English Premiership
Manchester United V Manchester City: Manchester United (HOME) Win – 8/13 PaddyPower
Wolverhampton Wanderers V Fulham: BOTH teams to SCORE – 10/11 Bet365
Everton V Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn to score EXACTLY 1 GOAL – 7/5 PaddyPower
Chelsea V Tottenham Hotspur: Chelsea (HOME) Win – 8/15 StanJames
French Ligue 1
PSG V Lyon: BOTH teams to SCORE – EVENS (1/1) Bet365
Italian Serie A
Cagliari V Inter Milan: BOTH teams to SCORE – 19/20 Bet365
Dutch Eredivisie
Venlo V Ajax: Over 3.5 Goals – 21/20 SportingBet
Spanish Primera
Real Zaragoza V Valladolid: Real Zaragoza (HOME) Win – 11/10 Coral
Real Madrid V Xerez: Raul to SCORE ANYTIME – 11/8 Boylesports
Valencia V Sporting Gijon: David Villa to SCORE ANYTIME – 4/5 Coral
Sweden Allsvenskan
IFK Goteborg V Hammarby: IFK Goteborg (HOME) Win – 2/5 Expekt
Strongest Tip:
Manchester United V Manchester City – HOME Win – 8/13 PaddyPower
Man City have a whole host of players missing for this crucial derby encounter with bitter and local rivals United. Emmanueal Adebayor starts his three match suspension, Carlos Tevez is out with injury while Roque Santa Cruz is severely lacking match fitness. Benjani could deputise up front with Craig Bellamy, a far from convincing for line.
United, on the other hand, come into this game off the back of a hard fought victory in Turkey, beating Besiktas 1-0. The ‘Red Devils‘ also boast some might impressive form, with victories over Wigan Athletic (0-5), Arsenal (2-1) & Tottenham Hotspur (1-3), all wins that deserve a lot of credit.
City, who themselves boast an immense run of results, four wins from four, but their victories, barring the emphatic 4-2 defeat of Arsenal, were over poor sides. Blackburn, Wolves & Portsmouth are all teams that could and probably will be near the very foot of the table come the end of the season and to say City have had it easy up till now would be an understatement.
Wayne Rooney was given a brief rest bite in midweek, although, it wasn’t what the player himself had in mind, but his angry reaction will serve his side well in a bitter derby match. He was substituted against Besiktas around the 60 minute mark so he’ll be fresher than most for this game. Paul Scholes will miss this game through suspension but Rio Ferdinand could make his long awaited return from injury and partner Vidic in defence, once again.
United have the quality, the form and the hunger to see off a City side with tonnes of striking problems and who’ve been gifted arguably the most generous opening fixtures in league history. Man Utd are 8/13 with PaddyPower at home against a City side that will do well to escape Old Trafford with some pride still intact. The venue – the stadium of dreams, or the stadium were City’s dreams turn into a nightmare. Stunning odds on a HOME win here and one we will take up with GLEE!
N.B. (Next Best):
Venlo V Ajax: Over 3.5 Goals – 21/20 SportingBet
Ajax should dispatch Venlo, but the home side could cause Ajax a few problems in defence. Venlo are unbeaten in the league, scoring eleven and conceding ten. However, VVV have been addicted to draws in the early part of the season, drawing their opening five fixtures, three of which were 2-2, while one was even 3-3. Their home goalscoring tally currently stands at 5-4 after three games so it’s clear that Venlo do try to capitalise on home advantage and they will need their small home support to rally behind them in such a tough fixture with giants Ajax.
Ajax have made an impressive start to the season, with the defeat away in Eindhoven(4-3 to PSV) their only disappointment thus far. Four wins from six has put them in a prominent position in fourth, scoring a colossal 18 goals already, conceding just 5. 8 of those have come on their travels, scoring 8 in three away games, so Ajax obviously hold no fear when playing in rival stadiums.
Ajax should locate the Venlo goal with ease while Venlo could actually cause Ajax a few problems at the back. An early goal for either side would be ideal but an early strike for the underdogs would make this an enthralling encounter.
Luis Suarez (Ajax) already has six goals in the league and he could be one to watch out for, especially as he’s 10/11 with Bet365 to score anytime in the game.