MANCHESTER UNITED VS MANCHESTER CITY CARLING CUP 2ND LEG ODDS PREVIEW

You could probably chalk this one up as the biggest match of the year so far, and certainly the most anticipated. It seems as though the build up to the match suggests the Premiership is at a crossroads, or at least getting much closer to one. Should City unseat United and win their way to the final at Old Trafford, then you could really argue that a sea change is certainly afoot.
All the bookmakers are pushing this one hard and we’re going to be taking a look at the different bets on offer at all the top bookmakers. Perhaps by examining those odds, we can get a better gauge of what’s going to happen in the match and where the main conflicts will be.
There are a whopping 178 different betting markets on this match at William Hill, dozens of which will be available in-play. Currently, Hills list United as the 4/6 favourites to win this match while City trade at a lengthy 9/2 price. The draw, which would see City through, pays out at 3/1. In terms of outright qualification, City are given the slightest of edges at a 4/5 listing against United’s 10/11. What doesn’t add up for me though, this how the correct score betting fails to parallel those odds. For instance, City are short-priced to go through, but the only way they can do that is to draw or win. Their best chance looks to be 6/1 but United 1-0 and 2-0 both trade at a lower price- 11/2. City to win the match 2-1 pays a lengthy 14/1 while a 2-2 draw pays the same. A 0-0 draw is 12/1 while United 2-1 (which would send us to extra time) is as low as 6/1. There is definitely plenty of value on the correct score market for City fans.

888sport (who have just redeveloped their site- and it’s looking great) have priced United at 8/13 while City are at their usual 9/2. The draw garners a 14/5 listing and they have some very solid odds on offer. The one that jumps out at me is Manchester United to score in both halves at 9/4. I have the feeling that this fixture is going to be a high-scoring affair. I think lots of offence will be played by both teams and mistakes by the defenders will likely be the main talking points post-match. United to win both halves trades at 10/3 while United to win having been behind is listed at 8/1. This is an interesting one- United are a slim 6/5 to keep a clean sheet while City (despite having the in-form Shay Given between the sticks) trade at a lengthy 10/3. United are 9/2 to score a penalty and I have a feeling that could certainly be in the cards- United are owed a dodgy penalty decision here. United to win to nil trades at a relatively low-priced 15/8.

If you’re looking for great goalscorer odds, check out Ladbrokes for that. In terms of the outright market, their odds parallel 888 with United at 8/13, the draw at 11/4 and City listed at 9/2. They have 66 different markets for this one and the goalscoring markets are the most interesting in my eyes.
Wayne Rooney is short-priced as the anytime goalscorer with a very slim 8/13. It goes without saying that Rooney is the lynchpin in this Manchester United side and if he has even half the game he had against Hull City, then United should roll to victory here. Wazza is 3/1 to score first. Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen trade alongside Carlos Tevez at 7/4 to score anytime while Mame Biram Diouf is listed at 9/4. Ryan Giggs has a habit of popping up in matches like this and you’ll find Giggsy at 5/2. Luis Antonio Valencia is getting better with every game and you’ll find him at 3/1. Nani had his best outing in nearly 3 years against Hull and he may have just earned himself a place in the starting line-up today. I don’t think we’ll see Darron Gibson, but he trades at 9/2 to score anytime. Emmanuel Adebayor can be backed at 3/1, he should start, while Craig Bellamy is listed at the same price. Robinho likely won’t be seen in the match, but he is 7/2 anytime.
If you’re looking to have a real gamble, try Gary Neville to score first at 66/1. How fitting would that be?

Bet365 has plenty of markets available and they’re pricing United at 4/7 with the draw at 3/1 and City at their standard 9/2. They have one of the best specials markets available on this fixture and you’ll find great prices all around. United to win both halves is 3/1 while United to win to nil is 6/4. United to score 3 or more trades at 12/5 while United to score 4 or more is a massive 15/2. Man United to win having come from behind is a solid 13/2 while United to keep a clean sheet trades at even money. Rooney to score two or more goals is short-priced at 3/1 while Rooney’s hat-trick trades at 14/1. United to score a penalty is 4/1 and they are 14/1 to miss that penalty. City are 25/1 to win both halves, 13/2 to win to nil and 13/8 to win either half. The Citizens trades at 10/1 to score 3 or more and they are 7/2 to keep a clean sheet. Carlos Tevez is 17/2 to score 2 or more goals and 28/1 to get his hat-trick. City are 12/1 to score a penalty and 25/1 to miss one.

The final bookmaker we’re looking at is Blue Square and they’ve priced United at 8/13 with the draw at 14/5 and City, once again, at 9/2. I’m really chuffed on the card markets here and you’ll find that the over/under on the time of the first card is the 26th minute with a listing of 5/6 going in each direction. City are heavily-favoured to be the first team carded at 4/7 while United are listed at 5/4. No card in the match is 28/1. City are also favoured to see red, and if their performance is anything like the one we saw last week they’ll get one, you can find them trading at 4/1 for a red card while United are 13/2. Either team to see red is a slim 11/5 while both teams to get at least one man sent off is 9/1.
Wayne Rooney is 2/1 to be booked while he is 25/1 to be sent off. Dimitar Berbatov is 5/1 to be booked and 66/1 to be sent off. Carlos Tevez is 5/2 to be booked (likely for diving IMO) and 25/1 to be sent off. Craig Bellamy, who should have seen red in the last match, is short-priced at 7/4 to be carded and a slim 20/1 to get his marching orders.

No matter which way you look at it, this is a cracker of a match with so many permutations about what can happen to each side. My prediction- Rooney runs riot and scores within the first 10 minutes. I think the atmosphere at OT is going to be one of the best in years and I expect a 110% performance from both sides. The Rooney vs Tevez factor is the key one in the match and whoever has the better game will likely lead their side to a massive victory.