Man Utd vs Chelsea: Champions League final tips

Quite why the bookies make Manchester United 13/8 favourites to win the Champions League final is a mystery. Having pipped Chelsea to the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson's side have an excellent chance of winning their third European Cup, especially as they go into the final in Moscow with no notable injury concerns. However, it seems that no-one has noticed that United haven't been playing well of late. In fact, with the exception of the 4-1 win against West Ham, the Premier League champions have not played well since their 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on 29 March - and to be honest, the defeat of the Hammers was the most feeble defensive display of the season (all matches including Derby excepted). Even the win at Wigan on the final day of the season was nervy and laboured and Chelsea manager Avram Grant was right when he said that United were the recipients of generous refereeing in their favour. But most importantly, Chelsea beat United 2-1 just four matches ago, when the Blues had to win to keep the title race alive. Admittedly, that was a home game and Grant's side are effectively unbeatable at home, but the fact remains that Chelsea were worthy winners on the day and they have been playing their best football since overcoming Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Michael Ballack, who netted twice on that day, is finally showing what a great player he is when he isn't injured and he will be a definite goal threat, while Didier Drogba is the ultimate big-game player. He may not have scored as many goals as last season but the Frenchman scores when it matters. Drogba netted in the League Cup final this year, twice in the crucial comeback win against Arsenal - a game which reignited their Premier League challenge - and grabbed another brace in the nerve-shredding Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. It's also worth pointing out that it was he who scored the extra-time winner in the 1-0 FA Cup final victory against United last season. Drogba has been dogged by injuries all season but he is crucial to Chelsea's chances and the Blues will make sure their talisman will be ready for the showdown at the Luzhniki stadium. At 7/1 he is well-priced to be the first goalscorer. Both defences are so solid that the romantics might be disappointed by a low-scoring affair. Their vote will probably also be with United, who have flown out the remaining survivors of the Busby Babes to Moscow to witness what would be a fitting tribute to their team-mates who lost their lives in Munich 50 years ago. However, United's desperation to win, their jittery form and the psychological edge that the in-form Blues hold over them is more likely to work against them, which makes the 9/4 about a first European crown for the Londoners the way forward. Verdict: 2pts Chelsea @ 9/4; 2pts Drogba first goalscorer @ 7/1; 1pt Ballack to score and Chelsea to win @ 5/1; 3pts 0 or 1 goal @ 6/4