пятница, 23 ноября 2012 г.

Champions League Results: Chelsea thrashed, Celtic heartbreak

Juventus striker Fabio Quaqliarella celebrates the opening goal

Chelsea's continuation in the Champions League is reliant on results elsewhere after they were thrashed in Italy tonight, but Celtic came oh so close to reaching the knock-out stage...

Chelsea's grip on the Champions League loosened considerably this evening as they suffered a damaging loss to Juventus whilst Shakhtar Donetsk qualified for the knock-out stage with victory over FC Nordsjlland.

It means that just one qualifying place remains in Group E, with the Blues having to beat FC Nordsj at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight's time whilst hoping that Donetsk beat Italian giants Juve.

Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo rested a host of star names during Saturday's loss to West Brom in preparation for tonight's tie, but then recalled them to start in a rather unfamiliar formation that included no recognised striker; 50m forward Fernando Torres being left on the bench.

The manner of the 3-0 defeat will open Di Matteo up to a lot of criticism but there's an argument to suggest that no matter what side and formation the Chelsea boss started with, Juve's dominance was so superior that they would have defeated any Chelsea side that didn't include John Terry.

Juventus were matched at just 2.0621/20 to win the game, whilst the 3-0 Correct Score was matched at a high of 24.023/1 In-Play.

In the Group E To Qualify market Betfair punters clearly feel The Old Lady are in pole position, available to back at 1.331/3 to make it out of the group with Chelsea available to back at 3.55n/a.

Celtic came extremely close to reaching the knock-out stage but will now have to better Benfica's result (who face Barcelona away from home) when they meet Spartak Moscow on home soil in two week's time. Neil Lennon's men needed just a score draw to qualify this evening, but a late Benfica goal sealed a 2-1 victory and kept the second qualifying slot in the balance.

Celtic can be backed at 1.618/13 To Qualify from Group G with the Portuguese outfit available to back at 2.526/4.

Elsewhere Manchester United went down by a single goal in Turkey as they lost 1-0 to Galatasaray, though with Sir Alex Ferguson's men assured of top spot in the group the result meant little from a British perspective.

Barcelona remain the 3.65n/a favourites to win the Champions League next May, just ahead of Real Madrid (4.77/2) and Bayern Munich (8.88/1). United can be backed at 11.5n/a whilst Chelsea are quoted at 65.064/1.

Комментариев нет:

Отправить комментарий