Barcelona vs Man Utd: Champions League betting

Manchester United travel to Barcelona in what is the purists' pick of the Champions League semi-finals this Wednesday (KO 7.45pm Sky Sports 2) and they are well worth the 2.85 about an away win. Click here for a free £200 to bet on Barcelona vs Man Utd with Canbet The Nou Camp holds fond memories for a United side who completed their historic treble there in 1999 with a dramatic last-gasp rally in the final against Bayern Munich, and although the impressive arena will be packed with hostile Spaniards whistling United's every touch, the visitors will have every reason to feel confident in Spain. Sir Alex Ferguson's men came unstuck at this stage in the Champions League last year when they were undone by European specialists AC Milan at San Siro, but this United side has developed a new facet to their game, which has rightly made them 7/4 outright favourites to win the trophy for a second time: the ability to win ugly. United are one of the most attractive, expansive sides in Europe, and in Cristiano Ronaldo they have a phenomenon who will probably be voted World Player of the Year come December. However, United's greatest strength is their defence, which welcomed back Nemanja Vidic at the weekend, and has conceded just 19 goals in 35 Premier League matches and just five in 10 in the Champions League. The Premier League leaders have not set the world alight with their exciting football in either of their recent Champions League knockout matches against Lyon (2-1 on aggregate) and Roma (3-0) but they have been solid at the back, their defence augmented by the excellent goalkeeping of Edwin van der Sar and shielded by a midfield for whom Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Anderson and Paul Scholes are all prepared to get stuck in. United have looked uncertain in their last two matches against Arsenal and Blackburn, but in each case they managed to salvage crucial points that are bound to bring home yet another Premier league title and, as they did at Rome in the last round of the Champions League, they can be expected to go to the Nou Camp and snuff out a Barcelona side shorn of the skills of the injured Ronaldinho and low on confidence. The white handkerchiefs were out on Saturday as the Blaugrana blew any remote hopes they had of winning the La Liga title with a goalless draw against Espanyol. Frank Rijkaard's side have mustered just one win in eight in La Liga and there are rumblings of discontent in the ranks. Thierry Henry says he has forgotten how to score, after being marooned on the left wing for most of the season, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ronaldinho are almost certainly both off in the summer and Samuel Eto'o has also been sulking at the recent lack of trophies. All of which is perfect timing for United to be playing Barça, who were even unconvincing in their defeats of Schalke and Celtic in their previous two rounds. At least Lionel Messi could be back, after sparkling in a brief reappearance as a substitute at the weekend, but his shoulders are too tender and his fitness too uncertain to carry the hopes of a side unravelling at the seams. At odds of 2.85 look no further than a United success at the Nou Camp, with the competition's top goalscorer Ronaldo helping himself to yet another Champions League goal. Verdict: 3pts United to win @ 2.85; 2pts HT/FT United/United @ 19/4; United clean sheet 9/4; 2pts first goalscorer Ronaldo @ 11/2 Click here for a free £200 to bet on Barcelona vs Man Utd with Canbet Canbet offers the best in Asian Handicap and Live "In-Play" betting. £200 Free when you join!