I’m going to share a little revelation with you guys now just because I can. Yesterday I found out that my girlfriend was seeing someone behind my back so I ended the relationship. That’s life, really – I didn’t like the way she went about it one bit but then again, I’m quite old-fashioned with my views on respect etc. Anyway, it got me thinking and a bit pissed off, truth be told. I didn’t mind it ending but the manner it ended in bothered me. Then I thought to myself just how redundant and stupid the whole thought process was when in the very same week, a massively influential and respectable man in the world of football had passed away and it made my “problems” so irrelevant and insignificant. If I can achieve half of what Gary Speed did in my lifetime then I’ll be a happy man. So I’ll raise a glass to the legend that he was, what he brought to the game of football, and to the things that truly matter in life. It’s just a shame that it takes a huge sacrifice for it to be apparent. Just food for thought, anyway!

ANYWAY, today’s secondary featured game is the Serie A game in northern Italy between Genoa and AC Milan.

They’re a funny side, Genoa. They’re capable of beating any side in Italy when playing at home and that doesn’t change for today’s game. I admire their attitude as this side has no concept of losing at home as it rarely happens. They will battle for every ball and falling behind just spurs them on even moreso. They prefer to win their home games to nil in a controlled fashion but will occasionally be pulled out of that loop when they entertain a good side, as was the case with AS Roma earlier this season. Effectively, if you make Genoa come out of their shells and you’ll see a good game here, basically. They’ve got a talented midfield in Kucka, Seymour, and especially playmaker Jorquera. Palacio is a very explosive attacker and Ze Eduardo should compliment their attack massively upon his return from injury. There’s a good, experienced defend for Genoa, too – they’re really not a side to underestimate.

However, AC Milan have a lot of firepower nowadays and it tends to show. I watched them in their 2-3 loss against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League and although they did deserve to lose the game, they played well enough to beat the vast majority of sides on that occasion and it serves as a reminder as to how well this side can attack. They’ve had to do things the hard way away from home this season, Milan, often conceding ridiculous goals for no reason at all. However, they’ve bounced back in style in recent times and I admire that tenacity – too many clubs don’t have that kind of fight nowadays. With Pato, Robinho, and Ibrahimovic leading the line, you have to feel that there are goals in this AC Milan side, especially playing against ex-Rossoneri defender Kaladze, whom AC Milan know very well. However, it can’t be ignored that AC Milan do concede a lot of goals on the road so I think they’re in for a hard game here.

I’m not particularly keen on the 1×2 market here. I have an inclination toward AC Milan because they’re a better side and because I believe the two clubs have a good relationship which would generally yield in AC Milan getting what they want and they need three points today. However, Genoa are not a side to lie down and I think they’ll at least score here. For me, the only way to approach this one is to take over 2.5 goals between two sides with strong attacks as I expect AC Milan to score first and open this game up.

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at evens.

Other great tipsters can be found at www.betadvisor.com!

Friday’s Picks

As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!

Argentinian Primera Division:

Estudiantes de la Plata vs All Boys (6) 1-0
Argentinos Juniors vs Arsenal de Sarandi (7) 0-0

Australian A-League:

Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners (6) 1-1

Belgian Eerste Klasse:

Germinal Beerschot vs Racing Genk (5) 2-2

Croatian Prva Liga:

Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Inter Zapresic (5) 1-0

Cypriot Division 1:

APOEL Nicosia vs Anagennisi Deryneia (8) 2-1

Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:

Viktoria Plzen vs Bohemians 1905 (8) 2-0

English Championship:

Crystal Palace vs Derby County (4)

French Ligue 1:

Stade Malherbe de Caen vs Olympique de Marseille (5) 0-1

German Bundesliga:

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim (7) 2-0

Italian Serie A:

Genoa vs AC Milan (6) 1-2

Dutch Eredivisie:

Heracles Almelo vs VVV Venlo (8) 2-0

Polish Ekstraklasa:

GKS Belchatow vs Ruch Chorzow (6) 1-1
Lechia Gdansk vs Polonia Warsaw (5) 1-0

Romanian Liga:

CFR Cluj vs Mioveni (8) 2-0

Scottish Premier League:

Motherwell vs Hibernian (6) 1-1

Spanish Segunda Liga:

Las Palmas vs Villarreal II (6)

Turkish Super Lig:

Sivasspor vs Trabzonspor (5) 1-1

Ukrainian Premier League:

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Arsenal Kiev (8) 2-0

Uruguayan Primera Division:

Defensor Sporting vs River Plate Montevideo (7) 2-1

Enjoy your free betting tips!