NRL semi-final : Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs </span><br style="border: 0px; color: #444444; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Allianz Stadium</span><br style="border: 0px; color: #444444; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday 7.55pm</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a shock loss to Melbourne in the opening weekend of the finals, the Sydney Roosters’ hopes of converting the minor premiership into the title proper now swing on a win against a Canterbury team who were lucky to escape their elimination battle with St George Illawarra on Saturday night. The Roosters go in big favourites with the hopes of avoiding the finals collapse that hit them so hard last year. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong>Mitchell Pearce has named to return from a hamstring injury. He replaces Jackson Hastings with Suaia Matagi out of the side. Frank Pritchard has astonishingly escaped suspension and will take his spot in an unchanged Canterbury team. </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sydney Roosters and Canterbury have played 166 times dating back to 1935 – and an 87-7 win to the Dave  Brown led Tricolours – with the Roosters winning 83 and the Bulldogs 78, to go with five draws. The teams have remarkably met in 15 finals – and five premiership deciders – with the Bulldogs winning eight. The teams last met in the finals in 2004 with the Bulldogs securing a famous 16-13 win in their most recent premiership. The Roosters have well and truly had the running in recent times with five wins in the last six outings during the Trent Robinson era. The Roosters won both games this year – 24-10 and 38-28 – while they have won eight of the last 11 at Allianz Stadium. High scoring matches have been common with 10 of the last 12 topping 38 points. Canterbury have former Rooster winger Sam Perrett in their team. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div> <figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sydney Roosters claimed a third straight minor premiership but for the second straight season lost their opening final. The Roosters again finished with the best defence in the NRL while their 24.4 points per game ranks top in attack. The Chooks saw a 12-game win streak ended last Friday by the Storm in Sydney. After losing last season to Penrith in similar circumstances, the Roosters blew a 30-point lead against North Queensland but scraped home 31-30. The Roosters are 10-3 at the SFS this season while against teams in the bottom half of the eight they are 4-4. The Roosters conceded 20 points last week for just the fourth time since Round 6. Canterbury finished the season fifth on the ladder and hold the fifth best attack and seventh ranked defence. The Bulldogs were incredibly lucky to escape with an 11-10 win over the Dragons last Saturday, a victory that was their sixth on the trot. Their form has been in decline though with three straight single score wins over the Knights, Warriors and Dragons. Against Top 4 teams this season the Bulldogs are 2-4 while they are 1-2 in Sydney this year away from ANZ/Belmore. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard to look past the battle of No.7s Mitchell Pearce and Moses Mbye. The Roosters seemed to really miss Pearce’s organisation and calmness and times against the Storm and it forced the Chooks away from their game plan. He may not have been able to cut it at Origin level but he has been a key figure in three straight minor premierships. He is a massive inclusion this week but his hamstring will be tested. Canterbury have a lot riding on Moses Mbye – this week and going forward. He was nothing short of dreadful against the Dragons and has struggled notably over the last month. Canterbury desperately need him to organise, kick strongly and show some leadership. </span><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Champion Data Formguide: Roosters v Bulldogs</span></span></strong></div> </figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Sydney Roosters are 14-11 ATS this year with a 16-9 under record while Canterbury are 12-13 ATS with a 13-12 under record. The Bulldogs have gone under in their last three while the Roosters have gone over the total in six of their last eight. The Roosters have covered just one of their last four at the SFS while they are 15-11 ATS under Trent Robinson when favoured by eight at the venue with the over 14-12. The Bulldogs have won just one of their last four matches at the SFS since 2013 while they are 19-16 ATS away from ANZ over that time. The Bulldogs are 18-12 ATS as an underdog since 2013 while they are 10-4 ATS getting more than a converted try. The Roosters have won and covered just one of their last five after conceding 20 points. Canterbury have won seven straight in games Brett Morris has run for 130 metres. Every Des Hasler coached team to win five straight in a season has gone on to play in the Grand Final. </span><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong>The Sydney Roosters are the best front runners in the NRL with a 14-2 record after leading at 20 mins and 17-1 when leading by seven or more at any point in a game. When ahead at halftime the Roosters are 16-4 but lost last week when in front at the break. They are a perfect 14-0 when getting ahead by 13 or more this year. Canterbury are 11-3 after scoring the first try this year and a super 13-1 when leading at halftime. When leading by seven the Bulldogs are also 13-1. This season a lead of 7 or more has been overcome 7.8% of the time while a halftime deficit has been overcome in 28.7% of matches. The Roosters have overcome two of three 13-point deficits (best in the NRL). The Bulldogs are terrible chasers with a 2-9 record when down by seven or more. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">The smell of a major upset is well and truly in the air. Have the Sydney Roosters peaked too early? They certainly did last year and their disappointing opening week finals showing suggests it could be happening again. Canterbury were lucky to survive but that is not unlike Bulldogs or Des Hasler teams of the past. If anything, the Bulldogs are resilient. This Canterbury team are notably outclassed here so this game will essentially be decided by the Roosters. If they are firing, Canterbury cannot run with the Roosters. The Chooks are slowing though and seem so vulnerable without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitch Pearce still less than 100% fit. It would be a major shock but the smart money is with the Bulldogs in this one. </span></div> </figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recommend bet </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> : </b></figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Canterbury +8 ($1.82)</span></span></strong></span></figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></figure><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNGTvUXU7M5u2blygb-Rm7jXue63n2zkJH-32YW90N5p0SahqP1BXTPcsQ-04cBfrXeVKbRje_ekjetBUAX4aNPAI9f8fNUYiymH8Dvi7_CRTLLYZ1nJTb_J2EZ23mo_5NCnCJTkLspQ/s1600/nrl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNGTvUXU7M5u2blygb-Rm7jXue63n2zkJH-32YW90N5p0SahqP1BXTPcsQ-04cBfrXeVKbRje_ekjetBUAX4aNPAI9f8fNUYiymH8Dvi7_CRTLLYZ1nJTb_J2EZ23mo_5NCnCJTkLspQ/s400/nrl2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></figure>

NRL semi-final : Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs

Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs  Allianz Stadium Friday 7.55pm After a shock loss to Melbourne in the opening weekend of the finals...

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NRL semi - final Preview North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px;">NRL Preview<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks</strong><br style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px;" /><strong style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px;">Saturday September 19, 7:55pm (AEST), 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville</strong></span><br /> <strong style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> The second semi-final sees North Queensland host Cronulla in a fascinating elimination final in Townsville on Saturday night in front of what is sure to be a rabid Cowboys fanbase. North Queensland threw everything they had at the Broncos last week but couldn’t get the job done while the Sharks come off the most dominant first week showing. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong>North Queensland are unchanged from the team that defeated Brisbane and are at virtual full strength. Cronulla have also named an unchanged team with Matt Prior travelling as 18th man. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Sharks are also at full strength. </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> Cronulla have won 23 of 37 all-time against North Queensland. The teams met in the finals in 2013 with the Sharks holding on for an extremely controversial victory in the dying seconds with a seven-tackle try among the other Cowboy grievances. The Cowboys have won seven of the last 11 against the Sharks but Cronulla have won both games this season and have three wins in the last five plus a golden point loss when the Sharks were the biggest outsiders in 15 years last season. The last six matches have all topped 38 points. The last eight matches in Townsville have been split evenly. Cowboys coach Paul Green is a former Sharks halfback. Antonio Winterstein has scored three tries in his last four games against the Sharks. </div> <figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Cowboys finished third on the ladder with a 17-7 record and the third best differential in the NRL. The Cowboys have the third best attack and fifth best defence in the premiership. The Cowboys have won just two of their last six, losing their last four against Top 8 opposition. The Cowboys are 5-7 against Top 8 teams this year. At home in 2015 the Cowboys are 8-4. North Queensland’s defence has been solid and consistent over the last month, not allowing more than 16 points, while in attack they have posted 42 and 50 as well as 6 and 12. Since Round 16, North Queensland have averaged 14.4 points against Top 8 teams and 38 against non-eight teams. The Sharks finished the year in sixth spot with a negative differential. Cronulla rank sixth in defence and seventh in attack. Over the second half of the season their attack has improved by 2.4 pints a game while their defence has improved by 1.2 points per match. The Sharks hit this clash with 11 wins in their last 14. Cronulla have won six of their last seven against Top 8 opposition and are 8-4 against Top 8 opposition this year. Cronulla are 4-1 interstate this year.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The battle between hookers Jake Granville and Michael Ennis should be an absolute beauty. Both are competing for the buy of the year and both will be expected to have a huge impact on this final. The young Granville has been explosive all season, leading all hookers in tries with 11, while ranking top three in tackle breaks and run metres. The pace of last week got to him though and he managed just 44 minutes. He needs to keep up in this game, which will be a rugged affair, as the Cowboys cannot win without him setting a high-tempo from dummy half. The Sharks, by contrast, prefer the grind and Michael Ennis is the perfect man for that. Cronulla’s big advantage comes from running courage lines and Ennis finds his runners well. He leads all hookers in try assists. As the Sharks’ primary creator, he cannot be allowed to roam free with the Cowboys needing to niggle at him all night. </figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="line-height: 24px;">North Queensland are 11-14 ATS this season with a 15-10 over number while Cronulla are 14-11 ATS with a 13-12 over number. The Cowboys have covered just two of their last seven while the Sharks have covered 8 of their last 10. North Queensland have played five finals at home in their history and have won each with four wins by double digits. The Sharks last played in a preliminary final in 2008 and have not played in a Grand Final since 1997. The Sharks have covered their last three and four of seven interstate. The Cowboys have covered just three of 12 at home this year  and just 2-6 ATS when favoured by more than a converted try. Favourites have won five of the last six finals week two matches but have covered just twice. </span></div> </figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> The Cowboys are terribly slow starters, scoring the first try in just nine of 25 matches this year. They are 7-2 when scoring first. No team comes back like the Cowboys though, winning 10 of 16 when failing to score the first four-pointer. That strike rate of 62.5% wins is well ahead of second-placed Brisbane (50%) and the NRL average of 33.67%. The Cowboys also have the only positive record when trailing by seven (57%) against the NRL average of 19%.  When leading at halftime the Cowboys are strong with an 11-2 record while they are 12-2 when getting out to a seven-point lead. The Sharks are 10-4 when posting the first score and just 5-6 when not posting the first points. They are a great front-running team with an 11-2 record when leading by seven points while they are 10-3 when leading at halftime. When trailing by seven the Sharks have come back on just four of 11 occasions. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="line-height: 24px;">The Cowboys go into this final as big favourites against the Sharks but a blowout will really surprise in this one with the Sharks in this up to their eyeballs. Make no mistake: the Sharks are a team playing with about 5000 chips on their collective shoulder. They are playing tough. They are performing against big-time opposition. They can win on the road. They have a ton of experience. If they can keep this game to a grind, they have enough talent across the park and enough grit in their heart to shock the Cows. North Queensland have a few major question marks. Their recent performances against Top 8 teams has been poor. They just don’t match up all that well with the Sharks. In the end class and a home-field advantage should get the Cowboys home but the plus is way too big and needs to be taken as the bet of the weekend. </span></div> </figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Cronulla +8 ($1.90)</span></span></strong></figure><figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></figure><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4ZOUevjBMFLDDDJU8paxkkuuRrDdAowyPwImpnBKZu6hIV-TW7iKC9gP3I04OVcvcOPkTqvAcojPI_hsWAZ0caUxyl3hb9uHkcMXozDX5boAPXqVxeBMgnwM-FwxjKLkkv07WEHvHZ0/s1600/nrl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4ZOUevjBMFLDDDJU8paxkkuuRrDdAowyPwImpnBKZu6hIV-TW7iKC9gP3I04OVcvcOPkTqvAcojPI_hsWAZ0caUxyl3hb9uHkcMXozDX5boAPXqVxeBMgnwM-FwxjKLkkv07WEHvHZ0/s400/nrl1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <figure style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></figure>

NRL semi - final Preview North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks

NRL Preview North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks Saturday September 19, 7:55pm (AEST), 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville The second s...

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AFL Semi Final : Sydney Swans v North Melbourne

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">AFL Preview: Semi Final</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Sydney Swans v North Melbourne<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />7:20pm AEST, Saturday, September 18<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />ANZ Stadium, Sydney<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Bad kicking is bad football and thus the Swans played poorly when kicking themselves out of the game last weekend. North showed plenty of character when coming from behind last weekend and will back themselves to topple the Swans.</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Best Bet</strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Sydney 1-39</span></span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Other Recommended Bets</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Under 160.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">Sydney Swans </strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">$1.54 | Line -9.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($2.10) | 40+ ($5.30) |Ov. 160.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">Nth Melbourne </strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">$2.50 | Line +9.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($2.90) | 40+ ($11) | Un. 160.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">The Swans are likely to welcome back former All-Australian defender Nick Smith (hamstring) who could have been the difference between a win and a loss last week. Luke Parker (leg) will miss another week whilst Kieran Parker (knee) could make a surprise return. Sam Reid (hamstring) will miss the rest of the year as will Buddy Franklin (illness) Brandon Jack, Jake Lloyd and Gary Rohan would be most likely on the chopping block. For the Roos, they are unlikely to make too many changes. Daniel Wells is a minor chance to play whilst Kayne Turner, Luke McDonald, Aaron Mullett and Ryan Bastinac seem next in line.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">North should have definitely finished closer to the Swans in round 11 when they went down by 16-points. The Roos kicked 6.9 in the second half to finish with 10.15 whilst the accurate Swans kicked 14.7.91. Todd Goldstein dominated with 37 hit-outs and 17 disposals whilst Adam Goodes, Gary Rohan, Kurt Tippett and Buddy Franklin all kicked multiple goals for the Swans. For the Roos, small forwards Robin Nahas, Lindsay Thomas and Shaun Higgins all kicked two goals each.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Swans only have themselves to blame for failing to upset Fremantle last weekend after they kicked six first quarter behinds en-route to 7.18 for the match. The Swans are a league-worst 3-6 (3-6 against the line) against top eight teams this year. The Roos fought hard last week, overcoming a half-time deficit to kick nine goals to five in the second half to run out 17-point winners. North is 4-6 (5-5 against the line) vs the other finalists this season, they are averaging 106 points per game over the last nine weeks (not including Round 23).</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Dan Hannebery v Ben Jacobs</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Kangaroos tagger took care of Richmond captain Trent Cotchin last weekend, keeping him to just nine touches. He will either go to Kennedy or Hannebery this weekend but with Hannebery’s superior running ability, expect Jacobs to look to blanket him. Hannebery has had the most disposals in an AFL-record 10 matches this season and if can be stopped then it will go a long way towards a North Melbourne victory.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">This will be the 157</span><sup style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">th </sup><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">meeting between the two sides with Sydney leading 83-72 with one draw. The Swans have won nine of their last ten matches against the Kangaroos, dating back to 2008. Since 2010, Sydney is 7-1 (6-2 against the line) vs North. The Swans are 32-21 all-time at their second home – since the start of 2013, the Bloods are 7-5 (5-7 against the line) at ANZ Stadium. The Swans have won their last eight finals at ANZ Stadium including a 71-point win over North in last year’s prelim. North Melbourne is 9-11 both head-to-head and against the line outside of Victoria (other than Hobart) since the start of 2013. They have lost their only two games at ANZ Stadium. The Swans are 5-4 (4-5 against the line) without Lance Franklin in the last two years. They are 3-3 (2-4 against the line) without Franklin but with Kurt Tippett in the same time frame. Sydney is 10-5-1 (6-10 ATL) following a loss since the start of 2013. Eight of their last nine games have totalled under 172-points. Dane Swan averages over 36 Jarrad Waite has kicked 10 goals in his last three games. Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy has had over 30 disposals in a phenomenal 11 consecutive games. Four of the last five games have totalled over 165-points.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Since 2011, only 15 of the last 40 finals have totalled over 190-points. In 2014, six of the nine finals totalled over 189-points. Favourites are 20-11 (14-17 against the line) in the finals in the last three years. Since 2012, 27 of the last 32 finals have finished with a 1-39 margin. The Swans are 6-4 (7-3 against the line) in finals since 2012. Since 2010, North is 3-2 both head to head and against the line in finals.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Kangaroos are 13-3 when they have led by 12-points or more at any stage this year.  The Swans are 16-3 in the same situation. North is 7-9 when trailing by two goals or more at any stage whilst the Swans are just 4-7. The Swans are 6-5 in games decided by 12-points or less in the last three seasons whilst the Roos are 10-9. Sydney is 3-7 when trailing at three-quarter time this season whilst North is just 1-9. The Roos are 50% when losing at the first break so if they get down early, they could be a nice bet to come back. Furthermore, they’re 5-7 when trailing at half-time.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">2015 Line:   Sydney 10-13, North Melbourne 14-9</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">2015 Over/Under: Sydney 8-15, North Melbourne 13-10</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Backs against the wall, without two of their big key forwards, the Swans should find a way to continue their dominance over North Melbourne. They showed last week that they can still produce manic defensive pressure around the ball whilst they look well equipped to deal with Waite, Brown and Petrie down back with Ted Richards, Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe. When it comes to the crunch, North cannot afford to have a slow start like they did last week against Richmond because it will be hard to run down the Swans. With the Swans lacking a real scoring punch, The Wolf doesn’t expect this to have too many points in it.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br />Sydney by 11 points</strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br /></strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Sydney 1-39 ($2.10)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Under 160.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span></strong></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR10mCN2Uk0tGP0GFF0UQ0Df2MZlwf-QaPmjwLmheSGHm79W1shpT8C0eWJX3O-jiVyakg5qhREDN-TcwXest-vzzkQTIqiDaLYutJMBZHXDbzjYJsbMpfW0lj_FWV7qrbpTLA4K4nK3I/s1600/afl89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR10mCN2Uk0tGP0GFF0UQ0Df2MZlwf-QaPmjwLmheSGHm79W1shpT8C0eWJX3O-jiVyakg5qhREDN-TcwXest-vzzkQTIqiDaLYutJMBZHXDbzjYJsbMpfW0lj_FWV7qrbpTLA4K4nK3I/s400/afl89.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></span>

AFL Semi Final : Sydney Swans v North Melbourne

AFL Preview: Semi Final Sydney Swans v North Melbourne 7:20pm AEST, Saturday, September 18 ANZ Stadium, Sydney Bad kicking is bad football a...

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AFL Semi Final : Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />AFL Preview: Semi Final</strong><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />7:50pm AEST, Friday, September 18<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />MCG, Melbourne</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Hawks quest for a third straight premiership hit a snag when they went down to West Coast last weekend whilst the Crows look to continue their fairy tale story with another finals win.</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Best Bet</strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Hawthorn 1-39 ($2.20)</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Other Recommended Bets</strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Over 189.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Hawthorn </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">$1.32 | Line -21.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($2.20) | 40+ ($3.10) |Ov. 189.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Adelaide  </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">$3.40 | Line +21.5 ($1.91) | 1-39 ($3.80) | 40+ ($17) | Un. 189.5 ($1.88)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Former Crow Jack Gunston will miss with an ankle injury that he sustained in the qualifying final loss to West Coast. Ryan Schoenmakers, James Sicily, Matt Spangher, Angus Litherland and Billy Hartung head the queue to replace him. The Crows are unlikely to make any changes with youngster Jake Lever seemingly the only addition.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Hawks were comfortable victors in round 12 this season with a 29-point win. The Crows could not deal with Hawthorn’s intense pressure around the ball with many early errors by foot. Luke Breust, Isaac Smith and David Hale all kicked multiple goals for the Hawks whilst Liam Shiels (25 touches) and Luke Hodge (25) led the way for the reigning premiers. For Adelaide, Patrick Dangerfield had 31 disposals whilst Scott Thompson had 32. Taylor Walker might look to seek some vengeance on Sam Mitchell after his Mitchell ended his night with a crude knee to his thigh.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Hawthorn crashed back down to earth last Friday night with a heavy loss to the Eagles. They were error-riddled with West Coast’s insane pressure causing many skill errors from the Hawks. They scored their second lowest total for the year. The Hawks are 7-3 (6-4 against the line) vs top eight teams this season. The Crows have won five of their last six games after an entertaining win over the Bulldogs last weekend. They are averaging 123 points per game in their five weeks with constant contributions from Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins up forward. Adelaide is 4-5 (5-4 against the line) vs the 2015 finalists.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">Hawthorn and Adelaide have played 36 times with the Hawks leading 20-16. Hawthorn has won their last five games against the Crows. Since 2010, Hawthorn is 6-1 (but only 4-3 against the line) vs the Crows. The Crows are 3-4 (2-5 against the line) in Thursday/Friday games since the start of 2012. Hawks are 17-5 (10-12 against the line) on Friday night’s over the past two seasons. The Crows are 4-5 (3-6 against the line) in Thursday/Friday games since the start of 2012. Since 2010, Adelaide is 4-10 (7-7 against the line) at the MCG. The Hawks are 28-7 (17-18 ATL) at the ‘G since the start of 2013. Eddie Betts has kicked 19.5 in the last five weeks. Sam Mitchell averages 31 disposals per game in his last seven matches. Mitchell has had the most disposals in a match nine times this season. Patrick Dangerfield averages 34 touches in his last four matches against the Hawks. Six of the past seven match-ups have totalled over 188 points.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="height: auto; line-height: 23.04px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Since 2011, only 15 of the last 40 finals have totalled over 190-points. In 2014, six of the nine finals totalled over 189-points. Favourites are 20-11 (14-17 against the line) in the finals in the last three years. Since 2012, 27 of the last 32 finals have finished with a 1-39 margin. Since 2010, the Hawks are 9-5 (7-7 against the line) in finals. The Crows are 2-2 (3-1 against the line). </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">The Crows are 13-0 when leading at three-quarter time this year whilst the Hawks are 15-2. Both Hawthorn (1-5) and Adelaide (1-8) have won when trailing at three-quarter time this year. The Hawks have never won when trailing by 24-points or more this year whilst the Crows are 1-7. The Crows are 7-12 in games decided by 12-points or less in the last three seasons whilst the Hawks are 10-6 in the same situation. But the Hawks are only 1-4 in games decided by two goals or less this year.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">2015 Line:   Hawthorn 12-11, Adelaide 11-11</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">2015 Over/Under: Hawthorn 15-8, Adelaide 15-7</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;">Hawthorn by 15 points</span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px; text-decoration: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="height: auto; line-height: 23.04px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;">Much like Adelaide’s game last week, this game sets up as an extremely high scoring encounter. Both Adelaide and Hawthorn have some of the best scoring prowess in the league and as long as there is no inclement weather, expect this to be a shoot-out. The Wolf thinks the Hawks should bounce back and reach their fifth consecutive preliminary final. Jarryd Roughead will bounce back whilst Lewis and Shiels can definitely lift another cog too. The Crows have struggled to defend well in the past two weeks and if this goes into a shoot-out like The Wolf expects then the Hawks should prevail.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 23.04px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Hawthorn 1-39 ($2.30)</span></span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0188c2; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"></strong><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;">Over 189.5 Total Match Points ($1.88)</span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;"><br /></span></span></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr-kzeRvsp2YMgPSFSK7HS-dsNCDVLpT7E0MO0u1nFHokhDcWhOUSFMtpglwYHdB34j2ycwY9KU8tg7CbZI06vnS0MCq3W0G8hyfY3g1WThxK0GZdfJ_5RBS5Jtku6QSbURaDnWHxVHk/s1600/afl+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr-kzeRvsp2YMgPSFSK7HS-dsNCDVLpT7E0MO0u1nFHokhDcWhOUSFMtpglwYHdB34j2ycwY9KU8tg7CbZI06vnS0MCq3W0G8hyfY3g1WThxK0GZdfJ_5RBS5Jtku6QSbURaDnWHxVHk/s640/afl+53.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0188c2;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23.04px;"><br /></span></span></span>

AFL Semi Final : Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows

AFL Preview: Semi Final Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows 7:50pm AEST, Friday, September 18 MCG, Melbourne The Hawks quest for a third straigh...

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DINAMO ZAGREB V ARSENAL: CLASH OF THE 'INVINCIBLES' SET TO GENERATE GOALS

<div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal<br />Wed, 19:45 BST<br />Live on BT Sport Europe</span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Match Odds<br />Dinamo Zagreb <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="7/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">8.20</span>, Arsenal <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="1/2" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.50</span>, The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="7/2" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">4.60</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">We know all about Arsenal - but how good are Dinamo Zagreb? That's a difficult question to answer because the Croatian champions have no real pedigree at European level - but on a domestic front they are in historically good form.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Last season Zoran Mamic's side mimicked the Arsenal 'Invincibles' team of 2003-04 by <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">going through the entire season unbeaten</span> en route to the Croatian League title. Their unbeaten run now stands at 41 matches in all competitions, which means they'll go into this game brimming with confidence, even though a clash against Arsenal represents a considerable step-up in standard for the home side. This is only their fourth appearance in the Champions League group stages, and last season they failed to get out of their Europa League group.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Arsenal have a tremendous record of getting out of the group stages and have a reasonably good record away from home against non-group favourites in the group phase in recent seasons. That bodes well for the Gunners, but against a side on a fantastic unbeaten run there's little appeal in backing Arsenal to win at such short odds.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Under/Over 2.5 Goals<br />Unders <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="11/10" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.14</span>, Overs <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="5/6" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.87</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Backing this to be a high-scoring encounter looks the smart way to play this market.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Why? Firstly because Dinamo Zagreb will be confident of scoring. They won 4-0 in the league last Friday and the mood in their camp will be excellent considering they are now unbeaten in nearly a year.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Arsenal will also be confident of scoring goals. They should get opportunities to hurt the hosts on the counter-attack and coach Wenger will be pleased that strikers <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Olivier Giroud</span> and <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Theo Walcott</span> got on the scoresheet in the Gunners' 2-0 win over Stoke City at the weekend.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Wenger has also stressed the importance of getting off to a winning start in order to be able to compete with Bayern Munich for first place in the group. Arsenal have fallen into a habit of going through as group runners-up in recent seasons - this has been their fate in each of the past five seasons - and the result has often been that they have landed a tougher last-16 draw.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">For that reason it would be a surprise to see Arsenal willing to sit back and settle for a point.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Both Teams to Score?<br />Yes <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="21/20" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.06</span>, No <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="7" oldtitle="10/11" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.88</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">A good alternative to the Over 2.5 Goals selection is backing both teams to score. For the same reasons outlined above this looks likely to be an open game in which both teams will be confident of finding the net.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">And unusually you actually get better odds on both teams finding the net than you do on the match having over 2.5 goals because the <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">hosts are rank outsiders</span> and therefore clearly not fancied to find the net. For that reason I favour this market.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bet</span></span><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">'Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="8" oldtitle="21/20" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.06</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgcxDdtc6plf0nYXPxAtby1LUFqlfn4hTa2r8pKgb_zNmZYZWlEZXK9ZNjOqWouP-Ht4b8XqrxZjx_aGyiUlB8n9tMoCxeGjl2jFDtH65d_5qlGozS0x1cKVmaGqvXJhyNkoNIMxsepkS/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border: none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgcxDdtc6plf0nYXPxAtby1LUFqlfn4hTa2r8pKgb_zNmZYZWlEZXK9ZNjOqWouP-Ht4b8XqrxZjx_aGyiUlB8n9tMoCxeGjl2jFDtH65d_5qlGozS0x1cKVmaGqvXJhyNkoNIMxsepkS/s400/37.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(192, 192, 192); height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; outline: none; padding: 4px; position: relative; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out;" width="400" /></a></div>

DINAMO ZAGREB V ARSENAL: CLASH OF THE 'INVINCIBLES' SET TO GENERATE GOALS

Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal Wed, 19:45 BST Live on BT Sport Europe Match Odds Dinamo Zagreb  8.20 , Arsenal  1.50 , The Draw  4.60 We know all ...

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIPS : BARCELONA TO WIN, BAYERN MUNICH TO BOSS THE FIRST HALF AND ZENIT ST PETERSBURG TO WIN

<article class="has-odds underlined-links" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><div id="yui_3_1_1_1_144236544540454" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Roma <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="5/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">6.20</span> v Barcelona <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="4/6" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.67</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="3/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">4.10</span><br />Live on BT Sport Showcase and BT Sport Extra 1</span></span></div> <span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">This encounter sees Luis Enrique return to the Stadio Olimpico, where he <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">dropped no hints</span> that he was a future Champions League-winning boss during a joyless 2011/12, comfortably Roma's worst campaign of the past decade.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Both are better off apart. The Spaniard has lifted four trophies in 2015 at Barcelona, and his former employers resurfaced as the second-best team in Serie A in the past two years and now threaten to become number one, with a recent victory over Juventus nudging them in to <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="7/4" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.72</span> for the scudetto.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">However, the memory of the capital club's final two home Champions League results last term - a 7-1 loss to Bayern Munich and 2-0 reverse to Manchester City - are too raw for this writer to yet buy them as a threat to a Barcelona side fresh from away successes at Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid.</span><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bet: Back Barcelona to win @ <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="4/6" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.67</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Olympiakos <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="8/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">9.00</span> v Bayern Munich <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="7" oldtitle="4/9" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.44</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="8" oldtitle="4/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">4.90</span><br />Live on BT Sport Extra 2</span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Perhaps Pep Guardiola has been <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">judged a little too harshly</span> for failing to guide Bayern Munich to Champions League glory in his first two seasons at the Allianz Arena.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">After all, he reached the semi-finals both times - as he has in all six of his campaigns in senior management - and exited to the eventual winners. By contrast, his nemesis Jose Mourinho has endured five failed challenges with Chelsea, two of which didn't survive beyond the round-of-16.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Another Guardiola-ism which is <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">taken for granted</span> is his serene progress through the occasionally turbulent group stage, winning nine of his last ten away games at this stage of the competition with either Barcelona or Bayern. His teams led at the break in nine of those, drawing in the other.</span><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bet: Back Bayern Munich to lead at half time @ <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="9" oldtitle="11/10" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.10</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Valencia <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="10" oldtitle="5/6" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.85</span> v Zenit St Petersburg <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="11" oldtitle="4/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">5.00</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="12" oldtitle="11/4" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">3.75</span><br />Live on BT Sport Extra 3</span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Though Valencia's Champions League play-off double header against Monaco produced 3-1 and 2-1 scorelines, their La Liga results of 0-0, 1-1 and 1-0 offer a more helpful indication of what to expect when they oppose Zenit St Petersburg and the unders-maker that they call coach, Andre Villas-Boas.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The former Chelsea and Tottenham tactician led his squad overseas eight times in 2014/15 and there were two goals or less scored in seven of those, <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">including all five</span> in the Champions League.</span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">In addition to that, his six Europa League group trips abroad at Tottenham all delivered under 2.5 goals, as did two of his three at the same phase of the 2011/12 Champions League with Chelsea.</span><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="13" oldtitle="20/21" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.94</span></span></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="border: none; clear: both; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDKwuDKstd_MXG0ja1EU1nAPupGIEaL0kNxOxHLbvRySJGXNHYKxCr1D6Z2fGlIgZOJsoL6KW1pntnw6A7zJMAWbz2jaTy_9kqVMsoMPeh4zvFKawvLHx85fDQv3XReyoz_UbHPvUUyh6/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border: none; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDKwuDKstd_MXG0ja1EU1nAPupGIEaL0kNxOxHLbvRySJGXNHYKxCr1D6Z2fGlIgZOJsoL6KW1pntnw6A7zJMAWbz2jaTy_9kqVMsoMPeh4zvFKawvLHx85fDQv3XReyoz_UbHPvUUyh6/s400/33.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(192, 192, 192); height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; opacity: 0.7; outline: none; padding: 4px; position: relative; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out;" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div> </article>

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIPS : BARCELONA TO WIN, BAYERN MUNICH TO BOSS THE FIRST HALF AND ZENIT ST PETERSBURG TO WIN

Roma  6.20  v Barcelona  1.67 ; The Draw  4.10 Live on BT Sport Showcase and BT Sport Extra 1 This encounter sees Luis Enrique return to t...

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CHELSEA V MACCABI TEL AVIV: NO NIGHT OFF FOR BLUES

<div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"> <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Chelsea <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="2/11" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.18</span> v Maccabi Tel Aviv <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="23/1" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">24.00</span>; The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="15/2" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">8.60</span><br />Wednesday, 19:45<br />Live on BT Sport 2</span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_1_1_1_144236568251153" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Chelsea</span></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Having wasted the conspiracy card on the campaign that they coasted to the title and been similarly hasty in deploying the "everything is the physio's fault" trick, Jose Mourinho has seemed as <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">off his game</span> in media briefings as his team have on the pitch.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">After dropping an F bomb on Roberto Martinez after the weekend's defeat to Everton to the ridicule of the assembled press types, he was thoroughly unconvincing in his attempt to dismiss accusations that he is a sufferer of the rare "third season syndrome".</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The tactician who once discredited Manuel Pellegrini's Real Madrid achievements with the attitude that "<span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">second place is just the first loser</span>" saw fit to trumpet that "I won the Super Cup, I lost the cup final, and I went to the Champions League semi-finals" in evaluation of his Bernabeu term three.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">This is arguably Chelsea's most straightforward fixture of 2015/16 to date, and therefore a chance to see precisely how severe the problems of the past month are. Failure to win will inevitably trigger comparisons to the home draw with Rosenborg in September 2007 which ended Mourinho's first stint.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">In terms of team news, Thibaut Courtois and Radamel Falcao are both unavailable, though <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Oscar should feature</span> for the first time since the opening day.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Maccabi Tel Aviv</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Israeli champions earned their first group-stage participation in 11 years the hard way, pushing through <span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">three rounds of qualifiers</span> at the expense of Hibernians, Viktoria Plzen and FC Basel, who of course reached the knockout phase last season.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">That heavy summer schedule hasn't affected their domestic title defence too much - certainly their prospects of retaining are far healthier than their hosts' - with two victories and a draw from their initial three encounters leaving them second.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br />Match Odds</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Even if you are of the opinion that Chelsea are an immeasurably superior side, you have to ask yourself whether you trust the Londoners enough to back them at odds as short as <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="2/11" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.18</span>.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">On the flip side, if you feel emboldened to lay them at such an enticing price, there is a statistic that offers plenty of encouragement: they have spilled points in their previous three Champions League home openers, being held by Juventus and Schalke and beaten by FC Basel in Septembers past.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br />Chelsea Clean Sheet</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Blues are <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="4/7" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">1.58</span> to shut Maccabi Tel Aviv out, which looks like a very optimistic appraisal given that they have conceded at least twice in all five of their Premier League matches and are often looser in the Champions League.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The visitors have netted in 11 of their dozen outings in 2015/16, including all three in their league and each of their six European assignments, striking twice away to the FC Basel side that did the double over Chelsea two years ago.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bet:</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Back Chelsea not to keep a clean sheet @ <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="6/4" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="">2.52</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0lOifnx6UZj-Kbakbs5DK7L7fo5eZzAKuSFqOV5onX8qY7dr8Ks3HCI5CApbtG1_IPdFECX70hSubgmHJG86yTbhsVgmC6TRyG03egLZGreiEkNKFekMb_NAUxzf_8IAGMKzoGyPWTh1/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border: none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0lOifnx6UZj-Kbakbs5DK7L7fo5eZzAKuSFqOV5onX8qY7dr8Ks3HCI5CApbtG1_IPdFECX70hSubgmHJG86yTbhsVgmC6TRyG03egLZGreiEkNKFekMb_NAUxzf_8IAGMKzoGyPWTh1/s400/3.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(192, 192, 192); height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; outline: none; padding: 4px; position: relative; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out;" width="400" /></a></div>

CHELSEA V MACCABI TEL AVIV: NO NIGHT OFF FOR BLUES

Chelsea  1.18  v Maccabi Tel Aviv  24.00 ; The Draw  8.60 Wednesday, 19:45 Live on BT Sport 2 Chelsea Having wasted the conspiracy card ...

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL: EVERY ENGLISH TEAM TO WIN AT A SUBLIME 7/1!

<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO3zjl7BWEwh0QCrO5KVtWiZjSPyLgEZikspBjjks3_1N3BNAkP5vyDG-9GsaLqs1r_bFmIWW3yz37ROTcZyFD_NFsKTt3ZLGzem0cnU6DZBCyU7BLME-RAgSHg7_QRauJUabQG8N-RWD/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border: none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO3zjl7BWEwh0QCrO5KVtWiZjSPyLgEZikspBjjks3_1N3BNAkP5vyDG-9GsaLqs1r_bFmIWW3yz37ROTcZyFD_NFsKTt3ZLGzem0cnU6DZBCyU7BLME-RAgSHg7_QRauJUabQG8N-RWD/s400/39.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(192, 192, 192); height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; outline: none; padding: 4px; position: relative; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out;" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Champions League is back! To mark this occasion, Coral have a sensational special, featuring all the English teams to win. So that is Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea offered at a sublime 7/1 price. Read on to find out why this is such a brilliant bet!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Manchester City v Juventus</span><br />Manuel Pellegrini’s side have a 100 per cent record so far this season, having also not conceded. They are the odds-on 4/5 favourites with Coral to win the match against a Juventus side that is much-changed from their Champions League final appearance last season. The Turin titans have also had a dismal start to the campaign, failing to win any of their three Serie A matches and could well struggle at the Etihad.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">PSV Eindhoven v Manchester United</span><br />Louis van Gaal’s side go into this match off the back of a thrilling 3-1 win over rivals Liverpool in the Premier League and look in ideal form to follow up with a victory against their Dutch opponents. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Britain Soccer Premier League" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-98367" height="340" src="http://news.coral.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Louis_van_Gaal-600x340.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(192, 192, 192); height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 600px; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="600" /></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">New signing Anthony Martial showed exactly how good he can be, following an inspirational individual strike, and is offered in a matchday special to score anytime at a 9/4 price. United also visit PSV with their former player and new signing in the summer, Memphis Depay, who dispatched 28 times for the club last term and has already scored twice in qualifying for the Red Devils.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal</span><br />The Gunners are odds-on at 1/2 to come away from Croatia with three points and Arsene Wenger’s side have a 100 per cent record against their opponents. The two teams last met in a Champions League qualifier in 2006 with Arsenal winning 5-1 over two legs, including 3-0 in the away match. Olivier Giroud has started the season well for the club with two goals already and is definitely worth considering at 4/1 to break the deadlock.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, arial, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Chelsea v Maccabi Tel Aviv</span><br />Heavily odds-on at 1/6 to beat their Israeli opponents, the Blues will surely be confident of registering three points. Multiple Champions League winner Pedro Rodriguez joined Chelsea in the summer and his experience will be huge to Jose Mourinho’s side, with the Spaniard 4/1 to open the scoring.</span>

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL: EVERY ENGLISH TEAM TO WIN AT A SUBLIME 7/1!

The Champions League is back! To mark this occasion, Coral have a sensational special, featuring all the English teams to win. So that is ...

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Atletico Madrid start Group C with Galatasaray

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRXoC1tTq8PsFE0gwI7k_EdZA24DSjPOgOu29FEh2SD2F9M4EtfLcKoSGZ5zQXusRa_QtZKrPwszMKuM1gBuhseladfdMJPbBCy1xFoM-WJDMPPz6YXV__V73RODhPkE2_Uvt2C4gwfE/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRXoC1tTq8PsFE0gwI7k_EdZA24DSjPOgOu29FEh2SD2F9M4EtfLcKoSGZ5zQXusRa_QtZKrPwszMKuM1gBuhseladfdMJPbBCy1xFoM-WJDMPPz6YXV__V73RODhPkE2_Uvt2C4gwfE/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">La Liga winners in 2013/14 and Champions League finalists that season, Atletico Madrid have proved consistent challengers to El Clasico couple Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years. Atleti are odds-on at 3/4 with Coral to beat Galatasary in their Champions League Group C opener.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diego Simeone has made a number of changes to his squad in the summer in an attempt to no doubt give the side a more cutting edge, which will see them kill teams off quicker both in Europe and domestically.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The signing of Jackson Martinez can prove to be inspirational. His seven strikes in eight matches for FC Porto in the elite contintental club competition last season evidences a remarkable return, and odds of 6/1 to net two or more against Gala are definitely worth considering.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is perhaps, though, the array of attacking ability in Simeone’s squad which is more impressive. With Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Luciano Vietto, plus the creative cunning of Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Angel Correa and the hugely talented Koke, Atletico have a huge amount of potential.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Vietto is a newbie to the competition, there is no mistaking his proficiency as a footballer, outlined by the quality of his goals for Villarreal last term both in La Liga and the Europa League. A return of eight strikes and six assists from 12 matches highlight a particular proclivity for continental football, and the Argentine attacker is an attractive alternative to Martinez to score two or more at 7/1.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Torres, though, is off the mark already for Atleti domestically this season, so fan favourite ‘El Nino’ will be looking to add to his 18 career Champions League goals this term at 9/2 to break the deadlock. Griezmann, meanwhile, is swiftly proving to be a player who can reach top class status and, having already scored and laid on two assists in La Liga this term, has odds of 5/1 to break the deadlock.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="FBL-ESP-CUP-ATLETICO-BARCELONA" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-59666" height="310" src="http://news.coral.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Fernando_Torres_Barcelona-600x310.jpg" width="600" /></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last time the two clubs met was in the Europa League in 2010 when the Spanish outfit went on to beat Fulham in the final. In Turkey, the match finished 2-1; with Atletico earning a 1-1 draw in the return leg, though Galatasaray have upgraded somewhat since.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is relatively experienced in the Champions League and has scored a respectable 16 goals in the competition, so odds of 7/2 to net anytime are worth a punter.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Failing that, Burak Yilmaz, 2/1 anytime, is an accomplished centre forward, capable of causing defences problems and in the 2012/13 campaign dispatched eight in nine appearances, while Wesley Sneijder was a key part of Inter Milan’s winning side in 2009/10 and, still a threat from set pieces has decent 5/1 anytime odds.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br />

Atletico Madrid start Group C with Galatasaray

La Liga winners in 2013/14 and Champions League finalists that season, Atletico Madrid have proved consistent challengers to El Clasico...

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Champions League: Real Madrid host Shakhtar Donetsk in Group A

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2eBolyynDJ-kIKK-6aMYFh5LuIUPrOsZ6mR1rjH-sKLjw9IDgWimZRW8UzP9ohfUFIWmgCbhsBVb_RNVobN24aSaLcfT5iGv-omIpfBx4xA0gNjhELvDkNn8JB1jAh8KWoyBXTS26pg/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2eBolyynDJ-kIKK-6aMYFh5LuIUPrOsZ6mR1rjH-sKLjw9IDgWimZRW8UzP9ohfUFIWmgCbhsBVb_RNVobN24aSaLcfT5iGv-omIpfBx4xA0gNjhELvDkNn8JB1jAh8KWoyBXTS26pg/s400/24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real Madrid will be looking to wrestle back the Champions League from El Clasico rivals Barcelona this season, and are 5/1 third favourites with Coral to win the competition from an 11th time in its combined European Cup history.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Blancos kick off their campaign at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in Group A, and are heavily odds-on at 1/6 to record the win.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manager Rafa Benitez, who was appointed in the summer, won the competition while in charge of Liverpool, so has pedigree in the competition and will be confident that his side can top the group.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Juventus FC v Real Madrid CF - Juventus Stadium" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-74875" height="266" src="http://news.coral.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ronaldo-Madrid-600x400.jpg" width="400" /></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real haven’t met the Ukrainian outfit before, though the result should be relatively academic, with Shakhtar failing to strengthen adequately enough in the summer to present a strong enough challenge in Europe, following the high-profile departure of winger Douglas Costa to Bayern Munich.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They still have former Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva, who arrived on a free transfer and his anytime odds of 7/2 could be worth considering, with Croatian still possessing smart finishing abilities. Shakhtar’s main creative threat comes from Brazilian pair Bernard and Taison, who are 13/2 and 5/1 respectively to net anytime, while compatriot Alex Teixeira is a goal threat at 5/2 in the same market.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, this could well be the Cristiano Ronaldo show. He recently became the club’s record La Liga goalscorer and will have his eye on even more records this season. To hit a hat-trick, the attacker is 6/1 and he could well run riot against a defence that really isn’t anything special.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are both 7/2 to break the deadlock, though if Los Blancos are cruising by half time, Benitez may well give a chance to Jese Rodriguez, who at 22 is quickly becoming somewhat of a regular feature in Real’s squads. He is 6/4 to notch anytime.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer signing Mateo Kovacic could make his Champions League bow for Real though, and has odds of 7/2 to chip in with a goal.</span>

Champions League: Real Madrid host Shakhtar Donetsk in Group A

Real Madrid will be looking to wrestle back the Champions League from El Clasico rivals Barcelona this season, and are 5/1 third favour...

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Sevilla v Borussia Monchengladbach : Sevilla have won their last nine home games in European competition

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Sevilla v Borussia Monchengladbach</strong><br /> <strong>Tuesday September 15, 19:45</strong><br /> <strong>Live on BT Sport Extra</strong></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kayserispor and Trabzonspor picked a fine time to explore their boring side, as the visitors' 1-0 win sunk our <strong>Over 2.5 Goals bet.</strong> At least I had some fun, as I was dancing to "Save Water, Drink Beer" at a Chris Young gig when the final whistle went, but that's no consolation to y'all.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Spain then, and if you want to bellow out the <strong>Champions League</strong> anthem, now's the time to do it. Finished? Good.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sevilla have become the first ever team to qualify for Europe's top competition by winning its unloved little brother the <strong>Europa League,</strong> and over the past couple of seasons Unai Emery's men have proved to be relentlessly consistent in continental competition. They have won the Europa League in each of the past two seasons, and they have won their last nine European games at the Sanchez Pizjuan.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among those nine consecutive victories was a 1-0 win over tonight's opponents Borussia Monchengladbach, as Sevilla knocked the German outfit out in the last 32 last term. Since then both teams have lost key players (Sevilla's annual sale of stars is now almost a quaint local tradition), but the damage done to Gladbach appears to have been greater. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Foals are bottom of the Bundesliga after four matches, having collected no points whatsoever. Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Hamburg was the nadir. The defence was shambolic, the forwards ambled around ineffectively, and the lack of confidence throughout the side was painful to observe.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The return of loan star <strong>Christoph Kramer</strong> to parent club Bayer Leverkusen has robbed the Gladbach midfield of drive and solidity, while the invention of forward <strong>Max Kruse</strong> has been sorely missed since he defected to Wolfsburg. To make matters worse, captain and defensive leader Martin Stranzl's return from a six-month injury lay-off on Friday saw him get his eye socket fractured by one of his own players. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Kramer departed and <strong>Granit Xhaka</strong> suspended, there is a gigantic hole in the Gladbach midfield, and even though Sevilla have made a disappointing start to their La Liga campaign, I just can't see them failing to overcome a patched-up and beaten-up Foals team. The price of <b class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="0" oldtitle="5/8" title="">1.62</b> for the home win is pretty generous, but you can boost it to above evens by giving the hosts a goal handicap.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span></strong><br /> <br /> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Sevilla -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.05]</span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkwgKPzVBYxVmrxLEnuhqjyUwvhPjVvtWScpVOxm5Wnnxrnu9l6wFIWSoPH0rM3zTiNj42900jHAAqjd2XSiLyUJ2AyL5Px-KUX8CUDF6Bel4m8o66RWvabURt5iqXKjY_v8d8_MQDVI/s1600/51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkwgKPzVBYxVmrxLEnuhqjyUwvhPjVvtWScpVOxm5Wnnxrnu9l6wFIWSoPH0rM3zTiNj42900jHAAqjd2XSiLyUJ2AyL5Px-KUX8CUDF6Bel4m8o66RWvabURt5iqXKjY_v8d8_MQDVI/s640/51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br />

Sevilla v Borussia Monchengladbach : Sevilla have won their last nine home games in European competition

Sevilla v Borussia Monchengladbach Tuesday September 15, 19:45 Live on BT Sport Extra Kayserispor and Trabzonspor picked a fine time to ...

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