Manchester United and Chelsea have winnable home matches in the Champions League tonight and the DOUBLE on the English sides to beat CSKA Moscow and Atletico Madrid respectively pays almost 2/1. There are five clubs from the Premier League playing in the competition this season and there is a great chance of them all qualifying for the knockout stages. That would be a first but ahead of the last set of fixtures they are all leading their groups.
There have been times in the history of the European Cup and Champions League when English clubs have dominated. In fact teams from England won the old European Cup seven times in eight years from 1976 to 1984. From 2004-05 to 2011-12 eight clubs from the Premier League qualified for the final and Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea were champions of Europe. In each final from 2006 to 2009 the losing finalists were English clubs but none have reached the final in the last five years.
ENGLAND is the favourite at 15/8 in the Winning Nationality market. One league has not provided five of 16 teams in the first knockout round in the history of the Champions League. Barcelona and Real Madrid and more recently Atletico progress from the rounds but Spain does not have the strength in depth of the Premier League qualifiers this season. In fact it’s rare for five clubs from one country to play in the Champions League but in winning the Europa League Manchester United joined the four qualifiers from their finishing position in the Premier League.
Chelsea are odds-against to beat Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge tonight and that seems a big price when you consider that the Spanish club have won just three of their last 11 matches in the Champions League on the road. Chelsea have already qualified but would be group winners with three points from this match. Manchester United have not conceded in 9 of their last 11 home games in all competitions. Two wins make the English clubs group winners and the halcyon days would be back.
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