Glasgow Rangers are having a difficult task in front of themselves, because they require a win against the English giants. In their last match Rangers managed to make 2 shots towards United`s goal. They miss creativity and determination. They won only 1 out of last 14 Champions League matches.
United great
United have great records in the Champions League, and they require only a point in this match. They won 8 out of 9 away matches in the CL, so they can definetly hope for some points in this match. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher, and Darron Gibson are not part of the travelling squad. But, Wayne Rooney is opted to start the match, he will be most hungry for a goal in this match.
United has a quest
United have not conceded a goal in this Champions League, they play great and dominate this group. I think that they will go for a win in this match, and that they will achieve a minimum victory. They are more than capable of stopping Ranger`s attacks, and I think that there will not be many goals in this match.
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Prediction:
Tip: Under 2.5
Odd: 1.91
Bookie: William Hill
Tottenham Hotspur is placed in the 6th spot (22 points, 6W – 4D – 4L) in English Premier League. They are coming back to win the North London Derby against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. This fact didn’t happen since 1993. I’m quite sure weekend has been long for Tottenham’s supporters and even the players.
Spurs are being very unstable this season in Premier League, but this fact is not new for Tottenham. I always think that Tottenham and Atletico Madrid are the most unpredictable teams around the world. One day they win against Arsenal away from home, other day they are not able to win Sunderland at home. Simply Spurs are non-logic team.
Anyway they stay involved in great run in Champions League. They made two excellent matches at home against Twente FC (4-1) and Internazionale FC (3-1). Gareth Bale has revealed as the best sensation in Europe this season so far.
Spurs are plenty of injury players, so I expect something similar as the line-up in last weekend.
I’m expecting something like this: Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Jenas, Modric, Rafael VdV, Lennon, Gareth Bale; Pavliuchenko (Crouch).
Thomas in Danger
Werder Bremen is placed in the 12th spot (15 points, 4W – 3D – 6L) in German Bundesliga. Werder Bremen stays in crisis, clearly in crisis. They played an important game last Saturday against Schalke and they were trashed (4-0) away from home. They have conceded 10 goals in their last two away games.
Thomas Schaaf (coach) is having a lot of problems with injuries and he isn’t being able to make good football and manage good results in Bundesliga and Champions League.
Werder Bremen has a lot of defensive problems. They conceded 4 goals against Internazionale FC, they also conceded 6 goals against VfB Sttutgart and finally they conceded 4 goals against poor Schalke this season.
Werder Bremen has a ton of injured players. Mainly they will have Claudio Pizarro out of 2 weeks more. He is their best striker and possibly the best player in the squad.
I expect something similar as the team which made a disaster this weekend: Wiese; Fritz, Mertesacker, Prödl, Pasanen; Frings, Bargfrede, Wesley, Hunt , Marin; Almeida.
Decisive for Spurs
This is a crucial match for Spurs. They will qualify if they are able to win Werder Bremen. This fact would be wonderful news for Tottenham’s home crowd which is thirsty and hungry of successes in last decades. Obviously, they are coming back from an emotional game against their eternal rivals and maybe they may be a little unfocused, but they can’t afford losing these points and have to play in the last fixture of the group against dangerous Twente FC away from home.
On the other hand, Werder Bremen will have to play a tight and important game against St. Pauli. They need those three points and I don’t think they play at full strength on Wednesday against Spurs when their chances to progress to the next round are minimal.
I think Spurs’ victory is highly probable and although the odds on AH (-1) are not quite appealing, I think they are going to win, but I’m not going to risk in another higher handicap because Spurs is capable of anything in this World. I expect a pretty open match. Spurs and Werder Bremen are offensive minded teams which are capable to score several goals in any matches.
This is a great chance to catch foe Spurs side and manage the dreamt qualification.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-1)
Odd: 1.78
Bookie: Victor Chandler
Braga is not playing well at all. They’ve done their work in CL by knocking Partizan out over 2 legs in the race for the third spot even though they might even be worse than the Serbian side. Braga has 5 losses and 5 wins in the last 10 matches, which isn’t too great of an achievement though. They’re a mediocre side full of Brazilians so maybe they’re where they’re right now, as those are all attractive fast-paced players, but their playing style can often be damaging to the team. I think they won’t be able to do much in this match, but we are yet to see.
Something to prove
The guests are obvious favorites here, mainly cause they’re first in this group and are fighting to remain there just like in the EPL. They’ve lost to Tottenham at home over the weekend are now probably mad cause of that, and Braga might be the perfect target for relieving their anger on. They don’t even need to win but their young players and the ones not playing too often will be seeking their chance to prove themselves so I expect goals by then. Wenger will mix his squad as usual but I’m not sure of the lineup yet.
Goals
Although Arsenal’s safe, I think they won’t be hesitating too much and be playing like it’s an exhibition match, and despite they won’t be fielding the best squad, they’re super-strong even if they use their B lineup, so Braga will certainly have a tough job. I expect to see goals in Portugal tomorrow, so my advice for this match is the over without a doubt.
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Prediction:
Tip: Over 2.75
Odd: 2.13
Bookie: Canbet
Chelsea is cruising so far in Group F, winning 4 out of 4 games so far, scoring 12 goals and conceding only 2. They have won all their games by at least two goal difference and they are 99% qualified, needing only a point tonight to be sure. Still, they are in a bad run after a good start of the season and they need to bounce back as soon as possible. They are coming after 2 consecutive losses in Premier League, against Birmingham and Sunderland, not being able to score in none of these games, despite missing many chances. Lampard, Alex and Terry are still injured, but I doubt there defense will be put under any trouble tonight.
Very poor
Zilina is just one of the teams who reached the group stage due to Platini’s permissive system towards the clubs from the Eastern block. The truth is, CL is a way to big hat for this team. They don’t have the quality to play here and this was proven 4 times already, during their 4 group games played so far. They managed a decent performance at Marseille, losing only 0-1 and maybe deserving a little more, but they were trashed in all the other games. In their last one, they have lost 0-7 at home against the same Marseille, after a terrible performance. Their only purpose here is to allow the other teams to boost their goal difference, seriously.
Home win
Chelsea is in big need of a positive result and Zilina looks like the perfect victim. As I previously mentioned, the win is not mandatory for qualifying further but more to build the players’ morale. The class difference is huge here abd the Slovakian players will most likely have shaky legs tonight in London. The AH is big but it is more than realistic. A 3-0 Chelsea is the least I expect tonight, therefore backing the -2 handi looks like a good idea.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-2)
Odd: 1.96
Bookie: 188Bet
partak Moscow are currently on second place in theire group with same points as theire todays opponent Marseille and have advantage in standings because of theire surprise win in France 1:0 in first round.That’s why they can be satisfied with a draw in todays match because with that outcome they will save advantage in mutual matches and in last round will decide by theire own in away game with already written off Zilina.They are on 4th place in Russia and CL is gone for next year and in last round lost from CSKA after leading 1:0 and having player more.That is probably disappointing but also we must take into consideration that theire mind was more on todays game.
Team in raising form
After disappointing loss in first round and expected loss from Chelsea in away game Marseille come back in fight for second place in this group with two wins over Zilina from which away win was very impressive.To win 7:0 in away game in CL is not easy against any team not matter how weak they are.Also in French liga they have only one loss in last 10 rounds in away game against very good this year PSG.They are coming from great away win this Saturday against Touluse 1:0 in game where they also missed penalty.
Must win game for Marseille
This is very important game for both teams in fight for second place and ticket for knock out stages. Guests are better team according to me and theire form is raising.They are also motivated because of first round loss at home and also they must win this game to not get in situation to depend on Zilina attitude in last round.Only advantage for hosts will be home field and Russian cold wheather but since they can live with a draw I will exclude theire win in this match.Simply I can’t see theire second win against Marseille in group.My choise is draw or Marseille win and also good option for this game is under.
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Prediction:
Tip: X2
Odd: 1.56
Bookie: Ladbrokes
The Nerazzurri have finally found some decent form, losing only once in the last 9 encounters, while at home they won three and draw once (10-1 the score line).
With last season`s key striker, Diego Milito, missing out with a groin problem, Inter have been heavily relying on Samuel Eto`o`s performances. Moved in his favourite position, the Cameroonian has scored 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions.
Important missings
Tottenham share the lead alongside Inter with four points each, a bright start at their maiden Champions League campaign and they are on a good run of three winning games, but they will have to face their toughest test so far without their most important players: Rafael van der Vaart is suspended, Jermain Defoe is injured, while Ledley King is also out with a groin injury.
The Spurs have been a hard nut to crack this season, losing only three of their 13 competitive games (all of them by the goal margin), but their defense was more vulnerable, as they only kept 2 clean sheets all season. With King out and an expected defensive pair: Gallas-Bassong, Eto`o should put a huge threat on Spurs` net.
Inter have not scored even once when Eto`o has failed to find the target, so taking a bet on the prolific striker to score anytime seems like the most logical bet.
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Prediction:
Tip: Samuel Eto’o to score anytime
Odd: 2.30
Bookie: Unibet
Probable starting eleven: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Sneijder, Stankovic; Chukwuma, Eto`o, Coutinho. Inter is in very difficult situation. Some of the key players are injured. Coach Rafa Benitez will be without Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso, Mancini and McDonald Mariga. The first two are very important and their absence is big handicap for Inter. Three other players are doubtfull: Goran Pandev, Thiago Motta and Jonathan Biabiany. Coach Benitez must put one relatively unknown player in the attack. I am speaking about Chukwuma, even the other player Coutinho is also young and inexperienced.
In good form
Probably starting eleven: Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Bale; Modric; Crouch. Tottenham is currently in good form. They managed to beat Twente in second round of Champions League. They are also good in domestic Premier League, winning the last two games against Aston Villa and Fulham. Coach Redknapp also have some problems with injured players. Out of the team are Ledley King, Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson. Plus Rafael van der Vaart is suspended after he received a red card in the last game with Twente.
Tottenham can stay unbeaten
I think Tottenham can stay unbeaten in Milano. They are in excellent form, beating the last three matches. The players confidence is surely very high at the moment. Even Inter is playing good too, I think their attack is not too strong. Two important players will miss the game, Pandev and Milito. Now Benitez has only Eto`o as experienced striker. Both Chukwuma and Coutinho are young players. They are maybe good, but experience is also important in such games. That is why I am expecting Tottenham to stay unbeaten in Italy.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 3.87
Bookie: Pinnacle
Lyon is just 14th in the league, but are now rapidly improving their form, and will look for a good display on their home ground. However, they are cruising in the Champions League and are much more better in Europe. I think they can do good today, despite missing Jeremy Toulalan.
Benfica weakened by transfers
The Benfica from last season was great, but now they are just a shade of that team. They are having problems with teams in their domestic league, what was not a problem in recent history. They sold Di Maria and Ramires, the best players they had. And also, they will miss Coentrao, Cardozo, Amorim and Roderick, while Saviola is doubtful.
Lyon have better team
Lyon are a team that plays good on home turf, and seeing Benfica playing less offensive without players like Di Maria and Cardozo, they will hardly have a go at the goal. That is why I think Lyon will dominate and go for a win which would certainly give them a big lift.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-0.25)
Odd: 1.86
Bookie: Betsson
Lyon is just 14th in the league, but are now rapidly improving their form, and will look for a good display on their home ground. However, they are cruising in the Champions League and are much more better in Europe. I think they can do good today, despite missing Jeremy Toulalan
Benfica weakened by transfers
The Benfica from last season was great, but now they are just a shade of that team. They are having problems with teams in their domestic league, what was not a problem in recent history. They sold Di Maria and Ramires, the best players they had. And also, they will miss Coentrao, Cardozo, Amorim and Roderick, while Saviola is doubtful.
Lyon have better team
Lyon are a team that plays good on home turf, and seeing Benfica playing less offensive without players like Di Maria and Cardozo, they will hardly have a go at the goal. That is why I think Lyon will dominate and go for a win which would certainly give them a big lift.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-0.25)
Odd: 1.86
Bookie: Betsson
Twente is playing excellent, and their only recent defeat came against Tottenham on the road in the last CL round. They’re playing terrific in their domestic league, and on the home turf in general as they managed to get one point against current European champs Inter. Twente is no longer led by McLaren but is playing similar to the last season – attractive and for goals. Coach Michel Preud’homme didn’t have to change much in order to have an excellent squad that’s getting good results. Some of their most famous players are Danny Landzaat, Luuk De Jong and Austrian Marc Janko. I think Twente has got an advantage here cause of the home field and believe they will score the first goal in this match.
Not doing too well
Unlike the Dutch champs, Werder isn’t doing that well this season as their record in the last 10 matches is 3-3-4. Werder’s squad recorded a narrow win against a much weaker Freiburg side and that can be the only thing that could boost their atmosphere before this game. They’re arriving to Enschede with a hope of winning the match and taking one of the spots in the group that would help them remain in Europe. They will be attacking during the entire match surely and eventually I believe they will score but will that be enough for a win, it’s hard to say.
There will be goals
Both Twente and Werder are known to be teams that are always going for more goals, and out of the last 20 matches of these two teams played this season in all competitions, only 4 matches had under 2.5 goals in it, 2 for each of the sides. My advice here is to try with the over as I have a hard time deciding on the winner and give a lot more chances to the goals. Good luck!
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Prediction:
Tip: Over 3
Odd: 2.19
Bookie: Canbet
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