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Tuesdays Soccer – By Chris.

Champions League

Porto   -   Besiktas           1.45   -   9.00
A draw is good enough for Porto while Besiktas have to go for the win and it looks like it will be difficult for them to win this match as they have yet to score away from home. Their previous two away matches in this group ended 0-2 and 0-8, vs Marseille and Liverpool respectively. There is not a single European club that look forward to visiting Porto and Besiktas are no exception. Keeper Helton, Quaresma,  Bosingwa, R Meireles and Sektioui were rested when Porto played a cup game last Friday. They are all back into contention tomorrow.

Besiktas miss Ricardinho, G Zan, I Kas, Diatta and probably Serdar. Both Ricardinho and Serdar played in their last group match, their home game with Marseille (2-1 win). Bobo as the lone striker, backed up by Delgado I guess, much like last time around. The fact that Besiktas have to go for the win will probably make it easier for Porto. Home win, but quite uninteresting odds (1.45).

Porto 2 Besiktas 0

Marseille   -   Liverpool        4.70   -   1.83
This week will define the rest of Liverpool’s season. They lost three points at Reading at the weekend and they play Man United in a few days, a fixture they must not lose. In between is this monster clash with Marseille, a game that Liverpool have to win or its bye bye to the Champions League.

Squad wise I see no major problems for Liverpool. Babel, Hyypia, Kuyt and Kewell were on the bench at Reading, but maybe 2 or 3 of them will play from the start this time. Torres is a certain starter, but who will join him? Crouch, Kuyt or/and Voronin. Crouch the perfect joker in the pack, the perfect substitute!

The Marseille play maker Nasri is included in their squad for this match, but there is still no guarantee that he will be fit to play. Domestically Marseille are much stronger now than they were at the time they won at Anfield. 

It was one of those strange football nights, when a terribly out of form Marseille side could outmanoeuvre Liverpool quite easily. Now they are doing just fine in the French league, with only wins and draws in the last few weeks, including an away win at Lyon. In other words logic suggests they should win tomorrow's match, but I know, logic has nothing to do with it.

Liverpool have a much stronger squad, but I cannot forget how comfortable Marseille looked at Anfield in the first meeting. The odds make it impossible to back the away win (1.83) but that is only my very personal opinion. No bet then! 

Marseille 0 Liverpool 4

Chelsea   -   Valencia            1.80   -   5.40
What do we have here? Chelsea with nothing to play for up against an out of sorts Valencia. Do Valencia really have anything to play for? If Schalke should fail against Rosenborg and at the same time, should Valencia win this match, then Valencia will qualify for the UEFA Cup. But Valencia can never finish ahead of Rosenborg. The Spanish side has travelled without Joaquin, Caneira, Baraja, Hildebrand, Alexis, Albelda and Angulo. I have watched Valencia recently against A Bilbao (0-3) and Osasuna (0-0) and their entertainment value is absolutely zero.

God knows, sorry Grant only knows, which players he will use tomorrow. Chelsea play against Arsenal this coming weekend and they will not take too many risks in this meaning less fixture. Definitely sidelined are Drogba, Carvalho, Malouda, Ferreira and P Cech. When Chelsea field so called fringe players they are not your normal fringe players of course, as Chelsea only have top class footballers in their squad. Betting wise I end up backing the better odds. (5.40)

Chelsea 0 Valencia 0

Schalke 04   -  Rosenborg      1.36  -   10.00
For Schalke, J Jones is out suspended and he will be replaced by Bajramovic. Kobiashvili and S Larsen are back in training and they could be included in the Schalke squad, but Still no C Pander. Up front Kuranyi and either one of Asamoah or H Altintop.

The Norwegians come with their usual group of suspects minus their defender Dorsin. It is kind of difficult to take the Rosenborg challenge very seriously at the present. Their domestic season ended more than a month ago and in their last big match, at home to Chelsea, they appeared rusty and uncomfortable. I cannot imagine that they will be stronger tomorrow. OK, Schalke are not Chelsea, but surely they will have to much for Rosenborg tomorrow. And the bookmakers all agree! (1.36).

Schalke 3 Rosenborg 0

Olympiakos   -   Werder Bremen        2.80   -   2.60
I have no strong opinion about this fixture, but surely Olympiakos should be favourites. Their standard of football has been quite immaculate and they have already defeated Werder in Germany, 3-1. They need a draw tomorrow, while the Germans must win this match. Important Djordjevic will be missing for the home side. Defenders R Bravo, Domi and J Cesar remain on the sidelines and Konstaninou will also miss this fixture. Zewlakow should be OK. Kovacevic and Lua Lua will threaten the Werder defence.

W B used Rosenberg and Sanogo as strikers at the weekend, when they lost to Hannover, 3-4. H Almeida was on the bench, fit again Borowski and Hunt as well. There was one injury doubt for this crucial game, their German international defender Mertesacker was down with a cold, but he is now fit to play.  I would probably back the home win (2.80).

Olympiakos 3 Weder Bremmen 0

Real Madrid   -   Lazio         1.40   -   10.00
Not a good situation for Lazio as they have to win this match and it could be that they have to win it by two goals. That sounds quite impossible. Although Lazio drew their home game with Real they are not in the same league. Real at the Bernabeu Stadium on an European night are awesome opponents for teams much stronger than this Lazio side. Lazio hope to include Behrami again. Pandev is fit and he will join Rocchi in the front line. Will Mauri or Meghni support the duo? Yes, maybe Meghni is the stronger one right now.

Guti will be back for the home side, Marcelo will start and Van Nistelrooy will be fit to play. Sneijder or J Baptista from the start? A Lazio side that has to attack is bound to be punished (1.40). Should Real take the lead Lazio have to throw caution to the wind and maybe we will see a few goals in this match.

Real Madrid 3 Lazio 1

Chris.