Champions League Winner - 2007/8

[davidmphill]

Champions League: Winner Friday 23 May 2008 Related events...MatchesWinnerTop Goalscorer

Best odds/All odds FC Barcelona 5.5 5.5 5.8 6.5 5.5 6 5.5 - 5.5 6 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6 6.1 6 Chelsea 7.5 7.5 6.8 8 7.5 7 7 7.5 7 7 7.5 7.5 7.5 7 7.5 7.2 7.2 Manchester United 7.5 7 6.8 8 7 7.5 7 - 7 7.5 8 7.5 8 - 7.5 7.2 7.6 Inter Milan 10 10 9.4 10 10 10 10 - 10 11 9 9 10 9 10 10 10 AC Milan 11 11 9.4 10 11 9 10 9 9 10 9 9 10 10 10 10 12.5 Real Madrid 11 11 10.5 13 11 10 9 10 10 10 11 11 10 11 11 11.5 13 Liverpool 13 15 13 13 15 13 15 13 11 15 15 15 13 13 15 14 13.5 Arsenal 19 21 19 17 21 21 17 21 21 19 21 19 19 17 21 21 21 Lyon 19 21 16.5 17 21 17 21 17 17 21 21 17 19 19 21 18 25 Sevilla 21 21 23 26 21 21 26 26 21 26 21 26 23 21 21 25 17.5 Valencia 21 26 24 21 26 21 26 21 21 21 26 26 29 21 21 26 32 Roma 26 29 24 26 29 29 34 25 26 26 21 26 34 26 34 27 42 FC Schalke 04 34 67 50 34 67 67 51 51 34 51 41 51 51 51 51 60 90 VfB Stuttgart 41 67 56 41 67 67 51 51 34 51 51 67 51 51 51 68 95 Werder Bremen 26 51 43 34 51 51 67 26 51 29 34 41 41 26 51 50 95 PSV 51 67 58 67 67 67 67 71 67 51 51 67 67 67 81 70 220 Marseille 51 67 68 51 67 67 51 51 51 51 67 81 67 101 101 82 - Lazio 51 67 50 67 67 101 81 51 51 67 26 67 81 41 81 60 220 Porto 51 67 68 67 67 81 101 71 51 67 51 81 81 51 81 82 220 Benfica 126 101 - 101 101 81 126 101 101 101 67 101 101 101 101 - 210 Sporting Lisbon 101 126 - 101 126 101 126 - 101 126 101 126 101 101 126 - 350 Celtic 81 126 120 101 126 101 151 151 126 126 151 101 101 101 151 150 180 CSKA Moscow 101 81 - 101 81 101 151 101 - 81 101 151 101 - 101 - 240 Dinamo Bucuresti - - - - - - - - - 201 - - - - - - - Dinamo Kiev 201 126 - 201 126 - 201 - - 101 101 201 151 - 201 - - FC Steaua Bucuresti - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 201 - - Ajax 81 67 68 101 67 201 151 71 81 101 67 81 101 - 126 82 220 Rangers 126 151 - 151 151 201 126 201 151 151 126 151 151 - 201 - 230 Besiktas - - - - - - 201 - - 151 201 201 - - 251 - - Fenherbache 251 126 - 201 126 151 151 - - 101 201 - 151 - - - - Red Star Belgrade - - - - - - 251 - - - - - - - 251 - - Olympiakos 251 151 - 151 151 201 201 101 - 101 151 151 201 - 151 - 200

[Naiss]

Liverpool and Arsenal look good odds though it might be wise to wait for the group stage. I don't think Sevilla are seeded which would create a group of death for someone.

[DJ]

I don't think Man U will win for same reasons they didn't last year, defensively unstable. I don't rate Ferdinand as highly as others seem to and he keeps showing me why. Rio's concentration levels at times seem to be lacking and his passing seems to have deteriorated or he's trying too much with his passing. I might be wrong but I'm sure I have seen more wayward passes lately. Add in the fact that under Rio and Vidic there is not a lot of real cover and when the tough times hit them they'll concede. If you now add in the fact that Man U seem to struggle against any team that makes them work ie Reading, you will see that they have a number of weak spots. With Rooney out they lack a bit upfront, one of those who can make a real difference in group stage. Tevez is there but who knows how Tevez will play in Champions League as he has never experienced that level of football. I think they lack a real out and out scorer who can take them to the next level and unless they sign a 30 goal a season striker then they have no chance.

Chelsea too I doubt will win, they have a more resolute defence than Manchester United but I think at times that can lack that bit of novelty with their attacks. They often play too narrow in midfield and don't really test opposition full backs. It's why Lampard seems to play better in a Chelsea shirt than and England shirt, because he gets more of the ball. They seem to oft play an attack of hoof to Drogba and hope he does something or alternatively play a simple lay back to Lampard who eyes up his chances from outside the area before shooting. To this end I feel that Malouda and Wright-Phillips may help but only if used effectively. I believe that Joe Cole is a great midfielder but likes cutting in all too often which does nothing to help the width of the team. Finally at right full back they have a weak spot which does not appear to have been fully addressed. Belletti is a good signing but whether he is the answer only time will tell.

Arsenal flatter to deceive too often, playing beautiful passing football but too often with no end product. With Lehmann in goal they have a weak link as has been proved with a number of key mistakes so far this season. I don't believe he's comfortable with crosses, set pieces and seems to have a dodgy temperament. I too believe they have too little central defensive cover Gallas and Toure are a great pair but behind them, who? So I can see them making quarter finals maybe but no further.

Liverpool I believe will be the best English team again as they have a solid defence and can concede few goals. In Reina they have a great penalty stopping keeper who can make the difference at the end of those tight ties. With Torres, they have a striker who has shown great pace which will help with their counter attacking brand of football. They also have 3 superb central midfielders in Sissokko, Alonso and Gerrard. Gerrard now freed up will make a big difference when fit in attacking. Again they have a lack of real cover at centre back but I believe they are different to Arsenal and Man U in this, in that they have a more defensively minded central midfield partnership who will come to the rescue at crucial times. They have proved they are capable of strong results in the past and I believe they could be there or thereabouts again this season.

I think I will have a nibble on them at those odds as think they are most likely English team to be successful in this competition this season.

[gerrie26681]

Liverpool at 15/1 is smashing odds, and offers great opportunities to lay them off later for a profit.