Archive for February 18th, 2008
The Premiership’s three representatives in the UEFA Cup all hold the advantage going into the second legs of the first stage of the knock-out phase on Thursday night. Bolton have the toughest task taking a slim 1-0 lead to the Vicente Calderon Stadium, where Atletico Madrid have won all five European ties this season. The Spaniards lie fourth in La Liga, but lost on Sunday at home to Atheltico Bilbao, while the Trotters had a free weekend to prepare because of the FA Cup. The Indios are handicapped by the suspension to star Argentine striker, Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero, after a red card in the heated first leg at the Rebbok.
There are likely to be plenty more cards in the return leg, where PinnacleSports.com make Atletico Madrid favourites 1.877 (-1)* with Bolton 2.050 (+1)*.
Everton and Tottenham should have straight forward tasks having won their first legs on the road. The Toffees hold a two goal advantage over SK Brann, and Spurs should really have beaten Slavia Prague by the same scoreline, but for a dreadful error by goalkeeper, Radek Cerny.
Both Premiership sides are strong favourites with PinnacleSports.com, pricing UEFA Cup fixtures to under 102%.
* All prices subject to change – check out the latest odds at the top online sportsbooks here at BookieLabRat.com.
February 18th, 2008
UEFA Cup Betting Preview – Round of 32 Knockout Phase: Second Legs (Feb 21)
The chance of a British UEFA Cup winner, for the first time since Liverpool in 2001, remains a strong possibility with all five Scottish and English sides unbeaten after the first leg of the UEFA Cup knockout phase. All the return legs conclude this Thursday, giving punters a third day of European action, following on from the excitement of the midweek Champions League fixtures.
Scottish Sides Need Strong Away Performances
Both Aberdeen and Rangers may rue the opportunities lost in their first leg UEFA Cup home fixtures. The Dons twice led Bayern Munich at Pittodrie, but were pegged back to 2-2, and now face an uphill struggle at the Allianz Arena. Aberdeen’s battling performance was against disappointing recent domestic form, which continued on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat at Hibernian. They now need to produce a real shock without several key players as coach, Jimmy Calderwood, is missing Jamie Smith, Derek Young, Jackie McNamara and Richie Byrne. In contrast Bayern Munich produced an impressive 3-0 away win at Hannover on Saturday, cementing their place at the top of the Bundesliga, with all goals from Italian international, Luca Toni.
PinnacleSports.com make Bayern Munich favourites 2.010 (-2 & -2.5)* with Aberdeen 1.917 (+2 & +2.5)*.
Rangers maintained their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League winning 2-0 at Kilmarnock on Sunday, but coach, Walter Smith, was disappointed the win wasn’t more comfortable. “We need extra sharpness up front, and hopefully we can start to show more of a killer instinct in front of goal.” The Gers were unable to find the net at Ibrox in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie against, Panathinaikos, despite creating plenty of chances. At least they prevented the Greek league leaders from gaining a valuable away goal but the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium is a tough place for any team to get a result. Their aggregate score in three home games for this UEFA Cup campaign totals 8-0, including against another SPL side, Aberdeen.
PinnacleSports.com make Panathinaikos favourites 1.980 (-0.5)* with Rangers 1.943 (+0.5)*.
* All Odds subject to change so check out the latest prices online live across all the top rated bookies at BookieLabRat.com.
February 18th, 2008
OK – there’s a heap of Champions League betting offers that probably should be considered before you decide which bookie to honour with your punt. We’ve summarised the latest Cash Back/Money Back/Free bet specials from some of our better rated online sportsbooks. These offers pay our suprisingly often and do offer a form of “insurance” if your luck is not quite with you on the day!
Head Start! – ALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES 19th & 20 Feb
Paddy Power will refund all losing correct score, 1st/last goal scorer and scorecast bets on this weeks eight Champions League matches if the last goal in that match is a header. Max refund per punter is €300/£200.
Hot Shots! – LIVERPOOL V INTER MILAN and ARSENAL V AC MILAN
BetFred will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast win single bets on Liverpool v Inter Milan AND the Arsenal v AC Milan as a free bet – If Torres scores anytime AND Adebayor scores anytime. Max refund is £100 per customer (or currency equivalent).
Tevez-stating! – LYON V MAN UTD Wednesday 7:45pm
If Carlos Tevez scores the last goal in this game Boyle Sports will refund all losing first/last goal scorer, correct score and half time/full time single bets on this match.
Max refund is €300/£200 per customer.
Champions League – LIVERPOOL V INTER MILAN 19 Feb 19:45
If Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores the last goal in this game Boyle Sports will refund all losing first/last/anytime goal scorer, correct score and half time/full time single bets on this match. Max refund is €300/£200 per customer.
Champions League – All this week’s Champions League matches.
SECOND CHANCE – Have a bet on the First Goalscorer and if your selection fails to score the first goal but scores at any other time VCBet will refund your stake as a free bet.
MONEY FOR NOTHING – Have a Correct Score bet and if the match finishes 0-0 VCBet will refund your losing stake as a free bet.
Bore Draw – ALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES 19th & 20 Feb
BORE-DRAW – If you Place a pre-match correct score, double result or scorecast bet on ANY FOOTBALL MATCH Bet365 will refund losing stakes if the match finishes 0-0 in 90 minutes.
Last Chance Saloon – Place a bet on any Champions League game this Tuesday and, if one of Ladbrokes’ selected stars, including Steven Gerrard, Nicolas Anelka, Francesco Totti or Kevin Kuranyi, scores last in their respective match, Ladbrokes will refund all losing first and last goal scorer bets for that game!
February 18th, 2008
Here’s the latest commentary on the FA Cup progress from the team at top online sportsbook, Bodog:
The FA Cup fifth round is over and you would think the wheat has been sorted from the chaff.
Think again because after the weekend’s antics between Liverpool and Barnsley there must certainly be some wind in those minnow sails. It’s like the plot of a Pixar movie, all the little leaguers getting excited at the thought of bringing down the big boys on their home turf.
Maybe, maybe not but there is still probably going to be a Manchester United v Chelsea showdown! Sorry to rain on the parade, but isn’t that always how it goes? Barnsley will play host to Chelsea up north and for the first time in eons the Blues will have to get their hands dirty for the trek too – no more cosy home ties for them!
Portsmouth might have stood a chance as the third best prospect in the competition but they were also drawn against Manchester United at home and aren’t likely to beat them at Old Trafford. That would be a first since the 50s! Sorry Harry!
Here’s how the rest of the sixth round draw shaped up:
Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
Manchester Utd v Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Barnsley v Chelsea
Ties to be played on March 8-9
PS: Bodog Sportsbook has really revved up its efforts in 2008 to expand into UK and European betting markets and now offers a huge range of surprisingly competitive football odds. We suggest you have a look – their web site is geotargeted so US punters get presented with US Sports betting and UK/Europeans get a cool digitial entertainment site focussed on UK/European sports betting. No harm in looking?
February 18th, 2008
A couple of the better weekend cash back offers are paying out handsomely to losing punters this week with two Irish bookies no doubt smarting a tad.
Paddy Power’s ‘Red-dy For War Refund’ is cheering losing punters – As Emmanuel Eboue got sent off in the Man Utd v Arsenal match. Paddy is refunding over £120,000 in losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the game.
BoyleSports, the other great Irish bookie that we recommend (and bet with regularly ourselves) is also coughing up refunds. The ‘Sweet FA’ promo is paying refunds to €300 on all losing Sheffield Utd and Middlesbrough single bets, as the game resulted in a nil all draw.
No cash back offers are on site as yet at BoyleSports for Champions League action, but you can take some betting insurance on the Champions League second round, first leg fixtures at PaddyPower:
‘Head Start!’ PaddyPower.com will refund all losing correct score, 1st/last goal scorer and scorecast bets on the eight Champions League matches this week (19th and 20th February) if the last goal in that match is a header. Max refund per punter is €300/£200.
Check it out on site at PaddyPower.com. Bets placed on any of the eight games are eligible for this offer. (Sorry no US bettors)
February 18th, 2008