Semi Excitement For Fergie And Arsene
With one English side already through to the Champions League semi-finals, Manchester United and Arsenal will look to make it another fantastic year for the Premier League with three English teams in the semi-final for a second year running. Arsenal are favourites on the Sporting Index win spread to qualify for the semi-finals having secured a hard fought 1-1 away draw, whereas United could only manage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Buyers of United on the first leg win index spread would have been bitterly disappointed with conceding a late goal from Mariano Gonzalez, which has left United's European dreams hanging by a thread. This has been reflected in Sporting Index's prices, as United are fourth in the Champions League outright index at 50-53 (Winner-100pts, Runner-up -75pts, lose semi-final-50pts, Quarter-final=25points), whereas Arsenal sit in third with a spread of 57-60.
The Sporting Index traders have made United slight favourites to progress to the semi's with a supremacy spread of 0.4-0.6, although the stats are against them as no English side has won away at Porto in the last 11 matches. Spread bettors that have bought United's win index spread of 13.5-15 will be hoping Rio Ferdinand returns from injury to shore up an unusually shaky defence that has conceded 11 goals in their last five matches in all competitions. Sellers of United's win index will be pleased that they haven't won away at Porto in their last three attempts and Porto have won all bar one of their eight ties in Uefa club competitions when they have drawn the first leg. United, on the other hand, have lost their last four knock-out ties when playing away in the second leg, having drawn the first leg at Old Trafford. United's spread followers will also be slightly concerned that their side have lost four of their last nine trips to Portugal.
Arsenal's win index spread of 17.5-19 will be tempting to many spread bettors as the Gunners look to continue their excellent home form in Europe. Those buying Arsenal on the spreads will be encouraged as they have not lost a home game in the Champions League since losing to Chelsea in 2004. Spread bettors will be aware though that Arsenal have a fairly poor quarter-final record in Europe, winning just one of their last five. With Villarreal's win index at 4.5-6, followers of them on the spreads will be hoping they can continue their record against English clubs, which is a respectable W3-D6-L1. However, in England their record is W1-D2-L1, with the sole victory being a 2-1 win at Everton in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. The Gunners last beat Villarreal in 2006 with a 1-0 victory, which was the Spanish club's only loss in England. Those spread punters looking to get involved in the total goals market will note that Arsenal have yet to concede at home in Europe this season and have only conceded seven goals in their 23 game unbeaten run.
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