Football Predictions

The Champions League Final 14th May 2012

As of the 1^st January 2012 Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo had the following managerial honours to his name – nothing, zero, nada. Bayern Munich manager, Jupp Heynckes as of the same date had a couple of Bundesliga titles, a Champions League (with that fairly successful team, Real Madrid) and a few other assorted medals, not to mention a trophy laden playing career including a World Cup and a European Championship. No contest? On paper yes. But after some of the results in this year’s crazy competition you wouldn’t bet against a Chelsea victory – and where you bet is where Unibet comes in. With over 150 pre match markets already on line, and many more to come, Unibet is the only place you would want to bet on the Champions League Final. If you factor in our terrific live offering and our 0-0 insurance offer (we refund all losing bets on correct score, HT/FT, first/last goal scorer if the game finishes 0-0), why would you possibly want to bet anywhere else?!
As they are playing in their home stadium, the Fußball Arena München (renamed from the Allianz Arena due to Uefa sponsorship rules), Bayern are understandable favourites at 1.80. However, Bayern’s recent record isn’t the strongest – they got thumped by Bundesliga winners Dortmund in the German Cup, and the possibility that the expectation of the home crowd may lead to nerves amongst the players, which is possibly why they are not an even shorter price. Chelsea are being backed by some at 4.65 to win on the night, and they have saved their best form for the cups this year with a FA Cup already in the trophy cabinet. However a lack of key players due to suspension and poor league form means they are rank outsiders. 4 of the last 11 Champions League Finals have finished in a draw after 90 minutes (including the last time Chelsea were in the final in 2008) and the draw is backable at 3.60. It is worth noting for all you live punters out there that the last 4 finals that have gone to extra time have also gone to penalties.
If history dictates how you bet, then a repeat of Bayern’s 2-0 defeat in the 2010 final is available at 24.00, whilst a repeat of the 1-1 draw in Chelsea’s only Champions League final in 2008, and in Bayern’s final in 2001 can be backed at 7.50.
There is also a shootout between Chelsea and Bayern’s master finishers in Didier Drogba and Mario Gomez. Gomez will finish joint top goal scorer in this season’s competition if he scores twice in the final and he is 3.25 to score more than Drogba with Drogba 5.75 to come out on top, with the draw at 1.67. Gomez is the favourite for first goal scorer at 4.60, with 5 Bayern players a lower price than any Chelsea player to score first, including ex-Chelsea star Arjen Robben at 6.00 and French wizard Franck Ribery at 7.50. If Chelsea players take your fancy then Drogba is 9.50 to score first, while penalty taker and scorer of Chelsea’s goal in the 2008 final Frank Lampard is available at odds of 12.50.
Chelsea scored first half injury time goals in both games in the Semi Finals against Barcelona, and either team to score in that period is 25.00. In the 2008 final Drogba was sent off, and for him to get a card of any colour is 4.00, whilst the opposite is 1.20, whilst Bayern ‘engine-roomer’ Bastian Schweinsteiger is 3.60 to pick up a card and 1.25 not to.

“The majority of the money, roughly 75% is being put on Bayern but a few customers are seeing the value in Chelsea” says Unibet’s Head of Sportsbook Erik Backlund.

“Personally I think this final has plenty of goals in it, so I would back 4 or more goals at odds of 3.50 if I had to pick a market to bet on.”

Cheltenham Festival – Be part of the ‘Cheltenham roar’

The biggest horse racing festival in the sporting calendar is here! And Unibet will be offering odds on all of it!

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious racing events in the UK, and run over four days, there is plenty of action to catch.  Starting on Tuesday 15^th March, the men put on their finest suits, the women put on the grandest hats and head to the West of England and mingle amongst the royalty and the esteemed at the most magnificent of sporting events.

Without doubt the ‘jewel in Cheltenham’s crown’ – the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a major national event, and many would class it as unmissable.  Ran on the final day of the event, over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs (5,331 metres) and consisting of twenty-two fences, there is plenty of time for drama – and in the Gold Cup, drama is usually guaranteed.  Previous races have seen an odds on favourite in Kauto Star fall four jumps from home, Norton’s Coin who was a 100.00 outsider shock the market in 1990, and the UK’s favourite grey horse, Desert Orchid breaking a 66 year hoodoo to become the first grey to win the event.

This year is the year of the old guns. The current holder, Long Run is the odds on favourite and odds of 2.75 at Unibet, whereas Kauto Star, who is acclaimed to be the greatest British racehorse of all time can be backed at 5.00 as he returns to try and find his 2007-2009 form where he triumphed twice. However, there are doubts about Kauto Star’s form, and he is currently ‘50/50’ to start the race according to his trainer.

“The public feel a great affiliation with these horses as they watch them battle year in year out” says Erik Backlund, Head of Unibet’s Sportsbook.

“It’s great for the sport that these rivalries continue to occur, and with Unibet you can back your favourite and who knows, come Friday evening the country may have a new horsing hero.”

Other possible options for the race are Burton Port and Grands Crus at 10.00, both performing favourably in the market and Time for Rupert at 80.00, who can try and emulate the exploits of Norton’s Coin as the rank outsider.

On the opening Tuesday it is one of the punter’s favourite events, the Champion Hurdle, and the 2010 and 2011 winners dominate the betting, with 2011 winner Hurricane Fly a massive favourite at 1.90 and 2010 winner Binocular available at 6.00.  On the Wednesday people gather to watch the race named after the late, but great, Queen Mother and again the past two winners control the market, Big Zeb, who won in 2010 available at 5.50 but easily outbacked by last year’s winner, Sizing Europe at 1.90.

Unibet also offer markets on best jockey and best trainer, with stalwarts of the industry Ruby Walsh (1.67) and Barry Geraghty (4.50) the favourites to win the best jockey crown and Willie Mullins (2.25) and Nickie Henderson (3.50) the best placed for the trainers crown.

“I think that 15 time champion jockey and 2010 Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy is another public favourite and would be an interesting bet at 12.00.” says Erik.

Unibet have Ante Post prices online for every race from Cheltenham Festival and offer Place markets on all the top races. Unibet offer UK Horse Racing prices throughout the year on all the top Group 1 and Grade 1 action, as well as Horse Racing markets in France and Sweden. It is the place to be for some of the most competitive Horse Racing odds on the market.

Unibet Press information

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