Monchengladbach v Augsburg, Friday, 7.30pm
WHILE the Bundesliga title has been sewn up earlier than the milkman calls this season, there is still much to play for in Germany’s top division.
Not least the battle for European places and the scramble for survival, with both themes being explored in this Friday night fixture.
Five-time German title winners Borussia Monchengladbach in seventh are just five points adrift of the all-important fourth spot which, as it does in England, represents the Champions League play-off position.
With fourth-place occupants Schalke still to visit Monchengladbach in a few weeks a victory over relegation-threatened Augsburg is paramount to the latter’s designs on a return to the Champions League preliminaries or at the least the Europa League.
Though their form has been mixed of late, Gladbach’s home is certainly where their heart is. They last suffered defeat at Borussia Park 11 games ago across all competitions and have only been robbed of all three points twice at home in the league all season.
After picking up maximum points in their last two home matches, no less than another win for Gladbach will suffice.
Recommended Bet
Monchengladbach @ 2.36
Milesey (Betfair)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
5:15 K/O
This season and last in Ukraine 18/27 Illychivets Mariupol home games and 18/27 Vorskla Poltava away matches have produced Under 2.5 Goals. Those figures suggest odds of 1.5 would be about right.
The layers have been most generous.
Recommended Bet: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.6 in Illychivets v Vorskla
Milesey
MILESEY’S TIPS
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Gareth Bale heads up a six man shortlist for the 2012-13 PFA Player of the Year award. The shortlist also contains Premier League top scorer Luis Suarez, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard who gets a nod in his debut season alongside teammate Juan Mata and two Manchester United players in the shape of Robin van Persie and much underrated Michael Carrick who, at 31, receives his first appearance on the shortlist.
Gareth Bale is strong favourite to pick up the award, and was trading as low as 1.23 ahead of the announcement. Canny punters who laid their money down early were able to back him at a high price of 32.0 on Betfair, and that now looks a shrewd move given the form Bale has been in recently.
The Premier League’s top scorer should always be worth a nod though, and Luis Suarez (who currently has 22 league goals this season, just ahead of van Persie who notched his 21st at the weekend) is a worthy candidate also. His off(and sometimes on)-field antics are at times controversial, but this is a fine player who has arguably been the most consistent performer on the list. The Uruguayan has been matched at 44.0 to win the award.
Robin van Persie has taken to Manchester United like a duck to water and looks almost certain to be rewarded with his first ever Premier League title in his first season in the North West. The market doesn’t think he’ll get a PFA Player of the Year award to go along with it though despite him being there or thereabouts for the majority of the season. In fact, he’s not been backed at anything over 10.0 on Betfair, but a barren patch in form which coincided with the voting may have just scuppered his chances.
Michael Carrick is well worth a nomination, and his inclusion on the list is a great recognition of the type of role he performs every week for Manchester United. His is the type of position that is unlikely to ever be rewarded with a Player of the Year award, but he is at least officially acknowledged for the first time in his career. He won’t win, but a fifth Premier League title will no doubt provide ample salve to that particular wound.
The list is rounded up by two Chelsea players, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. Mata has been outstanding for the majority of his time at Stamford Bridge and is hardly a surprising selection. Hazard, on the other hand, is a little more eyebrow-raising. At his best, he’s a fine player capable of turning games and providing as well as scoring goals in abundance, but there have to be question marks over his consistency at this stage. Matched at a high of 70.0 on Betfair, he can’t realistically be considered a contender to actually win the award this year.
The shortlist announcement is harsh on players like Christian Benteke and Michu who have both had excellent first seasons on these shores and bagged 32 league goals between them, but the award has a history of perhaps being slightly biased towards the larger clubs and that could go some way to explaining their omission.
Benteke can at least take solace from his inclusion in the Young Player of the Year shortlist, where he is joined by Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck.
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GREYHOUND RACING
Millwards Daisy 21:40 Rom Fri
Aero Rebel 21:06 Rom Fri
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QPR v Stoke
Back QPR @ 2.2 (6/5)
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 2.3 (13/10)
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Swansea v Southampton
Back Southampton @ 3.1 (21/10)
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.75 (3/4)
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Back Leicester (+0) to beat Crystal Palace on the Asian handicap at 1.94
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Back Notts County to beat Doncaster at 6.08
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Walsall 1.54 v Bury 7.00, the draw 4.20
Back Walsall to win 3-0 @ 8.80
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Oldham Athletic 2.40 v Crawley Town 3.25, the draw 3.40
Lay Oldham Athletic @ 2.40
Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.89
Back 0-0 @ 10.0
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Gillingham 1.8 v AFC Wimbledon 4.9; The Draw 3.75
Lay Gillingham @ 1.8
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Back Draw HT/Mansfield FT double results against Wrexham at 4.25
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Lay Sheffield Wednesday to beat Ipswich @ 2.3
Lay Mallorca to beat Rayo Vallecano @ 2.28
Lay Inter to beat Parma @ 2.02
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BTTS
•Fulham v Arsenal
•Sunderland v Everton
•QPR v Stoke
•West Ham v Wigan
•Liverpool v Chelsea
PAYS 13.8
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GOALSCORER GAMBLES
•Loic Remy
•Olivier Giroud
•Carlos Tevez
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NON LEAGUE DOUBLE
Southport v Luton Town
Back Luton Town at 2.88
Macclesfield Town v Cambridge United
Back Cambridge United at 2.9
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IPL CRICKET – FRIDAY 19TH APRIL
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab
Back Cameron White to top score for Hyderabad at 4.50
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FORMULA ONE – BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
back Red Bull to be the winning car between 3.05 and 3.7
back Webber at 4.7 for a podium finish
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SNOOKER
My staking plan is :
£100 on Ronnie @ 7.2
£100 on Robertson @ 7.6
£40 on Allen @ 16.0
£10 on Gould @ 130.0
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GOLF
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THE RBC HERITAGE
Zach Johnson @ 50.0 +1
Ernie Els @ 70.0 +1
Brian Gay @ 75.0 E
Ben Crane @ 80.0 -1
Michael Thompson @ 95.0 +1
Matt Every @ 240.0 +1
Rory Sabbatini @ 250.0 -2
Scott Brown @ 280.0 +1
Ted Potter Jnr @ 320.0 -3
Tommy Gainey @ 330.0 -1
SPANISH OPEN
Alvaro Quiros @ 80.0 +4
Ricardo Santos @ 90.0 -1
Michael Hoey @ 130.0 +3
Andreas Hart @ 200.0 +1
Mikael Lundberg @ 400.0 +2
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Milesey
IPL CRICKET – SATURDAYS GAMES
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Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings
Start time: 11.30BST
TV: live on ITV4
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders are looking anything but defending champions so far. They have lost three of their last four, including defeat bya shabby King’s XI Punjab outfit from a seemingly impregnable position. Chasing 158 they were cruising at 116 for three but imploded to go down by four runs with a wicket remaining. It was a bizarre and alarming collapse, similar to Bangalore’s collapse against Delhi Daredevils. When a side is capable of such profligacy, it certainly makes one think twice about backing them. They have plenty of room for personnel change, choosing to play only three overseas players in that loss so Brett Lee is in line for a return.
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai beat Delhi last time out so it could be argued they are in fine fettle. It could also be argued that a victory over the Dardevils is irrelevant given their horrendous form. Six straight defeats now. In fact Chennai are a team who have also thrown in some strange displays. Against Pune Warriors – a side they should not really be losing to – there was a laconic feel to a modest chase. Still, their bowling is firing. They fired out Delhi for 83 with Mohit Sharma taking three wickets for ten runs.
Innings runs
Eden Gardens has a poor reputation for runscoring and there is always a risk going long on runs. The last eight first-innings scores (including six from last term) read: 131-134-190-150-181-158-128-180. That is an average of 157.
Match odds
This is a decent betting heat with Chennai 1.78 and Kolkata 2.16. Ordinarily we would side with the big-priced outfit in a clash of heavyweights but not this time. Chennai are the bet. It is not often you will get to side with the Super Kings at such odds and we expect them to put the listlessness they showed against Pune well and truly behind them. We can talk until we are blue in the face about strategy, pitch conditions and formguides but sometimes it can be as simple as: this team has better players than this team. And Chennai certainly boast the better XI> Kolkata are a worry after their batting failed against King’s XI. But in reality, where were the batsmen? They don’t bat deep enough. Chennai can bat all the way down to No 10.
Top Kolkata runscorer
KKR have been too relaint on Gautam Gambhir and Eoin Morgan, who have 235 and 161 runs respectively. Jacques Kallis has only 81 runs from five innings at an average of 16 and they need him to step up. It would take a plucky pick to go outside of those three but there is not much value. We are looking at sub 4.00. Yusuf Pathan could blast something quickly, though, and may be worth a cheeky fiver.
Top Chennai batsman
Chennai lined up with a front five of Mike Hussey-Vijay-Raina-DHoni-Dwayne Bravo against Delhi. It is an embarrassment of riches. The Chennai batting line-up can be fluid, however, and one wouldn’t be surprised to see Bravo bat a bit higher up at some stage, or even Ravi Jadeja. Both could be given a run in the top four.
Recommended bet
Back Chennai at 1.78
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals
Start Time: Saturday April 20th, 15:30 BST
TV: Live on ITV4 and itv.com
Royal Challengers Bangalore
One of the surprises before this season’s IPL began was just how little attention was being paid to the Bangalore side. Any team boasting Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers was bound to be a contender, especially when you factored in the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Andrew McDonald and one of the world’s canniest T20 bowlers in Murali Karthik. At the time of writing they sit pretty in second place in the points table, having taken 8 from a possible 12 so far. Significantly, the two games they lost were very narrow losses – one in a super over, one to a last ball no-ball – and whilst there have been narrow wins there have also been some thumping ones. They’ve chopped and changed their team as they have gone along, looking to rest players as much as for tactical reasons, but don’t expect too many big stars to miss out on their home ground. Tillekaratne Dilshan is due a recall, but veteran seamer Zaheer Khan is still likely to be absent injured.
Rajasthan Royals
The Royals surprised most people by beating Mumbai on Wednesday and moving to the top of the table. Opener Ajinkya Rahane carried his bat for 68 in that innings as they racked up their highest score of the season so far. In fact, that could’ve been an even bigger total but for Rahane’s failure to hit a boundary between the 10th and 16th overs, and for a curious decision to hold back one of the biggest hitters in the tournament to date, Brad Hodge, until after the third wicket had fallen. Wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik was a big part of that total, too, coming into the side and making a crucial 34 after Shane Watson’s 25-ball 31 had set them on their way. That was a glimpse of the form that they have been expecting from the Australian vice-captain and it will probably keep him in the team for this game. It would be a surprise if, after such a dominant performance against the then-leaders – there were any changes to the match day XI at all.
Venue and conditions
Conditions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium certainly favour the home side, as they have won all four of their fixtures here this year. Conditions promise to be warm and overcast, which should be ideal for swing bowlers if not particularly helpful to batsmen. There hasn’t been a score of under 150 in either innings here this season, but there hasn’t been one of more than 166 either.
Match odds
This is another one of those games where the toss could be important. Of Bangalore’s four home wins, three of them have come batting second. In fact, their only win defending a total was in their first home match. Bangalore might be 1.61 favourites at the moment, but 2.44 on a side topping the table is generous anyway and will look even more so if Rajasthan field first.
Top Bangalore batsman
One of the nice things about betting on a batsman-heavy side such as Bangalore is that the odds on any one of their stars tend to be slightly longer than they otherwise would’ve been. This means that there’s some small value in backing big crowd favourites like Gayle and Kohli, but also means you should get around 4.7 on de Villiers, which is a lot longer than he would be in any other team.
Top Rajasthan batsman
Despite Rajasthan’s table-topping status, they still don’t seem to have figured out their best batting order yet. The best bet here, therefore, is to go with Yagnik, who should keep his number three slot, is in good form and should be available at well over 5.0
Recommended bet
Back Dishant Yagnik at anything over 5.0 to top score for Rajasthan Royals
Milesey
( betfair )
SERIE A – TIPS
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Inter v Parma
The decline of Inter Milan this season has spelled dark times for their young coach Andrea Stramaccioni, but has been a source of profit for this column. The question is: can we go to the well again this weekend? Inter are 2.14 to beat Parma at San Siro, and it’s certainly not a price which makes much appeal. The difference between Parma and Inter’s other recent conquerors, Bologna, Cagliari and Atalanta, is that Parma are themselves out of form. Their price of 4.0 for the win is probably about fair.
I don’t have the space to detail Inter’s injury list here, but they’ll once again have to play with Tommaso Rocchi and Ricky Alvarez up front, and even though Alvarez is getting better, that combination won’t strike fear into Roberto Donadoni. The visiting coach has a couple of issues to deal with himself, namely the absence of Gabriel Paletta, and given that Parma have failed to score in three of their last four games, and that they’ve picked up only 2 points from their last 18 away, I can’t recommend them at 3/1.
I am still interested in Inter, though.
They played well against Roma in midweek, but that game will have taken a lot out of them, and, rather like Milan last week, I can’t help but feel that the chance to lay them at a price near even money is too good to be missed. We have had much success backing Bologna and Atalanta to win at San Siro lately, but I’m going to be more conservative here, and lay Inter at 2.14. For all Parma’s issues, that is definitely too short, and so logic should prevail.
Recommended Bet
Lay Inter to beat Parma @ 2.14
Juventus v Milan
Antonio Conte still refuses to talk about the Scudetto until Juventus are certain winners. Many would argue that they already have won the League, but Conte’s professionalism will carry his team right through until the end of the season. If Juve can win against Milan on Sunday night, then they’ll be just a couple of games away from celebrating another title, and if Napoli fail to beat Cagliari, then that day will move ever closer. Juve are 1.78 to beat Milan, and that price probably has a lot to do with the continued absence of Mario Balotelli from the Milan starting line up. His suspension has hit the Rossoneri just as they seemed likely to get past Napoli into second place, and Max Allegri will have to play Giampaolo Pazzini and Stephan El Sharaawy up front together once more.
Milan performed with credit against Napoli, and I don’t think that they should be as big as they are to emerge from Turin with at least a point, even though Mathieu Flamini is suspended. The goals markets are the aspect of this game which interest me most, and I think that Both Teams to Score may be overpriced at 1.88. Milan have scored in each of their last six away games, and with Juve likely to find a way through against a defence which looked less than solid last week, that rates a decent bet. The Coppa Italia game between these two earlier this year was richly entertaining, and this game could well throw up another Sunday night spectacle. Over 2.5 Goals are available at 1.96, but I prefer the former option at a slightly shorter price.
Recommended Bet
Back Both Teams to Score in Juventus v Milan @ 1.88
Fiorentina v Torino
There was a time when this match looked like a real issue for Fiorentina as they continue to push for a 4th placed finish. La Viola really must win this, as Roma, who are emerging as their likeliest challengers, have a home game against Pescara which they look certain to win. I was hoping to see Fiorentina a little bigger than 1.5 to win, and won’t be advocating them at that price, but we should take note of the fact that Torino have lost four of their last seven games, and of the manner in which they’ve lost them.
Torino’s last three games have produced 15 goals, and without looking too much further back, you’ll find 4-1 and 4-3 defeats. They’ve conceded 10 goals in their last three away matches and that makes the goal markets worth more than a second look. Stefan Jovetic is out, but Adem Llajic has been in great form for Fiorentina, and with Marcelo Larrondo responding well to getting his chance last week, Fiorentina are likely to be their usual fluent selves. And they LOVE playing teams who are as open as Torino. I expect Fiorentina to win, and to do so convincingly. That brings the Asian Handicap into play, but I prefer to play over 3.5 goals at 3.4.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Fiorentina v Torino @ 3.4
Milesey
( betfair )
Lokeren vs Standard
Saturday 17:00
First up on Saturday is action from the Belgian Jupiler League Championship Playoffs, we’re in East Flanders as Lokeren face Standard Liege.
Both these teams only just scraped into the playoffs, they finished in the bottom two qualifying positions, it looked unlikely at that point either were to be serious contenders for the title.
For Lokeren that has proved to be the case, after a poor start it now looks impossible for them to mount a challenge. For Standard though things are looking good, they’ve found form at just the right time and are hot on the tails of the top two.
Since the Playoffs began Lokeren have played four and only picked up a solitary point, they’ve really disappointed and it seems their best hope now would be to try and nick a Europa League playoff spot.
Their top men such as Milos Maric and Ayanda Patosi have failed to deliver the way they did in the regular season. The step up in class in the Playoff games has exposed Lokeren’s weaknesses. Striker Benjamin Mokulu Tembe has looked dangerous and is scoring but he is finding little support from his team-mates.
Lokeren weren’t particularly productive at home during the regular season, they only managed five wins all year at the Daknamstadion. Their fall off in 2013 has actually been pretty remarkable; they have only managed one win since January, incidentally that was against Saturday’s visitors. The mood in Lokeren is far from optimistic.
Standard fans have a lot more reason to be happy, the ‘Rouches’ are going from strength to strength this year. Coach Mircea Rednic has them playing exciting attacking football. They have won three of their four Playoff games and drew the other with leaders Anderlecht.
Now sitting in third and with the top two facing off on Sunday night, Standard have a real opportunity to put themselves in with a chance to claim the title. Captain Jelle Van Damme has been speaking positively of their chances this week and expects another win on Saturday.
A lot of Standard’s recent success has been down to a pair of nineteen year old strikers; Michy Batshuayi and Imoh Ezekiel are both lightening quick and both in good goal scoring form. Standard are probably the most dangerous team in Belgium at the moment especially considering Anderlecht’s stuttering form.
Expect Lokeren’s poor home form to continue and for Standard to continue their march towards the top of the Playoffs.
Recommended Bets:
Back Standard to win @ 2.08
Moreirense vs Porto
Saturday 20:30
Saturday night and a critical match from North Western Portugal as reigning champions Porto make the trip to relegation fighters Moreirense.
After a surprise promotion last year Moreirense have found it tough going in the top flight, they currently languish in fifteenth, if they don’t improve their position they’ll be heading straight back down.
There are four clubs within a couple of points of Moreirense so they still have ample opportunity to climb out of trouble and their recent form suggests they are capable. They had gone five games unbeaten before a heartbreaking stoppage time winner saw them defeated by Sporting last time out.
If Moreirense do survive it will be largely down to Nabil Ghilas, the Algerian forward has already netted twelve times, half Moreirense’s team total for the season. His importance to the team can’t be overstated and his impressive form hasn’t gone unnoticed, top European clubs have sent scouts and David Moyes recently registered his interest.
Visitors Porto need the points from this one for totally different reasons. They are looking for their third straight title but currently trail Benfica by four and time is running out. The gulf between these two powerhouses and the rest of the league has been more apparent this season than ever. With only five matches remaining to be played neither of Porto or Benfica have yet tasted defeat in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica have a tough game against Lisbon rivals Sporting on Sunday by which time Porto could be within a point. Porto also host the leaders in the penultimate game of the season so the title is very much still up for grabs. Coach Vitor Pereira must keep his ‘Dragons’ winning to be ready to take advantage of any Benfica slip up. They are now 3.35 to retain their title but that could be a lot shorter by the end of the weekend.
The Porto team is riddled with stars but the stand-out performers this year have been the Colombian duo of Jackson Martinez and James Rodriguez. Martinez is a lethal finisher and will end as the league’s top scorer but Jaime Rodriguez is probably the most exciting talent in the league, comparison’s with a young Cristiano Ronaldo are constant. Such is the profile of these two players in their homeland last week Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos publicly thanked Porto for the development of the game in his country.
Last week Porto were cruelly beaten in the final of the League Cup after a harsh sending off and penalty saw them loose by a single goal to Braga. This week their anger and frustration may be vented against Moreirense.
Moreirense will be fresh and Ghilas should pose a threat but he’ll be facing the best defence in the league and may find chances rare. Expect Porto to claim the win and pile the pressure back onto title rivals Benfica.
Recommended Bets:
Back Porto to win @ 1.28
Back Porto to win 2-0 @ 6.2
Back HT/FT Draw/Porto @ 4.9
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LA LIGA PREVIEW
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Real Madrid v Real Betis
Saturday 17:00 (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Real 1.3 Betis 12.0 draw 6.4
Real Madrid have won 13/14 home matches and they have won by two or more goals in 11/14 home matches.
Real Betis have the best away record of anyone outside the Big Two (W7-D2-L6). Our concern here is that they have still conceded 29 times in those matches – that’s only once fewer than Celta Vigo and Sevilla, who are bottom and second bottom of the Liga away table.
Dig a little deeper and you’ll find Pepe Mel’s men have struggled against good home teams: W1-D1-L6 against the top 12 in the Liga home table; W6-D1-L0 against the rest.
Are Real a good home team? They’ve won 45/53 under Mourinho and, most recently, 11/14 by two goals or more.
Xabi Alonso is suspended this weekend. He has always seemed pretty crucial to Real’s success, the link between strong(-ish) defence and devastating attack, but they can do without him, winning 6/6 such Liga and Champions League games at the Bernabeu this term.
Recommended Bet
Back Real Madrid -1.5 @ 1.8
Barcelona v Levante
Saturday 19:00 (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Barcelona 1.23 Levante 16.5 draw 7.8
Levante lost 5-1 at Real Madrid a fortnight ago. They followed up with a 4-0 home defeat to Deportivo La Coruna.
Thank goodness they are safely in mid-table, 13 points clear of the drop zone.
Barcelona have won 14/14 at home to anyone who isn’t Real Madrid this season. They have been ahead by half-time in 12/14.
Messi, Xavi, Busquets, Mascherano and Puyol should all sit this one out, but recent results suggest the understudies can handle games like this one.
Recommended Bet
Back Barcelona/Barcelona @ 1.7
Valencia v Malaga
Saturday 21:00 (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Valencia 1.67 Malaga 6.4 draw 3.9
Valencia and Malaga notched their half-centuries of points last weekend and are now alongside each other in the Europa League positions.
Los Che might feel they have rather more to play for than their visitors: Malaga are banned from European competition next season, pending an appeal.
The important thing for us is that since Malaga were handed the ban in December there has been an upturn in goals: 5/6 away matches have produced three or more.
Valencia have scored twice or more in 13/16 at the Mestalla, where each of the last three games have brought Over 2.5 Goals in total.
Jonas is the one to watch: the Brazilian, who starts wide but likes to move inside, has found the back of the net in 7/8 Liga and Champions League appearances in the last two months. You might get 2.5 about him scoring anytime this weekend.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.9
Osasuna v Real Sociedad
Sunday 18:00 (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Osasuna 3.25 Sociedad 2.48 draw 3.45
Osasuna have not scored in 356 minutes of league football at the Reyno de Navarra.
Zero goals simply won’t be enough against Real Sociedad, who have ripped into better sides with 23 goals in 11 away matches (W6-D4-L1).
Asier Illarramendi’s suspension might send you running for a bit of Asian Handicap cover, but records show Sociedad have scored 11 goals in three games without him this season.
If Ruben Pardo misses out as well – he’s rated doubtful at the time of writing – that’s when the draw becomes a concern.
Recommended Bet
Back Real Sociedad @ 2.48
Sevilla v Atletico Madrid
Sunday 20:00 (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Sevilla 2.56 Atletico 3.1 draw 3.45
Sevilla have won their last seven Liga home matches, averaging three goals per game for the last six.
But Atletico are unbeaten in four on the road (W2 D2) and eased concerns about a lack of goals with a 5-0 thumping of Granada.
Clean sheets in all four of those away games say the visitors can defend too. Sevilla’s six home wins under Unai Emery have come against weaker opposition: ninth-placed Vallecano are currently highest in the table among them.
Sevilla were 3-0 up in the city derby with Betis last weekend. The fallout from throwing that lead away is still to come.
Atletico’s counter-attacking style looks a good fit for Sevilla’s more straightforwardly aggressive approach and we’re ready to give the visitors a bit of support on the Asian Handicap.
Keep an eye on the Sending Off? market too. This season’s three previous meetings of these two brought eight red cards (seven for Sevilla).
Recommended Bet
Back Atletico Madrid 0 & +0.5
Celta Vigo v Real Zaragoza
Monday 21:00 (Live on Sky Sports Xtra)
Celta 2.0 Zaragoza 4.1 draw 3.6
Zaragoza are still the worst team in a major European league in 2013 (W0-D5-L9),
But, crikey, Celta Vigo aren’t far behind (W2-D3-L9).
The result of their Monday meeting might turn on whether Celta (no clean sheets in 11 at Balaidos) can shut out Zaragoza (no goals in 5/7 on the road).
Four of Celta’s last seven home games have produced three goals or more, but the Big Two were involved in a couple of them and, that pair aside, Celta have conceded more than once in only 1/13 this season.
Ten of the 13 finished with two goals or fewer, while eight of Zaragoza’s last ten away games have ended up Under 2.5 Goals.
Iago Aspas, Celta’s best attacker, is serving the fourth – and final – match of a suspension.
Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.9
Milesey
( BETFAIR )
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MILESEY’S MULTIPLE MAGIC
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Paolo Di Canio gave the Premier League a flavour of his box-office personality at St James’ Park last weekend and now his jubilant Sunderland (3.38) side can build on their emphatic Tyne-Wear derby triumph by putting Everton to the sword in his first showing at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
It might sound like an ambitious call to those taking an objective view of events at Newcastle. The Black Cats deserved their win but the margin flattered them on an afternoon when they profited from a linesman’s flag shortly before hitting the jackpot with two late strikes from distance.
Nonetheless, their willingness to attack when the opportunity arose was, in essence, the purchase of a proverbial raffle ticket, indicative of how attitudes are changing on Wearside following the Italian’s arrival. It’s nigh on impossible to imagine that such an outcome materialising under Martin O’Neill.
In the Championship, Crystal Palace stretched their miserable run without a goal to 456 minutes in midweek – during which time they’ve conceded 11 times – and the ultra-positive Ian Holloway faces an impossible mission trying to quell the negativity engulfing the club ahead of Saturday’s visit from Leicester (2.71).
The Foxes must have been prepared top wave goodbye to their play-off hopes when they dropped out of the top six towards the end of a nine-match winless run but they summoned up a little something extra to edge past Bolton in a pulsating encounter on Tuesday.
So now there might be a born-again enthusiasm about their play rather than the paralysing weight of expectation that has burdened them for most of the campaign. We rate Nigel Pearson’s men as the division’s most dominant force in terms of shot data and the other contenders ought to be afraid if they close-out the campaign with conviction.
There’s likely to be no shortage of drama in League One this weekend but don’t expect much of it to be occurring at the Ricoh Arena where Leyton Orient’s feint play-off hopes ought to be extinguished by a superior but luckless Coventry (2.63) side.
The O’s are one of four teams who can still catch sixth-placed Swindon but it would need a sequence of events bordering on the miraculous for Russell Slade’s men to gatecrash the party – and they know it – so don’t bank on them raising their game to the standard required to topple the Sky Blues in their own backyard.
Credit must go to Steven Pressley for keeping Coventry competitive. The last two home games have seen leaders Doncaster beaten and third-placed Brentford held, so it’s evident that the Midlanders are still up to the task, albeit in a different manner to the swagger they were showing earlier in the season.
Torquay took a massive step towards League Two survival with victory in their rearranged game against Barnet on Tuesday but their exertions in that five-goal thriller could come at a price when they make the five-hour journey north to Morecambe (2.27) on Saturday.
Some punters might be put off by the fact that Morecambe have nothing to play for but we’re satisfied that risk has been adequately factored into the price and we’re confident that Jim Bentley will get the response he wants after last Friday’s sub-standard display in the 2-0 defeat at local rivals Accrington
Seven of Torquay’s dozen wins this season have been against teams still embroiled in the dogfight while they’ve only won one out of 18 away games against the teams above them, so it looks like an ideal opportunity for Morecambe to round off their best season at the Globe Arena in fine style.
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MILESEY’S MULTIPLE
Sunderland to beat Everton
Leicester to beat Crystal Palace
Coventry to beat Leyton Orient
Morecambe to beat Torquay
Multiple pays 54.68
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MILESEY’S TIPS – FRIDAY
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HULL V BRISTOL CITY
Back Both Teams to Score at 1.98
Back 2-1 in the correct score market at 9.2
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Monchengladbach @ 2.36
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Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.6 in Illychivets v Vorskla ** WINNER **
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Lay Under 2.5 goals in Dijon v Laval @ 1.84
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Lay Sligo Rovers @ 2.36 v St Patricks
Back Dundalk @ 2.62 v Bohemians
Back 0-1 Correct Score in Derry v Shamrock @ 8.6
Back Draw/Drogheda @ 4.3 v UCD
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Lay Mallorca to beat Rayo Vallecano @ 2.28
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Vélez Sarsfield v Newell’s Old Boys – 23:00
Lay Vélez at 2.62
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GREYHOUND RACING
Millwards Daisy 21:40 Rom
Aero Rebel 21:06 Rom
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Milesey
Back St Helens to beat Hull KR at 1.55
Hull KR haven’t beaten St Helens in the Challenge Cup since 1985 but they are just one point and two places behind Saints in the Super League and will fancy their chances of overcoming a team they defeated 22-14 earlier this month.
Rovers recent form compares well with their visitors, who have hit a bad patch, with three defeats in their last four games. The home side will also be boosted by the return of stand-off Travis Burns, who has completed a three match ban.
But St Helens have a good record against Saturday’s opponents. They’ve only lost one of the last five encounters in all competitions against Hull KR, and that defeat at Craven Park will give them a good marker. Several of the Saints players were under par on that day and this is an opportunity to erase those unpleasant memories in a game where Super League points are not at stake. Back Saints to make the fifth round.
Milesey
SINGLE OF THE DAY
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Hartlepool V Brentford
Sat 20th Apr, 17:20
Hartlepool will play their football in League Two next season after being relegated on Tuesday night without even kicking a ball.
The Pools were cut miles adrift earlier this season but an impressive improvement in form saw them inch within just a handful of points of safety.
However, it was too little, too late for John Hughes’ men as Oldham’s victory during the week condemned them to the drop.
Now, Hartlepool will just hope to build on a run of back-to-back victories in hopes of avoiding finishing in bottom spot.
This weekend, they host a Brentford side who are just one point away from the automatic promotion places.
The Bees could have moved into the top two on Tuesday night but were held to a 2-2 draw with fellow promotion candidates Sheffield United to leave them just one behind Bournemouth and only three adrift of league leaders Doncaster.
Uwe Rosler’s men have suffered just one defeat in their last eight league matches but a lot of this is down to their dominant home form, where they have won 14 and only lost two games all season.
Away from home, they falter, winning on just one of their previous five trips. While that doesn’t stand them in good stead ahead of their trip to Victoria Park, they will still fancy themselves to pocket the points against a deflated Hartlepool outfit.
BRENTFORD WIN @ 10/11
Brentford one of yer top tips 2moro Milesey?…what others?..away golfijng earlish/put on a yankee/trixie later tonight/no time 2moro.
BOLTON, BOURNEMOUTH and WALSALL look good.
Milesey
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George Clooney has swallowed or been ripped off buying a “learn and communicate perfect English in 10 minutes” dvd or has found a thesaurus app that he dunt know how to switch off on his computer here I think?? Maybe Danny can translate at the weekend after hes had a few sherbets? ;-)
RETRACTION***RETRACTION***RETRACTION
during last nights betting frenzy on the Icelandic games I refered to the Polish immigrants in the UK as ignorant f***ers. I now reasise this was said in the heat of the moment and what I meant to say was that they are RUDE ignorant f***ers. Hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
RETRACTION***RETRACTION***RETRACTION***RETRACTION
during last nights betting frenzy on the Icelandic games I refered to the Polish immigrants in the UK as ignorant f***ers. I now reasise this was said in the heat of the moment and what I meant to say was that they are RUDE ignorant f***ers. Hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
Fathead my peoples only in your country as your peoples too busy sittings in string vest drinkings irn bru watchings take the high road to do the workings
Fatheads not Scottish..hes a Wigan man!!
IVAN FICKASSHIT it aint our country anymore it belongs to the potato and cabbage eaters
I’m Irish, living in UK and eat potatoes, hope that’s ok with you ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnjnAPNUJhE
POTATO
Milesey
I do hope Jedward are acting and not as thick as they appear! Mind you, I wouldn’t expect much from a lab experiment that used Rick Astley’s semen!
oh ok I now understanding his anger,i too be angry living in wigan
Wigan, known as the pie eating capital of the uk ,even the cars bear the sticker “There are no pies left in this vehicle overnight” TRUE
Love the Irish, Love potatoes, Patrick
:) I love pies but after years of excess food and booze, I’m trying to swap one 6-pack for another these days!
The Boss tickets came today Guido
I too am likings irish patricia,i liking the river dancings,eamonn homes and very much liking irish sisters the corrs,i liking chance to duet with lead singer she has very nice.how you say in English.very nice big..what you calling it?..yes she has very nice big smilings
Ivan, you’re becoming my 2nd favourite Pole after Pole Dancer. Do you know her?