Wednesdays Soccer – By Chris.
UEFA Cup
Everton - Zenit 1.80 - 4.70
The home side could do with one more point with two
games left, while a point at Goodison would be
perfect for the Russian champions. Conclusion? 1X!
Everton are in great form and their squad is
practically injury free. I expect coach Moyes to
rotate his squad this time and include players like
McFadden, L Baines, J Vaughan, P Jagielka and T
Hibbert.
This is the last game of the season for Zenit and I
expect their players to make one final effort. They
failed to defeat Nurnberg in Petersburg last week
(2-2) and it could be that they are past their best
form. As I said, 1X, but I will probably pick the
draw alternative. (3.55)
Everton 1 Zenit 0
Nurnberg - A Z, Alkmaar 2.25 - 3.25
Kluge is available for Nurnberg and they are at full
strength for this match. Reports from the club hint
that this coming weekend the crucial Bundesliga game
with Hertha Berlin is the top priority. At the same
time they have done everything to reach a place in
Europe and we will be highly motivated tomorrow. The
Greek striker Charisteas and Adler will play up
front supported by Mintal. Out of form I Saenko on
the bench again. The Brazilian striker Ari returns
for AZ and he will join Dembele in attack. It is
simple for Nurnberg. They have to win this match to
have any chance of advancing. AZ can live with a
draw. I have no real opinion about this fixture.
Nurnberg are untested in Europe while AZ have been
involved for the last few years. Both teams are
struggling domestically. OK, the home win. (2.25)
Nurnberg 2 AZ
Alkmaar 1
FC Copenhagen - Atletico Madrid 3.10 -
2.30
Tough times for Copenhagen. They went to Moscow last
Thursday for a game with Lokomotive (won 1-0) and
then on Sunday it was time for the big derby with
Bröndby (1-1) and tomorrow they will be up against
this strong Atletico side. You could argue that A
Madrid have had the same tight schedule but of
course their squad is both bigger and stronger.
Copenhagen will be without Silberbauer and probably
also J Grönkjaer and R Wurtz will be missing.
Captain M Gravgaard missed the Bröndby game, but
should be back.
Perea will return for Atletico and they travel with
a big squad leaving only keeper Franco, Seitaridis,
Jurado and Ze Castro in Madrid. Abbiati will be in
goal tomorrow with Simao, Motta, Clever Santana and
Luis Garcia also likely starters. The hottest pair
in Spain, Kun Aguero and Forlan will play up front.
Copenhagen defeated Lokomotive in Moscow, while
Atletico drew 3-3 with the Russians. The outcome? X2
in my opinion. OK, the draw! (3.25)
FC
Copenhagen 0 Atletico Madrid 0
Panathinaikos - Lokomotive Moscow 1.90
- 4.50
The home side are on full points after two games and
they should already be safe. Is winning the group
that important? alpigidis will play up front maybe
with veteran Papadopoulos. Missing among others
Karagounis, Mantzios and Goumas.
Leading Lokomotive striker Sychev is out of this
match and Spahic sits out his suspension.
Lokomotive are 0-2-1 after their three group games
with two of them being played on home turf. While
the home side could use one more point Lokomotive
have to win this match. I must say that it is hard
to find something positive to say about Lokomotive.
They had their chances and they have not been good
enough. Home win! (1.90).
Panathinaikos 2 Lokomotive Moscow 0
Mlda Boleslav - AEK Atens 2.65 - 2.60
I will try some logic ahead of this fixture. AEK
went to Elsborg for an away game. They had all the
luck in the world achieving a 1-1 draw. Mlda visited
Elfsborg last week and were 3-1 winners. OK,
Elfsborg missed a penalty while 1-0 up, but still no
denying that the Czechs scored 3 second half goals.
I do think that Mlda will be the more motivated
and the more ambitious side tomorrow. AEK seldom
offer very inspired matches away from home. Home
win! (2.65).
Mlda Boleslav 0
AEK Athens 1
Villarreal - Elfsborg 1.21 - 15.00
The season is over for Swedish side Elfsborg and I
cannot believe that they will offer much resistance
tomorrow. Hopefully they will be able to avoid
another big loss like the one they lost 1-6 when
they played in Florens against Fiorentina.
Villarreal are likely to give fringe players like
Mavuba, D Godin and D Lopez a chance tomorrow.
Definitely out are G Rossi, Josico and
Gonzales. Home win! (1.21)
Villarreal 2
Elfsborg 0
Basle - Brann 1.62 - 6.00
One enforced change for Brann ahead of this match.
Their experienced midfielder E Bakke is out
suspended and C Guntveit will enter the Brann line
up instead. The rest of the squad will look the same
as last week when they defeated D Zagreb, with
Karadas and T Helstad up front.
Basle rode their luck in their last group game away
to D Zagreb (0-0). They will be able to pick from
the same squad more or less, but Huggel will play
from the start this time. The big Swede, Majstorovic,
in defence and Caicedo and Streller in the front
line.
Brann defeated C Brugge in Belgium and they drew
their away game with Rennes. In other words they
should not be underestimated. I still think that
they will lose this match but I will not use this
price (1.62).
Basle 1 Brann 0
Dinamo Zagreb - Hamburg 2.75 - 2.70
The home side will be without the suspended
Schildenfeld but key players Modric and Mandzukic
will play. The Hamburg coach is indicating one or
two changes for this match, but there is absolutely
no talk of wholesale changes. Could be that Zidan
will get his chance. Jarolim is a certain starter
however as he is suspended this coming weekend. The
Croat hero Olic will play against his own people
watched by his own family in the stands. Hamburg
are probably already safe but they could use one
more point from their two remaining fixtures. They
can face this game in a relaxed mood while the home
side has only one alternative - win! Hamburg are
extremely hard to beat, that much I know, and they
have not lost two successive games this season.
Sorry, No bet!
Dynamo Zagreb 0
Hamburg 2
The Premiership
Newcastle - Arsenal 5.50 - 1.67
Hopefully the home players will not be too scared
tomorrow. They have every reason to be after their
last 2 home games, 1-4 vs Portsmouth and 0-3 vs
Liverpool. It was said that Allardyce's men worked
more like a team at Blackburn at the weekend, but at
the end of the day they lost another league game,
this time 1-3. Faye started in the Newcastle defence
against Blackburn but he was soon out injured, with
S Carr his replacement. Both are out of tomorrow's
game. Too bad - the Newcastle defence is not
exactly their strongest unit. S Taylor could be
back.
Arsenal will be without Van Persie, Diaby, Fabregas,
Flamini and A Hleb. Only Hleb and Flamini played in
their last match, their 2-1 win at Villa Park. G
Silva, Diarra and Denilson compete for starting
roles. I find no major argument for the home win,
(some strong players missing for Arsenal - minor
argument) and I have to say that the away win is
the obvious choice. The odds? I cannot use 1.67 that
is for sure.
Newcastle 1 Arsenal 1
Serie A
Inter - Lazio 1.30 - 14.00
Dacourt is the latest Inter injury victim. Two other
midfielders Stankovic and Cesar return for this
match, so no need to worry. Maybe we will see
Materazzi from the start tomorrow. Behrami and
Mutarelli will be absent for Lazio, but Rocchi is
expected back in the starting line up. Lazio will be
OK as their injury problems have eased up. Injuries
or no injuries, I anticipate no Lazio success here.
Home win! (1.30).
Inter 3 Lazio 0
Roma - Cagliari 1.25 - 17.00
Totti will be back for Roma and there is talk about
playing both Totti and Vucinic from the start.
Missing are Cassetti, Perrotta and Aquilani.
Cagliari have lost their keeper Fortin to an injury,
Biondini also and Parola is out, suspended. It is a
home win, nothing but a home win. (1.25)
Roma 2 Cagliari 0
Chris.
