Fergie to get his tactics spot-on

Sport betting

ONE of the most eagerly-awaited Champions League finals for many years will take place in Rome tonight.

Organisers of the competition could hardly have dared wish for a more fitting conclusion than Barcelona v Manchester United in the City of the Seven Hills.

But will the showdown between two of world football’s giants live up to the hype or will caution lead to a canny approach and and a game of cat and mouse?

Looking at it from Barcelona’s perspective, I am sure an open, attacking game would be preferable as that would maximise the talents of their superstar strikers Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.

And midfield playmakers Andres Iniesta and Xavi would also be much happier with space in which to display their silky skills.

Don’t get me wrong, if United are allowed similar luxuries they will be just as big a threat going forward.

But, as one pundit pointed out the other day, which is the team best equipped to cope when they have not got the ball?

Without a doubt that team is United.

No club in Britain can match the work ethic instilled by Sir Alex Ferguson and it is this ingredient in United’s game which promises to make the difference between the teams tonight.

Master tactician Ferguson will know this, of course, so I expect him to attempt to close down the space in midfield, keep it tight and hope to negate Barcelona’s star performers, especially the mercurial Messi and instinctive Iniesta.

If United succeed and keep a clean sheet, they should prevail as I can’t see a Barcelona rearguard shorn of key full-backs Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves shutting out a United attack which will surely exploit any space on the flanks.

A 1-0 scoreline in United’s favour looks a distinct possibility given the probability of a tactical match and the bookies are unanimous in selecting Cristiano Ronaldo to open the scoring for the Reds.

Ronaldo is 13-2 favourite, with Eto’o on 7-1, Wayne Rooney 15-2, Messi 8-1, and Dimitar Berbatov, Henry and Carlos Tevez on 9s.

I will be having a wager on this market and can’t resist a little on United centre half Nemanja Vidic, who pops up with key goals at set pieces and is a generous 25-1.

Another market of interest is one of the teams to win on penalties, with totesport offering 10-1 about either side repeating United’s feat of a year ago.

And the aforementioned Ronaldo is also firmly in the bookies’ sights as Skybet offer a range of prices about the first major occurrence to happen to him in the game.

Favourite at 6-4 is the final whistle, but you can also get 2-1 about him scoring, 9-2 about him being substituted, 5-1 for a yellow card, 11-1 hitting the woodwork and 33-1 about being sent off.

The yellow card is mighty tempting for United’s habitual diver as referees on the continent tend not to stand for play-acting.


SELECTED at 28-1 in this column, Everton will on Saturday attempt to win the FA Cup when they take on Chelsea in the final at Wembley.

David Moyes’ men have shown battling qualities to get this far and are 2-1 to lift the trophy with Chelsea the jollies at 4-9.

Go for it, you Toffees.


RECOMMENDATIONS: Manchester United to win the Champions League, 10-11 (general); United to win 1-0, 8-1 (Hills); Nemanja Vidic to score first goal, 25-1 (general).