Today’s featured game is the Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Manchester City. Arsenal have been in mixed form of late due to Champions League committments and a stretched squad but have been typically dominant at The Emirates this season nonetheless. Manchester City have had a good campaign but don’t win enough on the road although they really could do with taking something from today’s game.
Arsenal have struggled of late to juggle competing on various fronts with a stretched squad but both of those issues have been partially, if not entirely, resolved by exiting the Champions League and also having some injured players return to their ranks. Arsenal have actually lost three consecutive games currently but it’s worth noting that all of those games were away from home. Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games at home, which takes their tally to fourteen wins from seventeen home games this season. They average scoring nearly three goals per home game and don’t even average conceding a goal per home game. They’re a terrific force at home and as they now welcome back the likes of Robin Van Persie and Andrey Arshavin to their ranks, I can only see a stronger Arsenal emerging today as a result. Arsenal haven’t done well defensively of late but their attack has regained some of its potency so I expect them to do the damage by scoring a lot of goals tonight aganist a weak City defence.
Manchester City enter this game on the back of a demoralising but all-too-familiar derby defeat against Manchester United. It wasn’t so much the affirmation that United are the bigger and better side in Manchester (or near Manchester for the pedantic City fans that have just muttered that under their breath!) but the manner of the defeat will have hurt them a lot – a last minute goal by a local lad in their own backyard – so I expect them to have been hurt from the outcome. I also feel that the reason they lost the game – aside from being outplayed – was that they bottled it. Their big names didn’t turn up and they looked like an inexperienced side in their current position, which is exactly what they are. City are not used to this kind of pressure; Arsenal are. I’m not saying that City have to win this game but the more points they take the better if they intend on playing Champions League football next season. You can rest assured that their Arab owners will be demanding it so the pressure will be visible and I expect that to impact their performance today.
Can we read much into City beating Arsenal 4-1 at home earlier this season? Not for me, no. City played well but it was early season and they wanted to make their mark on the Premier League as a new “big team”, which they did. We all know Arsenal cannot defend so they basically crumbled although it’s worth noting that Arsenal did have their fair share of chances during that game. Arsenal are not going to want to do anything but beat a side with Adebayor and Toure in and Wenger loves to keep his fans happy at home so I think we’ll see the real Arsenal turn up here. If both sides do then it should be a very good and open game of football but I can see City buckling and Arsenal capitalising on their weak defence. Either way, odds of 10/11 on Arsenal to win any game has to be taken into consideration with the quality at their disposal and outstanding manager so I think the home win represents good value today.
Verdict: Arsenal to win at 10/11.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Lanus vs Arsenal de Sarandi – home win at 10/11.
Hosts Lanus plough relentlessly onwards on their impressive unbeaten run, which now stretches to six consecutive Primera Division games. They’ve not conceded in any of their last three home games, winning twice, and drawing once. They’ve already won four out of seven at home in their current campaign and have only lost once during that run so Lanus are generally a good home side. We all know the quality of Lanus is there although their inability to score more than once in a game does concern me as as that’s what let them down last match at Colon de Santa Fe. However, Lanus do have a good record against Arsenal de Sarandi in recent times with a 5-2 win at Arsenal in the Apertura and a 2-1 win the last time the two sides locked horns here so they do have the mental edge to boot.
Arsenal de Sarandi are on a dire run of form with no wins in their last four games, losing three times along the way. Arsenal haven’t scored in three of those games and only managed to draw with Argentinos Juniors last match by scoring twice. Arsenal have conceded eight goals during those four games – an average of two per game – so their defence is an issue at the moment. Arsenal’s away record is quite good with just three defeats in eight away games but it’s worth noting that they’ve lost their last two away games consecutively without scoring so are beginning to find the realistic side of the Primera Division a little hard to handle. Arsenal tend to bail themselves out on the road by scoring goals but if there’s one thing that Lanus don’t do then it’s concede goals – defence is their strongest aspect – so I expect a somewhat demoralised and goal-shy Arsenal to struggle tonight.
Lanus concern me a little with two consecutive draws leading into this game but frankly they’re a better side and they’re facing demoralised opponents so they should be able to do damage tonight. Lanus have demonstrated various times already in this campaign how competent they are in keeping other sides out and I expect that aspect to be key in their victory tonight. The odds aren’t the best around but whilst they’re on the better side of 8/11, I feel they’re worth taking.
Verdict: Lanus to win at 10/11.
Sturm Graz vs LASK Linz – lay Sturm Graz at 13/10.
Hosts Sturm Graz are playing like a side who knows their fate is not what they’d like it to be and they’ve got good reason to be in the state of mind. They’re eight points behind Austria Vienna and twelve clear of Wiener Neustadt so Sturm Graz can pretty much kiss goodbye to any other league placing than fourth. They’ve won just once in their past four Bundesliga games so momentum is dropping rapidly. They’ve won just once in their past three home games in the Bundesliga and it’s that kind of form which has led them to winning less than half of their home games in the Bundesliga this season. They’ve losing motivation for their remaining games and they’re not a good enough side to allow quality to solely propel their form so I think we’ll see a somewhat disjointed Sturm Graz display tonight, which shouldn’t be enough to see them beat a side that they’ve only beaten twice in their last four home encounters.
Visitors LASK Linz are starting to scare me. They’re not scoring goals, conceding goals, or losing games – three absolutely unheard of characteristics when talking about LASK Linz. They’re unbeaten in six consecutive game and have drawn their last two away games consecutively against giants Rapid Vienna and the ever-strong-at-home SV Ried so they’re certainly worthy of your respect tonight. Indeed, LASK Linz kept a clean sheet at home to Salzburg last match, which meant that they’d kept back-to-back clean sheets against the two bigger sides in the division – Salzburg and Rapid Vienna – so their defence is bailing them out to no end currently. It’s defence that should count here as Sturm Graz aren’t big goalscorers so I expect LASK Linz to hold firm tonight with their new dogged momentum and take a draw from this one.
Ultimately, an uninspired and demoralised Sturm Graz side that doesn’t score many goals does little to convince me that they deserve to be at such short odds. LASK Linz are poor on the road but have been superb of late, particularly in defence, so the odds on laying Sturm Graz look rather generous tonight.
Verdict: Lay Sturm Graz at 13/10.
Naftan Novopolotsk vs BATE Borisov – lay BATE Borisov at 5/6.
I daresay that most of you aren’t accustomed to the Vysshaya Liga in Belarus but those of you that read this blog know that backing Naftan Novopolotsk at home is generally a fruitful bet. They’ve been dominant at home for some time now and are showing signs of materialising into a force at home yet again with two home games played, both games won, six goals scored, and zero goals conceded already this season. Make no mistake here – Naftan aren’t as good as BATE Borisov – nobody in Belarus is – but they’re a damn hard side to beat at home and I expect that to show today.
BATE Borisov should win the Vysshaya Liga yet again this year but each year that goes by sees them lose quality that they’re not replacing so the gap at the top is getting narrower. Indeed, BATE have made a slow start to this campaign as a result of the above information and have only won half of their games thus far. However, their defence is as rock-solid as ever and they remain the only side in this division that are yet to concede a goal. However, BATE are looking somewhat impotent with just three goals scored in four games so I expect them to face a stentorian test against a strong Naftan side in Novopolotsk today.
The head-to-head games between these two sides are rather inconclusive as it depends when these two sides meet here. If BATE arrive motivated and with good momentum in their arsenal then they’ll probably win this game comfortably, which is what happened here last season. However, BATE are looking so short in front of goal that it’s worrying, particularly with 66% of their goals scored this season having been against newly-promoted opposition. With BATE not firing on all cylinders and Naftan roaring into their traditional home game style, I fully expect a well-fought battle between these two sides which should see anything but an away win at decent odds of 5/6.
Verdict: Lay BATE Borisov at 5/6.
Cibalia Vinkovci vs Dinamo Zagreb – away win at evens.
Cibalia Vinkovci are unbeaten at home in the Prva Liga this season thanks to their steely resolve in defence. They’ve only conceded six times at home in thirteen games so it takes a lot to win here. The only other side in the division that has remained unbeaten at home this season is Dinamo Zagreb so the two sides do share a common factor when playing at home. However, what is an unavoidable fact is that Dinamo are twice the side that Cibalia are. Cibalia have performed miracles at home this season but they’re hosting a side that has won three out of their last four visits here and knows exactly how to do it. Cibalia will not lie down for this game but they can’t afford to sit back and soak up wave after wave of Dinamo attacks as they need to keep pushing with their own European campaign if they intend on playing European football next season so they could be burned by the giants of Croatian football. Dinamo have a good record here already and have already won eight out of thirteen away games this season whilst averaging scoring nearly two goals per away game so they look good to do damage today. A win today guarantees the title for Dinamo and three wins in their last five games says that they’ve got the momentum to do so today.
You’ll rarely find generous odds of evens on the away win for Dinamo Zagreb which is partially what has swayed me. Truth be told, the bookies love to over-price Dinamo so I’m surprised they’ve not gone for the 4/7 option here today. I’m also pleased by that decision because Dinamo now look a good value bet to beat a side that they know they’re better than to win the title. Cibalia are no mugs but backing Dinamo at evens against anyone in the Prva Liga is always worthy of consideration!
Verdict: Dinamo Zagreb to win at evens.
Cardiff City vs Sheffield Wednesday – home win at 4/5.
First of all – approach with caution as Cardiff have nothing to play for. However, Cardiff City are a very good side, in my humble opinion, and odds of 4/5 for them to win any home game as worthy of your consideration.
Cardiff have already won eleven out of twenty-two home games this season, losing just five times along the way whilst averaging scoring approximately 1.5 goals per home game. Their home record isn’t the most flattering when considering their league placing but that generally shows you just how close quality-wise that the sides are in the Championship. However, what’s impressed me most of all about Cardiff of late has been their confident and assured displays, displays showed only by a side with experience, which Cardiff have on various levels. They’ve won four out of their last six home games and are unbeaten in nine consecutive games and have kept clean sheets for three consecutive games despite facing in-form Reading, Nottingham Forest, and the unenviable trip to the unpredictable Queens Park Rangers. Cardiff haven’t scored as many as they’d have liked to of late but should have the perfect opportunity today to do so to improve their momentum ahead of inevitably difficult play-off games so I expect an assured and efficient display from them today.
Sheffield Wednesday are in deep shit, make no mistake here. Every game is a cup final for them at the moment if they intend to avoid the unthinkable relegation but a record of three wins out of twenty-two on the road this season suggests that playing away from Hillsborough is not their favourite pastime. Only Derby County and already-relegated Peterborough United have scored less on the road than Sheff Wed have, hence their problems. A defeat here doesn’t condemn them officially to relegation but it’s not far off as they have one game remaining at home to fellow relegation battlers Crystal Palace and even if they win that game they have to hope on other results favouring them. Bluntly, I cannot see Sheff Wed approaching this game with anything other than the desire to win or else they’re really going to struggle to stay in the division. However, it’s just not happening for The Owls at the moment with two defeats in their past three games and it’s largely due to having scored just once during those three games. Their defence is usually quite sturdy by one goal is enough to seal a defeat if you’re not scoring goals which is what I expect to undo Sheff Wed today.
With the above in mind, I have to favour Cardiff for this game. They might not have the same motivation level as Sheff Wed but they need to keep up their momentum and Jones always has his side locked in battle-mode in their efficient manner so I expect an assured Cardiff side to eventually wear down a determined Wednesday side and beat them at good odds of 4/5.
Verdict: Cardiff City to win at 4/5.
Brentford vs Yeovil Town – home win at evens.
Brentford have slipped under most peoples’ radar this season with their impressive displays but I’ve enjoyed seeing their astute tactical approach to games, an approach that has seen numerous big sides fail to beat them this season. They’ve only lost twice in twenty-one home games and had they won more than nine times at home then you’d probably find them competing for promotion so they’re really not far off being a very good side, in my opinion. All that lets Brentford down is their occasional goal-shy displays but I’m prepared to overlook those in light of favourable odds on the home win today. Brentford have won their last two home games consecutively whilst scoring five times so they’re worth being wary of. They’re unbeaten in ten League One games and appear to be one of those sides that are perpetually motivated for any game so I have faith in their level of professionalism to try to take three points today despite the cause being somewhat redundant.
Visitors Yeovil Town are only five points clear of the drop zone and whereas I don’t expect them to be crying with fear yet, the fact remains that they do need at least one win to assure them of League One football next season so they won’t be just sitting back today. Yeovil are particularly poor on the road, unfortunately for them, as eleven defeats and just four wins in twenty-one away games shows all too well. Yeovil don’t even average scoring a goal per game on the road but tend to manage to concede approximately 1.5 goals per away game on average, which is a record that will get them nowhere fast. Yeovil have only won once in their last seven games and that was against a doomed Stockport County so they appear to be suffering from a lack of morale currently. Whilst being a dogged side defensively, luck appears to be against them at the moment and in a game that they could with taking something from, that luck couldn’t have arrived at a worse time.
I expect Yeovil to attempt to take the game to Brentford today because there isn’t much between the two sides quality-wise. However, Brentford have impressed me immensely this season with some assured displays and I expect a professional display from them to result in a home win at generous odds of evens.
Verdict: Brentford to win at evens.
Torquay United vs Macclesfield Town – home win at 5/6.
I’m absolutely dreading this bet! You know what it’s like, backing the over-achieving but in-form side and knowing full well that they’ll crumble the moment that you back them!
However, I simply cannot overlook Torquay’s recently outsanding displays. They’re unbeaten in five games and have won four of those whilst conceding just once during that time. They’ve hammered Rochdale 5-0 at home during that run and smashed in five goals in their last two away games despite one of those games being against an atypically-strong Aldershot Town side on their own turf so I’m pretty much dumbfounded at Torquay’s turnaround. They’re all but assured of a place in League Two next season now so do approach with caution but a side in this vein of irresistable form in both defence and attack has to be worthy of consideration at 5/6.
Visitors Macclesfield Town are playing well enough themselves to halt Torquay United, to be fair. There’s little between these two sides and Macc are unbeaten in six consecutive games so this won’t be an easy game for either side. What I will say about Macc’s run is that they’ve faced easier opponents en mass but nonetheless an impressive run grants strong momentum so don’t underestimate the visitors today. However, they’re coming across a Torquay side in great form that aren’t conceding goals today and the long trip south-west may just appear a tad daunting for a driven Macclesfield Town side today.
Although I do expect a close game between two massively in-form sides, I simply cannot overlook backing a driven Torquay United at 5/6 today.
Verdict: Torquay United to win at 5/6.
Lorient vs Girondins de Bordeaux – home win at 5/2.
This is a bold call but it does have method to it. We all know how strong Lorient tend to be at home as just two defeats in sixteen Ligue 1 home games indicating that fact all too well. They average scoring nearly two goals per game at home and only LOSC Lille have a better goalscoring record at home than they do as a result. Lorient have only conceded once during their last four home games in Ligue 1 and will be eager to use this newfound momentum to gain revenge for Girondins de Bordeaux’s emphatic 4-1 win here in the Coupe de la Ligue back in February by dealing what would be a crusing blow to Bordeaux’s hopes of European football next season. Lorient stand an outside chance of getting into Europe themselves next season so they’ll be up for this game and I expect them to have a lot of joy against Bordeaux in this game.
There’s no denying that Bordeaux are the better of these two sides – or at least they are under tactical genius Laurent Blanc – but you wouldn’t know it from their recent form. Without a win in their last four games, Bordeaux have stuttered massively and have even lost three times during that run. Their squad is running on empty after competing on so many fronts and injuries to the likes of Cavenaghi and Fernando have hindered them massively as Bordeaux are a side that relies upon consistency within the starting eleven but they’ve not been able to have that for some time. Bordeaux have lost six away games in Ligue 1 this season and three of those have been in their last four away games. Indeed, Bordeaux haven’t won in their last four away games so momentum is well and truly dried up at the moment for Les Girondins.
However, Bordeaux need to win this game – fact. They’re good under Blanc but their stretched squad could be horribly exposed by a determined Lorient side today in a very difficult away game. Bordeaux lost at Le Mans last match and are more than capable of losing at Lorient by that logic. They have a great head-to-head record against Lorient but it’s hard to see that continuing today barring an inspired display. Ultimately, 5/2 on the home win looks too long to me so there could be value in it.
Verdict: Lorient to win at 5/2.
Palermo vs AC Milan – home win at 10/11.
I’m not happy that the odds for this outcome are below evens because it means that bookies are a bit more in-tune at the moment than I’d like them to be. Palermo are rapidly establishing themselves as a very good side as they tend to do every few seasons or so but they’re always good when playing in their beloved Sicily so this game becomes even harder today given Palermo’s impressive displays since the winter break. Palermo are unbeaten at home in Serie A this season and have won twelve out of their fifteen home games whilst averaging scoring nearly two per home game so they’re always a force here. They stand a very good chance of securing European football next season and a win tonight puts them in a very good position for obtaining it too so they’ll be up for this game. They’ve won nine out of their last ten home games and the only side to interrupt that bountiful flow was the ever-irritating Internazionale, as all champions are, so Palermo have done bloody well at home and should not be underestimated.
AC Milan are sinking rapidly and a demoralising defeat at Sampdoria in their last away game will not have helped them. Their injury crisis has virtually destroyed their season with a lack of depth and potency in their line-up tearing holes in their results list. The inconsistent Ronaldinho isn’t bringing the same level of consistent quality that Kaka brought to this assured AC Milan side and as a result they look somewhat unconvincing, particularly without starlet Pato bringing youth and innovation to an ageing attack. AC Milan have missed Nesta at the back this season and it has ultimately cost them as he record of having conceded six goals in three games indicates all too clearly. It’s wise never to underestimate AC Milan but they’ve won just once in six Serie A games, which is the hallmark for an out-of-form side. AC Milan need to win this one tonight but they’ve not done so here since 2006 and I fail to see why that record will change tonight.
Palermo won 2-0 at the San Siro earlier this season with an assured display and have won their last two home games against AC Milan. With that in mind, plus the motivation of Palermo to get their name back into European football, it’s hard to overlook good odds of 10/11 on the home win, much as I’d like them to be at evens!
Verdict: Palermo to win at 10/11.
Viking Stavanger vs Stabaek – home win at 11/8.
This is a risky call as neither side are setting the Eliteserien on fire currently with neither side scoring many goals. However, Viking are beginning to look the more likely of the two sides to launch a more convincing attempt for the Eliteserien title now they’ve got a few of their many players back from injury so I’m hoping that they’ll build on that for this game. They don’t concede many goals, to their credit, but one win in three home games this season says that they don’t score enough. However, they were a bit unlucky to draw at home to Tromso in their last home game and managed to grind out a 1-0 win at newly-promoted Honefoss in their last match so Viking at least have some momentum to work with here and they also have a damn good record against Stabaek here as the visitors haven’t won here since 2000, losing four out of their last five visits.
Stabaek are a good side but they’re at rock-bottom confidence-wise as an unthinkable defeat at home to ten-men, newly-promoted Honefoss proved last match. When luck is against you, it’s against you – simple as that. Stabaek are generally a tough side to play and a constant title threat due to their goalscoring ability but that has abandoned them somewhat this season and it’s starting to show as Stabaek really aren’t very assured in defence at all. A nightmare head-to-head record here won’t help Stabaek with their low confidence levels at the moment and a lack of goals being scored won’t help them either. Defeat at home to Honefoss makes defeat at Viking look all the more likely today and although these two sides are capable of cancelling each other out, Viking are looking better as we enter this game so I’m backing them today at good odds of 11/8.
Verdict: Viking Stavanger to win at 11/8.
Aberystwyth Town vs The New Saints – away win at 11/10.
I can’t praise Aberystwyth enough for their superb campaign this year thanks to some superb displays on the road. However, they tend to lose a footing on their own turf with too many goals being conceded and their usually pinpoint counter-attacking not nearly as effective due to the pressure being on the home side. Indeed, today’s hosts have won three more games on the road than they have at home this season which illustrates my point perfectly. They’ve conceded more goals at home than any of the eight sides surrounding them in the table have and I fully expect that to be their downfall today against a superior The New Saints, particularly as the hosts have to win this one to achieve European football next season.
The New Saints have long been the daddies of the Welsh Premier League. Llanelli and Rhyl have joined them in recent times but they’re still the big name in the Welsh Premier League. A win today guarantees them the title so they’ve got the biggest motivation that they could possibly require today. The New Saints have only lost two away games this season, which is less than any other side in this division thus demonstrating their ability on the road. They’ve got a lot of experience in this type of position and have only conceded six goals on the road in seventeen games, which is a phenomenal record and by far the best in the division. TNS don’t exactly fill you with confidence in front of goal but five consecutive wins, three of which were on the road, says that momentum supports their cause today. TNS have kept clean sheets in all two out of those three away games with Rhyl being the only side to break through their stubborn resolve and have scored five times during the run so they appear to be finding their shooting boots just in time.
Both sides need to win this game but TNS are the ones with the experience in this situation. Momentum and composure favours TNS massively here so I can’t overlook the generous odds on offer for an away win today.
Verdict: The New Saints to win at 11/10.
Prestatyn Town vs Llanelli – away win at evens.
This preview follows a very similar pattern to the preview above other than that the difference here is that this game means nothing to Prestatyn which is why the odds of evens on the away win truly baffles me. Llanelli are far good for a haphazard and uninterested Prestatyn and I feel that had this game been mid-season then you’d have seen odds of 4/7 on the away win at least. Llanelli have already won ten out of sixteen away games this season and need another to have a shot at the title. They need Aberystwyth to do them a favour today for them to have a shot at the title, which could happen, so Llanelli will be well motivated for this one. They’re in superb form and score a lot of goals on the road so why the bookies haven’t priced them at 1/2 to beat a side that they’ve beaten every time that they’ve faced them is beyond me!
Verdict: Llanelli to win at evens.
Accumulator fodder:
Levski Sofia, Hajduk Split, Sparta Prague, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Levadia Tallinn, Flora Tallinn, Ujpest, Fehervar, Kawasaki Frontale, Porto, SL Benfica, CFR Cluj, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, MSK Zilina, Barcelona, Real Madrid.
Recommended bets:
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Fehervar, and Real Madrid at 5/1.
Arsenal, Torquay United, Lokomotiv Moscow, and MSK Zilina at 10/1.
Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest, Porto, and CSKA Moscow at 6/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Lanus vs Arsenal de Sarandi (7) 1-0
Newells Old Boys vs Colon de Santa Fe (6) 1-1
Estudiantes De La Plata vs River Plate (4) 1-1
Huracan vs Independiente (5) 1-2
Austrian Bundesliga:
Wiener Neustadt vs SV Ried (6) 2-1
Sturm Graz vs LASK Linz (4) 0-0
SV Kapfenberg vs Austria Karnten (7) 2-0
Austrian Liga 1:
St.Polten vs SCR Altach (6)
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Naftan Novopolotsk vs BATE Borisov (5) 1-1
Minsk vs Torpedo Zhodino (7) 2-0
Belshina vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (6) 1-1
Vitebsk vs Dnepr Mogilev (6) 2-1
Neman Grodno vs Dinamo Brest (5) 0-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Sint-Truiden vs Zulte-Waregem (6) 2-1
Mechelen vs Westerlo (5) 1-0
Cercle Brugge vs Lokeren (6) over 2.5 goals
Bulgarian A PFG:
Slavia Sofia vs CSKA Sofia (7) 0-0
Levski Sofia vs Pirin Blagoevgrad (8) 2-1
Colombian Primera A:
Envigado vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (6) 1-1
Real Cartagena vs Deportivo Cali (6) 2-1
Croatian Prva Liga:
Sibenik vs Istra 1961 (5) 1-0
Hajduk Split vs Karlovac (8) under 2.5 goals
Varteks Varazdin vs Croatia Sesvete (4) 0-0
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Osijek (6) 1-1
Rijeka vs Zadar (6) 1-0
Cibalia Vinkovci vs Dinamo Zagreb (6) 0-1
Cypriot Division 1:
Aris Limassol vs Doxa (6) 1-1
Ermis vs A.E.Paphos (6) 1-2
APOEL Nicosia vs Anorthosis Famagusta (6) 1-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Marila Pribram vs Slovan Liberec (6) 1-0
Sparta Prague vs Bohemians Prague (10) -1.75 handicap
Viktoria Plzen vs Ceske Budejovice (6) 1-0
Jablonec vs Brno (7) 2-0
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense vs Silkeborg (6) 1-0
Danish 1st Division:
Fredericia vs AB Copenhagen (6)
Braband vs Kolding (4)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Independiente vs Espoli Cayambe (6) over 2.5 goals
English Premier League:
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur (8) over 2.5 goals
Bolton Wanderers vs Portsmouth (6) 1-0
Hull City vs Sunderland (7) 1-1
West Ham United vs Wigan Athletic (6) 1-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Blackburn Rovers (8) 1-1
Arsenal vs Manchester City (7) over 2.5 goals
English Championship:
Barnsley vs Queens Park Rangers (5)
Bristol City vs Derby County (4)
Cardiff City vs Sheffield Wednesday (8)
Doncaster Rovers vs Scunthorpe United (5)
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City (7)
Newcastle United vs Ipswich Town (8)
Nottingham Forest vs Plymouth Argyle (8)
Peterborough United vs Blackpool (6)
Preston North End vs Leicester City (6)
Sheffield United vs Swansea City (7)
Watford vs Reading (5)
English League One:
Brentford vs Yeovil Town (7)
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bristol Rovers (5)
Colchester United vs Tranmere Rovers (7)
Exeter City vs Charlton Athletic (6)
Leeds United vs Milton Keynes Dons (7) over 2.5 goals
Millwall vs Leyton Orient (8)
Norwich City vs Gillingham (8)
Oldham Athletic vs Southend United (7)
Southampton vs Carlisle United (6)
Stockport County vs Huddersfield Town (6) under 2.5 goals
Walsall vs Hartlepool United (7)
Wycombe Wanderers vs Swindon Town (4)
English League Two:
Barnet vs Rotherham United (6)
Burton Albion vs Bournemouth (5) under 2.5 goals
Cheltenham Town vs Aldershot Town (7)
Chesterfield vs Bradford City (6)
Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley (6)
Darlington vs Grimsby Town (5) over 2.5 goals
Hereford United vs Rochdale (4)
Lincoln City vs Bury (6)
Morecambe vs Dagenham & Redbridge (5) over 2.5 goals
Northampton Town vs Shrewsbury Town (7)
Port Vale vs Notts County (4) under 2.5 goals
Torquay United vs Macclesfield Town (7) over 2.5 goals
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Sillamae Kalev vs Trans Narva (6) 1-1
Lootus vs Nomme Kalju (7) 0-2
Flora Tallinn vs Flora Paide (9) -1.75 handicap
Maag Tammeka Tartu vs Levadia Tallinn (9) 1-3
Viljandi Tulevik vs Kuressaare (6) 2-1
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
MyPa Anjalankoski vs AC Oulu (5) 1-1
Finnish Ykkonen:
Jippo Joensuu vs KPV Kokkola (6)
OPS vs TPV Tampere (4)
French Ligue 1:
Lorient vs Girondins de Bordeaux (6) 1-0
Sochaux vs Boulogne (6) 2-1
OGC Nice vs Grenoble Foot (4) 0-0
Le Mans vs LOSC Lille (5) 1-1
AS Nancy-Lorraine vs Montpellier HSC (7) 1-1
Paris Saint-Germain vs Stade Rennais (5) over 2.5 goals
German Bundesliga:
Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Bayern Munich (5) 1-2
FC Nurnberg vs BV09 Borussia Dortmund (6) over 2.5 goals
Hertha BSC Berlin vs Schalke 04 (4) 1-1
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Hannover 96 (5) under 2.5 goals
FSV Mainz 05 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (7) 1-1
Werder Bremen vs Koln (7) over 3.5 goals
German Bundesliga 2:
Alemannia Aachen vs Greuther Furth (7)
MSV Duisburg vs Paderborn (6)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Ujpest vs Paksi SE (8) 2-0
Kecskemeti TE vs Zalaegerszegi TE (6) 2-2
Lombard Papa vs Budapest Honved (6) 0-0
Fehervar vs Ferencvaros (7) under 2.5 goals
Gyori ETO FC vs Nyiregyhaza Spartacus (7) under 2.5 goals
Italian Serie A:
Internazionale vs Atalanta Bergamo (8) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Palermo vs AC Milan (6) 2-0
Italian Serie B:
Sassuolo vs Ancona (5)
Albinoleffe vs Frosinone (6)
Grosseto vs Lecce (7)
Cittadella vs Mantova (7) under 2.5 goals
Vicenza vs Padova (6)
Ascoli vs Piacenza (5)
Brescia vs Reggina (7) both sides to score
Gallipoli vs Salernitana (5) over 2.5 goals
Crotone vs Torino (6)
Japanese J-League:
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Omiya Ardija (7) 2-1
Kyoto Sanga vs Montedio Yamagata (5) under 2.5 goals
Kawasaki Frontale vs Vissel Kobe (8) 1-0
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Jubilo Iwata (8) 2-0
Yokohama F Marinos vs Kashima Antlers (6) 2-2, at least one red card in this game
Gamba Osaka vs Tokyo (7) 2-1
Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima (6) 1-1
Latvian Virsliga:
Jauniba vs Liepajas Metalurgs (7) 0-2
Blazma Rezekne vs Dinaburg Daugavpils (6) 1-2
Mexican Primera Division:
Cruz Azul vs Guadalajara (6) 2-1
Morelia vs Monterrey (7) 1-1
Tigres UANL vs Pachuca (5) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
San Luis vs Queretaro (6) 0-0
Atlas vs Jaguares (6) 2-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Viking Stavanger vs Stabaek (7) over 2.5 goals
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Polonia Bytom vs Cracovia Krakow (6) 1-0
Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Zaglebie Lubin (7) 2-1
Wisla Krakow vs Lech Poznan (7) 1-1
Slask Wroclaw vs GKS Belchatow (5) 0-0
Lechia Gdansk vs Ruch Chorzow (6) 1-1
Odra Wodzislaw vs Polonia Warsaw (5) 2-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Vitoria Setubal vs Porto (8) over 2.5 goals
SL Benfica vs Olhanense (9) -1.75 handicap
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Feirense vs Portimonense (6)
Estoril vs Desportivo Aves (5)
Romanian Liga:
Pandurii Targu Jiu vs Brasov (6) 0-0
Otelul Galati vs Rapid Bucharest (5) 1-1
CFR Cluj vs Unirea Alba Iulia (8) 2-0
Russian Premier League:
Sibir Novosibirsk vs CSKA Moscow (8) 0-2
Dinamo Moscow vs Saturn Moscow Oblast (6) 2-1
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Tom Tomsk (7) 1-0
Scottish Premier League:
St.Johnstone vs Aberdeen (6) 0-0
Falkirk vs Hamilton Academicals (5) 1-0
Hearts vs Motherwell (7) 1-0
St.Mirren vs Kilmarnock (6) 1-1
Singaporean S-League:
Tampines Rovers vs Geylang United (6) 1-1
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Ruzomberok vs Spartak Trnava (5) 2-1
Artmedia Petrzalka vs MSK Zilina (8) 1-2
Dubnica vs Nitra (6) 1-1
Kosice vs Senica (7) 1-1
Tatran Presov vs Slovan Bratislava (6) 0-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Interblock Ljubljana vs Drava (7) 1-1
Gorica vs Celje (5) 0-1
Maribor vs Domzale (6) 2-1
Rudar Velenje vs Koper (5) 1-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Barcelona vs Deportivo Xerez (9) -1.75 handicap
Real Zaragoza vs Real Madrid (8) both sides to score, over 2.5 goals
Valencia CF vs Deportivo La Coruna (4) 0-0
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Albacete vs Huesca (5) under 2.5 goals
Real Union Club de Irun vs Real Murcia (6)
Castellon vs Las Palmas (6)
Real Betis Balompie vs Elche (7) under 2.5 goals
Villarreal II vs Celta de Vigo (4)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
AIK Solna vs BK Hacken Goteborg (6) 1-0
Atvidabergs vs IFK Goteborg (7) 1-2
Swiss Super League:
Aarau vs St.Gallen (5) 2-1
Luzern vs FC Zurich (6) 0-0
Swiss Challenge League:
Wil vs Stade Nyonnais (6)
Yverdon Sport vs Kriens (5)
Biel-Bienne vs Schaffhausen (6)
Thun vs Wohlen (7)
Turkish Super Lig:
Genclerbirligi vs Antalyaspor (6) 1-0
Denizlispor vs Ankaragucu (6) 1-1
Kayserispor vs Manisaspor (7) 2-1
Besiktas JK vs Sivasspor (7) 1-0
Ukrainian Premier League:
Zorya Lugansk vs Vorskla Poltava (7) 1-1
Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk vs Tavriya Simferopol (7) 2-0
Karpaty Lviv vs Dynamo Kiev (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Metalist Kharkiv vs Metalurg Donetsk (7) 2-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Danubio vs Penarol (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Rampla Juniors vs Central Espanol (6) 1-1
Liverpool Montevideo vs Cerro Largo (7) 1-0
Cerrito vs Atenas (5) 1-0
Welsh Premier League:
Aberystwyth Town vs The New Saints (7) over 2.5 goals
Airbus UK vs Neath Athletic (5) 1-1
Bangor City vs Newtown (8) over 2.5 goals
Carmarthen Town vs Cefn Druids (8) 2-0
Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Porthmadog (6) 1-0
Haverfordwest County vs Caersws (7) 2-1
Port Talbot Town vs Bala Town (7) 1-0
Prestatyn Town vs Llanelli (8) 1-2
Welshpool Town vs Rhyl (7) 0-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!
what’s your reasoning behind having Schalke down as a draw Ian? I really feel they’re value to win tomorrow..
Ian is a hertha BSC man :D
Because Schalke aren’t that good and Hertha aren’t that bad! Hertha need 3 wins to avoid the drop so they’ll be more motivated to win this game than ever before. They’re a good side in disguise – God knows what they’re doing at the bottom of the table! Schalke have only won two out of their last five away games, the most recent of which was an embarassing 4-2 defeat at Hannover. The reason Schalke are suffering at the moment is because they’re conceding goals, something they don’t tend to do. They don’t score many as a rule so their strong defence usually gets them a win but at the minute I’d say they’re more likely to draw than win this game. Plus Schalke have only won here twice in their last five attempts – it’s not a favoured ground!
For me to be interested in Schalke for this game I’d have to have a deathwish and odds of about 6/5 else I wouldn’t touch it mate
Zarate saved my ass again, last kick of the game, 1-0 Sarsfield.
Ian why are u so sure united will beat spurs? Sure ferguson has an excellent record against redknapp and spurs dont travel to old trafford well at all, the numbers are against it, but with no rooney i just worry where the goals are coming from. I reckon i will back them at half time though because i doubt very much they will bring a lead into half time.
I’m fairly sure Rooney is playing mate… What dom you think about Schalke?
will he be at 100% though, just came back from injury…
United are massively experienced in this kind of game ’cause it happens every year. It showed when we dominated the game against City albeit a late goal re-opened the campaign for us but the display itself was beyond professional. United will not only take great heart from that but the humbling that Chelsea took at Spurs. Chelsea are now missing a holding midfielder for the rest of the season and will be without their captain next match because he bottled it when he needed to stay calm – it reeks of shitting themselves and Fergie knows it. United will be very much up for this game and we have a very good record against Spurs – I know we can do the job, basically. Rio and Wes are back, even Rooney supposedly, and confidence is sky-high so why not? Spurs will make it hard but to be honest they always do. They tend to score first and we tend to score more goals! Either way should be a great game but I’m just feeling the confidence here for United because they’re a better side, they’re a very experienced side in this situation, and Spurs can be stopped with a bit of tactical knowledge, something that Wenger surpisingly showed a lack of and Ancelotti completely abandoned.
even a 75% Rooney is better than the other shite United have to offer up-front.
He’s key to my bet on United today that’s 100% sure.
I can’t decide whether to go for Cardiff today, I fear Wednesday could nick a draw…
There is no way Arsenal is going to beat City,not without Fabregas and Arshavin,the most dangerous player in Arsenal will be Van Persie,and do have in mind that he is yust back after long term apsecens.On the other side you have Tevez,Philips,Belamy,Adebayor,Barry,they conceded a goal in last seconds against United,so i think they are capable to win this away game against Arsenal for the first time since 1975!
One more game that you all should go for is Bolton-Portsmouth,with this win Bolton would secure they premier leauge stats,so i think Bolton is rock solid for today.
Marz- To answer your baseball question. Pitcher “must start rule” basically is The team your supporting that night. That 1st pitcher must throw the 1st pitch for the bet to go ahead basically if he’s get injured before the match starts the bet is Void… Twins are winning 2-0 Top of 3rd inning six more to go!
Godoy Cruz looking good also NNiNce!
(C Pavano & G Meche must start) MIN Twins0.0 @ 1.75
(Jake Westbrook & Justin Duchscherer must start) OAK Athletics0.0 @ 1.62
Doubles, 1 bet * £50.00
so are those teams winning? i have no idea how to read baseball scores lol
The Twins are winning 5-1 with 4 innings Left . Baseball goes 9 innings. The Athletics match hasn’t started yet. Its near my home . So I’ll listen in and give you updates
nice one, i bet on the boston red sox as well cause they are like the only baseball team i know besides the yankees….. i backed em on game lines
do u like basketball? im backing spurs in play haha
That could be a close one. Unless the Spurs get super hot like the last game . Dallas has good bench players also
Twins still lead 6-2 two innings to go… One thing I hate about baseball Its too dam long. Oakland -Cleveland is scoreless still
Spurs betting looking good now lol
Twins win 8-3 Final ! Lets close it Oakland!
Oakland leads 1-0 but we still have 4 innings left
yeah spurs were 3.25 to win at one point in play when they were trailing by about 8 now its 75-78 spurs and they are down to 1.30, parker on so they really should wrap it up
Oakland Break the game open with 3 run Home Run …They now lead 4-0!!!
Are you getting on the Jazz-Nuggets 2nd half?
should i? lol. is there any value in it
Oakland scored more 5 runs ..Its 10-0. we still have one inning left but this game is over .No way Cleveland scores 10 runs in one inning.
Oakland still winning 4-0 with 2 Innings to to go
Not now I’d think.
Congrats on the $pur$ Marz
Sorry for the delay Marz Oakland’s scores a another run Its 5-0 Oakland’s looking world beaters here
are they up 9-0 now, that looks like an awesome scoreline
It is.. Oakland usually scores 4 relies on their defence to win games …This game is very un-Oakland like but we’ll take it lol Radio Presenter is talking about their favorite color very strange
Oankland wins 10-0. This win gets me even after going crazy on De Graafschap yesterday….Thanks for following on Baseball
yeah im off to bed, cheers for the baseball tips haha
Has the Moyesiah finally answered my prayer and given me his glorious knowledge about being a shrewd Scottish footballing genious punting bastard?! ;)
3 out of 3 picks so far today – the Shimizu S-Pulse game came in as well as a few invisible bets which were Pohang to go under 2.5 goals and Kawasaki to beat the -1 AH. But let me not after-event-brag too much and do what I’m here to do which is post another preview for the few moths that inevitably support me.
First pick tonight is from the Allsvenskan:
Åtvidabergs – IFK Göteborg
Atvidaberg were 53 minutes away from inheriting the unwanted record of the longest goal drought in the Swedish League history when they finally managed to score their first goal in the season with midfielder Haris Radetinac. They actually managed to score three goals but unfortunately for them they were own goals which lost them the match to Djurgarden by 2-1.
After a tough start of the season, IFK Goteborg finally showed why they were tipped as favorites to win the season by thrashing regional rivals Elfsborg 5-1. The match marked the comeback of last year’s league top scorer Tobias Hysen after recovering from a pulled muscle. He finished the match with a mild knee injury but is likely to be back at Atvidaberg. Hysen also signed a new contract which will see him at the club atleast until 2013 unless he is sold.
Encounter today between two teams going in opposite direction but Atvidaberg will be feeling like a huge load has been lifted off their back after finally scoring their first goal in the Allsvenskan since 1983! (albeit it took them a good 7 games) IFK will want to take their morale-boosting win against Elfsborg and convert it into 3 points. The odds are generous considering the quality of the two sides and I’m willing to take the away side here.
Verdict – IFK win @ 1.61 – Bet365 – stake 7/10
Cheers and good luck :) Some great games to be “spectated” tonight. Staying well clear of L’Arse because a certain Adebayor could prove to be the difference yet again.
Toffeeboy -Glad to see your having success in Asia . J-League is killing me. I missed I’m 0-4 going 0-5 if Urawa don’t score twice. Do you do K-League?. I think this will be J League match lol I’m always going the wrong way
Jesus I cant spell a sign I need to go to bed meant to say last J league for a couple of months
Hi mate. It’s funny that you even mentioned me in the same sentence as the word success! :D I’ve had a absolutely torrid 2-3 weeks so this sudden 3 consecutive wins today is nothing short of a miracle for me!
K-League was unbelievable today! 4 “strong” sides were placed between 1.3-1.5 and my Asian friends let me know this morning that something was dodgy. Funnily enough 3 of them lost and 1 drew courtesy of a 90th minute equaliser. So if you’d decided to back the away teams today you’d have made a killing! But hindsight isn’t helpful right now ;)
I mentioned on another forum last night watch people get fucked by Urawa tomorrow. They’ve had the best start in lightyears while all the favourites seem to be cocking up and Iwata are no mugs so it doesn’t surprise me the least they’ve gone ahead. Jubilo have two young centre-backs if I recall correctly so I hope the Urawa boys capitalise and make it 2-1 for your sake mate!
I’ll post some J League picks for tomorrow later on.
Good luck fella.
Show support for Alan Irvine! I certainly will be :D COME ON YOU OWLS!
Leeds United vs Milton Keynes Dons
Leeds just refuse to do things the easy way. Having blown an enormous lead over the clubs chasing them at the top of the table, they looked to be back on track with three successive wins. Then, unaccountably, last weekend they found themselves 3-0 down to struggling Gillingham after 33 minutes. They pulled two goals back but sacrificed three vital points, which means they hold on to second place by just a point.
Manager Simon Grayson brought Jermaine Beckford on as a substitute at Gillingham and he held his nerve to score a late penalty. That might do a lot to put him back in favour with both his manager and the fans and there is no doubt that the team will need his goalscoring skills in the last two games.
MK Dons are a side in limbo at the moment after the surprise announcement by manager Paul Ince that he will quit at the end of the season because there are not sufficient funds for him to build the side he wants. He made his announcement after eight games without a win and last weekend, they were beaten 3-2 at home by Wycombe.
Assistant manager Karl Robinson has said that the players are “bitterly disappointed” by Ince’s decision to leave and it seems doubtful that he will be able to coax a decent performance out of them in the final games. On that basis, this ought to be an easy three points for Leeds, who have never lost at home to the Dons.
The Dons trained with only 7 outfield players on Thursday and it looks doubtful whether they’ll even be able to send a full team to Elland Road.
Verdict – Leeds home win @ 1.41 with 5Dimes.
Good luck :)
Are you sure mate ?
I was at Prenton Park to see Wycombe beat Tranmere 3-0 (although I missed the last goal as I couldn’t take any more and left early!) then kept an eye on them in their last game against MK Dons where they won 3-2 away.
They believe they can survive relegation now and I think they might at the expense on Tranmere and Exeter…
Swindon’s recent form has been poor since beating Leeds and then Tranmere respectively 3-0 on the bounce as they looked set to pinch 2nd place from under Leeds nose.
Since then though they have been beaten by Colchester (3-0) and drew their last two home games 1-1 (after going down a goal in both games).
At 5/2 I think Wycombe offer lots of value here.
I’ve put them in a 4fold with Forest, Cardiff & Leicester @ approx 22/1
What does everyone think about Brentford? Yeovil should struggle away from home..
Falkirk-Hamilton-1
Suwon Bluewings man down to Gangwon since 8th minute. 0-0 HT
1/10 stake on Suwon to win :D Fun bet.
No Rooney. OH DEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Watch that price in-play rocket up now..
ey Toffeeboy,
sure that leeds will win ?
I had a feeling he wouldnt start, heck he isnt even on the bench, i will still back united in play but only at half time, they will win, somehow….
i cant remember the last time milan were priced at 4.50 in the serie A, even against inter away they were still around 3.00++, shows what kinda season they had…
gota say thanks for the info on stutgart yesterday ian it came in very handy so cheers m8 my bets for today are a double with newcastle an cardiff £9 stake with something like a £23 return and also a litle acca but i cant remember them teams lol so lets hope newcastle and cardiff are still hungry to win after been champions and in the play off place respectively put my mind at rest ian lol tell me there not going to mess up
I backed newcastle as well, I hope thats a good thing!!
Bastard, late ipswich goal just cost me £673, fucn typical always one
1-0 come on wednesday!!
noooooo marz never post it on here! it’s an instant jinx for livescore :(
COME ON ALAN IRVINE YOU BEAUTY!
some dodgy results all round Europe.
sigh, if bolton didnt lose a 2-0 lead i woulda made quite a bit, shit…… had leeds millwall norwich newcastle bolton in a multiplier, thats football i guess
i really need palace to fuck up now and somehow we can beat them at hillsborough
gone for a spain treble today
barce
madrid
valencia
really considering backing palermo as well but might just lay milan instead to be safe
not sure if theres value laying milan, price might be a little low, i would back palermo to score at least 1 goal in the game, the price will be shit but its quite safe.
Newcastle ……. I hate when that happens lol
I know mate nothing worse done me for £673, the usual one off it
tempted with r madrid, ac milan and d zagreb accum…………………i know milan are a doubt but just have one of they feelings that they’ll win
man city to score in the second half, in play, at evens looks a BARGAIN considering fucking FABIANSKI is in goal. hop on boys
Bloody knew Schalke would win that one, I hate when you don’t trust your instinct…
what does everyone fancy for tomorrow?
fulham will be resting most of their first choice players so everton might be a good bet, short odds though