If Tottenham Hotspur are going to win this season’s Champions League final at Wembley on 28th May, they will probably have to beat Real Madrid, Barcelona and then either Chelsea or Manchester United to get their hands on the trophy. And that’s after beating Serie A leaders Milan in the last sixteen!
Real Madrid v Tottenham
It’s a daunting mission for Harry Redknapp’s side although we should remember that a) they finished ahead of Inter in the group stage and b) the pressure is firmly on Real Madrid to win their quarter final tie, especially now that Jose Mourinho is in charge.
The Spanish side are warm favourites to go through after a routine 2-0 victory over Lyon to ensure that they qualified 3-1 on aggregate. Mourinho is bidding to become the first manager in history to win the competition with three different clubs and Real are 1/2 with Paddy Power to win the first leg at the Bernabeu.
However, Tottenham have the supposed advantage of playing the second leg at home, while we should also remember that they won 1-0 at the San Siro thanks to some solid defending and fast counter-attack play. Bet365 offer 7/1 that they win the first leg.
To qualify odds
Real Madrid – 2/5 with Paddy Power
Tottenham Hotspur – 5/2 with Blue Square
Chelsea v Manchester United
It was the tie that neither team wanted, although they have been drawn in the opposite half to Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the winners of Inter Milan v FC Schalke waiting in the semi-final.
This is a repeat of the 2008 final which went to penalties and the bookies are finding it hard to split the two teams this time around, despite United’s loftier position in the Premier League.
The second leg takes place at Old Trafford although the Red Devils will be keen to secure an away goal at Stamford Bridge to take the pressure off trying to keep a clean sheet at home.
Chelsea are the 5/4 favourites with Paddy Power to win the first leg and they recently beat Manchester United at home which caused Sir Alex Ferguson to criticise the referee and incur a five-game ban. The visitors are 12/5 with bet365 to land an away win.
To qualify odds
Chelsea – 10/11 with Stan James
Manchester United – evens with bet365
FC Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk
The world and his wife seems to think that Barcelona have landed a plum tie in the quarter finals, with the bookies cutting Pep Guardiola’s team to around even money to win this season’s Champions League.
However, it should be remembered that Shakhtar won at the Nou Camp last season in the group stages and they will also be playing the second leg at the Donbass Arena.
To qualify odds
Barcelona – 1/7 with Paddy Power
Shakhtar Donetsk – 5/1 with bet365
Inter Milan v Schalke
Inter’s amazing comeback at the Allianz Arena has been rewarded with another clash against German opposition and the bookies make Leonardo’s team strong favourites to be lining up against Chelsea or Manchester United.
To qualify odds
Inter – 2/5 with Paddy Power
Schalke – 11/4 with William Hill
