Real Madrid Slight Favourites to Win vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford

Real Madrid are slight favourites over Manchester United to qualify to the quarter-finals in the upcoming UEFA Champions League match at Old Trafford on March 5th, 2013.

Real Madrid dominated the first game on Wednesday, February 13th. The final scoreline was 1-1, but Madrid had most of the posession and they were clearly a better team on that evening. Manchester United chose to defend and they finished the match with a favourable score.

Both coaches, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho agreed after the game that it is all up in the air still, a 50/50 draw.

Man Utd 7/4
Draw 5/2
Real Madrid 7/5

This means that a successful $100 bet on Manchester United would yield a total of $275 while the same bet on Real Madrid would yield a total of $240.

Are these odds fair? Real Madrid are very unpredictable this year. They win one game then lose out of the blue. Manchester United on the other hand are very consistent and they win most of the time. Their last real loss came in mid November vs. Norwich in the league. Manchester United also lost to Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Nov 20th and Dec 05, but they were already qualified at that point and the games did not mean anything. Since then Manchester United are undefeated in 15 matches.

Manchester United will most likely be more open and attacking in front of their own crowd when they host Real Madrid on March 5th and this could open them up and create a chance for Real Madrid whose counter attack is one of the strongest in the game.

It is important to mention that between now and March 5th, Real Madrid have 2 really demanding games vs. Barcelona, one in the league and one in the semi-final of the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey).

Manchester United on the other hand are playing relatively easier games vs. Reading in the FA Cup and QPR and Norwich City in the league.

The upcoming 2nd leg, round of 16, UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Real Madrid has all the makings of an epic contest.