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Becks is back. David Beckham returns to his old stomping ground tomorrow, as his AC Milan side looks to overturn a 3-2 deficit against Manchester United in the Champions League. This is the first time back at Old Trafford for Beckham, since departing from under Alex Ferguson’s win around 7 years ago. England stalwart, who plays for LA Galaxy, but is on loan at the Italian giants so that he can play top level football to keep himself in shape for the 2010  World Cup, was mobbed as he way his way back to Manchester United ahead of the game. A legend in the Red Devils shirt, Beckham is still popular at the club, and remains the face of English football.

There is no guarantee that Beckham will start on Wednesday night, throwing some confusing on what line up coach Leonardo will go with. Despite setting up the first goal for AC Milan at Old Trafford, Beckham was largely ineffective in his central midfield role, a place where he longed to play for Manchester United. If he comes of the bench, it is fair to say that he will receive a hero’s welcome. It could be a different story however, if he scores the winner which knocks his old club out. Beckham scored twice on his last Champions League appearance at Old Trafford, for the Red Devils. Untied fans will probably have mixed feeling about the possibly of Beckham hitting the back of the net on Wednesday. They’ll probably cheer a consolation, but bite their tongue at a winning goal.

The other unquestionable start of the English show, Wayne Rooney, has been declared fit to play in the big match. United are defending a slender lead, and need their talisman up front to create problems and carry an offensive threat. This last 16 second leg fixture of the Champions League is the one which has been carrying all of the hype and excitement. After aggravating a knee problem in England’s friendly against Egypt, Ferguson had come out and said that Rooney was extremely doubtful for this crucial big match. Rooney know has seemingly made a miraculous recovery after training on Tuesday. Ferguson isn’t without him problems still though, as Ryan Giggs and Wes Brown are missing, as well as Michael Carrick following his red card at the end of the first leg. AC Milan welcome back Pato, who could have a huge influence on the game, alongside Ronaldinho.

BETTING STATS

Head to Head
AC Milan 2, Man Utd 3
AC Milan 3, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 3, AC Milan 2
AC Milan 1, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 0, AC Milan 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Man Utd: 10 For, 6 Against
AC Milan: 9 For, 5 Against

Current Form:
Man Utd: W8, D1, L1
AC Milan: W4, D3, L3

Champions League Form:
Man Utd: WWWDLWW
AC Milan: WLWDDDL

Win Percentage:
Man Utd have a 73.9 win percentage at home
AC Milan have a 52.9 win percentage away from home

LATEST MATCH PRICES
Man Utd to win: 8/11 at SkyBet
Draw: 11/4 at Ladbrokes
AC Milan to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

David Beckham Specials:
Anytime Goalscorer: 13/2 at Stan James
First Goalscorer: 20/1 at 888Sport
To Be Booked: 4/1 at SkyBet
To Be Sent Off: 20/1 at SkyBet

Wayne Rooney Specials:
Anytime Goalscorer: 11/10 at Boylesports
First Goalscorer: 4/1 at Blue Square

Wednesday night promises to be the big David Beckham and Wayne Rooney show in the Champions League clash between Man Utd v AC Milan. The first leg in Milan, ended in a pulsating 3-2 victory for Alex Ferguson’s men, but they will need to rediscover some of that home invulnerability if they are to make light work of the second leg at Old Trafford. After nearly seven years away from Old Trafford, David Beckham makes his return, courtesy of his loan spell with the Italian giants. On his last Champions League game at Old Trafford before heading to Real Madrid, Beckham scored himself a brace of goals. The majority of the Manchester crowd will not want to see history repeating itself like that on Wednesday night.

Things could have been a lot more comfortable for Manchester united, had a lapse in concentration not allowed Clarence Seedorf to grab a crucial second goal for AC Milan. They have a big job in overturning Man United at Old Trafford, if they want to keep their strong record against United going. Every encounter over two legs between the two sides in the Champions league, the Italians have come out on top, largely thanks to their performances at home. The home leg in this season’s competition however, let them down badly, despite getting off to a promising start. Milan overran United in the early part of the game, and should have put the fixture out of sight there and then. United looked at their disjointed worst, unable to keep a hold of any possession. That was until Wayne Rooney stole the show in the second half.

The England striker scored twice with head (that makes 9 headed goals for him in the Champions League). United only managed to pick up four points out of the possible nine available in the home fixtures of the group stages, and that was some surprise as they were in an easy group. They even squandered their excellent home record in the Champions League, when they lost to Besiktas, ending a 23 run of games without defeat at Old Trafford. The previous defeat that United had suffered at home in the Champions league, was of course, to Wednesday night’s opponents, AC Milan. United have had to come from behind twice this season at home in the Champions league, but now the stakes are different because there are away goals to worry about. Milan need a clear two goal advantage on the night.

The first leg result bore a spooky similarity to the 2006/07 meeting between the two sides in the semi final of the competition, when United won 3-2 in the first leg, but then lost badly in the second leg, 3-0, with Kaka on target that night. United laboured to 1-0 win over Wolves in the Premier League on the weekend, but they should not need any motivating ahead of Wednesday. Fans will be packed in to see David Beckham mark this historic return. United simply need to do what they do best, and that is up the tempo to attack at speed. Beckham was employed in the middle of the park in the first leg, and was not effective there at all, and as a whole, the Milan side don’t look particularly fast. Their control on the ball and passing is what they rely on, and if United can disrupt that, they should be in for a good night. It is unlikely that Milan would be able to match United in full flow at Old Trafford.

But is there a sting in this tale from former servant of Alex Ferguson, David Beckham? Will his return fade into anonymity, or will he produce one of his big match moments that could crush the Champions League dreams of United for 2010? Beckham scored 86 goals in 394 appearances for Manchester United, and won the Premier League six times. United will be waiting on news about Wayne Rooney, who missed the weekend game at Molineux because of an aggravated knee problem. Quite how United will manage without him, as he is their one man strike force, could be a key factor on the biggest night of their season so far.

Milan still have Serie A dreams for this season, as well as success in the Champions League. Boss Leonardo has included striker Pato, who is the key component up front for them, in the squad, after missing their weekend match with a hamstring problem. The likelihood of Wayne Rooney appearing on Wednesday night, is not so promising, as he has been described as very doubtful for the match by Alex Ferguson. There were reports that Rooney was not going to be fit for England’s midweek friendly against Egypt, but he appeared. However, his knee was not in good shape afterwards, appearing to have aggravated any problem that may have been there, during England’s 3-1 win. Ferguson has already lost Michael Owe for the season, so that just leaves Berbatov up front. Subsequent reports hint that the problem with Rooney’s knee is serious enough to keep him out of action, so he may appear off the bench if his club needs him on the night. Not so for defender Wes Brown, who may be out for the rest of the season with a broken foot.

BETTING STATS

Head to Head
AC Milan 2, Man Utd 3
AC Milan 3, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 3, AC Milan 2
AC Milan 1, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 0, AC Milan 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Man Utd: 10 For, 6 Against
AC Milan: 9 For, 5 Against

Current Form:
Man Utd: W8, D1, L1
AC Milan: W4, D3, L3

Champions League Form:
Man Utd: WWWDLWW
AC Milan: WLWDDDL

Win Percentage:
Man Utd have a 73.9 win percentage at home
AC Milan have a 52.9 win percentage away from home

MATCH PRICES
Man Utd to win: 8/11 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 11/4 at SkyBet
AC Milan: 9/2 at Ladbrokes

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: AC Milan have problems with pace and speed, while United don’t quite have the ball skills in the middle of the park. This is why they are fairly evenly matched, but for some reason, United have struggled at home this season in the Champions League. Milan should be good enough for a draw on the night, it won’t get them through, but they are of equal quality with United as long as they don’t have a super collapse. If Rooney is missing and Ronaldinho is at his devastating bet, and with Milan having nothing to lose, away from home and already behind, they could pose a threat.
AC Milan +0.50 Asian Handicap: 11/10 at Paddy Power

David Beckham Anytime Scorer: 13/2 at Paddy Power

The return of David Beckham playing against his old team Manchester United has been dominating the Champions League news, ever since the draw for the first stage of the knockouts were announced. Old Trafford will have to await the return of their old hero, but Tuesday will see Beckham turn out against Man Utd for the first time since leaving the fold. Beckham has vowed not to celebrate if he scores a goal against Milan, but in order to do that, he will need to come off the bench. Despite that, he will draw a lot of attention at the bookmakers on popping up with a goal. He has been kept on the side lines for the past couple of games by boss Leonardo, as Milan look to challenge hard for the Serie A title. The Rossoneri recently lost a crucial derby match against league leaders Inter Milan, but their season has generally been one of transformation.

After a slow start they have played their way into contention to becoming Italian champions, as well as making steady, but not overwhelming progress through the Champions League. Milan were on the receiving end of one of the biggest Champions League shocks this season, when they lost at home to FC Zurich. They finished four points behind Group Winners Real Madrid, but beat the Spanish giants in Madrid, before earning themselves a draw back on home turf. The draw against Madrid was the first in a line of three drawn matches to round out their campaign, with the other two ties coming against Zurich and Marseille. They only managed to score eight goals during the campaign, and bearing in mind the increasing rate of Manchester United’s success in the Premier League, one wonders if that return will be enough.

They currently stand in third in Serie A, 9 points back of Inter and 2 behind second placed Roma, although Milan have a game in hand over both of those above them. The two nil defeat at the hands of their San Siro rivals was their first defeat in a long and impressive return to form, and remains their only loss in their last seven games. They have also been scoring quite freely, in stark contrast to their early season form, until a bit of a recent stutter up front. The Italians giants cannot be taken too lightly, not with being Champions of Europe 7 times in their history. Brazilian Ronaldinho, who has been left out of the Brazilian squad in the nation’s build up to the 2010 World Cup, has been on blistering form of late, and will be the one which the United defence will have to contain.

The reverse of that, is the Milan defence will need to find a way to stop one man goalscoring machine, Wayne Rooney, who is in the form of his life, and ranks amongst one of the best players in the world at the moment. Beckham has said, that for the first time in his life, he wants United to lose, but is looking forward to being reunited with the Old Trafford return leg. Milan will need to start strong and take full advantage of their defensive strengths at the San Siro. Manchester United had a relatively easy ride through their qualifying group and there appears not to be too much between the two sides involved in this Quarter Final. The two sides have come into contact twice before in the Champions League, with Milan winning out on both occasions. Their last match in Milan ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for the home side, and if they get their noses in front, it could be a much harder task for United to come back from, than many may think.

This is the glamour Champions League tie of the week, and one that could prove a fascinating tactical battle between two very good teams. With United going well near the top of the Premier League, and Milan a confident side, this will be a tie between two very confident and strong teams, each with a star of their own which they will be hoping will shine. United will have Rio Ferdinand available, as his ban is only domestic, but will still be without Nemanja Vidic for the fixture, and the experience of Ryan Giggs will be missing as he’s out of action for a month.

BETTING STATS

Head to Head (Champions League)
Milan 3, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 3, Milan 2
Milan 1, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 0, Milan 1

Last Five Match Goals (domestic)
AC Milan: 4 For, 6 Against
Man Utd: 16 For, 3 Against

Last 10 Form (domestic)
AC Milan: W5, D2, L3
Man Utd: W6, D2, L2

Win Percentage:
AC Milan have a 52.9 win percentage at home
Man Utd have a 61.1 win percentage away from home

Match Prices:
AC Milan to win: 17/10 at Paddy Power
Draw: 11/5 at Totesport
Man Utd to win: 15/8 at Bet365

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Looking at the stats, it should be a match that United would win, but the Champions League brings a different environment and a different level of opposition. Granted AC Milan haven’t been outstanding, but have a long pedigree in the tournament, and in front of expectant fans, probably won’t be easy for Man Utd to break down. Clearly Man Utd cannot afford to have one of their aberrations which they have suffered this season, as they will get punished. They key factor is how much AC Milan can get over their hump after losing a crucial game in their Serie A title hunt. A few weeks ago, Milan could have been going into this match as strong favourites, now it should be a very close contest.
AC Milan 0 Asian Handicap: 41/40 at Bet365

There is a breakaway leader at the top of the scoring charts, with Wayne Rooney’s recent four-goal salvo against Hull shooting him clear of his nearest competitors. With the England striker scoring at the Emirates on Sunday, the bookmakers aren’t expecting anyone to usurp the Manchester United striker, with Coral prepared to offer a best price 4/9 ahead of the Red Devils’ encounter with Portsmouth on Saturday. It’s in this match where the 24-year-old could effectively win the contest, although stranger things have happened than someone bridging the five-goal gap at the top.

Especially when you consider that Didier Drogba has fifteen goals to his name this term after scoring the equaliser at the KC Stadium on Tuesday night. The Ivorian has a phenomenal strike rate in a blue shirt and Stan James’ 8/1 could be an interesting price when you consider he’s playing against favourite team Arsenal on Sunday! The bookmakers are still also offering each-way betting on the contest, with firms like bet365 offering 1/3 odds for the first two places and Sporting Bet offering 1/5 odds for the first three places.

Indeed, it’s crying out for a bookmaker to offer a “without Wayne Rooney” market, with Jermain Defoe (7/1 bet365) also having fifteen goals to his name and Darren Bent (20/1 bet365) having scored fourteen despite playing for a Sunderland team who have been struggling for months. Fernando Torres was the original favourite on this market at odds of around 4/1 and, while the Spaniard got off to a flying start for Liverpool, it was almost inevitable that injury would halt his in his tracks this term. Definitely one to swerve at short odds next term if he’s still playing at Anfield!

Meanwhile, there is a big chase for fourth place in the Premier League this term, something which would provide access to next season’s Champions League. There is a massive financial gulf between qualifying for Europe’s blue riband club competition and the Europa League, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa all pushing hard to be in the top quartet. It’s Spurs who currently occupy that golden fourth place, with bet365 offering 10/3 that they are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Barca and Real next term.

However, the bookies think it’s more likely to be Manchester City who take their place among Europe’s elite. They certainly have the biggest finances, although they look defensively suspect away from home and odds of 10/11 (Paddy Power) that they snare a place in the Champions League might not be to everyone’s liking. Liverpool are still realistic contenders, having finished in the top four for several consecutive seasons and bet365 offer 15/8 that they feature in next season’s competition. Aston Villa might be the outsiders, although they have a strong first team and the backers of the 9/2 (Sporting Bet) might just have themselves a value bet.

We witnessed a famous FA Cup upset at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Leeds United obliging with victory at odds of 10/1. While Manchester United weren’t at full-strength, the best pre-match price available about the English champions was 1/4 with bet365, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men expected to expose the gulf in class between the two sides.

At half-time, Jermaine Beckford’s 19th minute goal was the difference between the two teams  and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to one of the best bookmakers for In-Play betting. Bet365 have a cuttting-edge live betting console and it was interesting to note that they were making the Red Devils 7/5 favourites before the second-half kicked off. The draw was priced at 2/1, with Leeds available at 21/10 despite their advantage.

At the interval, you could also have backed ‘No Second Goal’ at odds of 9/2 with bet365, with Manchester United a 1/3 chance to score next and the visitors at 5/1 to grab a second. The bookmakers were clearly expecting Sir Alex Ferguson to have a few harsh words for his team in the dressing room!

However, five minutes into the second half and Leeds looked relatively comfortable. Wayne Rooney was already starting to come deep for the ball and the League One team were having a fair share of possession. United were out to 8/5 on bet365’s In-Play console, with the draw 2/1 and Leeds at 15/8. The odds on there being Under 2.5 or Over 2.5 goals were both 5/6, with the champions still expected to score.

By the 56th minute, Manchester United werre still failing to make an impact and bet365 decided to make them the 15/8 outsiders to win the match. With 35 minutes left (plus stoppage time), Leeds were the 7/4 favourites and were occasionally threatening on the break. Valencia and Giggs were thrown on in a bid to shake things up.

As the game went past the hour mark, bet365’s traders were changing the match odds every two minutes, something to note for future In-Play betting matches. The Red Devils must have been heavily backed by many customers expecting the Premier League team to eventually find a breakthrough and kick on to win, although Simon Grayson’s team were standing firm. In the 62nd minute, Man United were made 9/4 chances by bet365, with Leeds still available at 6/4 to back. However, by the 68th minute with Leeds looking comfortable, the home side were 11/4 and the visitors were 5/4. The draw was available at 7/4.

As we went past the 75th minute, the bet365 traders had seen enough of Manchester United’s lacklustre display to decide it was unlikely they would score two goals in the remaining time. Bet365 offered 5/1 about Manchester United and made Leeds odds-on (5/6) for the first time in the match. Indeed, it was the Yorkshire side that nearly scored around the 80th minute, with Beckford shooting wide and then Snodgrass hitting the woodwork with a free-kick. Manchester United were now 9/1, the draw was 9/4 and Leeds were 1/2 chances.

There was an additional five minutes of injury time for the Red Devils to salvage a draw and they nearly came close to obliging at odds of 15/4 with a goalmouth scramble. However, it was those that had backed Leeds before the match or In-Play with bet365 that were celebrating by the final whistle.

England Fans Player of the Year

Naturally as we had towards the end of the calendar year, it is time to dust off all the trophies and awards. The English FA are getting in on the act, asking England football fans to choose who they believe has been the national side’s best player of the year. England have had a successful year under Fabio Capello, qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, with only one defeat in their Qualification Group. Capello, who is a tactician probably unlike any other England has ever had at the helm, has brought a larger degree of confidence, which has seen them grow into a world force. At full fitness England have a team to compete, at least going forward where they have been scoring freely all year. Wayne Rooney of course leads the field in that area, ably backed up from midfield by Frank Lampard. Those two players are the stand-out leading candidates to take the England Fan’s Player of the Year. The work undertaken at the back is often overlooked when it comes to voting, and certainly only Chelsea’s John Terry and Ashley Cole have stood out in the England defence.

Voters will need to go the FA’s website in order to cast their vote, but as always, this is a great opportunity for Bookmakers to open a market. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson are the three players who have made the most appearances in the last twelve months, playing 10 out of the 11 matches. Not one player has appeared in all twelve matches. So who is likely to win the award? It looks as if it will come down to two players, Lampard and Rooney as they have been the most consistent and outstanding performers through the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign. Steven Gerrard’s injury will keep him out of the genuine running, while Jermain Defoe’s impressive displays have all come off the bench.

England Fans Player of the Year Betting
Wayne Rooney – 1/8 at Blue Square
Frank Lampard  – 8/1 at 888Sport
Steven Gerrard – 14/1 at Blue Square
Jermain Defoe – 16/1 at 888Sport
John Terry – 20/1 at Blue Square
David Beckham – 33/1 at 888Sport

We’re approaching the halfway stage of the English football campaign, with most top flight teams having played at least fifteen matches. As usual, the Premier League can only be won by champions Manchester United or Chelsea, with both showing the sort of consistency required to land the title. However, it’s a different story when we look at the Top Goalscorer market, with no less than five players being quoted at single figure odds by the bookmakers.

This market traditionally goes down to the wire, with Nicolas Anelka winning the Golden Boot on the final day of last season. However, it’s his Chelsea strike partner who is proving to be prolific this term, managing 11 in the Premier League to date. Didier Drogba might be a great bet at 3/1 (Sporting Bet) if it wasn’t for the fact that he’ll be jetting out to Angola for the African Cup of Nations in January. This will see him miss at least four matches for the Blues and it could knock the player out of his stride.

It’s Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe who leads the way at the moment, with the pocket-sized Spurs striker managing 12 goals this season. He looks to be in great form as he looks to cement a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad, although it’s worth noting that five of his dozen goals came in one match. I often think that it’s better to back players who score on a game-to-game basis rather than lots of goals in one go. Ladbrokes share the same view and go 4/1 that he finishes at the top.

It’s possible that Fernando Torres would be top of the tree had injury not played a part this season. The Spaniard has missed the last few games for Liverpool, although he has a tremendous scoring record when he has played in a red shirt this season. A tally of ten league goals sees him just two off the pace and it appears he’ll be back for the visit of Arsenal on Sunday. El Nino has pretty much returned to the odds (4/1 Sky Bet) that were given to him at the start of the season but can he now stay fit and kick on?

The other player to have hit double figures in the Premier League this term is Wayne Rooney, who is certainly what you’d describe as streaky in front of goal. Before United’s game at Portsmouth on 28th November, the England striker had scored just one goal in six games, although class is permanent and he’s now up to eleven goals this season after a hat-trick at Fratton Park. If he stays free of injury, he should easily reach the 20 goals mark, a tally which has been enough to win this contest on two of the past three seasons. Victor Chandler go 3/1 that he goes into the World Cup looking for a Golden Boot double.

Will the top goalscorer come from this group of four? You have to go back to the 1999/2000 season to find the last time a player from outside the ‘Big Four’ won this market, with Kevin Phillips banging in 30 for Sunderland. The Black Cats have a new prolific striker this term, with Darren Bent on the tails of the leaders with nine goals. Although the England hopeful has failed to score for the last three matches, he is the penalty taker for the Wearside club and won’t have the distraction of Europe in the New Year. Ladbrokes offer 10/1 that the former Spurs striker lands the spoils.

Stamford Bridge
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Kick-off: 4pm

The Premier League’s top two go head to head on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, when Manchester United hit the capital. This is the biggest match of the season so far, with Chelsea enjoying a two point advantage over their northern rivals at the top of the league. Both teams go into the important clash on the back of drawn games midweek in the Champions League. Chelsea were denied a late away victory by Atlético Madrid, while Manchester United had to fight their way back from 3-1 down against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford. Both sides will be looking to pick themselves back up from that, and press home an advantage in the race for the Premier League.

A win for the home side will send them five points clear, the best advantage they will have had all season. Manchester United need a win to keep them in touch with the top, as Arsenal are breathing down their neck. The Gunners are just three points behind United with a game in hand. This could be a huge weekend at the top of the league, with Arsenal in clinical form and travelling to Wolves for their game on Saturday. Chelsea recently had some good news that their transfer ban has been suspended, pending a final decision on the whole case. Chelsea were cited for wrong-doing in the signing of Gael Kakuta from Lens, which led to FIFA slapping their wrist, by not being able to sign any new players until 2011. But with the suspension of the sentence, it leaves the January transfer window open for Ancelotti. Despite rumours, The Italian, who Alex Ferguson has shown some admiration and respect for ahead of Sunday’s game, has stated that they are not going to rush into the market.

Chelsea’s title ambitions in both Europe and the Premier League could all rely on what happens there. Ancelotti has stated that the transfer ban would not affect them too much, as he was happy with his squad, but there are considerations to take into effect. Chelsea will be without Drogba, Essien, Kalou and Mikel for the best part of January, because of the African Nations cup. That is the price to pay for having Africa’s elite playing for you, and the club will be wary of that, and the consequences of the fact that the ban could still stand as punishment when a final decision is made. This could still be their last chance to sign players for some time, and the Chelsea team is not exactly a young one.

It is a little surprising that Alex Ferguson never really cashed in on the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. He has gone the Arsenal route of trying younger players such as Anderson and Nani in his place, as well as picking up Valencia and Michael Owen. But with all the wealth and status that the club has, they could attract some of the biggest names across Europe to bolster their squad. Another world class striker to partner Rooney, a world class creative midfielder, and a steadying influence at the back would make all the world of difference to the Old Trafford side, who haven’t not looked to be firing on all cylinders this season. They are trailing both Arsenal and Chelsea in the number of goals for an against, which is an unusual sight. It is hard to argue that the spend-thrift Scot Ferguson doesn’t know what he is doing, but they seem content to take on Chelsea’s stars by making the best of what they have. Not that is too shabby or anything, but perhaps they lack an edge that they had, which is why Chelsea are favourites to take the Premier League – 6/5 at Totesport.

TALE OF THE TAPE:
Managers. Well, there’s hardly anyone who can come close the amount of achievement that Alex Ferguson has under his belt. Eleven Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League twice, to name but a few. Twenty three years at the helm of the Old Trafford team, has seen the great man earn respect all across the world for his style of management. His opponent Carlo Ancelotti is no slouch either though, having won the Champions League twice with AC Milan, as well as the Serie A title. His first English silverware came at the 2009 Charity Shield. Both good men, but Ferguson wins out every time.
Manchester United win Managerial 1-0

Goalkeepers:
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is widely regarded as being one of the best keepers in the world. Watching him keep net over the years for Chelsea, it is easy to see why. The big man makes a huge difference when he is playing, and he is the pivotal linking contributor to the amount of Chelsea’s clean sheets over the seasons he has been at the club. In the opposite net, Edwin Van der Saar still keeps on performing, but he had a bit of a howler in the midweek match against CSKA Moscow. The veteran perhaps is being more exposed this season, with United’s defence not being what it was.
Chelsea win goalkeeping 1-0

Defence:
This is where the big difference could be on the day. Chelsea clearly have the edge in this department, especially at home. The Blues defence have only conceded one home goal, where in contrast, United have let in seven. That’s a big difference in terms of easy pressure from your forwards. With England Internationals John Terry and Ashley Cole at the heart of it, the Chelsea defence has the steadying influence of Ricardo Carvalho. The poor form of Rio Ferdinand has been much publicised throughout the entire season so far. He has been suffering from a niggling injury, but he has not looked anywhere near his best. The calf injury has kept him out of recent games, and he will be missing again from the line-up at Stamford Bridge, as well as from the England team which take on Brazil in a friendly on November 14th.  United fielded John O’Shea, Evra, Johnny Evans and Wes Brown as their back four in their 2-0 win over Blackburn last weekend. The gaping holes that Moscow exposed in midweek will be cause for concern for Ferguson, especially trying to work out how to stop Didier Drogba from dominating things. Drogba is in some sparkling form and will be hard to stop, and Ferguson will no doubt still be reeling from the run-around which a half fit Fernando Torres gave his defence in the 2-0 loss to Liverpool. Torres and Drogba are probably the best two strikers in the Premier League at the moment, and United have to find a way to deal with Drogba, better than they did against Torres.
Chelsea win defence 2-0

Midfield:
Chelsea’s midfield reads like a dream shopping list of world class footballing names from across the world. Michael Essien has to be considered as one of the most accomplished midfielders in the world. His name often goes understated amongst the likes of Frank Lampard, Deco and Michael Ballack, but he is just as, if not more important than the rest of them. He has the complete game in his locker, the defensive duties, poise and time on the ball to pick off passes, as well as possessing a lethal shot. Reminiscent of Chelsea favourite Claude Makalele, the type of player who is always there, goes about his business quietly and yet is missed immensely when they aren’t there. He is the fulcrum of the midfield, which allows Lampard, Deco and Ballack to go about their creative business. With Florent Malouda and the return of Joe Cole to the ranks, Chelsea have a very strong, and world class midfield. Manchester United have always been built around a strong midfield, but it is fair to say that it is not quite as strong as it has been in past years. Ryan Giggs is still missing through injury, as is Owen Hargreaves, which may not be a bad thing. They did get the industrious Darren Fletcher back from injury recently, but in the last league fixture, Ferguson went with Anderson, Valencia, Carrick and Nani, who’s play needs a lot of work if he’s ever going to really fill fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo’s boots. On paper, Chelsea have all the strength in the midfield, because of the fine balance they have there.
Chelsea win midfield 2-1

Forwards:
Wayne Rooney is Wayne Rooney, and the presence of the England international was perfectly highlighted in midweek, where he came off the bench and gave one of his irrepressible performances to spark some forward life into his team. He is the edge that Manchester United need fully fit all of the time. Their back up forwards are Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov, which, when you look around Europe at the best teams from the leagues, probably fall along way short of class and quality. Then there is Didier Drogba, Chelsea’s Wayne Rooney. Drogba makes such a phenomenal difference to Chelsea, with his size and brute force, combined with surprising moments of footwork brilliance. He has netted on each of his last six appearances for Chelsea, and since the desperate of big Phil Scolari, Drogba has found a new lease of life. He is on a current streak of having scored 36 times in 42 games since a two month goal drought under the failed Scolari experiment at the Bridge. He backed up by Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou, neither of which are as good as Drogba, but Anelka looks sharp and creates a lot of problems of his own.
Chelsea win Forwads 2-1

Injuries:
Chelsea are only missing one name, and that is full back Jose Bosingwa, while Manchester United’s absentee list is a little longer. They will be without Rio Ferdinand, with still doubts hanging over defensive partner Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov. Gary Neville is also out because he is serving a suspension.

History:
United have not won at Stamford Bridge since 2002, which spans a run of eight games at Stamford Bridge which have ended in four wins for the Blues. In overall Premier League meetings, both teams have won 10 games each, with fourteen ending in drawn games. Drogba is top scorer for Chelsea with 9 league goals, while Wayne Rooney has netted himself 7 in the league.

Chelsea to win: 11/10 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 23/10  at Coral
Manchester United to win: 3/1 at Bet365

Betting Advice. Chelsea on paper should be stronger, especially being at the fortress that is Stamford Bridge. A struggling-for-form Liverpool exposed some of Manchester United’s frailties, as did CSKA Moscow in the week. With Drogba on fire, and Lampard getting back into the scoring groove, Chelsea should be able to open up a five point gap at the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea to win 2-1: 17/2 at SkyBet
Didier Drogba anytime scorer: 9/5 at Paddy Power

Manchester United could be a little light up front as they entertain Russian side CSKA Moscow in Tuesday’s Champions League match at Old Trafford. Club top scorer Wayne Rooney is likely to be absent as his wife, Coleen Rooney, has just delivered their first baby. Rooney was absent from training on Monday as his good lady was in labour. Along with his name missing from the line up, will be that of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic who are both still out injured, and Ryan Giggs still is not ready to pull on a shirt again. The biggest problem for Alex Ferguson will be the fact that there is a doubt over stand in striker Dimitar Berbatov, as he is struggling to be fit due to a knee injury. This will clearly not be cheering boss Ferguson at the moment, as he will need all his troops fit and present ahead of the big Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday to play leaders Chelsea.

The Scot will be appeased though that he knows his team only require one more Champions League victory to clinch a place in the next round. Watching United this season, is not like sitting and watching the fluent powerhouse of times past, but they are still going to be one of the dominant forces in Europe because of the set up of the club. They may not be as free flowing and attack orientated as Arsenal, or have the world class midfield or defensive prowess of Chelsea, but they have a cohesion which gets the job done. That is really all that needs to happen on Tuesday night, a solid performance, when a 1-0 win will be as good as a 5-0 one.

History certainly favours the Red Devils, because they have not lost a home game in the Champions League since 2005, a span of 22 games. If Old Trafford wasn’t already a daunting enough arena to walk into, that won’t fill the Russian with joy. But one piece of statistical history which they could turn to, is the fact that on the previous two occasions when Russian teams have visited Old Trafford, Manchester United did not pull out a win. If that happens again on this occasion CSKA Moscow will probably leave Manchester quite a happy team. A point would still sort of keep them in the hunt, having to rely on then beating Wolfsburg to catch them for second place. That’s all down the line, and Alex Ferguson will want a no-nonsense performance, as this game pales in significance to the one that is coming on the weekend.

Fortunately Manchester United have the strength in depth, certainly in the midfield areas. Where the goals are going to come from without Rooney and Berbatov in the line-up is a different question altogether. Even with them in the side, their goal difference in the Premier League is way behind that of Chelsea and Arsenal, and even struggling Liverpool have been more potent in front of goal, largely thanks to Fernando Torres. But Manchester United prevail, and the Moscow unit, who have just one win from their three games, will need to be a lot sharper than they were on home territory for the corresponding Match day three fixture.

Manchester United to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Boylesports
CSKA Moscow to win: 10/1 at BetFred

Betting Advice. Manchester United look more vulnerable this season than they have done. They have not been overpowering or clinically burying teams where you would expect them to. Since the Liverpool defeat, United have bounced back with two 2-0 wins, without breaking much of a sweat. There will probably be a big lack of firepower on show for this game, as the Russians have not enjoyed a lot of success in front of goal. But whatever side Ferguson puts out, it should at least be two goals better than CSKA.
Manchester United to win 2-0: 11/2 at Ladbrokes

GROUP A
Bayern Munich v Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa v Juventus

Out of a group which contains Juventus and Bayern Munich, you would not be expecting French side Bordeaux to be topping the group at the half way stage. But that is the exact situation, as Laurent Blanc’s side travel to Bayern Munich to try and press home the advantage they have gained for themselves. Undefeated so far, Bordeaux pulled out a momentous 2-1 victory over Bayern on Match day three, which saw them jump ahead of the Germans in Group A. They have managed to open up a two points lead over Juventus, and with Juve being expected to win their game against lowly Maccabi Haifa, the Munich v Bordeaux game is one of the biggest games of the night. Another defeat for the German giants and they would be clinging onto a qualification place with their very fingernails, and would need to pull out a positive result against Juventus down the line. The defeat against Bordeaux would really have hurt Bayern, but after seeing how well Bordeaux performed against Juventus, they need to be seen a quite a threat. Maybe not as much of a threat overall as French counterparts Lyon in the competition, but they look as if they can hold their own. This is a big match for Blanc’s men now, for a win would all but  guarantee them a place in the next round.

Group A
Bordeaux – P3    W2    D1    L0    Pts7
Juventus – P3    W1    D2    L0    Pts5
Bayern – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Maccabi Haifa – P3    W0    D0    L3    Pts0

Match Prices
Bayern Munich to win: 4/5 at Bet365
Draw: 13/5 at SkyBet
Bordeaux to win: 4/1 at BetFred

Maccabi Haifa to win: 6/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 11/4 at Bet365
Juventus to win: 8/13 at Extrabet

Betting tips:
Bayern to win 2-1: 8/1 at Boylesports
Juventus to win 1-0: 11/2 at 888Sport

TO WIN GROUP A
Bordeaux – 6/4 at Totesport
Juventus – 2/1 at Coral
Bayern Munich – 5/2 at Victor Chandler
Maccabi Haifa – 1500/1 at Bet365

GROUP B
Manchester United v CSKA Moscow
Besiktas v Wolfsburg

This group should pretty much be done and dusted with regards the winners, come the end of Match day four. Even with their injuries, and the new father Wayne Rooney missing from the line-up, this should be another uneventful, Manchester United European performance. Even though they have not at any point looked their explosive and powerful best, they have been the job done on the large part, and even a below par United should have enough in the tank at Old Trafford to beat CSKA. Not that CSKA are a bad side or anything, although they are nowhere near winning their domestic league. CSKA have been outclassed by both Manchester United and Wolfsburg in the Champions League, and a win for the Moscow side would add a little bit of interest into a group, which is likely only to play out one way, with United winning and Germans Wolfsburg finishing second. Wolfsburg travel to bottom side Besiktas, as they look to continue their European adventure. There was always the chance, out of all of the new sides in the Champions League this term, that Wolfsburg were going to prove the biggest threat. Besiktas, who did give Manchester United at tough time, gained their first point of their campaign in Germany, holding the hosts to a 0-0 draw, which was some feat considering the fire power that Wolfsburg have at their disposal. If they want to be real challengers, then this is exactly the type of game which the Germans need to polish off without any fuss. If they fail to win on Tuesday night, then it could seriously impede their chances of progress. A must win.

Group B
Man. United – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Wolfsburg – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
CSKA Moscow – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3
Besiktas – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices
Manchester United to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Boylesports
CSKA Moscow to win: 10/1 at BetFred

Besiktas to win: 7/4 at Paddy Power
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Wolfsburg to win: 8/5 at Bet365

Betting tips:
Manchester United to win 2-0: 11/2 at Ladbrokes
Wolfsburg to win 2-1: 9/1 at Sporting Bet

TO WIN GROUP B
Manchester United – 1/50 at Bet365
Wolfsburg – 25/1 at Paddy Power
CSKA Moscow – 40/1 at Paddy Power
Besiktas – 250/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP C
AC Milan v Real Madrid
Marseille v FC Zurich

Unquestionably the game of Match day four takes place on Tuesday night in Milan. Struggling for league form to contend against city rivals Inter at the top of Serie A, AC Milan pulled out their best performance of the Champions League this year, to beat Madrid 3-2 on Match day three. This was one of the classic Champions League fixtures, in clearly one of the most exciting groups. Striker Raul scored his 66th European goal as he opened the scoring, but two goals in four minutes saw Milan take the lead in the second half. After a Madrid equaliser from Drenthe, it was an 88th minute winner from Pato which sealed the dramatic win for the Rossoneri. Real Madrid apparently know how to put on a show, having scored 10 goals in their first three fixtures, with 5-3 and 3-0 wins, followed up by the five goals thriller against Milan. Both sides are sat on 6 points in the group , but Milan definitely have the edge going forward with Raul, Benzema, Kaka, Ronaldo, Van Nistlerooy and Alonso to name but a few. The result in the corresponding Match day three fixture was somewhat of a surprise, and it has kept the group alive. With Ronaldinho and Fillipo Inzaghi leading the forward line, another win back in the San Siro for AC Milan, who have agreed a deal to bring David Beckham back on loan in January, would really set the cat amongst the pigeons. It could allow third placed Marseille to draw level on points with Milan. Marseille entertain the gutsy Champions League debutants FC Zurich. Remember that it was the Zurich men who pulled off one the Champions League upsets, as they beat AC Milan 1-0 in Italy. The minnows triumphed with an impetuous back-heeled goal from Finnish player Hannu Tihinen. The Zurich defence did resist an onslaught, but they definitely had their moments going forward, just as they did when they pulled two goals back from 3-0 down against Real Madrid. Didier Deschamps will be hoping that his Marseille side, who are down in seventh in the French league, will be seeing this as a real opportunity to mix it with their illustrious group rivals above them. The maths are simple, if there is a winner and loser in AC Milan v Real Madrid match, then a win for Marseille will put them in a good position to some extent, as they will still have the opportunity to take points of both of those teams with the remaining fixtures. It is a big night in Group C.

Group C
Milan – P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
Real Madrid – P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
Marseille – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3
Zürich – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3

Match Prices
AC Milan to win: 28/17 at Expekt
Draw: 23/10 at Coral
Real Madrid to win: 7/4 at BetFred

Marseille to win: 3/10 at Bet365
Draw: 9/2 at SkyBet
FC Zurich to win: 12/1 at SkyBet

Betting tips:
Quatro Bet – Real Madrid to win or draw with two or fewer goals scored in the match: 13/8 at Ladbrokes
Over 3.5 goals: 6/4 at Stan James

TO WIN GROUP C
Real Madrid – Evens at William Hill
AC Milan – 11/10 at Totesport
Marseille – 14/1 at Paddy Power
FC Zurich – 200/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP D
APOEL v Porto
Atlético Madrid v Chelsea

Chelsea look to be strides ahead in Group D, and can confirm their progress through the next round with a victory over Atlético Madrid. It is fair to say that the Madrid side have been struggling, as they are in a something of a relegation battle at the foot of the Spanish league. Quique Sánchez Flores has since arrived to coach the team after their 4-0 thumping delivered at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea on Match day three. With Didier Drogba back for Chelsea, there could be another cruise-control game for the Blues, but they will be possibly be facing a new look team, with refreshed tactics from the new coach. There is a long way to go for the Madrid side, but they do have Diego Forlan who can do some damage. But with only one point and no goals scored in the campaign so far, it will require a massive collective effort to overcome Chelsea. The arrival of the fresh coach could be just that spark they need and why not do it against one of the best in Europe. Porto are sitting comfortably in second place in Group D, with two wins from three games. They are three points behind leaders Chelsea, against whom they conceded defeat like so many teams do, at Stamford Bridge. Cypriots APOEL have shown more stubbornness than any flair capable enough of beating anyone else in the group, but there have been some upsets in this Champions League campaign which will give them hope. This could be their night. APOEL battled well when Chelsea visited, but Porto will head into the match knowing that a win will book them a place in the next round of the competition. That should be incentive enough to just go there and get the job done, but  they will be wary of any threat posed by APOEL. Not in great form at the moment, Porto only managed to beat APOEL 2-1 at home, having to stage a comeback after conceding an early own goal. The Porto fight back was led by the incredible Hulk who scored both of Porto‘s goals. It could be a tight night in Cyprus.

Group D
Chelsea – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Porto- P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
APOEL – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1
Atlético – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices
Atlético Madrid to win: 10/3 at Paddy Power
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Chelsea to win: 10/11 at BetFred

APOEL to win: 9/2 at Sporting Bet
Draw: 11/4 at Coral
Porto to win: 7/10 at Blue Square

Betting tips:
Both Players to Score Bet – Forlan and Drogba: 15/2 at SkyBet
APOEL Draw No Bet: 3/1 at SportingBet

TO WIN GROUP D
Chelsea – 1/12 at Victor Chandler
Porto – 6/1 at Paddy Power
Atletico Madrid – 100/1 at Paddy Power
APOEL – 500/1 at Paddy Power