Manchester United v Galatasaray: Easy victory on the cards for Red Devils

RVP and Co should record an opening game Champions League win
Manchester United will want to avoid falling at the Group stages for a second successive season says Mike Norman and they'll be fired up to record an impressive opening game fixture...
Manchester United 1.341/3 v Galatasaray 11.5n/a; The Draw 5.79/2
Manchester United set out on a record 18th season in the Champions League desperate to avoid falling at the first hurdle for the second year in succession.
Last season United were undoubtedly in one of the easier qualifying groups but their home form let them down badly, failing to beat both Basle and Benfica at Old Trafford whilst conceding five goals in the process.
The Red Devils were dumped into the Europa League, but home losses - again conceding five goals in two games - to Ajax and Athletic Bilbao saw them eliminated from that competition, and worrying it's now four games out of five that they have failed to win on home soil in Europe, conceding a massive 10 goals in those games.
And just like when you miss a short putt in golf you instantly get another short putt on the next green, United have been handed another 'easy' group a year after their last failure.
With respect to Braga, CFR Cluj and Galatasaray, it will be a huge surprise if Sir Alex Ferguson's men don't top Group H (they are available to back at 1.282/7 to do so), and arguably a bigger surprise if they don't start with a win at home to the Turkish champions tonight.
Team News
Patrice Evra is set to return at left-back for United despite the impressive debut performance of Alexander Buttner on Saturday, whilst both Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa came through training yesterday and should start.
For Galatasaray defenders Tomas Ujfalusi and Sabri Sarioglu are set to miss the game through injury, but in-form striker Umut Bulut (five league goals in four games) will partner former Bolton striker Johan Elmander in attack.
Match Odds
At 1.341/3 to back United look a decent bet to start this season's Champions League campaign with a victory. Sir Alex is almost certain to start with his strongest team possible despite the club's huge league game with Liverpool on Sunday.
You sense wrapping up this group as quickly as possible is the priority for the United boss and he'll be desperate to make Old Trafford a fortress again in European competition. The Turks have been in decent form themselves, but they've never been great travellers in Europe and this opening fixture is as tough as it gets. United all the way for me.
Half Time/Full Time
The catalyst of past impressive Man Utd performances in Europe has been coming out of the blocks strongly and stamping their authority over the opposition as quickly as possible. And there's a feeling that that's exactly what they'll do tonight.
Whether United get an early goal or two is a different matter, but they won't fail for trying. A strong starting XI should be far too strong for Galatasaray and the Turks will have to be at their very best to keep Van Persie and Co at bay.
At 1.9420/21 to back Man Utd HT/Man Utd FT looks an excellent bet in this market. Ferguson will fire his men up to get some early goals and with the quality in their side it's impossible to envisage them not doing so.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals & Correct Score
I can see the home side winning this game easily, but assuming the Turks don't score then United would have to score at least three to land the Overs in this market. Yes, they probably will, but 1.564/7 looks a bit skinny to me. Under 2.5 Goals might be worth a small bet at 2.747/4 with the reasoning being that if/as soon as United get to 2-0 they might step off the gas a little with that huge Premier League fixture on the horizon.
But the likelihood is that United will be in goal-scoring form tonight and instead of backing Over 2.5 Goals at the skinny price on offer, instead back Any Unquoted Score (any side to score at least four) at 4.1n/a in the Correct Score market. United are more than capable of running up a big number if they play a strong side and get on the scoresheet early.
Recommended Bets
Back Man Utd HT/Man Utd FT @ 1.9420/21
Back Any Unquoted Correct Score @ 4.1n/a