Football betting: Champions League - Roma v Man Utd

Roma are well-priced at 5/6 with Paddy Power to avenge recent defeats against a below-strength Manchester United in the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico tonight. Click here for a £600 welcome bonus on Paddy Power Poker With half an eye on their forthcoming Super Sunday encounter with Liverpool Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to leave his big guns at home for this Champions League away tie as United are already safly through to the next stages of the competition. Step aside Cristiano Ronaldo, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs, Anderson and Carlos Tevez. Enter Tomasz Kuszczak, Daniel Simpson, John O'Shea, Gerard Pique, Johnny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles. Indeed die-hard United fans might even be asking themselves who some of their players are on the pitch tonight. Unsurprisingly the bookies have acted accordingly, making the Red Devils, who will be captained by Wayne Rooney, a best-priced 7/2 to triumph in the Eternal City. With Rooney, Nani, Michael Carrick and Louis Saha in the side some punters might feel that Bet365's 11/4 about the draw is worth mopping up. But Roma are an improving side. Although they drew with lowly Livorno at the weekend they were unfortunate to see a goal incorrectly disallowed in Tuscany and have so far kept the closest in touch five points with awesome Serie A pacesetters Inter Milan, trailing them by only five points. Luciano Spalletti told Bettingchoice yesterday that the Giallorossi will rest some of their first-team regulars but with Francesco Totti leading the line, and Daniele De Rossi, David Pizarro, Rodrigo Taddei; Ludovic Giuly and Mauro Esposito all likely to start the club from the capital will have more quality and experience on show. Roma are also desperate to lay the ghosts of last year's 7-1 mauling at Old Trafford in last year's Champions League quarter-final second leg. They were unlucky to lose 1-0 in Manchester on Championsleague Matchday 2, Esposito missing a sitter late on, and all the ingredients suggest the makings of an imperial Roma performance. It is worth noting too that Rooney has scored three goals in as many matches against Spalletti's side and so the 11/4 (Paddy Power, Bet365) for Rooney to score at anytime is worth taking on. Even though United will probably lose I wouldn't put it past the Wazza to notch against Roma's second-choice rearguard. A small bet is advised. Verdict: 2pts Roma @ 5/6 (Paddy Power); 1pt Rooney to score at any time @ 11/4 (Paddy Power, Bet365). Click here for a £600 welcome bonus on Paddy Power Poker