Juventus - Chelsea 2.00 - 4.50
Without their main man Pirlo Juventus failed to break down a stubborn Lazio defence at the weekend. Pirlo will of course return for this crucial encounter. Vucinic is their only injury doubt.
Di Matteo, as expected, rested several of his usual starters against WBA. It back fired, but Mata, Oscar, A Cole, Ivanovic and Ramires will all be back tomorrow. J Terry is out injured. Quite possible that Di Matteo will keep F Torres on the bench. Chelsea could do with a strong striker, but also Juventus could use a powerful front man. Giovinco, Matri, Quagliarella, Vucinic and Bendtner are their options and one must say that they are better equipped offensively than Chelsea. 1X game.
Di Matteo, as expected, rested several of his usual starters against WBA. It back fired, but Mata, Oscar, A Cole, Ivanovic and Ramires will all be back tomorrow. J Terry is out injured. Quite possible that Di Matteo will keep F Torres on the bench. Chelsea could do with a strong striker, but also Juventus could use a powerful front man. Giovinco, Matri, Quagliarella, Vucinic and Bendtner are their options and one must say that they are better equipped offensively than Chelsea. 1X game.
Spartak Moscow - Barcelona 11.00 - 1.40
I noticed that Emenike was playing upfront for Spartak in their last league game together with Ari. Tomorrow they will be without the suspended Pareja and the injured Biyaletdinov, McGeady, Welliton and Parshivlyuk. Spartak have on going keeper problems. K Källström, the Swedish international midfielder, sat on the bench at the weekend, but I expect him back for this game.
The young Barcelona defender Bartra joins Alexis Sanchez on their injury list. We will finally see their two central defenders Pique and Puyol playing together again. Barcelona missed a lot of scoring opportunities away to Celtic, or the Celtic keeper played an outstanding game. You choose! Barcelona were in trouble at home to Spartak and I expect the Catalans to be 100% focused on tomorrow’s match, especially after their negative result vs. Celtic. I am not at all impressed by Spartak and Barca should win this fixture.
The young Barcelona defender Bartra joins Alexis Sanchez on their injury list. We will finally see their two central defenders Pique and Puyol playing together again. Barcelona missed a lot of scoring opportunities away to Celtic, or the Celtic keeper played an outstanding game. You choose! Barcelona were in trouble at home to Spartak and I expect the Catalans to be 100% focused on tomorrow’s match, especially after their negative result vs. Celtic. I am not at all impressed by Spartak and Barca should win this fixture.
Galatasaray - Manchester Utd 2.20 - 3.60
Should be an easy task for the home side. Unfortunately nothing is easy and straightforward for this Galatasaray side, but if they fail to defeat a bunch of United reserves then they will be famous for the very wrong reasons. Galatasaray could not win at home to ten man Cluj, they lost last week at home to a Turkish mid table side 1-3, but in between they played a strong game away to Cluj. J Elmander was back on the bench last week. The United coach will use fringe players , rest assured of that. You never know with this Gala side, but you just have to back them this time.
Nordsjälland - Shaktar Donetsk 10.65 - 1.38
Although Shaktar rather comfortably won their home fixture against this Danish side 2-0 I recall that Nordsjälland dominated the ball possession. This does not necessarily mean anything, but so far Nordsjälland have never been outplayed and certainly not in Copenhagen. This I state although they lost 0-4 vs. Chelsea. The last three Chelsea goals came very late in the game with Nordsjälland hitting the wood work before that. M Parkhurst, Mtiliga and M Bekkmann will all be part of the home squad tomorrow and they only miss the injured winger A Laudrup.
Shaktar were better than Chelsea and it was harsh for the Ukrainians losing the match 2-3. They were also the better side in their other away game at Juventus (1-1) They are in truth a great side, but worth backing as 1.38 winners? Not for me.
Shaktar were better than Chelsea and it was harsh for the Ukrainians losing the match 2-3. They were also the better side in their other away game at Juventus (1-1) They are in truth a great side, but worth backing as 1.38 winners? Not for me.
Bate Borisov - Lille 2.20 - 4.00
The Belo Russian league champions could still reach a place in the play offs, but they are almost secured a place in the Europa League. For Lille it is practically a dead rubber situation, as they are pointless in this group.
I watched Lille against Lorient last Friday. I had backed Lille, but I stopped watching the game after the first half. I was embarrassed. That is how unbelievably bad Lille were in the first half. They lost the match 0-2 and I believe their coach was more upset than I was.
How will Lille treat this match? The Lille coach will demand an instant reaction, or they will leave this game alone focusing on their match with Marseille this coming weekend? Well Lille have travelled with a strong squad. I only missed Balmont, Debuchy, Chedjou and De Melo.
This match will take place in Minsk and the pitch is supposed to be in very poor condition.
Bate will fight for prize money and for their chance of qualifying. Betting on the home win is the only sound choice, but I do not feel quite comfortable backing Bate. You know how it is. I backed Lille last Friday, they lost, then I go the other way, opposing them tomorrow. I do not want to double my losses
I watched Lille against Lorient last Friday. I had backed Lille, but I stopped watching the game after the first half. I was embarrassed. That is how unbelievably bad Lille were in the first half. They lost the match 0-2 and I believe their coach was more upset than I was.
How will Lille treat this match? The Lille coach will demand an instant reaction, or they will leave this game alone focusing on their match with Marseille this coming weekend? Well Lille have travelled with a strong squad. I only missed Balmont, Debuchy, Chedjou and De Melo.
This match will take place in Minsk and the pitch is supposed to be in very poor condition.
Bate will fight for prize money and for their chance of qualifying. Betting on the home win is the only sound choice, but I do not feel quite comfortable backing Bate. You know how it is. I backed Lille last Friday, they lost, then I go the other way, opposing them tomorrow. I do not want to double my losses
Valencia - Bayern Munich 3.72 - 2.20
I like this Valencia side. I know, they are often underperforming, but I like the way they change the pace of the game. It is done in an instant and they have the offensive players capable of threatening this Bayern side. Soldado, Jonas, Feghouli, to name a few. Gago and J Pereira will not play for Valencia tomorrow, but Cissokho will be available again.
Without both Ribery and Robben Bayern could only draw their away game at the weekend at Nurnberg. Robben remains sidelined, but Ribery will play tomorrow and fit again M Gomez is back, starting on the bench. I have no choice. The odds on the home win has to be backed. Over game? I think so.
Without both Ribery and Robben Bayern could only draw their away game at the weekend at Nurnberg. Robben remains sidelined, but Ribery will play tomorrow and fit again M Gomez is back, starting on the bench. I have no choice. The odds on the home win has to be backed. Over game? I think so.
Benfica - Celtic 1.52 - 8.20
When Cardozo entered the game in the second half Benfica became much more of an offensive force against Spartak. He scored, he missed a penalty and he made the difference. No guarantee, however, that he will be included in their starting line up tomorrow. The Benfica skipper Luisao will be back tomorrow, back from his suspension. Matic is considered a major injury doubt.
Celtic rested several of their Barcelona heroes at the weekend. Tomorrow S Brown, K Commons, J Ledley, G Hooper, Miku and G Samaras will all be in contention.
Benfica do not lose often in their European home fixtures and they are motivated favourites. Saying that I think the odds on the home win are way too short.
Celtic rested several of their Barcelona heroes at the weekend. Tomorrow S Brown, K Commons, J Ledley, G Hooper, Miku and G Samaras will all be in contention.
Benfica do not lose often in their European home fixtures and they are motivated favourites. Saying that I think the odds on the home win are way too short.
Cluj - Braga 3.06 - 2.50
I am at a loss here. Outstanding odds on the home win, but maybe the Cluj form is too poor. I was not happy with Braga two weeks ago. They just fell apart late on against Man United. My only explanation is their fear of Van Persie. He came on in the second half and turned the game in favour of United. It is just that Braga were 1-0 up and they should have done better.
According to reports Cluj were really poor last week going down to Astra in a home fixture. New match, new circumstances and if nothing else will help me, I will back the better odds.
According to reports Cluj were really poor last week going down to Astra in a home fixture. New match, new circumstances and if nothing else will help me, I will back the better odds.
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