I have to brag about a formidable rate of succes.

69.9% (274 correct tips out of 392).

Aston Villa 2:2 Arsenal

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

English Premier League, 17h15

Arsenal have had a bad season so far. They are fifth in the standings. Although they haven't lost against the big guns beating United and Chelsea whilst drawing with Liverpool, they managed to lose 5 times. In addition to that, they have to face a lot of injuries and suspensions. Cesc Fabregas is the latest of the casulties. He joins Walcott and Rosicky on the sidelines. Adebayor will be suspended for tonight's clash.

Villa is 3rd and aims to finish in the top four. They are in great form at the moment. Also, they won at the Emirates 2-0 about a month ago. Their pacey attacking men, Agbonlahor and Ashley Young have done a lot of damage and one can expect that with Arsenal's gung-ho style, they will do it again.

I tip Aston Villa not to lose. The value of the bet is 1/2.

West Ham 0:1 Aston Villa

West Ham vs Aston Villa

English Premier League

West Ham managed a great game last Sunday at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, drawing 1-1. The Hammers blocked 17 shots then, more than any other team this season. But manager Gianfranco Zola hasn't had the best start in the Premier League. His team scored 5 goals in the first two matches, but then did the same in the following 11 !!! They haven't won a game against the top eight teams. With Dean Ashton and Gabbidon still injured the situation is still bad. Meanwhile the Icelandic owner is lining up ofers to seel the club.

Aston Villa are sitting fourth, above Arsenal and that is a great achievement for Martin O'Neill. They are great away from home, having great speed on the wings with Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. Their last away game was a 3-2 win at Everton, after they managed a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

Although seven of the last eight games of this fixtures finished in draws, I believe Villa will win this.

I tip Aston Villa not to lose, with prices as high as 2/5.

Sevilla 1:0 Villarreal

Hoffenheim 1:1 Schalke

Fiorentina 2:0 Catania

Sevilla vs Villarreal

Spanish Primera Division, 19h00

Villarreal and Sevilla are in the UCL zone, 2nd and 4th respectively. Villarreal has almost kept up with Barca's pace, as the Yellow Submarine managed to lose only once this season, at home to Valladolid. Away they are very good, having won 4 and drawn 3. Also they managed a good UCL campaign, drawing twice against Manchester United and finishing second in their group. On Wednesday they've lost 2-0 at Celtic. 

The guests are without right back Javi Venta and also with three of their most important front-men: Cani, Nihat and Rossi. Let's say they have a scarce record at Sevilla, where they haven't managed to score more than once in a game and haven't won to date.

Sevilla come to this match after beating Real Madrid 4-3 at the Bernabeu. Their morale couldn't be higher. Also, Luis Fabiano, their most important goalscorer comes back after a one match suspension. Manolo Jimenez has a great pair at the back in the two Frenchmen, Squillaci and Escude. The fact that Jesus Navas is available will be the main factor in today's outcome. The right wing man will come the crosses for the likes of Luis Fabiano and Kanoute.

I tip Sevilla to win tonight. The value is at about 11/10.

Hoffenheim vs Schalke 04

German Bundesliga, 17h00

I usualy don't analyze German domestic fixtures, because they are so unpredictable. But this one has a great value, so I will plunge right in it. Schalke is a title contender each year. They play in the European competitions each year, they have a strong owner and last but not least a state of the art venue. Hoffenheim are newcomers in the German top-flight. They have a very ambitios owner who brought them up from the 7th league in about 15 years.

Now, Schalke are struggling to keep up with the front pack as the have a mediocre season. They are not at all consistent at the moment. Some info about the players: captain Bordon comes back after an injury, while goalscorer Kevin Kuranyi is sidelined and won't be on the field tonight.

Hoffenheim is second at the moment and has a great chance of finishing top of the tables come winter, as they are just one point behind FC Bayern.

Their coach Ralf Ragnick, also the coach that won the most points with Schalke (he was fired in 2006), has don wonders with a very young team. He has two Brazilians in the midfield, with the man to watch being Carlos Alberto. In attack there are three goalscoring machines: Ibisevic(24), Obasi and Demba Ba, with the last two being also very physical in their approach of the game. That is the main advantage of the home side in my eyes.

I back Hoffenheim to win, at 6/5.

Fiorentina vs Catania

Italian Serie A, 15h00

Coach Zenga  managed a good run with relegation favourites Catania, picking almost all the points at home in the process. Away they were pretty good too, managing to lose by only one goal at Milan and Inter and drawing at Juve. They will have to do without Mascara in Florence though, who is their most versatile player. Of course their defence is strong, but the men from Sicily will have the most prolific attacking pair in Serie A, Mutu and Gilardino. These two have 17 goals between them.

Fiorentina are qualified for the Uefa Cup knock-out stage after they managed to finish 3rd in the UCL group. La Viola are fighting for the top four places in the Serie A, so they can qualify again for the European top-flight competition next season. The absentees for Prandelli will be Felipe Melo, Jorgensen and Dainelli, but the sheer attacking prowess will lead the host side to victory.

I back Fiorentina for a win, which is priced at 1/2.

Barcelona 2:0 Real Madrid

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Spanish Primera Liga, 22h00

This is "El Clasico". Puyol vs Raul, Messi vs Ramos, Eto'o vs Casillas. And from now it is Pep Guardiola vs Juande Ramos. There are 9 points between these two, but that doesn't count for nothing when these to enemies come head to head. It is the fiercest rivalry in football. It is Catalunya against Spain. 

There are a few absentees like Iniesta and Keita for Barca, van Nistelrooy and Robben for Real Madrid. But the magic will be there. Be sure of it.

My feeling says Real will grab at least a point. It is an amazing price of 6/5 for this outcome.

Porto 2:0 Arsenal

Steaua 0:1 Fiorentina

Steaua Bucuresti vs Fiorentina
Uefa Champions League, 20h45
This is the clash which will decide third place in their respective group and a spot in the Uefa Cup. Fiorentina needs only a draw in this game, while the hosts should win if they want to go through.
Steaua has been awful at home in the last three seasons of this competition, where they haven't managed to win. In fact they haven't got a win in the last three years, the last one coming at Kiev, 4-1 in their first game back in the European top-flight competition. They need a win tonight in order to progress but D. Munteanu will have to do without several key men, as Ogararu, Goian, Szekely and Kapetanos are definitely out, with Ghionea very doubtful and with Arthuro's contract being terminated. That means they will have to replace 3 men from the defensive line, which was their best part and some key players in attack.
Fiorentina comes to Romania with a great attacking force, which they proved in the domestic league, where they sit in the top four. Montolivo, Kuzmanovic, Vargas and Santana sustain a great attack containing Mutu and Gilardino, which have 16 goals between them this season.
I pick Fiorentina for this one (draw or win), priced at 2/5.

FC Porto vs Arsenal
Uefa Champions League, 20h45
These teams are fighting for top spot in their group. Arsenal have 2 points in front and only need a draw in this game to secure first place. The Gunners have a poor domestic season, struggling to keep up the pace set by Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. So, Arsene Wenger will rest the likes of Kolo Toure, Adebayor and van Persie. In addition to that Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are out injured, which means we'll see the Baby Arsenal tonight, as the young guns will try to prove a point to the manager. The likes of Carlos Vela and Merida will be envolved.
Porto lost the game at the Emirates 4-0, which means they will look for some vendetta. Still, they do have a good record against English teams, particularly at home where they are undefeooltead against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. The last time these two met at Do Dragao it was goalless.
I predict a draw or win for Porto, valued at 2/5.

Real Madrid 3:4 Sevilla

Real Madrid vs Sevilla
Spanish Primera Division, 21h00
This will be as entertaining as a football match can get. The stage will be set at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the Spanish capital for a great spectacle tonight as two of Spain's best teams meet. One cannot expect nothing short of magic as these two are set on attacking football.
Real has 5 wins and a draw at home this season, whilst Sevilla has lost just once away. In the last 3 games between these two teams at the Bernabeu there were 17 goals scored, which means almost 6 per match!!!
With a win, Sevilla can overcome Real in the standings. But Real has to gain confidence before the most important game of the season, El Clasico. Barcelona will entertain Real in six days time.
Now for today's teams. Real misses injured Snejder, Metzelder, van Nistelrooy and Heinze, while Cannavaro is back in the squad to face Sevilla. The guests will be without the suspended Luis Fabiano and the injured Maresca and Javi Navarro.
I tip Real Madrid to outcome the Sevilla force today. The value of the bet is as high as 6/5.

Bolton 0:2 Chelsea

Bolton vs Chelsea
English Premier League, 16h00
Bolton had a great spell last month, winning 5 out of six league matches and that means the relegation contenders lie in the top half of the table. Gary Megson did a decent job since he was appointed in spring. He saved Bolton from relegation when everybody thougth that was impossible.
Chelsea are great away from home, even though they will have to do without Drogba, Carvalho and Essien. The Blues must bounce back after they lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal and also lost the first place by a point.
I predict a clear win for Chelsea, valued at 3/5.

Atletico 4:1 Racing