Champions League semis 26-27th April & 3-4th May

[slick]

UEFA Champions League
26 Apr 19:45 Schalke v Man Utd 3.40 3.20 2.25
27 Apr 19:45 Real Madrid v Barcelona 2.60 3.40 2.62

Odds Bet365

[ONEDUNME]

As has been said elsewhere on here, I think that both the underdogs are being seriously underated. Whilst I think that United are likely to go through over the two legs, I can see them struggling tomorrow night and they are a lay for me.

9/1 for a Madrid /Shalke final? Worth a cheeky fiver.

[Betfly]

I agree ODM, having read the preview @ bettingzone interesting to note Schalke are unbeaten at home in CL,

But the asian line is only 0,+.05 for 1.975 so I've taken Schalke DNB @ 11/8.

GO FOR GOALLESS IN GELSENKIRCHEN: Bettingzone Football Betting News - Premier League, Previews, Odds & Data

Schalke v Manchester United


Having despatched holders Inter Milan in tremendous fashion in the last eight, Schalke are once again revelling in their Champions League underdog role.
The Germans are 11/4 to reach the Wembley final at the end of next month with Sir Alex Ferguson's campaigners a best price of 1/3.
Those odds are certainly a reasonable reflection in terms of European experience but Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick feels they are ones that can be overcome by his eager-to-please players.
The key could well be this first leg in Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke boast a 100 percent record at home in the competition this season and their notoriously raucous support will try and make things as intimidating as impossible for the visitors.
United utility man John O'Shea has admitted ensuring the crowd is not a factor will be vital so it will be fascinating viewing to see if the Germans rise to the occasion or feel overawed on such a huge stage.
Experienced defender Christoph Metzelder admits the nerves are starting to jangle which must mean their - and our - expectations are that bit higher following their demolition job on the Italians.
Schalke fielded a shadow side over the weekend in the Bundesliga which lost 1-0 at home to Kaiserslautern but by all accounts the performance was fair despite the result.
The upshot is that Rangnick has a squad of fresh players to select from.
United know that a controlled display on Tuesday night will tip the balance even more in their favour for the Old Trafford leg.
Their record however against German rivals in two-legged affairs is not particularly sparkling having been dumped out by Bayern Munich (twice) and Bayer Leverkusen since 2001.
That could weigh slightly on the mind for Ferguson and certainly their away form on the whole this year has not been quite up to the standard of season's gone by.
That said, they have yet to concede on their European travels in 2010/11 and I am very much in agreement with the aforementioned Metzelder's opinion that we are in store for two tight games.
With that in mind, it could be worth speculating on the opening 90 minutes between these two being on the cautious side.
It might be folly to challenge strikers Raul and the in-form Javier Hernandez but no goalscorer at 8/1 could be the way to go.
United will feel confident they can complete the job in Manchester while Schalke won't be out of the tie by any stretch of the imagination. It looks a result to satisfy both sides.
Verdict: Schalke 0 Manchester United 0

[traeth]

Schalke v Man Utd
Schalke have done well in the C.L. ,especially at home , their wins in the group stages were against Lyon ,Benfica ,Tel-Aviv then Valencia and Inter.
Schalke must have concentrated their energy for the C.L. as they are presently 10th in the Bundesliga , which means they will not be in the C.L. next season. Raul has scored goals in the C.L. but I can see Vidic/Ferdinand handling him today
Man U have not been at their best very often this season but they have got the wins that got them through the C.L. and they look like premier league winners to me.
I can see Hernandez and Rooney causing problems to the Schalke defence.

I think a Man U win @ 2.3 to be value

[ONEDUNME]

nybody else bored of Souness wanking over the German keeper on Sky commentary of the Schalke game?

16 minutes gone and he's mentioned him about 27 times.

He must be in for a cut of his transfer fee.

I hope he drops a major bollock just to shut him up.

[slick]

I also noticed that, even Mclaren was at it in the build up, saying that after 45 mins i was wanking over him too

I thought it was a piss poor performace from Schalke rather than a great performance from the Rags, i won't take nowt away from United though as they did a thoroughly professional job on them and should have won by about 10-0 but Schalke should never have been on the same pitch as them, its a poor showing if they are regarded as one of Europes best.
Still I'm glad United have one foot in the final because its at Wembley, my final wish is now for one of the Spanish teams to embarrass the fcukers on the biggest stage of all.

Its phone off and door locked tomorrow night in what could be the greatest game of the year with Madrid v Barca, I'm not having a bet on this as Mourinhio is a wiley old bastard and always seems to find answer no matter who he's up against, I have a feeling he'll play it cagey and not try to concede an away goal no matter what it takes even if it means a 0-0, then take chance on an away goal but with Barcelona you can't rule anything out and how can you see them not scoring? this isn't Copa del Rey where only pride was at stake, there again i suppose Barcelona would probably take a 0-0 but then again that away goal is so important.

No bet for me as I'm just going to enjoy the match , if i had to pick a result I'll go draw, score for me would be either 0-0 or 1-1.

[HastGill1]

Originally Posted by slick

I also noticed that, even Mclaren was at it in the build up, saying that after 45 mins i was wanking over him too

I thought it was a piss poor performace from Schalke rather than a great performance from the Rags, i won't take nowt away from United though as they did a thoroughly professional job on them and should have won by about 10-0 but Schalke should never have been on the same pitch as them, its a poor showing if they are regarded as one of Europes best.
Still I'm glad United have one foot in the final because its at Wembley, my final wish is now for one of the Spanish teams to embarrass the fcukers on the biggest stage of all.

Its phone off and door locked tomorrow night in what could be the greatest game of the year with Madrid v Barca, I'm not having a bet on this as Mourinhio is a wiley old bastard and always seems to find answer no matter who he's up against, I have a feeling he'll play it cagey and not try to concede an away goal no matter what it takes even if it means a 0-0, then take chance on an away goal but with Barcelona you can't rule anything out and how can you see them not scoring? this isn't Copa del Rey where only pride was at stake, there again i suppose Barcelona would probably take a 0-0 but then again that away goal is so important.

No bet for me as I'm just going to enjoy the match , if i had to pick a result I'll go draw, score for me would be either 0-0 or 1-1.

Agree with every point you've made there Slick, there is a bit of a worry in the back of my mind that United might win the fcuker though..would you really back against them in a one off game? God, think I'll emigrate if they do, never fcuking hear the end of it...

Can't wait for tonights game, got tomorrow off work too so got 5 days off to look forward to after, which means I can get happily pissed tonight and not worry about it. Can see a low scoring one too, expect to see the same level of moaning at the ref as there has been in the previous game between the two..expect a few yellows tonight.

[slick]

UEFA Champions League

2nd Legs...
03 May 19:45 Barcelona v Real Madrid 1.66 4.33 4.50
04 May 19:45 Man Utd v Schalke 1.44 4.60 7.00

Odds Bet365

[Betfly]

with the amount of red cards recently in el classico I'm taking 5/4 for a red card!

Bring on the mayhem!

[Gavster]

I'm considering +0.25 Schalke. Fergie has Chelsea to contend with at the weekend and has already admitted he'll be resting key individuals. With Carrick in midfield I can certainly see Schalke being given opportunities. It'll be do or die for them and if Ferdinand or Vidic are rested and replaced by a nervy Johnny Evans, there'll surely be an away goal or two.

[BettingDonk]

Im only have one bet tonight and it is barcelona over 2.5 cards @ 2.10 bet365

with all the allegations from real madrid saying barcelona players are racist this could be a spicy one tonight. plus if the ref does his job right then barcelona will have at least 3 players booked for diving.. plus i think they will look to break up play everytime madrid get the ball.

decent price i think and i only need barca to get 3 yellows or 1 red

GL all with you're bets

[Bigkegman]

Small stakes and a but of stupidity really but i've went for Madrid to sneak a win tonight. Everybidy is saying the game will suit Baeca with Madrid having to score and i tend to agree but i also think itwill be tight and odds sbout 4/1 are too big imo for one of the best teams in europe.

[BettingDonk]

Pepe and Ramos are a big loss for real madrid. I think barcelona will pick them off when ever they want to.

Going to be tough for real madrid to win considering they will only have about 30-35% possession over the 90 minutes.

I think Barca will be happy to keep the ball in their own half just passing around the back 4 and midfield. I really dont see many corners in this game and under 10 corners @ 2.05 looks a decent price but under 9 @ 2.50 and under 8 @ 3.50 look really tempting but I just cant get myself to pull the trigger..

i think there is value also in real madrid winning the corner count @ 2/1

[BettingDonk]

Very poor show from real madrid. 2-0 down and have to win by 2 goals and in 45 mins have'nt even managed a single shot on goal.

Mourinho is certainly going to be out of a job in the summer.. he has turned one of the most attacking european teams into one of the most negative, boring teams to watch.

Valdes has been a bystander for 1 and a 1/2 games. They are going out at a wimper here

[stevros1988]

18/1 on Carvalho to be sent off looking good at the moment, how he's still on the pitch is anyone's guess. Surely he can't last the full 90 minutes, he's already made 2 mistimed challenges after the first booking and his next foul will almost certainly be his last.