Europa League
2012-02-16 - Ajax vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Football : Europe : Europa League
Thursday, February 16th, 2012, 6:00PM GMT
PREVIEW
Ajax and Manchester United both dropped out of the Champions League and will now dance with each other in a 1st leg here before they finish the tie at Old Trafford but it will be Ajax who will be more peeved to be in the Europa League. They looked set to qualify before a crazy result in another group match saw Lyon score 7 goals to jump ahead of them on goal difference and get through. Anyway, a tie against Manchester United is Champions League quality, even if they aren't in the actual tournament.
Ajax won on the weekend, 2-0 but they are still all the way down in 6th in their domestic league. Prior to the last win they had dropped 3 of 4 games too, so their current form is hardly dominant. Their form at home has hardly been strong, and they have dropped games here too recently. It makes perfect sense that Manchester United are the heavy favourites to come and win here.
Manchester United performed as bad as we've ever seen them do in the Champions League, which is why they're now here for the first time in ooh, 15 odd years? Basel and Benfica qualified ahead of the Red Devils but they have done well recently, performing heroically in the Premier League to catch up to Manchester City. The recent come back at Chelsea, who they trailed 0-3 before grabbing a draw will have encouraged them tremendously.
There are a few omissions from this United team, who have left Giggs, Berbatov and Evra home. This is hardly a problem as the team that will be fielded is still strong. Rooney will be a constant threat after his brace against Chelsea and the goals he scored against Liverpool on the weekend in that win. Then there are the likes of Scholes and Welbeck. I can see some goals for Manchester United, but as this is an away game I am wary of them slipping up and conceding.
BETTING VERDICT
The prices are nothing to breakdance about but I'm willing to go for United to simply win here and take back a lead of some sort.
The Pick :
Manchester United
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Manchester United to win @ 1.98 (Pinnacle)
