United still on track for European glory

Sports betting

By Ian Davies

MANCHESTER UNITED, after their creditable 0-0 draw on top of a Monaco car park last week, are a top-priced 5-2 favourites with Coral for the European Cup before the second leg at Old Trafford.

United must now be long odds-on to reach the semi-finals, but their failure to score in Monaco leaves them needing a win at home and Monaco, a counter- attacking side who may be seen to better effect in Manchester as United press forward, could make life extremely tough for Alex Ferguson's men if they steal an opening goal.

Real Madrid are deservedly 4-1 second favourites after grabbing that crucial away goal in their 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen. A goalless draw will do nicely for Real in Madrid. It does not look good for the German tourists.

Less easy to understand is the blinding value (11-1) Coral are offering about Dynamo Kiev after their brilliant 1-1 draw with Juventus in Turin. The enigmatic Alessandro Del Piero and his teammates are no bankers to be up for it on a cold night in Kiev, where they now have to win, or at least score twice in a draw, to survive.

And William Hill are surely being over-generous in offering 9-1 about title holders Borussia Dortmund, who held Bayern Munich 0-0 in the opening leg. Munich have the better overall form this term but, Dortmund are the quintessential German outfit. They rarely impress, but invariably win when it matters most and must fancy their chances in the home leg.

European Cup betting

Team C H L T

Man Utd 5-2 2-1 2-1 9-4

Real Madrid 4-1 10-3 4-1 4-1

Juventus 11-4 10-3 9-2 4-1

Bayern Munich 15-2 8-1 8-1 8-1

B. Dortmund 8-1 9-1 6-1 8-1

Dynamo Kiev 11-1 9-1 5-1 7-1

Monaco 14-1 20-1 20-1 16-1

B. Leverkusen 18-1 28-1 33-1 18-1

C - Coral, H - William Hill, L - Ladbrokes, T - Tote