Chelsea

Little doubt about the big game in the Premier League on the weekend, as Saturday we have a look at Arsenal v Chelsea betting, which will have a big say in the final places in the top four. Chelsea need the win much more desperately than Arsenal, and defeat at the Emirates for Roberto Di Matteo’s men, could really scupper their chances of booking a Champions League place for next season. Online bookmaker Paddy Power have a great Money Back Special running for Arsenal v Chelsea betting. There is, without doubt a wealth of forward talent on the pitch, from Robin van Persie to Didier Drogba. So there is the potential for goals in this crucial top four battle. The two sides produced an eight goal thriller earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal winning 5-3.

If there are four or more goals scored in Arsenal v Chelsea betting, then Paddy Power will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast single bets placed on the match. This provides some great coverage on your football betting, thanks to Paddy Power. It means that insurance can be taken on the First Goalscorer market for example, where Van Persie is 4/1 favourite with Didier Drogba at 13/2. In the Correct Score market, a 1-1 draw is trading as the favourite option at 11/2 with the popular bookie. These bets are more will be covered by the Money Back Special.

Online bookmaker Paddy Power offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £50.

Arsenal v Chelsea Betting Odds
Arsenal to win: 21/20 at Paddy Power
Draw: 27/10 at Bet Victor
Chelsea to win: 11/4 at Bet365 

The Gunners look the part for a third place finish in the league, and they take a seven point lead over 6^th placed Chelsea into this fixture. So the Gunners do have a bit of breathing space for a top four finish, and a win here could put them well in control. The Gunners have earned their position well, with a very strong run of form since the start of February, and they have won nine of the last eleven matches. Although they have lost two of their last four, including their last outing at home against Wigan Athletic, they are still in pretty strong shape. That home defeat against Wigan, was only their third home defeat of the season, and they have a W12 D2 L3 record for the season. They have the unquestionable prowess of Robin van Persie up front, and he has helped them score in all but one of their home games this season. The Gunners average over two goals per game at home, and their defence, by and large has been very solid, keeping four clean sheets in their last six matches. Can they get the win which will likely finish off their London rivals’ chance of a top four finish? Arsenal have held a pretty home strong record against the Blues, losing just three of the last nineteen matches. The Gunners have lost Mikel Arteta for the rest of the season through injury.

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Chelsea must quickly come down from the euphoria of beating Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Blues scraped a 1-0 win, thanks largely to a massive defensive effort and huge slices of luck. The Blues suffered a heavy 5-3 at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal earlier in the season, and really need to reverse that on Saturday. Chelsea have still lost only one match since Roberto Di Matteo took over from Andre Villas Boas, but again, luck has played a huge factor in their progress. They were lucky to beat Wigan, they were lucky to be awarded a goal that never was in the FA Cup semi final versus Spurs, they were luckily saved by the woodwork on a couple of occasions against Barcelona, and the list can go on. But if luck is on your side, then you have to roll with it. Maybe all this luck will translate into success for Chelsea on all fronts. Chelsea’s away form is nothing to write home about still, as they have only won one of their last seven matches on the road. So they will go as underdogs here, especially based on Arsenal’s good home form. But this is another crucial match for Chelsea, and it is awkwardly sandwiched in between the two Champions League semi final matches. The Blues expended a lot of energy in shutting Barcelona out, so they will probably need to shuffle their pack and Fernando Torres could spell Didier Drogba ahead of the trip to Spain, but Drogba has a great goal scoring record against the Gunners.

A semi final place in the Champions League and an FA Cup final appearance can’t really be counted as a disappointment for a season can it? Well, it could still all turn sour for Chelsea, and they need to keep up their challenge to make it into a top four finish in the Premier League. With Arsenal looking as if they have everything all sewn up, it is down to a three horse race for the remaining spot which will guarantee Champions League football next season.

Tottenham are currently sitting in fourth place, level on points with Newcastle, with Chelsea two points further back of them. So the last four remaining matches of the season are going to be a highly tense race. Tottenham are on a bad slide of form, while Newcastle seem to be on the up and up, while Chelsea are still fumbling along, trying to get the right balance to finish off the season successfully.

So here we take a look at Premier League Top 4 Finish Betting Odds, all assuming that Arsenal are not going to give up the five point supremacy they have over the remaining games. So the race is on between three teams, all vying for one spot. There are some massive fixtures to come in this run, most of them involving Chelsea, who have the toughest run in of the lot.

Current Standings: Spurs 59pts, Newcastle 59pts, Chelsea 57pts

Top 4 Finish Odds: Spurs 4/7 at SkyBet, Chelsea 5/2 at BetVictor, Newcastle 4/1 at Bet365

April 21st
Chelsea v Arsenal
QPR v Spurs
Newcastle v Stoke

An absolutely huge match at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Arsenal. The Gunners have been in majestic form, while Chelsea have been riding their luck quite a bit. The Blues though have been picking up points and this is the big match in which they can’t afford to drop points. It could really all go wrong for them on this weekend, because if they lose and Newcastle win, it is unlikely the Blues will make up a five point deficit with just four games remaining. So, can Chelsea pull out another huge home result? It really has to be make or break for them here, and that may just be the driving force for Di Matteo’s men. However, this match comes sandwiched in between Chelsea’s Champions League semi final matches against Barcelona. Terrible timing for the Blues, but at least they are in big match mode. A draw seems plausible here, while Spurs struggle for form at a battling QPR at Loftus Road, and Newcastle should make the most of home advantage against Stoke.
Prediction: Chelsea draw, Spurs lose, Newcastle win
Points: Newcastle 62pts, Spurs 59pts, Chelsea 58pts

April 28^th
Wigan v Newcastle

If Alan Pardew’s men are going to cross the line, then they have to ride their rich vein of form. Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba should have more than enough fire-power to see off relegation threatened Wigan. The Latics are playing well at the moment, and a point away from home would be big for Newcastle in this one. The Magpies look the real deal at the moment, the most convincing of the three teams challenging for the top four, but Wigan can prove to be a tough nut to crack, so a draw here would be a positive for the Magpies
Prediction: Newcastle draw
Points: Newcastle 63pts, Spurs 59pts, Chelsea 58pts

April 29^th
Chelsea v QPR
Spurs v Blackburn

Well, Spurs may rescue themselves with this fixture, because Blackburn are looking a bit woeful. So even with Harry Redknapp’s men totally out of form, they should be able to pick up three home points here. Valuable ones they would be as well. Chelsea would also be expected to take points off QPR, because while Mark Hughes’ men have produced at home, away from Loftus Road they haven’t. By this point, Chelsea will probably be out of the Champions League and can pay full attention to a gung-ho finish.
Prediction: Chelsea win, Spurs win
Points: Newcastle 63pts, Spurs 62pts, Chelsea 61pts

May 2^nd
Chelsea v Newcastle
Bolton v Tottenham

Here it is, perhaps the make or break game for Chelsea by this points. This is the chance they will get to overhaul the Magpies and make a genuine run at fourth spot. The Blues made easy work of the Magpies at St James Park earlier in the season, and they need to follow that up with home advantage here. It is not going to be easy, not with everything at stake, but Chelsea have a big advantage up their sleeve, and that is experience in playing for high stakes prizes. The Blues should steal this one. As for Spurs, well, Bolton could be dead and buried by here, and they really ship too many goals to bank solidly. With Spurs backing up a win over Blackburn, they should be able to take another three points here.
Prediction: Chelsea win
Points: Spurs 65pts, Chelsea 64pts, Newcastle 63pts

May 6^th
Newcastle v Man City

Games aren’t going to come much bigger than this for Newcastle. They will need to win this one to keep themselves in the hunt come the final day of the season. While the Magpies are very good at home, the title race could still be on for City, and they look to have relaxed quite a bit since losing against Arsenal. So even though their away form has not been good, City will be favourites to take three points here, and there unravels, Newcastle’s top four bid.
Prediction: Newcastle lose
Points: Spurs 65pts, Chelsea 64pts, Newcastle 63pts

May 8^th
Liverpool v Chelsea

The huge games just don’t stop coming for Chelsea, and this one is a huge banana skin for them. Liverpool are simply playing for pride and have been tough to beat at Anfield. No, the Reds haven’t been producing points very well in 2012, but this is a pre-cursor to the FA Cup final, and the Reds with home advantage will probably provide a huge, stubborn test for Chelsea. Two games in three days for Chelsea isn’t going to help their cause here, so a point may be the best they can get at Anfield.
Prediction: Chelsea draw
Points: Chelsea 65pts, Spurs 65pts, Newcastle 63pts

May 13^th

Chelsea v Blackburn
Tottenham v Fulham
Everton v Newcastle

So all three teams could be in with a shot at a top four finish on the final day of the season, and Newcastle won’t be relishing a trip to Merseyside to face Everton at Goodison Park. A draw seems plausible there, leaving the Magpies out of the picture. So, who will make the most of home advantage on the final day? The race between Chelsea and Spurs could come to goal difference, because both should win their final games. Chelsea have the easier match against the possibly relegated Blackburn, while Tottenham may have to be more patient against a competent Fulham side. So with both winning the final picture is level.
Prediction: Newcastle draw, Chelsea win, Spurs win
Points: Chelsea 68pts, Spurs 68pts, Newcastle 64pts.

Outcome, it is all going to come down to goal difference. Spurs have a one goal ascendancy over Chelsea heading into these matches, but the Blues probably just edge things in form in front of goal. So it could all come down to the wire, making Chelsea a decent bet in the Premier League Top 4 finish betting.

Chelsea v Barcelona betting renews some old Champions League rivalry, as it brings the two sides back together for the first time since 2009. The passions were high between the two sides back them, with ten man Barcelona squeezing through the second leg with an injury time equaliser at at Stamford Bridge after a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp. That away goals win for Barcelona now means that they have won three out of the last four knock-out meetings against Chelsea in the Champions League. This next encounter of Chelsea v Barcelona betting has a Money Back Special running on, provided by online bookmaker Paddy Power. One of the stars of the show will, more likely than not, be Barcelona’s Lionel Messi who has been breaking all sorts of records this season.

If Lionel Messi scores the final goal of the game in Chelsea v Barcelona betting, then Paddy Power will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Score-cast singles placed on the match. This applies to pre match bets only and the Money Back Special provides a great deal of coverage. Chelsea are riding on a strong home record this season, and they also have a great record against Spanish opposition While they are underdogs, the Money Back Special coverage means that you could look at home options of Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres opening the scoring at 8/1 in First Goalscoring betting. A somewhat rewarding 1-1 draw in the Correct Score market is trading at a healthy 7/1, so there is value with the Paddy Power special.

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Chelsea v Barcelona Betting Odds

Chelsea to win: 4/1 at Bet365
Draw: 14/5 at SkyBet
Barcelona to win: 8/11 at Paddy Power

So what will the next instalment of this rivalry produce. Granted there is no Jose Mourinho involved to spice things up, but Didier Drogba will no doubt be ready to enact some revenge. Chelsea have done well at home in the Champions League this season, rattling off five wins from five. They have netted sixteen times and have conceded just twice at Stamford Bridge, and even though they didn’t play well in their last home game against Benfica, it remains a good enough record to maybe make something special happen. But this tie is going to be all about the return leg at the Nou Camp. Even if Chelsea scrape out a 1-0 home win, then there is still the uphill struggle of trying to beat the European champions on their home turf But, one thing at a time, and as Chelsea held out to a 0-0 draw at home against Barcelona last time out, they improved their home record against Spanish sides to W8 D4 L1.Chelsea took maximum points off Spaniards Valencia in the group stage as well. However, Chelsea have lost their last three UEFA semi finals against Spanish opponents. Roberto Di Matteo’s men need a solid start with a win, but they need to get the job done with a clean sheet. However, that is easier said than done against Barcelona.

Barcelona had posted four straight wins in the Champions League until they were held to a 0-0 draw against AC Milan in the first leg of the quarter final. In those four matches, Barcelona buried fifteen goals, so that is the might and attacking power which they will bring to Stamford Bridge. Barcelona, who have now won the last eleven straight in La Liga, will have fond memories of London, as that is where they beat Manchester United in the final of last year’s Champions League. So while Chelsea have fared well against Spanish sides, with Barcelona being the only ones to beat the Blues, Barcelona’s away record against English opposition is not brilliant. Barca have a W6 D8 L13 record against English sides on away soil. Even their two legged tie record against English sides reads an even W10 L9. In the Champions League semi finals, Barcelona are on a LWLWLW run in their last six, so are they due another defeat? Hard to call, because Chelsea have failed in four of their previous Champions League semi finals But Barcelona have all the scoring power to ignite the night, all led by Lionel Messi who has scored 14 times in this year’s competition. A tough night at home for the Blues in Chelsea v Barcelona betting.

Chelsea v Liverpool FA Cup Final betting is what is on the cards for the Wembley showdown for May 5^th. Kenny Dalglish’s men overcame Merseyside rivals Everton thanks to Andy Carroll’s late headed winner. That settled the first of the two semi finals, and then Chelsea conquered Tottenham in the London derby at Wembley on Sunday to book their place alongside the Reds. After their convincing semi final win, Chelsea have been installed as favourite now to win the FA Cup, currently at a market best price of 7/10 at Boylesports, with Liverpool behind at 5/4 with Bet365.

Liverpool have already shown their Cup pedigree this season, beating Cardiff in the final of the Carling Cup this season. So, while the Reds have had a hugely disappointing league campaign, they are in line for a good cup double. Chelsea’s triumph over Spurs kept their challenge up for both the FA Cup and the Champions league double. Liverpool last won the FA Cup back in the 2005/06 season, when they beat West Ham, while Chelsea have won the cup in three of the last five seasons. So it is Roberto Di Matteo’s men who are heading the betting for Chelsea v Liverpool FA Cup Final betting.

Online bookmaker Paddy Power have a great Tottenham v Chelsea FA Cup semi final betting promotion running for the big afternoon out at Wembley. While we are looking at a Merseyside derby in the other semi, here we have a London derby, just to add some extra tension and pressure on the match. Spurs need a confidence boosting pick me up after they have seen their Premier League form take a nose dive, while Chelsea are being ran ragged by challenges in the Premier League for a top four spot and in the Champions League, as well as the FA Cup. So there is a tremendous amount at stake at Wembley on Sunday, and Paddy Power are covering the match with some insurance.

If there is a red card shown in this game, then Paddy Power will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast singles placed on the match. This means that you can look at all of these Tottenham v Chelsea FA Cup betting markets with a good bit of insurance to back up your bets.

In the first goalscorer market, there are whole host of great options to weigh up. It is Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor who is favourite at 6/1, while Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba are back at 7/1 at and 8/1 respectively. With other great options like Jermain Defoe, Louis Saha and Daniel Sturridge, Frank Lampard and Gareth Bale, there is superb value on offer. In the Correct Score market, a 1-1 draw is the favourite option at 5/1, while a 1-0 triumph for either side can be taken around odds of 8/1. So there are great value bets to be found in all the markets covered by the Paddy Power promotion. The highly rated bookie also offers a free matched bet sign up bonus when opening a new account. So, new customers registering a Paddy Power account can also get a free bet on their new account to get started with. You can’t lose with a free bet!

Tottenham v Chelsea FA Cup semi final Betting Odds at Paddy Power
Spurs 13/8, Chelsea 13/8, Draw 2/1

It really is going to be a bit of a toss up between these two London sides. Spurs are still struggling to find wins in the Premier League, with just one victory in their last eight matches. Included in that run was a 0-0 draw earned at Stamford Bridge, in what was a terribly dour and uninspired affair. There was also another draw between the two sides back at White Hart Lane in December, so this could all come down to a flip of coin so to speak. Tottenham’s problems have stemmed from them showing a lack of confidence in their game. Harry Redknapp’s men had a great swagger and style about them on the ball over the first half of the season, as they played their way into a position of being genuine title contenders. That has all come undone though with a poor second half of the season, and now they are struggling to get over the line to book themselves a top four finish.

Still, the FA Cup could offer a bit of relief for them, as a piece of silverware would just desserts for one of the best footballing sides in the country. Spurs have the undoubted talent and ability with the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale, but they just look nervy and unsure on the ball, all due to their slump in form. Spurs suffered a massive blow at home in the weekend, losing 2-1 against the visiting Norwich. As big of a threat as they can carry when playing well, they are as equally as vulnerable at the moment. But are Chelsea in a position to take advantage of that? Roberto Di Matteo may be lining himself up with a good chance of taking over in the managerial seat permanently, but it could all come crashing down in the space of the next week. The Tottenahm v Chelsea FA Cup semi final is being played just a couple of days before the Blues host Barcelona in the Champions League semi final.

There is also extra pressure on Chelsea, who missed a golden opportunity to draw level with fourth placed Spurs after being pegged back to a 1-1 draw away at Fulham over the Easter weekend. Di Matteo has been shuffling his pack, trying to get a good balance of fresh legs coming into the side, but Chelsea have still produced some very flat and uninspired performances. Fernando Torres is really starting to look like his old self though after having been given a vote of confidence. But there has been a lack of punch from the midfield. Frank Lampard is the club’s top scorer, while the creativity of Juan Mata is unrivalled in the side. Will Chelsea have one eye on the meeting with Barcelona? Will they be saving something for a huge Premier League clash against Arsenal next weekend? Tough to call a winner, an extra time is a real possibility.

Fulham v Chelsea betting has great coverage being provided on the game by popular online bookmaker Paddy Power. The highly rated bookie is offering a Money Back Special for Monday’s match, a game which Chelsea have to win in order to keep up their challenge for a top four finish. But they will find Fulham in a confident mood, after Martin Jol’s men have racked up back to back wins in the league. Chelsea do seem to be riding their luck lately, scraping through a home Champions League quarter final against Benfica, before controversially beating Wigan in the Premier League on Saturday. Will they get another break as they continue to strive for dominance over their London rivals in the head to head?

If there is a penalty kick scored in the match, then Paddy Power will refund any losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast single bets placed on the match. That provides some great coverage for your Fulham v Chelsea betting. In the First Goalscorer market, Fernando Torres is trading at 5/1 favourite alongside Didier Drogba, but the Spaniard is looking the sharper of the two players at the moment. Fulham’s Clint Dempsey, who has two goals in three games and scored an equalising goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December is very well priced at 15/2. Chelsea have a strong record against Fulham, and 1-0 Correct Score for the visitors in Fulham v Chelsea betting is trading at 7/1 with Paddy Power.

So Fulham v Chelsea bets like this can be made with the insurance from Paddy Power on the game, which pays out lost stake refunds if a penalty is scored. The highly popular Paddy Power offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account with them. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £50. So great value on your football betting and free cash to get started with at Paddy Power.

Fulham v Chelsea Odds at Paddy Power
Chelsea 6/5, Draw 23/10, Fulham 13/5

Well Chelsea are riding their luck at the moment, and with a very tough and busy fixture list ahead of them, do they have the stamina to get the job done on all fronts? Apparently a top four finish is a higher priority to them than the FA Cup and the Champions League semi final against Barcelona, so again we may see Roberto Di Matteo shuffle his squad. He made seven changes on Saturday to the side which had faced Benfica during midweek, and in both matches, Chelsea were outplayed and looked lack lustre. But the difference is between Di Matteo’s and Villas Boas’s Chelsea, is that Di Matteo is producing results with what he has at his disposal This, on paper, is one of the easier fixtures left for Chelsea, and with just one defeat against Fulham in the last 21 league match ups, can the Blues drive on another step forward?

The hosts will play a big part Fulham v Chelsea betting, because Martin Jol’s men are on a two game winning streak. Fulham have been good at home this season, playing neat, tight football and racking up a healthy goal tally. Clint Dempsey is in good form at the moment, scoring a brace on the weekend against Bolton, and he scored at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season as well. It would be a timely effort from the Craven Cottage crew to upset their London rivals on their quest for a top four finish. They are playing good enough football to do it, and they will give Chelsea a very awkward time on Monday.

As we head into Chelsea v Wigan betting on the weekend, the London club’s workload just isn’t letting up. The Blues play on Saturday after Wednesday’s effort against Benfica in the Champions League, and that looked like a very tried and laboured display. The fixture list for Chelsea is particularly busy because of their Champions League and FA Cup runs, as they are in the semi finals of both competitions. It will probably mean more reshuffling of the pack from boss Roberto Di Matteo as he has to preform a very fine balancing act. Chelsea have not exactly been potent in front of goal, even under the revival of Di Matteo, so Bet365′s popular 0-0 Bore Draw special could be worth looking at for your Chelsea v Wigan betting. Place a pre match Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bet on the match, and if the game winds up in a 0-0 stalemate, then you will get your lost stakes in these markets refunded. This provides some great coverage on your football betting, and the promotion applies to all matches listed at Bet365. The highly rated bookie offers a free £200 bet for new customers registering an account, as they provide a 100% matched deposit bonus. So open an new account and you can get your initial deposit matched with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £200!

Chelsea v Wigan Betting Odds

Chelsea to win: 3/10 at Bet Victor
Draw: 5/1 at BetFred
Wigan to win: 12/1 at Bet365 

Well, Chelsea have two cup semi finals to look forward too, but they are still in danger of missing out on a return to the Champions League next season. Every match is crucial now to them, as they try and close the five point gap on fourth placed Tottenham. It is a busy Easter weekend, and one that could really define the outcome of the final standings. Chelsea have to take advantage of this fixture, while Spurs face a tricky trip to Sunderland. The Blues are undefeated in their last two league matches, but they have lost three of the last seven. So they are not in red hot form by any stretch of the imagination, and this isn’t a particularly strong Chelsea squad. Captain John Terry is set to play through the pain barrier with a cracked ribs, and they are struggling for some fluency still.

After a hugely disappointing home 0-0 draw against Spurs in the league, they almost blew a 2-0 away lead at Aston Villa last time out, until they were rescued with late goals from Jovanovich and Torres. This is by no means a high quality Chelsea side which we have come to expect over the previous seasons and they will need a summer re-shuffle. They will also need a much better effort than the 1-1 draw they secured at Wigan earlier in the season under Andre Villas-Boas. The Blues will be favourite to win, especially at home, but there are still problems of raising tempo and creativity levels. But you have to think that this is a match which Chelsea should win, even though they played very poorly on Wednesday against Benfica and weren’t in control of possession at all.

Chelsea do have a W9 D3 L3 record at home this season and they are undefeated in their last five at Stamford Bridge, with three wins and two draws. They aren’t in the strongest form which they could be in, but a winnable match to keep up the pressure for a European spot. Chelsea average just over two goals per game at home this season, but have conceded on average 1.26 per game, which could make for better reading. The Blues face a Wigan side, who are actually in much better form than the them.

While Wigan are still struggling against relegation, they have found some very good form. They are one of the three relegation threatened teams on 28 points, but they have lost only one game in their last eight. In that run, there has been three wins and four draws, an impressively they have won two and drawn one of their last three away matches. Their last away match secured what was seen as a huge bonus three points for Roberto Martinez’s men, as they beat Liverpool at Anfield. The followed that up, with a good 2-0 home win over Stoke City which leaves them still in with a tough fight, but still a realistic hope of surviving another season in the Premier League. Wigan have won more away from home this season then they have on their own soil, and their away record is W4 D3 L8. Can they pull off another miraculous result away from home? Wigan aren’t a high scoring team, averaging exactly one goal per game away from home, and conceding on overage two goals per game on the road. But they are undefeated in their last four and a spirited display could get something from a distracted and tired Chelsea.

There is great coverage on your Chelsea v Benfica Champions League betting on Wednesday night with online bookmaker Ladbrokes The popular bookie is offering a Money Back Special for your First Goalscorer wagers on the big match at Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea fail to qualify for the semi finals of the Champions League, then Ladbrokes will refund all losing First Goalscorer bets placed on Chelsea v Benfica. That is great coverage, with the tie so finely balanced, and although Chelsea have the lead, the impressive Portuguese do have ninety minutes now to get away goals under their belt. Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres are the favourites at 5/1 in the First Goalscorer market with Ladbrokes, while first leg hero Salomon Kalou is back at 8/1 with the bookie. So great value as always in the First Goalscorer market for your football betting.

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Chelsea v Benfica Champions League Betting Odds
Chelsea to win: 4/6 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 29/10 at Bet Victor
Benfica to win: 5/1 at Bet365

How much more drama can Chelsea endure this season? Well, we all know what happened in their last Champions League match at home. They scored a 4-1 win over Napoli to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit in an emotionally charged night. So the Blues do start this match as outright favourites at Stamford Bridge, as they aim to make their sixth Champions League semi final in nine years. The Blues do have a strong home record this season in the Champions League, as they have won all four of their matches at Stamford Bridge this season. So there has been four straight wins for the Blues at the moment, and in that run, they have netted 14 goals and have let in just one. So that is a strong record for them as they head into the second leg, already holding a 1-0 advantage gained from the first leg in Portugal.

Only once before have Chelsea lost in their last nine European quarter finals, and that came against Manchester United back in last season’s tournament. A further stat to back up Chelsea making it through to a semi final against either Barcelona or AC Milan, is the fact that they have won all seven knock-out ties when they have taken a first leg away advantage. So clearly the Blues know how to get the job done, and while interim boss Roberto Di Matteo shuffled his back to the trip to Portugal last week, the experience which his elder statesmen can deliver will be invaluable on Wednesday night. That 1-0 win with the away goal is a precious lead, but they still have to be wary of the Benfica threat. Chelsea have a W3 D0 L0 record against Portuguese sides at Stamford Bridge (all against FC Porto).

Benfica held Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford of course in the group stage of this season’s Champions League of course, but history isn’t weighing on their side. Only twice before in the entire history of the Champions League has a team progressed after losing the first leg of a knock-out tie at home. However, away from home in the Champions League this season, the Portuguese have won two and drawn three of their six matches, so they are clearly no push overs. Their record in England isn’t great though, with just three wins, one draw and in defeats against English opponents, and they have lost all three of their European quarter final ties against teams from England as well. But Jorge Jesus’s Benfica side is not one which looks devoid of confidence, or the ability to attack teams hard. They were a little flat in the first leg, but they have produced some of the most creative and thrilling attacking football in this year’s tournament. The golden carrot of away goals is there for them, they have goals in them, and they need the kind of performance at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea produced there in the last round. Could be a very exciting night.

Aston Villa v Chelsea Premier League Betting should take some good coverage through your bets at online bookmaker Bet365. The highly rated bookie offers lost stake refunds through their 0-0 Bore Draw Money Back Special. The bookie will pay out lost stake refunds on any losing Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bets placed on a match which ends in a 0-0 draw, so that could be great coverage for your Aston Villa v Chelsea betting. Chelsea head to Villa Park, where they don’t have a great record, but they need to pull out a win to keep their chances of a fourth place finish in the Premier League alive. Chelsea have been poor on the road though, so can Alex McLeish’s Villa frustrate the London side? Take coverage on the Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bets placed on Aston Villa v Chelsea betting with online bookmaker Bet365. Bet365 offer up to £200 worth of free bets for new customers registering an account. That is some great start up value for your new Bet365 account, as the bookie matches the value of your first deposit on a new account with a 100% bonus.

Aston Villa v Chelsea Betting Odds
Chelsea to win: 10/11 at Paddy Power
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Aston Villa to win: 4/1 at Stan James

Well Chelsea, who are still firing in the FA Cup and the Champions League, did not want to find themselves in this awkward position. Roberto Di Matteo’s men find themselves five points back of fourth place in the league, with just eight games to go. That is going to be a tough gap to close, because they have a tough fixture list to close out the season with. So this is the type of game where they need to capitalise on their opportunities. However, this tricky fixture at Villa Park, where Chelsea don’t have a great record, comes at a tricky time, sandwiched in between Chelsea’s two legs of their Champions League quarter final tie against Benfica. Chelsea picked up a precious away win in the week, and will have one eye on the return fixture against the Portuguese next week. So this match almost comes as a distraction, although it is vitally important that they pick up three points in it.

Tip: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has scored in each of his last four games against Aston Villa and is 4/1 favourite at Bet365 in the First Goalscorer Market.

However, the Blues are not in good shape away from home in the Premier League. Neither is their overall current form. Chelsea are without a win in their last two league matches, following defeat at Manchester City and a hugely disappointing 0-0 draw at home against Spurs last weekend, in what was such a crucial match in the race for fourth spot. Chelsea looked tired and short of their best there but they need to find a big response in the league. Aston Villa embarrassed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season with a 3-1 win. That is the last thing that the Blues need right now. Chelsea have lost their last three matches away from home in the league, and there has only been one away win in the last eight for the Londoners. So not great form in their quest for a top four finish. Chelsea are only averaging 1.20 goals away from home this season, and are conceding one per game on average. They need to break that run and turn things around, but Chelsea have only won once in their last twelve trips to Villa Park.

So can Villa really hurt Chelsea right now? The Villains aren’t exactly bristling with form, and injury problems have taken Villa right down to the bare bones. They weren’t in their contests last contest, which was an away visit to Arsenal last weekend, when they lost 3-0. Villa have won just one of their last eight home matches at Villa Park, and fans haven’t been happy with their limited and cautious approach to matches. They broke a streak of seven home games without a win when they beat Fulham on March 10^th, by a 1-0 scoreline. But Villa, especially compounded by injuries and the long term loss of top scorer Darren Bent are struggling for goals. Villa have netted just two goals in their last five matches and that is a huge stumbling block for them. Villa have managed just four home wins all season and average just over a goal per game. They will go as underdogs, even at home because Chelsea are playing better at the moment, and have a bigger squad to call upon. Villa are only eight points out of the relegation zone, and while they will probably be safe, it has been a hugely disappointing season for them.

Benfica v Chelsea Champions League betting will be well covered by online bookmaker Bet365′s great 0-0 Bore Draw offer. This football betting promotion, which applies to all football matches found on Bet365, gives the insurance of lost stake refunds on any losing Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bets which go wrong because the match ends in a 0-0 draw. This is a big away night for Chelsea, the last English team left standing in Europe. This Bet365 Money Back Special gives great coverage on the match, and will allow you to dip into the Correct Score market for example, where the home side are 6/1 favourites for a 1-0 win. The bookie do predict that Benfica with their strong home European record are the favourites for the match, but will the new Chelsea resilience come through? Cover your Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bets with the 0-0 Bore Draw Money Back Special at Bet365 for your Benfica v Chelsea betting.

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Benfica v Chelsea Champions League Betting Odds

Benfica to win: 6/4 at BetFred
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Chelsea: 2/1 Bet365

It does look as if Chelsea will have another uphill battle to contend with away from home. Not only are their Tuesday night opponents a formidable opposition on their home soil, but Chelsea’s away form in the Champions League this season has been very poor. The Blues haven’t won an away match in this season’s Champions League, picking up two defeats and two losses on their travels so far. They lost in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen in the knock-out stage and of course, that defensive howler out in Italy against Napoli where they lost 3-1. There is little doubt really that Chelsea are going to be stronger back at Stamford Bridge, so this is a very tough task for them. Granted, Chelsea have shaped up a bit since Andre Villas-Boas got the boot, but there is still some defensive issues for them, largely through a lack of pace at the back. The Chelsea back line will have a lot of problems trying to deal with the pace of the Benfica game. Chelsea haven’t faced Benfica before in Europe, and all of their experience against Portuguese opponents have come against Porto. Chelsea have a W4 D2 L0 record against Portuguese opponents therefore and have only won one of three out in Portugal. Chelsea have won five of their last seven Champions League quarter finals though, and this is their eighth appearance in thirteen seasons at this stage. It will need a big defensive effort on Tuesday night, to have something to take back to Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.

This is because Benfica are unbeaten in ten European home matches now, and they have rattled off eleven wins from twelve matches at home in their domestic league, scoring at a rate of three goals per game. We have seen the power of their attack, which looks very fluid, creative and quick, as they went up against Manchester United in the group stage of this year’s Champions League, and held the Red Devils to draws, both home and away. Just to add some further fuel here in reasons to back Benfica, is the fact that they have won all three of their European Cup quarter finals ties against English opposition. They have not conceded a goal at home in any of their last four home quarter final matches in Europe either. So they are the strong option at home in Lisbon, and have the ability to really cause Chelsea some problems. Chelsea battled their way past Napoli in that rousing night at Stamford Bridge in the last round, while Benfica too overcame a first leg away deficit against Russian side Zenit St Petersburg. The big difference between Benfica and Chelsea is that the Portuguese side genuinely look to have goals in them. Chelsea, well, not so much.