UEFA Cup matches 8/3

[888]

Sport	Football (Euro Cups)
Event	Seville vs Shaktar
Selection	Seville -1 (Asian Handicap)
Strength	8/10
Date	08/03/2007
Bookmaker/Price	Ladbrokes @ 1.74 (Back)
Reasoning	Shakthar will come to this match without Olexandr Kucher, Mariusz Lewandowski and Ciprian Marica which will weaken their strenght for sure. On top of that, they haven't got a lot of meaningful games lately. Its true they will have plenty of time to rest, but regular football are needed to maintain form and it will be interesting to see how Shakthar will respond in this game. My best bet is they will try do defend this out and take the game to their own home turf if possible. However, Sevilla just got a morally boosting win against Barcelona last week and I think they will keep the momentum approaching this match. Moreover, they only have Renato missing as far as I heard so basically they are in great shape. Also they are aware that Shakthar aren't a team to be underestimated when they play at home, so getting a good home win here is crucial. AH lines in most bookies are now around -1.25 hence I think -1 should be decent. Just in case they really camp their own half the whole time, it would be a surprise if they can hold Sevilla out for the 90 minutes without conceeding at least once.

[emrekiwo]

AZ's defense seems too vulnerable to stand to newcastle attacks. they r deprived of accelaration. a speedy striker like martins wudnt forgive them. my prediction is AZ wont win.

[allthethings]

Soccer - Lens/Leverkusen - total Over 2½ (+114)
for the regulation time held on Mar 8 at 1:00pm [pending]

Soccer - Newcastle United/AZ Alkmaar - total Over 2½ (-130)
for the regulation time held on Mar 8 at 2:30pm [pending]

Lens' last eight at home: 16-14 differential. Leverkusen last eight away: 11-11. I'm surprised at this line, even though we all know that teams tend to score less with the high quality of play and home and away format of the UEFA.

AZ away...18-12 differential last eight. Newcastle tend to hunker down at home, but still have a 14-12 differential last eight at home. Also, tendency will be for teams to look for a decisive first game, and while Newcastle's best shot is to not allow any away goals, this is AZ we're talking here.

BOL all

[Igorco]

I don't write here often.. but this time i just must say that i can't disagree with most of u guys more than this time... I'll just give u my suggestions..

1. Avoid Sevilla match... History is not good for this match, away team with excellent players that can beat or surprise any great teams as they've proven till now and through these last years... i would even dare to try small stakes on draw/away win..

2. Werder to win.. this one with high stakes for me.. i just can't see the German team letting this one slip away, and they'll decide to be the one to proceed to next phase in the first match.. and i just can't see that poor home team giving any resistance to Werder's intention...

3. Az Alkmaar DNB.. or a pure away win with lower stakes.. the sutch have a mutch better squad here.. though inexperince could be a problem for them, i think it's about time they really show their capabilities.. i like Newcastle, but they're just not good enough this time..

4. No bet for Tottenham match... both with Sevilla seem to me as the 'trap' for the day... if i had to choose.. i'd say home win/draw..

5. About the other matches, i'd suggest to go for Lens home win, Maccabi win/draw, PSG under, Rangers over..

and most important maybe.. Good Luck everyone

[Fizruhas]

I'll go on Sevilla -1, their on fire now, with leading in La Liga, last game won at home vs Barca 2:1, with 0:1 down! Like Uncoabis said the Shakhtar won't have 3 key players, the suspensions strike Shakhtar hardest in this day. evenmhore when the game is at home i'm sure more ... Sevilla play discipline football at the moment and won't give a chance at home to team which haven't play official games about two months (in UKR championship starts in march or appril, smth like that)!
my predictions: Sevilla to win 3:0

[Fizruhas]

Originally Posted by Igorco

I don't write here often.. but this time i just must say that i can't disagree with most of u guys more than this time... I'll just give u my suggestions..

1. Avoid Sevilla match... History is not good for this match, away team with excellent players that can beat or surprise any great teams as they've proven till now and through these last years... i would even dare to try small stakes on draw/away win..

2. Werder to win.. this one with high stakes for me.. i just can't see the German team letting this one slip away, and they'll decide to be the one to proceed to next phase in the first match.. and i just can't see that poor home team giving any resistance to Werder's intention...

3. Az Alkmaar DNB.. or a pure away win with lower stakes.. the sutch have a mutch better squad here.. though inexperince could be a problem for them, i think it's about time they really show their capabilities.. i like Newcastle, but they're just not good enough this time..

4. No bet for Tottenham match... both with Sevilla seem to me as the 'trap' for the day... if i had to choose.. i'd say home win/draw..

5. About the other matches, i'd suggest to go for Lens home win, Maccabi win/draw, PSG under, Rangers over..

and most important maybe.. Good Luck everyone

The first way to the 'hell" when you watching to the history ... i can't remmember when sevilla was so high .... do you ?

[ralinio]

Match: Braga - Tottenham
Pick: Back Tottenham
Price: 2.4 at betfair

Teams news:


Didier Zokora and Steed Malbranque return for our UEFA Cup Round of 16 first leg at Braga on Thursday night but Jermaine Jenas remains out.
Midfielders Didier and Steed are back after missing West Ham on Sunday with calf and groin injuries respectively. However, JJ is ruled out with a groin strain and joins Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Ledley King (foot), Danny Murphy (groin) and Mido (knee) on the sidelines. Speaking at his press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Martin Jol reported: "Benoit has had a successful cartilage operation and will be out for another seven or eight weeks. "Ledley is still out, JJ has a groin strain and didn't travel and Mido has a cyst on his knee, hopefully he'll be okay for the weekend.
"The good news is that Steed and Didier are both back in the squad."



Portuguese international Joao Pinto is the most recognised player in the Braga line-up with a heavy Brazilian influence in the squad including youngster Diego, just 18, whose late goal at Parma secured their place in the last 16. Currently fourth in Portugal’s SuperLiga, Braga have taken the scalps of two of the country’s big three at home – Porto and Benfica (Ricardo actually scored for Benfica in that game, a 3-1 win for Braga) – in a record of eight wins, a draw and two defeats this term. They are on a run of four straight home wins domestically. Ricardo will miss out – he’s ineligible after playing for Benfica in the Champions League.


Tottenham is a good cup team. Not much left to fight for in Premiership, wining the uefa cup should be their major goal right now. I cannot find any news say how motivated they are for this competition, but in my opinion they should be. They are in excellent form and could beat Braga which is a good team but not their class. Also the price is huge for tottenham. I see a good value.

Good luck all

[chsua10]

Defending champions Sevilla are expecting this match highly confident after knocking down Barcelona in Primera match 2:1. Sevilla play at all three fronts this year, beside UEFA and domestic league they are still competitors in Copa del Ray. It’s hard for any team to withstand so many games, but Sevilla’s coach Juande Ramos makes few changes every match so every player get a chance for a bit of rest. Sevilla finished second in Group C and then eliminate FC Steaua Bucuresti 2-0 away and 1-0 at home. Sevilla is favorite today, and of course they will look for best possible score before second leg match. Sevilla have almost full squad available, midfielder Renato is only missing.

Shakhtar comes after successful weekend in domestic championship , 3:0 against Zorya. Shakhtar finished third in Champions League Group D. In previous UEFA Cup round they’ve played 1-1 at home against Nancy, but away they’ve won 0:1. Shakhtar have played 8 times against Spanish teams , winning one at home, drawn 3 and losing 4 matches. They’ve never eliminated any Spanish team in their history. Shakhtar comes in Sevilla without 3 suspended players defender Olexandr Kucher, midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski and striker Ciprian Marica, also three more players are threatened by suspension for second leg match , so Brandão, Fernandinho and Darijo Srna must play more careful than usual.

Sevilla is team in top form , they occupy first place in Primera and i believe they will do all necessary to achieve best possible result today. I suggest a huge bet on home win.

[ralinio]

Match: Sevilla - Shakhtar
Pick: Back Sevilla
Price: 2.01 AH -1.0&-1.5 at betfair

To all that's been said I want to add some news from sevilla official site.
UANDE SUMMONS TO ALL STARS TO RECEIVE TO THE SHAKTAR

It is not left to any of the important men, except for David, that it will have rest. Hinkel, just left an injury, and Renato, injured, is also low, next to Fernando Salts.

The list is: Palop, Cobeño, Daniel, Escudé, Aitor Ocio, Drago, Javi Navarro, Poulsen, Maresca, Martí, Jesús Navas, Duda, Adriano, Kanouté Chevantón, Alfaro, Kerzhakov, Luis Fabiano y Puerta.

Good luck

[ralinio]

Why the price is so huge on Werder? Anyone know something about that?

[chsua10]

Because Werder is in bad form at the moment. Their last 5 matches in Bundesliga:

Schalke 04 L 0-2
at VfB Stuttgart L 1-4
Hamburg SV L 0-2
at Borussia M'gladbach D 2-2
VfL Bochum W 3-0

[chsua10]

Why Sevilla should win convincingly:

During the winter break Shakhtar sold their captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk to Zenit Petrograd. But this won't be the only missing player today, as the Shakhtar's coach cannot field Olexandr Kucher, Mariusz Lewandowski and Ciprian Marica, what means weakened defence, midfield and attack. Another fact speaking in favour of Sevilla is the Ukrainian league started only last weekend.

Sevilla surely does not want to travel to cold Ukraine with a draw or even worse result.

[chsua10]

Another good option is Rangers at home to Osasuna.

Rangers are strong at home. The European scene is no exception. They have won all of their 4 UEFA Cup home games this season, scoring 9 & conceding 0! In fact, they have not lost at home since 9 Dec 2003 – 8/4/0 (22-6) in their last 12 European home outings (9 UEFA Cup + 3 CL).

As for Osasuna, they are going through a torrid spell – 2/2/6 (4-12) in their last 10 league & cup games. Goals are a recent problem as they have hit just 1 in their last 6 outings. This goal-scoring drought is further compounded by the injury to their 3 leading scorers Roberto Soldado, Savo Milosevic & Valdo.

[Ruud]

Well, best bet for me is Sevilla-Shakhtar, home win with some 9/10 stakes because Im pretty sure that sevilla will be far to strong for shakhtar team. Reasoning: well shakhtar went past nancy in last round but to be honest Sevilla is much better than nancy (can you see nancy beating Barcelona???of course not) and sevilla should do everything to go to cold Ukraine with some positive result, probbably 1:0 or 2:0 as I think they will not conceede and shakhtar will try to defend from first to last minute. Considering Sevillas strenghts and Shakhtars lack of match fitness and more importante Shakhtar huge missings (primary Marica) this shoul be a fine home win

[Ruud]

As well as Sevilla single, I will play a treble including: Sevilla Home win, Rangers win/draw, and NEwcastle win/draw, will do the reasoning a bit later as I have no time now. cheers!

[prout]

The Odds for Rangers start at 2.28 and is now at 2.1 on Betfair. I think i will back Rangers because its an big variation for the back.

[Aarun]

Right looking at some info.

Rangers look good for a win/draw as Osasuna are without their top scorer and Milosovic, + Rangers are at home so I can see Rangers drawing at least especially as they are on form.

Newcastle-win/draw, as Emre returns, as does Duff and Newcastle more or less have a really good squad to play with, I can see them at least getting a draw but most likely getting a win, i'd suggest over 2 goals but I thought that on Saturday Vs Middlesbrough so it coul dbe a tight game even though AZ don't know how to defend, but Van Gaal has said he has been training on defence of late, AZ are without their best player Mendes Da Silva keeps their midfield tight and keeps them organised.

Sevilla I wasn't so sure about at 1st, but they are at home, everyone seems confident and Shaktar miss players so for me SURELY a Sevilla win?

Werder Bremen i'd take to win/draw BUT i'm not sure on team news om Celta/Werder missing people, so if anyone has some that would be great?

And i'd say same about Spurs but I think anything could happen in that game, especially as it's a KO that Spurs don't normally KO.

[Aarun]

Originally Posted by Ruud

As well as Sevilla single, I will play a treble including: Sevilla Home win, Rangers win/draw, and NEwcastle win/draw, will do the reasoning a bit later as I have no time now. cheers!

Exactly same as me. I will be doing the exactly same treble.

[Ruud]

Originally Posted by Aarun

Exactly same as me. I will be doing the exactly same treble.

I hope wi will win tonight but I am really afraid of AZ alkmaar away goals , they are very dangerous, but anyway should be a successful treble , waiting games tonight !!!

[Aarun]

Originally Posted by Ruud

I hope wi will win tonight but I am really afraid of AZ alkmaar away goals , they are very dangerous, but anyway should be a successful treble , waiting games tonight !!!

Yeh, AZ are really an amazing team but I feel it's would be case of if AZ score Newcastle will score 2. Martins, Emre, Duff, Parker, Butt, Taylor, Given, Milner, Solano, it really is a lot of quality maybe too much for AZ, Over 2 goals would be good in this game but at 3/4 odds at Ladbrokes I will not take.

I'll be doing these 3 in a Trixue JUST IN CASE 1 of them lets me down at least I would get a bit of my money back, but I am confident that they will all come in.

I think Lens are underestimated in their odds, and so are PSG.

I may do small stakes as well on over 2 goals in these games:

Sevilla/Shaktar
Celta/W Bremen
Newcastle/AZ
Braga/Spurs

And do a lucky 15 on them.