Manchester City vs Chelsea
FreeToday’s featured game is the English Premier League match between two of the richest clubs in the world – Manchester City and Chelsea. Despite largely contrasting performances mid-week by both sides in their respective League Cup Quarter-Final games, this game signifies the return of game with actual importance, a game which will no doubt see two very different performances to those shown mid-week.
Ignoring Manchester City’s convincing win against Arsenal in the League Cup mid-week, the hosts have drawn seven out of their last seven games. Their defence has looked nervy and uncertain whilst their attacking potency has been sporadic at best. Manchester City have the players to cause problems in this game but it’s hard to see them doing so because they’re not playing well aenough as a team yet. That said, Manchester City are one of just three Premier League sides yet to lose a home game, drawing three times and winning three times. However, amongst the list of sides that have drawn here are lowly Hull City and local rivals Burnley, names that really shouldn’t be on that list but are because of Manchester City’s woeful defending of late.
Chelsea are looking immaculate in the league currently with Drogba and Anelka both playing right out of the top drawer. Chelsea are currently epitomising what Manchester City can only dream of emulating by boasting an experienced squad with a lot of variety to their play. To top that off, however, Chelsea are playing games that they’re winning with crucially clinical finishing, something that should cause an awful lot of problems in a leaky Manchester City defence tonight. I don’t acknowledge Chelsea’s mid-week defeat to Blackburn Rovers on penalties because it was a defeat in a meaningless competition that Chelsea fielded an under-strength team for. The fact is that Chelsea are playing the best football in the Premier League currently and have won five out of seven away games already, which spells danger for Manchester City.
Overall, I feel there’s a real mis-match in quality between these two sides and a real mis-match in momentum too. The odds on the away win are definitely worth taking, in my humble opinion!
Verdict: Chelsea to win at 10/11.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Standard de Liege vs Germinal Beerschot – lay Standard de Liege at 10/11.
Hosts Standard de Liege are looking less and less convincing each time I see them. They’ve won just once in their last five Eerste Klasse games, losing their last two games consecutively. They’ve only conceded six goals in those games but their paltry goalscoring record of four simply isn’t good enough for a club of their stature and ability. Frankly, the wind has been well and truly knocked out of their sails and they’re looking a shadow of the club that they were last season.
Visitors Germinal Beerschot aren’t as good as Standard de Liege – fact. However, their form lately is matched only by league leaders Anderlecht with five consecutive wins. Needless to say that Germinal Beerschot’s momentum is incredibly strong at the moment and their belief has peaked. Their away form is respectable as I didn’t think they’d do as well as they have thus far as they’ve only suffered three defeats on the road this season, winning three times and drawing twice. Germinal don’t tend to score many away goals but frankly Standard’s goal-shy performances make me believe that it shouldn’t be too hard for one goal to make the difference for Germinal tonight.
Verdict: Lay Standard de Liege at 10/11.
Slaven Koprivnica vs Cibalia – home win at 4/5.
Hosts Slaven Koprivnica are unbeaten in their last six games and boast one of the best home records in the Prva Liga with seven wins in eight home games. Only Dinamo Zagreb have scored more goals at home than they have with today’s hosts averaging nearly three goals scored per home game. Slaven adopt a highly attacking approach to their home games and often concede goals at home as a result. Nonetheless, their attacking style tends to yield more successes than disappointments so it’s easy to see why the hosts maintain their free-flowing football and reputation as one of the Prva Liga’s better sides.
Visitors Cibalia have played well this season but are ultimately pretenders to the throne as they’re simply not good enough to be where they are. Nonetheless, respect must be given where it’s earned and Cibalia’s nine wins in sixteen games has certainly earned my respect, particularly as they’ve learned how to win on the road. However, their away form does remain their Achilles heel and a talented Slaven Koprivnica look to be the side to expose that after Cibalia have gone five games unbeaten. The visitors have lost just two away games this season and conceded less away goals than any other side in the division but today face a side that are more than capable of breaking down their defences and really should do so.
Although this game has the potential to be very close, I can’t help but feel an impressive Slaven Koprivinica will take three points away from this game.
Verdict: Slaven Koprivnica to win at 4/5.
Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool – lay Liverpool at evens.
Hosts Blackburn Rovers enter this game with considerable momentum following some good performances in the league lately which has seen them win twice, draw once, and lose just once in their last four games. They also overcame Chelsea in the League Cup mid-week, albeit on penalties, to add to that list. What impresses me more about Blackburn Rovers is their unity since manager Sam Allardyce went into hospital for his operation. At the time, Blackburn really needed their manager to maintain order and keep today’s hosts taking points in their home games to stay in the Premier League. Blackburn have defied the odds and are now starting to look the difficult side that they used to be under Mark Hughes. To top the above off, only one side has won against Blackburn at Ewood Park this season and it’s hard to see an out-of-sorts Liverpool amending that against a feisty Blackburn.
Visitors Liverpool are still in their dismal state of affairs. I’m reading absolutely nothing into their shambolic win against bitter rivals Everton last weekend as the only games that Liverpool appear to motivate themselves for nowadays are against their local rivals. Aside from that, their performance was poor and I can’t see that any of their big problems have been resolved. There’s no doubt that Liverpool are capable of winning this game but I just can’t see it against a rejuvenated and tricky Blackburn Roverst oday.
Verdict: Lay Liverpool at evens.
Derby County vs West Bromwich Albion – away win at 10/11.
Hosts Derby County have won two of their last five games but still look extremely vulnerable defensively with one of the highest goals conceded records in the Championship. No side has lost more games than they have in the Championship this year although a few sides can match their record. Derby have played well at home this season with six wins in nine home games. That said, their last two home wins were against poor opponents and were purely narrow victories. Today they host one of the best sides in the division so we’ll see how good they can actually be at home.
Visitors West Bromwich Albion look back to their best as they steamroller throught the Championship with four wins from four games, scoring fifteen goals along the way, which is an average of nearly four goals per game! You don’t need me to tell you that this record is beyond impressive, as is the fact that they’ve won five away games in nine attempts, tasting defeat just once. West Bromwich Albion already average two goals scored per away game and have twice the squad that a mediocre Derby County do.
Basically, this should be a fairly routine away win for a very potent West Bromwich Albion today.
Verdict: West Bromwich Albion to win at 10/11.
Crewe Alexandra vs Lincoln City – home win at 4/5.
After a massively impressive win at Chesterfield mid-week, Crewe Alexandra enter this game unbeaten in three games and having won their last two games consecutively. We all know that Crewe Alexandra are capable of being a good side and they’re finally beginning to show it, scoring seven goals in their past three games. They’re on a roll entering this game so their momentum is strong and we already know that they’re a better side than today’s hosts Lincoln City so we have good foundations for a home win here!
Visitors Lincoln City are really struggling and haven’t won in seven League Two games. They’ve lost three of their last five games, drawing twice, and simply aren’t scoring enough goals. Only bottom club Darlington can better Lincoln’s abysmal away record of seven defeats in nine games and that record doesn’t look likely to improve today as they’re entering this game with zero momentum against a very good Crewe Alexandra.
Verdict: Crewe Alexandra to win at 4/5.
Koblenz vs St.Pauli – away win at 11/10.
Koblenz are bravely battling against relegation but frankly two wins in their past five games isn’t the kind of record that they want to be able to boast unless they intend on actually being relegated. Nonetheless, this is the record that they’re stuck with and it unfortunately compliments the fact that they’ve only scored twelve goals in fourteen games this season, thus leading into yet another issue. Koblenz have been quite reliable at home this season with two wins, two draws, and just three defeats in their seven home games. However, their goal-shy displays coupled with their consistency in conceding goals spells disaster today as they host a much better side than they are.
Visitors St.Pauli are flying high and have now won five games out of seven on the road this season. No side has won more away games tha they have in the Bundesliga 2 this season and nobody can match their phenomenal goalscoring record away from home as they average nearly three goals scored per away game. With three wins in their last four games, St.Pauli have got the momentum, the ability, and the attacking potency to crush their lesser hosts today and I thoroughly expect them to do with considerable ease.
Verdict: St.Pauli to win at 11/10.
Rhodos vs Kerkyra – away win at 11/8.
Hosts Rhodos are without a win in their last five games, losing their last three games consecutively. With that in mind, it’s not difficult to see just why Rhodos are battling relegation. They’ve already lost three out of five home games this season, winning just once, and simply aren’t playing well enough to change it. Rhodos are averaging two goals per game conceded currently and as they entertain arguably the best side in the Ethniki B, this can only be of grave concern to the hosts.
Kerkyra are seeking to do this year what they couldn’t manage to do last season by gaining promotion to the Super League. Kerkyra came very close to achieving promotion but were unfortunate to miss out. However, eight wins and three draws from eleven games this season really shows their intent and the fact that they’ve scored over two goals per game on average shows their attacking potency. Kerkyra have won five games in a row now and have absolutely everything in their favour as they travel to Rhodos.
Basically, this looks to be a real no-brainer today but at remarkably good odds!
Verdict: Kerkyra to win at 11/8.
Triestina vs Crotone – home win at 11/10.
Triestina have long been a reliable home side and this season is no exception. They’ve already won six out of eight home games and this solid foundation is the predominant reasoning behind their currenty Serie B league placing of eighth. They’ve won three out of their last five games, losing just once, but still efficiently rolling onwards. Triestina aren’t big goalscorers and tend to conceded more goals than they’d like to but remain a clinical and generally reliable side, particularly when playing at home.
Visitors Crotone have been phenomenal lately on the back of a five-game unbeaten run which has seen them win four time and draw once. To bet against this kind of form is difficult but I just don’t believe Crotone have the quality to match Triestina today. Crotone have been beaten three times away from home this season and although it’s been some time since they were beaten, Crotone are more than aware that they’re facing an established Serie B side in their own backyard and know that they’re up for a very rough ride ideed to get a result here.
This should be a tight game but Triestina have more than enough in their arsenal to see off the challenge of lowly Crotone today.
Verdict: Triestina to win at 11/10.
Kashiwa Reysol vs Kawasaki Frontale – away win at 5/6.
Hosts Kashiwa Reysol have nothing left to play for this season so their recent good momentum doesn’t count for very much. The fact that they’ve lost nine home games out of sixteen this season suggests why they’ve finished so low in the table, winning a meager two games at home all season. No side has conceded as many goals at home as they have and that looks likely to continue today against high-flying Kawasaki Frontale.
Kawasaki Frontale are second in the J-League with one game remaining, just two points behind league leaders Kashima Antlers. Whereas it’s unlikely that the current league leaders will slip up in the remaining game, Kawasaki Frontale must nonetheless win this game in case they do. Fortunately for the visitors, they’ve playing a poor side that is devoid of motivation so fortune favours them briefly here. They’ve won four out of their last five games so their momentum is strong entering this game too.
Overall, there’s a big gap in motivation and actual quality so the away win here seems logical and profitable simultaneously.
Verdict: Kawasaki Frontale to win at 5/6.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona – lay Barcelona at 6/5.
Riazor tonight sees Deportivo La Coruna host league leaders Barcelona. The hosts have already won four times at home this season, drawing once and losing once. They’ve not played fluently but they have shown a ruthless efficiency that we’ve come to expect from Deportivo La Coruna in recent years. Deportivo are unbeten in their last four games, winning their last three cosecutively and look set to cause a few problems for league leaders Barcelona as they have done for Barcelona’s last four visitors Riazor, none of which the visitors have won.
Barcelona are playing ok at the moment but they’re not playing their usual fluent style. Fair play to them for grinding out wins lately but they’re simply not playing their beautiful football, which has made it harder to unlock resilient defences. They’ll have an even more stubborn defence to break down today and I’m just not confident that they can do it. Barcelona’s away form in recent weeks has been poor by their standards, stuttering to a win at bottom club Deportivo Xerez mid-week in an anything but convincing manner. Deportivo is going to be a massive challenge for Barcelona and I don’t think they’re going to enter this game with the momentum and determination that they require to win the game.
Verdict: Lay Barcelona at 6/5.
Kasimpasa vs Sivasspor – home win at evens.
I don’t rate Kasimpasa very highly but they are unbeaten in five games and have won three of those games, which I can only take my hat off too. Kasimpasa are usually a handful to play against on their own turf although good sides tend to overcome them in the end either way. However, this Kasimpasa looks resilient and efficient, two things you don’t want to see as an away side travelling to an already motivated side. Kasimpasa are very much a hot-and-cold side as they prefer to win or lose rather than draw, which shows their full-blooded approach to their football.
Visitors Sivasspor are having a horrendous season and are currently third from bottom in the Super Lig. They’ve lost three of their last five games, which means they’ve now lost ten games out of the fourteen that they’ve played this season. Their away form is amongst the worst in the division with five defeats in seven away games, winning just once and scoring only five goals along the way. Sivasspor average conceding just under two goals per away game so they’re going to have a tough time trying to take points off an in-form Kasimpasa today.
Although this should be a close call, Kasimpasa have enough in their favour to take three points out of this game.
Verdict: Kasimpasa to win at evens.
For those of you interested in accumulator fodder then I suggest any of the following sides – Rapid Vienna, Aston Villa, Rochdale, Rotherham United, Gamba Osaka, Lech Poznan, Thun, or Port Talbot Town.
Alternatively, feel free to try this League One accumulator which looks intriguing to me – Norwich City, Tranmere Rovers, Leeds United, Charlton Athletic – 7/1.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Argentinos Juniors vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (7) 1-1
Atletico Tucuman vs Colon de Santa Fe (5) 1-2
Boca Juniors vs Independiente (6) 2-1
Australian A-League:
Sydney FC vs North Queensland Fury (7) 2-1
Gold Coast United vs Central Coast Mariners (6) 1-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Rapid Vienna vs SV Kapfenberg (9) -2.75 handicap
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Charleroi vs Sint-Truiden (6) 0-0
Racing Genk vs Westerlo (7) 1-1
Roeselare vs Excelsior Mouscron (6) 0-1
Kortrijk vs Zulte-Waregem (5) 0-0
Standard de Liege vs Germinal Beerschot (6) 1-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Mons vs Tubize (6)
Brussels vs Boussu Dour Borinage (6)
Beveren vs Tienen (5)
Antwerp vs Red Star Waasland (6)
Standaard Wetteren vs Oostende (5)
Brazilian Serie A:
Nautico vs Avai (6) 1-1
Atletico Mineiro vs Corinthians (5) 2-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Botev Plovdiv vs Pirin Blagoevgrad (7) 0-1
Lokomotiv Sofia vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv (8) 2-0
Minior Pernik vs Lokomotiv Mezdra (7) 2-0
Colombian Futbol Profesional:
Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (8) 2-1
Atletico Huila vs Deportes Tolima (6) 1-1
Croatian Prva Liga:
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Istra 1961 (7) 2-0
Rijeka vs Varteks Varazdin (8) 1-0
Slaven Koprivnica vs Cibalia (7) 2-1
Zadar vs Hajduk Split (6) 1-2
Croatia Sesvete vs Karlovac (5) 0-1
Osijek vs Sibenik (7) 1-0
Cypriot Division 1:
AEL Limassol vs Omonia Nicosia (7) 0-1
Ermis vs Ethnikos Achnas (6) 1-0
APOP/Kinyras vs Anorthosis Famagusta (6) 1-2
Aris vs Doxa (5) 0-0
Danish Superligaen:
SonderjyskE vs Aalborg BK (8) 1-1
English Premier League:
Portsmouth vs Burnley (6) over 2.5 goals
Arsenal vs Stoke City (7) 2-1
Aston Villa vs Hull City (8) over 2.5 goals
Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool (6) 1-1
West Ham United vs Manchester United (8) 0-2
Wigan Athletic vs Birmingham City (7) 0-0
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Bolton Wanderers (6) 1-1
Manchester City vs Chelsea (8) 1-2
English Championship:
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City (8)
Blackpool vs Barnsley (7)
Bristol City vs Ipswich Town (5) draw no bet
Cardiff City vs Preston North End (5)
Crystal Palace vs Doncaster Rovers (7)
Derby County vs West Bromwich Albion (8)
Newcastle United vs Watford (8) over 2.5 goals
Peterborough United vs Swansea City (5)
Plymouth Argyle vs Sheffield United (5)
Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough (6)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Reading (6)
English League One:
Leeds United vs Huddersfield Town (8) over 2.5 goals
Charlton Athletic vs Southend United (8)
Colchester United vs Bristol Rovers (7)
Exeter City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7)
Gillingham vs Carlisle United (6)
Hartlepool United vs Millwall (5)
Milton Keynes Dons vs Yeovil Town (6)
Norwich City vs Oldham Athletic (8)
Swindon Town vs Leyton Orient (8)
Tranmere Rovers vs Brentford (6)
Walsall vs Southampton (5)
Wycombe Wanderers vs Stockport County (6)
English League Two:
Accrington Stanley vs Torquay United (6)
Aldershot Town vs Chesterfield (6)
Bournemouth vs Shrewsbury Town (7)
Bury vs Barnet (7)
Cheltenham Town vs Northampton Town (6)
Crewe Alexandra vs Lincoln City (7)
Darlington vs Bradford City (5)
Grimsby Town vs Dagenham & Redbridge (6)
Hereford United vs Notts County (6)
Port Vale vs Morecambe (7) draw no bet
Rochdale vs Macclesfield Town (8)
Rotherham United vs Burton Albion (8)
French Ligue 1:
Montpellier HSC vs Le Mans (8) 2-0
OGC Nice vs Olympique de Marseille (6) 1-1
Stade Rennais vs Lorient (6) 2-1
Saint-Etienne vs Sochaux (6) 1-0
Valenciennes vs AS Monaco (7) 1-0
Girondins de Bordeaux vs Paris Saint-Germain (8) 2-1
German Bundesliga:
VFL Wolfsburg vs SC Freiburg (6) over 2.5 goals
VFB Stuttgart vs VFL Bochum (6) 1-0
Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim (7) 1-1
BV09 Borussia Dortmund vs FC Nurnberg (7) 2-1
Hannover 96 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7) 0-1
Eintracht Frankfurt vs FSV Mainz 05 (6) 2-1
German Bundesliga 2:
Hansa Rostock vs Kaiserslautern (6)
Koblenz vs St.Pauli (7)
Greek Super League:
Levadiakos vs Aris Salonika (7) 0-0
PAOK Salonika vs Larissa (8) 2-1
Xanthi vs Olympiakos Piraeus (7) 1-2
Greek B Ethniki:
Rhodos vs Kerkyra (8)
Italian Serie A:
AC Milan vs Sampdoria (8) 2-1
Juventus vs Internazionale (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Italian Serie B:
Ascoli vs Reggina (5)
Brescia vs Empoli (6)
Cesena vs Frosinone (6)
Cittadella vs Modena (6)
Gallipoli vs Torino (6)
Grosseto vs Ancona (7)
Mantova vs Salernitana (7)
Sassuolo vs Padova (6)
Triestina vs Crotone (7)
Japanese J-League:
Montedio Yamagata vs Yokohama F Marinos (6) 1-1
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Kashima Antlers (6) 1-2
Kashiwa Reysol vs Kawasaki Frontale (7) 1-2
Albirex Niigata vs FC Tokyo (6) 0-1
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Nagoya Grampus (7) 1-1
Gamba Osaka vs JEF United Ichihara (8) 2-0
Vissel Kobe vs Jubilo Iwata (6) 1-0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kyoto Purple Sanga (8) 2-1
Oita Trinita vs Omiya Ardija (6) 1-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Cruz Azul vs Morelia (7) 2-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Cracovia Krakow vs Slask Wroclaw (6) 1-1
GKS Belchatow vs Polonia Bytom (8) 2-1
Odra Wodzislaw vs Jagiellonia Bialystok (5) 1-1
Lech Poznan vs Piast Gliwice (9) 2-0
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Naval de Maio vs Pacos de Ferreira (6) 0-0
Rio Ave vs Belenenses (6) 1-0
Leixoes vs Sporting Braga (8) 1-2
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Estoril vs Penafiel (7)
Romanian Liga:
Politehnica Iasi vs Gloria Bistrita (6) 1-0
Rapid Bucharest vs Brasov (8) 2-0
Scottish Premier League:
Falkirk vs Rangers (8) 0-2
Celtic vs Aberdeen (7) 1-0
Dundee United vs St.Mirren (8) 2-1
Hibernians vs Motherwell (7) 1-0
St.Johnstone vs Kilmarnock (7) 1-0
Serbian Super Liga:
Vojvodina Novi Sad vs Javor Ivanjica (8) 2-0
Hajduk Kula vs Borac Cacak (6) 2-1
Cukaricki vs Mladi Radnik (7) 0-0
Partizan Belgrade vs OFK Belgrade (8) 2-0
BSK Borca vs Red Star Belgrade (8) 1-3
Spartak Subotica vs Smederevo (7) 1-0
Jagodina vs Metalac GM (7) 2-1
Rad Belgrade vs Napredak (6) 1-0
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Ruzomberok vs Kosice (7) 2-1
Artmedia Petrzalka vs Spartak Trnava (6) 1-0
DAC Dunajska Streda vs Nitra (5) 1-1
Tatran Presov vs MSK Zilina (7) 1-2
Dubnica vs Slovan Bratislava (7) 0-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Nafta Lendava vs Celje (6) 2-1
Interblock Ljubljana vs Domzale (6) 1-1
Gorica vs Olimpija Ljubljana (7) 0-0
Spanish Primera Liga:
Sevilla CF vs Real Valladolid (8) over 2.5 goals
Deportivo Xerez vs Atletico Madrid (7) 1-2
Real Madrid vs Almeria (8) under 2.5 goals
Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona (6) 2-2
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Cordoba vs Hercules Alicante (7)
Salamanca vs Albacete (6)
Numancia vs Cartagena (6)
Huesca vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (5)
Real Sociedad vs Real Union Club de Irun (8)
Elche vs Cadiz (7)
Girona vs Celta de Vigo (6)
Swiss Super League:
Sion vs St.Gallen (6) 2-1
Grasshoppers Zurich vs FC Zurich (6) 2-2
Swiss Challenge League:
Thun vs Gossau (8)
Wohlen vs Winterthur (7)
Lausanne Sports vs Wil (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Kasimpasa vs Sivasspor (7) 1-0
Eskisehirspor vs Fenerbahce (6) 1-2
Ukrainian Premier League:
Chernomorets Odessa vs Dynamo Kiev (8) over 2.5 goals
Arsenal Kiev vs Zorya Lugansk (7) 2-0
Karpaty Lviv vs Vorskla Poltava (7) under 2.5 goals
Metalist Kharkiv vs Obolon Kiev (8) 2-0
Metalurg Zaporizhya vs Tavriya Simferopol (5) 1-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Danubio vs Central Espanol (7) 1-0
Liverpool Montevideo vs Racing Club Montevideo (8) 2-1
Fenix vs Atenas (6) 1-1
Rampla Juniors vs Cerrito (6) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Aberystwyth Town vs Rhyl (5) 1-1
Caersws vs Bangor City (7) 0-1
Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Newtown (6) 1-1
Haverfordwest County vs The New Saints (7) 1-2
Port Talbot Town vs Porthmadog (8) 2-0
Welshpool Town vs Llanelli (8) 0-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!