Gareth Bale could frighten the Real Madrid defence at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night
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People in Spain may already be talking about a Barcelona-Real Madrid semi-final in this year's Champions League but there is plenty to be done before we get to that stage and this week's quarter-finals could yet provide a shock or two.
Now I am not suggesting for a minute that Barcelona are not worthy favourites to win the trophy once more - of course they are - and bet365 make them top of the tree at 6/5. But though Shakhtar Donetsk should not trouble them too much this week, winning the whole thing still needs plenty to go right.
However, such is their class that I will not dissuade anyone from backing them. If Lionel Messi and Xabi stay fit then it will take an unbelievable effort to stop them. Madrid are 4/1 second favourites, while Chelsea are 13/2, Manchester United and holders Inter Milan 8/1, Tottenham 25/1 and both Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk 40/1 rank outsiders.
Cambers' Calls
- Barcelona to win Champions League - 11/10 bet365
- Manchester United E/W for Champions League - 8/1 bet365
- Tottenham to draw QF 1st leg at Real Madrid - 7/2 bet365
The quarter-final between Barca and Shakhtar may not be that much of a contest but the other three just might and the ones between Tottenham and Real Madrid, and Chelsea and Manchester United, could just be classics.
I don't really see why United are a longer price to win the competition than Chelsea when you look at their league form. To my mind, they are favourites to get through across the two ties, even if Fernando Torres, who has yet to score for Chelsea, has a history of running rings around Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the United defence. Torres is 13/10 to score at any time and at that price he may have many takers.
United are not playing as well as they have in recent seasons but somehow find themselves clear at the top of the English league while Chelsea are faltering. But does that make Chelsea more dangerous in the cup competition? Chelsea are 11/10 to win the first leg and though you'd think they have to do that to get through across the two legs, it's almost too close to call.
I really like the chances of Tottenham getting some sort of result in Madrid, however. Though Spurs have some injury worries, they play the kind of football that will worry the Spaniards and if they are on song - and if Gareth Bale plays - then I think they could at least force a draw in the Bernabeu. At 7/2 they seem good value to me.
Overall, though, Barcelona remain favourites and rightly so, but United could be the best outside bet now at 8/1. There is no reason they should be longer than Chelsea, and with a prospective semi-final against either Inter Milan or Schalke, their price will halve if they get past their fellow English side.
Inter know how to get the job done from their victory last year but they are not quite as strong this time and though I am not writing them off, United would fancy their chances of getting to the final. With bet365 still offering 1/3 the odds for the first two, 8/1 is a fine price.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
