Manchester United's fourth place finish in the Premier League last year was worthwhile enough to put it in the Champions League playoff. The Red Devils did the job at Old Trafford, putting aside Club Brugge with ease 3-1. The job isn't done though, and a two-goal loss on Belgian soil on Wednesday would be a disaster.
ODDS ANALYSIS
There's still a massive difference between these two teams. The Belgian squad is considered significantly worse than one of the best teams in England, though we have certainly seen stranger things happen in the Champions League, where the Brits haven't had the most success in recent years.
Manchester United is still favored on the road at Jan Breydel Stadium. The Red Devils are set as -115 favorites on the moneyline, and they are -0.5 on the Asian Handicap as well.
The total needs to be high for Club Brugge to have a shot at winning this match, knowing that the Belgians need at least two goals to have a chance to advance. The number to beat is 2.5 with vig on the over at -125.
THE FIRST MEETING
Manchester United actually fell behind in the opening leg of this tie in the eighth minute when Michael Carrick scored for the Belgians, but from that point forward, this match belonged to the hosts.
Man U scored three times without a response, and matters could have been a heck of a lot worse for the Club Brugge as well. At least here at 3-1, there is a chance to salvage a 2-0 victory which would send it into the Champions League proper. Had United nailed a fourth, this match would have clearly been inconsequential.
Memphis Depay was the hero for the Red Devils, as he bagged a brace in the 'W'.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm sure we'll start scoring many goals soon. We've got so much quality up front that it's only a matter of time before someone puts one away and we'll be flying again." – Manchester United defender Luke Shaw on his team's struggles in front of goal to start off the season
RECENT FORM
Club Brugge has played incredibly well here at home. The team has gone 4-1-0 in five matches at home this year, including beating Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
Manchester United only has two goals to show for its work in three games in the Premier League, an incredible disappointment for a team which was supposed to be off and running with a shot to contend for the EPL title in 2015-16. That said, the results haven't been bad. The Red Devils are 3-1-0 in competitive matches thus far this season, though no one in Manchester seems to be satisfied with it all.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Red Devils don't need to win this game, but they're probably going to. The first game against Club Brugge marked the first time that the United offense really looked good this year, and Louis van Gaal knows that he needs to start making these fans a little bit happier in Manchester.
Expect to see Depay and Wayne Rooney come forward with another really good game in this one, as Manchester United gets on the board early and turns this game into nothing but a glorified scrimmage.
Manchester United 2, Club Brugge 1
The Champions League lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker Sportsbook with Manchester United lined as a -115 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 Club Brugge is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 2:45 p.m. ET at Jan Breydel Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
