Valencia v Manchester United
Wednesday 12th December 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Boylesports
Odds: 5/6 (Odds taken Tuesday 11th December 22.29)
For long spells of the fixtures played on matchday five in this group, it looked as though this clash at the Mestalla would be a hugely important game in terms of who would qualify from Group H along with Juventus. A late goal for United changed all that, however, and they travel to Spain now looking to top the group which would have seemed unthinkable a month ago. It’s all about pride for the home team now, continue reading for a match preview of Valencia against Manchester United with betting advice and a selected tip.
Valencia Prediction
The La Liga club may feel very hard done by in how this group has played out, especially on match day four and five. Valencia would have been expecting Juventus to see out their home game with Manchester United but with that result eventually going against them, they would then have had one eye on Young Boys being able to hold out at Old Trafford last time out, only for another dagger blow in the shape of a late goal from United. It’s left Valencia with now chance of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League. Five points from as many games was always likely to be short but had Young Boys held on for a draw it would have left Marcelino’s men needing a win against this opponent to progress. Instead, it’s now guaranteed to be the Europa League for Valencia when European football resumes in February but they will have much more pressing matters to deal with before then, and that’s climbing up the table domestically. A current position of 15th is simply not good enough for a squad who have so much quality and who were excellent last season. Perhaps the break from Europe will help them in that aim.
Manchester United Prediction
The old adage that it’s ‘better to be lucky than good’ could probably be applied to this Manchester United team and their participation in this year’s Champions League. For Jose Mourinho’s men to be sitting with 10 points at this stage is nothing other than remarkable considering how dismal they have been at times. The come-from-behind win away to Juventus was such a massive result, as was Marouane Fellaini’s late goal against Young Boys. Both performances were very ordinary and despite what has been suggested around a Mourinho mastermind in Turin, the game should have been over with long before the visitors were allowed back into it. It’s mission accomplished for Mourinho, though, and he now has to decide how much value he places on finishing top of this group. Currently two points behind Juventus, they would need to win against Valencia and hope Juve fail to beat Young Boys away from home. It’s the latter part of that equation which could be decisive in terms of team selection for this as United, like Valencia, are not in a good place domestically and have the small matter of a trip to Anfield on Sunday.
Valencia v Manchester United Betting Advice
The first meeting between these two teams in this season’s Champions League ended in a goalless draw in what was an instantly forgettable encounter. Valencia would have seen that as a good point at the time whereas United would have been frustrated at dropping points at home that early in the group phase. As things have transpired, it’s a result that has counted for nothing and it’s arguably going to be the same on Wednesday. Valencia will finish third no matter and United’s chance of finishing top are unlikely with Juve big favourites to get the win they need in Switzerland.
All the circumstances point to this being a game that is going to be a drab, dull affair between two teams who have greater priorities lying ahead at the weekend in their domestic competitions. Both teams are going to be understrength as a result and that will upset any tempo there was going to be. If we take the first meeting as any sort of gauge, it was never going to be a classic anyway. There were no goals in the match at Old Trafford and there may be some tempted to back the same score line, which I was as well, but I think the safer way to go is for there to be under 2.5 goals. Five of the 10 games in this group have had two or fewer goals in them and this can easily be the sixth.
