Football betting tips: Champions League
2pts Manchester United to win with -1 goal handicap at 10/11 (General)
1pt Manchester United to win with -2 goal handicap at 12/5 (PaddyPower, Betfair)
Manchester United welcome FC Copenhagen to Old Trafford in a spot of bother in Group A, in desperate need of three points after losing to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray in their opening two Champions League matches.
It could be argued that Erik ten Hag's side were in desperate need of three points at the weekend, too.
Edging past Sheffield United in a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane highlighted their battling qualities rather than their footballing qualities, but the win lifted them up to eighth place in the Premier League and could give them the boost of confidence that is required in the squad at present.
The dominance of FC Copenhagen domestically is no surprise, but they're not likely to trouble the qualification places in this group. Despite staying in games against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich, they're on one point entering a difficult match-up at Old Trafford.
What are the best bets?
Despite MANCHESTER UNITED’s struggles, the price about them TO WIN WITH A -1 GOAL HANDICAP looks a little too big.
Available at a general 10/11, United to win fairly comfortably is value to me here.
Facing FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford is not a mammoth task, and concentration levels should be very high given the situation Ten Hag’s side find themselves in.
Although the visitors sit top of the Danish Superliga at present, they have conceded 15 goals in 12 league games this season, a weakness that United can certainly take advantage of.
With that in mind, adding MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN WITH A -2 GOAL HANDICAP at odds of 12/5, albeit to smaller stakes, makes sense.
BuildABet @ 37/1
- Manchester United to win with -1 goal handicap
- Rasmus Højlund to score a brace
- Viktor Claesson to be carded
CLICK HERE to back with Sky Bet
Manchester United should be beating FC Copenhagen comfortably and it's worth backing Rasmus Højlund to have some scoring success if that is the case, enjoying a promising start to his career at the club.
Viktor Claesson leads the away team in fouls committed domestically and appears value to be carded in the engine room.
Team news
Manchester United's Casemiro is suspended for this game, which could see Sofyan Amrabat move into a more comfortable midfield position.
Sergio Reguilon could return to the line-up, but Erik ten Hag has many defenders out still, including Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez.
Elias Jelert is back from suspension for FC Copenhagen. Nicolai Boilesen, William Clem, Noah Sahsah and Birger Meling are ruled out, though.
Predicted line-ups
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; Eriksen, Amrabat, Fernandes; Antony, Rashford, Højlund.
FC Copenhagen: Grabara; Jelert, Diks, Vavro, Sorenson; Lerager, Falk, Claesson; Achouri, Elyounoussi, Larsson.
Match facts
- This is the first time Manchester United have begun a European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign with defeats in their opening two matches (v Bayern Munich and Galatasaray). Indeed, they’ve lost their last three games in this competition, and have never lost four in a row in the European Cup/Champions League.
- FC København's first ever UEFA Champions League win was against Manchester United, a 1-0 home victory in November 2006. However, they've never won (D1 L3) or scored a goal (9 conceded) in four away games against English sides in the competition.
- Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has lost his last three matches in the UEFA Champions League (one with Ajax, two with Man Utd) – his longest losing run in the competition across the 34 games he’s taken charge of.
- FC København haven’t scored a goal in any of their last seven matches against English sides in European competition (D3 L4), with their last such goal coming against Manchester City in the UEFA Cup in February 2009 (a 2-1 defeat in the last 32 second leg).
- Rasmus Højlund has scored in both of his UEFA Champions League appearances for Manchester United, netting three goals in the process. If he finds the net in this game, he’ll be the first player to score in his first three games for the Red Devils in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League since John Connelly in 1965 (3).
- FC København have already dropped five points from winning positions in the UEFA Champions League this season, drawing against Galatasaray after scoring first and losing against Bayern Munich after opening the scoring. Indeed, no team have dropped more points from winning positions in the competition this term (5 – level with Crvena Zvezda).
- Marcus Rashford has either scored (3) or assisted (1) in each of his last four UEFA Champions League starts at Old Trafford. The last player to do so in five consecutive home starts in the competition for Manchester United was Ryan Giggs in September 2011 (6).
- Lukas Lerager has been directly involved in two of FC København’s three goals in the UEFA Champions League this season (one goal, one assist) – the last player with more goals and assists in a single edition of the competition for the Danish side was Ludwig Augustinsson in 2016-17 (3).
Odds correct 1100 BST (24/10/23)
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