After the exciting end to the Premiership last week, Manchester United and Chelsea renew their rivalry in the Champions League this week aiming to win the biggest prize in club football, the European Cup. Chelsea will be keen to avenge missing out on the Premiership in Moscow, while United look towards their second European Cup in ten years.
Champions League Final-Manchester United v Chelsea, Wednesday 7:45pm, Live on ITV 1 & Sky Sports 1
The top two in England face each other for the title of best in Europe in the first ever all English final. After clinching the Premiership last week United will feel they have the psychological advantage, but it was Chelsea who were victorious in the last meeting between these two just 3 weeks ago. A late Michael Ballack penalty at Stamford Bridge helped secure victory over United that day, as Chelsea reversed the result from Old Trafford earlier in the season, which United had won 2-0. However, this is the first time the teams have ever met in Europe, and Chelsea will be up against a United team that is undefeated in this years competition, winning nine and drawing three of their 12 European games.
Chelsea managed to break out of Liverpool’s semi final stranglehold over them, finally defeating the Reds in a Champions League semi final at the third attempt. The 4-3 aggregate victory was secured thanks to extra time goals from Lampard and Drogba, as the Blues scraped past Liverpool to claim a place in their first Champions League final. Chelsea had ridden their luck in the first leg, only avoiding defeat thanks to a 95th minute Riise own goal in a game that Liverpool had largely dominated. That goal proved to be crucial as Ryan Babel’s second leg goal 3 minutes from the end of extra time left Chelsea fans praying for the final whistle. John Terry is back to lead Chelsea out, having recovered from the elbow injury he picked up in Chelsea’s final league game against Bolton, while Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho have also overcome minor knocks to take their place in the travelling squad.
United are looking to repeat their historic League and European Cup double of 1999, and confidence will be sky high after they secured their tenth Premiership title at Wigan last week. That followed a nervous semi final victory over Barcelona at Old Trafford, Paul Scholes 14th minute goal the only thing separating the teams across the two legs. That goal must have been a relief to Cristiano Ronaldo following his penalty miss in the first leg at the Nou Camp that looked to have handed Barcelona the advantage. His miss could have been crucial in such a tight tie between two evenly matched teams, but United’s nerve held to see them through to the final again. United go into the game with no injury concerns, with the only decision facing Sir Alex is how best to fit all of United superstars into the starting eleven.
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Chelsea Win 9/4 Betterbet
Draw 2/1 VCBet
Man Utd Win 11/8 BGbet
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