Barca favourites after last-gasp winner

Bookmakers are tipping Barcelona to prevent Manchester United from being the first team to successfully defend the Champions League title.The two sides will meet to contest this year's trophy, although they booked their places in Rome in very different fashion. BetUK is offering odds of 4/5 that the Spanish side will be triumphant, after an injury-time goal against Chelsea handed them a spot in the final.Michael Essien's ninth-minute strike had given Guus Hiddink's men a 1-0 aggregate lead, but Andres Iniesta's away goal broke Blue hearts.The strike was Barcelona's first on target and when the final whistle blew there was outrage from the Chelsea players, who felt hard done by as the referee had failed to award any of their four penalty claims.It means there will be no repeat of last year's final, which had been on the cards after Manchester United defeated Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates and 4-1 on aggregate.On that occasion the tie was all but over within 11 minutes - as two early United goals left the Gunners needing to score four times. Expekt is offering the best odds that Sir Alex Ferguson's men will retain the trophy at 20/19, while 888 Sport prices both sides 5/6.

Written By:- Nick (About our Authors)
Posted on:- 07/05/2009 - 12:00 PM
Filed in:- Football Betting News