Betting League: Hull

There's only one round left in the inaugural United Betting League, but even those at the wrong end of the table can snatch victory when the Reds meet Hull on Sunday...

Lou Macari (The Red Legend) stormed into the lead last week when he correctly tipped Wigan to be leading at half-time only for United to take the points after 90 minutes. That bet netted him a cool £290 (28/1 plus his £10 stake) and enabled him to leapfrog Nick Coppack (The Stat Man) at the top of the table.

The beauty of betting is that your fortunes can change in an instant, which is why Mark Sullivan (The Tipster) hasn't given up hope of being crowned champion. If his bet comes in today, he'll snatch victory and earn more than £1000 for Manchester United Foundation.

If you're betting this weekend, we wish you all the best. And remember, only bet what you can afford to lose.

THE RED LEGEND
Ex-Utd striker Lou Macari
Fletcher first scorer (14/1)
Darren can't play in Rome so I think this game is made for him to make an impact.

THE STAT MAN
United Review's Nick Coppack
Utd 3-0 (16/1)
No stats to back this one up - just a desire to win the league!

THE BOOKIE
Betfred's Fred Done
Hull HT, Draw FT (16/1)
Hull are fighting for their lives, while the Reds could play the kids.

THE JOURNO
ManUtd.com's Steve Bartram
Scorecast: Welbeck 1-1 (40/1)
These are long odds, but Danny will definitely start and Hull are desperate to grab at least a point.

THE TIPSTER
MUTV's Mark Sullivan
Scorecast: Fletcher 2-2 (160/1)
Fletch is one of the few players guaranteed a start, but Hull might get a draw.

Can Hull save

Can Hull save themselves from the drop against the newly-crowned Champions?

Form Guide: A win would leave United with a best final points total (90) since the 1999-2000 season. With only one win in the past 22 games, freefalling Hull now sit just above the relegation zone having undone the good work that put them in sixth place at Christmas. They have conceded the second highest number of goals in the Barclays Premier League (63), while the Reds have scored the second highest total (67). The reverse fixture was a pulsating 4-3 victory for United at Old Trafford in November, with goals from Ronaldo (2), Carrick and Vidic proving enough.

Ins and Outs: With an 18th league triumph sewn-up, it's all eyes on Rome for United, with Sir Alex promising to make wholesale changes to the side that clinched the title last week. The manager has said that if Rio Ferdinand doesn't start at Hull, then he won't do so in Rome so all eyes will be on a starting line-up likely to contain youngsters Macheda, Welbeck and Gibson alongside Rome absentee Darren Fletcher. Angolan striker Manucho sits this one out for Hull under the terms of his loan from United otherwise Phil Brown has a full squad to choose from as the Tigers chase a win that will guarantee their survival.

Star Man: Ex-Manchester City forward Geovanni has eight goals for Hull this season, including one against United. Goals may have dried up for him lately but he still possesses the creative spark to be a potential match-winner. George Boateng and Nick Barmby will provide valuable experience.

Rivals Watch: With Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal securing 2nd, 3rd and 4th places respectively it is the bottom of the table that intrigues. Newcastle vs Aston Villa, Sunderland vs Chelsea and West Ham Utd vs Middlesbrough are the other three clashes that will decide who plays Championship football next season.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) has taken charge of four United games this season including cup victories over Derby and Blackburn, the 1-1 draw at Everton and the 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool, when he sent off Nemanja Vidic. He has shown 124 yellow and four red cards in 41 games this campaign.

Missing tickets - resolved

Manchester United and UEFA have today resolved an issue that threatened to prevent more than 200 supporters from attending the Champions League final.

Two hundred and sixteen (216) tickets for the showpiece match between United and Barcelona went missing after they were collected by Royal Mail from the Ticket Office at Old Trafford on Tuesday 19 May.

The chips on the missing tickets have now been cancelled; therefore, anybody who tries to use one of these tickets at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome will not gain access. Any supporter who is offered a ticket for the final from an unofficial source is advised not to purchase it.

As for the supporters whose tickets went missing, they will now be issued with a replacement. UEFA has a policy of not issuing replacement or duplicate tickets, but following talks with United today, the governing body of European football has agreed to make a special exception for the 216 fans affected.

The Ticket Office staff at Old Trafford will contact those 216 fans in due course with details of how and where their Champions League final tickets can be collected in Rome.

Barcelona classic: Mar '84

Few gave the Reds much hope of progressing to the fourth round of the Cup Winners' Cup after Ron Atkinson's men came away from the first leg at Camp Nou 2-0 down.

"It just wasn't our night," bemoaned captain Bryan Robson. "But having seen Barcelona with things going for them, we know we're capable of getting through, despite their lead."

His words proved prophetic. Roared on by a clamorous 58,547 crowd, the Reds ran riot in the second leg, producing a rousing comeback to quicken the pulse rate well beyond acceptable levels.

The performance was not lost on honorary president Sir Matt Busby, who said: “The game took me right back to the time we pulled back two goals against Bilbao at Maine Road for that memorable win in our first season in Europe.”

That night, in February 1957, the Babes had overturned a 5-3 first-leg deficit. This time it was Barcelona – Diego Maradona et al – letting their lead slip. Robson’s full-length diving header on 22 minutes kept the crowd believing; the fans were buoyed with optimism, the players sensed Barça were wobbling, and in a swift, second-half spell the comeback was completed.

Robson struck home a parried Ray Wilkins cross on 50 minutes. Then, five minutes later, the Stretford End sucked in another, Frank Stapleton thumping home a Norman Whiteside pull-back.

Barça rallied but United held firm for a remarkable result. Big Ron danced with delight down the touchline, Robson was carried shoulder-high from the pitch and the memories still tickle the neck-hairs of those who can proudly boast: “I was there.”

Starting XI: Bailey; Duxbury, Hogg; Moran, Albiston; Muhren, Moses, Robson, Wilkins; Stapleton, Whiteside,