UEFA Champions League: FC Basel vs Manchester United Odds and Betting Preview

BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Manchester United’s trip to Basel on Wednesday night is a crucial one for Sir Alex Ferguson and his team. A defeat would send last year’s finalists crashing out of the competition in the group stages, although bookmakers think United should come away with a win, making them favourites for the game, at 8/11 with William Hill. The draw is 14/5 with Boylesports, while the hosts are 5/1 with Ladbrokes to take all three points and send their opponents into the Europa League.

Basel are in excellent form going into the game, with seven league wins in a row propelling them to a six-point lead at the top of the table. They should be confident that they can get a result after drawing with United at Old Trafford and will hope to spring a surprise similar to the one United suffered at the hands of Crystal Palace in the League Cup a week ago. A further worry for the visitors is the injury of Dimitar Berbatov which, with Javier Hernandez already sidelined, will leave them short of options up front.

Boylesports have made a 1-0 win for United the favourite score for the game, at 13/2, ahead of a 1-1 draw, at 15/2 with the same firm, and a 2-0 United win, at 8/1 with Paddy Power. Boylesports are also top price on 0-0, at 14/1, and on the giant-toppling 1-0 to Basel, at 16/1. A repeat of the 3-3 draw from the first leg can be backed at 80/1 with Sportingbet.

Wayne Rooney has scored just once in his last nine appearances and United need their talisman to find his scoring boots if they are to go far in the Champions League this season. Rooney is 4/1 favourite with Bet 365 to open the scoring on Wednesday, with Danny Welbeck next at 11/2 with the same firm. Federico Macheda can be backed at 8/1 with Betfred, with Ladbrokes going the same price on Nani, while William Hill are top price on Alexander Frei for Basel, offering 9/1.

United cannot afford to hang around with the scores level on Wednesday night and they are 6/4 to lead at both half-time and full-time, with Coral going 7/2 that they win after drawing at the break. The same firm make it 11/2 that both halves are drawn, while Basel/Basel and draw/Basel can be backed at 10/1 and 14/1 respectively with Ladbrokes.

The game kicks off at 19.45 GMT and will be live on Sky Sports.

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