2012 Outsiders: Football Betting

Benfica to win the Champions League at 50/1 Bet365
There is no disputing Barcelona are the best team in Europe, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich slightly behind them. In that respect, the bookmakers have them in the correct order in the betting for the Champions League.

However, looking beyond the obvious candidates a good case can be made to support Benfica at 50/1. Joint top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, they are unbeaten in their domestic league and went through the group stages of the Champions League without defeat. 

A team with a strong South American influence, they are solid in defence but creative in attack. Midfield Nicolas Gaitan is one of the most coveted players in Europe, whilst Oscar Cardozo and Nolito are finding the net with regularity. Benfica look the best of the rest at 50/1 (Bet365); they could be a decent each-way bet with ½ odds for reaching the final.

Russia to win Euro 2012 at 22/1 with Sportingbet
Like the Champions League the betting is dominated by Spain. The reigning World and European Champions are the team to beat, although they have to negotiate a tricky looking group.

There should be no such worries for co-hosts Russia. Drawn with Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic, Group A couldn’t be more straightforward. Home support can always inspire players to outperform, and once they reach the knockout stages anything is possible.

UK football fans might be familiar with the likes of Andrey Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko but Alan Dzagoev is the player to get excited about. The 21-year-old is a regular for CSKA Moscow and already has 17 international caps. Dubbed the ‘Russian Messi’ he should burst into the football world’s consciousness this summer.

With two teams in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Russian football is on the up. With fervent home support they look over priced at 22/1 (Sportingbet) with each way bets getting ½ odds if they reach the final.

Daniel Sturridge Euro 2012 top goalscorer at 66/1 with Coral
Bookmakers are bracing themselves for a flurry of patriotic bets in June as the English pile into their team. The 10/1 (Bet365) in the outright market is skinny enough for a side that tends to crumble under the weight of expectation but if you think England will do well at Euro 2012 there is a better value bet.

Wayne Rooney is currently the top scoring Englishman in the Premier League, but misses the first two games of the tournament through suspension. The second highest placed Englishman is Daniel Sturridge with 9 goals this season and at 66/1 (Coral) he is worth a speculative wager.

The 22-year-old is enjoying a fine run of form; including his loan spell at Bolton, he has scored 18 goals in 32 appearances over the past 12 months. An impressive return for a player often utilised as a winger. Having won his first international cap against Sweden, he is firmly in Fabio Capello’s thoughts and with a gap in England’s forward line there for the taking, his performances have put him at the front of the queue.

If England succeed at Euro 2012 there is a good chance the Chelsea striker will have contributed. At 66/1 (Coral) he is a value each way bet in the Golden Boot market,  with ¼ odds for a top four finish.