Monthly Archives: March 2011

Spain set for Czech battle

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Attention this weekend turns to the international scene when qualification for Euro 2012 resumes in earnest with a host of teams in action on Friday, including world champions and 7/2 outright tournament favourites Spain who host Czech Republic as the top two in Group I go head to head.

Spain have won their opening three matches in the campaign to lead the group by three points, but were made to work in their last outing as Scotland fought back from 2-0 down, only for Fernando Llorente to score with 11 minutes left to secure the three points.

The Czechs suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Lithuania in their first match but have bounced back to see off both Scotland and Liechtenstein and can make life hard for the home side on Friday night.

It is difficult to see past 2/9 favourites Spain in the match betting, given their record of 17 successive qualifying victories and 22 unbeaten, while they have won their last nine competitive matches since that shock defeat to Switzerland in the World Cup.

However, Czech Republic do boast an impressive head-to-head record against Spain, leading 7-5 with one draw, and will try to make themselves hard to beat on Friday so Draw/Spain at 16/5 in the Half-time/Full-time market looks tempting.

Austria look a big price at 7/5 to see off Belgium in Vienna, given the fact they were leading 3-2 in Brussels before Paul Scharner was sent off in the reverse fixture last time out.

The hosts hit back through Marvin Ogunjimi and Nicolas Lombaerts to seemingly win the game, before the 10 men of Austria snatched a point in injury time through Martin Harnik.

Austria have only lost once in 13 games to Belgium and never in Vienna, with a record of four wins and a draw, while they have now won their last five competitive home fixtures and can keep on the coat-tails of Germany at the top of Group A with the win.

The top two in Group C also go head to head with Slovenia looking to join Italy on 10 points when they clash in Ljubljana on Friday, although the visitors are the Evens favourites in the match betting.

However, Slovenia are fancied to upset the odds at 13/5 having won one and drawn one of only two previous meetings on home territory, while it is also expected to be a low-scoring encounter – four of the five results between the two sides have ended 1-0, with the other being a 1-1 draw.

Holland at 4/9 and France at 1/25 look nailed on to see off Hungary and Luxembourg respectively, even though both are away from home, while Northern Ireland’s unbeaten start to the campaign looks to be coming to an end.

Nigel Worthington’s men (6/1 – match betting) followed up a credible draw against Italy with a not-so impressive draw against Faroe Islands and will have their work cut out against a Serbia side desperate for the win.

What may work in the visitors favour is the fact that the match is being played behind closed doors following the riots in Genoa, but having lost only one match previously and none at home, Serbia are expected to justify 4/9 favouritism.

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Who will claim the title?

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With the international break now meaning there are no more Premier League fixtures until early April, now seems like a good time to take a look at the title race with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea still in with a shout of glory come May.

United remain favourites at 1/2 with totesport to wrestle the trophy off Chelsea (11/2) and claim a record-breaking 19th top-flight title but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have stuttered in recent weeks and do not look anywhere near as dominant as some of the all-conquering sides the Scot has assembled at Old Trafford over the past 15 years or so.

Saturday’s late 1-0 win over Bolton underlined the fact that they cannot be compared to some of the free-scoring attacking sides that have graced the Premier League’s upper echelon’s recently while defeats at Liverpool and Chelsea prove they are vulnerable when the pressure’s on as well.

However, United remain five points clear of Arsenal – who have also once again proved the same-old weaknesses continue to hamper them in recent weeks – and probably just about possess the all-round strength needed to out-muscle their rivals in the run-in.

If United do go on to win the title again it is doubtful the side will go down in the club’s folklore as one of the greatest ever but, as Saturday proved, sometimes winning ugly and getting lucky is just as an important quality to have alongside simply being the best team in the country.

To many neutrals, that tag really belongs to Arsenal but can the Gunners shake off their predictable demons and finally realise the title dream? Well, maybe they can actually. And at 11/4 with totesport, the price is tempting as well.

For all their pretty football, Arsene Wenger’s men appear dogged by familiar problems that seem to be preventing them from getting over the line in first place but they are well-placed in second with a game in hand and have yet to host United at the Emirates so the title could still be theirs for the taking.

They do struggle to do what champions do at this stage of the season and grind out results when up against it. As critics say it is simply not in their DNA. Saturday’s comeback at West Brom proved they can dig in and rescue a game but Manuel Almunia gifting the Baggies their second goal shows a long-standing problem – they have not got a top-class goalkeeper – remains unresolved.

That could well be addressed if Pepe Reina is brought in from Liverpool in the summer but, of course, it will be too late to help them in the current campaign. However, the return of Jens Lehmann may just be the Wenger masterstroke that steadies the ship and helps them go on to claim the top prize in a couple of months.

Finally, Chelsea are now back in the groove after their poor mid-season form and boss Carlo Ancelotti has not given up on the title as they sit nine points behind United with a game in hand.

The Italian says his side need to win their remaining nine games to get back involved in the race but, if they can build on the hard-fought win over Man City on Sunday, then do not rule the Blues out just yet – especially if they can get Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to gel and wreak havoc up front in what’s left of the season.

So, with a less-than-formidable United stuttering, an extremely-talented Arsenal outfit hoping to dazzle again and a well-oiled Chelsea close to clicking back into top gear, we may just be about to experience the most exciting title battle in the Premier League for several years.

Prediction:

1 Arsenal
2 Manchester United
3 Chelsea.

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Rovers should fear the worst

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The Premier League relegation battle is the closest in living memory and is unlikely to be decided until the very last kick of the season. We look at all the contenders for the drop and which three will eventually fall through the trap door….

Wigan
Saturday’s win over Birmingham was imperative for Latics survival hopes, but it still looks like a tough ask for them to stay afloat. Roberto Martinez’s men are capable of beating anyone on their day but inconsistency is likely to cost them.
April’s clash at Blackpool is crucial, but Wigan (4/11 to be relegated) also face away dates at Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke.

Birmingham
The Carling Cup winners are in real danger of dropping out of the top flight, highlighted by their last gasp defeat to Wigan. Alex McLeish’s squad have dropped into the bottom three and although they have a game in hand, Blues still have to go to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs.
A lack of goals is the real concern for Birmingham (6/4 for the drop), who are the lowest scorers in the division with just 28 goals. They have not managed to score more than one goal in their last six league games.

Wolves
Wanderers are the in-form team in the bottom half, currently on a four-game unbeaten run, and have shown they are capable of getting out of trouble. Mick McCarthy’s team are better than their position suggests and with four winnable home games – against Everton, Fulham, West Brom and Blackburn – look a decent bet to survive.
Wolves (4/9 to stay up) are also getting key players back from injury, with Stephen Hunt, Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne close to returns.

West Ham
Having looked doomed a couple of months ago, the Hammers now look strong enough to complete the great escape. Avram Grant has somehow retained his job and the return to fitness of Thomas Hitzlsperger has dug him out of a hole, while the additions of Gary O’Neil and Demba Ba have proved to be shrewd signings.
West Ham (4/9 to stay up) still have to face three of the top four in their final eight games, but their renewed confidence should keep them up.

West Brom
Roy Hodgson’s experience in the battle to avoid the drop could prove crucial in Albion’s fight for survival. Already under the ex-Fulham chief, West Brom have drawn three and won one of the four matches under his stewardship.
The Baggies (13/8 to be relegated) hopes of avoiding another immediate return to the Championship could hinge on two crunch Midlands derbies – against Villa and Wolves.

Blackpool
Virtually every neutral wants the Tangerines to stay up after their entertaining football and attacking ethos this season. Goals, goals, goals has been the ploy for Ian Holloway and it may prove crucial if they prove everyone wrong and survive.
Their home form is a slight concern, with just four wins at Bloomfield Road, but if key players remain fit – Charlie Adam, Luke Varney and Gary Taylor-Fletcher – Blackpool (13/10 to be relegated) can defy the pundits.

Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier is under the most pressure of any manager in the bottom half and he has to hope that doesn’t transfer to his players in the final eight games. As much as people hate this comment….Villa are too good to go down, although it does sometimes happen when a big club suffers a huge fall from grace.
The Villans will rely heavily on the goals of Darren Bent to keep them up but imagine the back pages if Houllier needs a win against his former club Liverpool on the final day in order to stay up.

Blackburn
Rovers fans are quite really concerned by their alarming form in 2011, with the Ewood club winning just one of their last nine league games. Blackburn have still got to play Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City and their fate may go down to the wire and their last game at Wolves.
The one factor that could push Rovers (2/1 to be relegated) over the edge is the man at the helm, with Steve Kean the only rookie manager involved in the relegation battle.

Fulham
The Cottagers have a three-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone and that should be enough to clinch their top-flight status. Fulham’s home record will prove the difference, with just three defeats at Craven Cottage this season to date, although their last two home games of the season are against Liverpool and Arsenal.
With key players returning in recent weeks, don’t be surprised to see Mark Hughes’ men (16/1 to be relegated) finish the season in the top half.

Newcastle
The saving grace for the Magpies is that there are so many teams between them and the bottom three, and that could see them survive. A lack of striking options is the major concern for the Toon Army and Saturday’s 4-0 thumping at Stoke proved it will be a nail-biting end to the season for the fans.
Four points might not seem a lot, but home form is the key to Newcastle (16/1 to go down) survival – with St James’ Park matches against fellow strugglers Wolves, Birmingham and West Brom to come. Four of their remaining seven matches are away from Tyneside.

Prediction: Wigan, Birmingham and Blackburn to be relegated

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Premier spot still up for grabs

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Bet on the ChampionshipAs we enter a two-week break in the Championship, there appears to be a straight scrap between up to five clubs to see who will join Neil Warnock’s QPR (1/8 Outright) in the Premier League next season.

Here we will take a look at the teams we feel are in the running for the second automatic promotion place and assess their chances of making it to the top flight in the final nine matches.

NORWICH

Paul Lambert’s Canaries (11/8 promotion) remain in second spot – nine points behind runaway leaders and champions-elect QPR – thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Hull City on Saturday.

They are unbeaten in eight league games now and sit one point ahead of Swansea in third spot.

Norwich have a winnable game against struggling Scunthorpe after the international break, before a six-pointer against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on April 9.

That match could go a long way to deciding which of these sides will be mixing it with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal next season.

SWANSEA

Brendan Rodgers’s men (6/5 Promotion) were the in-form team going into March but, like many of the teams around them, they have stuttered their way through this month.

The Swans had only managed one point from a possible nine before getting back to winning ways courtesy of a crucial 3-2 win against promotion rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

In addition to the home clash against Norwich next month, they have trips to relegation-haunted Preston and Sheffield United still to play, which they will no doubt pin-point for maximum points.

CARDIFF

Dave Jones’s Bluebirds (9/5 Promotion) are stuck in a sticky patch at the moment having secured just two points from their last four league games.

Their defensive frailties were exploited in the last two games as Barnsley and Millwall both grabbed late equalisers to deny them maximum hauls which would have put them level on points with Norwich in second spot.

If the south Wales side can rediscover their form after the international break they have arguably one of the best run-ins, with games against five of the current bottom eight sides to play plus a mouth-watering home clash against QPR.

LEEDS UNITED

Simon Grayson’s men (4/1 Promotion) were ticking along nicely until Saturday as they went into the Yorkshire derby at relegation battlers Sheffield United with seven points from a possible nine in the bag. However, a 2-0 defeat at Bramall Lane and a straight red card for Billy Paynter capped a miserable afternoon for the Whites and left them six points off an automatic promotion spot.

Leeds require maximum points at the expense of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, who they face at Elland Road in a massive game on April 2.

They also face tricky away games at Millwall, Crystal Palace and a final day trip to QPR which could bog them down.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Billy Davies’s side will probably be more concerned with securing a play-off place as opposed to winning promotion automatically (7/2 Promotion).

Forest were looking favourites to go up with QPR before embarking on a seven-match winless run which included a costly first home defeat of the season against Hull and a defeat at struggling Sheffield United.

Saturday’s 3-2 reverse at Swansea compounded their misery and has left in-form Reading just three points behind in seventh with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Defeat at Leeds in their next game will virtually end any lingering promotion aspirations and leave their hopes of a top-six spot hanging in the balance as they face Reading and eighth-placed Burnley in the following matches.

Prediction: Norwich to go up with QPR automatically.

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Blues can edge Bridge battle

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Chelsea and Manchester City enter the last chance saloon on Sunday as their Premier League title challenge comes to a head at Stamford Bridge. For the winner it could be the start of a last tilt at top spot and for the loser, they can kiss any hopes they had of league success goodbye.

Another team hoping their recent revival isn’t faltering are Liverpool, as they look to become one of just a handful of clubs to win at the Stadium of light this season. We preview both matches and try to pick out the best bets…….

Sunderland v Liverpool (1:30pm)

The Reds head to Wearside on the back on a downright disappointing night at Anfield on Thursday, as they crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of Braga. No one thought Liverpool could play as badly as they did in the 1-0 defeat in the first leg, but the goalless draw showed Kenny Dalglish still needs to do a lot to put his team back on the map.

With their hopes of silverware gone, all Liverpool have left to play for is a top five finish – the only way they can get back into Europe next season. At the moment Tottenham occupy fifth and are six points ahead of Liverpool, whose hopes for next season will suffer a major setback without European football.

The chances of the Reds bouncing back don’t look good when you consider they have lost all their Premier League away games after a Europa League clash. They will be able to call on Luis Suarez again and that could give them a real boost, especially going forward after that toothless display on Thursday.

Up against them will be a Sunderland team who had suffered four successive defeats in February, but secured a much needed and unexpected draw against Arsenal in their last outing. Steve Bruce’s injury problems are showing signs of easing as well and Lee Cattermole, Danny Welbeck and Nedum Onuoha could be back on Sunday.

Sunderland are looking for revenge after feeling hard done by in the 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier in the season, although the Reds will remember a certain beach ball costing them last year’s game on Wearside. Sunderland will feel Liverpool are there for the taking, but should be wary of the wounded Reds.

Match Bet – Draw HT/ Sunderland FT @ 9/2

Chelsea v Manchester City (4pm)

No doubt this is the game of the weekend as the club’s respective billionaire owners field their respective collection of expensive ‘toys’ in the battle for the title. Roberto Mancini’s men are seven points off league leaders Manchester United but, given the way the season has gone, can’t be counted out yet. Neither can Chelsea, who look like they are getting into their stride at just the right time, after putting together back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

Heading into the game you would have to say Chelsea are in the better form, City having been dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday and struggled past Reading and Wigan in their previous two games.

Chelsea look to have a bit of the swagger back that saw them win the Premier League last season and while they are still struggling for goals, with Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in their pack you can bet someone will hit the back of net sooner or later.

City’s build-up to the game has been dominated by Mario Balotelli’s sending-off in midweek and his all-round poor demeanour which could see him left at home for the trip to west London.

City recorded a surprise win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season and a repeat of that result would be equally as shocking. However, Chelsea look to have the edge and when it comes down to the business end of the season can normally be relied on to produce the goods.

Match Bet – Chelsea to win @ 8/13

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Osasuna can help safety hopes

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Barcelona (1/8 to land the La Liga title) seem well on course to land the Spanish title this season, but there are still plenty of other issues to be resolved, as there are in Serie A, now we’re at the ‘business end’ of the campaign.

Hercules lack the strength and power of their legendary namesake and have gone five games without a victory in La Liga, including four losses.  After just one season in the Spanish top flight it is looking increasingly likely that the Alicante outfit are heading back down and coach Esteban Vigo has a real task on his hands if he is to lead his team to safety.

Osasuna visit the Estadio Jose Rico Perez on Sunday and they look set to pile more misery on a beleaguered Hercules side.  The Pamplona outfit are still in the relegation mix themselves but have improved of late – taking seven points from their last three league fixtures and winning the last two. Osasuna are priced at 21/10 to take the points and this looks a decent bet, all things considered.

Levante have shot up the Spanish table with just one loss – at the hands of Real Madrid – in their last nine and they travel to strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.  Despite Depor’s precarious position, they should be too good to go down and their problem this season has been too many draws, especially at home.  Levante will fancy their chances but could well be left frustrated and the draw, priced at 9/4, could well be the best bet from this particular fixture.

Meanwhile in Italy, Roma’s decision to axe Claudio Ranieri appears to have been a wise choice and they’ve now gone four games unbeaten since parting company with the likeable former Chelsea boss.

They do face a stern test this weekend though, with a trip to an improving Fiorentina side that have won their last two and are unbeaten in four.  Granted, La Viola have hardly set Serie A alight this season, but they still have some talented individuals and could well cause Roma a few problems, but following a Rome derby victory they should be full of confidence.

It should be a tight game between these two Italian giants, who have both endured stuttering campaigns, but Fiorentina could just edge it and at 7/5 they are a very good price to keep their (extremely) slim European hopes alive with victory.

Udinese have been on fire of late and they’re in with a chance of bagging a spot in next season’s Champions League.  Catania arrive at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday and they will struggle to get anything out of a Udinese side who have won five of their last six.  At 2/5, Udinese are heavy favourites but this particular clash is, on paper anyway, the very definition of a ‘home banker.’

Napoli are Udinese’s main competition for a spot amongst Europe’s elite next season and they host Cagliari, who seem set for a mid-table finish.  Napoli, at 4/7, should be too strong for Cagliari and as they continue their push for a top-three finish.  If you’ve got the confidence that these two in-form sides have the ability to grab victories, a Udinese/Napoli double pays out at 2.20 (6/5).

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Saturday’s Premier League

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The Premier League is beginning to enter the final bend as issues at the top and bottom of the table start to reach their conclusion. Saturday will be another bumper day of action with eight matches taking place, all of which will have a bearing on the title or the relegation picture. We take a look at who might falter at their latest fence in the battle for survival and who will be first past the winners post.

Tottenham v West Ham (12:45pm)

It’s ironic that with a Cheltenham theme running through the introduction that we come to well known punter Harry Redknapp and his team in the first match of the day. Victory for Tottenham on Saturday would move them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea but their domestic form hasn’t been great. Their last two matches have seen them lose at Blackpool and draw with Wolves. Both of those were on the road and they are very strong at home but it might be tough for them to keep their focus with Real Madrid on the horizon in the Champions League. West Ham have improved a lot in recent weeks and a draw looks to be a safe bet in this one.

Match Bet – Tottenham and West Ham to draw @ 14/5

Aston Villa v Wolverhampton (3pm)

There is more than just local pride on the line in this game between two sides who are desperately trying to beat the drop. Wolves will start in 19th but are just four points behind Villa, who are currently in 13th. Wolves have an awful record against Villa over the years, failing to win any of their last 21 meetings since they secured a 3-1 victory back in 1978. With home advantage and a team which is improving all the time Villa should be well fancied to pick up a vital three points.

Match Bet – Aston Villa half-time/full-time @ 7/4

Blackburn v Blackpool (3pm)

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway believes a few more wins will be enough for the Seasiders to survive and he’ll have targeted this game as potentially three points. Blackpool have been better on the road this season than they have at home and with Blackburn having lost seven of their last eight in all competitions this could be another away day to remember. Rovers are good at home but look a team on the slide and with Charlie Adam back for the Tangerines it could be another day to forget for Steve Kean’s Blackburn.

Match Bet - Blackpool to win @ 16/5

Man Utd v Bolton (3pm)

In any other season you would say this match is a foregone conclusion and that United would pick up a comfortable three points. However, Owen Coyle’s men are playing well and having booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals last week they will no doubt be on a high. United have stuttered through their last two games but in typical United style have picked up the results they need. They will probably make it three narrow wins in a row over Bolton but don’t be surprised if they slip up and drop two points against the Trotters.

Match Bet - Javier Hernandez @ 7/2 first goalscorer

Stoke City v Newcastle (3pm)

Looking at the table normally you’d say this was a middle table battle with very little riding on it. However, given the gap between Newcastle in tenth and the drop zone is five points this is a vital game in these two trying to secure their place in the top flight. Trying to predict the Toon’s results is about as tricky as picking the lottery numbers but you fancy Stoke will get the better of them at the bear pit which is the Britannia Stadium. Stoke are unbeaten at home this year and, like Bolton, will be on a high after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

Match Bet - Stoke to win @ 5/4

West Brom v Arsenal (3pm)

Those Arsenal fans who haven’t decided to end it all after the last two weeks could be well rewarded for their patience with the rare sight of their team winning a game on Saturday. The Gunners are looking for revenge after losing 3-2 at home to the Baggies and will need three points to keep up with Man Utd. West Brom are unbeaten in their last four but three of those have been draws and anything they get out of this will be a bonus. Roy Hodgson has got his team well drilled now but even with a raft of injuries Arsenal should have the edge.

Match Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 4/6 and both team to scores @ 8/11

Wigan v Birmingham

This Saturday is packed full of relegation six-pointers and this one at the DW Stadium is another game which could go a long way to deciding each teams fate. If Wigan are to mount a comeback they must beat an injury-hit Blues team before they face Chelsea and Tottenham in the next two weeks. It will be a patched up Birmingham that arrives in the north-west and if Charles N’Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega can perform they should have too much. However, the way Wigan’s season is going it could be another damp squid of an afternoon at the DW.

Match Bet - Wigan and Birmingham to draw @ 9/4

Everton v Fulham (5:30pm)

Both of these two will hope they are out of the firing line when it comes to a relegation scrap but neither David Moyes or Mark Hughes are likely to rest on their laurels. Fulham are constantly improving as they get more and more players back but still don’t like playing away from Craven Cottage. Everton are strong at home but are missing key players like Mikael Arteta and Tim Cahill. This will be another tight affair with little to choose between the two teams but if Fulham can hold out they should pick up another point.

Match Bet – Everton half-time draw full-time @ 14/1

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Chelsea eye United revenge

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The draw has now been made for the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an all-Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United the highlight. Spurs face Real Madrid so who might make it to the semi-finals and beyond? (Barcelona 21/20 fav to win Champions League).

United will have fond memories of the last time they faced the Blues in Europe’s elite club competition as they beat Chelsea in the final to win the title back in 2008.

Avram Grant was in charge of Chelsea on that occasion but it will be Carlo Ancelotti in the dug-out opposite Sir Alex Ferguson for the two-legged encounter with the Red Devils.

Chelsea have certainly improved in recent times this term after a disastrous period around the New Year that saw them all but drop out of the Premier League title race, but the big-money Fernando Torres’ transfer has yet to pay off as he has failed to find the back of the net to date.

It is unlikely that his barren spell will last too much longer, however, and the Spaniard could be Chelsea’s trump card as they look to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.

United sit at the top of the Premier League without having hit the heights of previous campaigns but they have been too good for most opposition this term, although recent defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea have  given Arsenal a chance of taking the title (Arsenal 17/10 to win Premier League).

But how good they actually are will become apparent in the charged atmosphere of a Champions League encounter with Chelsea and this has all the a makings of a classic (12/5 for English team to win Champs League).

Spurs have been revelation in their first foray into the Champions League but they now face the biggest test against Jose Mourinho’s side.

Victory over Inter Milan proves they fear nobody and with good reason as Harry Redknapp has assembled a talented squad at White Hart Lane who have plenty of goals in them.

Gareth Bale has already shown his class this season in Europe and will surely be a big player over the two legs with the Spanish giants, while Rafael van de Vaart returns to his former club for the first time since leaving last summer.

Mourinho knows all about English football after three years at Chelsea and he will leave nothing to chance in is preparation for the two matches with Redknapp’s men.

Elsewhere Barcelona should have little trouble in seeing off Shakhtar Donetsk, despite the Ukrainians’ 6-2 aggregate success over Roma in the round of 16, while Inter Milan’s away-goals victory over Bayern Munich has landed them a tie with Schalke.

The semi-final draw has also been made and Spurs would possibly have to get past the mighty Barca if they were too make the final, while one of Chelsea or United will play Shakhtar Donetsk or Barcelona in the last four.

There are some excellent match-ups in the quarter-finals but the two games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge will attract the most interest as John Terry will be looking for some pay back for his penalty miss that costs the west Londoners the title three years ago.

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Yellow Submarine must be ship shape

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Bayer Leverkusen’s excellent away form could be enough to see them win through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League at Villarreal’s expense.

The Yellow Submarine hold a narrow 3-2 advantage from last week’s first leg in Germany but they cannot rest on their laurels as Bayer’s record on the road this season is phenomenal.

In the Bundesliga, they have won nine of their 13 away matches while in Europe they have also impressed. Josef Heynckes’ team are unbeaten in their last six European away matches and, prior to the first leg, were unbeaten in ten Europa League matches this season.

A 2-0 win for Bayer (14/1) would send them through and certainly shock Juan Carlos Garrido’s team.

Elsewhere, Portugal should be well represented in the last eight as both Benfica and FC Porto are in pole position in their respective ties.

Porto are the runaway Primeira Liga leaders and seem certain to clinch their 25th title as they are currently 13 points clear of second-placed Benfica with only seven games of the campaign remaining.

They secured a superb 1-0 win in Moscow against CSKA last week thanks to Fredy Guarin’s goal but need to be wary as the Russian side, winners of the 2005 UEFA Cup, have already won three times away from home in this season’s competition.

However, such is Porto’s recent form that they could go all the way in the Europa League this season, and they are currently 10/3 to win the competition.

Benfica’s progress is less certain as they travel to the French capital for their second leg holding a narrow 2-1 advantage against Paris St Germain after the first encounter between the two teams at the Stadium of Light.

However, they could hold the psychological advantage as they had to come from behind in Lisbon after Peguy Luyindula had given PSG the lead. Goals by Maxi Pereira and Franco Jara turned the tie around and Benfica have the attacking prowess to score in Paris and clinch their place in the quarter-finals.

As well as CSKA, Zenit St Petersburg also lost their first leg but the 2008 winners of the competition have a massive task ahead of them as they crashed 3-0 to FC Twente last week.

Last season’s Dutch champions have already knocked out another Russian side in Rubin Kazan after moving into the Europa League from the Champions League and have the expertise to finish the job off in Thursday’s second leg.

With Zenit forced on to the attack, Twente seem certain to have the capabilites to score at least one goal on the counter-attack (7/1 for Zenit to win 2-1).

Spartak Moscow are the best-placed of the Russian sides to progress as they pulled off a fine 1-0 first-leg victory against Ajax in the Amsterdam ArenA.

Valeri Karpin’s team will be only too aware though that in the last round they struggled to draw 1-1 with Basle in Moscow after earning a fine 3-2 first-leg win in Switzerland (Spartak Moscow 13/8, Draw 23/10, Ajax 13/8).

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City face uphill Europa battle

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Manchester City, Liverpool and Rangers are all in Europa League action on Thursday night – with all three in danger of heading out of the competition in the last 16 (Europa League outright – Liverpool 6/1).

City are in the most precarious position of the British trio.  Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled side were humbled as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the Ukraine against Dynamo Kiev and it will take a big effort from the Eastlands side if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

City simply can’t afford to concede against Dynamo on Thursday night as they could not grab a crucial away goal at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium last week.

However, Mancini has his side well drilled and they have kept clean sheets in their last three consecutive home games – City are evens to keep a clean sheet and 6/5 to win to nil, both of which look good value considering their recent home form.

City need to win at least 3-0 if they are to progress, it will be a big ask for Mancini’s men and they are priced at 18/1 to secure a 3-0 victory over the Ukrainian outfit.

The Manchester side will also be boosted by the return of midfield playmaker James Milner from a hamstring injury, but Adam Johnson is unlikely to feature as he is still struggling with an ankle injury.

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 in Portugal by Braga but the Anfield outfit should be too strong for the Portuguese side on home soil.

Braga have a decent record at home and managed to see off Arsenal at the Estádio AXA but they do not fair so well on their travels, domestically and in Europe.

In the Portuguese Liga Sagres they have managed just two wins, losing six and drawing three and in Europe they have been beaten at Arsenal (6-0), Shaktar Donetsk and Lech Poznan.

Liverpool may have been left frustrated in Portugal but they should prove far too strong for a Braga side who do not travel well.  In the Half-Time/Full-Time market a Liverpool/Liverpool result is priced at 11/10 and the Reds should be full of confidence after seeing off Manchester United 3-1 last time out.

Rangers managed to secure a 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven in Holland and are in the driving seat with home advantage for Thursday night’s showdown.

PSV drew with strugglers NEC in their last league fixture, while Rangers secured a narrow win over Kilmarnock in the SPL and both sides struggled on their return to domestic action but will be keen to book a spot in the last eight.

Rangers have a few injury problems to key players and PSV, the Dutch league leaders, have a formidable record on their travels in the Eredivisie and have lost just once.

A draw, with goals, would be good enough for PSV and Rangers will need to be on the top of their game to see off the Dutch giants.

This is a tricky one to call and there is little to chose between the two sides but PSV are capable of grabbing a goal, as are Rangers, and this could end in a tie – which is priced at 23/10, for the braver punter a 1-1 final score (which would see Rangers eliminated) is priced at 11/2.

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