Football Betting
Premier League
The tense rivalries at both ends of the Premier League recommence this weekend with vital battles raging for the title, Champions League places and to avoid relegation.
Liverpool’s unexpected defeat to Wigan last Monday means that the fourth Champions League spot really is up for grabs. Tottenham are one of a handful of teams with realistic European ambitions and they can continue their push for fourth spot with a home win against Blackburn Rovers in front of the TV cameras on Saturday.
Hull City once again found themselves in the bottom three after their mauling at the hands of Everton on Sunday and it gets no easier for Phil Brown’s men with Arsenal the visitors on Saturday evening. Even with Arsenal’s injury problems they should be too good for Hull and can be backed at 2/5 to continue their title push.
Manchester United continue their quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title with a winnable home tie against Fulham on Sunday. United were far from convincing in their defeat of Wolves on Saturday but their Old Trafford form is excellent and they should avenge their 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage with a win at 1/4.
Manchester City now remain in pole position to claim the final Champions League qualifying spot and Roberto Mancini’s team face an away trip to Sunderland on Sunday. Whilst their form hasn’t been fantastic, City should be able to eke out a win in this one against a Black Cats side who seem bereft of any confidence or belief. City are good value at 11/10.
Premier League Matches
Championship
It’s fair to say that the fortunes of the two North Eastern teams relegated from the Premier League last May has been mixed. Newcastle kept the bulk of their squad intact have taken the Championship by storm and look set for an immediate return to the top flight. Middlesbrough, however, have seen a huge turnover of players and a change of management as Gordon Strachan tries to guide Boro towards the play-offs.
The two meet at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday and it is a match Boro simply have to win if they are going to snatch a play-off berth. Their form is a bit hit and miss, although they have won their last three Championship home matches and can help their cause with a win over their North East rivals at 7/4.
Nottingham Forest leapfrogged the Baggies into second spot after their late show against Swansea City on Saturday and Billy Davies faces a trip to Preston, one of his former clubs. West Bromwich Albion take on Blackpool at the Hawthorns.
Championship Matches
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Cup reaches the quarter final stage this weekend with both the Old Firm teams in action.
Celtic look to have little chance of reclaiming the Premier League title and so the Cup remains their best chance of silverware. Tony Mowbray’s side face Kilmarnock who beat Celtic just a few short weeks ago. I expect it to be a different outcome this time, however, and Robbie Keane can continue his goal scoring form by firing Celtic to a win at Rugby Park at 2/5.
Rangers can continue their push for another Double and they should beat Dundee United at Ibrox.
Elsewhere, Dundee play Raith and Hibernian can reach the semi-finals with a win over Ross County at 3/10.
Scottish Cup Matches
La Liga
After the last round of matches, the La Liga title race is balanced on a knife edge. Real Madrid’s spectacular comeback against Sevilla propelled them to the top of the La Liga standings as Rafael van der Vaart’s 92nd minute winner gave Real three vital points. With a superior goal difference and the momentum behind them, Real may be tough to stop and they can secure a further three points with a win at Valladolid this Sunday.
Barcelona are struggling with injuries and the sending off of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Almeria last weekend will see the Swedish frontman suspended for the visit of Valencia. Los Che are the ‘best of the rest’ in Spanish football and this could be another awkward night for the Catalan giants. Valencia are good value at 13/2.
La Liga Matches
Bundesliga
It’s a three way fight for the German title this season and Bayer Leverkusen can bounce back from their first defeat of the season (to lowly Nuremberg) in Sunday’s televised game. They face Hamburg who sit in fourth place at the Bay Arena and the home side are good value at 11/10 to keep up the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich.
Bundesliga Betting
