Karim Benzema

Well, the Champions League final this year beholds just a tad more than normal with the winners looking most likely to land European wonderkid Karim Benzema. The Olympique Lyonnais talisman has all but said that the Champions League is integral to his future at Olympique Lyonnais and I simply cannot see them obtaining a result at Nou Camp so I suspect he may leave in summer. Naturally, I’d love to see this gem of a player at Manchester United but Barcelona are rumoured to be rivalling Manchester United’s interest. Either way, it does seem certain he’ll leave in Summer with Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas adding fuel to the fire claiming Manchester City launched an outrageous bid to lure him to England in January. I doubt they did, but even if they did, he’s clearly trying to rattle the sabre, so to speak. I suspect a move away from Stade Gerland is imminent for the talented striker which would surely all but end Olympique Lyonnais as any kind of European force as they cannot keep hold of their players anymore. Thoughts?

Friday’s Picks

My tips:

Today, I fancy welcoming back the Austrian Bundesliga by backing Austria Vienna in a treble. I think coupling them with Livorno and PSV Eindhoven should be a rewarding bet. However, if you feel more daring for some inane reason, I’d recommend adding Besiktas and/or Metalurg Donetsk to the bet to make it an accumulator.

I would also advise you all to stay away from the French Ligue 2 at the moment. As you can plainly see, there’s approximately 1 game I’m pretty happy will occur – that’s not a good thing. Bet at your own risk! This league has been ridiculous lately!

Austrian Bundesliga:

SCR Altach vs Austria Vienna (8) 1-3

Belgian Eerste Klasse:

Mechelen vs Racing Genk (6) 1-2

English Championship:

Doncaster Rovers vs Derby County (6)

Finnish Liiga Cup:

HJK Helsinki vs FC Honka Espoo (6) 3-2

French Ligue 2:

Bastia vs Boulogne (5)
Brest vs Amiens (6)
Chateauroux vs Tours (5)
Clermont Foot vs AC Ajaccio (6)
Dijon FCO vs Guingamp (5)
Sedan-Ardennes vs Montpellier HSC (6)
Nimes vs Angers (8)
Stade de Reims vs Metz (6)
Vannes OC vs Strasbourg (6)

German Bundesliga:

Koln vs Arminia Bielefeld (6) 2-0

Hungarian Soproni Liga:

Haladas vs Fehervar (5)

Italian Serie B:

Livorno vs Empoli (7)

Dutch Eredivisie:

PSV Eindhoven vs Heerenveen (7) 3-2

Dutch Eerste Divisie:

FC Den Bosch vs Haarlem (4)
Emmen vs RBC Roosendaal (6)
Excelsior vs FC Eindhoven (7)
MVV Maastricht vs Top Oss (7)
Omniworld vs Fortuna Sittard (4)
Stormvogels Telstar vs AGOVV Appeldoorn (5)
VVV Venlo vs Dordrecht ’90 (9)
RKC Waalwijk vs Cambuur Leeuwarden (6)
FC Zwolle vs BV Veendam (8)

Northern Irish Premier League:

Ballymena vs Bangor (4)
Dungannon Swifts vs Glentoran (8)
Glenavon vs Cliftonville (8)
Linfield vs Coleraine (8)
Newry vs Institute (5)

Polish Ekstraklasa:

Polonia Bytom vs Wisla Krakow (8) 1-2
Polonia Warsaw vs Legia Warsaw (6) 1-1, red card in this game

Portuguese Liga:

SL Benfica vs Leixoes (7) 1-0

Romanian Liga:

Poli Iasi vs Univ. Craiova (6) 0-1
Steau Bucharest vs Vaslui (7) 2-1

Turkish Super Lig:

Besiktas vs Buyuksehir (8) 2-0

Ukrainian Premier League:

Metalurg Donetsk vs Kryvbas (8) 2-0

Welsh Premier League:

Connah’s Quay Nomads vs The New Saints (8)

Enjoy your free betting tips!