It's really tough to suggest that the entire season for Manchester United is going to come down to how well it plays in the Champions League, but with the way Manchester City has pulled away from the rest of the Premier League in the opening month of the year, that might be the case. Louis van Gaal is under tremendous pressure coming back to his Dutch homeland on Tuesday night against PSV Eindhoven in the opening Group B fixture.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Red Devils are favored in this match, which shouldn't be considered all that much of a surprise, but they are also in a situation where there is some interpretation as to whether they will survive at all. The price of +108 on the road is a scary one, knowing that there are so many teams at this stage who lose on the road as similar favorites.
The total is not surprisingly rather drab at a flat 2.5, though it should be noted that both of these offenses are in fine form heading into this match.
KEY INJURIES
Wayne Rooney is going to be the notable absence for Manchester United in this match. A hamstring problem kept him out against Liverpool over the weekend, and van Gaal hopes to have him back for the weekend's fixture against Southampton. Instead, teenager Anthony Martial is going to get his Champions League debut in all likelihood lining up with Dutchman Memphis Depay in the trip to Eindhoven.
David de Gea though, should start in this match after some question about his fitness coming into the weekend's fixture with Liverpool.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Manchester United supporters now have to go away and reeducate themselves on how to watch Manchester United. Don't go there expecting to see free-flowing, attacking, gung-ho football. It's methodical, side to side, wait for an opportunity to come. It's a different type of football, very methodical, clear-cut pattern of the way he wants the team to play, and it's totally different." – Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on the new slower and more methodical way the Red Devils have been playing this season
RECENT FORM
PSV has opened its Eredivise season in fine form, as it is left without a defeat in six fixtures. The team come into the Champions League this year having just bagged six against Cambuur Leeuwarden, with Luuk de Jong bagging a first half hat trick and Jurgen Locadia nailing home two in the second half.
The Red Devils have eight points in five matches in the Premier League, but their best sign came in their last match when they scored three times against Liverpool after a drab start to the season offensive side.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Ferdinand has a point in this match, and it could end up resulting in some trouble in Eindhoven. The Red Devils aren't going to win a lot of 3-1 games this year as they did against Liverpool, as they are going to be a lot more methodical in their ways to slow things down.
Interestingly enough, the place where this could be the biggest problem for United is in van Gaal's homeland in Holland. The Dutch side has plenty of attacking power for sure, and with de Jong and Maxime Lestienne amongst other attackers in fine form, PSV will come into this match not just thinking it can get a share of the spoils, but all of them as well.
PSV 1, Manchester United 0
The Champions League lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker Sportsbook with Manchester United lined as a +108 moneyline favorite and a total of 2.5. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, spreads and totals. Live betting is open during every step of this match!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 2:45 p.m. ET at Philips Stadion. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
