Manchester United vs Real Madrid Betting 05/03/13

Football05/03/2013

March 05, 2013
Anthony Cunningham

Manchester United

Form: WWWDW

Home Form: WWWWW

Since returning from the Bernabeu with a respectable 1 - 1 draw, the Red Devils have continued their fine Premier League form; three straight-forward wins, scoring eight times and conceding just once, has seen them open up a fifteen point lead over rivals Manchester City. With Phil Jones their only injury, they head into the return leg full of confidence although the Spanish Champions will provide a much sterner test than Reading, QPR or Norwich.

Conceding goals was a problem for Sir Alex Ferguson's men earlier in the season, but United have managed to keep four clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, with Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans as consistent as always and young Brazilian right back Rafael continuously improving. They will all have to be on top form on tuesday against Ronaldo and co, but if they can keep them at bay for ninety minutes, United will be heading into the next round.

Real Madrid

Form: WWWWD

Away Form: WWLDW

As is the case with their opponents on tuesday, Real head into this game full of confidence; back to back wins against bitter rivals Barcelona has raised spirits around the Bernabeu stadium after a poor start to the campaign saw them drop out of the title race. Question marks were raised over the future of Jose Mourinho, and he will determined to prove his doubters wrong by masterminding another win over Fergie. With the league seeming highly unlikely, success in the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey will now be high on the agenda for the men in white.

Match Prediction: Manchester United - 2/1 @ /links.php?l=Paddy Power

Also: (Best bet) Both teams to score - 4/9 @ /links.php?l=Paddy Power

With such attacking options available to both sides here, many goals can be expected. Real Madrid have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this team, conceding in all seven games, whereas United have only kept a clean sheet in one of their seven. It will be interesting to see United's game plan - having the away goal, will they attack freely or will they keep it tight to restrict Ronaldo's chances on the counter attack? Either way, it will make for an extraordinary affair between the two biggest teams in world football. It is a tough game to call with both managers desperate to avoid an exit as early as this in the Champions League, but United head into the game in a slightly better position, and if they can keep Ronaldo quiet, they could find themselves in the Quarter Finals. The best bet surely for this game though would be both teams to score.