Tag Archives: track

Blues to get back on track

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The Premier League action continues on Saturday with six games in total and the one that stands out most is the meeting between Chelsea and Stoke, which sees a true clash of cultures (Match Betting – Chelsea 1/3, draw 4/1, Stoke 19/2).

The Blues will go into the match full of disappointment, having squandered a two goal lead in the Champions League against Juventus and will be looking to get straight back on track after their superb start to the campaign.

One of the only bright spots to come out of Wednesday’s draw was the performance of Brazilian youngster Oscar, who will be desperate to continue his progress following his brilliant display in his first start for the club.

Unlike last year when they visibly struggled, the Potters don’t have European football to deal with this time around and should be fresh ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge.

Tony Pulis’ men will surely be looking to use their physical advantage over the Blues and, after seeing their defensive frailties in midweek, are likely to try and expose their opponents at the back.

This one really does have the potential for an upset but Chelsea may feel they have a point to prove and should come through comfortably (Chelsea 5/1 to win 2-0).

The other game that really stands out on Saturday is the clash between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary’s (Match Betting – Southampton 7/5, draw 12/5, Villa 2/1).

This may not be the most glamorous tie but with both sides struggling so far this term, three points could prove vital come the end of the campaign. Southampton truly were a breath of fresh air in the opening weeks, as their cavalier style saw them come agonisingly close to wins over both Manchester clubs.

However, they were outclassed by Arsenal last Saturday and it will be interesting to see how they respond to that drubbing.

Despite the positively brought to the club following the summer appointment of Paul Lambert, Villa unfortunately look set for another long and difficult season. Now bereft of the talent that saw them look set to go on and challenge for the title under Martin O’Neill, the Villains currently have to rely on seasoned veterans and unproven youngsters.

Despite this though, they earned a surprise win against Swansea last time out and will be looking to kick on after their sluggish start to the season.

Like the first game, this looks almost too close to call but the Saints will be desperate to win and should come through in what may turn out to be a thriller (Match Betting 28/1 to win 3-2).

In the other games, Swansea will be confident of continuing their fine home form against injury-plagued Everton, while West Brom will fancy themselves to carry on Reading’s dismal return to the Premier League.

Elsewhere, West Ham will be hopeful of earning another home win against Sunderland while Fulham will see their trip to Wigan as a superb chance to earn their first away points of the campaign.

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Milan to get back on track

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After losing their place at the top of the Serie A table following their surprise home defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday, AC Milan (6/5 Serie A outright) have the perfect chance to get back on track when they travel to Verona to face Chievo on Tuesday evening.

The Rossoneri have led the league for most of the season, but injuries and suspensions appear to be taking their toll and Domenico Di Carlo’s men will fancy their chances of causing an upset at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi (Chievo 5/1, draw 13/5, AC Milan 8/13 – 90 minutes).

Chievo have once again upset the odds this year and are currently on a run of four games without defeat. Despite their limited resources, Di Carlo’s men have impressed this term and are still in with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe.

Much of their success is based on a strong work ethic built around the midfield diamond of Luciano, Michael Bradley, Luca Rigoni and Frenchman Cyril Thereau.

However, they do have a few star players and for over a decade, striker Sergio Pellissier has been their talisman. The captain has once again led his charges in superb fashion this season but has only returned a disappointing tally of six goals this season. He has scored in his last two matches though and will be looking to continue his run of form on Tuesday (Chievo 8/1 to win 1-0 – correct score).

Milan look like they’re starting to struggle and they haven’t won in any of their last four games in all competitions. This has seen boss Massimiliano Allegri’s position come under severe scrutiny but his cause has not been helped by injuries and suspensions to a number of key players.

Going into the match, the San Siro side will be without the likes of Mark Van Bommel, Thiago Silva and Alexandre Pato due to injuries while Alberto Aquilani, Daniele Bonera and skipper Massimo Ambrosini are also ruled out through suspension.

However, they can still call on the likes of Robinho and the temperamental Zlatan Ibrahimovic to aid their cause, but it is likely to be one of their more unsung heroes who could make the difference.

Chievo are renowned for their battling performances and Milan will have to match them in this area of the game if they’re to have any chance of winning and in Antonio Nocerino they have possibly the country’s best. The 27-year-old signed from Palermo in the summer and has taken over Gennaro Gattuso’s role in the side as their ball winner. His display could be vital to the outcome of the match.

Both sides will be confident going into the game, however, Milan, despite their injuries and suspensions should just have enough quality to beat the Gialloblu but it will certainly be a tight game (Milan 5/1 to in 1-0 – correct score).

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City to get back on track

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There are four games taking place in the Premier League on Wednesday night with the focus largely on the top end of the table and the race for a top-four finish, although QPR are desperate for points for quite different reasons.

Manchester City v Chelsea 7:45pm

Roberto Mancini’s men appear to have faltered a little of late and have surrendered their advantage at the top of the table to currently trail arch-rivals Manchester United by four points  – and are now available at 7/4 to win the title.

Chelsea have had their own troubles this season but have seemingly turned the corner now that Roberto Di Matteo has replaced Andre Villas-Boas in the hotseat, and have won four matches on the bounce.

However, recent results should not fool anybody into believing that Chelsea are the dominant force in this fixture – and it is reflected in the betting with City priced as 10/11 favourites, with Chelsea on offer at 3/1 and the draw at 13/5.

Di Matteo’s had success – granted – but two games were against lower league opposition, the 1-0 win over Stoke was secured against 10 men and the 4-1 victory over Napoli (after extra-time)  came about because the Italian side tried to protect a 3-1 first-leg advantage, and simply could not defend crosses.

City have been dominant at home (14 wins out of 14, 42 goals scored, six conceded) and will be no soft touch with balls into their box. They also have one of the best keepers around and goal threats all over the pitch.

Vincent Kompany is a major doubt while John Terry is definitely missing for the visitors so this is certainly looking like a match with plenty of goals (5/6 – Over 2.5 Goals), as has usually been the case in matches between the top five this season.

Spurs v Stoke 7:45pm

Tottenham’s title chances appear to have been scuppered by three successive defeats in the Premier League but they cannot afford to relax from here on in, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle harbouring hopes of a top-four finish.

Harry Redknapp’s side have been perhaps unfortunate in the last two league defeats – to Manchester United and Everton – and do have a tremendous record at White Hart Lane, suffering just two defeats.

Stoke have been poor on the road, particularly of late having not won away in the league since January 2 when beating Blackburn 2-0, while they have only scored nine goals away from the Britannia Stadium.

It is surprise to see Spurs priced as 2/5 favourites in the match betting with the draw on offer at 7/2 and the Potters at 8/1, still not quite big enough, but Tony Pulis’ side are a resilient bunch and can make life tough (10/3 Draw/Tottenham – Half-time/Full-time).

Everton v Arsenal 8pm

Everton have hit some decent form of late, having lost one of their last 11 matches, but welcome another hot side in Arsenal, who are chasing down third-placed Spurs following three successive Premier League wins.

The Toffees have hardly made Goodison Park a fortress this season with a record of six wins, five losses and three draws, but have recently turned over Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs.

David Moyes’ men are available at 21/10 in the match betting, while punters may also see value in the 11/8 offered about the Gunners, while the draw is priced at 9/4.

Everton are a funny bunch after suffering a recent 3-0 nightmare in the Merseyside derby before failing to make home advantage count in the FA Cup against Sunderland last weekend.

However, the Gunners have generally saved their better form for the Emirates and after already losing six times on the road this season, it could pay to take a chance on Everton.

QPR v Liverpool 8pm

Rangers have been in freefall for some time, having not won for two months when they beat Wigan 3-1, and now find themselves in the relegation zone, albeit just one point behind Bolton.

The Rs face a tricky run to the end of the season as they have to play all of the current top five in their last nine games, so there is little opportunity to pick and choose the matches to target.

Liverpool will be arriving at Loftus Road in good heart having won the Merseyside derby as well as booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, although they have only taken eight points from the last nine games in the Premier League.

Kenny Dalglish’s men are strong favourites at 4/5 in the match betting to improve those statistics, with the draw on offer at 13/5, but it could be worth taking the 7/2 about the Rs to beat Liverpool – following the abject performance on the Reds’ last trip away from Anfield, a 1-0 loss at Sunderland.

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Red Devils to get back on track

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The Premier League action continues on Sunday with two games that could have huge implications for the outcome of the season at both ends of the table with leaders Manchester United (4/7 Premier League outright) travelling to Molineux to face struggling Wolves while top four-chasing Newcastle host Norwich.

The early game sees relegation candidates Wolves take on United in what promises to be a superb game with both sides desperate for the points (Wolves 15/2, draw 4/1, United 4/11).

The Molineux side are currently on a shocking run of form having won only once in 2012 and, despite a change in manager, have continued to struggle. However, they beat United last season and are sure to take heart from that result going into Sunday’s game.

If they are to have any chance of winning, the performance of striker Kevin Doyle will be vital. The Irishman’s form has dipped this season but he appears to be motivated for this match after commenting in the press this week that he feels the ‘pain’ of his side’s recent poor form.

On the other hand, United are currently flying in the league and, after going ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, are now favourites to retain the Premier League. However, they were thoroughly outplayed against Athletic Bilbao in the week but will see their elimination from the Europa League as a positive, as it means they can fully concentrate on the title race.

Their player to watch will surely be their talismanic striker Wayne Rooney (8/11 to score at anytime). The England international struggled at the San Mames but still managed to get on the score sheet and will be looking to have a big impact on Sunday’s game.

United will be confident going into the game and, although Wolves will put up a good fight, the Red Devils should win comfortably.

The late game sees Newcastle take on Norwich in a match that could be a real cracker as both sides like to play attacking football (Newcastle 4/5, draw 11/4, Norwich 7/4).

After a brilliant start to the season, Alan Pardew’s men have struggled to keep pace with the top teams and haven’t won in their last four league games.

Key to them getting back on track on Sunday could be the performance of striker Papiss Cisse (5/2 to score at anytime) who has somewhat of a point to prove after being dropped for last Monday’s defeat at Arsenal.

The Senegalese international has struggled to adapt to life on Tyneside since his January move but is expected to start against Norwich and will be looking impress both his manager and the club’s fans.

Despite being expected to struggle at the start of the season, Norwich currently sit comfortably in mid-table, fourteen points clear of the relegation zone. They will be looking to claim all three points as a win could just about seal their Premier League future.

With Newcastle likely to have the majority of the ball, the performance of the Canaries’ skipper Grant Holt will be vital if they’re to win. The experienced targetman was expected to struggle with the pace of the league but has adapted well and Paul Lambert’s men now rely on his ability to maintain possession.

However, with home advantage, Newcastle should win, but it will certainly be close.

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Bayern to get back on track

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The Champions League continues on Wednesday with Bayern Munich aiming to bounce back from an indifferent domestic performance on Saturday when they travel to face Basel, while Marseille and Inter Milan clash in France for what should be the tighter of the two first-leg round of 16 ties.

FC Basel v Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich head into Wednesday’s round of 16 first-leg clash with Basel following a desperate performance against Freiburg on Saturday. The German giants ambled to 0-0 stalemate away to the Bundesliga’s bottom side. The result sees them slip to third and lose ground on pace-setters Borussia Dortmund but they are well-fancied to bounce back from the setback and 4/7 to return home from Switzerland with a victory.

Director of sport Christian Nerlinger described Saturday’s match as a “sobering experience” and it would be unwise to back against the players getting their season back on track at the expense of the Swiss champions.

But Basel will head into the match in confident mood and have within their ranks a potent attacking weapon. Alexander Frei tormented Bundesliga defences for three years with previous club Borussia Dortmund, and has netted five times already in the Champions League this season. At 15/8 the 32-year-old is good value to add to his tally and score any time during his re-acquaintance with old rivals.

The transfer of Xherdan Shaqiri from Basel to Bayern, effective from this summer, adds extra interest to this tie and, at 11/4 to score any time for Basel, the Kosovan-born Swiss international is worth consideration.

Marseille v Inter Milan

Elsewhere, Marseille’s home stalemate against Valenciennes on Saturday suggests they are not quite hitting their straps ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Inter Milan. The French outfit are 12 points adrift of pace-setters Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1 and they scraped through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, winning just one of their three home ties in Group F.

But in truth there is little between these two sides. Inter Milan’s 3-0 home defeat to Bologna on Friday re-affirmed their domestic shortcomings this term and, following their elimination from the Coppa Italia, the Champions League represents manager Claudio Ranieri’s last hope of delivering a trophy this season.

Marseille’s come-from-behind victory away at Borussia Dortmund sent them through to the last 16 and added momentum to their European campaign, while Inter Milan were undefeated away from home as they qualified for the last 16 as winners of Group B. Inter will prove difficult to beat, though Marseille’s home form in domestic competition has been good, with just one defeat in 13 and only eight goals conceded.

With this in mind, the draw at 9/4 looks good value, as does the 0-0 correct score selection at 11/2.

Andre Ayew and Loic Remy have netted twice in the Champions League for Marseille, though top domestic scorer Remy misses this clash with a hamstring injury. For Inter, Argentine marksmen Diego Milito is the danger-man, although he has found it difficult to replicate his domestic goal-scoring form in Europe, netting just once.

With this in mind, those who expect to see goals tomorrow evening might consider Marseille’s Ayew, who is not bad value at 11/2 to net first on Wednesday.

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Bayern still on track for historic treble

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Bayern Munich coach Louis van GaalBayern Munich are still on course to win the Treble after defeating Werder Bremen 4-0 to win the German Cup (Bayern 7/5 to win the Champions League).

An Arjen Robben penalty gave Bayern the lead against the cup holders, before goals from Ivica Olic, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger completed the rout.

Following the win, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal shot a warning to Jose Mourinho, ahead of the Champions League final: “We produced an impressive performance against a very good team, it was perhaps one of our best games of the season.

“Our victory was well deserved. On Wednesday we will start our preparations for the Champions League final.

“Jose Mourihno will have to have seen that we can produce some good football.”

The 4-0 win marked the 15th occasion that Bayern have won the German Cup and their eighth domestic Double.

Bayern have never won the Treble of domestic league and cup along with the Champions League, and could face an Inter side that might also be able to claim the unique honour (90 minutes betting Bayern 23/10 Draw 9/4 Inter 6/5) .

Jose Mourinho’s team won the Italian Cup with a victory over Roma and could complete a domestic Double by winning Serie A later today. Twice champions of Europe, Inter Milan have also never won a Treble.

Only five teams in history have swept the board in such a manner. Celtic were the first team to achieve the distinction in 1976 and have been followed by Ajax in 1972, PSV Eindhoven in 1988, Manchester United in 1999 and Barcelona in 2009.

There is also a personal honour at stake for Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. Whoever is victorious will join Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as the only managers to become champions of Europe with two different clubs.

Happel was the first coach to have done this, having won the European Cup with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburg in 1983. Hitzfeld followed him with wins for Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2001.

Louis van Gaal first won the Champions League as manager of Ajax in 1995, while Jose Mourinho won the trophy in 2004 with Porto.

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