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Saints to go marching on

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Once again Southampton are proving that sides with momentum are the ones to fear and it’s up to Reading to try and halt the marching Saints on Saturday (Reading 7/4, draw 12/5, Southampton 6/4 in the match betting).

Manager Nigel Adkins has kept the positivity going around St Mary’s following promotion from League One last term, and now the south coast outfit sit five points clear at the top of the Championship table.

Southampton battled hard for a 1-0 victory over much fancied West Ham United in midweek and will be full of confidence going into this away trip to face the Royals.

Reading continue to struggle without their former striker Shane Long, who decided to move to the Premier League with West Brom in the summer.

There has been some improvements at the Madejski Stadium in recent weeks and the Royals were able to hold a strong Derby County outfit in midweek to a 2-2 draw.

However with the Saints full of confidence and their striker Ricky Lambert continuing to score goals, the visitors should come away with the three points.

Another clash at the top of the table sees third-placed Middlesbrough take on Derby, who currently hold fourth spot in a competitive Championship table (Middlesbrough 8/11, draw 5/2, Derby 4/1 in the match betting).

The Rams have made an impressive start to the season and will be boosted by the news in midweek that their manager Nigel Clough has signed a new deal at Pride Park.

With far less expectation than last season, Boro have thrived under Tony Mowbray and have looked like a competitive outfit this term, despite struggling to score enough goals.

A 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in midweek may have brought the side back to earth but they may well take the three points on offer at the Riverside, where visitors have struggled to pick up wins this season.

Leeds United make the trip south to face Peterborough United following a less than convincing performance against Coventry City at Elland Road (Peterborough 6/4, draw 12/5, Leeds 7/4 in the match betting).

The Whites dominated the first half put could not put the game to bed and conceded in the third minute of stoppage time to record a 1-1 draw with the Sky Blues.

Peterborough, like Southampton, have made a positive start to life in the second tier of English football and they proved their credentials with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Cardiff in midweek.

Saturday’s game against Leeds should have plenty of goals and Whites boss Simon Grayson and his men may make the journey back to West Yorkshire with a point.

After Forest got their first win under manager Steve Cotterill against Boro, they will be confident of going to Blackpool with the chance of taking all three points (Blackpool Evs, draw 5/2, Forest 13/5 in the match betting).

The two sides have had some thrilling encounters in the past, especially when they met in the Championship play-off semi-finals two seasons ago.

Blackpool came out on top over the two legs, but it is a relatively new look Tangerines side without the likes of DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam.

Forest look like they have turned a corner and should pick up a rare away victory at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

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Spanish giants face stern tests

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The Primera Division might well be a two-horse race when it comes to the top prize but there are certainly plenty of clubs eager to take Real Madrid and Barcelona down a peg or two on any given day. Two of those clubs are Malaga and Sevilla, both of who will get their chance to show Spain what they are capable of on Saturday night. We preview what should be an intriguing night’s action.

Malaga v Real Madrid 7pm

When you think about Malaga you think about sun, sea, the Costa del Sol and fights over sun loungers. What doesn’t spring to mind is a football club looking to become the biggest in Spain. However, that is exactly what Malaga CF are looking to do following the takeover of Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani last season.

The Andalusian outfit are now one of the richest clubs in the world and flexed their financial muscle in the summer by bringing in the likes of Jeremy Toulalan, Joaquin, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Santi Cazorla. With a star-studded squad at his disposal former Real boss Manuel Pellegrini will now look to overthrow the club his current employers are desperate to emulate.

Malaga are 11/2 to get the win, with Real 4/9 and the draw 7/2 in the match betting. You might expect Real to be shorter given the way they have been playing since a 1-0 defeat to surprise package Levante in September. The longer the season goes the better Jose Mourinho’s men look, scoring over three goals in each of their last five matches.

The ‘Special One’ has got the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema all singing from the same hymn sheet finally and they look capable of challenging Barcelona this season. Both Ronaldo and Higuain have got seven goals in as many games and Real look capable of matching Barcelona’s deadliness in front of goal.

However, the most improved aspect of the team has been the defence. Whereas it use to be a case of outscoring the opposition, Mourinho has instilled into his players the need to keep it tight at the back.

With both of those aspects in mind Real to win at 11/10 with a minus one handicap looks a cracking bet. Malaga will be a force to be reckoned with soon enough but this will be a valuable lesson they’ll need to learn if they are to get to that level.

Barcelona v Sevilla 9pm

What can be said about Barcelona that hasn’t been done so already? The 2-0 win over Viktoria Plzen might not look much on paper but it contained another classic goal scored by Andres Iniesta which is well worth digging out. At the Nou Camp this season they have been unstoppable, winning their four La Liga matches by a combined scoreline of 21-0. Sevilla should be the next victims but they won’t be pushovers.

New manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has hit the ground running with Sevilla and they are just one of three unbeaten sides left in the division. Their water-tight defensive unit has been their strength thus far with Toral’s men letting just one goal in during the past five matches.

That backline is likely to be sorely test on Saturday night but it shouldn’t be the kind of lop-sided result we are used to seeing at Barcelona. Totals goals between 2-3 could be a good bet at 6/5, with Barcelona’s odds of 1/6 to win the match offering no value. Barcelona will win but there could be some money to be made if Sevilla keep the scoreline down.

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Manchester mind-games underway

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The battle to be the top dogs in not just England but Manchester itself comes to a head at Old Trafford on Sunday lunch-time as the Premier League top two clashes in the biggest game of the season so far (United 21/20, City 11/4, draw 12/5 – Match Betting).

Despite Sir Alex Ferguson recently claiming United’s game with Liverpool was the “biggest game in world football” the fact the Anfield side have not really troubled the Red Devils for the big prizes takes the gloss off the clash somewhat.

The United boss’ claims contained an element of mind games – as he knows big-spending City are his team’s biggest threat for the Premier League title this season – with Ferguson further stirring the pot this week by claiming his team had already played all top sides in the table so far, excluding City and thus ignoring them as real contenders.

City fans will have paid close attention to the fact Ferguson’s way of viewing the fixture has altered dramatically in recent years, as he has described Roberto Mancini’s side as a “small club with a small mentality” and “noisy neighbours”, comments which hark back to psychological battles of old he had with Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez when he saw them as his closest rivals.

Coming into Sunday lunch-time’s game at Old Trafford, City sit atop the Premier League table with a two-point advantage over their rivals, so part of their mentality could be to hold United and not give them the satisfaction of two-folded bragging rights, as a win would couple with leapfrogging them to the summit (0-0 15/2 and 1-1 11/2 – Correct Score).

Both sides are unbeaten in the league and recorded their first Champions League wins of the season in midweek. With United’s defence looking shaky regularly so far this campaign and City boasting an incredible array of attacking talent then Citizens fans could cross Manchester in buoyant mood they can get one over on their more illustrious rivals.

The statistics do not make great reading for City however, as United have won every Premier League game at Old Trafford since a draw with West Brom 12 months ago – indeed it is 24 wins from 25 matches since Chelsea beat them at home in April 2010. United also beat City in the Community Shield thanks to an injury-time winner from winger Nani, although how the result of a glorified friendly matters is open to debate.

Sunday’s game is far too early in the season to be regarded as a title decider but the atmosphere around Old Trafford would probably suggest to the contrary as the Manchester derbies be the biggest games of the season to both sets of fans. A victory for City could signify a real shift in power, not only in Manchester but in English football as a whole, so it is possible that United have more to lose out of the two sides.

The game is going to be littered with potential match-winners as both teams can boast a side full of international stars, but on many occasions a clash with such promise can turn out to be a damp squib. This game last season was lit up by Wayne Rooney’s match-winning overhead kick and it could be another moment of magic which seizes the day (Rooney 4/1 First Goal scorer).

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Stoke standout in Europa betting

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Stoke City’s first-ever European campaign has been one success after another so far, as Tony Pulis’ side have marched unbeaten through six matches – recording five wins and one draw. Thursday’s Europa League home clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv should be no different, with the Potters’ home form and the Israelis’ recent struggles pointing to only one outcome – home win!

Stoke have won 13 and drawn six of their last 20 home matches, with their solitary defeat having been inflicted by Wigan Athletic on the last day of last season. But football followers will remember that Wigan caught Stoke eight days after their disappointing FA Cup final loss and yet they could still hardly get out of their own half before the interval, finally securing their Premier League safety when they threw caution to the wind after the break.

Maccabi, second in the Israeli top flight, lost 2-1 at the weekend and were thrashed 5-1 by Besiktas on their previous Europa League trip, the same team Stoke beat 2-1.

Although a home win appears virtually assured, punters should be wary about backing a goalfest, as Stoke have only scored more than two goals on one occasion at home this season, so 2-0 could be the expectation for Correct Score wagers.

Stoke City (4/9) in 90 Minutes and (11/2) 2-0 in Correct Score Market.

Dynamo Kiev (4/6) are worth including in multiples as they are in better form than Besiktas ahead of the Turkish outfit’s visit to the Ukraine. Kiev are unbeaten in their last 14 matches and should account for a flaky Besiktas team, who went down 2-0 at home to Kayserispor on Saturday. The Istanbul club have only won once away from home all season, against a Bursaspor team reduced to ten men in the 25th minute.

Anderlecht (5/4) should be buzzing at the moment. The Brussels club beat rivals Standard Liege 5-0 at the weekend and are currently on a superb run of form that has seen them win eleven and draw three of their matches since their opening day Belgian League defeat. But their away form is even more interesting and suggests they are more than capable of winning in Austria against Sturm Graz.

Anderlecht have won six of their last seven away matches, including trips to Lokomotiv Moscow and Bursaspor. Prior to that they even managed creditable draws at Paris St Germain and Benfica – much stronger opposition than Graz.

Sturm lost 2-1 at home to Lokomotiv Moscow in September and 2-0 at home to BATE Borisov before that. On both occasions they were already losing at half-time, so take a chance on Anderlecht/Anderlecht (3/1) in the Half-time/Full-time market.

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German duo aim for key CL wins

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Chelsea and Arsenal will both hope for positive results in the Champions League on Wednesday night but here we look out the other games in groups E and F that could have a big bearing on who eventually qualifies for the knock-out stage, with Bundesliga pair Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund both eyeing victories.

Bayer Leverkusen v Valencia (Group E)

Leverkusen host Valencia on matchday three before the return game between the two in the group takes place in the Mestalla on November 1.

The German outfit hold a slight advantage after two games, earning a win and a draw so far while Valencia have only been able to pick up two draws – a disappointing 0-0 against Genk before an improved 1-1 at home to group E favourites Chelsea last time out.

Veteran midfielder Michael Ballack has urged Leverkusen’s youngsters to take their chance on the biggest stage and make an impact on the group with a win over the more experienced Champions League campaigners and they look decent value at 11/8 to do just that on Wednesday.

Valencia (2/1 – match prices) are not the feared outfit of a couple of years ago and, despite holding Chelsea, look set to struggle to claim an automatic qualification place.

Gone are the stellar names of David Villa, Juan Mata and David Silva – players who graced the Champions League for ‘Los Che’ – and now boss Unai Emery has to rely on the likes of Roberto Soldado, Daniel Parejo and David Albelda.

The draw is on offer with totesport at 9/4 – a result Valencia will take – but a victory for the home side looks on the cards with a 2-1 success at 8/1 particularly tempting.

Olympiacos v Borussia Dortmund (Group F)

The other game in Arsenal’s group sees Greek giants Olympiacos entertain Dortmund with both sides still looking for a win after two games.

Dortmund held the Gunners at home 1-1 before they were humbled 3-0 in Marseille last time out and know a win in Piraeus could be vital to their chances of making the top two.

The Bundesliga side are evens to come away with a victory, but the draw looks more tempting at 12/5 in this one, as Olympiacos search for their first point of the competition.

Defeats at home to Marseille (1-0) and Arsenal away (2-1) leave Ernesto Valverde’s men with a mountain to climb already and, with daunting trips to France and Germany still to come, they will surely be going all out for a win in this one.

Dortmund, however, are in decent domestic form having won their last three Bundesliga matches and will certainly fancy their chances of getting something out of the game.

Robert Lewandowski has scored five goals already this season, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Augsburg at the start of the month, and the Polish star looks good value at 13/2 to score anytime.

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Genk easy pickings for Chelsea

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Chelsea can extend their unbeaten record at home in the Champions League group stages to 25 games when they play host to KRC Genk on Wednesday while Arsenal will be looking to protect an impressive away record on French soil against Marseille.

All six of Chelsea’s previous fixtures against Belgian sides have produced a decisive scoreline – and in each case the losing team failed to score – and a customary strong start in Europe means the west Londoners should have little trouble justifying short odds of 1/8 about a home win.

Genk have lost successive Belgian league fixtures – and have not won in five in all competitions – so it would not be dismissive to suggest it would require a leap of faith to take the 18/1 about a shock away win at Stamford Bridge.

A mixed start to the domestic season has left them mid-table and the omens do not look good about a maiden first experience in England.

Genk marked their return to Europe’s elite club competition after nine years with a hard-earned point at home to Valencia but crashed 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen two weeks later and will be afforded no mercy in the capital.

Chelsea have lost just once all season in all competitions – against champions Manchester United – and last season were denied a sixth semi-final appearance in eight years against the same opponents.

Mario Been was appointed as Frank Vercauteren’s permanent successor by Genk on August 30 but the wheels have come off recently and Chelsea will surely view the visit of the Belgians as a home banker.

Marseille have made a strong start in Group F with two wins and no goals conceded but Arsenal have never lost in seven previous visits to France.

However, seasoned Gunners fans will know that particular statistic masks another worrying fact – the north Londoners have lost six of their last eight away games in the competition proper.

Draws have been a major issue for Didier Deschamps’ team this season – they have collected six already in Ligue 1 – and it may pay to follow another stalemate at 12/5.

Arsenal have picked up three points in Europe so far this season – but conceded in both games – and trail Wednesday’s hosts by just two points, but may decide to adopt a conservative approach given that they may look to progress by taking points at the Emirates Stadium.

In OM’s last 17 home fixtures in the competition proper they have only won seven, with seven defeats, and avoiding an away reverse may be the priority for the Gunners.

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Inter to rally at Lille

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The Champions League makes a welcome return on Tuesday night for matchday three, with some big names in action. Inter Milan will be looking to put their domestic troubles behind them at Lille, while Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will be confident of extending their 100% records.

Lille v Inter Milan

It’s fair to say that since Jose Mourinho left the San Siro things have rapidly gone downhill for the 2010 champions. Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Catania leaves them one place outside the relegation zone in Serie A, with current boss Claudio Ranieri facing a massive challenge to get things back on track. The distraction of a Champions League game might be just what they need and Ranieri will hope they can produce a repeat performance of the one which saw them win 3-2 at CSKA Moscow on their last European outing.

French champions Lille will certainly pose a stiff test but with Inter priced at 11/5 for the win, it is tough to ignore such an inviting offer. Inter will have Wesley Sneijder back for the game to add to what is a squad already full of quality. Lille have so far picked up two points from their opening two matches and might be struggling to cope with the demand of playing twice a week given their small, but talented, squad. If you aren’t feeling brave enough to back Inter the draw is 23/10, while Lille are 5/4.

Real Madrid v Lyon

Having worked his magic at Inter, Mourinho is currently turning Real Madrid’s squad of superstars into a force to be reckoned with. Setting aside a shock defeat to Levante – Real have looked good, maybe even good enough to challenge the might of Barcelona this year. Mourinho has got Kaka back to somewhere near his best, while in Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain he has two of the hottest strikers in Europe. Higuain made it back-to-back hat-tricks at the weekend, while Benzema will be keen to make an impression against his former club.

Lyon aren’t the side they once were, when winning Ligue 1 titles came as easy to them as breathing, and could be in for a tough night at the Bernabeu. With Real at the short price of 2/9 you might want to look towards a scorecast, with Higuain to score first and Real to win 3-0 priced at 22/1.

Napoli v Bayern Munich

These two teams have enjoyed good starts to their Champions League campaigns and whoever comes out on top in their back-to-back matches, is likely to go on and top the group. The Italians might have slipped up against Parma at the weekend but they are a tough nut to crack at home, avoiding defeat in their last nine European matches at the San Paolo.

Bayern have perhaps been the most impressive side in Europe so far this year, their wins against Manchester City and Villarreal coming at a canter. In Mario Gomez they also have a striker who could score with his eyes closed it seems, the German banging in 10 in eight games so far. Bayern will go in search of the win but will be happy with a point, a result you can back at 12/5, with the Germans evens and Napoli 11/4.

Elsewhere on Tuesday there should be a straight forward homes win for AC Milan against BATE Borisov, while CSKA Moscow will hope to get their first win against Trabzonspor. Ajax will hope they can keep their hopes of qualification alive with a win at Dinamo Zagreb, while Benfica could sneak a win at Basel.

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City to sink Yellow Submarines

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Manchester City have quickly realised the Champions League is a completely different world from the realms of domestic football and will now be going in search of their first win in Europe this season when they take on Villarreal on Tuesday (City 1/3, draw 4/1, Villarreal 9/1 – match prices).

As far as the Premier League campaign goes, things could not be going better for manager Roberto Mancini and his men, as they sit pretty on the top of the table ahead of rivals Manchester United.

However, it has been a rocky road on their campaign in the Champions League with a draw against Napoli and a lesson in big European nights by one of the best, Bayern Munich, in 2-0 defeat.

City have had time to take stock of the position in what is a tough group for their debut season in the competition, and convincing wins in the Premier League over Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa will not have done their confidence any harm.

What will have pleased Mancini will be the fact his side are scoring goals from all over the park, with six different players scoring in their last two outings in the top flight.

The recent performances of striker Mario Balotelli will also please the Italian tactician, as the former Inter Milan star has shown some glimpses of the form that made him a highly rated star at the San Siro.

All of City’s stars will have to be on top form if they are to get a result against Villarreal at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, as the Spanish outfit have plenty of European experience to draw from.

Former United striker Giuseppe Rossi (8/1 first goalscorer) remains their key attacking threat and he would love to get one over on his former rivals from his time at Old Trafford.

The Yellow Submarine have a number of gifted players dotted around their starting XI with the likes of Jonathan de Guzman, Nilmar and skipper Marcos Senna.

City will have to be wary of their creative talents if they want to secure all three points, but with the form the Blues are in at the moment, they have enough firepower to beat the La Liga outfit.

Meanwhile, local rivals United get set to face new Champions League opposition in the form of Romanian side Otelul Galati (Otelul Galati 14/1, draw 11/2, United 1/5 – match prices).

Last year’s finalists will have to do without the services of experienced defender Rio Ferdinand, who has been left out of the squad with Nemanja Vidic coming back into the side from a calf injury.

Out of favour striker Dimitar Berbatov (4/1 first goalscorer), who missed United’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool has travelled to Romania and could feature in Sir Alex Ferguson’s starting XI.

Otelul Galati only lost 1-0 to Benfica in their last outing in the Champions League and will be no pushovers, but United should have the quality to head back to Old Trafford with the three points.

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Bilbao to win Basque battle

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Bet on La LigaAfter another wonderful weekend of La Liga football, round seven comes to a close on Monday with a Basque derby which sees Osasuna travelling to local rivals Athletic Bilbao (Bilbao 4/5 to win).

Both sides have made solid if unspectacular starts to the season and will be looking for an all-important victory as well as local bragging rights (12/5 draw).

Bilbao are currently in the midst of a cultural revolution after the board appointed the club’s first ever non-Basque coach in the form of Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.

Los Leones are renowned for their exciting, attacking football but have struggled this season due to the new coach trying to implement his own methods. However, they are currently on a run of three unbeaten after reverting to their previous style and will fancy themselves to shoot up the table and gain a European place.

Key to this will be the form of striker Fernando Llorente, who is now one of Europe’s premier strikers and has once again carried the side this term. If his teammates can provide him with the service, he will score and expect his performance to have a big impact on the result of the match.

The man most likely to be feeding Llorente will be talented youngster Iker Muniain who has established himself in the side this term. Muniain impressed for Spain in this summer’s European under-21 championships and has the talent to trouble any defence. Look for him to be buzzing in and around the penalty box as he is often the man to inspire his teammates.

Osasuna (7/2 to win) appear to be this season’s draw specialists, having taken a single point from each of their last three games.

Los Rojillos had a superb season last term, eventually finishing ninth. They will be aiming for a similar finish this campaign and will be looking to continue their good form on Monday night.

Like their opponents, most of their joy comes through their main striker Kike Sola, who has a habit of popping up with important goals at vital times.

Another man to look out for is midfielder Raul Garcia, who will feel he has a point to prove having been deemed surplus to requirements at parent club Atletico Madrid. He has since rejoined his home town side on a season long loan. Garcia was tipped for great things when he first moved to the capital but failed to live up to expectations. However, he still has the ability to change a game and will be eager to prove himself.

The match will undoubtedly be an exciting, end-to-end encounter and it’s almost too close to call. However, Bilbao are formidable at home and should just shade it (Bilbao 6/1 to win 1-0).

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Black Country derby a ‘must-win’

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Sunday’s Premier League action features a hotly-anticipated Black Country derby while two under-pressure managers go head-to-head when Arsenal host Sunderland.

West Brom v Wolves

Wolves (3/1) go to West Brom (21/20 to win) in the early kick-off at the Hawthorns (12pm) with both sides needing a win following a poor run of form.

The Baggies have yet to win at home and have only registered one victory all season – a 1-0 win at Norwich – as they prepare to host their local rivals.

Peter Odemwingie was Albion’s talisman last season, scoring 15 goals, but he has struggled with form and injuries so far this term. Boss Roy Hodgson has backed the Nigerian to come good once again and he can be backed at 3/2 to score anytime.

Wolves have lost their last four Premier League matches after a bright start and will be fired up for the game but, with Albion needing that home win, it looks like being more disappointment for Mick McCarthy.

Arsenal v Sunderland

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s future at the Emirates has been questioned by some Gunners fans ahead of the home game with Sunderland but he has the backing of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and has vowed to battle on despite a thoroughly disappointing start to the campaign.

A defeat last time out to local rivals Spurs only cranked up the pressure further on the Frenchman so a win is a must against the Black Cats.

His opposite number on Sunday, Steve Bruce, is also under pressure but he, too, has been backed by the club’s owners despite a difficult few months. His side came back well from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with West Brom before the international break and he would take a draw (10/3) at the Emirates.

However, a win for the Gunners (4/9) is on the cards here.

Newcastle v Spurs

Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season has largely gone under the radar so far but they face a tough test when Spurs go to St James’ Park on Sunday.

Alan Pardew has defied his critics to do a decent job and wins over local rivals Sunderland, Blackburn and Wolves last time out have endeared him to the Toon faithful and if he can conjure up a win over top-four chasing Tottenham then his stock will rise further.

Newcastle have had a relatively easy start to the season, however, and this represents their toughest game since the opening weekend when they held Arsenal.

It’s a difficult one to call but both sides will probably settle for a draw and a point apiece (23/10) looks likely.

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