World Club Championship Betting: Manchester United v Gamba Osaka
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Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to make Manchester United the first English winners of this "presitigous tournament" but what can Mike Norman tell us about their semi-final opponents?
It's not very often I get to do a match preview about an English football team playing in Yokohama, Japan - cue the World Club Championship.
Yes it's that time again folks, the time when the champions of Europe, Manchester United, enter into a tournament against the champions of the other five continental confederations. Thankfully, Al Ahly and Adelaide United are already out (I know nothing about them you see) meaning Sir Alex Ferguson's men (1.37 to win the tournament) face Gamba Osaka (11.0) in Thursday's semi-final, and will play the winners of Pachuca (5.8) v LDU Quito (7.8) if successful.
No English club has ever won this 'prestigious' competition (though only two have tried) and Sir Alex is determined to put that right, claiming the tournament is a fantastic one to be involved in - though he is expected to fly his squad back to play in the FA Cup this time!
United have sent a full strength squad to Japan and Ferguson has named Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville as definite starters for the game against Osaka. Dimitar Berbatov has been confined to his bed since arriving in the Far East (I know a few people who would pay a lot for that privilege) and will miss the game, though Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are expected to be fit and available for selection. Whoever doesn't make the starting line-up will be on the bench as, bizarrely, each team is allowed to name 12 substitutes.
The Match Odds market has Manchester United available to back at 1.43, The Draw at 4.8 and Gamba Osaka at 10.0.
We already know everything we need to know about United, but what about the newly crowned Asian champions Gamba Osaka? We know quite a lot actually, as I have stayed in touch with a few of my former team-mates from the days when they used to play in our local Sunday league.
They started life as Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. Soccer Club (we just called them Samsung FC) but in 1992, following relegation from division four of our Sunday league, they assumed their current name and went to play in the slightly weaker J-League back in Japan. The name Gamba comes from the Italian word for leg, and is a constant reminder to the squad as to what body part is best used to play the game of football.
I guess I'm not filling you with much confidence about Akira Nishino's warriors am I? If so then how about backing Man Utd/Man Utd at 2.06 in the Half Time/Full Time market? Alternatively, Draw/Man Utd is available to back at 4.9 or Draw/Draw at 7.4.
Osaka are now one of the major forces in Japanese football and their squad possesses some of Japan's past and present international players, most notably specialist wing-back Akira Kaji, defensive midfielder Tomokazu Myojin, forward Ryuji Bando and playmaker Yasuhito Endo.
Endo especially is a player to watch and for United to be wary off. He was voted the AFC Champions League Player of the Tournament this year because of his excellent all-round midfield play. He is a silky passer, a free-kick specialist and deadly from the penalty spot. He will be available to back at around the 30.0 mark once the First Goalscorer market materialises and is my idea of a sporting low stakes bet.
However, it has to be said that even though Osaka will be massively up for this game in front of their own countrymen, their recent form in the J-League hasn't been that inspiring. They had a poor finish to the season and eventually finished down in 8th position.
Manchester United probably will win, but given the unknown quantity of the opposition, United's long trip around the world to get here, and Fergie's probable instructions not to exert too much energy or risk injury, means that a low scoring game is likely. Under 2.5 Goals therefore appeals quite a lot at odds of 2.24. You can have 1.76 for Over 2.5 Goals if you disagree or 2.82 for Over 3.5 Goals.
For a Correct Score my attentions are drawn towards a 1-1 draw (10.0) and a 1-0 win to United (8.4) but there a plenty of other prices available on the outcome so please take a look.
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by Betfair.com
Click here to view market
Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to make Manchester United the first English winners of this "presitigous tournament" but what can Mike Norman tell us about their semi-final opponents?
It's not very often I get to do a match preview about an English football team playing in Yokohama, Japan - cue the World Club Championship.
Yes it's that time again folks, the time when the champions of Europe, Manchester United, enter into a tournament against the champions of the other five continental confederations. Thankfully, Al Ahly and Adelaide United are already out (I know nothing about them you see) meaning Sir Alex Ferguson's men (1.37 to win the tournament) face Gamba Osaka (11.0) in Thursday's semi-final, and will play the winners of Pachuca (5.8) v LDU Quito (7.8) if successful.
No English club has ever won this 'prestigious' competition (though only two have tried) and Sir Alex is determined to put that right, claiming the tournament is a fantastic one to be involved in - though he is expected to fly his squad back to play in the FA Cup this time!
United have sent a full strength squad to Japan and Ferguson has named Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville as definite starters for the game against Osaka. Dimitar Berbatov has been confined to his bed since arriving in the Far East (I know a few people who would pay a lot for that privilege) and will miss the game, though Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are expected to be fit and available for selection. Whoever doesn't make the starting line-up will be on the bench as, bizarrely, each team is allowed to name 12 substitutes.
The Match Odds market has Manchester United available to back at 1.43, The Draw at 4.8 and Gamba Osaka at 10.0.
We already know everything we need to know about United, but what about the newly crowned Asian champions Gamba Osaka? We know quite a lot actually, as I have stayed in touch with a few of my former team-mates from the days when they used to play in our local Sunday league.
They started life as Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. Soccer Club (we just called them Samsung FC) but in 1992, following relegation from division four of our Sunday league, they assumed their current name and went to play in the slightly weaker J-League back in Japan. The name Gamba comes from the Italian word for leg, and is a constant reminder to the squad as to what body part is best used to play the game of football.
I guess I'm not filling you with much confidence about Akira Nishino's warriors am I? If so then how about backing Man Utd/Man Utd at 2.06 in the Half Time/Full Time market? Alternatively, Draw/Man Utd is available to back at 4.9 or Draw/Draw at 7.4.
Osaka are now one of the major forces in Japanese football and their squad possesses some of Japan's past and present international players, most notably specialist wing-back Akira Kaji, defensive midfielder Tomokazu Myojin, forward Ryuji Bando and playmaker Yasuhito Endo.
Endo especially is a player to watch and for United to be wary off. He was voted the AFC Champions League Player of the Tournament this year because of his excellent all-round midfield play. He is a silky passer, a free-kick specialist and deadly from the penalty spot. He will be available to back at around the 30.0 mark once the First Goalscorer market materialises and is my idea of a sporting low stakes bet.
However, it has to be said that even though Osaka will be massively up for this game in front of their own countrymen, their recent form in the J-League hasn't been that inspiring. They had a poor finish to the season and eventually finished down in 8th position.
Manchester United probably will win, but given the unknown quantity of the opposition, United's long trip around the world to get here, and Fergie's probable instructions not to exert too much energy or risk injury, means that a low scoring game is likely. Under 2.5 Goals therefore appeals quite a lot at odds of 2.24. You can have 1.76 for Over 2.5 Goals if you disagree or 2.82 for Over 3.5 Goals.
For a Correct Score my attentions are drawn towards a 1-1 draw (10.0) and a 1-0 win to United (8.4) but there a plenty of other prices available on the outcome so please take a look.
Unfortunately, US Citizens are not allowed to register.
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By Email: info@betfair.com ('Canada' in the Subject Line)
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