Defending champion Manchester United begins Champions League play on Wednesday as group stage play gets underway. Manchester United faces Villarreal on Wednesday and it is possible that Cristiano Ronaldo will make his return to the team for that match.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has missed the start of the Soccer Betting Premier League season as he recovers from ankle surgery. Ronaldo had 42 goals in all competitions last season and his return will be a welcome sight for United. The team lost to Liverpool in league play for the first time in seven years over the weekend without Ronaldo. “You have to recover, that’s the name of the game,” manager Alex Ferguson said, “It’s the Champions League and I think we are in a good group and I think we have a good chance of qualifying.”

Soccer News: Champions League Group Stage Begins

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is expected to be out of action for a few months with a knee injury he suffered in Ghanas World Cup qualifier against Libya. The injury is a major blow to Chelsea who was expected to compete with Manchester United for the Soccer Betting Premier League title this season.

“He has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to happen in a week’s time,” Chelsea said, “A return to full fitness is not expected for several months.”

In other Chelsea news, the team may end up regretting the decision not to sign Robinho. He signed with Manchester City and is vowing to make Chelsea pay for not signing him this summer. The two teams meet for the first time on Saturday. It was thought that Robinho would join Chelsea after deciding to leave Real Madrid but he couldnt come to terms with Chelsea on a deal and Manchester City ended up making a better offer.

Soccer News: Chelsea’s Michael Essien out for Months

Cristiano Ronaldo could be headed to Real Madrid, or he could not. The Glazer family, who owns Manchester United are talking like Ronaldo to Real Madrid is almost a certainty but other United officials are not so sure. Reports are circulating that the Glazers are now focused on the fee they will charge Real Madrid for the world’s best soccer player. It is expected to be a world record transfer fee, perhaps as high as 70-75 million Euro. Other reports have the club saying that Ronaldo will not be sold for any price.

Jorge Mendes is Ronaldo’s agent and he has reportedly told Manchester United that Ronaldo wants to go to Real Madrid. Ronaldo is set to have ankle surgery in the next few days and is availability for the start of next season is in question. He will not be making the preseason trip for Manchester United that begins in South Africa later this month.

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In other transfer news, Manchester City is getting tired of waiting for a decision from Barcelona’s Ronaldinho.

Read more on Conflicting Reports Regarding Ronaldo’s Future

Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he will decide next week whether or not to stay with Manchester United or go to Real Madrid.

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It is expected that Real Madrid will make an offer of up to £100 million for soccer’s best player Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo had 42 goals in all competition this season as Manchester United won both the Soccer Betting Premier League and the Champions League. “My future will be clear next week. Everyone will be pleased - my club as well as me,” Ronaldo said, “I think I will definitely be here next season. Yes, I want to stay. I have played five years for this club and I’d love to stay here. I love the people, the players are fantastic, the atmosphere is unbelievable, the staff are great. That is the reason I want to stay. We won the most important trophies this season. I want to do it again next season but no one knows the future.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is aware that Manchester United has a great team capable of winning again next season. “This is a young team and we have everything to win next year,” said Ronaldo. “We want to win the Champions League again and we have a good chance. We have a good team spirit. I can get better. The goals are not the most important thing. Maybe I will…

Read more on Manchester United Soccer News: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Future to be Decided Next Week

The draw for the quarterfinals of the Soccer Betting Champions League was held on Friday and Arsenal will face Liverpool while Manchester United will play AS Roma. Barcelona takes on Schalke and Chelsea takes on Fenerbahce. The semifinal draw was also held. The winner of Arsenal-Liverpool faces the winner of Chelsea-Fenerbahce. The winner of United-Roma faces the winner of Barcelona-Schalke. The first legs of the quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st and Wednesday, April 2nd.

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“I think it’s challenging, interesting as well. It’s a good opportunity to be consistent against Liverpool because it’s three very important games for us,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, “It’s amazing but not surprising because I have seen that many times.” It would seem from the quarterfinal draw that United and Barcelona would be headed for a great semifinal while Chelsea would face the Liverpool-Arsenal winner. The Liverpool-Arsenal match looks to be a classic test in the quarterfinal round.

Read more on Champions League Quarterfinals Set

A seemingly safe lead of nine points in the Spanish League has dwindled to five for Real Madrid. FC Barcelona is rolling over everyone and is looking like a serious threat. Madrid has 56 points in first place, Barcelona has 51 and sits in second with Villarreal at 43 points in third and Atletico Madrid with 41 points in fourth.

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Barcelona has not lost this year in 11 games including a 3-2 Champions League win at Celtic on Wednesday. Barcelona has some serious talent with Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o. The win against Celtic was impressive. “It was one of our best games of the year,” captain Carles Puyol said. “We’ve rediscovered the pressure in our play that we did well in other seasons, and you can see the difference.” Barcelona has the leading scorer in Europe in Lionel Messi. Henry and Ronaldinho are also looking good.

The pressure is starting to mount on Real Madrid. “A week ago, everyone was saying the league was ours,” Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze said. “I don’t care about Barcelona. I have a lot of work to do on my team, which is the only one I think about.” Madrid is coming off a loss to AS Rosma and they are dealing with injuries. They were missing Robinho and Wesley Sneijder upfront and Pepe on defense. Madrid has to play their rival, Getafe on Sunday.

Read more on Soccer Betting Tips: FC Barcelona Gaining on Real Madrid

AS Roma vs. Real Madrid

Bet on AS Roma!

Italian Serie A club AS Roma have been quite formiddable in the UEFA Champions League, posting 3 wins, 2 draws and only 1 loss during the group stages. In their campaign for the Italian Serie A title, AS Roma are 2nd place so far in the standings, behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan by 8 points.

AS Roma, coached by Luciano Spalletti, will be relying on key players like David Pizarro, Philippe Mexes, Simone Perrotta, Ludovic Giuly and Francesco Totti to deliver a victory over Real Madrid.

Read more on UEFA Champions League Betting Review: AS Roma vs. Real Madrid

Barcelona FC picked up 3 points while Real Madrid picked up ZERO!

Barcelona FC were able to secure a 1-0 victory at the Nou Camp against Osasuna to give them 3 points to move up in the Spanish La Liga standings with a total of 47 points. Current Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid still lead the Spanish La Liga standings with 53 points, but a disapointing 2-0 away loss to Almeria allows Barcelona to close the gap for the race for the 2008 Spanish La Liga title.

Read more on Spanish La Liga Betting: Barcelona Closes Gap on Real Madrid for Spanish La Liga Title

Spanish La Liga Champions Real Madrid are now nine points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga after a 3-2 home win Sunday over third-placed Villarreal. Villarreal equalized twice against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, but Villarreal were finally beaten by a goal 13 minutes from time from Real Madrid substitute Wesley Sneijder.

The late win keeps Real Madrid’s 100-per-cent home record intact - and leaves them well placed to claim their 31st Liga title. Real Madrid now have 53 points from 21 games, nine more points than Barcelona at second place, who were held to a 1-1 draw in Bilbao.

Star of the show in the Estadio Bernabeu was Real Madrid’s Robinho, in his best form since joining Real in 2005.

Robinho shot the hosts ahead after just eight minutes, on a perfect pass from veteran playmaker Guti. In the 15th minute, Guiseppe Rossi levelled for Villarreal with a clever, left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area. It was the first league goal that Real had conceded in 564 minutes.

Read more on Spanish La Liga Betting Results: Real Madrid Win Against Villareal 3-2

The Madrid Derby is the Spanish La Liga football match that involves the rival teams based in the city of Madrid in Spain - Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid.

Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid were favorites going into this Spanish La Liga regular season match against Atletico Madird. However, Atletico Madrid thrives on defeating its cross-town rivals Real Madrid whenver the two come together to play the Madrid Derby. Besides, Atletic Madrid was looking forward to the home pitch advantage at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

Real Madrid had goals from its star strikers Raul Gonzalez and Ruud van Nistelrooy to ensure the victory over Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzales scored a goal only 33 seconds into the match when Raul guided a short pass from team mate Robinho into the back of the net to make the score 1-0.

Read more on Spanish la Liga Betting: Real Madrid Win Against Atletico Madrid 2-0 in Madrid Derby