Tag Archives: Chelsea

Norwich to give Chelsea the blues

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Bet on the ChampionshipWhile there continues to be little action on the transfer front this month the games are coming thick and fast, with eight Premier League matches scheduled for Saturday. We pick out the three best bets for the weekend, starting with Chelsea’s trip to Carrow Road to take on Norwich.

Norwich v Chelsea 12:45pm

Who would have thought that at the start of the season Norwich would be 11 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and seemingly cruising towards safety. While the Canaries have as many points as Blackpool did at this time last season they have shown no signs of hitting the self destruct button and undoing all their good work from earlier in the campaign.

However, there are some similarities between Paul Lambert’s men and Blackpool. The amount of goals they score is phenomenal, with only the top five having banged in more. As such the first bet to look out  for should be over 2.5 goals at 8/13 in this game, even if Fernando Torres plays.

Chelsea are looking for a fourth win on the bounce win but showed they still aren’t over the issues that have dogged them right throughout the season in the 1-0 win over Sunderland last week. The Black Cats were unlucky not to take anything from the game and as such you have to think Norwich have a great chance of recording their first win over one of top teams in the Premier League, despite the Andre Villas-Boas recently signing England defender Gary Cahill.

The Blues price of 8/13 to win is too short when taking into consideration how unpredictable the season has been. Norwich are 9/2, while the draw is 3/1 in the match betting.

Everton v Blackburn 3pm

It’s fair to see you wouldn’t want to trade places with either David Moyes or Steve Kean this season given their respective issues. Kean might have seen results improve recently but that hasn’t stopped Chris Samba putting in a transfer request as Rovers battle to hold onto their star men. The Blackburn boss will be desperate to keep Samba given how well he has played this season and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the big centre-half started at Goodison Park on Saturday.

While they might have struggled at Ewood Park Rovers form on the road hasn’t been too bad. They have lost one of the last seven on the road in the league, although they have only won once as well. That victory was at Manchester United though and the trip to Goodison Park looks as though it could be fruitful.

Everton won’t have to deal with former striker Yakubu but at 6/1 Blackburn are too big a price to ignore. Everton are the lowest scorers in the Premier League, managing just 21 goals in 21 games so far. Moyes has managed to bring in Darron Gibson this month but there looks like there isn’t much cash left to improve what he has at this creaking club. Everton are 4/7, with the draw 11/4 and if Blackburn don’t take all three points they should take at least one.

Wolves v Aston Villa

If Mick McCarthy isn’t a worried man, then he should be because his Wolves team are slipping badly at the moment. He might have made ten changes for the game against Birmingham City in midweek but his squad is looking devoid of confidence and the 1-0 loss to their Midlands rivals will not have helped.

Saturday brings McCarthy another derby match up and he will hope things can improve against the increasingly unpredictable Villa. Alex McLeish’s team should have picked up three points against Everton last week but were caught on the counter attack and shouldn’t be too downbeat as they make the short trip to Molineux.

Villa have been tough to beat on the road, losing just two of their ten matches away from home. The game is unlikely to be a classic and 8/11 for under 2.5 goals should be a safe bet. The future looks gloomy for Wolves and expect Villa to heap more misery on them. Villa are 9/5 to win, with Wolves 8/5 and the draw 9/4 in the match betting.

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Chelsea keen to bounce back

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The traditional New Year fixtures throw up several intriguing contests in the Premier League on Monday with Chelsea, in particular, desperate to bounce back from their 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa. Here we preview the games.

Wolves v Chelsea (3pm)

Chelsea’s inconsistent season took another unexpected twist on Saturday when they threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at home to Villa.

The Blues’ title bid appears in tatters following the defeat that leaves them 11 points off leaders Manchester City and well adrift in fifth place.

A second successive defeat would be unthinkable for boss Andre Villas-Boas and they should bounce back at Molineux although they will not get an easy ride in the Black Country.

Wolves have claimed battling back-to-back draws at Arsenal and Bolton to boost their survival hopes and will fancy their chances of another draw in this one. However, Chelsea know another slip-up will not be tolerated so expect a narrow away win. Go for 0-1 at 6/1.

Prediction – 0-1.

Aston Villa v Swansea (3pm)

Villa (5/6) enjoyed their best day under Alex McLeish on Saturday when they came from behind to stun Chelsea and they can build on that win when they host Swansea (4/1).

The Welsh side have been impressive at home this season but have struggled on their travels and have yet to win away from the Liberty Stadium in the top flight.

Top scorer Danny Graham was rested for the 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday – with Luke Moore handed a surprise start – but he should be back in the side with a point to prove at Villa Park so is well worth backing to score anytime at 9/4.

Villa will be buoyant following the Stamford Bridge success and, with Darren Bent  fit again, they look to have too much firepower for the Swans.

Prediction – 2-1.

Blackburn v Stoke (3pm)

Rovers’ win at Manchester United on Saturday was probably the result of the Premier League season so far and, coming on the back of the 1-1 draw at Liverpool, it has eased the pressure considerably on Steve Kean.

The way his young side have fought in the last two games suggests the players are still firmly behind the Scot and they can enjoy another win in this one against Tony Pulis’ side (Blackburn 6/4, Stoke 15/8, draw 9/4 in the match betting).

The Potters have had a good first half to the season and are eighth in the table and through to the knock-out stage of the Europa League but have been poor on their travels in the league, losing five out of nine games and it looks like being another disappointing afternoon on Monday.

Prediction – 1-0.

QPR v Norwich (3pm)

A battle between two of the promoted sides at Loftus Road looks like a difficult one to call.

Rangers lost only narrowly at Arsenal on Saturday but their home form is poor as they have won just once in front of their own fans and sit just a place above the relegation zone.

Neil Warnock knows he needs a goalscorer to boost his ranks and is expected to splash the cash this month in order to ensure safety in the Premier League.

Norwich have exceeded expectations so far back in the top flight and sit 10th at the halfway stage. They have adapted well to life in the Premier League and will have no fear going to the capital to take on the R’s.

This one looks like it has a draw written all over it – take 0-0 in the correct score market at 15/2.

Fulham v Arsenal (5.30pm)

Arsenal go to Craven Cottage for the late game currently in the driving seat in the battle for fourth after the 1-0 win over QPR on Saturday.

The Gunners have been boosted by the imminent return to the club of legend Thierry Henry and the feel-good factor is set to continue as they can secure another three points against their London rivals.

Robin van Persie is always worth backing to score anytime (4/5) while Arsenal HT/FT is also tempting at 2/1.

Fulham were only a few minutes away from a win at Norwich last time out but face a much tougher test on Monday and look like struggling to get anything out of Arsene Wenger’s side.

Prediction – 0-2.

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Spurs to fail Chelsea test

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The festive football action is in full swing and Thursday sees one of the biggest matches of the next few weeks, when Tottenham’s title credentials (16/1 Premier League Outright) will be tested with the visit of Chelsea for a London derby to relish at White Hart Lane.

Spurs are being talked about as genuine Premier League contenders this season after making impressive strides in recent weeks. They sit in third ahead of the Blues’ visit, seven points off leaders Manchester City but with a game in hand, and responded to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke with a narrow 1-0 win over Sunderland last time out.

Harry Redknapp has assembled a squad that, at the very least, seems capable of challenging the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal for a top-four finish while, on their day, they look every inch title contenders alongside City and United.

If they can pick up another three points on Thursday over Andre Villas-Boas’ men, then more people will take notice of what Redknapp is doing at the Lane. Players of the calibre of Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker and Gareth Bale – although he could miss Thursday’s game due to injury – are top-notch Premier League performers, who would walk into most other side’s starting line-ups. Add to that the impressive way youngster Kyle Walker has cemented his place at right-back, and you begin to see why they are enjoying a superb season.

However, they will not find it easy on Thursday. Chelsea threw away three points at Wigan last week when conceding a late equaliser after Darren Sturridge had put them in front, but the Blues are in much better shape than a few weeks ago with big wins over Valencia and City stopping the critics in their tracks after a recent difficult period.

In Sturridge they have one of the best young strikers out there at the moment, and such is his form and confidence that he is well worth backing in the anytime scorer market at 13/8. Didier Drogba has also rediscovered his best form in recent games and is the first scorer favourite for the visitors at 5/1.

Villas-Boas has split opinion at times this season with some saying his inexperience at this level has shown him up to be a coach whose man-management skills leave a lot to be desired, while he struggles with big egos. Frank Lampard has certainly questioned why he has often been overlooked this season, while £50million signing Fernando Torres rarely gets a look-in these days either.

But others say he is a canny, tactically-astute boss who proved he is one of the best young managers around in those recent impressive wins.

It’s set up for a mouthwatering London derby then. Both of these two like to dictate games and Spurs, at home, will look for an early goal to get them on their way but expect Chelsea to have a big say, too.

The away win, on offer at 7/4, looks a big price in this one and we envisage a narrow win for the Blues (1-2 at 11/1 in Correct Score market) to dent Spurs’ title hopes while, at the same time, doing their own a world of good (Chelsea 14/1 PL Outright).

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Chelsea to hold Euro nerve

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Tuesday marks the start of final round of matches in the group stages in the Champions League and there is still plenty to play for with qualifying positions as well as top spots up for grabs, not least in Group E which sees a make-or-break clash at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Valencia.

Bayer Leverkusen have already made sure of their place in the knockout stages with a last-gasp, come-from-behind win over the Blues, which has really piled the pressure on Andre Villas-Boas ahead of a do-or-die clash, particularly with Valencia cruising to a 7-0 win on the same night.

Chelsea do of course have destiny in their own hands, as well as home advantage, and will book a knockout place for the ninth-year running with a victory, which is anticipated in the match betting – Chelsea 8/11, Draw 11/4, Valencia 4/1.

The Blues have never lost to the Spanish outfit in five previous encounters although worryingly for the Blues, both previous meetings at Stamford Bridge have resulted in draws.

A goalless draw would be good enough for Chelsea to progress but a scoring draw will be in favour of Los Che and with Roberto Soldado in fine fettle, the home side will do well to keep tabs on the former Real Madrid striker.

Soldado (13/2 First/Last Goalscorer) scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, netted a 26-minute hat-trick in the rout of Genk and bagged the winner on Saturday to help Valencia maintain their pursuit of Real and Barcelona in La Liga.

Chelsea certainly have had plenty of defensive problems of late, losing five of the last 10 games and three of the last four at home, but did pick up a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend.

That result was thanks to a large piece of luck as David Luiz somehow escaped a red card early in the game, while Newcastle were denied on a number of occasions by the woodwork.

The change of style under Villas-Boas has exposed the back four so far this season, but they still possess plenty of fire power and on another day might well have wrapped up Saturday’s game long before they did.

Didier Drogba grabbed what is only his third goal of the season last weekend, following on from his goal in Leverkusen, and is 4/1 favourite First/Last Goalscorer, although Daniel Sturridge is in fine form and can be backed at 9/2, and Frank Lampard, the club’s second top goalscorer so far this season, is on offer at 6/1.

It would be amazing to see Fernando Torres in the starting line-up given his form since arriving at Stamford Bridge last January, while he has only scored two goals in eight previous appearances against Valencia – and picked up a red card.

It is hard to see the game being an open attacking shoot out given what is at stake, although an early goal may well shake things up – but Chelsea have the strength to put recent problems behind them and seal a knockout berth.

A win of course may be good enough to see the Blues take top spot in the group (Bayer 1/3, Chelsea 3/1, Valencia 8/1 – Group E Winner) as Bayer would need to achieve what neither Chelsea or Valencia did – and that is win in Genk.

They may have only picked up two points so far in the group but are undefeated at home having held the Spaniards to a goalless draw, and Chelsea 1-1.

Bayer of course, have won all three home games but have yet to pick up even a point on their travels but with the carrot of being group winners to play for, the Germans are strongly fancied at 8/15 in the match betting, with Genk on offer at 11/2 and the draw at 16/5.

That seems a short price on a team that has lost both times on their travels, but they were a little unlucky in Valencia – and now Genk do not even have Europa League qualification to play for.

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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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Torres the key for Chelsea

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Two teams will secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday and whilst one tie already looks a formality, the all-English affair is still on a knife edge. Manchester United will start as favourites with a 0-1 first-leg win behind them, but Chelsea will be desperate for revenge and to secure a European dream for Roman Abramovich.

Manchester United v Chelsea (7:45pm kick-off)

Chelsea will need to create history if they are to reach the last four of Europe’s top club competition, as no team has ever knocked United out of Europe having lost the first leg of a tie at home. Their hopes of upsetting the odds look to rest on the shoulders of one man……Fernando Torres.

The Spanish international has yet to score for the Blues since his headline-making £50million January move from Liverpool and looks a shadow of the player we know he is. But his record at Old Trafford is decent – with two goals in five appearances at United’s home – and he has terrorised Nemanja Vidic on several occasions.

The United backline is strong and, although Didier Drogba scored in Chelsea’s league win at United last season, can and have coped with the Ivorian in the past….it’s the pace of Torres that will worry them.

Due to his recent form, you would have to give Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and co every chance of shackling the Spaniard, but if he clicks then he could produce a night to remember for Carlo Ancelotti (Utd 23/20, Draw 9/4, Chelsea 9/4 – Match Betting).

At the other end of the pitch, Wayne Rooney will be out champing at the bit after being forced to sit out Saturday’s win against Fulham. With seven goals in his last eight games, the England striker can put the game beyond Chelsea with another top notch display.

Expect the second leg to be another tight affair, with Chelsea unlikely to over commit until late in the game, and the ‘Under 2.5 goals‘ market looks a decent bet at 4/7.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona (7:45 kick-off)

Forget one foot in the semis, Barca (Evs Outright Winners) have nine toes already in the last four following a 5-1 thumping of their Ukrainian opponents in the Nou Camp.

Pep Guardiola’s men were inspired in the first leg, in a game that could have quite easily seen 10 ten goals with a bagful of chances for both teams. The mounting fixture list could have a major bearing though on Tuesday’s clash, with Barca expected to make several changes.

The Catalan giants are expected to face Real Madrid four times in quick succession, in a La Liga clash, the Copa Del Rey final and then likely, in a two-legged Champions League semi-final. The manager will use his strong squad to full effect, starting with a tough trip to the Ukraine.

Andres Iniesta is suspended for Tuesday’s game and Shakhtar (23/10 to beat Barca on the night) could take full advantage, as they look to win a fifth consecutive Champions League home game in this season’s competition.

The home side have an 11-point lead in their domestic league and could claim a big scalp on Tuesday….even though Barca will still qualify.

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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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Danish delight for Chelsea

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Chelsea are in a great position to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals as they take a two-goal lead into their second-leg against FC Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night (match betting – Chelsea 3/10, Draw 4/1, Copenhagen 6/1).

Two goals from the forgotten striker Nicolas Anelka were enough for Chelsea to cruise past their Danish opponents in the first leg.

Big-money signing Fernando Torres has been taking most of the spotlight at Stamford Bridge, despite the fact that he has failed to score in his first five games in a Blues shirt (Torres 8/13 to score anytime against Copenhagen).

Whether the former Liverpool striker can work alongside Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba has been one of the main talking points and is a question that manager Carlo Ancelotti has to deal with seemingly at every press conference.

This has left Anelka out of the limelight but it seemed to suit the Frenchman as he was clinical in front of goal at the Parken Stadium.

Ancelotti is likely to start with Torres and Drogba upfront, as the Blues hold a comfortable lead in this tie and can afford to let these two talented strikers work on their partnership.

This is unfortunate for Anelka, who has been the top goalscorer for the Blues in the current campaign.

FC Copenhagen battled against the Blues in front of their home fans but lacked that bit of quality when it came to the final third.

The Danish side, who are cruising their domestic league by 19 points, managed to hold Spanish giants Barcelona to a draw in the Champions League group stages, so they are capable of surprising big teams.

However, they will need to raise their game if they are to get anything out of the game at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Former Blues boy Jesper Gronkjaer was limited in what he could do against his old employers during the first leg and he was responsible for allowing Anelka to get his first goal at the Parken Stadium.

The 33-year-old will be hoping for a happy return to the Bridge but he and his team-mates will have to try and keep hold of the ball more against their Premier League opponents.

Copenhagen only managed just 41% of possession at home and they will find it more difficult on the road to keep hold of the ball.

Chelsea (5/1 – Champions League outright) have looked pretty comfortable throughout the Champions League and have yet to be really tested in the competition.

They may have to wait a little longer to face that test and they should comfortably beat Copenhagen on Wednesday night.

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Chelsea face tough Cottage test

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Current Premier League champions Chelsea head to Craven Cottage on Monday evening to face a Fulham (to beat Chelsea – 19/5) side who have experienced a good run of form of late.

Fulham, who have seven points from their last three league games, welcome the Blues to the Cottage where they haven’t lost in any competition since December 26.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have picked up six points from their previous three league games which gives Fulham the slight advantage with regards to recent form.

New boy David Luiz is set to make his full debut for the Stamford Bridge side, having signed for £21.3million and Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that he fits into a Chelsea backline who have struggled since the injury to Alex this season.

Jose Boswinga is a doubt with an injury, while Yuri Zhirkov is still sidelined with a calf injury so Ancelotti’s defensive options are currently bleak.

The Blues have conceded four goals in their last three games across all competitions and it has proven to be a big problem for the side who have faltered in their title defence.

The west London club are now 13 points behind Manchester United in the Premier League, albeit with a game in hand. Ancelotti admitted recently that the title is now beyond them and that Champions League football the priority for Chelsea this season.

Fulham will be licking their lips at the prospect of a derby game against a Chelsea side low on confidence.  The league game at Stamford Bridge finished in a 1-0 win to Chelsea back in November, an Essien strike separating the sides, but Fulham have made a fortress at the Cottage recently and will fancy their chances.

The Cottagers have kept a clean sheet in their previous three home games and Chelsea appear to be suffering from the old ‘too-many-chiefs-and-not-enough-Indians’ dilemma with their attacking options.

£50million man Fernando Torres has had a poor season by his standards, Didier Drogba is not the player he was and Nicolas Anelka has only recently started to regain his form.  But truth be told, regardless of the class of these three, getting them to gel as a three-pronged attack in what will be only their second game as a unit will be a big ask.

Problems in defence for Chelsea, and issues to sort out in attack, means that Fulham, although seven league places behind their London neighbours, are worth a bet and stand a great chance of claiming all three points (Fulham to win 1-0 – 9/1).

Fulham will want star midfielder Clint Dempsey to be on form, as Bobby Zamora will not play despite making a return for the reserves recently.  The American Dempsey (to score anytime against Chelsea – 5/2 fav) has scored nine league goals this season and is well worth a punt to ruin Chelsea’s season even further.

No player at the Stamford Bridge club is yet to reach ten league goals for the season.  Drogba and Florent Malouda have both scored nine league goals this season.

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Chelsea looking for home comforts

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Depending on who you listen to, Chelsea are in  crisis, manager Carlo Ancelotti is about to walk out and the Stamford Bridge walls are crumbling around Roman Abramovich – OK maybe the last bit is exaggerated, but all is not well in west London.

However, the Blues are 1/7 favourites in the match betting to see off MSK Zilina in the Champions League on Tuesday and the stats back up such short odds.

Ancelotti’s men have won four out of four in Group F to guarantee progression while they are all but assured of top spot as they lie six points clear of both Spartak Moscow and Marseille, with two games to go.

Zilina, by contrast, have a 100 per cent losing record and have managed just one goal in those four defeats, while they are coming into the match on the back of a record 7-0 home drubbing against Marseille in the last round of matches.

The one goal the Slovakian outfit have scored did come against Chelsea but not before the English champions had surged into a 4-0 lead, with Nicolas Anelka scoring twice.

Chelsea might already have booked their progress but after losing three of their last four domestic matches, scoring just one goal, they will be looking to make a point in front of their own fans and guarantee top spot before making a tricky trip to Marseille.

The Blues have now gone 22 games unbeaten in the group stages of the competition, winning 16 with six draws, while they have amassed 40 goals and conceded only seven.

Chelsea have the power to put this game to bed by half-time as they did in Slovakia (2/5 in the Half-Time/Full-Time market) while Anelka (9/4 first goalscorer), who has scored five times already in the competition, could set them on their way.

The other game in the group sees the two sides battling for qualification along with Chelsea go head to head at the Luzhniki Stadium as Spartak Moscow entertain Marseille.

The French outfit of course smashed seven past Zilina last time out and have a decent record in Russia, having lost just two of six games, but they were beaten 1-0 at home by Spartak (6/4 in the match betting) on matchday one and have lost seven of the last 10 Champions League away matches, and the home side should just have the edge.

Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to the campaign, in which they scored 14 goals, came undone at Shakhtar Donetsk last time out but having smashed six past Braga at the Emirates on matchday one, they look good value at 5/6 to seal their progression.

The other game in Group H sees Shakhtar Donetsk travel to Serbia and with qualification, and even top spot, to play for the Ukrainian outfit (4/6 to win) should be fully motivated to secure the points against winless Partizan Belgrade.

Real Madrid are on fire this season and remain unbeaten under Jose Mourinho in all competitions, albeit through an injury-time equaliser against AC Milan at the San Siro last time out.

In truth, los Merengues should have wrapped up the game inside the first half, while Filippo Inzaghi’s equaliser was offside, and with the potent frontline they possess, Real (5/4 in the match betting) should secure top spot with a win in Amsterdam.

All three sides below Real still have a chance of qualifying and Auxerre look good value at 12/5 to make home advantage count against a Milan side that has not won either away match to date and may just adopt a defensive strategy to try and avoid being beaten.

Roma have the greater need when they entertain Bayern Munich on Tuesday night as they are from certain of making the knockout stages, whereas the Germans have booked their place with plenty to spare after winning their first four games.

The Giallorossi (5/6 favourites in the match betting) will be looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat earlier in the campaign and have won nine of their last 11 home games in UEFA competition, while Bayern might prefer to focus on domestic matters after a disappointing start to their Bundesliga campaign.

Something has to give in Tuesday’s other fixture as FC Basel have lost both home matches, while CFR Cluj have been beaten twice on their travels and given the fact that Cluj won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier in the campaign, there may be some value in taking the 9/2 on offer.

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