Sportsbook odds in the Champions League will not include Manchester United after the Red Devils collapsed against Bayern Munich. United won 3-2 in the second leg vs. the odds at the Internet sportsbook but lost on aggregate due to away goals.
Sportsbook odds are down to the semifinals of the Champions League but they will not include Manchester United. It sure looked like they would though as United jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Bayern at Old Trafford. With the 3-0 lead it meant that United was up two goals on aggregate. Things changed though as Ivica Olic got one back just before the break. It got worse for United early in the second half when Rafael was sent off for a second yellow card. United simply could not hold on being a man short.
United looked so good early in the match especially with Wayne Rooney in the lineup. That was a major shock since Rooney was expected to be out for at least a couple of weeks.
Arjen Robben got the late goal for Bayern that pulled them within 3-2 and even 4-4 on aggregate and with the away goal edge. United manager Alex Ferguson was furious about the red card given to Rafael. He was very upset about the pressure that the Bayern players put on referee Nicola Rizzoli.
“There is no doubt about it. They were never getting through that tie. With 11 men, we had no problem. The young boy showed a bit of inexperience, but they got him sent off, everyone sprinted towards the referee – typical Germans.” The call actually may have been correct even though Ferguson complained. He was not ready to give Bayern any credit. “We played better today than they did in their own ground. Without the extra man they made the ball work and I thought we defended very well. It’s taken an exceptional strike to settle the tie. We have done well – the performance was excellent. We were very unlucky.” Ferguson added.
The semifinals of the Champions League begin on Tuesday, April 20th with the first leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona. The sportsbook odds list Barcelona as the favorite in that first leg match. The other semifinal first leg is on Wednesday, April 21st as Bayern is a solid favorite in soccer odds at the Internet sportsbook against Lyon.