big four. While the selection seems a little strange for a club of Liverpool’s stature, as Hodgson has no proven track record in Europe’s top flight, it appears to be a move to instil an Englishman back at the helm of the club. Hodgson has made a very good name for himself in rescuing teams that are in trouble, and as hard as it will be for fans in the Kop to admit, that is where their team are right now. No Champions League for a club of their stature spells potential big troubles ahead in attracting new players to the club, as well as difficulties in attracting a top manager. Perhaps their options were limited and that is why Hodgson, who is considered a highly intellectual football journeyman, was called upon. Liverpool were free to speak to Fulham and Hogdson’s appointment is expected to be announced very soon. Not only does this leave an opening at Fulham, it also discounts one Englishman from the list of potential managers to take over the national side if the FA decide to part ways with Fabio Capello. There is also the questions over what will happen to Liverpool’s two stars, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool clearly need an overhaul, but have their own financial difficulties, and these are the players who would bring in the most return. How badly to Liverpool need money? Hodgson is well known for his frugality in picking up bargains in the transfer market. That alone won’t give Liverpool fans much hope, as naturally they will want to see big money being spent on Europe’s top players.

Naturally all of this speculation is enhanced by the fact that it makes for some very interesting football betting.

There seems to be a two way race for the managerial seat at Craven Cottage, according to the media. Many have Sven Goran-Eriksson, who was last seen at the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Ivory Coast, as the favourite to take over, while other have tipped Alan Curbishly to come in and do the job.

Next Fulham Manager at Victor Chandler
Alan Curbishly – 5/4
Mark Hughes – 4/1
Sven Goran Eriksson – 6/1
Sean O’Driscoll – 6/1
Glenn Hoddle – 8/1
Slaven Bilic – 8/1
Manuel Pelligrini – 9/1
Gareth Southgate – 11/1

What will Steven Gerrard do? Will he remain loyal to his club’s trials and tribulations at Anfield, or will the decision be out of his hands. If he wanted to leave he wouldn’t be short on options. Rumours have had him linked with several clubs including Premier League rivals Chelsea, which seems a little unlikely. Jose Mourinho vocally stated that he would like Gerrard at Real Madrid, while the door would probably be open for him to join Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan.

Steven Gerrard’s Club at Start of Season at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 8/15
Real Madrid – 2/1
Man City – 15/2
Chelsea – 12/1
Inter Milan – 25/1

Fernando Torres has not been having a great time at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as he has looked short of match sharpness. He did have an injury plagued season at Anfield, and was still struggling with fitness ahead of the tournament so he could be excused a little bit. Still, he has played quite a bit for Spain at the tournament, and has had more than enough chances to put himself in with a chance of the Golden Boot, but he is not the Fernando Torres that Liverpool need next season. They need him back at his best. Perhaps he lost all his goal scoring powers when he cut his hair, but his price has probably dropped a little bit on the transfer market, so the new Liverpool boss may be looking to cut his losses with Torres. It may be the case of the striker wanting away, as he is one of the best in Europe when fit, and he will want Champions League football. Torres has been linked heavily with Chelsea. Or would Barcelona want him to pair up with fellow Spaniard David Villa who they just signed? Would Benitez want him at Inter? How badly do Liverpool need money to rebuild with?

Fernando Torres’s Club at Start of Season at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 2/5
Chelsea – 3/1
Man City – 5/1
Man Utd – 16/1
Barcelona – 25/1
Inter Milan – 33/1

Champions League Final Betting Preview: Well there are no English representatives in the Champions League Final this year, but that does not mean there is no interest in football betting. With Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan taking on Louis Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich, both sides have knocked out English opponents this year on their way to the final. So, with an eye on helping punters decide where to lay their bets on the Champions League final, here is the tale of the tape between the two finalists, starting with Manchester United’s conqueror’s Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich’s Route to the Final
Bayern had a fairly understated trek through the competition this season, not really attracting much attention. That was largely down to their less than spectacular form in the group stages, in which they needed a result on the final day of the round robin stage to squeeze themselves into second place ahead of Juventus, and behind surprise team Bordeaux. After knocking out out Fiorentina in tight yet open contest over their two legs in the first knockout stage, Bayern then faced the might of Manchester United in the quarter finals. Much was made of the German’s somewhat suspect defence, and after Wayne Rooney had given United an early lead in Munich, it looked all downhill for the Germans. It was top scorer Ivica Olic who capped a late comeback by the home side, scoring the winner in added time, to take a 2-1 advantage with them to Old Trafford. Again it never really looked to be enough for the Germans, and they were expected to come under a lot of pressure at Old Trafford, and that is exactly what happened as United raced out to a 3-0 lead. But then the game turned with the sending off of United defender Rafael, which allowed Bayern to get some control, which they never had. Once Ivica Olic had pulled them back into the tie, just a couple of minutes after the red card, Bayern pressed for another goal to take an away goal advantage, and it came with a stunner from ex Chelsea star Arjen Robben. Robben was at it against in the semi finals against Lyon as he struck to give Bayern a 1-0 lead after the first leg. They then went to Lyon and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, sending them into the final, chasing their fourth European cup title.

Bayern in Profile
Despite a slow start to the season, it has been one of transformation for Louis Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich. They now stand on the brink of completing what would be a historic treble for them. They stormed from behind to take the German Bundesliga title, and added to that the German Cup with a 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen. Now, with the Champions League final in their grasp, they could come up smelling of roses on Saturday, capping a fine season for a team which still visibly looks to have its vulnerabilities. They will go into Saturday’s match without one of their main stars, Franck Ribery, who is serving a suspension. Bayern have been appealing his ban, but to no avail, and he will be sitting in the stands, thinking about all the speculation about the Barclays Premier League teams who want to sign him. Coach Van Gaal is tactically sound, and fully aware that their defence is not one of the best in Europe, but the team spirit and fight which they have shown, certainly is up there. From a sluggish start, they have gone from strength to strength. One thing with Bayern is that they are likely to concede goals, having only kept six clean sheets in their last 23 matches. But they seem to have enough fire power to compensate for that, especially in Olic and Arjen Robben, who is clearly enjoying his football at the moment, scoring 20 goals in his last 24 club matches.

Bayern’s Champions League Season
Group Stage: Finished second with a record of W3, D1, L2, For 9, Against 5
Last 16: beat Fiorentina on away goals after 4-4 draw
Quarter Finals: beat Manchester United on away goals after 4-4 draw
Semi Finals: beat Lyon 4-0 on aggregate
Champions League form guide: LLWWWLWLWW

Inter Milan’s Route to the Final
In contrast to Bayern, there is always plenty of attention focused on Inter Milan wherever they go, simply because of manager Jose Mourinho. They were drawn in a group along with Barcelona, which also leant weight to their publicity circus, but the Italians did not exactly set the group stage alight with any great form. They played out a dull 0-0 draw with Barcelona in their first encounter, before falling 2-0 in the second meeting between the two teams. Inter only picked up two wins in their group stage, with probably their most surprising result was being held 1-1 by Russian champions Rubin Kazan. Still, they navigated their way through to the knockout phase of the tournament in second place behind Barcelona, where Jose Mourinho would become the focus of attention all over again, as his Inter Milan side were drawn against his old club Chelsea. The first leg at the San Siro saw exactly what Inter are made off. They were happy to sit back, concede possession to the visitors and kill the game off with a couple of clinical attacks. They took a 2-1 victory with them to Stamford Bridge, the stomping ground of much of Mourinho’s success, but a place where the Champions League title evaded him. Even Mourniho, in all his planning, probably never expected quite such an easy night, as they found Chelsea in an uninspired and lacklustre mood, and again Mourinho was able to walk out of Stamford Bridge as a winner, taking the match 1-0. The Quarter finals gave them a potentially tough and tricky tie against CSKA Moscow, who had progressed from Manchester United’s group. Again it was efficiency over style for Inter, as they won 1-0 both home and away, with Wesley Sniejder largely being the difference in tight encounters, which Inter probably deserved just to edge. The Semi finals them pitted them back against the defending champions Barcelona. If there was one side in Europe, one manager who would know how to orchestrate the downfall of the great Catalan’s, then it would be Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho. Barca went into the fixtures as strong favourites, but another superb tactical showing from Mourinho, saw Inter steal a 3-1 home win, with Barca struggling to find a way through Inter, even with their wealth of attacking talent. Barcelona won the second leg 1-0 at the Nou Camp, but they just couldn’t find that precious second goal which would have sent them through to the final on the away goal rule. The fact that they couldn’t is a testament to Mourinho and how he sets him team up, and how hard a task Bayern will have in the final.

Inter Milan in Profile
Mourinho simply sets them up to win, and it has brought them success in Serie A, and now possibly the Champions League final. His system though, attracts a lot of criticism, as it is largely a negative way to approach games. There is a clear contrast in the way in which Chelsea won the Premier League under Mourinho, to their recent success under Carlo Ancelotti, who unleashed a fierce attacking side. Defence is priority with Mourinho, and a 1-0 win in a dull game is priceless to him, as it enforces his tactical decisions. One thing Inter do have is an incredible defence, which knows how to squeeze the big name strikers out of the games. Central defender, and Brazilian star Lucio in particular didn’t give Didier Drogba an inch, and pairing up with Walter Samuel, they were easily able to contain Lionel Messi. With Bayern having a more limited attack than Barcelona and Chelsea, the defensive set up that Inter are able to bring to the game, will make them favourites. They will be missing Thiago Motto who was sent off in the semi final second leg.

Inter Milan’s Champions League Season
Group Stage: Finished second with a record of W2, D3, L1, For 7, Against 6
Last 16: beat Chelsea 3-1 on aggregate
Quarter Finals: beat CSKA Moscow 2-0 on aggregate
Semi Finals: beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate
Champions League form guide: DWLWWWWWWL

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich Betting Stats

Champions League Head to Head
Bayern 1, Inter Milan 1 (2006)
Inter Milan 0, Bayern Munich 2 (2006)

Last 5 Match Goals (all competitions)
Inter Milan: 8 For, 4 Against
Bayern Munich: 14 For, 3 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Inter Milan: W8, D1, L1
Bayern Munich: W7, D2, L1

Top Goalscorer:
Bayern Munich: Ivica Olic (7)
Inter Milan: Diego Milito (4)

Ball Possession (average time per match)
Bayern Munich: 34 mins
Inter Milan: 27 mins

Notes:
Bayern are top scorers in the Champions League this season with 21 goals (jointly with Arsenal and Man Utd)
Bayern Munich have had the most shots off target of all teams in this year’s Champions League
Bayern Munich have won the most corners (92) of all teams in this year’s Champions League
Inter Milan have the most yellow cards in the Champions league this season
Inter Milan’s Diego Milito has the highest count of offside decisions of all players this season

Match Prices
Bayern Munich to win: 12/5 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Bwin
Inter Milan to win: 5/4 at SkyBet

To Lift the Trophy
Inter Milan: 4/7 at Boylesports
Bayern Munich: 7/5 at Ladbrokes

Asian Handicap Betting Advice. One of the main questions, is whether Bayern will have enough fire power to break down the organised defence of Inter Milan? The defensive side of Inter may well mean that the weaker Bayern defence may not come under quite as much pressure. The two sides are on the brink of a treble, after winning their respective league and cups. Betting will naturally favour Inter Milan, simply because they are so strong and organised, while Bayern are perceived to be weaker at the back. Despite their defensive strengths, Inter are set up to attack, and that is why they are so clinical. They can be economical with the ball when they get it, especially with key man Sniejder pulling the strings. He is the key to Inter’s victory, but the competition will be stern. Van Gaal is as much of a tactical master as Mourinho, but looking at the line-ups and records, Inter should be able to grind this one out, so starting with Bayern in a plus on the handicap, should be something of a banker either way.
Bayern Munich +0.25 Asian Handicap: 5/6 at Paddy Power

Barcleona vs Inter Milan Champions League Semi Final Second Leg Betting Preview: It may have been a tale of the unexpected, but defending Champions League Champions Barcelona are on the brink of losing their grip of their coveted title. After taking the lead at the San Siro in the first leg of their semi final against Italian side Inter Milan, the Spanish giants crumbled to a 3-1 defeat, after Jose Mourinho’s tactical savvy paid off once again. Mourinho’s Inter are probably the best side in Europe suited to countering the attacking power of Barcelona, but in last week’s first leg, they also showed how clinical they can be in front of goal. Inter definitely have the advantage ahead of the match in Spain, as not only do they hold that two goal cushion, they are also a strong defensive unit which is hard to break down. But there will be an air of caution running around the San Siro, as the Nerazzurri will remember how comfortable Barcelona were in their 2-0 victory over Inter when they met in the Group Stage of this year’s Champions League.

When Barcelona take the field, it is hard not to expect at least two goals from their incredible attacking unit. The Catalan side will be missing influential midfielder Andres Iniesta again, as the Spanish superstar sits out through injury, and they will also miss the domineering presence of captain Carles Puyol at centre half, as the international is serving a suspension. What Barcelona do have, is a crucial away goal, which could prove all the difference on the night. This is one of the toughest tests which Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola will face, but strong victories in the Champions league at home, will take the Barcelona side into the match full of confidence. With Argentinean star Lionel Messi in the ranks still, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful. Messi is the competition’s top scorer this season, largely helped by his four goals netted against Arsenal in the Quarter Finals. Barcelona do not lose easily, and the first leg defeat by Inter, only their fourth in all competitions this season, shows what a great performances Jose Mourinho’s men put in.

One of the key weapons in Inter’s side is Dutchman Wesley Sneijder, who has been proving all season long, that he is one of the best in the world at linking up the midfield and attack. It was his goal that drew Inter level in the first leg, before Maicon and Diego Milito pressed home the Nerrazzurri’s advantage. But there are doubts over whether or not the Dutch international will be able to take the field on Wednesday, after picking up a thigh injury in Inter’s weekend win in Serie A. With or without Sneijder, the main question for Wednesday’s semi final second leg is whether or not Inter Milan can hold on to their lead. Mourinho will now that Barcelona will come at them, with an emphasis of scoring as many goals as possible, and they, more than any other team in Europe, have the capability of getting what they need. Inter’s six game winning streak in the Champions League this year, looks under threat, and it should be an explosive and hostile atmosphere at the Nou Camp for Inter.

What Inter do have, and it is no surprise for a Jose Mourinho side, is a good work and team ethic, and it was their hard work in closing Barcelona down in the first leg, which paid dividends. The industry which Inter showed to maintain their 3-1 lead once they had attained it, showed that Inter are more than capable, and are more than deserving of becoming the Champions of Europe. While the plan was not to man mark Messi, the team set up meant that Barcelona’s main threat did not have as much space as he would have like, being squeezed out by defensive duo of Lucio and Walter Samuel, along with an enormous amount of tracking back by the midfield. The confidence and ability surely comes from Jose Mourinho, which filters down throughout his team, and they have looked better and stronger the longer the competition has gone on.

Despite the result, there is still more than enough from the first leg, and the two previous meetings between the clubs in the Champions League this year, to suggest that Barcelona have enough to get through. The Spaniards dominated the early proceedings and grabbed the opening goal. It was to some surprise that Inter responded in the manner they did, playing a brave game in going forward in search of their goals. Any other side could have crumbled, but Mourinho knows what things are about. Barcelona also created enough chances to at least draw the game, with Inter riding their luck at the back, relying on their last line of defence Julio Cesar and a goal line clearance. Barcelona are the masters at maintaining the ball, and the scoreline from the first leg probably flattered Inter a little bit, as there did not look to be a two goal difference between the two teams. But that is exactly the margin that Barcelona will look for on Wednesday night, as this heavyweight clash goes down to the wire.

Barcelona v Inter Betting Stats

Head to Head
Inter Milan 3, Barcelona 1
Barcelona 2, Inter Milan 0
Inter Milan 0, Barcelona 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Barcelona: 9 For, 4 Against
Inter Milan: 11 For, 4 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Barcelona: W7, D2, L1
Inter Milan, W8, D1, L1

Win Percentage
Barcelona have an 87.5 win percentage at home
Inter Milan have a 47.8 win percentage away from home

Match Odds
Barcelona to win: 4/9 at SkyBet
Draw: 17/4 at Bwin
Inter Milan to win: 7/1 at Stan James

To Qualify Odds
Barcelona: 5/4 at Bet365
Inter Milan: 4/6 at BetFred

Asian Handicap Betting Advice. It feels like it would take a brave punter not to back Barcelona winning the match. Will they do enough to rip the tie away from Inter? They have proven that they can beat Inter quite comfortably, but if Inter shut up shop for long periods, those two goals could prove to be somewhat elusive. The Spaniards will be favourites to win the match, and it is well worth having a dabble on them to come through with the two goal advantage. If not, then look for decent odds which back Inter to battle their way to a draw.
Inter Milan +1.25 Asian Handicap: Evens at Bet365

Will Inter Milan star striker Samuel Eto’o return to haunt his old club in the Champions League Semi Final first leg? It’s Inter Milan v Barcelona on Tuesday night, and with ex-Barcelona players Samuel Eto’o, Thiago Motto and Ricardo Quaresma in the Inter ranks, the Spaniards will know their opponents well. Going the other way in the big summer deal between the two clubs, Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to Barcelona and is thriving under the attacking prowess of his new club. Online bookmaker Paddy Power are offering a stake refund on all lost first/last goalscorer, correct score and Scorecast singles on Tuesday’s big match, if Inter Milan’s Samuel Eto’o find the back of the net with the last goal of the game. There is a limit of £100 refund on this, but it offers some fallback, should the Cameroon star sneak home the game’s last goal. As it stands, Samuel Eto’o has netted just twice in the Champions League so far this season, but Eto’o, one of the world’s most dangerous strikers, has hit a good return of 12 goals in 28 domestic games for his club.

There is still time to head over to Paddy Power and take advantage of this offer, and this Champions League semi final match is also a part of their Enhanced Double for Tuesday. Paddy Power are ramping up the odds, with the double of Barcelona to beat Inter Milan, and QPR to beat Watford. This comes with the enhanced price of 4/1 for the double, so it’s well worth jumping on.

Inter Milan vs Barcelona Betting Preview for Champions League Semi Final First Leg. The heavyweight showdown for the first of the Champions League Semi Finals gets underway at the San Siro on Tuesday night, in what would have made a spectacular final. Instead the semi final of the competition hosts Inter Milan v Barcelona, not for the first time this season in the Champions League, as the two sides came through the same group to reach the knockout stages of the competition. Barcelona topped the group, thanks to an all important 2-0 victory over the Italians at the Nou Camp on Match Day five. That followed a 0-0 draw at the San Siro, where both teams had their chances to snatch victory, in a game which largely disappointed after all of the hype surrounding it. An irresistible force (Barcelona) and immovable object (Inter Milan) certainly comes to mind when looking at these two giants, as they have looked the most dominant in the competition so far this season. Now one of them has to fall, and the defending Champions, Spaniards Barcelona, will hold no fear going to Milan and trying to get the upper hand.

The first major factor to play a part in this first leg, has been the volcanic ash which has disrupted flights across Europe. Barcelona have had to take the road on a two day trip to reach the San Siro, instead of a short plane journey, to arrive ahead of time. Will this uncomfortable ride have an effect on Tuesday’s outcome? It certainly will not have helped their preparation for the encounter, after being on the road for a couple of days, but for the strong Barcelona outfit, it shouldn’t be looked upon as a possible excuse. The Spaniards are Champions, and have shown just how hungry they are to retain their Champions League crown, after wonderkid Lionel Messi put on a four goal show against Arsenal in the Quarter Finals. The Argentinean star has been sitting out training as a precaution, but will start in the Barca line up as expected. The one big name missing from the Catalan side, will be that of Andres Iniesta, arguably the most accomplished midfielder in the world.

Inter Milan, coached by ex Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, are possibly the best team to counter Barcelona, even if they did fall short at the Nou Camp earlier in the competition. Inter, as they proved against Chelsea, are incredibly efficient, and are a tight, cohesive unit. One that thing stands out for the Italian side, is that they are probably more settled and stronger than when the two sides met in the group stage. Inter certainly do not have the attacking flair, and sheer strength in ability to pour forward as Barcelona do, but what they can do, is defend and suck the life out of opposition. Inter squeezed and pressed Chelsea over their two legs in the last sixteen of the competition, being happy to concede possession, but still somehow limiting their opponents clear cut chances on goal. This is the method by which they can conquer Barcelona, by being efficient with the ball. Mourinho already knows that his team cannot compete in terms of possession against the Spaniards, so when they do get the chance, they need to strike quick and efficiently, exactly what they did against Chelsea.

Mourinho will probably throw extra numbers into the midfield, because if there is one man to stop, then it will be Lionel Messi. They will not set out to man mark the Argentinean out of the game, but will instead just try and restrict the space within which the powerful Barcelona midfield has to work within. Both sides have had busy schedules, and questions have been raised over whether Inter are starting to flag now they have reached the business end of the season. After sitting at the top of Serie A for most of the season, they have allowed AS Roma to sneak in ahead of them with the finishing line approaching. Inter have picked up just three wins in their last eight domestic games, highlighted recently with a frustrating 2-2 draw against Fiorentina. On their own domestic front, Barcelona are being pushed all the way by Real Madrid. Barca recently scored a massive 2-0 away victory over title rivals Madrid, but a recent 0-0 against Espanyol, allowed Madrid to close the gap at the top of La Liga to just one point. The same difference between Roma and Inter. While their respective domestic league campaigns are on similar standings, the two teams have a stark contrast in playing styles.

A score draw would be a good result for the visiting Barcelona, when all things are weighed up. The extra travelling by coach, the stubborn resoluteness of Inter at home, and the face that Barcelona have only won once and drawn four times away from home in the Champions League this season. Inter will need to hustle, harry and close down the Barcelona midfield. Barcelona fielded a much weakened side against Arsenal in the Quarter Finals, and demolished the Gunners with their pace. This is one of their most lethal weapons, the speed at which they can attack. They have pace throughout the team, something which Inter do not quite possess. Inter will base their game on defence, and let the Spaniards come on to them, even at home. The tie promises a lot, as there is the rematch of strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o for supremacy, after the two swapped clubs in the summer, with Eto’o moving to join Mourinho in Italy. Then there is the “Special One”, Jose Mourinho. His run-ins with Barcelona in the Champions League will linger on in memory from when he took on Barca with Chelsea. Things are different now, different times, different players, different clubs. The odds are stacked against Inter, but they need to get their noses in front after the first leg, so that they have something to take to the Nou Camp for the return leg.

Inter Milan v Barcelona Betting Stats (all competitions)

Last 5 Match Goals
Inter Milan: 9 For, 2 Against
Barcelona: 13 For, 2 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Inter Milan: W7, D2, L1
Barcelona: W8, D2, L0

Win Percentage:
Inter Milan have a 76.9 win percentage at home
Barcelona have a 60.0 win percentage away from home

Last Fixtures:
Inter Milan 2, Juventus 0
Espanyol 0, Barcelona 0

2009/2010 Champions League Stats:

• Lionel Messi (Barcelona) is the competitions top scorer this season with 8 goals
• Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (both Barcelona) have had the most attempts on target, 25 and 20 respectively.
• Inter’s biggest threats have been Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o, both with 12 attempts each
• Diego Milito has been called offside 21 times in the competition, the most of all players.
• Barcelona have scored 18 Champions League goals and conceded 7, Inter Milan have scored 12 and conceded 7
• Barcelona have had 77 shots on target (the most of all teams), Inter Milan have had 54
• Barcelona lead all teams by a country mile in amount of possession, having had the ball 59% of the time in all of their matches combined.

Match Prices
Inter Milan to win: 11/5 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
Barcelona to win: 7/5 at BetFred

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Looking at Barca’s away form in the competition, and Inter’s home record, a draw looks on the card, and that will be something to lean towards in an Asian Handicap betting strategy. Barcelona are favourites to reach the final, but these will be two long legs against Inter Milan. Is there a better tactician than Mourinho, and is there anyone who loves taking on and beating a giant? If Inter can squeeze the life out of Barca in the midfield, they are capable of snatching a goal, although they have not shown a proficiency for scoring too many goals in matches. Barcelona on the other hand, if they get their noses in front early, it could spell the end of the tie. Both teams will be able to pick from healthy squads. Prices are a long shot to favour Inter even for a draw, so punts may as well go on the Barcelona side of the scales.
Barcelona -0.25 Asian Handicap: Evens at Stan James

Champions League Betting Preview: Barcelona, as they have been since the start of the competition, firm favourites to lift this year’s Champions League trophy. The spectacular Spaniards blitzed Arsenal in the second leg of the Quarter Final, with Argentinean superstar Lionel Messi firing four goals past the Gunners. It was one of the special Champions League displays from one of the World’s genuine football superstars. Barcelona put out a weaker side due to injuries and suspensions, but they were still able to overwhelm one of England’s strongest side. With Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd all falling before the semi finals, there looks to be a shift in power in Europe, as perhaps the German and French leagues are catching up in standards, or the quality of the Premier League is slipping.

However, Barcelona look strong enough to retain the title which they won last year and now could possible face what is the equivalent of their final as they take on Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. The two sides met earlier in the competition in the group stages, with Barcelona having the upper hand over the two games. The Spaniards were held to a 0-0 draw at the San Siro, but the return fixture at the Nou Camp saw Barcelona run out comfortable 2-0 winners, with Rodriguez and Pique scoring. Now the two sides go up against each other again, after Inter came through a tricky fixture against CSKA Moscow, ensuring passage with two 1-0 victories against the Russians. The winner of this year’s Champions League looks set to come from this semi final.

After making Manchester United buckle under their pressure, Bayern Munich will take on Lyon. These are two strong European sides which have always been a threat in the competitions, and now there is the chance for one of these relative underdogs in the grand scheme of things, to progress to the final. Lyon overcame French rivals Bordeaux to reach the semi finals, and this should be a great contest between two evenly matched teams. Lyon perhaps will have the edge, as Bayern are probably a bit more vulnerable at the back, but both can turn on the controlled attacking power when needed. With both teams qualifying in second place from their respective groups, and both teams challenging for their domestic titles, it should all equal out to an even contest. There is the big prize of a Champions League final awaiting the winners and both teams will see it equally as being the ideal opportunity to get there.

Bayern Munich v Lyon (1st Leg)
Bayern Munich to win: 4/5 at Totesport
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Lyon to win: 4/1 at Bet365

Bayern Munich v Lyon (To qualify)
Bayern Munich: 4/6 at BetFred
Lyon: 11/8 at Bet365

Inter Milan v Barcelona (1st Leg)
Inter Milan to win: 11/5 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Bwin
Barcelona: 11/8 at SkyBet

Inter Milan v Barcelona To Qualify
Inter Milan: 9/4 at William Hill
Barcelona: 2/5 at Paddy Power

Champions League Outright Betting
Barcelona: 4/5 at Bet365
Inter Milan: 9/2 at Extrabet
Bayern Munich: 9/2 Victor Chandler
Lyon: 7/1 at Bwin

While Arsenal are in Barcelona taking on the European Champions, Tuesday’s other Champions League fixture features the irrepressible Jose Mourinho. His Inter Milan side travel to Russia, holding on to a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg. Inter’s Diego Milito grabbed the only goal in the first leg, but in the tricky second leg, they could rue a host of other chances that went begging. Inter failed to capitalise on Milito’s goal, but were definitely the better side, and fully deserving of their victory at the San Siro. Mourinho, who has been vociferous in his dislike of the way Italian football is run, was brought in to bring the Champions League to Inter, and he has turned the side into one of the most efficient in Europe. In true Mourinho style, the game is all about winning, and not necessarily about going out and scoring a hat full of goals.

CSKA will be missing two of their key midfielders for the match, while Inter Milan will be able to put out a stronger side than they did in the first leg if they choose to. One notable returnee, is Dutch star Wesley Sneijder, who is proving invaluable to Inter’s season. But will the artificial turf, upon which the match will be played, be a leveller? Is there a better tactician than Mourinho in dealing with anything out of the ordinary that gets thrown at him? He will have his troops ready to face both the level of opposition, and whatever the influence of the pitch could have over proceedings. But CSKA, who will be looking to keep a clean sheet against the visiting Milan side, feel they have an advantage with the familiarity of their pitch.

CSKA qualified in second place behind Manchester United in their group, and caused United some scares when the English champions went to Russia. United scraped a 1-0 win, but it was Moscow’s two victories in their other games which saw them through, and then a strong performance at home against much fancied Spanish side Sevilla, helped them move through to the Quarter Finals. They have had their good moments in the competition, and can they produce another one to cause an upset, and be the first Russian side to make it to the Champions League semi finals? The Russian Premier League is only just four games into its new season (with CSKA having played three, winning two and drawing one so far), while the long Italian league is coming to an end. Will fitness and sharpness be a factor as well as the pitch? The possibility of meeting Barcelona is on the cards for the winner of this match.

CSKA Moscow v Inter Milan Match Prices
CSKA to win: 9/4 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 9/4 at Bet365
Inter Milan to win: 11/8 at Boylesports

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Being the home side, favouring a handicap which lands results for a CSKA draw could prove useful, even if it’s a Draw No Bet scenario of a 0 Handicap. Inter won’t go there are score a lot of goals, and have shown a penchant for drawing match in Europe. Inter though at Evens Asian Handicap with Victor Chandler is hard to pass up, or a brave backing of CSKA for a narrow win will be best hanging around the CSKA 0 Asian Handicap at 13/10 with Paddy Power.