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Milan Juvenutus Serie A Clash – A Battle of Pride

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Inter Milan Scudetto Milan Juvenutus Serie A Clash A Battle of PrideTwo giants of Italian football go head-to-head on Saturday, but both clubs have endured a season to forget.

Milan’s local rivals, Inter, look likely to wrap up the Scudetto on Sunday – which is why this match has been brought forward to Saturday evening, to avoid any clashes on the streets of Milan between the two sets of supporters. The sight of their neighbours winning Serie A once again is bad enough for the Rossoneri, but a sub-par season which has seen their form deteriorate in the latter stages of the season has created an anti-climax.

Juventus will be feeling much the same way as they will be finishing 7th this season regardless of Saturday’s result – and that means no European football next season.

Alberto Zaccheroni, the Juve boss, has admitted the clash will lack importance, but not commitment.

You can bet on this match: Inter v Juventus

Dummed Down Fixture?

“The match at the San Siro will not be as important as in other years, also because it is the last of the league season,” he suggested to the Italian press.

“[Based] on the allure of competition, it is not a positive situation. This is my advice for next year: Milan – Juve should happen during the peak time of the season.”

However he also stated the desire to win will still be shown on both sides: “It’s true, in terms of rankings, this game means nothing. On the field, however, there are players of great quality.”

“This is the top level of football, it is impossible not to have incentives.”

When these two sides last met in Turin in January, Milan demolished Juve 3-0 with a brace from Ronaldinho.

Recent form is not good for both sides and both have been very inconsistent in the last few games of the season. Last weekend saw both sides slump to defeat against sides lower down in the league.

You can bet on this match: Inter v Juventus

Milan will be able to do the double over Juve, with players like Pirlo, Pato, and Ronaldinho in the starting eleven they will be capable of scoring goals. Back AC Milan to win 2-0 which is going at 7.00 with PartyBets.com.

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  1. The Big One: Inter Take On AC In Milan Derby Clash
  2. Serie A Predictions: Roma Won’t Handle The AC Milan Onslaught
  3. Can Inter Milan win Coppa D’italia, Serie A + Champions League treble?


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Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it out

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premier league trophy 176x300 Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it outBaring an immense shock, Chelsea will be the 2009/10 Premier League champions after Carlo Ancelotti’s side pulled off a surprisingly comfortable win at Liverpool. Manchester United’s win at Sunderland only seems to have prolonged the agony.

Chelsea only have to win their final game at home to Wigan Athletic to secure the title. The Latics have troubled all the top teams- Chelsea included- at their DW Stadium but they secured their top flight status some time ago. With nothing for Wigan to play for, the Blues are massive favourites.

Manchester United seem destined to fall a point short and so miss out on becoming the only club to win four titles in a row. Their own final match is with Stoke City, which they should win.

United managed just a single goal at the Stadium of Light. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the result from Anfield deflated his players before they went out against Sunderland.

The real uncertainty can be found a little further down. Four teams went into the weekend with a chance of fourth place but that list has now whittled down to two. Chelsea dealt Liverpool’s faint hopes the final blow and Manchester City came through a head-to-head with Aston Villa.

When the Birmingham side took the lead at Eastlands it seemed they might knock City out of contention but the home side got the break they needed when Stephen Warnock felled Adam Johnson in the area.

Carlos Tevez converted the spot kick and within three minutes Emmanuel Adebayor put City in the lead- but only after John Carew clattered a shot against the bar at the other end.

Roberto Mancini saw his side ease to a 3-1 victory to set up a dramatic clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The Londoners did enough to see off an obdurate Bolton team to set up the decisive midweek meeting between the two remaining contenders.

Spurs hold the advantage, going into the game a point to the good. Now that Villa have been removed from the equation, Harry Redknapp’s team can afford a draw from their visit to Manchester. City have to win to take pole position going into the final games on Sunday.

Hull City’s relegation was rubber stamped when they could only draw at Wigan. The fact they leaked a last minute equaliser summed up the Tigers’ season.

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Related posts:

  1. How Chelsea Beat Manchester United to the Title
  2. Chelsea Take Advantage Of Manchester United Defeat at Everton
  3. Chelsea v Manchester City: Tough Times For Roberto Mancini


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Cahill admits Australia battle

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Tim Cahill claims he knows Australia (15/2 to win Group D) face a tough challenge to make it into the knockout stages of the World Cup this summer, but he remains confident they can surprise a few people.

The Everton midfielder is one of Australia’s footballing superstars and may need to be on top of his game as the country has received a tough World Cup draw after being placed in Group D with Germany, Serbia and Ghana.

Cahill played in the World Cup four years ago as Australia made it into the second round and only went out due to a late penalty to eventual winners Italy (12/1 – World Cup 2010 Outright).

The 30-year-old told Fifa.com that he is looking to add to his 19 international goals in 37 appearances for Australia in South Africa, but it is a “difficult” task they have ahead of them – starting with a match against Germany (14/1 – World Cup 2010 Outright), one of the pre-tournament favourites, in Durban on June 13th.

Speaking about their opening opponents, he said: “We know they’re very disciplined and tactically very strong but, as it’s the first game, there’s no reason why we can’t catch them cold.”

He claims that a draw and a win in their three group games could be enough to get Australia out of Group D, but even then they could face the likes of England (11/2 – World Cup 2010 Outright) or USA in the second round if they qualify.

“I think the most important thing for us is to take each game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves,” stated Cahill.

One attacking option which will be unavailable to Australia boss Pim Verbeek in South Africa is Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson.

The forward has scored 21 goals in 33 appearances for Australia (9/4 to qualify from Group D) but ruptured his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in the A-League grand final and has been ruled out of the World Cup.

While Australia have been hit by an injury blow, their Group D rivals blow have received some good news as their number one goalkeeper Rene Adler has returned to training after a broken rib.

The Bayer Leverkusen stopped suffered the injury in a game with Stuttgart and his speedy return to fitness could be a real boost to Germany boss Joachim Low.

Meanwhile, Ghana (2/1 to be eliminated in the last 16), who Australia face in their second game on 19th June, are hoping that Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng will be able to play for them in the World Cup.

He has previously played for Germany at under-21 level but is currently waiting for his nationality switch to be ratified by Fifa so he can play a part for Ghana in South Africa.

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Flores predicts Reds battle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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