Andy's Final tips - Man Utd will beat Barca

The odds available on Manchester United winning the Champions League Final against Barcelona on Saturday night are, for my money, extremely generous. I wouldn't put anyone off backing them outright for the match at [4.1] as this is a much closer match-up than many people think. How often do you get a chance to back Manchester United to win a football match at that sort of price?

I know they're playing against the team widely regarded as the best in the world but Manchester United possess huge amounts of talent. Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic would get in any team in the world right now; wide men Park Ji Sung and Antonio Valencia are in great form while Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have struck up a lovely partnership in recent weeks.

Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are exceptional individuals, hugely talented, but are the rest of the Barcelona players better than Manchester United's? I don't think they are.

I understand why Betfair punters have Barcelona as favourites but anyone who underestimates Manchester United is foolish. Of course Barca are great but I'm not convinced that they can't be beaten. They've lost games this season - Arsenal beat them in north London remember.

A lot of people are pointing to the 2009 Final, which Pep Guardiola's men won 2-0, but I think the memory of that defeat will motivate Manchester United at Wembley.

Barcelona were by far the best team but many people forget that the Red Devils were superb for the first 20 minutes. Their heads went down after Samuel Eto'o's goal and if they go behind, they need to be more composed and persistent this time.

I would love to see Manchester United come out on the front foot and take the game to their opponents. They should play high up the field and make Victor Valdes kick as much as possible because Barcelona are not a big team and can be beaten in the aerial battles.

They need to keep that trio of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi in their own half where they can't do any damage because if you sit back against them, you're asking for trouble.

I expect Sir Alex to play Rooney and Hernandez up front with Park and Valencia out wide. Ryan Giggs will start in midfield and I think Michael Carrick will just shade Darren Fletcher for the other central berth.

Carrick played arguably his two best games for the club in the away legs against Chelsea and Schalke so he's one for the big occasions. Valencia can cause Eric Abidal problems whilst Carles Puyol (if he plays) and Gerard Pique could well struggle against Rooney and Hernandez.

So I'm backing Manchester United. The only reservation I have is that the genius might turn up: whoever and however you play counts for very little if a talent as mercurial as Lionel Messi's kicks into gear.

The Argentine has showed once again this season that he is head and shoulders above any other player in the world right now but Manchester United will have been studying him for weeks, working on ways of stopping him finding his rhythm.

I have a feeling this will be their night. They won their first European Cup at Wembley in 1967-68 and I can see them claiming their fourth on Saturday night in a fast, furious and hard-fought final. I expect lots of goals so I'm hedging my bets on the to score market.

Recommended Bets:
Back Manchester United to win at [4.1]
Back Manchester United to win 3-2 at [40.0]
Back Wayne Rooney to score at [3.8]
Back Javier Hernandez to score at [4.4]
Back Antonio Valencia to score at [9.0]
Back Lionel Messi to score at [2.64]
Back Pedro to score at [4.2]

Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.

Published: 27 May 2011

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