Tag Archives: Derby

Blues face anxious derby wait

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Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb is in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s derby with Aston Villa (14/1 – Premier League Top-4 Finish) after suffering a knee injury in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Blackpool.

The former Arsenal man was forced to leave the pitch 15 minutes from the end of the Premier League win and is already a concern for the weekend.

Hleb, on a season-long loan from Barcelona, seems almost certain to sit out Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie against Brentford but Blues (16/1 Top Six Finish 2010-11) will hope for better news later in the week.

Alex McLeish remains hopeful that the Belarus international will be ready for the Second-City derby, but was wishing he had replaced Hleb earlier.

The Scot said: “At half-time I said to Alex ‘give me 15 minutes of magic and we will get you off’. It went a bit longer than that and all of a sudden he had a little twist in his knee which we are concerned about.

“We have to wait to see how it is, but he is a brave guy. I just hope there is no serious damage.”

Another concern for McLeish is winger Jean Beausejour, who has missed the last two matches after injuring his knee ligament.

The summer signing was short of match fitness when he joined Blues and has yet to start in the Premier League.

Birmingham say they don’t want to take “any unnecessary risks” with Chile international, but may decide to give him a run out in midweek.

It will be a much-changed team that takes to the field for the League Cup encounter (Birmingham 3/10, Draw 18/5, Brentford 9/1 – Match Betting), with McLeish having one eye on the trip to Villa Park.

The manager admits that there will be “enforced changes” as Blues look to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

McLeish added: “One or two will definitely need to rest and players have been playing with injections.

“That has been the case with three or four of them over the last few weeks, and that just can’t last forever because you will burn them out.”

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Roma Stay Top After Derby Win Over Rivals Lazio

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inter roma Roma Stay Top After Derby Win Over Rivals LazioRoma made it six wins on the spin as they squeezed past Lazio in a fiercely contested local derby.

A Mirko Vucinic double was enough to seal victory for the league leaders, who remain one point ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

Struggling Lazio shocked their local rivals by taking a 14th minute lead when Tommaso Rocchi neatly slotted home after latching onto the end of 40-yard through ball from teammate Cristian Ledesma.

Lazio had the better of the chances in the first half and felt that they deserved a penalty after Rocchi’s surge into the area was halted by Nicolas Burdisso’s challenge.

Roma manager Claudio Ranieri made two half time changes to help force a way back into the game, but only one minute after the break Lazio were awarded a penalty.

Lazio’s Aleksander Kolarov brought down Marco Cassetti inside the box, but Sergio Floccari couldn’t take advantage, striking his shot straight at Roma keeper Julio Sergio.

Roma were then award a 53rd minute penalty themselves following a clumsy challenge from Kolarov on Roma’s Rodrigo Taddei.

Mirko Vucinic made no mistake from the spot and Roma looked resurgent as the mounted a string of attacks on the Lazio goal.

Vucinic soon made it two as he unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard free-kick towards the Roma net, leaving Fernando Muslera stranded.

Lazio pressed for an equaliser through efforts by Mauro Zarate and Rocchi, but couldn’t beat Julio Sergio in the Roma goal.

The home side then had Cristian Ledesma sent off in the final moments of a frustrating evening for Lazio, who now sit 16th in the table – just three points above the relegation zone.

Related posts:

  1. Juventus Continue To Plummet After Defeat To Roma
  2. Eternal City Derby Too Close To Call
  3. Lazio Continue Worrying Slide Down Serie A Table

Eternal City Derby Too Close To Call

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Lazio versus Roma is one of the most notorious derbies in world football with both sets of Ultras fans often turning violent in and around the stadium.

Roma have turned up the heat on Inter Milan in this season’s title race and nothing but a win over their city rivals on Sunday will be acceptable if they are to land the Scudetto.

It would be a mistake to judge this match based on current league standings with Lazio languishing down by the relegation zone, Roma are going to be favourites but a win for Ranieri’s side is far from a safe bet.

Lazio have been playing well in recent games and are unbeaten in their last five having won 3 and drawn 2. Roma are on an incredible run which has taken them all the way to the top of the league and are unbeaten in 8 matches having won all of their last 5 outings.

Roma just edge Lazio in recent head to head meetings having won 3 of the last 5 clashes with Lazio claiming the other 2. When they last played each other in December Roma won 1-0.

With just five games left to the conclusion of the Serie A season, this derby will be a closely contested encounter with both sides having a lot to lose in defeat. Because of this and the fact this tie has not ended in a draw for three years, back it to end all square in a 2-2 score line available at 12.00 with PartyBets.com

Related posts:

  1. Fiorentina V Roma Will Be Too Close To Call
  2. Roma Stay Top After Derby Win Over Rivals Lazio
  3. The Big One: Inter Take On AC In Milan Derby Clash

Roma Stay Top After Derby Win Over Mourinho’s Inter Milan

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inter roma Roma Stay Top After Derby Win Over Mourinhos Inter MilanRoma made it six wins on the spin as they squeezed past Lazio in a fiercely contested local derby.

A Mirko Vucinic double was enough to seal victory for the league leaders, who remain one point ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

Struggling Lazio shocked their local rivals by taking a 14th minute lead when Tommaso Rocchi neatly slotted home after latching onto the end of 40-yard through ball from teammate Cristian Ledesma.

Lazio had the better of the chances in the first half and felt that they deserved a penalty after Rocchi’s surge into the area was halted by Nicolas Burdisso’s challenge.

Roma manager Claudio Ranieri made two half time changes to help force a way back into the game, but only one minute after the break Lazio were awarded a penalty.

Lazio’s Aleksander Kolarov brought down Marco Cassetti inside the box, but Sergio Floccari couldn’t take advantage, striking his shot straight at Roma keeper Julio Sergio.

Roma were then award a 53rd minute penalty themselves following a clumsy challenge from Kolarov on Roma’s Rodrigo Taddei.

Mirko Vucinic made no mistake from the spot and Roma looked resurgent as the mounted a string of attacks on the Lazio goal.

Vucinic soon made it two as he unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard free-kick towards the Roma net, leaving Fernando Muslera stranded.

Lazio pressed for an equaliser through efforts by Mauro Zarate and Rocchi, but couldn’t beat Julio Sergio in the Roma goal.

The home side then had Cristian Ledesma sent off in the final moments of a frustrating evening for Lazio, who now sit 16th in the table – just three points above the relegation zone.

Related posts:

  1. Inter Milan Edge Closer To Another Scudetto Title
  2. Inter Milan Go Eight Points Clear as Juve Slip up Again
  3. Juventus Lose Ground to Mourinho’s Inter Milan

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Ferguson aware of derby impact

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Sir Alex FergusonTitle-chasing Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson accepts the derby clash with Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday will be a “pivotal” game in the clubs’ respective seasons.

The Red Devils are going for a record 19th league title (13/2 Outright) after drawing level with Liverpool on 18 last season, with Ferguson’s men also looking to become the first outfit to win four Premier League crowns on the bounce.

But Ferguson concedes that top-four hopefuls City (4/9 Top 4 Finish) have their own agenda to fight for over the course of the remainder of the campaign, something which gives derby day a whole new twist.

The Scot said: “In over 23 years at United it is the first time we have played City when they have a chance of actually achieving something.

“Whenever we have played City they have always said they will beat us, whether it is a chairman, director or somebody else.

“That is what a derby game does. Supporters want to hear that.

“But this is a different game in terms of City’s position and you can be sure whatever happens it is going to be pivotal in terms of both clubs’ prospects for the season.”

Ferguson’s opposite number, City chief Roberto Mancini, claims the Blues are facing the most important run of games in the club’s 130-year history immediately after the United clash, as he looks to guide them into the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.

And the Italian concedes the ease of his summer transfer business will be decided by the outcome of City’s season.

He admitted: “It is important we finish in fourth because we can change the way we are going.

“It would put us in the Champions League next year and that would make it easier to get the players we want.”

The derby at Old Trafford finished 4-3 in United’s favour back in September when Michael Owen came off the bench to score the winner five minutes into stoppage time.

A win for United at Saturday lunchtime would see them close to within a point of leaders Chelsea who do not play until their evening encounter with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

But with four games to play Ferguson knows United’s title destiny is now out of their own hands following the 0-0 draw at Blackburn last Sunday.

Speaking after the game, he said: “It’s a blow, there’s no question about it. It makes it really difficult to win the league now.

“That is a fantastic result for Chelsea. It has slipped away from us.

“We have a lifeline if Chelsea blow it.”

Chelsea went on to beat Bolton in midweek to establish a four-point cushion with four games left for both themselves and United this term.

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Messi, Ibrahimovic back for Barcelona but Derby Worries Pep Guardiola

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Pep Guardiola 300x200 Messi, Ibrahimovic back for Barcelona but Derby Worries Pep Guardiola“It’s a real final, a key game at the end of the season and a terribly tough match. With (Espanyol coach Mauricio) Pochettino now in charge, it will be the toughest match we have had.” – Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona (1.30) travel to city rivals Espanyol (9.00) on Saturday evening and it may be somewhat surprising that Barca coach Pep Guardiola has chosen to classify this match with such importance considering the opposition are 13 places lower in La Liga and 46 points separate them.

Barcelona have been unstoppable in recent seasons with Europe’s biggest and best teams failing to stop them so a lowly Espanyol outfit look pretty unlikely to be able to halt Barcelona’s charge for the Primera Division.

However this is a city derby and it is well known that the form book goes out of the window in the blood and thunder of a local derby. Espanyol can take some confidence from recent matches against Barca to give them hope of an upset their last four encounters at home with Barcelona read W1 D2 L1.

Head-to-head

  • Barca have only managed to win three while losing two and drawing the other four.
  • Espanyol were the only team to win at the Nou Camp in La Liga last season when Barcelona were still hunting the title.

You can bet on now Barcelona (1.30)v  Espanyol (9.00) now

On the team news front, the home side will be without their number one keeper Carlos Kameni as he serves a ban after being sent off in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to Racing Santander.

Barcelona will be without Eric Abidal and Andres Iniesta but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to be on the bench. The news has been full of plaudits for Lionel Messi in the last few weeks after a string of stellar performances and goals, but it is now midfielder Xavi who is putting in the world class performances too and he is 9.00 to get the first goal in this match.

Guardiola will not allow his troops to slip up in this potential banana skin game and the quality of Messi et al will ensure another Barcelona victory. Back a 3-1 win for Barcelona which is available at 11.00 with PartyBets.com.

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Sheffield Wednesday Must Triumph In The Steel City Derby

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sheffield wednesday v sheffield united 300x292 Sheffield Wednesday Must Triumph In The Steel City DerbyThe 2009/10 season has been grim  for both Sheffield clubs; Wednesday are locked into a desperate fight against relegation and United have fallen away badly in the race for promotion. Both sets of supporters would like to see the end of the campaign.

Sunday’s game at Hillsborough still has real significance for Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are still in the bottom three and stand in real need of three points. United’s chance of reaching the play-offs has all but slipped away but their supporters could take some satisfaction from adding to the problems of their city rivals.

If this game wasn’t a derby, Sheffield United would be the ideal opponents for Wednesday. The Blades’ away form has collapsed dramatically and they have been beaten twelve times away from Bramhall Lane. Their record is actually worse that the Owls, who have lost eleven games on the road.

Confidence is low in both dressing rooms though Sheffield United did win last Saturday- however, they have plunged to tenth place after a season when they were expected to be a top six side with some ease. Two points from their last four games has dragged Sheffield Wednesday back into the relegation mire after a relatively good run of results.

Head-to-Head from 124 competitive games:

  • Sheffield United 45 Wins
  • Sheffield Wednesday 41 Wins
  • Plus 38 Draws

You can bet on Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield Untied Now

The importance of this game to the Owls can’t be overstated because next week they have to travel to in-form Cardiff City. Their final game sees them host fellow strugglers Crystal Palace in what would be a nerve-shredding ‘winner take all’ encounter.

The Owls have lost their last two matches by a single, late goal and manager Alan Irvine will not want to go into the last day having to beat Palace to stay up. The team aren’t playing badly but the rub of the green has been missing.

The visit of the Blades could be the moment to pull off a win. Though Kevin Blackwell’s team should be highly motivated for a derby, they will also be suffering some deflation after their steep decline.

In the past two campaigns Wednesday have had the edge, unbeaten in four fixtures before this season’s first game. Sheffield United squeaked through 3-2 back in September after going in three goals to the good at half-time.

The Owls look ready to overturn that result. Irvine will point out that only a deflected strike denied them a point at Middlesbrough last week. Sheffield United have only a mathematical chance of reaching the top six and with their Championship status on the line, Wednesday should be able to win a battling encounter.

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