Tonight we witness yet another colossal encounter between English giants Manchester United and Arsenal. These games are notoriously close and goal-filled. In fact, I don’t recall the last game between these two sides where either side didn’t score. I predict an absolute peach of a game, however, well-worth watching if you’re free to do so. Both sides play exceptional attacking football. Arsenal have an extremely impressive run of league form to boast of whereas Manchester United have stumbled a little lately, although have certainly emphasised their immense belief and team spirit by fighting back various times in recent games. Although it sounds stupidly obvious, this game just depends on line-up. For instance, if Anderson starts, then Fabregas won’t see the ball. However, if the central pairing is something like Carrick and Fletcher, then Fabregas will see more of the ball and he’s their main playmaker. If Theo Walcott starts on the right, then Patrice Evra has to be on his game to keep him under control. If Nani starts on either flank, Manchester United will struggle doubling-up against Arsenal’s wingers. Arsenal are also missing a host of defenders, most notably William Gallas. Rumour has it that Mickael Silvestre is injured whilst Kieran Gibbs continues to fill in for the injured Gael Clichy. Arsenal are not a good side defensively at the best of times, but missing so many key defensive players away to free-scoring Manchester United is suicide at the best of times. I suspect young Gibbs may be torn apart by Cristiano Ronaldo on more than one occasion. Based on the information above, I’m going to call a 3-1 victory to the hosts with Ronaldo to score at any time.

Wednesday’s Picks

My tips:

My favourite bet of the day has to include Manchester United, FC Lahti, IFK Mariehamn and Girondins de Bordeaux. You have to be looking at something like 9/1 for this bet, so it’s good value.

UEFA Champions League:

Manchester United vs Arsenal (7) 3-1

Bosnia-Herzegovina Premijer Liga:

Laktasi vs Borac Banja Luka (8) 2-1
Modrica vs FK Sarajevo (5) 1-1
Posusje vs Orasje (7) 2-0
Slavija Istocno Sarajevo vs Zrinjski Mostar (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Sloboda Tuzla vs Travnik (7) 2-1
Velez Mostar vs Siroki Brijeg (6) 1-0
Zeljeznicar Sarajevo vs Leotar Trebinje (9) 2-0
Zvijezda Gradacac vs Celik Zenica (7) 2-1

Finnish Veikkausliiga:

Haka Valkeakoski vs HJK Helsinki (6) 2-2
MyPa Anjalankoski vs Tampere United (6) 1-1
FC Lahti vs RoPS Rovaniemi (8) 2-0
IFK Mariehamn vs KuPS Kuopio (9) 2-0
Inter Turku vs Jaro Pietarsaari (7) 1-0

French Ligue 1:

Stade Rennais vs Girondins de Bordeaux (8) 1-2

Hungarian Soproni Liga:

MTK Budapest vs Ujpest (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game

Latvian Virsliga:

Blazma Rezekne vs FK Jurmala (7) 1-1

Republic of Macedonia Prva Liga:

Vardar Skopje vs Sileks Kratovo (8) 2-0
Rabotnicki Skopje vs Milano Kumanovo (7) 2-1
Turnovo vs Renova Dzepciste (6) 1-1
Pelister Bitola vs Metalurg Skopje (6) 1-0
Napredok Kicevo vs Pobeda Prilep (6) 2-1

Swedish Allsvenskan:

GAIS Goteborg vs Hammarby (6) 2-1
Malmo vs Gefle (8) 2-0
Halmstads vs Djurgardens (7) 2-1
AIK Solna vs Helsingborgs (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game

Enjoy your free betting tips!

We have a fine spectacle ahead of us tonight at the Nou Camp! One of the highest scoring teams in Europe, Barcelona, entertains the rejuvenated Chelsea. The hosts have been playing some frankly sensational football, sweeping aside virtually any side in their path. Their goal ratio is frightening – it’s something like an average of 3-4 goals per game! However, that said, they face a familiar side in Chelsea tonight. These two sides have met twice in the knockout stages of the Champions League, each side having triumphed once. However, something to take note of is that both sides have scored each meeting between these two sides in this particular stage of the Champions League. The visitors are shaping up well for this encounter, unbeaten in seven games of all competitions. They’ve got arguably their best player back from injury – Michael Essien – and their lethal striker Didier Drogba is back amongst the goals, which is naturally a key factor.

However, there’s one other factor I wish to present and that is the gulf that is rapidly opening between the English Premier League and the Spanish Primera Liga. Before Chelsea overcame Liverpool in the Champions League Quarter Finals, an out-of-form Liverpool absolutely annihlated a Real Madrid side that had won nine games on the bounce. It was 1-0 to the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, and it was 4-0 at Anfield. I don’t mean to disrespect Liverpool, but they’re not good enough to merit those results and they were in poor form. Still, they’ve destroyed a very good side. In my personal opinion, this is solely due to the massive gulf between English and Spanish football that currently exists. What’s the relevance, you say? Well, Barcelona are another massive side in terrific form with terrific players but they’re playing a very well-organised Chelsea side with an exceptionally experienced manager. I seem to recall Barcelona facing Manchester United in the Champions League Semi-Final last season with all of these great players whilst in good form and failing to score against the English champions in either leg because English sides know how to stop Barcelona playing their football – men behind the ball, double-up on the wingers. Barcelona generally have a lot of the ball in each game but English sides prevent them from using it in the final third because they only have one style of playing football. That is the way I expect the game at Nou Camp tonight to go. In my head, it will be 1-1, perhaps even an away win. It’s important not to get overawed by the magnificent domestic form that Barcelona have displayed this season because they’re facing much better opposition defensively. The only person that can win this game for Barcelona is Lionel Messi, and I suspect Hiddink will have 2-3 men on him at all times – it tends to work most of the time, although even one of the world’s most gifted footballers can squirm through that trap on varying occasions. So yes, I’m going to call 1-1. I don’t view this as a fiery encounter with bookings, although you may see a dodgy penalty here or there. One thing I do expect to see is a Frank Lampard goal, as he almost always seems to score in Chelsea’s big games. In fact, I’ll put another bet toward you all; to lay Barcelona in this game.

Tuesday’s Picks

My tips:

One bet stands out for me today and that’s a 4-team accumulator containing Debrecen, Budapest Honved, Zalaegerszegi TE and IFK Goteborg – you should get 6/1 on this.

UEFA Champions League:

Barcelona vs Chelsea (6) 1-1, Lampard first goal

English League One:

Scunthorpe United vs Cheltenham Town (7)
Northampton Town vs Milton Keynes Dons (6)

Hungarian Soproni Liga:

Vasas Budapest vs Kecskemeti TE (6) 2-1
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Gyori ETO FC (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Rakospalotai EAC vs Debrecen (9) 1-3
Kaposvari Rakoczi vs Szombathelyi Haladas (7) 1-0
Budapest Honved vs BFC Siofok (8) 2-0
Paksi SE vs Fehervar (6) 1-2

Norwegian Adeccoligaen:

Alta IF vs Kongsvinger IL (7)

Swedish Allsvenskan:

IFK Goteborg vs Orebro (8) 2-0

Enjoy your free betting tips!