Category Archives: news-t

Can Chelsea stun Barca again?

Posted on by
Reply

Chelsea face probably the biggest test in club football on Tuesday when they take on Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp but will they be able to pull off one of the greatest results in their history by knocking out the Catalan giants?

Since taking temporary charge, Roberto Di Matteo has significantly enhanced his chances of getting the Stamford Bridge job on a permanent basis with some eye-catching results.

The 1-0 first-leg win last week has been THE stand-out score during his fairly brief tenure but if the Blues can secure a place in the Champions League final and knock out Barca on their own ground then that result alone could go along way to seeing him get the job in the summer (Barcelona 1/5, Chelsea 9/1, draw 9/2 – match odds).

Barcelona may have dominated possession, territory and created by far the greater amount of chances in the first game but Didier Drogba’s goal against the run of play in London has given Chelsea the edge in the tie whatever way you look at it.

They now head to Spain knowing a draw or even a 2-1 defeat will see them through to a place in Munich next month – and plenty of pundits and fans alike believe the Premier League side can finish the job.

Barca did everything but score last week, hitting the frame of the goal twice, while Lionel Messi and co failed to convert the numerous clear opportunities that would have given them the vital away goal. Chelsea know they are likely to face an attacking barrage once again at the Nou Camp so a mighty defensive rearguard will be needed once more.

However, keeping Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Alexis Sanchez (11/8 to score anytime) quiet is one of the toughest jobs in the game, without even considering what three-time world player of the year Messi (2/1 – First/Last goalscorer) can do, so the Londonders are sure to be up against it.

Barca had in excess of 70% posession in the first leg and if Chelsea let them dominate to that extent again then Pep Guardiola’s side are set to come out on top overall, even though the visitors are sure to try and implement a gameplan to try and hurt their opponents on the break.

Real Madrid showed the Blues how to do it when they came away with a 2-1 win in Saturday’s El Clasico but the La Liga leaders certainly have more attacking threat, compared to Chelsea, in their side to make an impact at the Nou Camp.

If Barca fail to score in the first half then Chelsea’s hopes will rise considerably but, as tempting as it is to believe the Premier League side can come out on top, Guardiola’s men are too good to lose three on the bounce and their superiority should finally tell to break Di Matteo and his side’s heart.

Second-leg Prediction – Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea (11/2).

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

All or nothing for Hammers

Posted on by
Reply

Having seen their place for automatic promotion places slip away, West Ham United must take all three points against Leicester City on Monday if they want to stand any chance of avoiding the play-offs (Leicester 13/8, draw 12/5, West Ham 8/5).

A defeat to Championship winners Reading and draws with Bristol City and Birmingham in recent weeks have really dented the Hammers’ hopes of making a swift return to the Premier League, following relegation from the top flight last season.

Manager Sam Allardyce has had plenty of money to spend but too many mistakes at home this term have really cost the London outfit.

Thankfully for the former Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers boss, their clash on Monday against the Foxes is not at Upton Park.

The Hammers have a three-pronged attack which will be looking to cause the Leicester defence problems away from the pressure of their home fans in the capital.

Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te (11/8 to score anytime) have 12 and 10 goals this season respectively, with the latter proving to be decent signing, since moving from Barnsley in the January transfer window.

Backed up by attacking midfielder Kevin Nolan (7/1 first goalscorer) making runs from the middle of the park and chipping in goals, the former Newcastle United star also has 12 strikes to his name this term and is certainly worth a look at for first goalscorer at the King Power Stadium.

West Ham go into his game on the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw with Bristol City, which gave Southampton a chance to claim that second automatic promotion spot, which they squandered in a 2-1 defeat to Middleborough.

The Hammers will be looking to keep up the pressure on the Saints but it will not be easy against the Foxes on Monday.

Leicester were touted as potential favourites to earn promotion back to the Premier League this season, having spent plenty in the summer.

Manager Nigel Pearson has seen has side fall out of the race for the play-offs and the squad at the King Power might already have their eyes set on a push for promotion next season.

The Foxes go into their penultimate Championship game on the back of a drab goalless draw with Burnley in their last outing.

That game epitomised where Pearson’s side are at at the moment, with things not clicking in the east midlands.

Leicester still have some quality players in their side and expect the likes of Jermaine Beckford and David Nugent to get chances in this game.

With West Ham being the side with something to play for and the fact Allardyce’s men are away from the pressure cooker that is Upton Park at the moment, the Hammers should take all three points at the King Power Stadium.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Magpies to nick fourth

Posted on by
Reply

Bet on the Premier LeagueThe 2011-12 Premier League season has been one of the most exciting in recent years. The league title and two relegation places remain up for grabs but there’s also the small matter of who will join Manchester United (4/9 Premier League outright) and Manchester City (7/4 Premier League outright) in next season’s Champions League.

After a difficult start to the campaign, Arsenal appear to be favourites to finish third, having usurped local rivals Tottenham, but the battle for who will claim the final Champions League spot is still finely in the balance, with both Spurs and Chelsea still in with a huge chance of catching fourth-placed Newcastle.

The Magpies (6/4 to finish in the top 4) have been the surprise package this season and have won their last six in the league so do not look as if they’re about to let up going into their last four games.

Key to their success has been the form of midfielder Yohan Cabaye who, after arriving on Tyneside in the summer, has lit up the league and is possibly the signing of the season.

The Frenchman scored twice in his side’s 3-0 win over Stoke on Saturday and his clever passing and eye for goal could see the Magpies qualify for the Champions league for the first time in almost a decade.

However, it will not be easy and in Tottenham and Chelsea they have two teams who have far greater experience of this situation.

For much of the season Spurs (evens top four finish) appeared to be genuine title contenders and kept pace with both Manchester clubs for the majority over the campaign but in the last two months they have gone totally off the boil and, following Saturday’s defeat at QPR, they now sit fifth – three points off the top four.

The north Londoners do have perhaps the easiest run-in of all the teams competing for the Champions League place but also have a number of key injuries and may have to once again settle for Europa League football in 2012-13.

Finally to Chelsea (21/10 top four finish) who, despite their well-documented managerial problems, now look to be back to their old selves since Roberto Di Matteo took over in March. The Italian has overseen somewhat of a transformation in the Blues players and they now have both an FA Cup final and Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona to look forward to.

Di Matteo has done well in rotating his players in recent weeks but they may be found wanting if they have to rely on squad players and, with those important Cup games to come, it may they prove to be too much of a distraction in the top-four race.

All things considered, then, Newcastle should have enough to clinch the final top four spot but its sure to be an exciting end to the season and Chelsea and Spurs will certainly not make it easy for them.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Malaga aim to continue Euro bid

Posted on by
Reply

Monday’s La Liga action sees Malaga look to cement their place in the Champions League qualification places courtesy of a win against Europa League hopefuls Osasuna.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men are currently in fourth position, two points clear of Levante in fifth.

Malaga travel to Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona on Monday evening looking to ensure they will take the fight with Los Che for the third spot, which avoids the need of a play-off to qualify for the Champions League group stage, to their massive upcoming showdown at La Rosaleda.

Malaga star Santi Cazorla claims they have “five finals” remaining, starting with the match at Osasuna this week.

Los Boquerones have been in stuttering form of late with just two wins in their last five games including a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad last time out following on from a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal the week before.

However, they could be boosted by the return of influential duo both Joaquin Sanchez and Julio Baptista for the run-in which Cazorla feels could swing things back in their favour.

“Joaquin was in great form when he was injured and we are a much stronger side with Julio in it. They are two key players,” he said.

Osasuna are also in some inconsistent form ahead of the action with Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men losing three of their last four games, which included shipping five and six goals against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano respectively.

However, they will know a win against Malaga could move them up the table and to within just two points of their opponents with European football very much in their sights.

Osasuna have also enjoyed the best of the recent head-to-heads with two wins a three draws in their past five meetings, including a 3-0 win in last season?s encounter on home soil.

Both sides would be boosted by picking up three points but Cazorla?s admission that Malaga would just be happy to avoid defeat on their travels – at Osasuna, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona – and pick up maximum points in their remaining home games against Valencia and struggling Sporting Gijon.

Therefore, it appears that both sides will cancel each other out and share the spoils.

Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 12/5
Value Bet: 1-1 Correct Score @ 11/2.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

United to maintain advantage

Posted on by
Reply

There are three games in the Premier League on Sunday and, as is usually the case at this stage of the season, the outcomes could have major significance at the top and bottom of the table (totesport – Premier League).

Manchester United v Everton (12.30pm)

United’s blip, if it was just that, at Wigan earlier this month will probably be forgotten if they see off Everton (2/7 – match prices) at home this weekend, and there aren’t many people around who think this will result in anything other than another victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to edge them closer to a 20th title (1/7).

Rivals Manchester City will have let out a howl of frustration when they realised it was David Moyes’ side who are the visitors as the Blues have a truly awful recent record at Old Trafford. You have to go back to August 1992 for the Merseysiders’ last win there, while their recent Premier League record at United reads: played five, lost five.

Ferguson’s title-chasers may have got a helping hand, or should that be dive, last week when they saw off Aston Villa with the minimum of fuss but, even with Ashley Young’s theatrics, the result was never in doubt and expect more of the same in this one.

How Everton (10/1, draw 9/2 – match prices) react to their heartbreaking FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool at Wembley will be key to how much of an easy ride the Red Devils get on Sunday, but they still have a very outside chance of claiming a European place to inspire them and, more importantly, the small target of trying to finish above their Mersey rivals in the table.

However, we envisage nothing other than a comfortable home win here with 2-0 at 5/1 appealing in the correct score market.

Wolves Man City (4pm)

The aforementioned City (4/1 Premier League outright) know three points at Molineux is a must if they are to remain in the title race and, with the Manchester derby around the corner, expect them to maintain the light pressure on United with a routine victory.

The 6-1 thrashing of Norwich last time out, which included a rejuvenated Carlos Tevez hat-trick, showed the rest of the league that City can still turn on the style after what had been a faltering last month or so and they will approach this trip to the Black Country hoping to rack up a similar goal difference-boosting scoreline.

It is unlikely to be as easy as it turned out at Carrow Road with Wolves knowing they need a win themselves to somehow try and prevent them from slipping back into the Championship and this one could be level at half-time with that in mind. So Draw/City – HT/FT at 7/2 may well be worth a punt.

Expect Tevez and Aguero to again be the tormentors in attack, though, and both should be backed to score anytime at 8/11 to ensure City still retain an interest in the title going into the derby and all but relegate doomed Wolves.

Liverpool v West Brom (4pm)

This game is probably more notable for the return of Roy Hodgson to Anfield than anything else but Liverpool will be determined to secure a much-needed home victory (4/9 – match prices) as, so far, they have accumulated their lowest points total at Anfield for many a season.

The Reds have won just five games in front of their own fans and have drawn a whopping nine – easily the highest amount in the whole division.

That sort of record led Hodgson to be sacked in January 2011 after barely six months in charge and, while Kenny Dalglish is getting much more time than his predecessor, he knows home form has not been good enough and another slip-up here will not be tolerated despite the celebrated success in the Cups.

The Baggies (13/2 to win, draw 7/2 – match prices)  have proved a difficult side to beat all campaign, however, and are well clear of trouble now at the bottom as they sit 13 points above the drop zone. Hodgson will want to prove a point and is sure to set up his side to be solid in the hope Dalglish’s men again fail to break down so-called weaker opposition.

Andy Carroll has looked a different player in recent weeks and his two late winners in the last two games will give him the confidence to believe he can yet be a success at Anfield so is worth backing at to score first at 5/1 while a narrow 2-1 win for the Reds also looks appealing at 7/1.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Championship set for climax

Posted on by
Reply

The battle for promotion to the Premier League looks set to finally come to a conclusion in the Championship as three massive games on Saturday are set to determine who will go up automatically with Reading and which four sides will scrap it out in the play-offs.

MIDDLESBROUGH V SOUTHAMPTON

The late game in the Championship sees Nigel Adkins’ Saints make the long journey to the north east to face a Boro side still in with a slight chance of making the play-off places, with the visitorslooking to secure the win which would seal a second successive promotion and Premier League football at St Mary’s next term.

Tony Mowbray’s side, who are four points off the play-offs with two games remaining, will know how their main rivals for a top-six spot – Backpool and Cardiff – have fared by the time the action gets underway at the Riverside and if one of them slips up the Teessiders will look to pounce.

However, it is Boro’s home form which has left them outside the play-off places as they have been dismal in front of their despondent fans for the majority of the campaign.

The midweek goalless draw against bottom club and already-relegated Doncaster means Boro have only won seven games at the Riverside this season with their away form keeping them in the fight.

Mowbray’s side, who should have Faris Haroun fit and Joe Bennett available to face the Saints, started 2012 in second spot in the Championship, but one win in 10 has cost them dearly, while they have also only won one game in matches against the top five clubs this season.

Southampton will arrive in confident mood and Adkins will no doubt hope Birmingham, Cardiff and Blackpool all win in their respective 3pm matches as that would see Boro have nothing to play for.

However, they probably won’t need any favours to see off Boro on their own patch as they have only lost once in the last five trips to the Riverside and their current form has seen them pick up 10 wins in their last 15 league games, with just two defeats in 17.

Adkins, who is set to name an unchanged side, watched the Saints thump Boro 3-0 at St Mary’s in October and another comfortable win is on the cards.

Prediction: Southampton Away Win 90 Minutes @ 6/5
Value Bet: R Lambert 1st goal Southampton 2-0 Scorecast @ 30/1

BLACKPOOL v BURNLEY

An unpredictable Lancashire derby is probably the last thing Blackpool boss Ian Holloway wanted at this stage of the season as his side look for the win to seal a play-off place.

To make matters worse they have only defeated the Clarets once in 15 years at Bloomfield Road – a 3-0 win in 2008 – and were well beaten 3-1 at Turf Moor earlier in the campaign in a third straight defeat against their rivals.

However, with a top-six place guaranteed if they bag the three points, expect the hosts to continue their good recent form which has seen them go unbeaten in five.

Holloway will hope to have striker Stephen Dobbie fit from a stiff back, while Kevin Phillips is back in training after a hip problem. Keith Southern serves the last of a three-match ban, while defender Craig Cathcart is doubtful due to a cyst.

Burnley arrive in decent form as they are unbeaten in four matches and could draw three games on the bounce for the first time this season on Saturday.

Eddie Howe, who has injury concerns over strikers Jay Rodriguez and Martin Paterson, knows they only have pride left to play for but a good result against their big rivals and a chance to give their fans the bragging rights will no doubt inspire a performance.

Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 11/4
Value Bet: Burnley/Draw HT/FT @ 16/1

CARDIFF V LEEDS

Cardiff go into their clash with Leeds on home soil in the knowledge that they will be in the play-offs for a third successive season if they win the match.

The Bluebirds defeated Derby 2-0 in midweek which made it eight games unbeaten, while they are also 11 games unbeaten in games against their opponents.

However Malky Mackay’s plans have been hit by the loss of influential midfielder Craig Conway for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage, while striker Rudy Gestede is struggling with a hip problem and midfielder Don Cowie is carrying a minor knock.

Neil Warnock will bring his Leeds side to South Wales looking to spoil the party,after they failed to prevent Blackpool from boosting their play-off aspirations in midweek.

The Whites have lost four of their five previous matches, including the last two away, so will not be full of confidence, while they are missing defender Darren O’Dea who saw red against Blackpool and striker Billy Paynter is out with an Achilles injury.

Cardiff have the momentum and desire for points and we can’t see anything other than a banker home win from this match-up.

Prediction: Cardiff Home Win 90 Minutes @ 8/11
Value Bet: Cardiff To Win 3-1 Correct Score @ 12/1

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Barca ready for Real test

Posted on by
Reply

There are plenty of big derby matches in football but given the stature of the clubs and the animosity between the fans the biggest derby in Europe takes place on Saturday when Real Madrid travel to Barcelona for what could be the a title-deciding El Clasico.

Barcelona v Real Madrid

You don’t need a history lesson to understand that these two clubs aren’t the best of friends and take great joy in getting one over on each other. In recent times it has been the Barcelona fans who have been doing the majority of the celebrating, losing just one of the last 14 encounters with Real.

That sole victory for Los Blancos came in last season’s Copa del Rey final, and even then they needed extra time to dispatch the Catalonians. Given the way the league has shaped up this season you could describe Saturday’s match as a final, with Real looking to protect the four-point lead they enjoy over Barca.

The gap at the top had been 10 points but a run of 11 straight wins for Barcelona has seen them claw back Real, who have won eight and drawn three in that time. With four games to go after Saturday’s Clasico you wonder whether Jose Mourinho’s men will be able to hold their nerve if they do lose at the Nou Camp.

Real haven’t lost in the league since the first meeting between these two clubs in December but come into the match off the back of a disappointing defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. You might argue Mourinho’s men had one eye on El Clasico, given how important it is, but given recent performances it could well be the tension getting to Real.

They know a win on Saturday will all but hand them their first La Liga crown in four years, ending Barcelona’s domination in Spain. Given the importance of the game, and with the ‘Special One’ in the dug-out, no one would be surprised to see Real employ negative tactics in a bid to get something out of the game.

With that in mind it is no wonder Real are 4/1 for the win, with Barcelona 4/6 and the draw 3/1.

Mourinho’s tactics in previous encounters have been to press Barcelona high up the pitch and chase everything. However, Real looked tired on Tuesday night and to do that at the Nou Camp for 90 minutes will take a super-human effort.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola must feel as though he has Mourinho#s number given the way his team has outplayed Real since the Portuguese tactician took over. The 5-0 win for Barca in the league meeting between the two last season must have been a humbling experience for Mourinho as it showed the gulf in class.

Today, that gap has shrunk, but not enough to persuade you to back Real at 4/1. Given how many times this game has taken place recently you can guess what is going to happen: Barca will dominate possession, Real will lose their cool and eventually their discipline before Guardiola’s men strike.

The Barcelona coach will be looking for a reaction from his team after Wednesday’s defeat at Chelsea so expect them to come out all guns blazing, in particular Lionel Messi after his mistake led to the goal at Stamford Bridge.

The Argentine genius has scored the first goal eight times for Barca this season and is 5/2 to do so again. Contrast that with Cristiano Ronaldo – who has the same number of league goals as Messi – at 5/1 and you know which way we think the game is going to go.

Both teams will score, there is no doubt about that given Barcelona’s defending, but the home side will get more on their way to dispatching Real like they do any other team which comes to the Nou Camp.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Magpies to maintain pursuit

Posted on by
Reply

Bet on the Premier LeagueGames are running out for teams at the top and bottom of the Premier League to reach their final destination with top-six places still to be sorted, while Bolton’s two games in hand mean realistically three of six still face the relegation.

And what a game to start the weekend as third-placed Arsenal taking on sixth-placed Chelsea at the Emirates, kick-off 1245, at the end of a week of contrasting fortunes.

The Gunners have done fantastically well to get into this position given the start that they made to the season but failed to strengthen their grip on third after a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Wigan on Monday night.

Chelsea meanwhile have done quite the opposite, surprising everyone (maybe including themselves) with a 1-0 home win over European champions Barcelona, despite mustering just one shot on target.

That game as well as the second leg of the Champions League semi-final next Tuesday is sure to have a bearing on the London derby this weekend, with plenty of changes expected.

Didier Drogba is definitely ruled out which limits Chelsea’s goalscoring options – Fernando Torres has still to hit anything but the lows at Stamford Bridge – although there is still plenty of quality in the Blues ranks.

Arsenal, who will be without Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun this weekend, have been made Evens favourites in the match betting, but Chelsea’s defensive display in midweek has got to give the side confidence and they can get something from the game (11/4 to win, draw 5/2).

Newcastle can no longer be considered a surprise package, despite still being in the hunt for a Champions League place, and have hit form at just the right time.

The Magpies have won their last five games and are just five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and will go above Spurs with any kind of positive result on Saturday.

Alan Pardew’s men are 4/6 favourites to take the win, with Stoke priced at 9/2 and the draw at 11/4 – and it is difficult to argue with the prices, given the Potters have not won in seven away games in the Premier League and are the lowest scorers in the division.

Bolton have two games in hand on their relegation rivals but need to rediscover the winning habit after suffering back-to-back defeats without scoring.

However, Swansea’s win over Blackburn all but assured Brendan Rodgers’ side’s survival in the top flight and Bolton’s greater need can see them scrap out a much-need victory (Bolton 23/20, draw 12/5, Swansea 5/2 – Match Betting).

Blackburn Rovers are also in big trouble but they do not have games in hand, while they have hit the wall at precisely the wrong time, suffering five successive defeats.

The match betting has Steve Kean’s men favourites at 11/10 but Norwich have impressed most with their style of football and will be determined to bounce back from a mauling by Manchester City, with the away win and draw both on offer at 5/2.

Wigan have been in fantastic form of late and have to be considered a value bet at 10/3 to record another away win, despite facing a tricky trip to Fulham (5/6 to win, 13/5 the draw).

The Latics have pulled five points clear of the drop zone and they have done it the hard way, winning 2-1 at Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as beating Manchester United 1-0 at home along with a 2-0 success over Stoke.

It really should have been more for Wigan as well as Chelsea only just triumphed 2-1 courtesy of two offside goals so they will be full of confidence heading to Craven Cottage.

Aston Villa are not out of the woods yet and still need a win or two to secure survival but they are in a dire run of form – not helped by a long list of key absentees.

The Villans have only managed four home wins all season but take on a Sunderland side that has gone off the boil with a five-game winless run and can take at least a point from the tie (Villa 13/10, draw 12/5, Sunderland 21/10 – Match Betting), while a goal-less draw is tempting at 15/2.

The last thing Spurs needed right now was another London derby, particularly against a side in a relegation scrap that has started to make its home a fortress.

QPR are just two points clear of the drop zone but know that Bolton below them have two games in hand and are desperate to get more points on the board.

Rangers have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Swansea in their last three matches at Loftus Road and are surely worth considering at 3/1 to add the scalp of a Spurs team whose season is starting to unravel.

Harry Redknapp’s men are desperate for points themselves to maintain their pursuit of a top-four place but go into the game on the back of a 5-1 hiding by Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Spurs on paper have the better side but they appear to have run out of steam with the finishing line in sight and are worth opposing at 10/11, while the draw is priced at 13/5.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Allen return can reap reward

Posted on by
Reply

There is plenty at stake at Roots Hall this Friday night as Southend look to cement their place in the League Two play-offs with a victory over struggling Barnet, while Wolfsburg aim to prolong their hopes of European qualification at Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga.

Southend v Barnet 7:45pm

Southend’s push for automatic promotion has hit the buffers of late with just three wins in the last nine games and two in the last six as they lie in fifth place in the table, six points behind Crawley in third with three games to go.

The Shrimpers are almost certain of the play-offs though, holding a seven-point advantage and a much superior goal difference over eighth-placed Crewe.

The Seasiders will be desperate to get back into the habit of winning going into the post-season and can be backed at 5/2 to be promoted to League One.

Southend do have what appears to be a tricky fixture against fellow play-off hopefuls Oxford next week – with the Us still far from securing a play-off berth – but that match is flanked either side with eminently winnable games against teams looking to avoid the drop out of the Football League in Barnet and Macclesfield.

The match betting suggests a shoo-in for Paul Sturrock’s men on Friday when they host the Bees, with Southend priced as 4/6 favourites to take the three points, while the draw is on offer at 11/4 and a Barnet victory at 4/1.

Barnet have endured a difficult time this season and lie three points clear of Macclesfield and Hereford going into the final three games, although their goal difference is much worse than both their relegation rivals.

The Bees though were in a more precarious position last year but Lawrie Sanchez took over for the final four games of the season and secured two wins and a draw to help the club preserve its League status.

Martin Allen had only been at the club in his second spell for just three games before Sanchez steered the team to safety, although it is a role reversal this season with ‘Mad Dog’ returning to the club where he started his managerial career for a third spell.

Whether the ‘new’ manager syndrome works on Friday for the London club remains to be seen and, although it would take a leap of faith to back a side that has not won in eight games, stranger things have happened – ask Sunderland fans about Martin O’Neill’s turnaround.

Barnet’s last win actually came on the road at Port Vale and they have managed five away wins this season, not the worst considering their position in the table.

However, Southend have only been beaten five times at Roots Hall this season so the draw might be the way to go with Barnet hoping that 18-goal hitman Izale McLeod brings his shooting boots to help steer the club ever closer to survival.

Mainz 05 v Wolfsburg 7:30pm

Games are running out for Wolfsburg to qualify for Europe next season with Die Wolfe currently five points adrift of sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen with nine to play for.

Felix Magath’s men have hit the wall at just the wrong time with three successive defeats but a win on Friday will apply the pressure ahead of their rivals’ games over the weekend.

The betting suggests that they will have their work cut out in arresting the slump as Mainz are favourites at 10/11 to pick up the three points, with the draw at odds of 9/4 and Wolfsburg priced at 5/2.

Thomas Tuchel has hardly created a fortress at the Coface Arena with Die Nullfunfer winning seven and losing six of 15 games at home but that may still prove enough on Friday.

Wolfsburg have mustered just three wins on the road this term – with two draws and 10 defeats -  and, coupled with their recent slump, Mainz look the call to secure the win.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Spaniards set to bounce back

Posted on by
Reply

Following the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals this week, the odds point to an all-Spanish final, with Real Madrid (8/13 – To Qualify) and Barcelona (4/11) fancied to make it to Munich on May 19.

Surprisingly both La Liga outfits slipped to first-leg defeats, with Real going down 2-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena while Barca found Chelsea a tough nut to crack and slumped to a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

But both sides are expected to bounce back on home soil after Jose Mourinho’s men secured what could prove to be a priceless away goal in Germany while Pep Guardiola’s side just need to beat the Blues to progress and, given their Nou Camp record this season, it would take a brave man to back against the reigning champions.

However, it must be noted that no side has ever retained the Champions League since it came into existence in its current format back in 1992 which sounds a note of caution over piling your mortgage on the holders.

Now in its 20th season since the evolution from the old European Cup, the Champions League final has pitted teams from the same nation together on just three occasions – Spain in 2000 when Real Madrid faced Valencia, in 2003 when AC Milan took on Juventus and four years ago when Manchester United met Chelsea in Moscow.

So the stats seem to point towards one of either Real or Barca failing to justify favouritism to qualify for the final although, by the same token, history is always waiting to be made and Real’s away goal just about swings it in their favour.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they are the current 11/10 outright favourites and their home form this season suggests they will at least contest the final.

The Catalan giants have won 27 games out of 30 at the Nou Camp this season – the other three matches were drawn – scoring 104 goals in the process and conceding just 16 times.

True, not all of their opponents have been in the class of Chelsea whose old guard are staging one last stand but next Tuesday could well represent a game too far for a club who seem to be playing off the cuff since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas.

The young Portuguese manager seemed to have a plan over revamping the squad, however he forgot to factor in the need to secure results while doing so and paid the price with his job.

Caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo seems to be taking games as they come but that is mainly down to having no other choice given the short-term nature of his mandate at the helm of what is now a top European club.

As a footnote, Barcelona (4/6 – 90 Minutes) entertain Real Madrid (3/1) in El Clasico at the Nou Camp on Saturday night knowing defeat would give their arch-rivals and current La Liga leaders a seven-point advantage with four games to come after this weekend.

The game at the Bernabeu ended 3-1 in Barca’s favour last December and another win for Guardiola’s men this weekend by the same scoreline pays out at 12s.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.