They're the big outsiders and they ended up on the losing side the last time they met Barcelona in a Champions League final but the Betfair Contrarian is convinced Manchester United will come good on Saturday night.
The Contrarian is usually reluctant to agree with anyone, but Betfair's UK Football Ambassador Andy Gray summed up the Champions League Final perfectly when he asked how often the opportunity to back Manchester United at [4.1] to win a match arises. They might not do it in 90 minutes of course but the Contrarian said in March that Barcelona wouldn't win the tournament and has seen nothing to change his mind since. Here's why he sees Manchester United's name on the trophy at [2.82]...
Manchester United have the momentum...
The common consensus is that when Barcelona are at their best, they can overcome any club, yet despite having no major injuries, they haven't been at that level over the past month or so, perhaps as a consequence of the draining effect of the sequence of four Clasicos in 17 days. The Spanish champions have won just two of their last six fixtures and four in ten, whereas Manchester United have triumphed in five of their last seven and 12 of their last 16, with many pundits claiming that - not for the first time - they have saved their finest form for the run in.
...and have been harder to beat in Europe
The verdict of many was that Sir Alex Ferguson got his tactics wrong in the last Manchester United versus Barcelona clash two years ago. However, the Red Devils boss has set up superbly away from Old Trafford in the Champions League since that fateful day in Rome. While their record on the road domestically has been mediocre this season, it's been anything but in Europe, winning five of their six encounters and not conceding a single goal. They are yet to taste defeat in 12 matches in this year's competition and have won each of the last five, whereas the only sides Barcelona have conquered home and away are Panathinaikos and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Barcelona hate facing English clubs
As the Contrarian mentioned in March, Ballon d'Or winner and Champions League top goalscorer Lionel Messi hasn't scored in eight career appearances in England and the English disease seems to affect the entire Barcelona team. They haven't triumphed on any of their three visits under Pep Guardiola and their record against Premier League sides over the last five campaigns reads four wins, five draws and four losses in 13 games. In that same time, they have faced clubs from Europe's current third strongest league, the Bundesliga, ten times, winning seven and drawing three.
Continued: Soccer Betting
The Contrarian is usually reluctant to agree with anyone, but Betfair's UK Football Ambassador Andy Gray summed up the Champions League Final perfectly when he asked how often the opportunity to back Manchester United at [4.1] to win a match arises. They might not do it in 90 minutes of course but the Contrarian said in March that Barcelona wouldn't win the tournament and has seen nothing to change his mind since. Here's why he sees Manchester United's name on the trophy at [2.82]...
Manchester United have the momentum...
The common consensus is that when Barcelona are at their best, they can overcome any club, yet despite having no major injuries, they haven't been at that level over the past month or so, perhaps as a consequence of the draining effect of the sequence of four Clasicos in 17 days. The Spanish champions have won just two of their last six fixtures and four in ten, whereas Manchester United have triumphed in five of their last seven and 12 of their last 16, with many pundits claiming that - not for the first time - they have saved their finest form for the run in.
...and have been harder to beat in Europe
The verdict of many was that Sir Alex Ferguson got his tactics wrong in the last Manchester United versus Barcelona clash two years ago. However, the Red Devils boss has set up superbly away from Old Trafford in the Champions League since that fateful day in Rome. While their record on the road domestically has been mediocre this season, it's been anything but in Europe, winning five of their six encounters and not conceding a single goal. They are yet to taste defeat in 12 matches in this year's competition and have won each of the last five, whereas the only sides Barcelona have conquered home and away are Panathinaikos and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Barcelona hate facing English clubs
As the Contrarian mentioned in March, Ballon d'Or winner and Champions League top goalscorer Lionel Messi hasn't scored in eight career appearances in England and the English disease seems to affect the entire Barcelona team. They haven't triumphed on any of their three visits under Pep Guardiola and their record against Premier League sides over the last five campaigns reads four wins, five draws and four losses in 13 games. In that same time, they have faced clubs from Europe's current third strongest league, the Bundesliga, ten times, winning seven and drawing three.
Continued: Soccer Betting
