Football Championships Preview 4th Dec

Tuesday night is a funny one in the Champions League with few real issues to be settled. All eight sides to qualify from the four groups playing on this night have qualified so in some cases it is just a case of finding out who finishes third or fourth or who finishes first or second. Keep that in mind when betting and try keep the stakes a little lower than normal.

In Group A Porto have a one point lead over PSG and these two sides meet in Paris on matchday six. The French side are the 6/5 (BetVictor/william hill) favourites to win the game while the draw is 5/2 (general) and a Porto victory is 13/5 (general). I’m amazed to see the goal machine that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic available at evens (Coral). The Swede has netted 17 in his last 19 in all competitions and deserves to be closer to an anytime scorer level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, take the evens on offer. Also in this group is a game between Dinamo Zagreb and Dynamo Kiev. Kiev are the deserved 11/10 (william hill) favourites against a Zagreb side without any points. I could not be getting involved with the Russians though as this game is between two sides with nothing to play for.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must decide whether to take the chance to rest some players after complaints that his team was tired at the weekend. The Frenchman knows though he has to weigh this up alongside the chances of finishing top of qualifying. It is 7/4 (BetVictor) that the Gunners beat Olympiakos in Greece which looks much too short. The Greek side are also 7/4 (william hill) while the draw is 31/12 (pinnacle). In the other game in the group Schalke are away to Montpellier and the German side are 11/10 (William Hill) for victory here.

Into Group C and Malaga take on Anderlecht with the Spanish side secure in top slot they can afford to a rest of number key players. This should explain why they are a 23/20 (Blue Sq/888 Sport) chance though it might be worth a little investment that even with a few players rested they should have too much for the Belgian side. It was 3-0 to Malaga when these sides met in Belgium and home advantage could see the Spaniards home here.

The other game in this group pitches Milan and Zenit together and Milan are confirmed in second place which is why it might pay to side with the Russians here. ladbrokes are offering 6/5 on Zenit in the draw no bet market which looks decent as the Italians are neither in great form nor have much motivation to win this one. Zenit to a win to secure a Europa League slot.

Do Man City care about the Europa League or would they find it a massive burden? If we knew what they thought of this then we would know how to play the game with Dortmund. The German side are already confirmed at the top of the group with Real Madrid confirmed as runners-up. Dortmund are 11/10 (general) for the victory here while Man City are 53/21 (pinnacle) and the draw is 200/67 (Pinnacle). City might hand a run out to Scott Sinclair who has not had much gametime at all and if he starts quotes of 20/1 (paddy Power/188 Bet/william hill) on him to score first will not stick around so keep your eyes on those prices. The other game in the group has Real Madrid at home to Ajax and the Spaniards should have too much for the Dutch side even they do rotate a number of players. Kaka might be among those starting and if he does take the 14/5 (Blue SQ/888 Sport) on him to score anytime and a Madrid victory.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score anytime v Porto, evens (Coral)
SILVER: Zenit to beat Milan in draw no bet market, 6/5 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Malaga to beat Anderlecht, 23/20 (Blue Sq/888 Sport)

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04/12/2012     © Frixo 2024