UEFA Cup matches 8/3

[Tulenos]

Thursday 8 March 2007
	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Lens v Bayer Leverkusen (18:00 GMT)	2.14	3.30	3.75	104%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultOver/UnderTotal Goals
Maccabi Haifa v Español (18:45 GMT)	2.85	3.25	2.50	106%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultOver/UnderTotal Goals
Newcastle v AZ Alkmaar (19:30 GMT)	2.10	3.40	3.80	104%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyCornersDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultNext Team to ScoreOver/UnderRed CardTotal Goals
Celta Vigo v Werder Bremen (19:45 GMT)	3.10	3.25	2.50	104%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultOver/UnderTotal Goals
Paris St-G v Benfica (19:45 GMT)	2.30	3.20	3.20	106%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultNext Team to ScoreOver/UnderTotal Goals
Seville v Shaktar (19:45 GMT)	1.50	4.10	8.60	103%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultOver/UnderTotal Goals
Rangers v Osasuna (20:05 GMT)	2.28	3.35	3.35	104%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyBookings PointsCornersDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultNext Team to ScoreOver/UnderTotal Goals
Sporting Braga v Tottenham (21:35 GMT)	3.00	3.30	2.40	106%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultOver/UnderTotal Goals

[Tulenos]

Seville to bt Shaktar is a bit of a no brainer, but have seen much worse 1/2 shots - Seville must have their tails up after beating Barca (and getting from 0-1 to 2-1 with one man down, only then two Barca men were sent off), while Shaktar have had almost no competitive matches for some two plus moths now.

[DJ]

Benfica to beat PSG @3.20 looks great value! PSG are such a poor team this season that they are constantly flirting with relegation. I doubt very much that they have enough to contain the attacking threat of Benfica.

Seville as has been said will beat Shakhtar who I doubt will score. I think the game will be low scoring as Shakhtar will hope to take the game to their home instead. Still Seville having turned over Barca will have more than enough to win.

A double at just short of 4 looks good value to me!

[Ayebrox]

Originally Posted by Djlion

Benfica to beat PSG @3.20 looks great value! PSG are such a poor team this season that they are constantly flirting with relegation. I doubt very much that they have enough to contain the attacking threat of Benfica.

Benfica attracted my interest also, especially at that price. PSG are battling relegation domestically, and that will undoubtedly be their priority.

However, I'm not convinced that Benfica are a good team to back on the road. In their Champions League group, they only scored 1 goal in their 3 games, in the 3-1 defeat to Man U. They also played two average team in Celtic and Copenhagen. Celtic thrashed them 3-0 and Copenhagen drew with them 0-0.

I would be interested in seeing the stats for Benfica's away record in europe over the past few years, if anyone has it Would be good info to assess before making a bet on this game.

[Oasis]

Osasuna 2/1 must be the bet of the season!!

[allthethings]

Osasuna 2/1 must be the bet of the season!!

I thought they were the bet of their season in the last match...0-0 until 120'.

[Ayebrox]

Originally Posted by Oasis

Osasuna 2/1 must be the bet of the season!!

Celtic fan ?

That game is probably a no bet for me, although I will take an interest in any odds given for under 2.5 goals.

[blysk]

Originally Posted by Ayebrox

I would be interested in seeing the stats for Benfica's away record in europe over the past few years, if anyone has it Would be good info to assess before making a bet on this game.

Here you got stats from the past three years:

Anderlecht 3 - 0 Benfica
B. Bystrica 0 - 3 Benfica
Stuttgart 3 - 0 Benfica
Beveren 0 - 3 Benfica
CSKA Moskva 2 - 0 Benfica
Manchester U 2 - 1 Benfica
Villarreal 1 - 1 Benfica
Lille 0 - 0 Benfica
Liverpool 0 - 2 Benfica
Barcelona 2 - 0 Benfica
FC Kobenhavn 0 - 0 Benfica
Celtic 3 - 0 Benfica
Manchester U 3 - 1 Benfica
Dinamo B. 1 - 2 Benfica

14 games
4 wins - 3 draws - 7 loses
6 times failed to score

The stats aren't impressive but i'll try Benfica DNB or X2

[Tulenos]

Originally Posted by Oasis

Osasuna 2/1 must be the bet of the season!!

to PL, Oasis. You might already have found just a scream with no background is not enough to claim this or that bet is the best around. Some reasoning would help

[Ayebrox]

Thanks for the info blysk

[Aarun]

Why are AZ Alkmaar so high? They are a very good team and Newcastle at times struggled against Middlesbrough.

I'm thinking of doing a double chance coupon for:

AZ (Win/Draw)
Spurs (Win/Draw)
W Bremen (Win/Draw)

[booyah]

Spurs to win @2.44 (Betfair) looks good to me.

Tottenham have won their last four (3 of them away), scoring 14 goals in the process. The morale will be particularly high after Sunday's dramatic comeback against West Ham. While it is always dangerous to underestimate Portuguese sides on their home turf, Braga are not in the same bracket as Porto, Benfica and Sporting. On the other hand, Spurs have already won at two difficult grounds in this season's competition (Besiktas and Leverkusen).

I can see Sevilla rolling over Shakhtar for the reasons already mentioned above.

Finally, I would be wary of backing Osasuna (despite the odds). Ibrox is a very intimidating venue, especially on European nights, and Rangers have improved greatly under Walter Smith recently. I think Osasuna will be happy to nick a draw and take Rangers back to their tight little stadium.

[AnfieldAssassin]

Originally Posted by Oasis

Osasuna 2/1 must be the bet of the season!!

I must stress that I believe the odds are as they are because Osasuna have (I believe) lost their last 3 games and are not the best away from home in La Liga. The form status (in last 8 games in La Liga) say that they're 17th out of 20 teams and thus in a knock-out game, with home support and some form at last of late, surely the best bet is to back Rangers??? At 11/10 I thought it was a steal!!! Maybe I'm naive! I have no link/love of Rangers so very objective in my view, thinking with my head.

Maybe I'll be proved wrong, but for me Rangers should be backed!

Best of luck with whatever you play

[Aarun]

Right i'm going for:

Rangers (Win/Draw)
Spurs (Win/Draw)
Newcastle (Win/Draw)
Sevilla (Win)

Anyone know any team news? I'm wary about Rangers and Sevilla... I feel Newcastle and Spurs are capable of at least a draw.

[loc]

Sevilla - Shakhtar 1

For those who are not confident: "FC Shakhtar's indiscipline may prove costly as they go into their UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie against holders Sevilla FC without three key players.

Shakhtar absentees
Defender Olexandr Kucher, Polish midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski and Romanian forward Ciprian Marica all serve one-match suspensions" (uefa.com)

Now I have no doubt that spanish team will win. I think that Sevilla - Shatkhtar halft time 1@2.0 (expekt) is good bet.

[loc]

Rangers - Osasuna 2

3.60 (expekt) on away win is great value. Rangers are without their goalkeeper Allan McGregor due to red card ban. Small stakes for Osasuna (because of their poor form in the league).

You can also try Rangers - Osasuna AH 0/+0.5 on Osasuna @ 2.1 (expekt)

[loc]

Maccabi Haifa - Espanyol Barcelona 2@2.50 (expekt)

Maccabi league form:
3.3.2007 Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Petah Tikva 2:2
26.2.2007 Hapoel Kfar Sava Maccabi Haifa 1:1
18.2.2007 Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:0
10.2.2007 Hapoel Petah Tikva Maccabi Haifa 0:2

Espanyol:
4.3.2007 Espanol Barcelona Villarreal 1:1
5.2.2007 Osasuna Espanol Barcelona 0:2
18.2.2007 Espanol Barcelona Mallorca 3:1
11.2.2007 Celta Vigo Espanol Barcelona 0:2

Espanoyls' away form is very good so i put small stakes on them. And don't forget about Pandiani - top goalscorer with 8 goals.

[MemoryOf82]

Originally Posted by Aarun

Why are AZ Alkmaar so high? They are a very good team and Newcastle at times struggled against Middlesbrough.

I'm thinking of doing a double chance coupon for:

AZ (Win/Draw)
Spurs (Win/Draw)
W Bremen (Win/Draw)

Good bet i think, but Newcastle have a lot of senior players returning as of late,
and can be quite the tricky team to bet on or against in recent months,

many times i have been burnt by their performances,

take Newcastle at evens, and their at home...

and Martins at 9/2 for first goal scorer is worth a punt...

[888]

Is there any noticeable and important absentee for Sevilla ?

[Sco]

A purely observation post, but Betfair is offering 3.3 on Maccabi Haifa which is quite an increase on the odds above. Not sure whether any team news has come out to suggest such a rise in price? Might be worth a stab otherwise with small stakes?

Sco