Manchester United's Marcus Rashford claimed a second half hat-trick against RB Leipzig
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford claimed a second half hat-trick against RB Leipzig

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford 10/1 for Champions League top scorer after Leipzig hat-trick


Marcus Rashford could prove the bet to become the Champions League top scorer for the 2020/21 season if punters act fast.

The Manchester United striker tops the early charts after coming off the Manchester United bench to smash home a second half hat-trick in their stunning 5-0 victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday night.

A week on from firing the Red Devils to victory at Paris St Germain, the 22-year-old came on in the 63rd minute with United just 1-0 up, as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to see off the Bundesliga leaders.

It proved an inspired decision, with the forward’s first effort given the green light by the video assistant referee having initially been ruled offside from fellow substitute Bruno Fernandes’ pass.

Rashford soon netted his second but looked to have been denied a treble when Anthony Martial scored the spot-kick he had won, only for the England international to slam home and complete the trashing in stoppage time.

It puts Rashford on four goals from two matches, one clear of Atalanta's Duván Zapata and two ahead of a large chasing pack that includes Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku.

How long his odds remain as large as 10/1, Betway were still sitting at 33/1 on Thursday morning, will be interesting.

The markets seem slow to catchup to Rashford's current form but might be holding due to the strength of United's group and their lack of consistency in the Premier League leaving question marks over whether the Old Trafford side will actually reach the knock-out stages.

United top Group H on six points, three ahead of both PSG and Leipzig after defeating both. They will expect to claim another six points over their two games with winless Istanbul Basaksehir, meaning another three points from their return games with the French and German sides should be enough for progression to the knock-out stages.

That will give Rashford, at minimum, eight games in this season's Champions League, should United fall at the first knock-out hurdle. Then look wider, the England man has 14 goals in all competitions in the 2020 calendar year, promoting United legend Paul Scholes to recently comment that this campaign could be the one that sees Rashford finally become a 25-goal a season striker.

Rashford has two Premier League goals to his name to date, six behind Tottenham's Son Heung-Min, and as a result is 50/1 to take the Golden Boot from Leicester's Jamie Vardy.

Posted 0750 GMT on 29/10/2020


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