Archive for October, 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
Rangers, will be glad get away from domestic issues when they travel to Livorno.
Their 1-0 loss to Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday left them a massive 10 points behind Celtic in the SPL (already!!) so Rangers fans will be hoping that having a foreign manager will reap its benefits on the European stage.
Rangers kept clean sheets in both legs of their first round win over Molde but they will do well to keep their goal intact against Livorno. The Italians are sixth in Serie A and have won two and drawn five in all competitions since their opening day defeat at Roma.
In addition, Livorno haven’t conceded in the last four games and Rangers have never won on Italian soil in 10 attempts. However, Livorno are playing in the UEFA Cup for the first time and Rangers’ greater European experience may prove to be worth a point.
Once again – we expect a cagey match – and the scores to be tied at the end of 90 minutes.
PICK : DRAW 0-0
October 19th, 2006
Blackburn are the Premiership’s other representatives and face a trip to Poland to play Wisla Krakow.
Rovers made a slow start to the season but have climbed into the top half now and their 1-1 draw at Anfield made it seven games unbeaten in all competitions.
Blackburn are 6/4 to come away with the win although it won’t be easy against a Krakow side who are unbeaten in 10 games (5-5-0) in their domestic league this season.
Once again – there is no clear indicator towards either side in this match – and the DRAW has to be the call.
PICK : DRAW 1-1
Best price is 9/4 (3.25) at Bet365
October 19th, 2006
The UEFA Cup enters its group stage on Thursday with Newcastle, Spurs, Blackburn and Rangers providing plenty of British interest – but all four game could easily end all-square.
Newcastle have struggled against some modest European opposition at St James’ Park this season. The Intertoto Cup saw them draw 1-1 with Lillestrom and 0-0 with FK Ventspils while in the first round of the UEFA Cup they were only narrow 2-1 winners over Levadia Tallinn.
Add in their poor home domestic record – one win, one draw and two defeats – and there’s certainly no grounds for backing them at shades of odds-on in Thursday night’s clash with Fenerbahce.
The experienced Turks lie second in their domestic league this season and have averaged over two goals a game so a Shay Given-less United could be vulnerable.
PICK : DRAW 1-1
You can get 3.40 at Betfred for the DRAW.
October 19th, 2006
SportingOdds are offering all new users – GBP 30 in free bets – so it’s a great time to try out on of the UK’s top rated bookmakers.
Click on one of the managers to visit SportingOdds.com
October 16th, 2006
Detroit rallied from 3-0 down to beat Oakland 6-3 to complete a 4-0 American League Championship Series sweep and reach the World Series.
Magglio Ordonez hit his second homer of the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to seal the Tigers’ victory. After Craig Monroe and series MVP Placido Polanco singled with two outs in the ninth off Huston Street, Ordonez launched his late drive over the wall.
Detroit have had the worst record in MLB over the past 13 seasons, including losing 119 games in 2003. But first-year manager Jim Leyland has revived their fortunes and they are now in their first World Series since 1984.
October 15th, 2006
Manchester United produced a second-half revival to stay on top of the Barclays Premiership by beating Wigan 3-1 at the JJB Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.Nemanja Vidic and Louis Saha scored within a four-minute spell to turn the game around after Wigan had led at the interval through Leighton Baines’ early opener.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finished off the scoring in stoppage time but the transformation owed much to the introduction of Ryan Giggs, who, despite being some way short of full fitness, proved unstoppable.
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United remain ahead of Chelsea only on goal difference after the champions beat Reading 1-0 in an eventful encounter at the Madejski Stadium
Jose Mourinho’s men ended the game with John Terry in goal after both of their goalkeepers, Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, were stretchered off.
Frank Lampard’s shot deflected off Ivar Ingimarsson in the final minute of the first half for the only goal. And to add to the drama both John Obi Mikel and Andre Bikey were sent off during a bad-tempered second half.
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Craig Bellamy finally scored his first Premiership goal for Liverpool but Blackburn held on for a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Anfield.
In-form Benni McCarthy gave Rovers a half-time lead after sweeping home his fifth goal in his last six games after David Bentley’s right-wing cross was allowed to bounce through to him at the far post.
Bellamy levelled when Fabio Aurelio’s corner attracted everyone else towards the near post, leaving the Wales striker completely unmarked to stoop and head past Brad Friedel.
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Arsenal romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Watford at the Emirates Stadium.
Jordan Stewart was credited with an own goal after Cesc Fabregas’ free-kick caused havoc in the Hornets’ area and Thierry Henry made it two after latching onto a long ball and outpacing his marker before slotting home.
Henry unselfishly turned provider for number three, drawing Foster before squaring for Emmanuel Adebayor to tap into the empty net.
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Aston Villa recovered from a Juan Pablo Angel double-whammy against 10-man Tottenham to remain the only unbeaten side in English league football.
The Colombian blazed a 72nd-minute penalty wide after Calum Davenport had been sent off for bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Three minutes later Angel headed Jermain Defoe’s corner into his own net to seemingly complete a miserable afternoon at Villa Park.
But captain Gareth Barry scored a superb equaliser to earn Martin O’Neill’s men a 1-1 draw, cutting inside two men before curling a right-foot finish past Paul Robinson.
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Everton were beaten for the first time this season after going down 2-1 at struggling Middlesbrough.
Yakubu put Boro ahead from the spot after being felled by Tim Howard before missing his first penalty in English football following Joleon Lescott’s handball.
Mark Viduka finished off a brilliant move to double Boro’s lead but Tim Cahill thumped Andrew Johnson’s threaded ball past Mark Schwarzer to set up a grandstand finish.
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Portsmouth got back to winning ways after Kanu and substitute Andy Cole handed them a 2-0 victory against struggling West Ham.
Kanu scored his sixth goal of the campaign after breaking free of his marker to head home Glen Johnson’s inswinging cross. Cole came off the bench to score a fine second, exchanging passes with Matthew Taylor before turning and firing beyond Roy Carroll.
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Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by Sheffield United, the best chance falling to Bernardo Corradi who headed straight at Paddy Kenny from six yards, with Georgios Samaras firing the follow-up wide.
October 14th, 2006
Brazilian striker Ronaldo was sent off, as Real Madrid were defeated 1-0 against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday.Alexis headed in the only goal of the match, after a corner kick in the 60th minute. Real Madrid star Ronaldo was sent of in the 90th minute, after recieving his second booking after a dispute with the ref.
Getafe moved up to eighth position in La Liga after their win.
October 14th, 2006
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