Roberto Di Matteo can continue his remarkable reign as Chelsea boss on Saturday by adding the Champions League trophy to the team’s FA Cup success.
Unibet are offering a 0-0 Insurance cashback offer on the Champions League Final
As of the January 1, 2012 Chelsea manager Di Matteo had the following managerial honours to his name – nothing, zero, nada. Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes, as of the same date, had a couple of Bundesliga titles, a Champions League (with that fairly successful team, Real Madrid) and a few other assorted medals – not to mention a trophy laden playing career including a World Cup and a European Championship. No contest? On paper, yes, but after some of the results in this year’s crazy competition you would not bet against a Chelsea victory?
Because they are playing in their home stadium, the Allianz Arena, Bayern are understandable favourites at 1.80. However, Bayern’s recent record is not the strongest. They got thumped by Bundesliga winners Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup, and now the expectation of the home crowd on Saturday may lead to nerves amongst the players, which is possibly why they are not an even shorter price.
Chelsea are being backed by some at 4.65 to win on the night, and they have saved their best form for the cups this year with the FA Cup already in the trophy cabinet. However, a lack of key players due to suspension and poor league form means they are rank outsiders.
Four of the last 11 Champions League Finals have finished in a draw after 90 minutes (including the last time Chelsea were in the final in 2008) and the draw is backable at 3.60. It is worth noting for all you live punters out there that the last four finals that have gone to extra time have also gone to penalties.
If history dictates how you bet, then a repeat of Bayern’s 2-0 defeat in the 2010 final is available at 24.00, whilst a repeat of the 1-1 draw in Chelsea’s only Champions League final in 2008, and in Bayern’s final in 2001, can be backed at 7.50.
There is also a shootout between Chelsea and Bayern’s master finishers in Didier Drogba and Mario Gomez. Gomez will finish joint top goal scorer in this season’s competition if he scores twice in the final, and he is 3.25 to score more than Drogba. The Ivorian is 5.75 to come out on top, with the draw at 1.67.
Gomez is the favourite for first goal scorer at 4.60, with fove Bayern players a lower price than any Chelsea player to score first, including ex-Blues star Arjen Robben at 6.00 and French wizard Franck Ribery at 7.50. If Chelsea players take your fancy then Drogba is 9.50 to score first, while penalty taker and scorer of Chelsea’s goal in the 2008 final Frank Lampard is available at odds of 12.50.
Unibet’s Head of Sportsbook Erik Backlund told Bettingpro.com: “The majority of the money, roughly 75%, is being put on Bayern. However, a few customers are seeing the value in Chelsea.
“Personally I think this final has plenty of goals in it, so I would back four or more goals at odds of 3.50 if I had to pick a market to bet on.”
