Monday, November 30, 2009

Unirea Urziceni vs Gloria Bistrita
Romanian Liga I, 19h00
Despite defeating Sevilla 1-0 in the UCL, Unirea played awful. The lack of quality, both physical and technical is quite clear. Still, they have a coach who was very down to earth and knew just how to field a formation in order to get the result. In this game they will have to attack.
Bistrita is a team that had a miserable start of the campaign, but has regrouped under new coach Halagian. Gloria is second from bottom with just 12 points, but it won't be too late until they will be safe. They are more resilient and know just how to control a game of football now-a-days.

I tip Bistrita to get at least a point today, at 3/2.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Arsenal 0:3 Chelsea
Inter 1:0 Fiorentina
Everton 0:2 Liverpool
Cagliari 2:0 Juventus
Everton vs Liverpool
English Premier League, 14h30
This is the Liverpool derby. One of the fiercest in the world. This is all about pride.
These two teams managed this season to lose as many matches between them, as they did the entire last season, 11 that is. And last season they finished in the top 5.
Everton are plagued with injuries but will throw themselves at their arch rivals. Liverpool are keen to know if Torres will be fit to play, while Gerrard is still not 100% fit, but will play as he is so devoted to the colors. Benitez is on the brink of disaster, as he is out of the UCL and out of the top four so early in the season.
The last time this two met, Everton won 1-0 in injury time.
I will go for Everton not to lose this one, at 1/2.
CS Otopeni 2:0 "U" Cluj-Napoca
Wigan 1:0 Sunderland

Friday, November 27, 2009

Inter vs Fiorentina
Italian Serie A, Sunday 15h00
Inter has beaten Fiorentina in the last 7 games at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. The Nerazzuri have not conceded in the last four match-ups with the Viola in the Italian championship. Mourinho's men have scored the most goals in Italy to date, 32, while Fiorentina have the most clean-sheets, 6.
Inter lost 2-0 at the Camp Nou, a match in which they never shown up, while Fiorentina qualified for the knock-out stage of the UCL after defeating Lyon 1-0. Liverpool were left out of the competition. 
Fiorentina will travel without Mutu, Gamberini and Donadel, while Inter will miss Maicon and probably Sneijder.
I tip Inter to win, at 6/11.
Cagliari vs Juventus
Italian Serie A, Sunday 15h00
Juventus had a miserable game at Bordeaux on Wednesday. They lost 2-0, but they showed they had no ideas, no game plan. Diego couldn't find his place, Del Piero is just back from injury, while Iaquinta and Trezeguet are still out with injuries. Juventus won four of their last five in the domestic league, as did Cagliari.
The Sicilians managed that without conceding, but in the last game at the San Siro they were beaten 4-3 in a memorable match which could have ended with anyone's triumph.
Juventus' coach Ferrara is expected to shift his tactics in order to gain some balance, but this move could fail. Watch out for Cagliari forward, Matri.

I tip Cagliari not to lose, at 4/5.
Arsenal vs Chelsea
English Premier League, Sunday 17h00
Chelsea's 4-1 win at Ashbuton Grove in May was the worst home defeat in the Premier League for Arsenal and also the last time Wenger had lost there. Didier Drogba scored 8 goals in 8 matches against Arsenal, while the Gunners managed to defeat Chelsea just twice in 14 competitive matches. 
Chelsea have got the meanest defence in the league, having conceded only 8 goals in 13 outings, while they haven't conceded in 7 of the last 8 matches in all competitions.
Arsenal have a lot of injuries to contend with:; the most important are Robin van Persie, Bendtner and Gibbs. Chelsea will miss Bosingwa for 3 months, other than that Frank Lampard will be back from injury.
I tip Chelsea to win, at 17/10.
Wigan vs Sunderland
English Premier League, Saturday 16h00
These two teams had different kind of results last week-end. Wigan lost soundly at Spurs (9-1), while Sunderland defeated Arsenal by the only goal. 
Still Wigan have not lost in 4 games at home, while Sunderland have won just once in 16 away games. To add to that, the visitors have won just once in 7 attempts against tomorrows opponents.
Wigan play attacking football, while Sunderland are managed by formar Latics' manager, Steve Bruce.
I tip Wigan to bounce back from their dismantling at Tottenham and win, priced at 16/10.
CS Otopenti vs "U" Cluj-Napoca
Romanian Liga II, Saturday 12h00
These are the teams that have scored the most goals this season. But the guests have conceded the least. That is the most important I reckon.
"U" has a very good Brazilian youngster, Machado. He has managed 7 goals to date. I think the tactical advantage will favor the best side and that is "U". They've managed to beat the leaders last Saturday by 2-0 and that was a breath-taking performance, the guests having just one shot on goal and even that came in injury time when there was nothing left to do.

I tip "U" Cluj-Napoca to win, at 13/10.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

APOEL 1:1 Atletico Madrid
Bordeaux 2:0 Juventus

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I boast a marvelous rate of success. 
That's 70.57% (331 successful tips out of 469 published).
Bordeaux vs Juventus
Uefa Champions League, 20h45
Bordeaux have assured qualification after twice beating FC Bayern. They have since lost two matches in the domestic league, the last one being 0-1 at home to lowly Valenciennes. Chamakh is very doubtful, while Gourcuff will certainly miss the tie.
Juventus travel to France knowing a win will all but put them through with a game in hand. It will spare them the blushes come the last group game against FC Bayern at home. Iaquinta and Trezeguet are out and they are important, but other than that the Bianconeri boast a full squad, including talismatic captain Alessandro del Piero who is back from a groin injury. He played as a second half substitute in a Sunday 1-0 against Udinese.
I tip Juve to win, at 8/5.
APOEL vs Atletico Madrid
Uefa Champions League, 20h45
The two teams have failed to qualify further. Still, they fight it out tonight for a place in the Europa League. The reverse game finished 0-0 in Madrid and it was an embarrassment for the home side as they were superior for the whole 90 minutes.
Quique Sanchez Flores, the Spaniards coach, will through all his fire power at the opposition tonight, including Maxi, Simao, Forlan and Aguero. I reckon it will be too much for the home side.
I tip Atletico to win, at 6/5.
Fiorentina 1:0 Olympique Lyonnais

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Fiorentina vs Lyon
Uefa Champions League, 20h45
Fiorentina needs a win tonight to assure they qualify for the knock-out stage and oust Liverpool of this competition. It will be a tough job as they lost to nil in the reverse match and are missing three of their most important men: Mutu, Jovetic and Gamberini. Still, it is not make or brake time for Viola, who mantain high chances to qualify even if they don't manage it today.
Lyon are already qualified but not assured of the 1st place. Bodmer and Toulalan are the big absentees from the French squad. All their attacking men are available, including Pjanic, Bastos, Gomis and Lisandro.
I tip both teams to score, at 4/5.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Tenerife 1:2 Sevilla
Athletic vs Barcelona
Spanish Primera Liga, 22h00
Athletic are a decent side. They are playing physical and direct football. Athletic have always started well against Barca before eventually succumbing to the passing of the Blaugrana.

Barcelona will look forward to facing Inter and Realmadrid next week. Ibrahimovic, Yaya Toure and Henry will miss this game.
I tip Bilbao not to lose after the first half, at 5/4.
Tenerife vs Sevilla
Spanish Primera Division, 18h00
Tenerife are looking for wins in order to stay in the Spanish flight come the end of the season.
Sevilla are 3rd and as president del Nido said they are looking to battle for the crowns. There are a lot of injuries in the Andalusian squad, but the likes of Jesus Navas, Perroti, Luis Fabiano and Negredo will put an enormous attacking pressure on the hosts.
I believe Sevilla will win it, at 8/11.