Football Betting – Weekly Tips and Preview
Premier League
Two teams who were in European action in midweek open this Saturday’s Premier League programme. Everton should really have put Sporting Lisbon to the sword (despite a 2-1 win) whilst Manchester United recovered from a shaky first half to record a memorable 3-2 win against AC Milan in the San Siro.
David Moyes’ side are on a good run of form with an away draw against Arsenal and home wins over both Chelsea and Manchester City in 2010. However, United seemed to have started their habitual spring run of form and can be backed at 5/6.
Stoke City are on a good run of form since the turn of the year and they maintained their unbeaten start to 2010 with two consecutive 1-1 draws against Manchester City in four days. They are a resilient outfit with no shortage of quality and I expect them to see off an increasingly doomed Portsmouth side at 11/10 (draw no bet).
Aston Villa are another team yet to lose a match in 2010 and they remain on the coat-tails of Liverpool and Manchester City in the battle for a Champions League qualifying berth. Martin O’Neill’s talented side host Burnley on Sunday whose away record may yet cost them their Premier League status come May. Villa should win the battle of the clarets at 4/11.
Manchester City host Liverpool in a vital game on Sunday and Roberto Mancini’s side could put a real dent in the visitor’s Champions League hopes with a home win. They are 6/4 to do so, although the draw at 9/4 looks the more likely outcome.
Spurs have amassed just six points from their last six league games and their Champions League ambitions look to be receding after an indifferent run of form. On any other weekend, I’d jump all over Spurs to beat Wigan at evens, but Harry Redknapp’s side have looked jaded in recent weeks. Wigan are still desperate for points and so there could be a bit of value in a home win at 14/5.
Monday evening sees an old-fashioned Lancashire derby as Blackburn Rovers host Bolton Wanderers. With neither side particularly pleasing on the eye, and with both in dire need of points to secure their top flight status, this might not be one for the connoisseurs.
Championship
With no win in seven matches, Bristol City are suddenly looking down the Championship table towards the relegation places rather than up the table to the play-off spots. With only one win in their last eleven matches, Gary Johnson’s side are in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.
West Brom, on the other hand, sit at the top of the Championship table after a solid recent run. Roberto di Matteo’s side are the top scorers in the Championship, averaging two goals a game, and have lost just one away fixture all season. The Baggies can reinforce their position at the top of the table with a win at evens.
Scottish Premier League
Rangers continue to set the pace in the Scottish Premier League with a ten point cushion as well as a significantly superior goal difference. Consecutive 3-0 league home wins over Falkirk and Hibernian have cemented Walter Smith’s side’s grip on the top spot and they can continue their good recent run with a win at St Johnstone on Saturday.
Celtic should be able to continue their increasingly forlorn chase with a victory over Dundee United, whilst Motherwell host Hibernian.
Scottish Premier League Betting
La Liga
We suggested last week that Barcelona’s unbeaten season in La Liga could be seriously challenged in the fiery atmosphere of the Vicente Calderon and so it proved; Diego Forlan and Simao’s goals earning Atletico Madrid a 2-1 victory over Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola’s side should be able to bounce back this week, however, as they face a straightforward looking home tie against Racing. The champions are a skinny 1/7 to prevail.
Real Madrid closed the gap at the top of La Liga to two points with a comfortable 3-0 win in Xerez, Cristiano Ronaldo netting two of the goals. Real can keep up the pressure on the leaders by beating Villarreal on Sunday and recording an impressive twelfth consecutive home league win.
With Valencia looking strong in third position, the battle for the final Champions League qualifying berth looks to be between Sevilla and Mallorca who meet at the ONO Estadi this weekend. Whilst Sevilla may, on paper, be the better side, Mallorca have a 100% home record this campaign, conceding just three goals in ten matches. The Barralets are terrific value at 11/8 to win and leapfrog Sevilla into fourth spot.
