MARSEILLE value to get something at home to injury-hit Dortmund

Chelsea have already booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and they can confirm their finish as the Group E leaders if they see off Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday night and they are 2/9 (GENERAL) to do so. I can not be siding with the Blues in this form though nor would I want to be taking them on with the Romanian visitors.

The key game in this section is between Schalke and Basel with the Swiss side holding the advantage as they just need to avoid defeat to progress. Bookmakers make the Germans 3/4 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes/betway) favourites for the game with Basel 17/4 (bet365) and the draw an option at 3/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR). The best bet though is taking Julian Draxler to score at anytime at 12/5 (SKYBET/STAN JAMES) as he has netted two of the four goals Schalke have scored so far in the group stages.

We could be left with a remarkable situation in Group F where three sides finish the campaign on twelve points with one of these sides unable to progress. It is Napoli who are in the most danger as they must beat Arsenal and hope that Dortmund do not defeat Marseille. If the German side do beat the French team (and they are 9/20-GENERAL) to do so then it will come down to a three team mini-league meaning Napoli must defeat Arsenal by three goals. Dortmund are in the middle of huge injury crisis and lost at home to Leverkusen at the weekend and it might be worth a small interest that Marseille can cause them problems here. The French side have sacked their manager and sometimes when a side has nothing to lose they play with more freedom, so take Marseille/draw double chance at 19/10 (GENERAL).

Atletico Madrid have wrapped up Group G and sit seven points clear so the battle for second is between Zenit and Porto. The Russian side have a one point advantage going into the last round of fixtures and hold the better head-to-head record meaning Porto have to win in Atletico and hope Zenit fail to beat Austria Vienna.

Zenit are as short as 4/6 (william hill) for the victory though seeing as they failed off to see the Austrian team in Russia I can not back them at these prices. Those who think Vienna can spring the shock victory can get 5/1 (GENERAL) and the draw is 16/5 (GENERAL). Porto are 27/10 (bet365) to get the victory they need in Spain becoming only the second side from Portugal in eight attempts to win at the Calderon. Atletico are 6/5 (GENERAL) to continue their form though they do not need to win so the price does not inspire me.

In Group H it is a straight shootout between Milan and Ajax at the San Siro for the second spot with Barcelona already guaranteed a place in the last 16. Bookmakers make the Italian team the 4/6 (GENERAL) favourites as they look to extend a five game unbeaten run in all competitions. Ajax meanwhile have won each of their last six including a victory over Barcelona last time in Europe and are 5/1 (GENERAL) the victory. As the draw would see Milan through the Dutch team must come here to attack and this suits the counter-attacking pace of Mario Balotelli who has scored four times in the last three Milan games. Odds of 6/5 (GENERAL) on him to score anytime look worth playing.

The other game in the group is from the Camp Nou where Barcelona are 2/11 (GENERAL) to see off Celtic though the Glasgow side can take heart from two draws from their last four.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Marseille/Draw double chance v Dortmund, 19/10 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Mario Balotelli to score anytime v Ajax, 6/5 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Julian Draxler to score anytime v Basel, 12/5 (SKYBET/STAN JAMES)

Go To bet365

#Ad

01/12/2013     © Frixo 2026