Date: 19/11/2011
Competition: Greek Super League
Match: Kerkyra vs. Ergotelis
Pick: Kerkyra to win @ 2.66
Stake: 7 Units
Venue: Kerkyra Stadium, Corfu
Kick-Off: 15:15
The early bird catches the worm. I rarely take a bet so early, but I trully believe that once the bookies get a closer look on this match, they will slash their odds. Odds compiling takes into account a lot of facts, besides team news and stats. And in my book, Kerkyra must win this match, no matter what. They are stuck at the bottom of the table with two points out of the first seven matches. Saturday's match is a turning point, because if they don't put an end to their seven-game winless streak now, they will probably extend it to ten matches (at least). Following the clash with Ergotelis, Kerkyra travels to Salonica to face PAOK, then they visit Athens to play against AEK and they host champions Olympiakos afterwards. The Board of the Club realized that the need to change was urgent. Therefore, they terminated the contract of coach Bozidar Bandovic and are currently in search of a new manager. Regardless if a caretaker manager takes over or if they sign somebody ahead of this match, a change usually has a beneficial effect, at least temporarily.
Ergotelis is not a "hostile" club to Kerkyra. The Cretan side has bagged four points in their last two matches and they took a deep breath in the standings. A defeat in Corfu will not be such a bitter pill to swallow, as Ergotelis will return to Crete to face PAS Giannina. I won't get into team news, since it's too early to talk about that. My bet is based exclusively on Kerkyra's urgency to win, particularly with the opponents awaiting them ahead. For those who love trading, they may get a good chance here. If my estimations are correct, the odds of 2.60 for the home win will drop by at least 0.50 in the coming days.
H2H STATS
10/04/2011 Kerkyra vs. Ergotelis: 1-0 (1)
29/04/2007 Kerkyra vs. Ergotelis: 5-1 (1)
09/11/2005 Kerkyra vs. Ergotelis: 0-1 (2)
Date: 19/11/2011
Competition: German Bundesliga
Match: Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen
Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.91
Stake: 6 Units
Venue: Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach
Kick-Off: 14:30
If it wasn't for the clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, this would be the match of the weekend in the Bundesliga. Third-placed Werder Bremen visits Borussia-Park to face high-flying Monchengladbach, as both opponents are looking to take advantage of Dortmund's possible slip-up and climb to the second spot. Marco Reus has led Gladbach to back-to-back victories in the league (over Hertha Berlin and Hannover) and the spirited winger is already attracting interest from bigger clubs abroad. Borussia-Park has been a fortress so far, with the Foals earning four wins and two draws in the matches played at their home ground. Swiss coach Lucien Favre is welcoming back striker Raul Bobadilla (9 apps / 1 goal), while the game comes too soon for Igor de Camargo (FW, 6 apps / 2 goals) who is sidelined with an injury.
There are no new concerns for Thomas Schaaf, who is still without midfielder Tim Borowski and defenders Boenisch and Silvestre. Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro has netted five goals in the last three league matches, scoring a hat-trick against FC Koln. Defense had never been Werder's strong point and Schaaf cannot rely on it in order to get a positive result on Saturday. The matches between these two sides have produced plenty of goals in the recent years and I am surprised to see such lucrative prices offered for the Over 2.5 goals. Reus and Pizarro alone can land three goals, without anybody else getting his name on the score sheet.
Possible line-ups:
GLADBACH: Ter Stegen - Jantschke, Stranzl, Dante, Daems - Nordtveit, Neustadter, Herrmann, Arango - Reus, Hanke.
WERDER BREMEN: Wiese - Sokratis, Prodl, Naldo, Ignjovski - Bargfrede, Fritz, Hunt, Ekici - Arnautovic, Pizarro.
H2H STATS
23/10/2010 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 1-4 (2)
30/01/2010 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 4-3 (1)
30/08/2008 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 3-2 (1)
25/02/2007 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 2-2 (X)
20/09/2005 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 2-1 (1)
11/09/2004 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 3-1 (1)
07/02/2004 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 1-2 (2)
24/05/2003 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 4-1 (1)
22/03/2002 Gladbach vs. Werder Bremen: 1-0 (1)
Attachments
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Werder_Pizarro_Koln.jpg
Date: 22/11/2011
Competition: Champions League
Match: Trabzonspor vs. Inter
Pick: Inter (0) A.H. @ 1.85
Stake: 8 Units
Venue: Huseyin Avni Aker, Trabzon
Kick-Off: 19:45
The Nerazzurri aim to avenge the shocking defeat suffered at the hands of Trabzonspor, thus sealing qualification to the next round. Inter top Group B with 9 points, four points clear of their opponents and CSKA Moscow. The penultimate game in Turkey gives them the opportunity to face the Russian side in the last round without worrying about their qualifying chances. Meanwhile Trabzonspor has to take something out of this match to keep their chances alive ahead of their visit to Lille. If you ask yourselves how many chances would you give to Trabzonspor to double their success against a Serie A powerhouse, I am sure that you wouldn't rate this as a likely scenario. With all due respect to the Black Sea Storm, I think that Senol Gunes' side has quite few chances to make it to the next round and a Europa League ticket appears to be a much more realistic goal.
Trabzonspor was held to a 1-1 draw at Mersin in their last league match, in which they missed their star striker Burak Yilmaz, who has scored 13 out of the 17 goals of his team so far in the season. The 26 year-old has resumed training and he has been included to Gunes' squad for the upcoming Champions League clash.
On the other hand, Claudio Ranieri will have to do without Dutch superstar Wesley Sneijder. The influential midfielder suffered a thigh strain during the warm-up ahead of Saturday's game against Cagliari. Coutinho took his place and the youngster scored the second goal for the Nerazzurri. Brazilian defender Lucio and Japanese midfielder Nagatomo return to the squad, while Muntari (MF) and Maicon (DF) are still unavailable.
To sum up, I believe that Inter Milan will not lose a second game against Trabzonspor. The Nerazzurri have the experience and quality to emerge victorious and the Asian Handicap (0) looks like a safe bet to my eyes. I am raising my stakes, since the worst scenario according to my estimations would be a draw, which is simply going to void my bet and I'll get a refund.
Possible line-ups:
TRABZONSPOR: Tolga - Celustka, Giray, Glowacki, Cech - Serkan, Colman, Zokora, Alanzinho, Halil - Burak.
INTER: Julio Cesar - Jonathan, Ranocchia, Samuel, Zanetti - Obi, Motta, Cambiasso, Stankovic - Pazzini, Milito.
Date: 26/11/2011
Competition: Turkish Super Lig
Match: Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor
Pick: Galatasaray (-1) A.H. @ 1.96
Stake: 7 Units
Venue: Turk Telekom Arena, Istanbul
Kick-Off: 17:00
Time for the "Emperor" to rally his troops. Under-pressure Fatih Terim needs to silence his critics and move forward after a string of unsuccessful results, not to mention unimpressive performances. Galatasaray come to this game following two consecutive 0-0 draws. If it wasn't for the slip-up at home against Mersin IY, the point earned from the clash with Besiktas would have been extremely appreciated. The Yellow-Reds are trailing leaders Fenerbahce by 6 points, since the Yellow Canaries dropped points on Friday against Genclerbirligi in Ankara. The problem for Cim Bom is that there is a quite lengthy list of players missing. Winger Sabri Sarioglou (10 apps / 0 goals) is ruled out for two months, defensive midfielder Felipe Melo (11 apps / 3 goals) is suspended, while the game comes too soon for midfielder Yekta Kurtulus (3 apps / 0 goals) who has resumed training after a long period on the sidelines.
Sivasspor is relying heavily on their home ground. After an embarassing 0-4 defeat at the hands of Eskisehirspor, they are currently riding a five-game unbeaten run, having beaten Fenerbahce 2-0 three weeks ago. On the road, it's a different story. Their record of 1W-1D-3L is not that bad for a team of their calibre, however Sivasspor cannot brag about the worst away defense (14 goals conceded). Coach Riza Calimbay has acknowledged that Galatasaray's game will be hard to match, playing down his team's chances to get a positive result. Calimbay will miss striker Eneramo (10 apps / 4 goals) who is struggling with an injury.
The way I see it, this is a must win situation for Galatasaray! Next week, Terim's Lions will visit Genclerbirligi's ground, where Fenerbahce left two valuable points today. Therefore, no one can guarantee them the three points in Ankara, just before the crucial clashes with Fenerbahce (H) and Trabzonspor (A). Galatasaray has won each one of the last 6 home matches against Sivasspor, scoring 12 goals and conceding just 2. They were only head to a draw in 2009, but that was a Cup match. I am willing to take my risks with the (-1) Asian Handicap at odds around 2.00 as I believe that Galatasaray will put and end to their recent scoring drought.
H2H STATS
23/01/2011 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 1-0 (1)
01/11/2009 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 2-0 (1)
30/05/2009 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 2-1 (1)
14/12/2007 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 2-0 (1)
25/11/2006 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 3-1 (1)
11/09/2005 Galatasaray vs. Sivasspor: 2-0 (1)
Date: 27/11/2011
Competition: Italian Serie A
Match: Siena vs. Inter
Pick: Inter (0) A.H. @ 1.76
Stake: 8 Units
Venue: Artemio Franchi, Siena
Kick-Off: 14:00
Inter needs a boost in the rankings, as the Nerazzurri have fallen behind and they are just three points clear of the danger zone. They returned from Turkey with a point in their bags, which was enough though to secure the top place of their Champions League Group as Lille grabbed a crucial victory in Moscow. It's high time now to turn the focus to the Serie A, at least until the knock-out stage comes. The trip to Siena offers them a good chance to get a second consecutive win in the league for the first time in the season. Claudio Ranieri is missing Dutch winger Wesley Sneijder (6 apps / 1 goal), Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan (5 apps / 1 goal), Brazilian defenders Lucio (9 apps / 1 goal) and Maicon (5 apps / 1 goal), as well as Ghanaian defensive midfieder Sulley Muntari (3 apps / 0 goals). That's a whole lot of significant players, however for a rich club like Inter there are still a lot of weapons in their roster.
Siena had also a midweek game. In fact they got two days less to rest than their opponents, since their Cup tie against Cagliari was late on Thursday. So, we have a balanced affair here in terms of fitness. Speaking of absentees, the hosts are missing their top striker, Emanuele Calaio (10 apps / 5 goals), who is sidelined with a calf injury. Midfielders Simone Vergassola (8 apps / 0 goals) and Paolo Grossi (4 apps / 0 goals) remain unavailable as well. Giuseppe Sannino's team has lost just one of their last six league games and it boasts a solid 3W-1D-1L record at home.
For a second time in just a few days, I am backing Inter on a Draw No Bet. It's quite a similar situation, since I don't rate Siena's chances to win highly and my estimations show that Inter will either nick a win or get a draw at least. The bookies have underestimated the Nerazzurri again, offering huge prices on the away win. I am going to stick to the decent price on the (0) Asian Handicap, raising my stakes coz I have the refund safety net in case of a draw.
Possible line-ups:
SIENA: Brkic - Vitiello, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso - Mannini, D'Agostino, Gazzi, Brienza - Destro, Larrondo.
INTER: Julio Cesar - Chivu, Ranocchia, Samuel, Zanetti - Cambiasso, R. Alvarez, Stankovic, Motta - Zarate, Pazzini.
H2H STATS
16/05/2010 Siena vs. Inter: 0-1 (2)
20/12/2008 Siena vs. Inter: 1-2 (2)
13/01/2008 Siena vs. Inter: 2-3 (2)
22/04/2007 Siena vs. Inter: 1-2 (2)
08/01/2006 Siena vs. Inter: 0-0 (X)
12/12/2004 Siena vs. Inter: 2-2 (X)
14/09/2003 Siena vs. Inter: 0-1 (2)
Date: 30/11/2011
Competition: Greek Super League
Match: Olympiakos vs. Doxa Dramas
Pick: Over 1.5 goals at Half Time @ 2.50
Stake: 5 Units
Venue: Karaiskakis, Piraeus
Kick-Off: 17:00
Olympiakos underestimated Asteras Tripolis on Sunday and paid a high price for it. The enthusiasm after the win at Marseille turned into arrogance and the hosts who up until then had only scored three goals in eight games, managed to stun the champions and take a convincing 2-0 victory. The Reds were dealt a fatal blow, as a few hours later their rivals Panathinaikos had cruised to another victory (beating OFI 3-1), extending their lead to five points. Coach Ernesto Valverde was extremely disappointed and he suggested that it was the worst display of his team so far in the season. As you may understand, any slip-ups against inferior opponents are forbidden from now on. A team's morale after a major disappointment can be boosted only by results. Therefore, I believe that Olympiakos is very fortunate to have a home game within a few days later against one of the weakest opponents in the league. Newcomers Doxa Dramas, along with Levadiakos, were included to the Super League ten days earlier. Yes, it's stupid to kick-off the season late in late November, while the rest of the teams have already played 8-9 matches, without a proper pre-season training and a poor roster... but hey, this is Greece. And this season is unlike anyone from the past, due to the match-fixing scandal that rocked Greek football during the summer.
The champions have been hit by injuries lately. The latest victim is Swedish defender Olof Mellberg (9 apps / 1 goal), who will miss the match along with French midfielder Jean Makoun (7 apps / 1 goal), defensive midfielder Pablo Orbaiz (8 apps / 0 goals), and Serbian midfielder Ljubomir Fejsa (2 apps / 0 goals). The good news are that playmaker Ariel Ibagaza (7 apps / 0 goals) has resumed training and ex-Bilbao midfielder Fran Yeste should be ready to play as well. Valverde is also likely to give a starting place to Fetfatzidis, the youngster who scored a marvellous goal in Marseille. Olympiakos needs an emphatic performance to erase the memories from the humiliating defeat in Tripoli, in other words to put on a show for their fans.
Olympiakos should ease past Doxa Dramas, the problem is that the odds are too low for my taste. I searched around for some side bets to find something of value. I came to the conclusion that the Over 1.5 goal at Half-Time is a good pick, because I expect the hosts to launch an attack from the very beginning. A long-shot would be to bet that there will be a penalty in the match, as Olympiakos were denied one in Tripoli and that might affect the judgement of the referee.
After yet another 20 picks published in this topic after our last review, it's time to have a quick look on the results:
Based on the results, here are the stats generated from those 20 picks:
:money:
It was obviously another successful run, which boosted our overall progress since the beginning. Here are the total stats so far:
:money8:
Based on the results, here are the stats generated from those 20 picks:
:money:
It was obviously another successful run, which boosted our overall progress since the beginning. Here are the total stats so far:
:money8:
Date: 03/12/2011
Competition: German Bundesliga
Match: Gladbach vs. Dortmund
Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.97
Stake: 6 Units
Venue: Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach
Kick-Off: 14:30
I am sure that there aren't many fans who would have expected a few weeks earlier that the "Borussia Battle" would be a clash between the teams which are leading the race in the Bundesliga. Dortmund's shaky start had dented their hopes of defending the title, while Gladbach is surely the surprise package of the season. Lucien Havre's side is not much different than the team which struggled last year to avoid relegation. Yet the Swiss coach has worked miracles, transforming the Foals to a top-class team. Borussia Monchengladbach is currently on a four-game winning run, during which they have scored 12 goals. The most emphatic victory was the 5-0 demolition of fourth-placed Werder Bremen. Marco Reus has been sensational, boasting a record 10 goals already and Mike Hanke finally put an end to his scoring drought against FC Koln last week. Forward Igor de Camargo has resumed fitness and he might be used during the game.
BVB is the top-form team in the Bundesliga at the moment. Seven wins and a draw in the last eight rounds have boosted them at the top and this amazing run has been the antidote to the disappointment caused by the poor results in the Champions League. Dortmund defeated Bayern Munich and Schalke in the last two matches, keeping a clean sheet. Mario Gotze is the leading force in Klopp's side, while Robert Lewandowski has already 9 goals to his tally. BVB will miss defender Neven Subotic (9 apps / 0 goals) and midfielder Sven Bender (11 apps / 1 goal). Austrian defensive midfielder Moritz Leitner (7 apps / 0 goals) is doubtful, however he is reported to be available on time for the game.
Having watched both teams recently, I am confident that they can put on a thrilling show for the fans. Despite their recent low-scoring h2h record, I am backing the Over 2.5 goals which is priced around 2.00 and I am sure that if Reus and Gotze are in high-spirits they will create numerous chances for their teams.
Possible line-ups:
GLADBACH: Ter Stegen - Jantschke, Stranzl, Dante, Daems - Nordtveit, Neustadter, Herrmann, Arango - Reus, Hanke.
DORTMUND: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer - Leitner, Kehl, Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Gotze - Barrios.
H2H STATS
23/04/2011 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 1-0 (1)
03/10/2009 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 0-1 (2)
23/05/2009 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 1-1 (X)
22/09/2006 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 1-0 (1)
01/04/2006 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 2-1 (1)
14/08/2004 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 2-3 (2)
14/12/2003 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 2-1 (1)
08/03/2003 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 1-0 (1)
13/10/2001 Gladbach vs. Dortmund: 1-2 (2)
Date: 06/12/2011
Competition: Champions League
Match: Dortmund vs. Marseille
Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.95
Stake: 7 Units
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Kick-Off: 19:45
"Mission Impossible" for Borussia Dortmund who needs a win by four goals or more tonight, as well as a huge favor from Arsenal to qualify. I don't know whether Jurgen Klopp and his players really believe that they can walk over Marseille, but I sincerely hope that they are given the chance to believe in a miracle. BVB wasted dozens of opportunitites to score goals during this Group Stage and they were left with the worthless impression that they had the upper hand in most matches. It's true that they have some quality players and (like most German teams) enjoy living on the edge. Tactics are not an area they can be proud of, yet if they gain confidence during the early stages of a game, they can dominate the match and make most opponents suffer. Dortmund played out a 1-1 draw in the "Borussia Battle" against Gladbach. although they were the better side on the field. Klopp will miss Marcel Schmelzer (DF) due to suspension. Serbian defender Neven Subotic (DF) and midfielder Sven Bender remain sidelined with injuries, while there are douts over the fitness of Sebastian Kehl (MF) and Moritz Leitner (DF).
Marseille is on the brink of exit after the suicidal home defeat from Olympiakos Piraeus. OM were terrible in this match, probably lacking concentration as the big derby against PSG was next. The fact is that they can still decide their own fate, meaning that if a win in Germany will earn them the ticket to the next round, regardless what happens in Greece. Didier Deschamps tried to play down the hype, claiming that it's not their duty to advance to the next round of the Champions League, even though they will fight for it. Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac picked up a serious injury on Friday's match against Caen and he will miss the rest of the season. In addition, Loic Remy (FW) and Stephane Mbia (MF) are doubtful.
I believe that we will see some goals in this match. Borussia Dortmund want to avenge the 3-0 defeat of the first round and win by a big margin to hope for a miracle. Marseille needs to win in order to secure qualification, without having to worry about the outcome of the match between Olympiakos and Arsenal. Otherwise, the French would be praying that Wenger's side will make them a gift. An early goal from BVB would suit me just fine, coz they will give hope to the hosts and it will force OM to push higher. Since I expect Borussia to launch an attack early on, I do believe that it's the most likely scenario.
Date: 07/12/2011
Competition: Champions League
Match: Basel vs. Manchester Utd
Pick: Manchester Utd (-1) A.H. @ 2.16
Stake: 7 Units
Venue: St. Jacob Park, Basel
Kick-Off: 19:45
Time to separate the men from the boys. It's the final game of the Champions League Group Stage and the Red Devils are facing elimination. If Basel manages to defeat them on Wednesday, they will wake up in the Europa League next morning. United has only achieved to win against Otelul, which is not something to be bragging about. Three draws were the results of the other matches and especially the one against Basel at Old Trafford was very painful. When Man Utd got a 2-0 lead at half-time, no one imagined that Basel could make a comeback into the game. Yet the Swiss side scored three times in 18 mins and were denied a stunning victory in the end. One should learn from his mistakes and Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to make the same mistake twice. He has to cope with some important problems, but he has quite a few alternatives. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez suffered a severe injury at Villa Park and he is ruled out, as well as Dimitar Berbatov (FW), Michael Owen (FW), Fabio (DF) and Rafael (DF). On top of that, midfielder Michael Carrick is suspended. United is expected to pair Rooney and Welbeck in the front line, while defender Vidic returns to the starting line up.
Basel is relying heavily on Alexander Frei and the experienced striker is surely the main threat for United's defense. Ever since Thorsten Fink left for Hamburg and Heiko Vogel was appointed as manager, FCB has performed quite well. In the Champions League, Basel under Vogel suffered a 0-2 home defeat from Benfica, drew 1-1 with the Portuguese in Lisbon and grabbed a 3-2 win at Otelul. Besides Yapi-Yapo (MF) and Vosel (DF), there aren't any other players missing for the hosts. Keeping a clean sheet in a Champions League match is a rare phenomenon for Basel. I can only recall a 1-0 win over Cluj in the recent years and certainly there can be no comparison between Cluj and United. Even a weakened Manchester Utd side is capable of outclassing Basel and given the circumstances, the Red Devils have to show their credentials and secure qualification. Regardless of which team you support, a Champions League Top-16 without Manchester United would be far less glamorous. I strongly believe that United will win this one and probably in a convincing style.
H2H STATS
26/11/2002 Basel vs. Manchester Utd: 1-3 (2)
Date: 10/12/2011
Competition: English League Two
Match: Northampton vs. Crewe
Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.80
Stake: 7 Units
Venue: Sixfields, Northampton
Kick-Off: 15:00
There is a new manager in Town. Aidy Boothroyd agreed to take over struggling Northampton and Saturday's match against Crewe Alexandra will mark his debut at Sixfields. His arrival has already made an impact in the camp, as Boothroyd suggested that there is a huge potential in the team and that he is determined to put an end to the Cobblers' recent slump. Eight defeats in the last nine matches (including the FA Cup defeat at Luton) is an embarassing record, justified by the poor defensive display. Northampton has conceded 15 goals in the last three league matches and Boothroyd needs to sort things out in that area. Winger Lewis Young (17 apps / 0 goals) is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while defenders Byron Webster (7 apps / 0 goals) and Ofori-Twumasi (5 apps / 0 goals) are also unavailable. Midfielder Nathaniel Wedderburn has resumed training and he is gearing up for his return to the squad.
The recent appointment of Steve Davis has turned the tide for Crewe Alexandra, who recorded back-to-back victories in the latest rounds, lifting the Railwaymen away from the danger zone. The Alex Boss has made clear that he will not do Boothroyd any favors and he fancies the chances of spoiling the party at the Sixfields Stadium. Davis has also challenged his players to score more and he is considering some changes in the midfield area. Luke Murphy (MF, 17 apps / 1 goal) has shaken off an injury and Danny Shelley (MF, 12 apps / 0 goals) is also in contention. On the other hand, defender Ashley Westwood (15 apps / 0 goals) will miss the match due to suspension.
I would expect to see a change of attitude in the Northampton side, as the players will try to impress their new manager. Meanwhile, Crewe is on an uptrend and should give a tough test to their opponents. Therefore, I am backing the Over 2.5 goals at Sixfields, where the recent meetings between the two sides have produced some goal fests.
H2H STATS
01/02/2011 Northampton vs. Crewe: 6-2 (1)
21/11/2009 Northampton vs. Crewe: 2-2 (X)
24/01/2009 Northampton vs. Crewe: 5-1 (1)
01/03/2008 Northampton vs. Crewe: 0-0 (X)
03/02/2007 Northampton vs. Crewe: 1-2 (2)
10/08/2002 Northampton vs. Crewe: 1-1 (X)
Date: 12/12/2011
Competition: English Premier League
Match: Chelsea vs. Manchester City
Pick: Manchester City to win @ 3.15
Stake: 5 Units
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Kick-Off: 20:00
Two of the world's richest clubs clash tonight at Stamford Bridge. It's Chelsea vs. Manchester City or Roman Abramovich vs. Sheikh Mansour. Millions of pounds have been poored into both teams, in an attempt to create football dynasties. Abramovich has managed to take Chelsea to a higher level and Manchester City is looking closer than ever to win some silverware thanks to the high-roller Sheikh who splashed the cash to strengthen his team. City hasn't tasted a defeat so far in the season and leads the EPL race with 38 points, two more than their arch-rivals Manchester United and ten points clear of Chelsea. Andre Villas-Boas hasn't lived up to the expectations, although he did qualify to the Champions League knock-out stage, a task where both teams from Manchester failed. The domestic affairs are a different story though. Chelsea lost 3-1 at Old Trafford, suffered a heavy 5-3 defeat at the hands of Arsenal and even Liverpool beat them at Stamford Bridge twice. AVB is under pressure tonight to show his credentials and put Chelsea back on the race for the EPL crown.
Villas-Boas will miss Brazilian defender David Luiz (5 apps / 0 goals) due to suspension, while defensive midfielder Michael Essien is a long term absentee.
On the other hand, Roberto Mancini is missing Russian defender Aleksandar Kolarov (5 apps / 1 goal) and probably Micah Richards (DF, 13 apps / 1 goal) who is struggling with a calf injury. Mario -"Why Always Me?"-Balotelli made the headlines just ahead of the big match, after breaching a curfew rule and went with some friends to an Indian restaurant on Saturday night. The Italian striker will most likely pay a heavy fine for his action.
Manchester City doesn't have fond memories of Stamford Bridge. The Citizens failed to score in eight of their last nine visits. The only time when they hit the back of the net (Feb. 2010), they cruised to a convincing 4-2 win. So far this season, they haven't failed to score in a match, therefore chances are that they may extend their unbeaten run. Chelsea has lost all the "big matches" up until now and I really cannot see them as big favorites tonight either. How often have you seen City priced above 3.00? Well, if I recall well you only saw it at Old Trafford and... you know the rest.
Possible line-ups:
CHELSEA: Cech - Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole - Lampard, Meireles, Ramires - Sturridge, Mata, Drogba.
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart - Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy - Barry, Toure, Nasri - Silva, Aguero, Dzeko.
H2H STATS
20/03/2011 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 2-0 (1)
27/02/2010 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 2-4 (2)
15/03/2009 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 1-0 (1)
27/10/2007 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 6-0 (1)
20/08/2006 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 3-0 (1)
25/03/2006 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 2-0 (1)
06/02/2005 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 0-0 (X)
25/10/2003 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 1-0 (1)
22/03/2003 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 5-0 (1)
03/12/2000 Chelsea vs. Manchester City: 2-1 (1)
