Liverpool v QPR (4pm)
Back Liverpool to win both halves @ 2.4 (7-5)
QPR complete their miserable campaign at Anfield but I can’t see them getting any respite from a rampant Liverpool.
The Reds are unbeaten in seven since their abysmal performance at St Mary’s back in March. They put three past Fulham last time out and hit Newcastle for six a fortnight ago.
Luis Suarez hasn’t been missed at all as the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have really stepped up to the plate.
Sturridge banged in a hat-trick at Craven Cottage but it’s the performances of the Brazilian that have perhaps been the most impressive. He is looking like quite a find by Brendan Rodgers as not only does he score goals, he creates plenty as well.
Harry Redknapp’s appointment at Loftus Road was supposed to kick-start their survival bid. It never really worked out though and Rangers are set to finish bottom of the pile – further adrift than when the former Spurs boss took over.
They’ve picked up just two points from a possible 24 and scored only two goals in their last half dozen. Both those goals were scored by Loic Remy but given the recent stories about him in the media it’s not a certainty he will even travel to Anfield.
Liverpool to win both halves at 2.4 (7/5) is probably my strongest fancy of the entire weekend.
Other Bets
Over 3.5 goals @ 1/1
Daniel Sturridge 2 or more goals @ 11/4
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.
ROMA v NAPOLI:
Roma must be thinking of the derby in the Coppa Italia already, and though they can overtake Lazio in the league, that would not mean European qualification while Napoli have secured the runners up title of the Serie A. They have 78 points from 37 matches, nine points behind the champions Juventus.
Totti is suspended, so Andreazzoli will field Lamela and Marquinho in support of the lone striker. Destro is favoured to lead the attack over Osvaldo (who is rumored to be in talks with Napoli to replace Cavani).
As for Napoli, Grava and Rolando will play in defence, together with captain Cannavaro while Zuniga and Armero are in competition to patrol the left flank. Since Insigne is suspended, the attack should be the only zone of the pitch in which Mazzarri won’t apply any rotation.
Napoli have won 8 of their last 9 matches in Serie A, 5 of their last 5. They scored at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 9 games and there have been over 2.5 goals scored in their last 5 Serie A fixtures. On the other side, Roma collected 8 under 2.5 goals in their last 10 games in Serie A. They didn’t concede in three of their last four games. Indeed, they had kept only three clean sheets in 22 league games under Zeman.
These are the two most prolific teams in the Serie A. Napoli have scored 72 goals, the highest in the league. Roma share the second-place with Juventus, after having scored 69 goals. The Giallorossi have won only one of their last six meetings against Napoli in the league.
ROMA v NAPOLI:
ROMA (4-3-3): Lobont; Piris, Burdisso, Castan, Torosidis; De Rossi, Bradley, Florenzi; Lamela, Marquinho; Destro
NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis; Rolando, Cannavaro, Grava; Maggio, Dzemaili, Behrami, Armero; Hamsik, Pandev; Cavani.
Draw/Napoli double chance @ 1.60
Over 3,5 goals @ 2.20
Cavani anytime goalscorer @ 2.20
2:3 Correct Score @ 24.00
Milesey
Atalanta v Chievo (Sun 14:00)
With little left to play for for either of these sides, the players could be forgiven for casting one eye to their summer breaks. A 2-1 defeat at Udinese condemned Atalanta to a third consecutive loss this month, and they can finish no higher than 14th, but as low as 17th. Cyril Théréau scored for the second straight fixture as Chievo were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Torino. Mussi Volanti have lost just one of their last half-dozen matches, and a win could see them clinch a top-half finish. With little motivation for either outfit, this could be a stalemate from start to finish.
Draw at 3.17
Bologna v Genoa (Sun 14:00)
Bologna will be looking to end the season on a high after ending a winless streak with their 2-0 win at Parma last weekend. They had failed to maximum points from any of their previous eight fixtures, and have taken two points from their last four at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Genoa have survived in Serie A by the skin of their teeth, but a six match unbeaten run has shown their battling qualities as the season draws to an end. Last weekend they held Inter Milan to a goalless draw, although away from home only one side has netted fewer in the league than Davide Ballardini’s side. Genoa’s away matches have averaged less than two goals per game, and that might be the way to go in this clash.
Under 2.5 goals at 2.16
Cagliari v Lazio
A 1-1 draw away at champions Juventus leaves Cagliari down in 12th spot heading into the final game of the campaign. Ivo Pulga’s troops are stuttering to the season’s end, and are winless in five matches, while scoring once in their last 380 minutes of action. Lazio have kept their hopes of a European place for next season alive with a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria last weekend keeping them within two points of fifth-placed Udinese. The Biancocelesti have won all of their last three games at an aggregate of 11-1. Still with their eyes on fifth spot, an away victory in this one looks on the cards.
Lazio at 1.67
Inter v Udinese
A disastrous season for Andrea Stramaccioni and his Inter Milan side comes to a close on Sunday, as they face the prospect of no European football next term for the first time since 2000. The Nerazzurri are down in ninth having won just one of their last seven, and the manager’s future is reportedly up for discussion at the climax of the campaign. Udinese, meanwhile, will clinch a Europa League spot with victory here after beating Atalanta 2-1 last weekend. That was a seventh straight victory for the Zebrette, and only a fool would bet against them making it eight on the final day of the season.
Udinese at 2.11
Palermo v Parma
Palermo’s time in Serie A draws to a close this weekend as they seek to avoid a fourth straight league defeat in May. The fell to a 1-0 loss at Fiorentina last time out confirmed their relegation to the second tier, but the Rosanero will be looking for a third win in five at Stadio Renzo Barbera. Parma finished their home schedule with a 2-0 defeat to Bologna last weekend, although they have had little to play for for a while now. Firmly in mid-table, the Crociati have struggled away all term, with a win at Cagliari a fortnight ago being their only victory on the road in their last eight attempts.
Palermo at 2.22
Pescara v Fiorentina
Pescara will be collecting Serie A’s ‘cucchiaio di legno’ (wooden spoon) this season after looking out of their depth for the most part. A 1-0 defeat at Catania last time out was a fourth in a row for the Delfini, and a 16th loss in their last 18 attempts, with the other two only being draws. Fiorentina are still harbouring Champions League ambitions, and a clash with the bottom side presents them with the perfect opportunity to pressurise third-placed AC Milan. The Viola are two points behind AC going into this one, and boast five wins from their last six attempts, and could probably be awarded three points before this one even kicks off.
Both teams not to score at 1.74
Siena v AC Milan
Siena are facing the drop into Serie B for next season, but will want to give their fans something to celebrate in their final home match, and end the five-game losing sequence they’re currently on. They have scored one and conceded 11 in that five-match run, while they’re winless in five on home turf. Given their head-to-head record with Fiorentina, AC Milan know a point might not be enough to secure third spot here so will need to get back to winning ways. A draw at home to Roma last weekend ended their three-match winning run, and they’re likely to go for the jugular early on here and seal third sooner rather than later.
Four or more goals at 2.25
Torino v Catania
Torino have been on their summer holidays for the last two months judging by their results; they’ve lost five and drawn three of their last eight Serie A matches. At home they have lost three of their last four, conceding nine in that time, while scoring just one in their last four anywhere themselves. Alejandro Gómez’s goal was enough for Catania to clinch victory at home to bottom-club Pescara last time out, leaving them with only one defeat in their last seven. Rolando Maran’s side are in eighth spot going into this one, and could equal a club record high finish if they of eighth if they better Inter’s result, which they should do.
Catania at 3.69
Milesey
TENNIS – FINAL 3PM
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Saturday’s wager in the 2013 Internazionali BNL d’Italia proved to be a comfortable winner as Rafa Nadal produced another impressive performance at the Foro Italico.
The Spaniard blasted Tomas Berdych away in two sets for a 6-2, 6-4 win and that was more than enough to cover the minus 3.5 game handicap on the day.
The first set in particular was vintage Rafa and gave us all a reminder of the Pearl de Manacor’s brilliant best.
Standing in Nadal’s way as he seeks a seventh Rome crown in his eighth straight final of 2013 since his comeback from injury is Roger Federer and this superstar pair face off for the 30th time in their careers.
This will be their first meeting on clay since the 2011 French Open final and their first here in Rome since the epic 2006 final that Rafa won in a final set tie breaker.
Federer made it to this stage with a scratchy win over Benoit Paire, who I still can’t believe has made a Masters 1000 semi final – we won’t be seeing that again for a while, I’m sure – and for me he doesn’t look in the kind of form to offer a sustained attack on Nadal in Rafa’s favoured conditions today.
The Swiss maestro has a chance of course and he could easily put it all together today and really test Rafa, who must be getting at least slightly tired after a long spell of clay court tennis.
But Rafa doesn’t really do tired and with the sun on his back and clay under his feet he can construct his usual assault on Federer’s backhand until it breaks and against Berdych he did what Federer hates, which is hit winners or almost winners from defensive positions. Once he starts doing that against you you’re done.
I’d like to think that this could be as compelling as that 2006 final here in the Eternal City, but pragmatism tells me that Nadal will emerge with the trophy again with enough to spare to cover the 4.5 game handicap today.
Recommended Bet
Back Nadal -4.5 games to beat Federer at 2.04
Milesey
ATP – SINGLES: Rome (Italy), clay
Nadal R. (Esp) 2-0 Federer R. (Sui)
( 6 – 1 ) ( 6 – 3 )
Milesey
LAY OF THE DAY
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Zaragoza are odds-on for their Spanish Primera Division clash with Athletic Bilbao this evening but those who tune in to Sky Sports Interactive at 18:00 could be in for a surprise result.
Real Zaragoza have climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to two wins and a draw in their last three. They recorded back to back victories at home over Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano before earning a point at Levante last time. That run came just at the right time and it ended an incredible spell of 15 without victory.
Now that Manolo Jiménez’s side are clear of the drop zone it will be interesting to see if they still play with the same intensity and desire that they did in their last two at La Romareda. It’s hard to ignore their dreadful form in 2013 and they aren’t at full strength due to injuries and suspensions – the loss of Glenn Loovens in particular being a blow.
Athletic Bilbao haven’t been able to hit the dizzy heights of last season where they reached the Europa League final and came a respectable 10th in La Liga. They just haven’t been able to score the goals that they did last term and even Fernando Llorente has only managed four in all competitions.
Nevertheless, Marcelo Bielsa’s men are four unbeaten and they won their previous match last weekend. The Lions are in 14th place so with just three games to go they don’t have anything to play for as such, although given their poor season thus far, they’ll at least want to finish on a high. They’ve drawn their last two away from San Mamés Stadium and they should have enough quality to keep that undefeated record going today.
Zaragoza are very short for a team in their predicament, so at around the 1.86 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day.
Recommended Bet
Lay Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao @ 1.86
Milesey
Over 40 efforts, 30 shots on goal, Ball over the line and goal not given, bar hit, post hit, liverpool 14 corners QPR 0, HAHAHAHA, i’m going to laugh or i will cry….. that’s me done today for my luck has gone in this game completely.
Milesey
thats 2 over 3.5 in 2 days milesey
troyes, then this.
jeez