Valencia – Elche

Valencia hosts Elche in the ninth round of the Spanish La Liga / Primera Division.

Valencia after takeover from billionaire Peter Lim started playing like crazy this season, real good football and great offensive prowess (even if there were no big transfers). Alcacer and the rest of the guys reached as high as first place but what happened last round was an absolute shock … not only it was the first defeat of the season for Valencia … it was a 0-3 disaster vs. the lowly Deportivo La Coruna, right after Valencia beat Atletico Madrid 3-1. Ok it was a harsh score in La Coruna but 0-3 is 0-3. For today Valencia has 2 absences: Feghouli and Gil. Also Negredo and Vaquero are doubts.


Elche on the 18th place, very bad football played lately … 4 losses and 1 draw in last five games and the draw was vs. Almeria. Also Elche lost 3 of the 4 games by at least 1 goal handicap. Last round Elche lost 0-2 at home to Sevilla, I rate Sevilla as similar team to Valencia but a little bit worse. For this game vs. Valencia Elche is pretty free from injuries, but Aaron will not play and Jimenez will be assessed close to game time. Elche played a little bit better away from home this year than at home.

For sure Valencia will be very concentrated to recover after the humiliation against Deportivo La Coruna and I am sure they will get back to winning ways. If you looked at how Valencia played this season and considering the defeat was unlucky, I think it is safe to consider it an accident. Elche is in very poor form at the moment, they are losing games big and my tip will be a Valencia win with a 1,5 goal handicap. Valencia won all home games this season and all 4 wins were with a 1 goal handicap (12-2 goal difference). With extra motivation today, Valencia has every chance to get another handicap win vs. an inferior and out of form opposition. I must say I trust this bet a lot and I am surprised / enchanted by the odds. Time will tell, but my correct score prediction is: Valencia – Elche 3-0. High stakes for me.

Pick: Valencia (-1,5)
Odds: 2.22
Pick: PSG to win to nil
Odds: 2.10

Fulham – Charlton

A rejuvenated Fulham side will take on playoff hopefuls Charlton Athletic at Craven Cottage in what should be a close game.

Fulham had a horrific start to the season, absolutely unbelievable considering the talent they have in the squad, but after the sacking of Felix Magath the team started to play football again. Fulham has 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in the last 5 matches and we can add a 2-1 League Cup win over Doncaster as well. Bryan Ruiz is back in the squad and banging in the goals, so the hosts will try to keep up the good run today.

Charlton`s current 7th place standings is a little bit surprising to me, we`re talking about a team that barely escaped relegation last season. However, the visitors made some great signings in the off-season, real quality players, and the results are not random. Charlton is the type of team that is very hard to break down and to defeat, proof of that being the fact that they have just 1 loss! However, they lack killer instinct and are finding it hard to win games themselves – 7 draws so far for Charlton in 13 matches.

Bet on Fulham – Charlton Athletic with the best Championship odds offered by Pinnacle.

Team news & lineups:

Fulham might be without Hoogland, while Charlton will miss Buyens and possibly top scorer Vetokele. Otherwise both teams are healthy and ready to go.

Fulham: Bettinelli – Zverotic, Bodurov, Burn, Stafylidi -, Rodallega, Hyndman, Christensen, Williams, Ruiz – McCormack

Charlton Athletic: Henderson – Wilson, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins – Bulot, Solly, Jackson, Cousins Moussa, – Vetokele (Tucudean)

This analysis is as straightforward as it gets for me. Though Fulham is heavily favored and the odds on them are dropping, I can see a draw happening. Charlton is so hard to beat this season and Fulham, though improving, is far from playing top football, they still need more time to fully recover. I am a little bit concerned that Fulham needs a win and must go for it, but of course this pick can`t be without some risk. Charlton`s stat line analysis could not be more relevant, 7 draws in 13 games and we still get odds of almost 4.00 for them to finish tied. My tip is the draw. Prediction: Fulham – Charlton Athletic 1-1.

Pick: Draw
Odds: 3.79

Celtic - Astra

The Hoops have claimed four points from their opening two Europa League games and our tipster is backing the home side to pick up maximum points against Astra on Thursday evening

Celtic have made a solid start to their Europa League campaign and Ronny Deila's men will be confident of claiming all three points when they take on Romanian minnows Astra in Glasgow on Thursday night.

The Hoops have often struggled to produce their best form thus far this term but were impressive in a 5-0 demolition of Ross County at the weekend and Deila will be hoping for more of the same from his side on Thursday evening.



Celtic are warm favourites to follow up on a 1-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb earlier this month by taking all three points against the Romanians, with William Hill offering 4/6 (1.67) for a home win, while the same firm make the visitors a 9/2 (5.50) chance in Glasgow. The draw is chalked up at 13/5 (3.60) with William Hill ahead of Thursday's tussle.

Kris Commons scored the only goal of the game when Celtic defeated Dinamo Zagreb and the 31-year-old midfielder can be backed at 4/1 (5.0) to break the deadlock on Thursday.

Better value, though, may be found in backing Commons to score at any time in a win for the Hoops at 5/2 (3.50) - a special "headline offer" from William Hill.

Ronny Deila's men have won four of their last five matches in all competitions - and led by half-time in all of those victories.



An early goal against Astra may well set the Scots on the road to victory on Thursday and the 7/4 (2.75) quote from William Hill for the Hoops to lead at both half-time and full-time certainly appears to be generous here.

William Hill offer just 3/4 (1.75) that Ronny Deila's men find the net during the first half, while the same firm offer a tempting 17/20 (1.85) that the home side score two or more goals against Astra on Thursday.

However, given Celtic's record of coming out of the blocks quickly in recent weeks, the 7/4 (2.75) quote from William Hill for the Hoops to lead at both half-time and full-time is too big to ignore and should be snapped up accordingly by punters ahead of Thursday's clash.

BEST BET
Celtic to lead at half-time and full-time at 7/4 (2.75)

Ludogorets – Basel

Ludogorets – Basel



Ludogorets Razgrad hosts FC Basel in the 3rd round of the Champions League Group B. It is a very important event that could decide the team which finishes third … but also if Basel wins, the Swiss team will have a huge chance to finish second. Ludogorets has zero points, Basel has 3 points.

Champions League newcomers Ludogorets are a pleasant surprise so far even if they lost both matches … they lost 2-1 vs. Liverpool and vs. Real both times via late goals and especially vs. Liverpool they deserved a draw. Hosts have impressed thanks to determination, fighting spirit and a good discipline and organization. Last match for Ludogorets was a 3-1 win vs. Haskovo on Friday but they are not having the best period in the league (won only 6 of 12 games). Bulgarians will be missing Barthe today and Zlatinsky will see a late fitness test.

Bet on Ludogorets Razgrad – FC Basel with the best Champions League asian handicap odds at Sbobet.

Unfortunately Basel has to deal with some injury problems in front of this important game … Ivanov, Safari and Dias will be missing … Samuel, Streller and Schar are questionable. But this is not something new for them and they dealt with the problems very well this season. Basel lost the first game vs. Real easily but won 1-0 vs. Liverpool in a great performance, not giving them a chance. Basel also had a great day in the last game Saturday, a 1-0 win in a very hard away game at Young Boys.

Ludogorets played well so far but this looks like one of those situations that end up anti-climatic … everybody expects Ludogorets to get at least  a point after their good performances, but they meet an experienced team that has a huge motivation to win. It doesn’t matter how good Ludogorets played with Liverpool and Real, this is a different game and they again meet a better team. Basel knows how to deal with these kind of matches and I bet they can win this game with just a little bit of luck. Injuries are a little concern, but team news are not so bad, Basel dealt with much more missing players recently … and Streller, Schar and Samuel are expected to start even if they are doubtful. Last season Basel destroyed Ludogorets in the Champions League playoffs (4-2, 2-0) and Ludogorets did not improve so much to be considered Basel’s equal as the odds suggest … my tip will be Basel to win +0 asian handicap (draw no bet). Betting on experience here … and I am very confident that we will not lose the pick … at worst a void bet. Correct score prediction: Ludogorets Razgrad – FC Basel 1-2.

Pick: FC Basel (+0 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.91

Roma v Bayern Munich Prediction 21st October 2014

Roma v Bayern Munich Prediction 21st October 2014

20th October 2014 / lee

Roma v Bayern Munich Champions League, 21st October

Manchester City fans will have an eye on this one out in Rome. A heavyweight clash in the Champions League on Tuesday and City will probably be hoping that Pep Guardiola’s men produce a victory. Bayern Munich are favourites for the match, and at some good value too at Even money, but Roma are a dogged side who don’t give too much away. Roma go a 5/2 underdogs with the draw at 11/4.

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Roma v Bayern Munich Betting Tips

Both would be happy enough with a draw probably, as it would keep them on track for the round of sixteen. That won’t help Man City though. The last time they met in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico, there was a classic. Bayern went 2-0 up in eh game, but then a rousing comeback from the home side saw the Italians win 3-2. That was in the 2010/11 group stage. Roma posted a 5-1 home win over CSKA Moscow to start this campaign with, before Francesco Totti rescued a point for them at Manchester City. They hold a pretty decent W7 D1 L3 home record against sides from the Bundesliga, and with their tight defence and Serie A form (winning six of seven) then they could give the Bavarians a tough night.

You would expect a result to happen, because Roma have drawn just one of their last 15 matches against German opposition, taking seven wins.  The Giallorossi have won five out of five at home in all competitions this season, so aren’t going to be a pushover, even though they go as underdogs on home soil. They certainly have a very solid defence and it is something which could force this game to go under 2.5 goals. It is likely to be tight and Roma can dig in, perhaps also adding a bit of value to a draw/Bayern Munich half time/full time bet. But can they get enough of the ball to do any damage to the Germans?

No side has produced more passes and no side has produced more touches in the opposition box than Bayern Munich have done over the opening two rounds of this season’s Champions League. They enjoy possession. They are currently on an eleven match winning streak since they lost to Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup back in August. That’s form for you. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are the obvious marks in the First Goalscorer market for this one, but they may have to be patient. They will knock the ball around and it may not be till the second half that they really start to create some chances. Bayern have won their last three Champions League games against Italian teams, keeping a clean sheet in the last two and their overall away record against Serie A opposition reads W6 D3 L9.

Who will win – Roma v Bayern Munich Predictions

Bayern Munich’s two wins in the group have both been 1-0 victories so far. They have firepower, but they also know how to just do enough. Would expect this game to be tight in Rome, but Bayern have more than enough to take the win. They are screaming value at a -1 Asian Handicap which should be jumped all over. Patience will be the key for them, but they are in form and have more match winners available than Roma and a 1-0 Correct Score on the away side looks tempting too.

19Oct Cagliari vs Sampdoria

Cagliari had an impressive game away to Inter three weeks ago when they have won with a 4:1 result, however failed to build up on that match in their next game against Verona in which they were defeated with a narrow 1:0 result. Only goal was scored just two minutes before the full time whistle.

However, it has to be said that the draw would have been much more fairer result, as the players of Cagliari did more on the field for ninety minutes, holding the ball more to their feet and being more dangerous in front of opponents goal. Seems that they can’t find stability in their performances, having just one victory, a draw and four defeats in first six rounds. Important defenders will miss today’s game as the hosts can’t count at Luca Rossettini (6/0) who is suspended, while Luca Ceppittelli (6/0) is also likely to miss this match with an injury. Midfielder Sebastian Eriksson is out from the start of the season, while the center of defense will be occupied by two players who didn’t play this season yet, one of them making a Serie A debut.

Sampdoria, on the other hand, continued the season with another positive result, this time coming from a 1:0 home victory against Atalanta two weeks ago. Only goal was scored in 35th minute by Gabbidiani in not that open game, but in a game where the hosts surely showed more, even though it wasn’t an impressive performance from them either.

However, everybody was happy with the performance and the result, as the team has earned their third consecutive victory and with 4-2-0 record are now at third position, just behind Juventus and Roma, sides that are surely the most quality ones in Italy. In front of this game, they want to keep their undefeated streak and hope for another three pointer. Central defender Vasco Regini (3/0) is still out, while the visitors also can’t count at defender Alessio Romagnoli (3/0) and midfielder Nenad Krsticic (3/0), all being injured.

Cagliari have lost their last three home matches in Serie A.
Sampdoria have won their last three matches in Serie A.
Hosts will have problems in the defense against a very solid Sampdoria. Moreover, they are in a poor form and can’t be anywhere close to favorites against a side that has four victories and only two draws at the start of the season.

Bet: Sampdoria +0.25 Asian handicap @ 1.77

Ukraine – Macedonia

Ukraine – Macedonia


Ukraine hosts Macedonia after the hosts got a big 2-0 win in Belarus. Euro 2016 group C also contains Slovakia and Spain as qualification contenders. It was a great recovery for Ukraine to beat Belarus in a hard road game … in the first match in the group Ukraine lost 1-0 at home to Slovakia, a surprising result because Ukraine has become a top team recently.

If you Look at Ukraine-s matches since 2013 the stats are excellent … 14 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses … almost qualified for the World Cup after 2-0 and 0-3 with France. Ukraine`s defense is top class, they have kept a clean sheet in 11 of the last 14 matches and also have the talent to score the goals they need to win. Hosts are a really good team right now in Europe and today in L’viv they will not only fight for 3 crucial points but also for the country which is in a bad situation as we all know.



There is no other way to put it except to say that Macedonia is playing horrible football and has a really poor team, no chance for them to hope for Euro 2016. Visitors won 3-2 at home vs Luxembourg in the 92nd minute and not only that, but the statistics were dead even in terms of goal chances. It was first win for Macedonia in 6 games … they lost over 60% of their last 16 games. Here are some other stats: Macedonia did not win away from home since 2011 … last 17 matches away from home where 12 losses and 5 draws. Macedonia’s task today will be made even harder by the losses of Ibraimi and Demiri after the game with Luxembourg … 2 very important players for them.

Stats are not everything but looking at the above presented facts it is hard to argue against a solid Ukrainean win today. And besides stats, whoever watched Ukraine knows that this team can play football. There are a lot of differences between the two teams and all of them favor Ukraine. I expect Ukraine to win and cover the handicap … odds are they will not concede a goal (have an air tight defense) and over the 90 minutes there is every chance they will get at least two goals. My tip will be Ukraine to win and cover the 1,25 goal asian handicap. Correct score prediction: Ukraine – Macedonia 2-0. I trust this prediction with maximum stakes.

Pick: Ukraine (-1,25 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.85

Romania – Hungary

Romania and Hungary will meet in one of the biggest rivalries of International football with the game taking plays Saturday night in Bucharest.

The hosts took home a great result from the first group game, beating favorites Greece 1-0 away despite playing almost a half with 10 men. Despite not having too much quality in the team, Romania looks pretty good right now, they are a disciplined, organized side under coach Victor Piturca and they have the game to also produce an offensive threat against lesser opponents. The defense however is the main asset for the home side.

Hungary appointed inexperienced manager Pal Dardai after a 1-2 home loss to Northern Ireland in the first group game and this will be Dardai`s first game in charge. The Hungarians are in a really bad spot right now, they lack quality and do not have too much tactical consistency either, the loss against Northern Ireland was not such a big surprise and honestly this side does not look able to challenge too many teams right now. Hungary`s defense is absolutely atrocious.

Team news & lineups

Romania has two major problems – they miss captain and main striker Marica and they do not have a single natural right-back in the squad. Hungary will be boosted by Szalai`s return to the national team.

Romania: Tătăruşanu – Chiricheş, Grigore, Goian, Raţ – Hoban, Pintilii – Torje, Sânmărtean, Tanase – Stancu

Hungary: Kiraly – Korcsmar, Kadar, Juhasz – Lovrencsics, Varga, Kalmar, Stieber, Dzsudzsak – Nikolic – Szalai

These two sides met one year ago at the same venue in the qualifications for World Cup 2014 and Romania had a very easy time, winning 3-0. Honestly I can`t see a different scenario this time around. The hosts might not be world beaters but they are a decent team, they play well at home and they meet a clearly inferior opponent which is in an obvious crisis. If Greece could not create goal scoring opportunities against Romania at home I doubt Hungary can do much today, while on the other end Romania should really score at least twice against a horrible Hungarian defense. I reckon it will be very important that Romania has stability on the bench, while Hungary will take the pitch with an inexperienced coach at his first match in charge. Fan support should also help the hosts, the atmosphere is expected to be very exciting.

All in all my tip is Romania to win and cover the 1 goal asian handicap, backing up the success in Greece. The handicap win will not be a walk in the park, that`s true, but as long as we don`t lose in case of a 1 goal Romania win, I reckon it`s a good bet considering the projected ROI. Odds are dropping on this bet and for good reason. Prediction: Romania – Hungary 2-0.

Pick: Romania (-1 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 2.55

Turkey-Czech Republic

As the home team enter a high-pressure game without a number of key players, Al Hain-Cole expects an open match to reap plenty of goals against Pavel Vrba's men

Having crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to Iceland in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier, Turkey will be anxious to get up and running when they welcome the Czech Republic to Istanbul on Friday.

Fatih Terim’s men have won their last three consecutive games on home turf and are 23/20 (2.15) favourites with William Hill to pick up a priceless three points here.

However, their opponents arrive at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in high spirits after overcoming Netherlands 2-1 in their opener and are on offer at 5/2 (3.50) to come out on top once again.



The Crescent Stars have not drawn any of their last 13 fixtures but you can get odds of 9/4 (3.25) on them settling for a point in this one.

Unfortunately for Terim, he must lead his side into such an important tie with a number of key players absent through injury or suspension, including goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, star striker Burak Yilmaz, key defender Omer Toprak and prodigious playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

With the whole spine missing, the veteran boss will be up against it to bounce back from the disappointment of Reykjavik, particularly against a team who have just seen off the World Cup bronze medalists.



Nevertheless, they can at least draw some encouragement from the fact that their guests have failed to keep a single clean sheet in their last five matches, conceding two goals apiece against Norway, Finland and Austria.

With the hosts desperate for victory, an open game seems likely, meaning odds of 6/5 (2.20) offer excellent value on over 2.5 goals being scored.

That bet would have paid out in seven of Turkey's last eight and four of the Czech Republic's last five matches, so should be safe considering the former's absentees and latter's recent defensive struggles.

Over 2.5 Goals for a 1.5 stake at 6/5 (2.20