Harry Kane is scoring goals for fun with Bayern (Picture: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Oktoberfest is in full swing in Bavaria. It began on Saturday when Munich’s mayor tapped on a keg and gleefully exclaimed: ‘O’zapft is!’ which is the wonderful equivalent of boxing’s: ‘Let’s get ready to rumble’ and ‘Gentlemen, start your engines’ at the Indy 500.
Unfortunately, Manchester United fans sampling the finest lagers on offer in the splendid bierkellers dotted around the city this week are far more likely to be drowning their sorrows than celebrating a victory at the nearby Allianz Arena.
United’s opening Champions League match with Bayern Munich may well be remembered for a lopsided score in favour of the hosts which is enough to drive even United’s staunchest fans to drink.
The two clubs famously met in the 1999 final with a couple of very late goals sealing an incredible victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side but the current United crop are nowhere near that level.
It appeared progress was being made when they finished last season in third place in the Premier League but all hopes of a new dawn under Erik Ten Hag’s leadership have been replaced by a wretched start to the new campaign which suggests all is far from well at Old Trafford.
The uncertainty of whether or not the Glazer family will sell the club, poor business in the transfer market, injuries, off-field troubles not involving football, the dispute between Ten Hag and Jadon Sancho and a loss of form have combined to leave United in 13th place in the table with just six points from the first 15 up for grabs.
What’s more, Harry Kane makes his Champions League bow for Bayern against the club who were in the running to sign him during the transfer window but decided he was too expensive.
Erik ten Hag is feeling the heat at Old Trafford (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Kane has hit the ground running in the Bundesliga with four goals in as many league starts plus another while captaining England in the 3-1 win against Scotland and the former Tottenham marksman is the obvious choice to open the scoring at 10/3 with BoyleSports.
He’s also 5/6 with William Hill and Bet365 to get on the scoresheet at some point in proceedings, while Bayern are 13/10 with Coral among others to win by more than one goal, with bet365 offering 10/1 for a 3-1 home win. Prost!
• Arsenal will have the Champions League anthem played at the Emirates for the first time in more than six years when they entertain PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners should run out winners but it could be close with the visitors in fine form and 2-1 appeals at 8/1 with William Hill, while Arsenal to win and both teams to score is 15/8 with bet365.
• Leeds and Leicester can both win away from home and form Wednesday’s Championship double at just over 4/1 with BetUK.
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