Bayern 6-4 for successful European Cup defence
IT was billed as mission impossible for Manchester United and it proved just that on Wednesday night as the Red Devils' Champions League campaign came to an end at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
It wasn't plain sailing for the defending European champions, though, as a spirited United performance looked to be paying dividends when Patrice Evra opened the scoring with a screamer to give David Moyes's men a 2-1 aggregate lead.
However, that just served to wake Bayern from their uncharacteristic slumber and Mario Mandzukic levelled matters almost immediately.
From then on it was mainly Munich dominance and goals from Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben sent the German giants striding into the semi-finals.
United had been well backed leading up to the match and were cut from 10-1 to 7-1 by Ladbrokes to win inside 90 minutes with the firm building up their biggest liabilities on any one side this season with the Red Devils.
Bayern were joined in the semis by Atletico Madrid after they stunned Barcelona with a 1-0 win in the Vicente Calderon to send the Catalans packing 2-1 on aggregate.
An early Koke goal was enough for Diego Simeone's men who were 5-4 to seal their place in the semi-finals.
Bayern are 6-4 favourites with bet365 and Hills to be the first side to successfully defend the Champions League with Real Madrid next best at 9-4.
Atletico are 5-1 with Chelsea dismissed as 11-2 outsiders.
