Sunday, January 30, 2011

Juventus vs Udinese
Italian Serie A, 20h45
Juventus have had a mediocre season. They never looked like title contenders and that is due to long spells of inconsistency. The Italian giants are having great troubles because of injuries and today they are facing Italy's most spectacular outfit, Udinese.
Udinese has managed a great game at San Siro, drawing 4-4 with AC Milan and also destroyed Inter 3-1 at Friuli just a week ago. Watch out for Alexis Sanchez and top scorer Di Natale.
I tip Udinese to win this game, at 2/1.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Espanyol vs Barcelona
Spanish Primera Division, 20h00
Tonight is a special night in Catalunia. The City of Gaudi is divided between "los pericos" and "los cules".
One cannot find a better time for these two sides to clash horns. Espanyol are having their best start of the season in years, with 7 out of 7 home wins. Coach Pochettino has really made it hard for Barcelona every time they met.
Barcelona have won 7 out of 7 away games and have not conceded in the last 6 games scoring 26 goals while conceding none. But the head to head record is as neutral as it can be with Barcelona winning 3 and Espanyol 2 of the last ten clashes between them.
I tip Espanyol not to lose this clash, at 7/2.
Stoke 1:1 Manchester City

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Rapid 3:0 "U" Cluj
Stoke vs Manchester City
English Premier League, 16h00
It has been more than 30 games since City haven't lost when Tevez scored. Mancini also got this team on the right track. The Sky Blues have kept 7 clean sheets this season, second only to Chelsea's eight. Balotelli is back after suspension.
Stoke have got their season back on track after a poor start. They are the worst team if you count only the first half performances, but also the joint first in the second.
I do tip City to win this one, at 6/5.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Rapid vs "U" Cluj-Napoca
Romanian Liga I, 19h30
Rapid is 3rd in the standings but went through a horrible form recently. They did not manage to win in the last 4 games, losing twice in the process. That came after a great start of the season. But that is just common for this side. The match will be played without spectators due to a penalty thrown at the home side.
"U" Cluj will be at full strength tonight and has always played good football against sides from the upper half of the standings, losing just to Steaua in the process. Do expect lots of goals tonight.
I tip "U" Cluj to score anytime during the game, at 7/10.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Real Madrid 2:0 Atletico Madrid
England vs France
International Friendly, 21h00
This will be a clash between two big powers of International football. Still, after a woeful World Cup in which both were dispatched home in the early stages, England and France seek a rebuilding of their respective squads. The Three Lions confide in the same man Capello do to the job, while les Bleus have appointed Laurent Blanc in charge.
Both teams will be full of youngsters which are trying to establish themselves at International level. Carroll and Henderson are the ones to watch for the Brits, while M'Vila and Rami.
I can feel a more determined French side and that said the odds are higher than I think they should be.
So, I back up France not to lose, at 3/5.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
Spanish Primera Division, 21h00
This is the Madrid derby. It is now most important for Atletico, because they are the ones who will try to prove something. Atletico have managed to win away in the Europa League on Thursday which is a big boost of confidence. They will also have Forlan and Aguero up front, which means chances to score.
Real Madrid boast the best defence and attack force in La Liga. Mourinho is the best manager if you ask me and Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world in my opinion. But, :)
I tip Atletico to score anytime tonight, at 4/5.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Friday, October 01, 2010

Universitatea Craiova vs "U" Cluj
Romanian Liga I, 17h30
These teams are two of the better supported sides in Romania. Universitatea Craiova represents a region with very passionate people and has been the proudness of its fans. "U" Cluj is the most popular team in almost 1/3 of Romania. Both have something in common. They've started a resurgence in seek of performance that has eluded both for some decades.
The hosts have put Piturca in charge, who coached the national team at Euro 2008. He is a very respected manager in Romania, having also been a very good footballer. He has brought fresh air to a youthful team that was underachieving, having won just 2 points in 4 games before his arrival. With Piturca on the bench they've managed 2 wins, a loss and a draw against the second placed team, Rapid.
"U" Cluj have promoted this summer after almost a decade of lower league football and have great ambitions. The guests have started very well, positioned in 8th spot after 9 games with 14 points. They've beaten Dinamo Bucharest away, as well as last season's runners up. They have also drawn with the reigning champions and also against Vaslui, both 1-1; while beating the current leaders.
Claudiu Niculescu is the main striking power, at 34. He scored 6, but has a total of 145 goals in the Romanian First Division, which is the 2nd highest at the moment behind ex-teammate and good friend Danciulescu. Niculescu has great respect for the opposite coach, while the latter has said that they will take every measure needed in order to keep the striker at bay. Piturca said "U" Cluj is a team that can always score 3 times in a game.I have to mention the fact the "U" has scored in every single game this season.
I tip "U" Cluj to score at least once today, at 1/2.
Manchester City 1:1 Juventus

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Manchester City vs Juventus
Uefa Europa League, 21h05
Juventus have a mediocre start of the season, condimented with a couple of thumpings (4-0 at Udinese and 4-2 at home to Cagliari). The bianconeri are really scoring for fun under new coach Del Neri, but also tend to concede a lot of goals (see consecutive 3-3 results against Sampdoria and Lech Poznan and a 1-3 loss to Palermo, all at home). They changed a lot of personel during the summer, bringing in Bonucci, Pepe, Quagliarella, Aquilani or Krasic (all at huge costs) and selling the likes of Diego, Camoranesi, Trezeguet, Giovinco or Poulsen. Having in mind the injury suffered by Buffon, they have brought in Storari from Milan, whose play was bad to this moment in the season. Expect him to concede a couple tonight.
Manchester City have had a big test at the weekend, beating free-scoring Chelsea, 1-0. Mancini imposed a defensive approach and it was the way to win against the Blues. City have had another busy summer, bringing in players for huge sums of money, like David Silva, Kolarov, Jerome Boateng, James Milner, Balotelli, Adam Johnson or Yaya Toure. The Sky Blues are on a high and I think Mancini will drive them to UCL qualification come next summer. They've won their previous game in this competition, away at Salzburg
I tip City to win, at 2/3.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona
Spanish Primera Division, 22h00
The Basques have a good start of the campaign, just 2 points behind their opponents. Bilbao have always had been so powerful at home, that Barca will find it again so difficult in San Mames.
Messi is injured, while Puyol is doubtful.
I tip Athletic not to lose this one, at evens.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Everton vs Manchester United
English Premier League, Saturday 13h45
The club football is back after the international fixtures and I am picking an intriguing encounter to analyze. Everton take on Manchester United at Goodison Park and the stats are not on the hosts side. Everton has only one point from 3 games compared to United's seven. Everton are used to getting off to poor start of the season. The last couple of season's it was the same old story for them, having to get back in the pack. The good news for David Moyes is the fact that he has his three better players injury-free and we will enjoy watching Tim Cahill,  Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar battling out with Sir Alex Ferguson's troops.
Last year's corresponding feature finished 3-1 for the hosts. United will have had more players on international duty and maybe that will be a disadvantage. Rio Ferdinand, Hargreaves and Anderson will miss out, while Rooney was doubtful but will play following the press scandal he was involved in last week.
I tip Everton not to lose this tie, at 4/5.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010