Archive for October 21st, 2006
In Germany, the high-profile clash in the Bundesliga is between high-flying Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.
Both sides recorded good results in the Champions League in midweek, with the Bremen goal-machine rumbling on past Levski Sofia, after blasting six past Bochum last weekend.
Bayern are also winning of course after beating Hertha Berlin 4-2 in their latest outing, but they can be vulnerable on the road and they’ve already sufferred two defeats in three away league matches to date at Bielefeld (1-2) and Wolfsburg (0-1)
It’ll be interesting to see if Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath continues with his three-pronged attacking line-up of Lukas Podolski, Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro here.
If he does, it could prove a suicidal move with so much talent in the Werder Bremen camp, and the hosts could well go on to land the 3 points here.
THE PICK : Werder Bremen – Best Price 2.50 at PaddyPower
Read our Paddy Power Bookmaker Review on the main site.
October 21st, 2006
It’s ‘El Clasico’ time again in Spain, and Real Madrid are worth backing to get the better of Barcelona in La Liga.
There’s certainly plenty riding on this fixture at the best of times, and with Real trailing league leaders Barca by five points already this season, the stakes couldn’t be higher and you can tell the pressure’s mounting on Fabio Capello at the Bernabeu.
After just 6 games of the Spanish season the knives are already out after last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Getafe. The Italian spent a while fending off gossip that he offered to tender his resignation in the aftermath of such a shocking result.
Capello was probably regretting making so many team changes in the run-up to a Champions League encounter with Steaua Bucharest, but at least Madrid sailed through their European encounter in Romania on Tuesday evening winning 4-1, which is more than can be said for Barcelona, who lost 1-0 to Chelsea on Wednesday night.
It’s easy to imagine an element of self-doubt creeping into the Catalan mindset as a result, particularly as Barca looked uncharacteristically quiet for much of the match at Stamford Bridge.
Ronaldo is suspended for the hosts after failing to get his sending off against Getafe overturned, but apart from that Madrid are pretty much at full strength.
PICK : Get on Real Madrid. – Best Price is 2.65 at Betsson
See our Betsson Bookmaker Review on the main BookieLabrat.com site.
October 21st, 2006
Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run off Aaron Heilman in the top of the ninth inning as the St Louis Cardinals advanced to the World Series in thrilling fashion with a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series.
Scott Rolen singled with one out in the ninth before Molina belted the first pitch from Heilman (0-1) over the left field fence to break a 1-1 tie. Just three innings earlier, Chavez had made one of the greatest catches in post-season history to keep the score tied at 1-1.
The Cardinals clinched the 17th National League pennant in franchise history and second in the last three years after winning just 83 regular-season games, the fewest of any pennant winner since the 1973 Mets had the same amount.
They will meet the Detroit Tigers in Game One of the World Series on Saturday night.
October 21st, 2006