The Premier League could provide three of the four Champions League semi-finalists this season but the early odds suggest that Manchester United will struggle to be one of those teams.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men drew Barcelona in the quarter-finals and are out at 3/1 (4.0) to qualify for the last four with 888Sport, and 5/2 (3.50) to win the first leg at Old Trafford.
Indeed, the bookmaker places much more faith in Barca to make the semi-finals for the first time in four years, making the La Liga champions just 11/50 (1.22) in that respect and 21/20 (2.05) for victory in Manchester.
GettyUnited’s cross-city rivals, however, appear have a more straightforward route. City drew fellow Premier League side Tottenham and 888Sport offer just 1/6 (1.16) that Pep Guardiola’s men qualify.
Spurs are priced at 7/2 (4.50) to make it into the last four, which would represent their best ever Champions League campaign, and are significant 33/10 (4.33) outsiders for the first leg in north London.
The match is set to take place at Tottenham’s new stadium but that has not deterred bookmakers from offering City as odds-on favourites at just 3/4 (1.75)to take the advantage back to the Etihad.
Looking to join their domestic title rivals in the semi-finals are Liverpool, who have been priced at 1/5 (1.20) to see off Porto for the second season in a row.
The Reds blitzed their Portuguese opponents 5-0 at Estadio do Dragao in the last 16 on their way to the final last term, so it is perhaps little surprise that 888Sport go 8/25 (1.32) on Liverpool winning the home leg this time around.
Porto can be backed at 9/1 (10.0) to claim a first leg victory whilst the draw, which occurred between these sides last season at Anfield, is available at 21/5 (5.20).
The remaining tie sees Ajax look to upset the book again after stunning Real Madrid 4-1 in the last 16. They are 13/4 (4.25) to continue that trend by beating Juventus, with the Serie A champions 1/5 (1.20) to progress.
888Sport