BetClic Experts Gullit, Desailly and Sacchi: Barca and United Will Reach the Champions League Final!

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Apr 20, 2011, 10:35 ET

LONDON, April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The star-studded ambassador team at BetClic (http://www.betclic.com/), including Marcel Desailly, Ruud Gullit, Karel Poborsky, Arrigo Sacchi and Dan Petrescu, have had their say - and all of them believe Barcelona and Manchester United will go through to the Champions League final at Wembley! However, many of them think that Real Madrid can cause Barcelona problems in the first match.

"I do not see Barcelona as clear favourites," says BetClic (http://www.betclic.com/) ambassador Ruud Gullit, while Marcel Desailly "backs Real Madrid to win the first leg".

The Champions League semi-finals see Bundesliga side Schalke 04 clashing with Manchester United, while Real Madrid challenge Barcelona in another "El Clasico". The first legs take place on Tuesday 26 April and Wednesday 27 April respectively.

"We are in for a treat", says Marcel Desailly, one of the stars in BetClic's ambassadorial team, who have made their predictions ahead of the Champions League semis.

Arrigo Sacchi, double Champions League winner with AC Milan, warns of the danger in underestimating Schalke 04, while Romanian star Dan Petrescu believes Barcelona are not just favourites to overcome Real, but also to lift the trophy.

So what do the experts and stars at BetClic (http://www.betclic.com/) thinks about the Champions League semi-finals?

Check it out here:

Marcel Desailly's tips

Schalke 04 - Manchester United

To reach final: Manchester United. BetClic odds: 1.25 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: Schalke - Man. Utd 1-1. BetClic odds: 6.50 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"Schalke 04 are a strong and very ambitious team. I did not expect them to be in the semi-finals but here, it is not an advantage to start at home. Manchester United will score the goal that will make life quite easy for them at Old Trafford. United is like a very solid train and seems unstoppable. Also mentally, Schalke will be pleased with reaching this stage, and it can be a challenge for them to find the right spirit if things go against them, as they are not used to being in such a position."

Real Madrid - Barcelona

To reach final: Barcelona. BetClic odds: 1.40 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: Real - Barcelona 2-1. BetClic odds: 10.00 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"I back Real Madrid to win the first leg. For the first time in a long time, Real have a great defensive capacity. Mourinho knows that they need to field more defensive midfielders than normal and will adjust his tactics to achieve that. I think Real will win the game 2-1 but Barcelona will turn this around at Camp Nou in classic fashion. They have the skill and power and will attack from all corners at home."

Ruud Gullit's tips

Schalke 04 - Manchester United

To reach final: Manchester United. BetClic odds: 1.25 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: 1-1. BetClic odds: 6.50 (https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"Schalke 04 are the surprise package this season in the Champions League and they have the best goalie in the world in my eyes in Manuel Neuer, who would be a great replacement for his United counterpart Edwin Van Der Sar. But their defence will struggle against a clinical United. The Premier League leaders may not have played perfect football this season but they score with nearly every chance and United have massive confidence in the side. Sir Alex Ferguson really knows what he is doing and United will reach the final after finishing off Schalke 2-0 at Old Trafford in the return leg."

Real Madrid - Barcelona

To reach final: Barcelona. BetClic odds: 1.40 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: 2-1. BetClic odds: 10.00 (https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"I do not see Barcelona as being as clear a favourite as the odds do. I have a huge respect for Jose Mourinho and his ability to handle matches like this. But Barcelona are the best attacking team in the world and will have most of the possession. Xavi, Messi and the rest are so good with their passing and movement. I think the key for Mourinho will be to keep a clean sheet but they will not make it and even though I think Real will win 2-1 and try to play physical in the first match it will set up Barcelona ahead of the return leg to go through."

Dan Petrescu's tips

Schalke 04 - Manchester United

To reach final: Manchester United. BetClic odds: 1.25 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: 1-1. BetClic odds: 6.50 (https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"United will go through. They have everything. The coach and the players. Sir Alex Ferguson is a clever coach and knows exactly what to do. In my eyes. For example, Chelsea have better players than United but The Reds are working better as a team this season. Schalke 04 are well organised and play well in defence, plus veteran Raul is on fire. But United will be too strong over two legs."

Real Madrid - Barcelona

To reach final: Barcelona. BetClic odds: 1.40 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: 2-3. BetClic odds: 20.00 (https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"Barcelona have been the best club in the world over the last hundred years and they probably will be in the coming hundred years as well! For me, Barca are favourites to win the tournament and I cannot see Real challenging them even if Mourinho will do his best to find the right tactics. I feel that there will be a lot of goals in this encounter and Barca will have control from start to finish."

Karel Poborsky's tips

Schalke 04 - Manchester United

To reach final: Manchester United. BetClic odds: 1.25 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: Schalke - Man. Utd 0-0. BetClic odds: 8.00 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"I watched Schalke 04 during the quarter-final stage and they surprised me - they are in really great shape. This is not going to be easy for Manchester United at all. I believe the football played here will be great to watch with many beautiful moments. Schalke deserve to be at this late stage of the tournament, but United are favourites and I am backing them to win."

Real Madrid - Barcelona

To reach final: Barcelona. BetClic odds: 1.40 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8) Match 1 tips: Real - Barcelona 1-1. BetClic odds: 6.50 ( https://en.betclic.com/sport/eventdetail.aspx?id=8)

"Wow. Very difficult to pick one team here, but I see this to be 60/40 in favour of Barcelona as they have the better mental strength and are surfing on a winning wave. They will be the winner in this "El Clasico" semi-final and remain on the Spanish throne confirming their dominance in world football."

Arrigo Sacchi's tips

Schalke 04 - Manchester United

"Schalke 04 are the surprise of the tournament and are a well-organised side. They don't have the superstars but compensate that with skill and a good variety of attacking options. After knocking out Internazionale, they should not be underestimated by Manchester United. The English side are the stronger team and are my favourites to go through but this will be two extremely interesting clashes."

Real Madrid - Barcelona

"This will definitely be entertaining and the result in the first match will surprise a few I think. Even though Barcelona have had great recent results against Real, I can see Madrid developing faster as a team. That said, Barcelona is a fantastic side and will go through at the end."

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