European Football
Champions League
Manchester United can confirm their place in the Champions League 1st Knockout round with a victory over CKSA Moscow at Old Trafford.
The Reds have won three out of three in Group B this season and have a phenomenal record in Europe recently, having suffered their only defeat in 26 games at the hands of Barcelona in last year’s final. Since United travelled to Moscow and picked up a 2-0 win, the Muscovites have sacked Juande Ramos, following a spell of just 47 days at the club. I can’t see anything but a comfortable Utd win here with Sir Alex Ferguson wanting to get his side on form ahead of their massive clash with Chelsea next weekend. 3-0 Man U at 7/1 is my choice.
Carlo Ancelotti takes his Chelsea side to Spain to face an out of sorts Atletico Madrid side. The Blues are on a good run at the minute having recorded four wins from four and in the process have scored 17 goals and conceded none. Following a disappointing opening season in west London, Portuguese star Deco, is enjoying a run in the side at the moment and has scored in both of their last two games. You can get the former Barcelona man to open the scoring at 14/1. Frank Lampard is also in rich goal scoring form at the moment with four from as many games, including two penalties. A 2-0 Chelsea scorecast with Lampard opening the scoring is 35/1.
Liverpool fans must be wondering what is happening at Anfield right now. Victory over rivals Man Utd is followed by successive defeats to Arsenal and Fulham in the Carling Cup and the league. The Carling Cup exit can be forgiven with both side’s serving an entertaining fixture with a number of youth and fringe players taking place but defeat to the Cottagers makes you wonder if the Utd result was a freak one-off opposed to a turning point. Six defeats in seven is nothing short of a nightmare for a side who were talking of finally mounting a lasting title challenge and having the squad to compete on all fronts. Anything but victory in Lyon on Wednesday will leave their hopes of qualifying for the next round hanging by a thread and I fear the worst for the Benitez’s side. Lyon have won five from six at home this season but goals haven’t been free-flowing with just nine coming at the Stade Gerland. A 1-0 Lyon win is 11/2.
Arsenal top Group H and will all-but confirm their place in the next round with a win at home to AZ Alkmaar. The Dutch champions scored a last minute equaliser in the last round of games against the Gunners but Arsene Wenger’s side should be on a high following their derby win over Tottenham and have enough to see off the threat of Ronald Koeman’s side. Robin van Persie can’t stop scoring and has six in seven games now and if AZ look to catch Arsenal on the counter attack he may find space at a premium around the Alkmaar box. A set-piece could be the way for Arsenal to break the deadlock in this tie and William Gallas often finds a way to get his name on the score sheet. I’d back Gallas to open the scoring at 16/1.
The shock result in the third round of fixtures was Rubin Kazan’s 2-1 win over holders Barcelona. You can get 20/1 on the Russian champions repeating their 2-1 score line and the same price on Barca to settle the score with a 4-0 away win. European giants AC Milan and Real Madrid go head-to-head again with the Spanish side looking for revenge following a recent 3-2 defeat. Xabi Alonso is an 18/1 shot to break his Madrid duck by opening the scoring in the San Siro.
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