Barcelona Still Clear Champions League Betting Odds Favourites Ahead Of Man Utd

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It has taken a massive effort to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League in the last few years, over the past three years Barcelona have either won the Champions League or gone out to the eventual winners and so far they are looking good to continue that record.

Barcelona face Real Madrid in what could be the most exciting Champions League Semi Final in years and there is no surprise that it is once again Barcelona who are favourites to progress as they are the favourites to win the entire tournament. Barcelona are just even money with most bookies to win the Champions League, the fact that Real Madrid have been drawn against the favourites means they are now only the third most likely winners in the Champions League odds at around 10/3.

Progress in this semi final still won’t guarantee Champions League victory so a bet on either team to qualify for the final will offer a better bet for some punters, Barcelona are just 1/2 to progress in this tie whilst Real Madrid, who secured their place in the Semi Final by beating Tottenham twice, are 15/8 to reach the Champions League Final at Wembley this season.

It looks as though there could be English representation in this year’s Wembley Final, Man Utd who are the only remaining English team in the competition after they beat Chelsea in both legs of their Quarter Final, have been handed a favourable tie against Schalke who have been the surprise package in this year’s competition. Man Utd are now second favourites to win the Champions League and can be backed at 5/2 to win the tournament, Schalke are very unfancied despite their great results against Inter Milan in the Quarter Finals, Schalke can be backed at 14/1 to pull of a majot shock by winning the Champions League.

It is therefore no surprise that Man Utd are major favourites to reach the final, they can be backed at just 2/7 to progress against Schalke and should be a good bet to win both legs of the Semi Final whilst those who aren’t fans of Man Utd this season will get big odds on Schalke reaching the Champions League Final, the Germans are 11/4 to make it through.

The Champions League Semi Final First Legs take place in the last week of April. You can keep up to date on the latest Champions League odds and tips from the experts at OLBG.co.uk.

Championship race still far from clear

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With the season about to enter its home straight, the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League from the Championship is still being eyed up by six sides, with around half the league still realistically having a chance of finishing in the play-offs. Scunthorpe’s 1-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest this week was a prime example of exactly how open this league is and means there is still a lot to be learnt for football betting and tipping.

Before Christmas, it looked as though the top two places in the Championship were sewn up by QPR and Cardiff but that all changed over the festive period, both sides suffering their own losses in form. While the two front-runners have returned to the summit of the table, the chasing pack has all been given a renewed sense of confidence in their fight for the top two.

Neil Warnock looks to have moulded a squad capable of seeing the job through but Cardiff has the look of possible chokers about them. In a squad packed with as many talented players as Cardiff are blessed with, is sure to bring an ego or two up to the surface.

Dave Jones knows the pain of missing out on promotion with this side and he’ll be desperate to avoid that this season, which will bring its own pressure onto the manager. As it stands though the Welsh club are in the top two by right and it will take another club to earn their place in the top two.

For football betting tips, the coming games to watch will be a good indicator of who to back. Leeds and Norwich have both had impressive first seasons back in the Championship and the duo has shown they are in this race till the end. Forest will need to bounce back from the shock Scunthorpe defeat and go on another unbeaten run. Swansea and Leicester add to the unusually busy promotion race this year and one which looks certain to go down to the wire.

Nani's strike sends United three points clear

 By Ian Wilkerson 1:55PM 5 JAN 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED were trimmed to 10-11 from evens to win the Premier League after seizing a three-point lead at the top ofthe standings with a 2-1 win against Stoke at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Hills go 10-1 that they remain unbeaten this season.

RELATED LINKS 25 pounds free bet Bet In-Play now  The Red Devils, who still have a game in hand over nearest pursuers and bitter rivalsManchester City, led at the break thanks to Javier Hernandez’s 27th minute strike. And although Stoke pulled one back early in the second half  through Dean Whitehead, Nani put the home side back in front 12 minutes later.

Elsewhere, Fulham and Birmingham fired themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 victory at home to West Brom and a 2-1 win away at Blackpool respectively.

Three more football league managers were shown the door pn Tuesday, to add to Crystal Palace’s George Burley and Barnet’s Mark Stimson who were both sacked on New Year’s Day.

The most high-profile departure  was at Charlton where Phil Parkinson left after three years at the helm.

The Addicks are just three points behind Southampton – the occupants of the second promotion place in League One, but they are on a run of just one win from their last eight matches following Monday’s 4-2 loss at home to Swindon.

Dennis Wise was quickly backed in to 1-3 to take over, and  Ladbrokes subsequently took the market down.

Chris Hutchings has left Walsall after a 4-1 defeat at Peterborough proved to be the final straw for the Saddlers, who are eight points from safety in League One.

Paul Simpson has left Stockport after just six months at Edgeley Park. The Hatters have won just once on their own patch this season and are four points off the bottom of League Two.

With eight departures having occurred since December 29, Paddy Power fancy that Roy Keane may be on borrowed time at Championship strugglers Ipswich.

He is 4-9 to be out by the end of the campaign with former Newcastle supremo Chris Hughton 9-4 to take over.

Read Wednesday's RPSPORT for Arsenal v Manchester City live match preview, six Premier League verdicts, odds, form,stats and team news, Kevin Pullein, all the latest news and tools needed for a fabulous day and evening's football punting

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Carroll and Curtis draw clear of O'Brien in title race

Gary Carroll (centre) and Ben Curtis (right) had winners at Dundalk

  PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)  Carroll and Curtis clear of O'Brien in title race
 By Tony O'Hehir and James Burn 5:29PM 5 DEC 2010 THE race for the Irish apprentice title took a twist at Dundalk on Sunday when defending champion Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis drew four winners clear of Joseph O'Brien.

William Hill cannot split them as they go even-money the pair, while O'Brien is an 8-1 shot.

RELATED LINKS Dundalk results  Carroll started the day a winner ahead of Curtis, and three in front of O'Brien, and despite partnering Sampers to success in the second could race - his 39th win of the season - he was pegged back by Curtis, who landed a double thanks to victories on Valbonne and Home Secretary.

Sampers is trained by Michael Halford, who said of Carroll:  "He works very hard and is a hell of a good rider.

"It would be great if he can win the title again as riding through the season with only a 3lb claim has made things that much tougher for him."

O'Brien, whose championship challenge has been disrupted by suspensions, was out of luck with his six rides on Sunday.

Dundalk also stages the final two meetings of the season on Wednesday and Friday.

Irish apprentice title 2010

William Hill: Evens Gary Carroll, Ben Curtis, 8 Joseph O'Brien (win only, dead-heat rules apply)

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