UEFA matches 14 - 15/3 - return leg

[Tulenos]

Wednesday 14 March 2007
	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Bayer Leverkusen v Lens (17:15 GMT)	2.04	3.50	4.30	101%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHome Team First Goal TimeLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreNext Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderSecond Goal TimeTeams To ScoreTotal Goals
Osasuna v Rangers (19:45 GMT)	1.95	3.50	4.80	101%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -Qualify1st Half Total Goals2nd Half PenaltyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreClean SheetCornersDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Carded TeamFirst Corner TeamFirst Goal TimeFirst Goal Time 2nd HalfFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHat-Trick ScoredHome Team First Goal TimeKick-OffLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreNext Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderPenalty AwardedRed CardSecond Goal TimeSubstitutions UsedTeam To Score 2+Team To Score 3+Team To Score 4+Team To Score 5+Teams To ScoreTo Miss a PenaltyTo Score a Hat-trickTo Score a HeaderTo Score a PenaltyTo Score from Inside the BoxTo Score from Outside the BoxTo Score with the FootTo Win to NilTotal GoalsTotal Goals 2nd HalfWin Both HalvesWin Either Half
Werder Bremen v Celta Vigo (19:45 GMT)	1.51	4.40	8.40	101%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHome Team First Goal TimeLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderSecond Goal TimeTeams To ScoreTotal Goals
Tottenham v Sporting Braga (20:15 GMT)	1.45	4.60	9.30	102%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -Qualify1st Half Total Goals2nd Half PenaltyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreClean SheetCornersDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Carded TeamFirst Corner TeamFirst Goal TimeFirst Goal Time 2nd HalfFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHat-Trick ScoredHome Team First Goal TimeKick-OffLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreNext Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderPenalty AwardedPlayer To Score 3+Red CardSecond Goal TimeSubstitutions UsedTeam To Score 2+Team To Score 4+Team To Score 5+Teams To ScoreTo Miss a PenaltyTo Score a Hat-trickTo Score a HeaderTo Score a PenaltyTo Score from Inside the BoxTo Score from Outside the BoxTo Score with the FootTo Win to NilTotal GoalsTotal Goals 2nd HalfWin Both HalvesWin Either Half
Thursday 15 March 2007
	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Shaktar v Sevilla (18:30 GMT)	3.30	3.35	2.48	101%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHome Team First Goal TimeLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderSecond Goal TimeTeams To ScoreTotal Goals
AZ Alkmaar v Newcastle (19:35 GMT)	1.98	3.80	4.33	100%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -Qualify1st Half Total Goals2nd Half PenaltyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreClean SheetCornersDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Carded TeamFirst Corner TeamFirst Goal TimeFirst Goal Time 2nd HalfFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHat-Trick ScoredHome Team First Goal TimeKick-OffLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreNext Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderPenalty AwardedRed CardSecond Goal TimeSubstitutions UsedTeam To Score 2+Team To Score 3+Team To Score 4+Team To Score 5+Teams To ScoreTo Miss a PenaltyTo Score a PenaltyTo Win to NilTotal GoalsTotal Goals 2nd HalfWin Both HalvesWin Either Half
Español v Maccabi Haifa (20:30 GMT)	1.47	4.40	9.80	101%	Related markets...Match ResultAsian HandicapHalf-time/Full-timeCorrect ScoreFirst GoalscorerAnytime GoalscorerLast Goalscorer - - -QualifyAway Team First Goal TimeAway Team To ScoreDouble ChanceDraw No BetFirst Goal TimeFirst Team to ScoreHalf with Most GoalsHalf-time Correct ScoreHalf-time ResultHandicap ResultHome Team First Goal TimeLast Goal TimeLast Team to ScoreOdd or Even TotalOver/UnderSecond Goal TimeTeams To ScoreTotal Goals
Benfica v Paris St-G (21:00 GMT)	1.66	3.55	6.20	105%

[Carl]

Both Spurs and Newcastle came out on the right side of high-scoring UEFA Cup first-leg round one knock-out ties. Newcastle eased past Dutch outfit, AZ Alkmaar, 4-2, scoring all their goals in a pulsating first half, and suggesting they should have no fears for the return leg. AZ will have no alternative but to play an open attacking game, searching for two goals, which could leave them open to a sucker punch from the speedy Newcastle duo of Obafemi Martins and Kieron Dyer. The Geordies are unbeaten so far in the competition.

Spurs have scored 20 goals in their last six games, with their last three real roller-coasters producing a 4-3 win at West Ham, 3-2 victory at Braga (in the first leg of this competition) and a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final.
The comfort of home advantage should help the Lilywhites, with a one goal advantage and three crucial away goals giving them plenty of breathing space. Braga have only won three times away from home in the Portuguese Liga this term, and have found goals hard to come by, scoring only nine times in twelve games, which does not augur well with the side needing to score at least twice.

[DJ SOSNA]

If i found the odds 1.70 on Benfica Lisbon I would take it without blinking an eye. In my opinion, PSG will be more focued on domestic league where they must fight for avoiding relegation. Benfica, on the other hand, seem to be fully interested in UEFA Cup this season. The Portugese side is very strong at home so after 1-2 in first leg they are surely capable of winning the qualification after all. All in all, this midweek Benfica at home should be a good choice. Will I get sth. around @1.70? I hope I will

[zagor]

Shaktjor - Sevilla 1 3,30

My opinion the Sevilla dont have so much power to play UEFA and try to take a historical shampionship in Spain , so I think straith hom win is good value.

[DJ]

Thinking of backing W Bremen/Spurs double...

Spurs outplayed Braga in Portugal and deserved more than the result they ended with. Looking sharp attacking and only conceded goals from set pieces. I think at home with the home fans behind the team Spurs will maintain their 100% European record and unbeaten cup record (in 90 minutes) and win again. The only problem with this that I can see is who will partner Dawson at the back. King, Gardner both out through injuries and Rocha out cuptied as he played for Benfica in the CL. I think we will likely play Chimbonda or Stalteri in the centre and hold our own still defensively even with Cerny in goal. Actually admittedly we do look shaky at the back but down the other end I have more than enough confidence to believe that we have a lot more goals to be scored. Berbatov and Keane appear to be a potent strikeforce and I truly believe that we can outscore Braga no matter how many they get.

I will go here with a repeat 3-2 win due to our defensive instability. So over 4.5 goals @ 6.4, 3-2 win @ 32, the Spurs win @ 1.45

ADDED: As Braga need to score to win and Spurs only have one recognised first team centre back available I think the odds of 1.82 at Betfair for Spurs not to keep a clean sheet are tempting.

With Werder Bremen I will leave the write up short as I simply believe that as favourites of the Uefa Cup playing home to a team they have already beaten away that they should have more than enough for the victory. I think Werder Bremen were the unlucky casualties of a very tough CL group and that they are better than the most of the Uefa Cup sides and rightfully at this point favourites to win the trophy. So I think that all points to a home win and seeing as they scored 3 v Ajax last time out I believe they can get a similar number this time and can see a 3-1 win on the cards.

Take my tips liberally as a lot of it was thought out in the open but that's how I can see these games turning out and a double on W Bremen and Spurs works out about evens so not a bad return on two teams who should more than hold their own and go through to the next round with home wins.

[888]

I'm thinking Braga +1.25 , Leverkusen -0.5, Rangers +0.5 and Celta Vigo +1 for today's clash. Cup usually full of upsets that is why I was thinking backing the underdog.

Tottenham match looking to be a close affair for me, I'm pretty sure they will qualify. However, how they will fare tonight is very hard to predict. Tottenham have a hefty schedule nowadays and I see Martin Jol saving up his squad since he only need a draw and even losing by 1 goal difference won't hurt as they have 3 away goal advantage at their disposal.

Rangers just come off a good win against Celtic just before this match and I think they would want to advance for sure. McGregor also back in the squad which is a good news. I'm not sure how this match will go but most likely smells like a draw.

Leverkusen is a good team and they will attack today imo since a 0 - 0 draw would cost them the tournament.

Werder are also under no pressure to win today and they have few important missing also in Klose and Diego. However, Borrowski, Baumann will also miss the clash. I think with solid defending, Werder can see this one through by drawing and rest their players for Weekend clash against Mainz. Celta might be on the attack today but I think they will be very careful, since 1 - 0 win for them will be enough to bring the match to extra time and I think their chance of winning are higher in penalty rather than going all out attacking like a mad man.

[Paolo84]

My tip for today's UEFA CUP matches is Osasuna Rangers Under 2,5.
Odds are about 1.60

Here is my opinion:
Osasuna was better side one week ago in first leg of last 16 UEFA CUP and they made very good result 1-1 at Ibrox stadium. They have away goal advantage before today’s second leg and they are just one step away from the best result in club history in UEFA CUP. Their coach Ziganda said that they expect tense and psychologically tough game, but he believes in his team and he hopes that they can use opportunity and reach last eight. He has injury worries cause Milosevic, Del porte and Valdo are out. Good news is that Osasuna’s best scorer this season Soldado is back after calf injury and will start this match from the bench. It is expected that young Azpilicueta can be involved in the squad.

Osasuna will play similar as they played in the first leg match. They will be very patient and they will try to keep ball in their possession as long as possible. One goal could decide the winner and they will try to keep clean sheet in the first half. In the second Rangers have to try to score and will left much space for Osasuna to score.

On the other hand Rangers will be without their defender and captain Fergusson due the suspension. Rangers have never made victory in Spain against any Primera club. They will try to change that and they are more confident after 0-1 victory against Celtic in Scotland Premier League last weekend.

In last five matches Osusuna have conceded only four goals. Same stats are for last five home matches. They are specialists for low scoring results and I expect similar match here. Maybe Rangers is more experienced side and have chances for last eight but I don’t expected that it will be more then two goals on the match.

[aristoteles]

Bayer gunning for a return to Glasgow
The mood in the Bayer Leverkusen camp is upbeat ahead of the UEFA Cup last 16 return leg against RC Lens of France.


The Leverkusen players already have a trip to Scotland for the final firmly in their sights. Victory over Lens, currently second in the French league, would be another step in that direction.

"Anything is possible."

The works team goes into Wednesday's encounter looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. "If we beat Lens, then anything is possible. But let's just take one game at a time," said German international Bernd Schneider ahead of the game.

Despite such notes of caution, Leverkusen are aiming to be at Hampden Park on May 16th - the very venue where they took on Real Madrid in the Champions League final five years ago. On that occasion, Bayer narrowly missed out on European club football's top prize, going down 2-1 to the Spanish giants.

Achievable task

"Beating Lens is a difficult task, but it's achievable. It's a fifty-fifty affair," is sporting director Rudi Völler's low-key assessment of the tie. Coach Michael Skibbe says the team are in for a tough fight:

"It will be harder than the game in Lens. They're an extremely strong side with fast front men. We'll really have to be on our guard."

Haggui blunder

That said, Leverkusen could have put themselves in an even stronger position for the home tie. For more than an hour in Lens they seemed to have the game under control, and with the score tied at 1-1 were even pushing for a winner. But a mistake from Karim Haggui presented the French side with a penalty and the winning goal, as well as getting the Tunisian sent off.

Question-mark over Ramelow

Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracken will replace the suspended Haggui at the back on Wednesday.

Doubts meanwhile remain as to the fitness of Carsten Ramelow. The Bayer captain injured a knee in the first leg and was sidelined for Sunday's goalless draw in Hamburg.

Sporting success aside, Bayer are of course also hoping to cash-in on the competition.

Statistics favour Leverkusen

Managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser pointed out that, "From the quarter-finals onward, you an earn good money in the UEFA Cup, although it can't be compared with the Champions League."

The statistics, too, appear to favour Bayer. The Red-Blacks have won both their previous UEFA Cup encounters with French opposition. On both occasions they went on to reach the last four, even going all the way and winning the trophy back in 1988.

Probable line-ups

Leverkusen: Adler - Castro, Callsen-Bracker, Juan, Babic - Ramelow (Schwegler), Rolfes - Schneider, Barnetta - Barbarez - Voronin (Kießling)

Lens: Itandje - Barul, Coulibaly, Hilton, Tixier - Sidi Keita, Seydou Keita - Demont, Carriere, Monterrubio - Dindane

[aristoteles]

Schaaf confident despite selection worries
Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf has some injury concerns ahead of the UEFA Cup return with Celta Vigo - above all, will Miroslav Klose make it?


Klose and fellow striker Hugo Almeida are both doubtful for Wednesday's encounter, while the midfield duo of Frank Baumann and Tim Borowski are long-term injury cases. But coach Thomas Schaaf isn't losing any sleep over it.

"We've accepted the situation, we're not going to break our heads over it. And we'll still manage to get eleven players out on the pitch," said Schaaf ahead of the last-16 decider against the Galicians.

"We have the better team"

Schaaf's confidence stems in no small part from the fact that his side go into the game holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Spain - a victory achieved in the face of a decidedly ordinary Bremen performance.

Sporting director Klaus Allofs said, "We're the better of the two sides without a doubt. Even if the game in Vigo had ended scoreless, I'd be confident of us reaching the last eight."

Working flat-out

Bremen's medical and fitness staff are working flat-out to get Klose and Almeida fit for the game. Back problems ruled World Cup 2006 top-scorer Klose out of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Bayern München, while Portugese international Almeida was injured in that game.

Klose was guarded about his prospects on Tuesday, saying only, "I'm getting injections and massage treatment to loosen up the muscles. There's been an improvement but I can't say at this stage whether I'll be fit."

Probable line-ups
Werder Bremen: Wiese - Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Wome - Vranjes - Frings, Jensen - Diego - Klose, Almeida (Hunt)
Celta Vigo: Esteban - Jonathan, Lequi, Yago, Placente - Tamas, Pablo Garcia - Nunez, Guayre, Nene - Perera

[B-busta]

Espanyol - Maccabi Haifa
Pick: Draw
Reasoning:

The facts:
Espanyol & Totenham are the only teams that have won all their group stage matches.
Espanyol has won 7 games in a trot before encountering Haifa.
Pandiani is the uefa cup top scorer with 8 gols since the first round.
Haifa's only encounter with a spanish oposition Valencia in 2003/04 UEFA Cup second round, the fist match ended in a 0-0 draw at the Mestalla (the first ever european match for boss Roni Levi) but was thumped 4-0 at home by Raffa Benitez's Valencia that went on to win the cup.
Espanyol's only previous encounter with an Israeli opposition was when they beat M. Petach-Tikva 1-0 in 2005/06.

Counter Claims:
Haifa just isn't one of Europe's higher ranking teams! - So why did it finish 2nd and not 3rd in the group stages.?
Espanyol is better than Haifa - there's no doubt in that but so what?
Espanyol where tired away, at home they'll surely beat M. Haifa - why didnt they beat them in Haifa?, they beat Livorno 2-0 away and Livorno are better than Haifa? Why hasnt CSKA beat them?

M. Haifa never reached this stage of top 16 and when they come out of the "bubble" (the puddle) that is the local league
and reach the much higher levels of European football, we here can suddenly see a different Haifa, we can see fear on the faces of the players and Haifa suddenly becomes more humane and our hearts go out to the players in front of what Roni Levi said: "On of the greatest moments".

Maccabi Haifa can get a draw here and again im with them as when i said they'll beat CSKA 1-0.

[DJ]

Staggering to see O2.5 on the Spurs-Braga game @ 1.95!

Surely that has to be the bet of the day! For reasons I underlined in my earlier post Spurs will likely concede with Braga needing to score and Spurs missing three centre backs. Braga will open themselves up to be countered though and through Zokora, Lennon and Keane they have at least three players able to punish Braga on the break. I think as I said earlier this could push over 4.5 goals again but maybe this bet is the safest to be taken, especially at the odds on offer.

Will be interesting to see what side Spurs pick tonight to see how they prioritise with the three games inside of 6 days! I guess the only downside on the bet could be that Spurs score early and decide that they want to contain Braga and rest up key players. Even then with Braga pushing players forward I'm sure there is still a goal for them there.

I can't see this failing, then again I can never see most of my bets failing and oh... looks like they do!

[danzing87]

thinking of taking on werder bremen under 2.5 goals.
spanish club has proved to be a strong defensive team this season. bremen is tired and they have alot of players missing. anything is possible. celta needs just victory to go into extra-time. with the injuries they have, bremen will not risk going all out for the second goal. i believe this to be a low-scoring match.

[zekikum]

why odds on spurs are going up everywhere?
any news?

[_badboy_]

Originally Posted by zekikum

why odds on spurs are going up everywhere?
any news?

Betting rule #1: Never bet on a team that does not need to win

[MrBosnian]

Originally Posted by _badboy_

Betting rule #1: Never bet on a team that does not need to win

not necessarily true, Man U didnt need to win against Lille at home but they did anyway... and I'm glad because I was on them. But all in all I think in this case and these two teams you might be right

[Charlie Wong]

Spurs will surely have too much quality for Braga, even if they decide to rest key players. The squad is good enough. Martin Jol's side wont under estimate Braga and should be professional enough to win the game.

I will be going for a spurs/osasuna double tonight.

[zekikum]

Originally Posted by _badboy_

Betting rule #1: Never bet on a team that does not need to win

i dont think spurs will just sit back infront of their home crowd, they are scoring machines these days, winning three games in a row... they won all games in group stage which they dont have to win
Braga couldnt score in away games and cant win in league for 3 weeks...
i dont think a team who has huge attacking power will just sit back or play just a midfield game...
odds -1 Ah home is around 1.85 now, i believe worths a shot...

[kamei34]

Leverkusen hosting Lens in this second leg of 1/8 finals of Uefa Cup. First game ended 2:1 for Lens.
So it seems like Leverkusen will have all cards in their hands if they manage to score one goal and hold it till the end.
But it won't be so easy... Lens is strong team and I see them tactically superior then Leverkusen.
My guess is that Lens will manage to keep 0:0 long time and then will should see one of the teams scoring.
I'll try one goal to be scored in the match, gamebookers @4, aswell as shot on Lens to win, betfair @4.4. They can be deadly on counters and if Leverkusen opens up a bit too much later in the game I see Lens easily scoring. GL~

[gerrie26681]

Spurs at home tonite should be too strong for Braga in my opinion. When u look at Spurs strikers Berbatov, Keane, Defoe and Mido. I think Keane will defo start tonite possibly with Defoe, altho I would like to see Berbatov starting. Spurs are very good at home. Even the shortage of defenders the back line will be Young, Dawson, Salteri, Chimbonda. Not to shabby. Midfield will be Zokora, Lennon, Malbranque, Tainio.

After the slip up against Chelsea last Sunday I think Spurs will want a confidence boost before the replay next Monday. Braga are not in great shape in the domestic Portuguese league either.