Liverpool vs Arsenal
Today's featured game is between Liverpool and Arsenal in the English Premier League. Hosts Liverpool are in a bad state of affairs with the world now realising that they really aren't a good footballing side and relied far too heavily on their best players. Arsenal are in better condition with a better manager but do lack firepower due to injuries.
Hosts Liverpool have won three out of their last fourteen games in all competitions. Is that really the record of a side that is going to challenge for trophies? Answer: No. They're not playing well at all and have finally been found out by the masses. Without Alonso there is no playmaker, without Gerrard there is no leader, and without Torres there are no goals. The only saving grace Liverpool have had this season is the emergence of Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who has frankly had to play the best football of his career to stop Liverpool looking like a side battling relegation rather than challenging for trophies. Only one of Liverpool's three wins in their last fourteen games have come at home and that was against Manchester United in one of the four games that Liverpool now motivate themselves for each season - twice against Manchester United, twice against Everton. Funnily enough, one of Liverpool's other wins came away to Everton, which is rather coincidental don't you think? Liverpool aren't motivated, they're not playing well, they're conceding far too many goals and aren't scoring anywhere near enough. Torres is back for them but it beggars belief to call him "fit" for the game.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, they're hosting a side that love nothing more than to attack and have a very precise manager in terms of exploiting other sides' weaknesses. Arsenal are incisive, fluent, and exciting to watch - everything Liverpool haven't been lately. The missing Van Persie does bother me a little but frankly Arshavin is doing a lot of the damage nowadays so it shouldn't be too big a loss, hopefully! Walcott and Vela are available to make life hard for Liverpool's defenders if required although they are still youngsters. Arsenal have won three of their last five games and have scored a lot of goals already with an average of nearly three goals per game, which is absolutely phenomenal, really! Arsenal have only lost here twice in their last six visits in all competitions and look likely to prolong their record today as Liverpool are looking like they've got back ten years in a time machine currently!
Let's not jump the gun entirely here - both of these two sides are English heavyweights and both will be in the top six at the end of the season. However, Liverpool aren't playing well enough to get a result here but I feel that Arsenal certainly are. It might be worth taking the draw no bet option if you want because I can't see a home win here whatever the outcome!
Verdict: Arsenal to win at 17/10.
Sunday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Racing Cub Avellaneda vs Chacarita Juniors - home win at 4/5.
Hosts Racing Club Avellaneda have won three out of their last five games in the Primera Division and have played some particularly good football at home. Despite their poor league placing, Racing have actually won their last three home games in convincing fashion and without even conceding a goal. With that in mind, it's fair to say that Racing enter this game with considerable momentum and are showcasing their actual potential for a change! Racing are amongst the lowest conceding sides at home in the Primera Division and look to have everything they need to overcome their opponents tonight.
Visitors Chacarita Juniors are on a three-game unbeaten run but are travelling to a rejuvenated Racing Club Avellaneda with one of the worst away records in the division, having suffered six defeats in nine games, winning just once on the road all season. Only Tigre and Atletico Tucuman have conceded more goals away from home than Chacarita Juniors have so the newly-promoted side know that they have it all to do to get a result here tonight, particularly as they know their hosts are the better side here.
Although this has the potential to be a very close game, I expect Racing to win the game rather comfortably tonight to end their season on a high.
Verdict: Racing Club Avellaneda to win at 4/5.
Tigre vs River Plate - away win at 5/4.
Hosts Tigre looked destined for relegation with a horrendous record like their fourteen defeats in eighteen domestic games in this campaign. They average conceding over two goals per game and have lost their last four games in a row, scoring just once along the way. Tigre are the worst side in the division currently and my words cannot express that any more than all the statistics that they currently possess do already!
Visitors River Plate have had a poor season and deservedly occupy a poor league placing. They have improved slightly towards the end of their current campaign and have even managed two wins in their last five games, losing just once. River Plate have managed to score eight goals in their last five games, scoring at least one in each game, so they do look likely to shatter the Tigre defence at least once in this game. River Plate are a good deal better than Tigre, to be frank, so I'll be surprised if they don't notch up at least two goals here, which should be enough to see them overcome a mediocre Tigre despite their atrocious away record!
Verdict: River Plate to win at 5/4.
Atletico Tucuman vs Gimnasia De La Plata - home win at 10/11.
Atletico Tucuman have been playing quite well of late with two wins, one draw, and just one defeat in their last four games. Their form in general has improved at home, making them look an actual threat when playing on their own turf with four wins in eight games, losing just twice along the way. They average scoring two goals per game at home and have won their last three games in a row now, improving their momentum and confidence drastically. Atletico Tucuman have done just enough to establish themselves since promotion and will look to continue their impressive run against a very poor Gimnasia tonight.
Gimnasia De La Plata are without a win on the road all season and recent form indicating four defeats from their last four games offers a likely reason as to why that is; they're shit, to be blunt. It was not always so and I doubt it always will be so but for the time being, Gimnasia De La Plata are one of the worst sides in the division. They've lost five out of eight away games this season already and concede an average of just under two goals per away game, scoring once every two away games on average. To make matters worse, in their last four games/defeats they've yielded ten goals and scored just once. Could any side look more likely to lose a game currently? Not in my opinion!
Verdict: Atletico Tucuman to win at 10/11.
Toulouse vs Montpellier HSC - home win at 5/6.
I don't usually back Toulouse because I don't think they're a particularly good side and they certainly don't enjoy scoring goals. Nonetheless, their record of six wins in eight home games speaks for itself. Toulouse's strongpoint is not conceding goals, something that only Girondins de Bordeaux have managed to better so far this season. Toulouse managed another confident win in their last match at home to Sochaux mid-week and should carry their momentum from that game into this encounter today.
Visitors Montpellier HSC have had a fantastic start to life in Ligue 1 following promotion from Ligue 2 with eight wins in fourteen games. However, they tend to be much better at home than they are on the road, where they've already succumbed to three defeats in seven games, winning just twice. Montpellier's biggest problem is that they concede far too many goals. They generally score enough goals to overcome their opponents but then they hit a bad goalscoring run, which is inevitable at somepoint, they're really going to struggle to get out of it again. Montpellier are punching above their weight and although they've won their last two games, they've not been as convincing of late as they were at the start of the season.
With the above in mind and the quality gap edging Toulouse in front, you have to feel that there's value in the home win tonight.
Verdict: Toulouse to win at 5/6.
VFL Wolfsburg vs BV09 Borussia Dortmund - lay VFL Wolfsburg at 4/5.
Germany's strangest side VFL Wolfsburg continue to baffle the majority by scoring and conceding so many goals that nobody knows quite what they'll do next! They've drawn three of their last five Bundesliga games, winning once and losing once, as well as losing to a defenderless Manchester United mid-week in the UEFA Champions League. Wolfsburg have now conceded twelve goals in their last five competitive games and frankly look shambolic in defence. Wolfsburg are still scoring goals but as they're not keeping sides out, they're not winning games.
BV09 Borussia Dortmund had a slow start to their campaign but are finally rolling along nicely now with an unbeaten run stretching back eight games, winning five times and drawing tough away games with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Werder Bremen, and even beating Hoffenheim. Dortmund are in fine form and scoring goals for fun with momentum and confidence at their peaks. They'll enter this game with Wolfsburg with the knowledge that they can take at least a point away from the unconvincing hosts, particularly as they've only lost one away game this season.
This outcome seems a tad more likely than the bookies give it credit for so I'm a little surprised that laying Wolfsburg has such good odds!
Verdict: Lay VFL Wolfsburg at 4/5.
Atromitos vs Xanthi - home win at evens.
I cannot base this game on anything other than Xanthi's away form. Atromitos have just been promoted from the B Ethniki and have inconclusive home form, as you would expect. Atromitos know they need to maintain their home form to stay in the Super League so they'll be looking to claim a third home win of this campagin. Atromitos have only lost once in their last four games but have only won once, which does make this a risky call. However, Xanthi's away form of five defeats and one draw in six away games without even scoring a goal does enough to convince me that they're capable of losing this game, which is something they've done in three of their last five games.
Verdict: Atromitos to win at evens.
Catania vs Livorno - home win at 10/11.
After some plucky and impressive performances of late, I've decided it's time for Catania's luck to change. They were unlucky to concede two late goals against AC Milan, unlucky to lose 3-2 at Siena but managed to beat Empoli 2-0 in the Coppa Italia. Catania are due a victory in Serie A and what better time than in front of their own fans? They've only won one game this season and that was at home too but they've only been beaten three times in seven games, which isn't bad considering that they're currently in the relegation zone. The fact that they've scored four goals in their last two games goes some way to convincing me that this goal-shy outfit won't be as shy against relegation battlers Livorno today as they look to take only their second win of the season in Serie A.
Visitors Livorno have similar issues to Catania in that they struggle to score goals. However, they also have to contend with their miserable away record of five defeats in seven games, winning just once along the way. Livorno aren't particularly big conceders away from home but the fact that they've only scored two away goals all season should reveal part of the reason why I think they're really going to struggle today.
Neither side are in good form currently but I've been a lot more convinced by a tenacious Catania ahead of this game than I have been by the lowest goalscoring side in the division - Livorno. With that in mind, the home win could boast some value today.
Verdict: Catania to win at 10/11.
Parma vs Bologna - home win at 3/4.
Parma continue to defy the odds and mount a somewhat legitimate challenge for a European place next season despite only being promoted to Serie A this season. I'm not sure if Parma are living in the past and still think they have the likes of Cannavaro, Buffon, and Ortega in their ranks but they're certainly playing as if they are! Parma have already won seven in fifteen games this season, losing just four times, and currently occupy fourth place in Serie A. Parma have already won five out of seven home games this season, losing just once as they prolong their highly impressive record of conceding just four goals at home all season. Parma are not a prolific side but they're an efficient and hard-working side so the fact that they're unbeaten in their last four games shouldn't come as a surprise to you.
Visitors Bologna are battling valiantly against relegation but the ultimate fact is that they're really going to struggle if they keep conceding so many goals. Bologna have been in the rat race for some time which is why they're so hard to play on their own turf, a place where only one side besides themselves has won this season. Away from home they tend to stop other sides playing rather than trying to win which is why they're winless on the road this season, although they've only lost four out of their seven games. However, Parma are a side that will match their work ethic and the hosts are very much in-form so I'd be surprised if Parma didn't break through a leaky Bologna defence and take three points today.
Verdict: Parma to win at 3/4.
ADO Den Haag vs Heracles Almelo - away win at 8/5.
ADO Den Haag have already lost six out of eight home games in the Eredivisie this season so relegation's looking a very realistic possibility. Only bottom club RKC Waalwijk have lost as many home games as they have with both sides finding life after promotion very tough indeed, conceding two goals per game at home on average whilst only scoring once per home game on average. ADO Den Haag have lost three of their last five games and haven't won any of those encounters, preferring to play away from home with their defensive tactics as they don't function well at all when playing at home.
Visitors Heracles Almelo aren't really good enough to be where they are in the Eredivisie currently but they've been playing well enough this season to earn their place. They've already won eight out of sixteen games this season so I have to take my hat off to the minnows. One thing that has particularly impressed me about Heracles is their ability to win away from home as well as at home, something that only a handful of Eredivisie sides possess in their arsenal. Heracles' biggest problem is not scoring enough goals but they tend to counter that by not conceding many either. With four wins in eight away games already this season, you have to feel that backing the visitors today has considerable value concealed within it!
Heracles' momentum from back-to-back victories and their tactical accuracy should be enough to see them overcome a weak ADO Den Haag side with considerable ease today.
Verdict: Heracles Almelo to win at 8/5.
Maritimo vs Rio Ave - home win at 4/5.
Hosts Maritimo are back in town on the back of some good results, winning four out of their last games and remaining unbeaten during that time. They've won their last three home games consecutively, a run which saw them overcome the mighty Porto too, which takes their tally to four home wins in six games in the Liga Sagres this season. Maritimo average scoring two goals per home game and only SL Benfica and Porto have scored more goals overall than Maritimo have this season.
Visitors Rio Ave are a side that simply tries to prevent other sides from scoring. To their credit, they tend to do this rather well, which is why they're seventh in the Liga Sagres table without having the actual quality level to be there. They've only lost twice in six away games but that's largely due to them not conceding many goals and playing some poor opponents. Rio Ave have only won once in their last five games, drawing three times, and losing once. However, they're facing a very competent, incisive, and efficient Maritimo today and they're going to have to play better than they have all season to get a result here today because they're simply not good enough to compete with the hosts on a skill level.
Verdict: Maritimo to win at 4/5.
Gaz Metan Medias vs Astra Ploiesti - home win at 4/5.
Hosts Gaz Metan Medias are a side that I respect rather a lot for their never-say-die attitude and ability to trouble any opponent. Although they concede more goals at home than the majority of the division do, they remain a difficult side and have only lost three out of eight home games this season, winning three times and drawing twice. Take into consideration the fact that the only sides to win away to Gaz Metan this season have contained Steaua Bucharest and Poli Timisoara, currently two of the best sides in the country, and Gaz Metan's record suddenly doesn't look anywhere near as deflating. Gaz Metan aren't playing too well of late with just one win in four games but this game is the perfect opportunity for them to get back on track, in my opinion.
Visitors Astra Ploiesti naturally play a part in my selection in the sense that they're an atrocious away side, as you'd expect a newly-promoted side to be. They've lost six out of eight away games this season, conceding nearly two goals per away game on average and scoring just five goals away from home. Much like Gaz Metan Medias, their form of late has been poor too and they're struggling to find their feet in the division.
Although this could turn out to be a lot closer than I expect it to be, hosts Gaz Metan Medias have the experience of fighting in this division and their home advantage ahead of their tie with their newly-promoted visitors that have not yet mastered the art of away form so the home win looks good value today.
Verdict: Gaz Metan Medias to win at 4/5.
Osasuna vs Real Mallorca - home win at 23/20.
Hosts Osasuna continue to surprise the masses by pulling off good results and I'm not sure why people are so surprised. The Basque country is a really intimidating place to go and play football which is why only Valencia and Sevilla have won at Osasuna this season. The hosts fight tooth and nail for everything but also have a good level of quality in their team to boot too, as well as the welcome bursts of youth from the likes of Azpilicueta and Monreal from the full-back areas. Osasuna don't give any side an easy ride at home or away and this game is not going to be any different.
Aside from the above, Real Mallorca are a very poor away side. Manzano makes his side play ridiculously ineffectual defensive football on the road which has seen them fail to win every away game they've played in this season in the Primera Liga, losing three times and drawing three times. I don't know why he does that because Mallorca's home form is outstanding as they show how good they can actually be at home and their away form couldn't get much worse than it already is but that's life, I guess! Mallorca average conceding over two goals per away game and score one per away game on average. Out of all the away trips you can make in the Primera Liga, I personally consider this one to Pamplona to be one of the hardest and a defensive Mallorca side really shouldn't be able to take anything away from this match unless Manzano decides to let them play their proper football here!
Verdict: Osasuna to win at 23/20.
Real Union Club de Irun vs Huesca - home win at 11/10.
Real Union have found life in the Segunda Liga tough following promotion from Segunda B but have started to find their home comforts in the Basque country. They've only lost two out of seven home games this season despite being in the relegation zone and have managed to win three of those encounters. Remarkably, only Real Sociedad and Real Betis Balompie have conceded less goals at home than Real Union have so far this season, which has been the fundamental reasoning behind their success on their own turf. Real Union have won once in their last two games so they do have a little momentum for this game and they're going to need as much as they can get to stay in the division this year.
Visitors Huesca are only two points ahead of Real Union in the table but possess a very similar record both home and away as their hosts. Huesca have already lost five out of seven away games this season, winning just once, and scoring just five goals along the way. Only Cordoba and Las Palmas have scored less away goals than they have. Huesca haven't even managed to score in their last two away games so they look sure to have a tough game at Real Union today.
Although this should be a very close game, I fancy Real Union to nick it by a single goal in what could be called a relegation battle between these two outfits!
Verdict: Real Union Club de Irun to win at 11/10.
Tavriya Simferopol vs Dynamo Kiev - lay Dynamo Kiev at 7/4.
Tavriya Simferopol are currently unbeaten at home this season, winning six times and drawing twice. They're one of Ukraine's better sides although their away form rarely reflects that. They average nearly two goals scored per home game and tend to cause a lot of problems at home. They've won three out of their last four games so their momentum is strong ahead of their clash with the mighty Dynamo Kiev. Tavriya will have to give the performance of their lives because Dynamo Kiev are a much better side than they are. However, I think they've got enough in their favour to give that kind of performance today and possibly cause an upset here.
Visitors Dynamo Kiev are a very good side with a very good manager. Atypically, I'd never go against them in Ukrainian Premier League football but lately they've started to look stretched. They threw away a 1-0 lead at home to Barcelona mid-week in the UEFA Champions League, which has seen them crash out of the competition, they drew 0-0 at lowly Metalurg Zaporizhya, and only managed to win 1-0 at Chernomorets Odessa despite them being one of the biggest conceding sides in the Ukraine currently. Dynamo Kiev are basically looking tired and a tad short on innovation. Their trip to Simferopol today is one you must approach with vigour and efficiency or you can easily lose here but I just can't see Dynamo Kiev approaching this game in the right manner currently.
Although this should be a close game, I think Tavriya have enough about them to take at least a point off an out-of-sorts Dynamo Kiev today in what should be a rather open game with plenty of goals.
Verdict: Lay Dynamo Kiev at 7/4.
Deportivo Anzoategui vs Caracas - lay Caracas at 4/5.
Hosts Deportivo Anzoategui are gradually moving up the Primera Division table again after a slow start to their campaign. They've won three out of their last five games and have already won five out of seven home games this season, losing just once. They average scoring two goals per home game and are one of Venezuela's better sides, in my opinion, although I do rate them as being just behind the likes of Deportivo Italia, Deportivo Tachira, and today's visitors Caracas.
Caracas are one of Venezuela's best sides and their away record indicates just why that is with five wins in eight games. However, just one win in their last three games has cut their momentum up slightly, sufficiently so perhaps for Deportivo Anzoategui to take advantage of that tonight. A disappointing defeat at mid-table Zamora will have cast fresh doubts for Caracas ahead of yet another tricky away game, particularly as Caracas have only beaten tonight's opponents once in their last five meetings at either ground, losing three of those games, two of which were the away games.
Make no mistake here - Caracas are the better side and if they turn it on as they're capable of doing then they'll win this game comfortably. However, I'm beginning to see chinks in their armour and I think there's enough in favour of the home side to see the visitors drop points here tonight.
Verdict: Lay Caracas at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder - Zulte-Waregem, AA Gent, Independiente Medellin, St.Pauli, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Olympiakos Piraeus, Doxa Dramas, Panaitolikos Agrinio, Porto.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Boca Juniors vs Banfield (5) 1-1
Newell's Old Boys vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (8) 2-1
Racing Cub Avellaneda vs Chacarita Juniors (7) 2-0
Tigre vs River Plate (6) 0-1
Velez Sarsfeld vs Rosario Central (8) 1-0
Atletico Tucuman vs Gimnasia De La Plata (6) 2-1
Australian A-League:
Newcastle Jets vs Gold Coast United (6) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Sturm Graz vs Austria Vienna (5) 1-2
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Zulte-Waregem vs Cercle Brugge (8) 2-1
AA Gent vs Racing Genk (8) 2-0
Colombian Futbol Profesional:
Independiente Medellin vs Deportivo Pereira (8) 2-0
Real Cartagena vs Atletico Junior Barranquilla (7) 1-1
Deportes Tolima vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (6) 2-1
Atletico Huila vs Independiete de Santa Fe Bogota (6) 1-1
Cypriot Division 1:
APEP vs Ermis (5) 0-0
Omonia Nicosia vs APOEL Nicosia (6) 1-2
Doxa vs Nea Salamis (6) 1-0
English Premier League:
Liverpool vs Arsenal (7) 1-2
English Championship:
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City (6)
French Ligue 1:
AS Monaco vs LOSC Lille (6) 1-1
Paris Saint-Germain vs Saint-Etienne (7) 2-1
Sochaux vs Grenoble Foot (6) 0-0
Toulouse vs Montpellier HSC (7) 2-1
Olympique Lyonnais vs Girondins de Bordeaux (7) 1-1
German Bundesliga:
FSV Mainz o5 vs VFB Stuttgart (5) 1-1
VFL Wolfsburg vs BV09 Borussia Dortmund (6) 2-2
German Bundesliga 2:
Arminia Bielefeld vs Union Berlin (7)
St.Pauli vs Greuther Furth (8)
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (8)
Greek Super League:
Atromitos vs Xanthi (6) 1-0
Larissa vs Panionios (6) 2-1, draw no bet
Kavala vs PAOK Salonika (7) 1-1
Olympiakos Piraeus vs Panthrakikos (9) -1.75 handicap
AEK Athens vs Levadiakos (8) 1-0
Greek B Ethniki:
Agrotikos Asteras vs Olympiakos Volos (6)
Doxa Dramas vs Aigaleo Athens (8)
Ilioupoli vs Panserraikos (6)
Kerkyra vs Ethnikos Piraeus (7)
Panaitolikos Agrinio vs Rhodos (8)
Pierikos Katerini vs Kalamata (7)
Italian Serie A:
Atalanta Bergamo vs Internazionale (8) 1-2
Catania vs Livorno (7) 1-0
Chievo Verona vs Fiorentina (5) 1-1
Lazio vs Genoa (7) 1-1
AC Milan vs Palermo (8) over 2.5 goals
Parma vs Bologna (8) 2-0
Siena vs Udinese (5) 0-1
Sampdoria vs AS Roma (6) 1-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Cruz Azul vs Monterrey (7) over 2.5 goals
Dutch Eredivisie:
Vitesse Arnhem vs Utrecht (6) 1-1
Willem II vs Roda JC Kerkrade (6) 1-0
ADO Den Haag vs Heracles Almelo (7) 1-2
Sparta Rotterdam vs Groningen (6) 0-0
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
Volendam vs Haarlem (7) over 2.5 goals
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Legia Warsaw vs Arka Gdynia (7) under 2.5 goals
Jagiellonia Bialystok vs GKS Belchatow (5) 1-2
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Maritimo vs Rio Ave (8) 1-0
Academica de Coimbra vs Leixoes (6) 2-1
Sporting Braga vs Naval de Maio (8) 2-0
Porto vs Vitoria Setubal (8) -1.75 handicap
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Penafiel vs Beira-Mar (7)
Sporting Covilha vs Oliveirense (6)
Carregado vs Desportivo Chaves (6)
Gil Vicente vs Freamunde (5)
Fatima vs Varzim (7)
Santa Clara vs Trofense (7)
Romanian Liga:
Gaz Metan Medias vs Astra Ploiesti (7) 2-0
Steaua Bucharest vs International (8) 1-0
Brasov vs FC Poli Timisoara (7) 1-1
Dinamo Bucharest vs Vaslui (6) 0-0
Serbian Super Liga:
Napredak vs Vojvodina Novi Sad (5) 1-2
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Valladolid vs Malaga (6) 1-1
Getafe vs Tenerife (7) 2-0
Racing Santander vs Deportivo Xerez (8) 2-0
Almeria vs Deportivo La Coruna (6) 0-1
Osasuna vs Real Mallorca (7) 1-0
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal (6) 2-2
Sporting Gijon vs Sevilla CF (5) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Cartagena vs Salamanca (7)
Real Union Club de Irun vs Huesca (6)
Real Betis Balompie vs Gimnastic de Tarragona (7) over 2.5 goals
Cadiz vs Las Palmas (6)
Celta de Vigo vs Elche (6)
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 1:
Celta de Vigo II vs Lemona (6)
Montaneros vs Deportivo Alaves (6)
Pontevedra vs Izarra (7)
Ponferradina vs Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa (8)
Palencia vs Guijuelo (8)
Mirandes vs Zamora (7)
Sestao River Club vs Racing Club de Ferrol (7)
Athletic Club de Bilbao II vs Compostela (7)
Barakaldo vs Lugo (5)
Group 2:
Conquense vs Tenerife II (6)
Real Racing Club Santander II vs Cerro Reyes Badajoz (7)
Atletico Madrid II vs Puertollano (5)
Universidad Las Palmas vs Real Sociedad Gimnastica Torrelavega (6)
Lanzarote vs Villanovense (6)
Vecindario vs Real Oviedo (5)
Cacaerno vs Real Sporting de Gijon II (6)
Alcorcon vs Alcala Henares (8)
Guadalajara vs Leganes (7)
Toledo vs Real Madrid II (5)
Group 3:
Alcoyano vs Sporting Mahones (7)
Sant Andreu vs Alicante (8)
Badalona vs Valencia II (7)
Mallorca II vs Orihuela (5)
Gava vs Ontinyent (7)
Logrones vs Atletico Gramenet (4)
Sabadell vs Espanyol Barcelona (5)
Denia vs Villajoyosa (7)
Benidorm vs Lleida (8)
Group 4:
Lucena vs Ceuta (5)
Ecija Balompie vs Aguilas (5)
San Roque vs Ciudad de Murcia (8)
Sevilla II vs Sangonera Atletico (6)
Union Estepona vs Jerez Industrial (6)
Real Jaen vs Marbella (7)
Caravaca vs Real Betis Balompie II (8)
Moratalla vs Granada (6)
Real Murcia II vs Polideportivo Ejido (7)
Melilla vs Roquetas (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Istanbul BB vs Kayserispor (6) 1-2
Diyarbakirspor vs Kasimpasa (6) 1-1
Genclerbirligi vs Gaziantepspor (7) 2-1
Sivasspor vs Eskisehirspor (6) 1-1
Denizlispor vs Trabzonspor (7) 1-2
Manisaspor vs Besiktas JK (7) 0-1
Ukrainian Premier League:
Metalurg Donetsk vs Karpaty Lviv (6) 1-1
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih vs Metalurg Zaporizhya (5) 1-0
Tavriya Simferopol vs Dynamo Kiev (6) 1-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Tacuarembo vs Cerro Largo (6) 1-1
Central Espanol vs Fenix (5) 2-1
Racing Club Montevideo vs Cerro (6) 2-1
Defensor Sporting vs Liverpool Montevideo (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Cerrito vs Club Nacional de Montevideo (8) 0-2
River Plate Montevideo vs Montevideo Wanderers (6) 1-1
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Deportivo Tachira vs Centro Italo (8) 2-0
Deportivo Anzoategui vs Caracas (6) 1-1
Zulia vs Aragua (6) 2-1
Zamora vs Atletico El Vigia (7) 1-0
Yaracuyanos vs Llaneros de Guanare (8) 1-0
Deportivo Italia vs Deportivo Lara (8) 2-1
Real Esppor Club vs Mineros de Guayana (7) 1-1
Carabobo vs Monagas SC (6) 0-0
Estudiantes de Merida vs Trujillanos (6) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Neath Athletic vs Airbus (8) 2-0
Llanelli vs Prestatyn Town (8) 3-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!
Olympiakos Piraeus vs Arsenal
Today's featured game is the UEFA Champions League encounter in Greece between Olympiakos Piraeus and Arsenal. Hosts Olympiakos Piraeus need just a point here to achieve qualification for the latter stages of the Champions League so they'll have to give their all tonight. Arsenal have already qualified for the latter stages as group winners and will be resting a number of players for this redundant game.
Hosts Olympiakos have already won their other two group games at home in this campaign and will look to continue this trait against group winners Arsenal. Olympiakos enter this game having beaten bitter rivals Panathinaikos 2-0 at home and tricky Xanthi 1-0 away from home in the Super League so now turn their momentum towards their Champions League campaign.
Visitors Arsenal have struggled domestically of late with injury problems, particularly with goalscoring due to Van Persie's lengthy injury. Arsene Wenger has decided to rest the majority of his first team for the weekend game with Liverpool at Anfield and who can blame him? They're already through, after all. Arsenal's side is composed largely of youngsters with a few other "old" hands to lend their experience. Make no mistake, however - Arsenal enter this game as underdogs because their side isn't good enough to take on an experienced Greek side on their own territory and overcome them, it's as simple as that.
Whereas I do rate Arsenal's youngsters very highly, they are travelling to the home of a side that has beaten bigger and better sides than Arsenal over the years and continue to maintain their dominance at home even now. With Olympiakos seeking at least a point from this game and Arsenal blooding youngsters, it's hard to look beyond a home win for this encounter.
Verdict: Olympiakos Piraeus to win at evens.
Wednesday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Internazionale vs Rubin Kazan - lay Internazionale at 8/5.
Hosts Internazionale have yet to convince me in the Champions League this season with a series of unconvincing displays which largely highlights the somewhat backwards mentality of Italian football nowadays. Internazionale are yet to win a home game and that really doesn't surprise me. They've been dominated at home by Barcelona but managed to hold on for a draw and were outplayed here by Dynamo Kiev and still managed to steal a draw there too. However, the pressure's on now as the hosts have to win this game to progress to the latter stages of the Champions League and I just don't think they're currently able to handle this pressure, even under the stewardship of mighty Jose Mourinho, a manager who I have the utmost respect for. Internazionale don't enter this game in the best frame of mind already after tasting defeat for just the second time in Serie A this season but this time to bitter rivals Juventus. To be blunt, Internazionale don't look like a side capable of making it to the latter stages of this competition despite a host of big names at their disposal.
Visitors Rubin Kazan have surprised a lot of people in the Champions League this season, myself included, with their well-marshalled and efficient displays. Indeed, not many sides can claim to have taken three points from Nou Camp against Barcelona but Rubin are one of those sides. In fact, Rubin have only been beaten once in this group and that was away to Dynamo Kiev in a game where the hosts simply took their chances a lot better than Rubin did. However, Rubin really didn't look out of their depth drawing at home to Internazionale and nor did they in either game with Barcelona so I can't see them playing any differently tonight.
Rubin Kazan have got a great chance of making it to the latter stages tonight because their strength is containing their opponents, something they do very well indeed. They've had longer to prepare for this game than Internazionale have with the Russian Premier League having ended a couple of weeks ago whereas Internazionale are starting to look a bit leggy. With the above in mind, I think there could be a lot of value tonight in laying Internazionale for this game.
Verdict: Lay Internazionale at 8/5.
Sevilla CF vs Rangers - lay Sevilla CF at 9/4.
Hosts Sevilla CF have been largely unconvincing at home in recent times after claiming a draw at home to Malaga and Real Valladolid respectively, neither of which a side like Sevilla should be held by. Their last Champions League game saw them succumb to defeat in Romania against lowly Unirea Urziceni, another result which shouldn't have occurred. To put it bluntly - Sevilla aren't firing on all cylinders which is largely due to a number of injury issues. However, this does have a chain reaction effect upon the side's morale and momentum ultimately and Sevilla appear to be stuck in a rut temporarily, something which does make their football less fluent and easy on the eye.
With the above in mind, consider that Rangers will be playing for pride, just like all Scottish sides do nowadays. Rangers have nothing to lose and nothing to gain and in my experience, that's the best time to back them. Rangers will not stop working in this game - fact. Interestingly enough, Rangers are unbeaten away from home in this campaign despite tricky trips to Germany and Romania along the way, a statistic which will assist them in their struggle against mighty Sevilla tonight. Rangers will be eager to make amends after being beaten heavily at home by their Spanish opponents at the start of their campaign so this is yet another factor which will be in the minds of the players.
Although this bet naturally does have the potential to completely backfire on me as Sevilla are a better side than Rangers, I'm going to bank on the fact that Sevilla have had problems keeping sides out and breaking down resilient defences of late, which are two factors that Rangers are well-equipped to emulate and capitalise on. With the above in mind, it may be worth a small punt laying Sevilla, particularly as the hosts have already qualified for the latter stages of this competition and will be first in the group barring what would be a miraculous away win for Unirea Urziceni in Germany.
Verdict: Lay Sevilla CF at 9/4.
Standard de Liege vs AZ Alkmaar - home win at 5/6.
This bet is purely about the lesser of two evils! Neither side are playing well and both have their respective issues. Standard de Liege are struggling to score goals, they're missing Captain Defour, and have their best striker Jovanovic linked to another club virtually every week. However, a win for them tonight coupled with the defeat of Olympiakos by Arsenal would see Standard qualify for the latter stages of this competition so the Belgians will be highly motivated tonight and have their loud home support to cheer them on. Visitors AZ Alkmaar have just sacked coach Ronald Koeman after a woeful start to their Eredivisie campaign. The final straw that broke the donkey's back was their home defeat against Vitesse Arnhem last match so AZ Alkmaar have no manager for this game although Dick Advocaat has supposedly been appointed so he can manage the Dutch club after this game, which is ironic considering that he coaches the Belgium national side too. A win tonight would see AZ clinch a UEFA Europa League spot but they just don't look capable of doing it without a manager and whilst playing some poor football to boot.
This should be quite the gritty and tense match with both sides having something to gain from this game with the old Belgium/Holland rivalry certainly not helping matters. However, I think there's just enough in Standard de Liege's corner for them to win this game whereas AZ will surely turn their focus onto rescuring their poor Eredivisie campaign.
Verdict: Standard de Liege to win at 5/6.
Gimnasia De La Plata vs Newell's Old Boys - away win at 4/5.
Gimnasia De La Plata have now lost three consecutive games, making it four defeats in five games. They've won just three games in seventeen this season and although their home record is semi-decent, they've still managed to concede eight goals in their last three games, scoring just once along the way. Gimnasia are looking far too leaky at the back to maintain any kind of challenge to high-flying Newell's Old Boys and I frankly don't believe that they have the quality to do so either. With momentum having also deserted them for this game, it's very hard to see the hosts getting anything from this game tonight.
Nobody else in this division has won as many away games as Newell's Old Boys have this season with six wins in nine away games, losing just once along the way. Only league leaders Banfield have conceded less goals than Newell's Old Boys have away from home this season too. The visitors enter this game with some decent momentum after three wins, one draw, and just one defeat in their past five games. Newell's may have surprised me with their form this year but one thing that hasn't surprised me is that Gimnasia are lingering near the bottom of the table because they simply don't have the squad to match most of this division currently.
Although I don't envision this game being a walkover - what South American away win ever is? - I do think that Newell's Old Boys have the better side, better momentum, and even better motivation ahead of this encounter. Gimnasia De La Plata would look likely to lose against anyone with their current form, let alone one of the better sides in the Primera Division currently.
Verdict: Newell's Old Boys to win at 4/5.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Champions League:
Liverpool vs Fiorentina (6) 1-0
Olympique Lyonnais vs Debreceni VSC (9) over 2.5 goals
Internazionale vs Rubin Kazan (6) 1-1
Dynamo Kiev vs Barcelona (7) 1-2
VFB Stuttgart vs Unirea Urziceni (5) 0-0
Sevilla CF vs Rangers (6) 0-0
Olympiakos Piraeus vs Arsenal (6) 2-0
Standard de Liege vs AZ Alkmaar (7) 1-0
FIFA World Club Cup:
Auckland City vs Al Ahli (6) 0-1
Argentinian Primera Division:
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Lanus (7) 1-1
Gimnasia De La Plata vs Newell's Old Boys (7) 1-2
Banfield vs Tigre (8) under 2.5 goals
Colombian Futbol Profesional:
Deportivo Pereira vs Real Cartagena (6) 2-1
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Independiente Medellin (5) 1-1
Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota vs Deportes Tolima (7) 1-0
Atletico Nacional de Medellin vs Atletico Huila (8) 2-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Nafta Lendava vs Drava (8) 2-0
Interblock Ljubljana vs Celje (6) 2-1
Rudar Velenje vs Domzale (5) 1-1
Gorica vs Koper (6) 0-1
Maribor vs Olimpija Ljubljana (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Ukrainian Premier League:
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Metalurg Zaporizhya (9) -1.75 handicap
Enjoy your free betting tips!
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Who will win Serie A?
- Internazionale (84%, 41 Votes)
- AC Milan (10%, 5 Votes)
- AS Roma (6%, 3 Votes)
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