Barcelona v Manchester United: Champions League betting preview
April 23, 2008
Barcelona v Manchester United, Champions League semi-final, first leg. Nou Camp, 19:45 kickoff.
Sir Alex Ferguson takes his Manchester United side to the Nou Camp for the first leg of this Champions League semi-final tie with Owen Hargreaves and Anderson recovering sufficiently from knocks to join Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney back in the squad.
Barca welcome back former Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry, but will be without Ronaldinho through injury and captain Carlos Puyol through suspension.
Match Odds:
- Barcelona - 13/8 (Ladbrokes)
- Draw - 43/20 (VC Bet)
- Manchester United - 2/1 (Blue Square)
This is the eighth time that these two sides have met in European competition, with both sides having won two games and drawn three so far. Their last meetings came in the 98/99 Champions League competition, when both matches were thrilling 3-3 draws. A repeat of that scoreline tonight would net you 80/1 with Bet 365.
Liverpool v Chelsea betting preview
April 22, 2008
Liverpool v Chelsea, Champions League semi-final, first leg. Anfield, 19:45 kickoff.
Liverpool meet Chelsea in the Champions League for the fourth season in a row, and if previous meetings are anything to go by, don’t expect a goal-fest: The previous six legs have produced a grand total of three goals. Liverpool are the only English Club to have knocked Avram Grant’s side out of Europe - not only that, but they’ve done it twice too, in the previous two times these sides met in the semi-finals.
Match Odds:
This is the fourth time that Chelsea have reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League, and they will be hoping for better luck than the previous three encounters, when they exited the competition each time. Liverpool by contrast have progressed all the way to the final seven times, and were triumphant there on no less than five occasions. Chelsea are currently 3/1 second-favourites to win the Champions League (Ladbrokes), whilst Liverpool are only marginally behind them on 10/3 (totesport, William Hill, Bet 365 and others).
Correct Score Odds:
- Liverpool to win 1-0 - 5/1 (Ladbrokes)
- Chelsea to win 1-0 - 8/1 (skybet)
- Liverpool to win 2-0 - 9/1 (Stan James)
- Chelsea to win 2-0 - 16/1 (Bet365)
- Liverpool to win 2-1 - 17/2 (Paddy Power)
- Chelsea to win 2-1 - 11/1 (William Hill)
- 0-0 Draw - 6/1 (Boylesports)
- 1-1 Draw - 6/1 (skybet)
- 2-2 draw - 16/1 (Blue Square)
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April 22, 2008
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Premiership Betting preview Sunday 20th April
April 19, 2008
Aston Villa v Birmingham
The Sunday lunchtime kickoff sees a local derby as Aston Villa host Birmingham City. Depending on the result of Boton’s match against Arsenal on Saturday, Alex McLeish’s side could find themselves in the bottom three at the start of this match, so local bragging rights will take a back seat to crucial points as Birmingham battle to avoid relegation to the Championship at the first attempt.
Villa are in fine form at the moment, chasing three consecutive wins, and having scored ten goals in their last two games. Martin O’Neill’s side also won the reverse fixture at St Andrews 2-1, thanks to a late Gabriel Agbonlahor goal. The referee for the midlands Derby is Mark Clattenburg.
Match Odds:
- Aston Villa - 5/6 (totesport)
- Draw - 5/2 (Stan James)
- Birmingham City - 22/5 (VC Bet)
Newcastle United v Sunderland
There’s another local derby on Teeside as Newcastle United host Sunderland (Live on Sky Sports 1). Both sides have picked up form in recent weeks to edge themselves away from the relegation dogfight, so this game should not be as tense as it looked a few weeks ago. Newcastle have picked up 11 points from their last 5 games, and Roy Keane’s side have also picked up form, with three wins in their last four games.
Sunderland have not won at St James Park for 8 years, when goals from Don Hutchison and now-chairman Niall Quinn gave them a 2-1 win. The Black Cats follow this derby with another - a home match against Middlesbrough. The reverse fixture at the Stadium of light ended in a 1-1 draw. The referee for this match is Mike Dean.
Match Odds:
- Newcastle United - 4/5 (Ladbrokes)
- Draw - 12/5 (Blue Square)
- Sunderland - 7/2 (William Hill)
Manchester City v Portsmouth
Both Man City and Portsmouth are on course for their highest-ever Premiership finishes - Portsmouth looking to improve on their ninth-place finish last season, and City looking to better their eight-place finish in 2004/05. Both sides are also chasing European qualification, so there’s plenty to play for in this match.
Manchester City have won just one home match in the last eight at Eastlands, and will be looking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since October. Portsmouth are in fine form at the moment, having won 6 of their lasty eight games in all competitions, and have not shipped a goal in more than four hours of football. They remain the only side with a 100% record when scoring first, having won 14 out of 14.
The reverse fixture at Fratton Park was a goalless draw, as was this fixture last season. The referee for this match is Andre Marriner.
Match Odds:
- Manchester City - 11/8 (Bet 365)
- Draw - 9/4 (skybet)
- Portsmouth - 15/8 (Paddy Power)
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
Premiership Betting Preview Saturday 19th April 2008
April 18, 2008
Arsenal v Reading
Whilst it it still mathematically possible, realistically Arsenal’s challenge for the 2007/08 Premier League title ended with their defeat at Old Trafford last weekend and will now be focusing on progressing towards capturing some silverware next season. For Reading, their season hangs on a knife-edge as they hover three points above the relegation zone. Their trip to the Emirates is one of three away games in their final four, with away days at fellow strugglers Wigan and already-relegated Derby either side of a home match against Tottenham Hotspur.
It will not be an easy run-in for Steve Coppells men, who have failed to score in nearly 5 hours of football, particularly considering three of their final four matches are away from home - Reading have picked up just six points from a possible 48 away from home this season. Although Arsenal have nothing but pride to play for, it’s hard to see Reading picking up all three points in this lunchtime kick-off, live on Sky Sports 1.
Match Odds:
- Arsenal - 4/11 (Paddy Power)
- Draw - 41/10 (VC Bet)
- Reading - 10/1 (Blue Square)
Blackburn v Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United travel to Ewood Park in the teatime kickoff (Live on Setanta Sports 1) knowing that a win would set up a dream scenario of being able to pip Chelsea to retain the Premiership title by beating them in their own backyard next weekend following Avram Grant’s side dropping vital points against Wigan on Monday night.
Blackburn are unbeaten in seven matches at home, their last taste of defeat at Ewood Park being at the hands of Chelsea. They have failed to beat any of the Big Four sides this season, and this is their last chance to do so. Manchester United by comparison are unbeaten away from home this year, and have kept more clean sheets than any other Premiership club. Man United won the reverse fixture 2-0 thanks to two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. The referee for this match is Rob Styles.
Match Odds:
- Blackburn Rovers - 5/1 (Paddy Power)
- Draw - 3/1 (VC Bet)
- Manchester United - 8/13 (VC Bet)
Fulham v Liverpool
Liverpool fans will be hoping that their team can do their talking on the pitch against a Fulham side who will be looking to chalk up a rare successive victory as they attempt the Great Escape to avoid the drop into the Championship (It’s been 68 games since they strung two together), and will hope that Rafa Benitez will have one eye on the Red’s Champions League game against Chelsea next week and rest key players.
After Everton lost to Chelsea on Thursday night, Liverpool’s grip on fourth Place (and qualification for next year’s Champions League) looks secure, and by Saturday evening, they could be eight points clear of Everton with just three games to play. They also have far superior goal difference.
Match Odds:
- Fulham - 12/5 (Stan James)
- Draw - 12/5 (Boylesports)
- Liverpool - 5/4 (VC Bet)
Middlesbrough v Bolton
A rare win against West Ham last weekend kept alive Bolton’s hopes of surviving the drop, and if they can string together two wins for the first time in 40 Premiership matches, they would actually rise out of the relegation zone for at least 24 hours until Birmingham play Aston Villa on Sunday.
Boro have nothing to play for except pride, although they will be looking to improve on their 12th-place finish last season, but are some way short of Tottenham in 11th spot.
Match Odds:
- Boro - 11/10 (William Hill)
- Draw - 49/20 (VC Bet)
- Bolton - 9/4 (skybet)
West Ham v Derby
Derby play out their last four premiership games, beginning with a trip to West Ham. Alan Curbishley may well try out some fringe players in this match with neither side having anything to play for except bragging rights. Paul Jewell has already started making plans for next season, but will be still be hoping for his first win as manager since taking over in November to avoid being under immense pressure before the 2008/09 Championship season has even begun.
Match Odds:
Wigan v Tottenham
For Spurs fans, it must have been incredulous that finishing mid-table would have been seen as a major achievement, but following Martin Jol’s dismissal in October, Tottanham sat perilously in the Premiership Relegation zone. Enter Juande Ramos, and the transformation was nothing short of miraculous, culminating in them picking up the Carling Cup along the way, beating London rivals Chelsea at Wembley.
Wigan fans however would bite your arm off if you offered them 17th place right now. They currently sit in 15th, six points clear of the relegation places, knowing that one win from their remaining four games could be enough to guarantee their Premiership survival for another season, depending on Bolton’s result at Boro.
Match Odds:
- Wigan - 13/8 (Bet 365)
- Draw - 5/2 (Boylesports)
- Tottenham - 7/4 (VC Bet)
All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds
