Archive for March 27th, 2008

Title Race Still Alive and a Mersey Derby

Premiership Online Betting Preview from top online handicap bookie, PinnacleSports.com.

EPL Matchday 32 Preview – March 29-30, 2008

Last weekend’s Grand Slam premiership fixtures lived up to the hype, producing goals, a red card and a dramatic finish at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea and Man Utd came out on top, shaking up the odds at online Premiership betting specialists, PinnacleSports.com. The pair look set to battle it out for the Premiership title, with their meeting on April 26th a possible decider. There is of course plenty more at stake in the remaining seven matchdays including European qualification and the relegation battle.

Fergie Believes Title Race Still Alive

Man Utd coach, Alex Ferguson, was in a gracious mood following his sides emphatic 3-0 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford last Sunday. The Premiership’s most experienced coach stated that ‘the title race is going right to end of the season’ despite his team opening a five-point gap over Chelsea, who leap-frogged Arsenal into second place. Despite his comments, Fergie must inwardly feel that the title is his to throw away, though the Red Devils still have Arsenal at home, and Chelsea away.

United have only a single name on their injury list – Louis Saha – but travel to Rome on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, which may mean Fergie shuffles the pack for Saturday’s home game with Aston Villa. The Villans are one of the most improved Premiership teams of the season, but their challenge for a UEFA Cup spot has floundered in recent weeks, and they are now without a win in four league fixtures, and haven’t kept a clean sheet in eighteen games, which is a real concern against the Premier League’s most potent strike force. Man Utd have won the last 13 meetings of the clubs, and PinnacleSports.com make them favourites on their Asian Handicap 1.813 (-1 & -1.5)* with Aston Villa 2.130 (+1 & +1.5)* – a market priced to only 102%.

More Than Pride at Stake in Mersey Derby

There is never any love lost when Everton and Liverpool play each other. The Mersey Derby could easily claim to be one of the most famous club rivalries in world football, but Sunday’s meeting at Anfield has the added spice of a battle for fourth place and Champions League qualification. Liverpool are currently two points ahead of the Toffees, having played the same number of games, with Portsmouth a further seven points adrift in sixth. This game will therefore have a crucial bearing on the battle to play on Europe’s biggest stage next season.

Both clubs experienced disappointing results last weekend. Liverpool were drubbed 3-0 at Old Trafford, while Everton were held at home by West Ham. The Reds will be without Javier Mascherano after his red card at the Theatre of Dreams, while Everton are weakened by the absence of two key attacking players, Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson. This game is often – unsurprisingly – a tense affair but Liverpool hold the upper hand as David Moyes’ side haven’t won at Anfield in seven Premiership visits, but four of those games ended in stalemate, three without a goal. PinnacleSports.com make Liverpool favourites 2.070 (-0.5 & -1)* with Everton 1.862 (+0.5 & +1)*.
Click to compare prices at the top online sportsbooks LIVE

 

*All odds subject to change, so check out the latest live odds comparison here at BookieLabRat.com.

Add comment March 27th, 2008

Football: Serie A Online Betting Previews

Serie A Online Betting Preview – Matchday 30 Preview (Mar 29-30)

Though at one point it looked like Inter Milan would walk away with the Scudetto, there is plenty of life left in the Serie A online betting market at PinnacleSports.com. Last weekend Inter suffered their first home defeat since April 2007, allowing Roma to close the gap to just four points, with eight matchdays remaining.

Inter Crisis Deepens as Roma Close In

Inter Milan suffered a shock defeat at home to Juventus last weekend, which throws the title race wide open. The 2-1 loss was the first that Roberto Mancini’s side have suffered at the San Siro this season, and comes amidst growing turmoil at the club. The Nerazzurri have won just two of their last nine games in all competitions, and rumours of rifts among players and staff refuse to go away.

Zlatan Ibrahimovich hasn’t scored since the end of January, and may miss Sunday’s visit to Lazio because of a knee injury. Patrick Viera is also a big doubt, both players are sitting out midweek internationals that could bring further problems for Mancini. Lazio would be the last team to help their city rivals, Roma, but they would give the Giallorossi a huge boost should they take points off Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. The Eagles have won six straight home games, including winning a dramatic Rome Derby on March 19th, so are certainly capable of springing a surprise.

PinnacleSports.com still see the league leaders as favourites pricing Inter Milan 2.090 (-0.5)* with Lazio 1.847 (+0.5)* – a market priced to less than 102%.

Roma Chasing Success on Two Fronts

The next few weeks will be some of the most important for Roma football club, as they chase down Inter Milan looking to grab the Serie A title, as well as facing Man Utd in two legs of the Champions League quarter-final. Last week’s victory over Empoli, allowed the Giallorossi to close within four points of Inter Milan, who lost at home to Juventus. Roma have never given up home of catching the defending champions, even though the gap has been as much as nine points. This weekend Roma travel to Sardinia looking to keep the pressure on Inter playing bottom club Cagliari.

The Islanders may be in a precarious position but their recent home form doesn’t have the look of a relegation threatened side, winning their last four games at the Stadio Sant’Elia, and taking 16 points from their last six home games. Davide Ballardini began his second stint as coach of Cagliari in December, and it looks like he is making progress. He will be encouraged by the fact that only four points covers the bottom six clubs, so bettors should expect his side to fight tooth and nail for points against Roma. It is also important to note that Roma haven’t won on their last seven visits and will be without Simone Perrotta who was sent off last weekend.

Nevertheless, PinnacleSports.com price Roma marginal favourites 2.050 (-0.5)* with Cagliari 1.877 (+0.5)*.
Click to visit BookieLabRat.com*All odds subject to change so check out the latest LIVE ODDS across the top online sportsbooks including PinnacleSports here at BookieLabRat.com.

>>For more about PinnacleSports read the latest bookmaker review and compare Pinnacle Sports to other top rating bookies.

Add comment March 27th, 2008


Calendar

March 2008
M T W T F S S
« Feb   Apr »
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  

Posts by Month

Posts by Category