Man Utd v Chelsea Champions League Final Betting Set To Break All Records

The first all english Champions League final between Man Utd and Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday 21st May has really captured the imagination of the nation’s football fans. It is the first time in the European Cup’s 42 year history, that two sides from England have met in the final and it is testiment to the quality of English football that the two teams that finished first and second in the Premier League meet once again to do battle for the most coveted prize in world domestic football.

An estimated 50,000 supporters from both Manchester United and Chelsea are expected to make the trip to Russia to watch the game at the Luzhniki Stadium, whilst millions more will tune in to watch the action unfold live on TV. It promises to be a thrilling game and due to the number of neutral supports watching the game, British bookmakers are gearing up for a busy day of betting on Wednesday, with many online betting firms predicting that the game could beat all previous betting records for the total amount wagered on a single football match, with the game reportedly worth over £20 million to the betting industry.

With both teams evenly matched it will be a case of split opinions for those having a bet on this match. Manchester United are the narrow favouries to win the trophy at odds of 4/5 with Bet365 whilst Chelsea are slightly better odds at evens. To win the game in 90 minutes, United are 6/4 with Chelsea 21/10 and the draw is a 2/1 chance. Other popular bets for the final include predicting the correct score, a market in which a low scoring affair is the favourite with a 1-0 Man Utd win available at odds of 11/2 and the same scoreline in Chelsea’s favour is 13/2. Having a bet on the first goalscorer is also very popular and the one player likely to feature on many peoples bets will be Cristiano Ronaldo who is the 9/2 favourite to score the first goal.

As many people look to place a bet on the Champions League Final, bookmakers are always looking to win your custom and the majority are offering free bets to anyone opening a new account ahead of the game. Check out the best Bookmakers Free Bet Offers ahead of the Champions League Final.

Paddypower Payout Early on United Winning Title

Irish Bookmaker Paddypower has paid out early on Manchester United winning the 2008 Premier League title. They took the decision to pay out early to all those customers who had back United to win the Premier League throughout the season on Friday morning, depsite Chelsea moving just two points behind them in the league with a 1-0 win over Everton on Thursday night.

A spokesman for the firm said “Let’s be honest, they are home and hosed at this stage and it would take a minor miracle for Chelsea to catch them. Having said that, we did end up paying out on both the betting odds for Arsenal and United to win the title a few years ago, so you never know. Whatever happens, we reckon that the money might as well be in the punter’s pocket at this stage.”

It is a great gesture from the company to reward punters who had backed Fergie’s men at odds of 13/8 at the start of the season and they could face an even bigger payout if the Reds go on to lift the Champions League. However, Paddypower could end up with egg on their faces as bookmaker Fred Done, Chairman of Betfred, found out when paying out early on United to win the titlte in 1998, when eight point clear. That season, Arsenal came pipped them at the post and so anybody who has backed Chelsea shouldn’t throw away that betting slip just yet.

Beckham set to win 100th cap

David Beckham is set to win his 100th England cap when he lines up against France in an international freindly in paris on Wednesday (26th March). Beckham, who plays for American side LA Galaxy was left out of new England boss Fabio Capello’s first squad and many feared that he would not reach the landmark 100th cap in his career. However, the former Man Utd and Real Madrid star has been re-called and British bookmakers are expecting increased interest in this match given the Beckham should become only the 5th England player ever to reach 100 caps and the betting industry is anticipating many people to place bets on the game. The most popular bet is expected to be on Beckham to score the first and last goal of the game at odds of generally between 10/1 and 12/1.

The four other players to win more than 100 caps for England are Wolverhampton Wanders legend Billy Wright, who won 105 caps. Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton was capped 106 times aong with World Cup winnign captain and West Ham defender Bobby Moore with 108 caps and the record holder for most games played for England is golakeeper Peter Shilton who won a total of 125 before hanging up his international gloves in 1990.