Bayern Munich v Chelsea: Betting special
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo will probably not be in the dugout at Stamford Bridge regardless of what happens in Munich on Saturday night, but the former Chelsea manager can write his name in football history by helping Chelsea to lift the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The wily Italian certainly has had luck on his side during his spell in the Chelsea hot seat. Not only has he lifted the FA Cup by beating Liverpool, he got there with the help of a goal that never was, and beat Barcelona over two legs, including that epic draw at the Nou Camp with 10 men in which Fernando Torres even scored!
On Saturday night they head into the lion’s den to play Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. But can the Blues emerge victorious and enrage the millions of Spurs fans around the globe by denying Harry Redknapp’s men the chance of playing in the Champions League next season?
If you are a betting man then I have all the latest figures for you.
Chelsea are currently best priced at 7/2 at Bet Victor, Boyle Sports, Coral and Stan James to win within 90 minutes, while Bayern are 5/6 at Sky Bet, Boyle Sports and bwin. For Chelsea to clinch the trophy after extra-time the general consensus is 16/1, but 11/1 for the hosts. But if it comes down to the dreaded penalties, Bayern, who knocked Real Madrid out on spot-kicks, are 12/1 with Chelsea at 14/1.
Bet Victor are the boys with the best odds regarding the final score. Bayern are priced 13/2 to win 1-0, Chelsea are 12/1. For the game to finish 2-1 it’s 8/1 for the Germans and 16-1 for the Blues. If you think the game will finish 3-1 like last season’s meeting between Barca and Man United at Wembley, you’ll get 14/1 for the home side and 50/1 for Chelsea.
For Bayern to win 2-0 Bet Victor are offering 8/1 and 18/1 for 3-0. For Chelsea to score two and keep a clean sheet it’s 28/1 and 80/1 to make it three.
But who will open the scoring? With so much attacking talent out there it really could be anyone. Mario Gomez, who has scored 41 goals in 51 appearances this season, is 9/2 favourite at William Hill. Former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is 7/1 at Ladbrokes to open the scoring, while his team-mate Franck Riberry is 9/1 at BetFair.
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres is the most likely player to score for the Blues, coming in at 9/1 with Bet Victor. He shares that price with Ivica Olic while Didier Drogba, the man for the big occasions, is 10/1 at Bet Victor.
Frank Lampard and Michael Essien are 12/1 shots while if you fancy an ouside punt, Ferriera is 150/1 with Ladbrokes, Jose Bosingwa is 80/1 with Paddy Power and Ashley Cole and Philip Lahm are 50/1 at Ladbrokes.
Only three players have ever scored a hat-trick in the final of European’s most coveted trophy. Legends of the game Puskas, Di Stefano and Pierino Prati have all achieved it, but could their exclusive club be opened this season?
Mario Gomez is 25/1 to join the club, followed by Robben at 40/1 – both with Bet Victor. Olic and Riberry are 80/1 and Drogba is 100/1. Torres is 150/1 at Sporting Bet while Lampard is 250/1 at Paddy Power.
Finally if you think Abramovich will appoint Di Matteo as boss on a full-time contract you can currently get odds of 6/5 at Stan James. Fabio Capello is 4/1 at Paddy Power, followed by Guardiola at 10/1 with Bet365 and a return for the Special One Jose Mourinho is 12/1 with the same firm.
The game itself promises to be a mouth-watering spectacle. For Chelsea it’s do-or-die. If they fail to win the trophy then there will be no Champions League football for them next season and that could result in a number of changes at the Bridge. But you can also say the same for Bayern. They are in front of their own fans. They simply can’t lose the biggest prize in European football to an English side on their own ground can they?
