Both teams to score in Donetsk and Borisov

Back both teams to score in the highlight of Tuesday`s UEFA Champions League program, the Group E game between Ukrainian and English table toppers Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea.

Trying to forecast the result of the UEFA Champions League match in Donetsk is a nightmare. Shakhtar is unbeaten in an incredible 33 competitive games, with its last meaningful defeat coming at home to Porto in November 2011. And it has won 30 of those 33 matches using normal-time scorelines.

Chelsea is on an impressive run of its own, winning each of its last six games to extend its undefeated sequence to eight matches. Roberto Di Matteo`s team has scored four goals in each of its last three victories, crushing Nordsjaelland 4-0, Norwich 4-1 and Tottenham 4-2.

One could make a case for any of the three possible results, with one`s view of the game boiling down to the value one places upon the Ukrainian Premier League in which Shakhtar is unbeaten in 28 matches and the winner of 21 in a row.

Steer clear of that migraine-inducing puzzle and simply bet on both Shakhtar and Chelsea finding the back of the net, an option that is available at odds of around 4-5. Both Dynamo Kyiv and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk scored in their recent games at Shakhtar so Chelsea, top of the English Premier League with 22 points, ought to score at least once in the Ukraine. And Shakhtar ought to have opportunities to score against a Chelsea defence that does not look on a par with its attack.

A similar play is the call for the crucial UEFA Champions League Group G match between Spartak Moskva and Benfica in Russia. It is a game that both sides need to approach with a positive attitude because of how the section is panning out.

It is a must-win match for Spartak following its 2-3 losses to Barcelona away and Celtic at home. And it is not far off being the same for Benfica because Group G is, effectively, a mini group because Barca may win all six of its games.

Both teams have rustled the onion bag in 12 of Spartak`s last 13 competitive matches and the Russian side has not kept a clean sheet in any of its last 14 meaningful games, while Benfica is a typical Portuguese team insomuch that it is better attacking than defending. Therefore, bet on both sides to score in the first of Tuesday`s eight UEFA Champions League matches at odds of around 8-11.

Finally, back BATE not to lost its UEFA Champions League Group F home game versus Valencia. BATE beat Bayern Munchen 3-1 in Borisov this month and bookmakers are underrating it and, also, overrating Valencia`s ability to win away from its Mestalla. Los Che have not won any of their last dozen road matches, losing their eight of their last nine and each of their last four. They are terribly bad away favourites.

With BATE around 13-5 to win and 5-2 to draw, the combined odds about Valencia not winning in Belarus are better than 8-11, which is a pretty good bet given the statistics.

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24/10/2012     © Frixo 2024