Monthly Archives: April 2010

Flores predicts Reds battle

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Rafa BenitezAtletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores is digging in for the long haul against Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Europa League over the course of the next week (Atletico 13/10, draw 9/4, Liverpool 21/10 – 90 Minutes).

The two Champions League drop-outs go head to head at the Vicente Calderon later on Thursday night for the first of two legs which will decide who progresses to the final of the inaugural competition in Hamburg on Wednesday May 12.

Both Atletico (6/4 To Qualify) and the Reds (1/2) endured miserable campaigns at Europe’s top table earlier in the season and both have badly under-performed in their respective domestic leagues.

But all that will be forgotten at kick-off time with a place in the showpiece final against either Hamburg or Fulham up for grabs.

Flores, though, does not think his players will manage to complete the job before the Anfield re-match which he already thinks will be “uncomfortable” for a side currently languishing in 10th place in La Liga.

The former Valencia and Benfica coach said: “I don’t see any result possible that will give us peace of mind for the return at Anfield.

“Playing at Anfield is always uncomfortable, it doesn’t matter what result you get in the first leg. Liverpool are a team that are capable of bouncing back and having great games.”

Flores, 45, added: “The important thing for us will be the collective mindset that we have, as this competition always gives very close scorelines in the first leg.

“I don’t think that the tie, which is 50-50, will be decided at the Vicente Calderon. What I’m sure about is that we will have to play at a very high level.”

Liverpool were forced into a long trip overland because of the recent flying ban, a decision which did not please boss Rafa Benitez.

But the under-pressure Spaniard, who is without star striker Fernando Torres following knee surgery, must put the disruption behind him as he looks for his side to score what could be a crucial away goal.

Benitez admitted: “My dream is that on Thursday we can settle the tie, but I’m aware that the tie will be decided at Anfield.

“It’s going to be a very difficult and complicated tie. Both teams will play with caution but they will also try to score goals to win the game.”

Torres is joined on the sidelines by defenders Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua (both thigh), Martin Skrtel (foot) and Martin Kelly (knee) so centre-half Daniel Agger will continue as a makeshift left-back.

Forward Ryan Babel is available again in Europe after a one-match suspension for his sending off in the first leg in the last round of the competition.

Atletico will be without Argentina striker Sergio Aguero as he is forced to serve a ban.

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Europa Containment Is Key For Fulham In Hamburg

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Europa League Preview: Hamburg v FulahmFulham continue their epic Europa League run with a trip to one of the most consistent squads in the Bundesliga. Hamburg SV lie seventh in the current table and have finished in the top five in both 2008 and 2009.

The key for Fulham is to ensure they stay in the tie and give themselves a big chance in the return leg. It’s crucial in European two leg football to avoid conceding a two-goal lead in the first leg. Fulham’s only real problem in their journey from the preliminary rounds came when they went down 3-1 to Juventus.

The Cottagers produced something special to overturn that deficit but still needed a large slice of good fortune as Juve were reduced to first ten, and then nine men. The chances of the team managing another comeback of that magnitude would be slim- especially as Europe is now wise to their quality.

You Can Bet On This Match: Hamnburg v Fulham
For Roy Hodgson, a win in Germany would be huge, a draw would be excellent but any defeat limited to a single goal would still be satisfactory. The manager is likely to use Bobby Zamora to occupy the Hamburg defence and string five across midfield- Zoltan Gera and Damian Duff will be asked to get close and support their top scorer when possible.

Hamburg have some serious attacking talent and a massive incentive as the final will be held at their stadium. In January they acquired Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid and the Dutchman is still a predatory striker.
Hamburg boss Bruno Labbadia can pair him with Mladen Petric, the hard running, combative forward who caused Steve McClaren’s England such problems in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, or Swedish player Markus Berg who has shown his best form in Europe this year.

“They’ve had success if we talk about Bayern Munich and Hamburg, even teams like Dynamo Dresden way back,” he said. “The success of German teams goes back very far. If you’ve ever seen them play you’re aware of the strength of German football so, if you get drawn with one, you know it’s going to be a tough game, ” says Roy Hodgson.

Pulling the strings in midfield is Czech playmaker David Jarolim who has been with the club since 2003 and exerts an influence similar to Danny Murphy in the Fulham ranks. Both players are excellent passers who can calm the side and bring shape to the game.

Defensively Hamburg are built around Dutch centre back Joris Mathijsen and can put out a back four of international players. Fulham will hope to snatch at least one away goal but even the in-form Zamora has his work cut out.

After removing Shaktar Donetsk, Juventus and Wolfsburg successively, Fulham will not be intimidated; they should certainly keep the tie alive but it would be no surprise to see Hamburg take a single goal lead to the return. A 1-0 (5.50) or 2-1 (8.00) defeat would still be a good night’s work for Fulham.

Related posts:

  1. Europa League Predictions: Fulham Can Hold On At Wolfsburg
  2. Liverpool, Fulham Europa League Semi-Finals Preview
  3. Europa League Predictions: Fulham Can Squeeze A Draw Out Of Shakhtar


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D-Day looms for Ribery

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Franck RiberyBayern Munich winger Franck Ribery will discover next Wednesday whether he will miss out on a potential appearance in the Champions League final should the Bavarians make it to Madrid for the showpiece next month (Bayern Munich 5/2 Outright Winner).

The 27-year-old was sent off during the 1-0 win over Lyon in the first leg of their semi-final for a heavy challenge on visiting striker Lisandro.

However, numerical parity was soon restored when Ribery’s France team-mate, Jeremy Toulalan, who was playing as an emergency central defender, got himself dismissed after picking up two yellow cards early in the second half at the Allianz Arena.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Arjen Robben scored the only goal of the game as the French side turned in a poor performance away from home.

Ribery will definitely miss the return at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday while his availability for the final against either Inter Milan (4/6 To Qualify) or holders Barcelona (11/10) is in the balance, with a disciplinary panel set to meet in six days to decide if his automatic one-game ban should be extended.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has already called for Ribery’s punishment to fit his crime.

He said: “It’s unfortunate that the referee gave a red card.

“But we cannot change it and we have got to accept it and hope that UEFA are not too harsh on him so that he could be in final and that the ban reflects the incident.”

Match-winner Robben, who reacted badly to being substituted late on during the first leg, is warning his team-mates that they still have work to do in the second leg.

He said: “Nothing is decided yet. Perhaps we have a slight advantage but we have a difficult match ahead in Lyon.”

Lyon were badly out of sorts up front on the night but captain Cris has refused to blame the road trip to Germany for the result following the flight chaos this week.

The Brazilian central defender told rmc.fr: “There was a good atmosphere in the stadium. It was still a semi-final of the Champions League.

“Many players do not have the chance to play this kind of meeting. We should enjoy it.”

However, Cris also admitted: “Throughout the game, it was not good, really.

“In the second half, we went back a little too quiet. We did not take advantage of our superiority (following Ribery’s 37th-minute red card).

“We tried to play. We knew they were putting on pressure and trying to score right away. We tried to cope but it was complicated.”

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Liverpool Face Unpredictable Athlético Madrid

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Liverpool FC Liverpool Face Unpredictable Athlético MadridLike Liverpool, their semi-final opponents in the Europa League, Athlético Madrid, have also been having a disappointing domestic season.

At the moment they are as far down as tenth position in La Liga.

Athlético have lost a massive fifteen league games- an astonishing figure for a club of their stature. It’s not what was expected when Quique Sanchez Flores was appointed coach back in October, to replace Abel Resino.

Athlético were fourth last year, winning a place in the Champions League; but the team performed poorly in that competition which resulted in their demotion to the Europa League like Liverpool- which cost Resino his job.

What will worry Rafa Benitez though, is the way the Spanish club have come through to the semi-finals of this competition. Sanchez Flores’s squad still haven’t played well but have found a way to win ties despite their indifferent form.

Bet on this match: Athlético Madrid v Liverpool

The team from the Spanish capital have come through three ties and in those six matches they have only won once. In their last two ties against Sporting Lisbon and Valencia they have progressed on away goals on each occasion.

In the powerhouse quarter-final with La Liga rivals Valencia, the ‘Rojiblancos’ played out a tense goalless affair on their own pitch after grabbing two away goals. The star forward pairing of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero couldn’t find a way through to give their fans an easier night.

Forlan and Aguero are perhaps more dangerous away from the Vicente Calderon Stadium when they can play on the counter-attack, The same thing happened against Sporting in the last 16- Athlético forced a 2-2 result in Portugal and then held the Lisbon team at home

Everything points to a cautious approach by Athletico in Thursday’s first leg as they are confident in their ability to give Liverpool problems at Anfield- not conceding an away goal is likely to be their priority.

With Liverpool forced to go into the tie without former Madrid hero Fernando Torres, Athlético may have the edge and the incentive to aim for a victory by any margin, so long as the English team don’t score. 1-0 would satisfy Sanchez Flores.

The hope for Liverpool is that Athlético revert to their domestic form- the ‘Rojiblancos’ have lost their last three La Liga matches and leaked seven goals in the process. Even without Torres and Ryan Babel, Benitez will fancy the chances of scoring at the Calderon.

Though the home team might play it tight, keeping the Reds at bay could be beyond them. The form of both teams points to a possible 1-1 (6.50 at PartyBets.com) result and the tie left in the balance for the second leg.

Related posts:

  1. Liverpool, Fulham Europa League Semi-Finals Preview
  2. Atlético Madrid and Valencia Clash in all-Spanish Europa League Quarter-Final
  3. Europa League Predictions: Lille Are A Stiff Obstacle For Liverpool


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Bayern Munich v Lyon: Will Momentum Overcome the French?

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champions league trophy Bayern Munich v Lyon: Will Momentum Overcome the French?Olympic Lyon are the first French side to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League but they have their work cut out with their German opponents Bayern Munich hitting form at just the right time.

After an unimpressive start to the season Bayern have really moved up through the gears and have begun to impose themselves in the Bundesliga and in Europe. This month alone they have knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League in the last round, beat Bundesliga title rivals Schalke away from home whilst keeping their momentum going with a draw at the other domestic challengers in Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern smashed seven goals past Hannover at the and are now two points ahead at the top of the Bundesliga, with three games left to play it looks as though they will be league champions.

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They have two of the best wide midfielders in the world today in the form of Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery (7.50 to score first goal) and both have been on song recently playing an instrumental part in Bayern’s upturn of fortunes.

Lyon, like Barcelona last night, have been forced to travel to Munich by bus. It is a long arduous journey and they will be hoping it doesn’t affect the team and they get a better result than Barcelona could manage after their long road trip.

Lyon have not been playing great this month and were involved in a tough match at the weekend against a Bordeaux side who have dramatically lost form. Lyon managed a 2-2 draw but at the cost of losing Lisandro Lopez through injury which is a massive blow.

The momentum is definitely with Bayern Munich in this semi-final and Lyon will be happy to just get an away goal if they can.

“We are not favourites. The game is 50-50. We might have beaten United, but Lyon knocked out Real Madrid in the last 16, so they have proved their strength,” said Bayern defender Daniel Van Buyten.

“Lyon defend and attack very well and their forward, Lisandro, is very dangerous. They have players who can make a difference and Hugo Lloris is a very good goalkeeper. Lyon are a very strong team.”

Related posts:

  1. Inter Milan v Barcelona Champions League Semi Final
  2. Arsenal v Barcelona – A Meeting Of The Pass Masters
  3. Contrasting Champions League Fortunes Await the Italians


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Inter ’s Mourinho Proves to be the Special One Again

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Inter coach Mourinho training2 199x300 Inter s Mourinho Proves to be the Special One Again“They have played their style of football. We have not been as effective as in other games. The pitch was quite fast and we tried on the wings and through the middle. Our opponent has not made it easy for us.” – Pep Guardiola

The Nerazzurri produced a fine first-leg display as they came from behind to beat holders Barcelona and take control of this Champions League semi-final.

Once again Jose Mourinho got his tactics spot on when it really matters, and Pep Guardiola and Barcelona know this. The question is; can Barcelona now salvage the tie and retain their Champions League crown which is hanging by a thread?

Inter allowed Barcelona the ball where they couldn’t hurt them, then picked the right moments to press and harass Barca before launching lightning-fast counter attacks. It was a perfect ‘team’ display by the Nerazzurri who collectively to a man executed Mourinho’s game plan to perfection.

Jose Mourinho and Inter know that there is still a long hard battle awaiting them in the second leg at Camp Nou next week. They will also know that scoring an away goal will mean that Barcelona will have it all to do as they will have to find a way past their rock solid defence at least three times – but with Messi on form that is possible!

Inter Milan are now favourites to qualify for the final at 1.70, with Barcelona facing an uphill task they are 2.05 to make it to the final at the Bernabau stadium next month.

Related posts:

  1. Inter Milan v Barcelona Champions League Semi Final
  2. Inter Milan Can’t Afford Any Slip Ups Against CSKA
  3. Mourinho Welcomes Old Friends Chelsea To Milan


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Pep promises Barca response

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Barcelona players joined forces on Tuesday to insist their Champions League dream was still alive in response to a 3-1 first-leg defeat by Internazionale in Milan (11/10 Barcelona – To Qualify).

Barca’s hopes of becoming the first club side to successfully defend the trophy belonging to Europe’s premier club competition were dealt a potentially-damaging blow on a night to savour for the Nerazzurri.

Too many of Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad – including red-hot Argentina international Lionel Messi and former Inter favourite Zlatan Ibrahimovic – had off-nights off the back of an arduous 14-hour coach trip, forced by the travel chaos resulting from the volcanic ash cloud, to reach Italy.

The holders appeared to be in the box seat when they snatched a priceless away goal courtesy of a sublime finish by Pedro on 19 minutes.

But the Catalan giants failed to build on their advantage and goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito secured a sixth consecutive Champions League victory for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Full-back Daniel Alves bemoaned: “We made mistakes when they had chances. It was a fiercely fought contest but we deserved a little more.”

The Brazilian added: “Complaining is for losers and we’re not losers.”

Barca skipper Carles Puyol, who will miss the return leg because of a suspension, added: “It’s a bad result. Let’s hope the Camp Nou helps us turn the tie around.”

Pedro said: “It’s good to score an away goal. We’ll give it 100% in the 90 minutes left in front of our own fans.”

Pep Guardiola suffered the unwanted record of falling to his heaviest defeat in Europe since taking charge at the Nou Camp but said he had every confidence his players could overturn the deficit (4/9 Barcelona 11/4 draw 11/2 Inter Milan – match betting).

“It is never good to lose by more than one goal, but it is the first time in the Champions League since I was in charge of Barcelona; the first time it has happened to us in 19 months,” he said.

“But we are convinced that we can turn the tie around.”

Guardiola must now rally his troops for Saturday’s La Liga clash at home against Xerex in the knowledge that bitter rivals Real Madrid are breathing down their necks.

The Nou Camp boss said he would take stock before analysing what went wrong against Inter and promised Messi would have a big say in Barca’s attempt to reach the final at the Bernabeu on May 22.

“We’ll invite you to Barcelona and then you will see the real Messi,” said Guardiola. “Our fans will get behind us and we can do it.”

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Dowie won’t risk Tigers ace

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Iain Dowie says Anthony Gardner will not be risked by Hull (11/4 in totesport’s match betting) in Wednesday’s clash with Aston Villa (20/21), but the defender could be available this weekend.

Former Tottenham man Gardner has been sidelined for two months with an ankle problem and has returned to training this week.

But Dowie believes Wednesday’s big game at the KC Stadium will come too soon and is hoping Gardner may be fit enough to face Sunderland on Saturday.

Victory for the Tigers in their game in hand will see them go level on points with fourth-bottom West Ham and Dowie remains upbeat about the prospects of survival – with Hull 1/5 to be relegated.

The Hull chief stated: “If we win our game in hand, if we put decent points on the board in the next two games we’ll be right in the shake-up.

“We’ve got Wigan to play, that’s a crucial game. There’ll be some twists and turns but we’ve got to make sure we look after our business.”

Hull will also be boosted by the fact that two of their last three games will be at home, against Sunderland and Liverpool, where they have lost just three of their last 13 games.

Meanwhile, the Tigers will make late checks on midfielders Dean Marney (illness) and Bernard Mendy (hamstring), but Caleb Folan is set to miss out because of a hip problem.

Wednesday’s match is also vital to Aston Villa’s hopes of sealing European football for next season, with Martin O’Neill refusing to give up on fourth place.

Villa are currently seventh, six points behind Tottenham – who currently sit in the final Champions League place, who still have a derby with Birmingham, home clash with Euro-rivals Manchester City and away date with Blackburn still to come.

O’Neill is to set to name an unchanged side for the trip to the KC Stadium and they will look to build on an impressive defensive record.

Villa have kept six clean sheets in their last 10 away matches and have not conceded in their last four meetings with Hull, including a 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium last season.

The Midlands outfit are seeking a double over the Tigers, having won 3-0 at Villa Park in December, as they look to extend their impressive run which has seen just one defeat in 14 Premier League games.

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Benitez reveals new Torres fears

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted that Fernando Torres might miss their push to snatch the fourth Champions League spot in the Premier League (Liverpool 22/1 Top Four Finish) because he could need another knee operation.

The Spanish hitman’s plan to get the joint checked out by a specialist in his homeland on Friday hit the buffers when the volcanic ash cloud hanging over the British Isles resulted in the flight being cancelled.

Therefore Benitez revealed that the club cannot risk playing Torres until they get the green light from a medical expert as they do not want to cause any long-term damage to the knee which was only operated on in January.

Torres was always going to miss the Reds’ must-win Premier League clash against struggling West Ham at Anfield on Monday night (Liverpool 1/3, West Ham 9/1, draw 18/5 Match Betting).

However this fresh delay could now mean Torres will miss Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against his former club Atletico Madrid (Atletico Madrid 5/4, Liverpool 7/4,  draw 9/4  Match Betting) if the clash can go-ahead with flights still being cancelled in and out of the UK.

If the delay goes on Torres could even miss the rest of the season and if surgery is required then his involvement in the World Cup with Spain (4/1 World Cup Outright) could also be scuppered.

Benitez told the News of the World: “I don’t know.

“He feels good and says the knee is fine, but we need the opinion of the specialist.

“He was supposed to see the specialist on Friday, but because of the cancelled flights there was a problem.”

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Harry excited by Euro vision

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Harry Redknapp has told his Tottenham players they may never get a better chance to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and break into the Champions League (7/10 Tottenham – Top 4 Finish).

The White Hart Lane boss fears rivals Manchester City will dip into the vast fortunes of the Abu Dhabi United Group this summer and return stronger next season if they fail to reach Europe’s elite club competition.

Redknapp said: “They’re going to go out again in the summer and bring in another three or four world-class players, aren’t they, and will keep improving. This is probably the best year that you’ll ever get to have a good chance.”

Tottenham have stolen a march on their rivals to shake up the top order of English football off the back of an impressive run of form (4/6 Tottenham – Premier League W/O Big 4).

Last Wednesday they claimed a first Premier League win over Arsenal in 11 years in a breathless north London derby and on Saturday shook up the race for the title by beating 10-man Chelsea in an equally-enthralling encounter.

They now lead Roberto Mancini’s men by two points in the race for the coveted fourth spot.

A true test of their ability to stay the distance begins next Saturday when they travel to take on title-chasers Manchester United looking for a first win at Old Trafford in the Premier League since 1989.

Tottenham will then face Bolton at home before facing City in the penultimate game of the season. They will wrap up their campaign against relegation-threatened Burnley.

Aston Villa and Liverpool appear to be running out of fixtures to challenge Tottenham and City and Redknapp, while not getting carried away, feels the time is right for his players to take the initiative.

Redknapp said: “It would be great for us, a nice thing to achieve. You get into the knockout phase [of the Champions League] and anything could happen. You could last two minutes as well, of course. But just to get fourth position would be a fantastic achievement.”

In-form winger Gareth Bale has been winning admirers with a string of stand-out performances, including goals against Chelsea and Arsenal, and Redknapp said he never doubted his ability to come through.

Redknapp added: “I never considered selling him: it would have scared me to death to have done that. I knew what we had. It was just a case of him growing up a little bit, getting a bit stronger, and he’s done that.”

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