Champions League

Two from two here as Utd drew 1-1 with Lyon and Fenerbache won 3-2.

Tuesday’s Champions League games highlighted the importance of home advantage in knockout football at the top level as none of the visiting sides established a first leg lead. Chelsea were the only away team to emerge with parity, from their trip to Athens, and Wednesday sees Manchester United chance their arm on their travels. They take on Lyon.

United were rampant against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday and will surely have taken enormous confidence from that 4-0 mauling after two lacklustre displays previously. The fact they did it with the likes of Ronaldo, Tevez, Giggs and Scholes on the sidelines was impressive and, despite last night’s trend, I think they’ll emerge with at least a draw to take back to Old Trafford.

While Lyon remain dominate in France, regular readers will know that I have never rated French domestic football and, although they have done very well in the Champions League over the past five years or so, I feel they’ve had their chances. Very good at home they may be, it’s ten wins from thirteen matches so far this season, but they don’t play sides like United every week.

The emergence of young stars such as Karim Benzema has not gone unnoticed but Fergie will fancy his men to score and I think that will be enough to secure at least a draw. 1-1 would do United nicely heading back to Old Trafford but I wouldn’t rule out them grabbing a first leg advantage.

The other bet on Wednesday is a lay of an away team and I can’t see Sevilla winning in Turkey. The La Liga outfit take on Fenerbahce and I am a big fan of Turkish and Greek sides on home soil. They might be awful on their travels, but their records, in general, are brilliant at home and Fenerbahce are no exceptions.

Domestically the Turks are unbeaten in their own stadium this season and that is a huge positive given how poorly Sevilla play on their travels. They were battered at the Emirates in the group stage and have been beaten seven times this term already away from home.

Seville undoubtedly boast a superior squad but they can’t be relishing tonight’s game and the likes of Kanoute, Fabiano and Capel will surely be delighted to return on level terms. That would almost certainly see them through to the last eight but at the prices they are a lay in the first leg and 2.90 looks very short indeed.