La Liga Betting: Barcelona should make light work of struggling Málaga

<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Real Betis v Deportivo Alavés</span><br />Saturday, 15:15<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's unusual to be rushing to back a team that has conceded 10 goals in two matches, but then <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">this is a fairly unusual Real Betis outfit</strong>. Recalibrated by mercurial manager Quique Setién, Los Verdiblancos have been perhaps the most compelling side in La Liga so far this term, making themselves firm neutrals' favourites with their daring brand of passing fundamentalism.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it works beautifully, as it did at the Bernabéu. Sometimes it goes badly, as it did last weekend, when Betis lost 6-3 to Valencia. But <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">there have been more hits than misses so far</strong> - Setién's side are ninth - and there's every reason to believe they'll make light work of a mediocre Alavés side this weekend.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Basques have struggled since losing Mauricio Pellegrino and half the first-team squad over the summer - Zouhair Feddal now marshals the Betis defence - with just three points on their account so far. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They have also managed just three goals</strong>, meaning Betis should be troubled far less than they were against Real Sociedad (4-4) and Valencia, two far more potent attacks.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the other end, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the hosts have more than enough tools at their disposal to find a way through</strong>. The <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/13"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.60</b></span></span> available on the straight home win is a little measly, however, so we shall back them with a one-goal disadvantage on the Asian handicap market. You'll get your stake back if they win by a single strike and profit if the winning margin is larger.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Back Real Betis -1.0 at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="21/20">2.04</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Barcelona v Málaga</span><br />Saturday, 19:45<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their 100% record may have come to an end, but Barcelona will still be feeling pleased with their position after eight games of the Spanish season. After last weekend's hard-fought draw with Atlético Madrid, the Blaugrana still have a handy four-point lead at the top of La Liga - and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a five-point advantage over Real Madrid</strong> as the Christmas Clásico creeps ever closer.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is still room for improvement - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Luis Suárez is but a shadow of his best self at present</strong> - but there's plenty for Ernesto Valverde to smile about. Lionel Messi continued his fine form with a goal and an assist against Olympiakos in midweek, while Paulinho continues to impress. With the wind in their sails, Barça are understandably strong favourites to see off Málaga on Saturday night.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a disastrous start to the season for the Anchovies, who have just one point to their name after eight games. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No team in the division has conceded more</strong> (18) and three of their four goals came in one match, the 3-3 draw with Athletic Club that briefly offered hope that they were turning a corner a month ago.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coach Míchel has clung onto his job for now, but morale is low and there's little to suggest they can spring a surprise in Catalonia, especially with starting midfielder Recio suspended. Barça failed to beat Málaga last term but should find the going fairly easy against <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a team still looking for their first away goal of the season</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Back Barcelona to win to nil at 9/10</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Real Madrid v Eibar</span><br />Sunday, 19:45<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were mitigating circumstances: Karim Benzema didn't have his shooting boots on, they had a teenager at right-back and Hugo Lloris had clearly activated God Mode. But still, Real Madrid's failure to beat Tottenham at the Bernabéu must have rankled. There's little chance of them failing to progress from their Champions League group, but <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">first place is not guaranteed</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attentions now return to domestic matters and Zinedine Zidane will be well aware that an improvement is required if his charges are to repeat the success of last season. Los Merengues are in third and while the deficit to Barcelona will be of some concern, the real worry should be over their performances. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even when they win, conviction is lacking</strong>: their tally of 15 goals after eight matches is their worst in a decade.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The malaise has been especially obvious at the Bernabéu, where they have won just one of four league games - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">their worst home start since 1999/2000</strong>. But that success rate is likely to go up when Eibar - teetering above the relegation zone after a miserable run of form - visit the capital this Sunday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Armeros haven't won in five, haven't scored in four and have been thumped by Barcelona (6-1) and Celta Vigo (4-0). <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They've managed just three goals all season</strong>, with the injured Pedro León a big miss, and have not beaten any of the nominal big four (Barça, Real, Atlético, Sevilla) since joining Primera in 2014.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the Madrid win short at <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/9"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.11</b></span></span>, it's worth factoring in under 3.5 goals to boost the price. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zidane's side have struggled to cut loose</strong> in attack and this bet would have yielded profit in four of their five league wins so far.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Back Real Madrid to win and under 3.5 goals at 13/8</span></span></strong></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6yu-BGfA0Un4-aSWFIVVOnR5jBXLKAJAub6JqBe3o4IKMH3enjPgkA8RT4YVcIyIlx07wUD-fSbreEW8n25NzFrn90PFfvW1H__S8uQaMgksoxSAYncJ-jfi-_-r1q9liSif1TsRVuE/s1600/t%25E1%25BA%25A3i+xu%25E1%25BB%2591ng+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="738" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6yu-BGfA0Un4-aSWFIVVOnR5jBXLKAJAub6JqBe3o4IKMH3enjPgkA8RT4YVcIyIlx07wUD-fSbreEW8n25NzFrn90PFfvW1H__S8uQaMgksoxSAYncJ-jfi-_-r1q9liSif1TsRVuE/s640/t%25E1%25BA%25A3i+xu%25E1%25BB%2591ng+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>

La Liga Betting: Barcelona should make light work of struggling Málaga

Real Betis v Deportivo Alavés Saturday, 15:15 Live on Betfair Live Video It's unusual to be rushing to back a team that has conceded ...

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Ligue 1 Betting: Falcao the man to revive Monaco's flagging fortunes

<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Monaco v Caen</span> (2nd v 8th)<br />Sat, 16:00 BST<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monaco are a risky bet at the moment but there's a good chance they'll rebound from some poor results against a weak Caen side this weekend.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ligue 1 champions are simply not as strong as last season following the summer sales of Benjamin Mendy, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappe. Although 2nd in the table they're 6pts behind leaders PSG and have lost twice in the past week - 3-2 at Lyon last Friday night and then 2-1 at home to Besiktas in the Champions League on Tuesday night.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no sign of Monaco losing focus or determination yet, however, so they ought to be fired-up to collect 3pts this weekend. And Caen are moderate visitors - they lost 2-0 at home to Angers last weekend, and their best striker, Ivan Santini, may be absent for the second week running.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monaco still have considerable firepower - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Radamel Falcao has scored once every 55 minutes in France's top flight this season</strong> - so the hosts are a reasonable selection to win by a couple of goals against limited opponents.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, click <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>here</b></span>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Monaco -1.5 Asian Handicap @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10">2.10</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Amiens v Bordeaux</span> (17th v 7th)<br />Sat, 19:00 BST<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Amiens' first-ever season in Ligue 1 and they're struggling to adapt to top-flight football.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Picardie club have lost six of their opening eight games, including their last three. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Their main problems are in attack - Amiens have failed to score in six of eight matches,</strong>with first-choice strike duo Gael Kakuta and Moussa Konate having little impact in the final third.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bordeaux lack a cutting edge in attack at times, too, and this is costing them points. Last week was a fine example: they dominated their second-half against Nantes but couldn't add to their 47th-minute goal and the game ended 1-1.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Against more limited opposition, however, Bordeaux stand a better chance of winning. As long as they defend properly against toothless hosts, they ought to collect all 3pts. A further factor in favour of Bordeaux is that this game will take place at the neutral venue of Le Havre, thereby reducing the number of Amiens fans that will attend, and Amiens' home advantage.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bordeaux are <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/6"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.68</b></span></span> to win so we prefer the visitors on the Asian Handicap.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Bordeaux -0.5&-1.0 Asian Handicap @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.90</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Troyes v Lyon</span> (12th v 6th)<br />Sun, 16:00 BST<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lyon's fiery 2-1 Europa League win at Everton on Thursday night was the latest sign that Bruno Genesio's side have finally run into form.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They'd already played terrific attacking football against Monaco last Friday, beating the Ligue 1 champions 3-2, and the win at Goodison Park showcased Lyon's tremendous attacking potential in similar style. Captain Nabil Fekir (an injury doubt this weekend) is one of Ligue 1's finest attacking individuals and the supporting cast are playing effectively right now.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Troyes have 12pts from nine games <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">but their performances have not been as good as that tally suggests.</strong> They needed an injury-time penalty to claim a barely-deserved point at Lille (2-2) last weekend and have also picked up points against the run of play at Metz (1-0) in the past month.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If Lyon perform with the same energy and quality as they have in their last two outings they should collect all 3pts. They're short odds to win (<span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/6"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.67</b></span></span>) so we prefer the Asian Handicap.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Lyon -0.5&-1.0 Asian Handicap @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.90</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2R4kRPMOS5DEpGjBnddCXVZMf8fDW7_xWV2ZMQBge7G4KmerGtNxcHYP_D-xL0cIOLOgdPIfa9huDIfF2DumsGaCmOMQC79pbd76Qjt_0k-2E20t33CDBzYhtm7-IaoRL80ZIMq76IM/s1600/GettyImages839931096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2R4kRPMOS5DEpGjBnddCXVZMf8fDW7_xWV2ZMQBge7G4KmerGtNxcHYP_D-xL0cIOLOgdPIfa9huDIfF2DumsGaCmOMQC79pbd76Qjt_0k-2E20t33CDBzYhtm7-IaoRL80ZIMq76IM/s640/GettyImages839931096.jpg" width="640" /></a><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><br /></span></span></strong></div>

Ligue 1 Betting: Falcao the man to revive Monaco's flagging fortunes

Monaco v Caen  (2nd v 8th) Sat, 16:00 BST Live on Betfair Live Video Monaco are a risky bet at the moment but there's a good chance t...

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Bundesliga Betting: Leipzig's Bulls to keep on charging

<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">RB Leipzig v Stuttgart</span></strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday October 21, 14:30</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a great week for the Bundesliga's youngest club. First, Die Roten Bullen went to Dortmund and promptly ended their 41-match unbeaten run at home in the league, and then they picked up their <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">first ever Champions League victory,</strong> beating Porto 3-2 and blowing their group wide open.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Impressively, Leipzig achieved both results without star striker <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Timo Werner</strong> in their starting line-up. Werner has been suffering with a spinal problem that was causing him to have dizzy spells, and in his absence the likes of <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bruma,</strong> Jean-Kevin Augustin and Yussuf Poulsen have really stepped up. After a few mishaps this season, Naby Keita is also showing that he can be trusted in his final season before moving to Liverpool.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stuttgart have racked up ten points since returning to the top flight, so they are probably at least a quarter of the way to their survival target. However, it's worth noting that VfB have collected all of their points on home soil. They have <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lost all four</strong> of their away matches, conceding at least two goals every time.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leipzig are on the charge, having won four of their last five games in all competitions. I believe they'll win this, and win it comfortably. Werner is expected to start, and will be well rested, so I'm backing him to score against his former club.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Back RB Leipzig -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.91</span></strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Back Timo Werner to score at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/1">2.00</span></strong> (Sportsbook)</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund</span></strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday October 21, 14:30</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Leipzig have had a great week, Dortmund's last few days have taken the gloss of a very good start to the season. They were <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exposed defensively</strong> against the pace and ingenuity of RBL in a 3-2 defeat, and then they drew 1-1 at Cypriot side APOEL in the Champions League. Goalkeeper <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roman Burki</strong> has a tendency to make costly errors, and he failed not once but twice in the build-up to APOEL's opener. An equaliser from Sokratis spared BVB's blushes, but their Champions League hopes are fading quickly.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We shouldn't over-react to this downturn. Dortmund still lead the Bundesliga, and are still a thrilling side with plenty of options. However, there's no way they should be odds-on to win at Frankfurt this weekend. The Eagles have won three of their last four games in the league, and they have beaten BVB in the clubs' last three meetings at the Commerzbank Arena. Frankfurt always make it a scrap, and so a suspension for <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sokratis</strong> will harm the visitors' cause, as the Greek centre-back is an inspirational competitor and a guy who loves the rough-and-tumble.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, Dortmund are the better side, but they have found recent meetings with Frankfurt really difficult. I'd include last season's DFB Pokal final in that - Dortmund were firm favourites in Berlin, but Niko Kovac's side pushed them all the way and made them really fight for the trophy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Lay Borussia Dortmund at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/5">1.77</span></strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Schalke v Mainz</span></strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday October 20, 19:30</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on BT Sport 1</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I'm not necessarily a fan of Schalke's style under new boss <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Domenico Tedesco,</strong> he is starting to get results. The Royal Blues are careful and precise under the 32-year-old, to the point of being dull, but they are in the European qualification spots, which is their primary target this season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Midfield maestro <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leon Goretzka</strong> is leading the charge. The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and his growing list of suitors will have been hugely impressed with what the German international is doing. He has scored nine goals in his last 16 games for club and country, and he is emerging as a leader. He took a free-kick off the great Naldo against Bayer Leverkusen in the last home game, and whacked it past Bernd Leno, and last weekend he decided to take the first penalty of his professional career. It was a good decision - he fired it home, and Schalke went on to win 2-0 at the Olympiastadion, becoming the first team to beat Hertha on home soil this term.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The progress should continue at home to Mainz on Friday night. Mainz haven't won any of their last nine away games, their record against Schalke in the last few years is <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">awful,</strong> and they still seem a bit flaky to me under new coach Sandro Schwarz. Die Nullfunfer have only claimed a point on the road, and have only scored once.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Schalke are boosted by the return of central midfielders Weston Mckennie and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nabil Bentaleb,</strong> and they'll battle for the right to partner Goretzka. I think Schalke are still far from the finished article, but they should win this one.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Back Schalke to win at</span><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.90</span></strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwFR9hXMxEIxxLztMUAMWloSnPwNiAdleSN6TzfvocsFCg1wAoqenda3wyVmy7BTpXnSDun8phZrkMKfgjCfkE_uwpkletxbbFcIeMG4izbGAWXXsPgW9p9jRpKGPlhZnMDsbxix0oGc/s1600/rbleipzig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="738" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwFR9hXMxEIxxLztMUAMWloSnPwNiAdleSN6TzfvocsFCg1wAoqenda3wyVmy7BTpXnSDun8phZrkMKfgjCfkE_uwpkletxbbFcIeMG4izbGAWXXsPgW9p9jRpKGPlhZnMDsbxix0oGc/s640/rbleipzig.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><br /></span></strong></span></div> <div> <br /></div>

Bundesliga Betting: Leipzig's Bulls to keep on charging

RB Leipzig v Stuttgart Saturday October 21, 14:30 It's been a great week for the Bundesliga's youngest club. First, Die Roten Bul...

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Graeme Le Saux: Stalemate beckons as Spurs' poor run against Reds set to continue

<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Tottenham v Liveprool</b></span><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday, 16:00<br />Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spurs' performance on Tuesday night must go down as one of their very best in Europe.<br /><br />Going to a huge stadium like the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bernabeu</strong> and taking on a side with the pedigree of <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Madrid</strong> can be an overwhelming experience so coming home with a 1-1 draw is a huge positive.<br /><br />There were standout performances across the pitch but huge credit goes to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harry Winks</strong>, who capped some month with another fine night.<br /><br />He was arguably England's best player on his Three Lions debut in Lithuania, and has now started Tottenham's last four. He looked very comfortable, understood exactly what he was there to do and looked like he was relishing the stage.<br /><br />Of course, you can play well as a team against a great side like Madrid but still come unstuck because of the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">individual brilliance</strong> they possess and credit has to go to Hugo Lloris for a handful of fine saves that kept Spurs in the tie.<br /><br />But Real can also say the same about Keylor Navas's fingertip save from Harry Kane's effort. That was textbook from Kane and it needed something magical from Navas.<br /><br />There are so many positives for Spurs to take from the night and confidence must be high in the camp this week. It's a performance that shows they are capable of competing with the very best and they will be so buoyant.<br /><br />So Spurs must grasp this opportunity to reverse some pretty normal results at Wembley so far this season when they go back to the national stadium on Sunday. They just have not convinced at Wembley this season, and we must also factor in their<strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> poor recent record</strong>against Liverpool.<br /><br />Tottenham have not won a game against the Reds since 2012 and it's the sort of head-to-head that can be <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">difficult to overcome</strong>.<br /><br />Now I don't like to talk about it, but I was part of a Chelsea side that enjoyed a fantastic record against Spurs. We always spoke about it before a game against them and it really spurred us on to keep the winning run going. It's a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">major positive</strong> for Jurgen Klopp's side.<br /><br />Although they weren't on display in that 7-0 romp in Maribor, Liverpool have their vulnerabilities and I find it tough to see them defeating Tottenham.<br /><br />The Borussia Dortmund result aside, Spurs are yet to score more than one goal in any match at Wembley and I see this ending with each side scoring one apiece.<br /><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet </strong><br /><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Back 1-1 correct score @ </b></span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="7/1">7.80</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQInOaDxbPxUK3zq9Dc8pgtwhA3rIsyiEi70nLclbtNHizVxC18QIjRrEvX6OJoCC749UV7BZR2AgWc3n3_PxKPSMbt0saB_GsJbfB193RcL_1kIjlwfxhXHSwR7xZGBncOYFxY9CSLXo/s1600/tottenham-spurs-mauricio-pochettino-pochettino_3415964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQInOaDxbPxUK3zq9Dc8pgtwhA3rIsyiEi70nLclbtNHizVxC18QIjRrEvX6OJoCC749UV7BZR2AgWc3n3_PxKPSMbt0saB_GsJbfB193RcL_1kIjlwfxhXHSwR7xZGBncOYFxY9CSLXo/s640/tottenham-spurs-mauricio-pochettino-pochettino_3415964.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="7/1"><br /></span></span></div>

Graeme Le Saux: Stalemate beckons as Spurs' poor run against Reds set to continue

Tottenham v Liveprool Sunday, 16:00 Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League Spurs' performance on Tuesday night must go do...

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European Football Preview: Inter is coming

<h2 style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.5em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Are Inter for real?</span></strong></h2> <div> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inter</strong>'s major advantages this year is their absence from European competition. It gives coach <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Luciano Spalletti</strong> extra time to fine-tune the team on the training ground and game-plan thoroughly for their opponent on the weekend. It also allows the players to rest and recover, and establish better understanding.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether it will be enough to close the gap between them and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Napoli</strong> on Saturday remains to be seen. Napoli have made a perfect start to the season in Serie A. They went to the capital and won. Not once but twice. First against Lazio. Then against Roma. And Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manchester City</strong> did not pop the blue balloon, nor dampen enthusiasm around the club. Paradoxically Napoli's second half display at the Etihad only served to make them even more confident in their own ability.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having said that, an Inter win at the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">San Paolo</strong> is not beyond the realm of possibility. Sarri has complained about the fixture scheduling with games against Roma and Inter coming either side of the City games. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lorenzo Insigne</strong> looks unlikely to be fit enough to start on Saturday and Inter aren't exactly low on confidence either.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is their best start in 15 years and Sunday's 3-2 win in the Milan derby was another big game Inter took maximum points from to add to those against Fiorentina and Roma. The Nerazzurri were the first team to end Maurizio Sarri's unbeaten start to life at the San Paolo and Spalletti won here with <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roma</strong> last season too.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mauro Icardi</strong> in merciless form up top for Inter, the threat is real. Inter will still have to excel themselves and hope Napoli are off colour to pull off an upset. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Inter are</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/2">5.50</span> to winand <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="7/5">2.44</span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b> </b></span>on Double Chance.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Le Classique</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rivalry between <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marseille</strong> and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PSG</strong> has lost none of its passion. It remains France's fiercest, along with Lyon-Saint Etienne. But the game's appeal is not what it once was. It's almost six years since Marseille last got the better of PSG, which is no coincidence because that was also the Qataris first season as owners.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wealth gap is now so big, Marseille's only hope is to be greater than the sum of their parts, something <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marcelo Bielsa</strong> achieved for six months before the team regressed to the mean and burned out. Last season PSG won 5-1 at the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Velodrome</strong> and the project at Marseille is under scrutiny. OM had the second biggest net spend in Ligue 1 over the summer but failed to land glamour targets like Olivier Giroud and Mario Mandzukic.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their best chance of competing is to develop homegrown talent with the success of Lyon and Monaco or do what their former player and ex-Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs did with the Wolves and find a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin de Bruyne</strong> for a couple of years. More was expected of <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dimitri Payet</strong>, particularly after his first year at West Ham and performances at the European Championship. Currently fourth, it could of course be worse for Marseille. But they expected better.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Jekyll and Hyde team, Marseille can beat Nice 4-2 and lose 6-1 to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Monaco</strong>. Only five teams have a worse defence than OM and that must be a concern with <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani</strong> preparing to pay a visit to the Old Port. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>If you fancy a repeat of last year, Any Other Away Win is trading @</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/5">2.82</span>.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.5em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Deflated Dortmund</span></strong></h2> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last week has been a reality check for <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dortmund</strong> after losing at home to RB Leipzig and drawing away to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">APOEL</strong> in the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Champions League</strong>. All of a sudden, confidence in their ability to win something under new manager <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Peter Bosz</strong> has been knocked.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The return of <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jupp Heynckes</strong> at <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bayern</strong> feels like a game-changer in the Bundesliga. A 5-0 against Freiburg last weekend felt ominous, not least because the German champions immediately recovered ground on Dortmund, closing the gap at the top to just two points. Dortmund's performance in Cyprus on Tuesday also planted seeds of doubt.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goalkeeper <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roman Burki</strong> made a terrible mistake to gift APOEL the lead and it makes you wonder if the black and yellows can reclaim the Meisterschale with such an accident prone No.1 between the sticks. Dortmund have a big decision to make in the summer when Burki's back-up, the veteran Roman Weidenfeller's contract expires. Do they bring in a No.2 or upgrade their No.1 and tell Burki he is no longer first choice. Also complicating matters for Dortmund is a mounting injury list.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eintracht Frankfurt are unlikely to be in forgiving mood on Saturday afternoon. A revelation this season, no one expected the Eagles to be as high as seventh after all the upheaval in the summer. The Commerzbank Arena has established a reputation as something of a bogey ground for Dortmund over recent years. Frankfurt have beaten them here in each of the last three seasons. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Find them on Double Chance @ </b></span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/4">2.28</span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>.</b></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JwwfBb2_jYxHOQgTA7IJcPr-rtsfvNX0xSet4z-Dy161EuAVlK80RwpB_sW1hZvVhFKf-FIqCD7LaFImb_LQ-7jbPY-HKz6_zTzcf3UAX2Xn3VQfYMJu_2MMsGQKCfMekMKT5lYvODE/s1600/lucianospalletti-cropped_l384mxt031j41dwbci9ic3um3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="620" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JwwfBb2_jYxHOQgTA7IJcPr-rtsfvNX0xSet4z-Dy161EuAVlK80RwpB_sW1hZvVhFKf-FIqCD7LaFImb_LQ-7jbPY-HKz6_zTzcf3UAX2Xn3VQfYMJu_2MMsGQKCfMekMKT5lYvODE/s640/lucianospalletti-cropped_l384mxt031j41dwbci9ic3um3.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>

European Football Preview: Inter is coming

Are Inter for real? One of  Inter 's major advantages this year is their absence from European competition. It gives coach  Luciano...

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Millwall v Birmingham: Cagey encounter on the cards in the capital

<div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millwall v Birmingham</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday 21st October, 17:30</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on Sky Sports</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wounded Lions</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millwall were left frustrated after falling to a second consecutive Championship loss at capital rivals Brentford last weekend. Not for the first time this season, the Lions will be wondering how they've managed to leave empty handed having mustered up 19 shots, with six on-target as they went down 1-0 at Griffin Park.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millwall boss Neil Harris claimed his team 'threw away a point - if not three' and it's become a familiar theme for the Lions. Harris' troops are amongst the top-half across all the major performance data metrics but profligate finishing - including a missed penalty last weekend - has stunted progress.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lee Gregory's strike partner Steve Morison has been given an outside chance of returning for Saturday evening's tussle. Should he miss out again, Aiden O'Brien is favourite to start in attack once more with Tom Elliott and Fred Onyedinma waiting in the wings. Shaun Williams and Byron Williams remain out long-term.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blues control under Cotterill</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Cotterill started life as Birmingham boss in the best possible way, beating previous league leaders Cardiff 1-0 at St Andrew's. Blues nullified their high-flying visitors with Cheikh N'Doye, Maikel Kieftenbeld and David Davis prominent performers in midfield with Marc Roberts and Michael Morrison exceptional at the heart of defence.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">City produced a hard-working, physical and committed performance, the type of which has been lacking for large swathes of the season thus far. And with £6.5m signing Jota back to full fitness, plus Emilio Nsue back in contention, Cotterill now has options ahead of their weekend trip to London.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, goalkeeper David Stockdale remains sidelined and Carl Jenkinson is also sidelined as Birmingham bid to extend a recent run of W2-D1-L1 in the Championship here.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millwall fair favourites at home</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Birmingham 3.60 are unbeaten in their last nine trips to Millwall (W5-D4-L0) with the visitors plundering 19 goals in their most recent five trips to The Den. And having suffered only one defeat in 12 away days (W5-D6-L1) at promoted clubs since 2013/14, the Blues may appeal to some punters at a nice price.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">City went W2-D6-L3 at bottom-half clubs during 2016/17 but Cotterill's charges have secured just a solitary point in six road trips this term, losing seven of their last 10 games as guests in Championship action. With Birmingham rooted to the bottom-four across all the major data metrics, I'm happy to look elsewhere.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back-to-back defeats have stalled Millwall's solid start to life back in the second-tier with the Lions previously unbeaten in four (W2-D2-L0). Nevertheless, the Lions have claimed three wins from their last four outings at The Den and look fair 2.26 favourites to enhance that record here.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stats suggest a tight encounter</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been feast or famine for Millwall when viewing the goals markets thus far. The Lions have seen 4/12 (33%) Championship contests feature Over 3.5 Goals winners whilst 6/12 (50%) tussles have failed to produce more than a solitary strike, including three of their last five fixtures.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under 2.5 Goals can be backed at 1.79 for Saturday's showdown and makes most appeal with Birmingham seeing 8/12 (67%) league games prove profitable in the same market, including four of their six away days.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.79 in Millwall v Birmingham</span></div> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYgrTRi-QQ7GNRF_pu_cWghVo_owplMMtp-O4g3EnJUB6v6puWXGDPY7fRKWO5soihAw_Eo4G1o9dRfrO-gpeQdk5srbuFdpKsqDC2blZ2om4XDlCag5g8cMjiVmD4sdrqQ16YWZc_hw/s1600/JS118899169-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYgrTRi-QQ7GNRF_pu_cWghVo_owplMMtp-O4g3EnJUB6v6puWXGDPY7fRKWO5soihAw_Eo4G1o9dRfrO-gpeQdk5srbuFdpKsqDC2blZ2om4XDlCag5g8cMjiVmD4sdrqQ16YWZc_hw/s640/JS118899169-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Millwall v Birmingham: Cagey encounter on the cards in the capital

Millwall v Birmingham Saturday 21st October, 17:30 Live on Sky Sports Wounded Lions Millwall were left frustrated after falling...

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Swansea v Leicester: More frustration for Foxes

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan Fitch thinks that Swansea will keep things characteristically tight against Leicester...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swansea 2.90 v Leicester 2.74; The Draw 3.30</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, 15:00</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clement's strategy is having some success</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swansea are unlikely to receive any awards for entertainment this season, but Paul Clement's side are nevertheless picking up enough points to keep themselves clear of the relegation zone.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Swans won their second game of the season last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield. Aside from an early mauling from Manchester United, no team has found it easy against Swansea, with Clement's defensive strategy proving hard to break down.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a summer in which Swansea lost both their most creative player in Gylfi Sigurdsson and their top scorer in Fernando Llorente, no one can blame Clement for taking a cautious approach. He will hope though that in the on-loan striker Tammy Abraham, he has found a player to give Swansea a cutting edge. Abraham's brace against Huddersfield took his tally to four goals in eight games this season.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's likely that Clement will be without the injured Kyle Bartley, Wilfried Bony and Renato Sanches for the visit of Leicester, while Leroy Fer serves a suspension.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can Appleton give Leicester short-term boost?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time of writing it seems likely that Leicester will travel to Swansea without a manager, following their decision to sack Craig Shakespeare.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shakespeare was unfortunate to be sacked, but it was hardly a surprise considering that the Leicester owners had shown their lack of sentimentality last season when they fired Claudio Ranieri, just months after he'd won the Premier League.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leicester had a nightmare run of fixtures and their poor results in those games seems to to have affected their confidence in more winnable games, with the Foxes drawing with Huddersfield, Bournemouth and West Brom. Caretaker manager Michael Appleton will be hoping to inspire Leicester, but it seems that the club are intent on bringing in a high profile name to replace Shakespeare.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appleton will be without two players on Saturday, with Robert Huth and Matty James both out injured.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leicester should not be favourites</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leicester are the 2.74 favourites, with Swansea out at 2.90 and the draw at 3.30.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even allowing for the fact that Leicester could receive a confidence boost from their change of manager, it's strange to see that they are the favourites against a Swansea side coming in off the back of a home victory over Huddersfield.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think that Swansea can pull off another victory, back them in the draw no bet market at 2.10, while the draw itself should not be discounted, with Leicester having drawn three of their last four Premier League games.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unders looks nailed on</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under 2.5 goals is the favourite at 1.75, with overs at 2.12.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leicester were a free-scoring (and free-conceding) side under Shakespeare, but one might expect them to try to get back to basics and keep things tight. With Swansea adopting a similar approach, the price for unders looks pretty generous.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can Abraham add to his tally?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite Leicester's woes this season, Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in eight games and is the favourite to find the net at [2.63].</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Swansea, Abraham is 2.80 to add to the two goals that he scored against Huddersfield.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back the draw at 3.30</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back under 2.5 goals at 1.75</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Abraham to score at 2.80</span><br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6UYKuzJTFk41O2o38ihZdJrEphX8w4u-KK_j_iSQkFsnIjAuqk3gywHPgxV_wXniEKfCS7zHBDFVn0reT150JfO66z0AlVdz7I9kWZsNhulwTGRdZZcooQD_iZBMqjcHyPvR8qXau7M/s1600/Leicester-Citys-Jamie-Vardy-in-action-with-Swansea-Citys-Martin-Olsson-and-Alfie-Mawson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6UYKuzJTFk41O2o38ihZdJrEphX8w4u-KK_j_iSQkFsnIjAuqk3gywHPgxV_wXniEKfCS7zHBDFVn0reT150JfO66z0AlVdz7I9kWZsNhulwTGRdZZcooQD_iZBMqjcHyPvR8qXau7M/s640/Leicester-Citys-Jamie-Vardy-in-action-with-Swansea-Citys-Martin-Olsson-and-Alfie-Mawson.jpg" width="640" /></a>

Swansea v Leicester: More frustration for Foxes

Dan Fitch thinks that Swansea will keep things characteristically tight against Leicester... Swansea 2.90 v Leicester 2.74; The Draw 3.30 ...

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Southampton v West Brom: Stalemate could be on the cards in Saints' clash

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southampton v West Brom</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, 17:30</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on BT Sport 1</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saints still struggling for wins</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southampton have been unconvincing so far this season under new boss Mauricio Pellegrino with the side struggling for consistency. The Saints have only won twice and have claimed just one victory in their last seven games in all competitions. Goals have been a problem for Southampton and the Argentine has yet to resolve the issues which dogged previous manager Claude Puel during the last campaign.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saints fans were unhappy with the lack of entertainment, particularly at home last season, but it does not seem to have improved significantly in the opening two months under Pellegrino. Their sole victory at St Mary's Stadium came against West Ham in August. In their last game, Southampton could only draw 2-2 at home to Newcastle after a brace from Manolo Gabbiadini which leaves them 11th in the Premier League.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baggies could prove tough to beat</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Brom have been similarly unspectacular although you always know what you will get with a Tony Pulis side and once again there appears no danger of being embroiled in a relegation battle. The Baggies are one place above Southampton in the table in tenth despite failing to win any of their last six games in the competition. Brighton and Arsenal are the only sides to defeat them in the opening eight league games.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Baggies may not be the great entertainers but have proved difficult to beat and their 1-1 draw at Leicester City on Monday led to the dismissal of Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare. West Brom have not won since August and this will be a priority for Pulis, especially with tough games against Man City and Chelsea coming up, going into a clash against another mid-table side.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosts could struggle to justify short odds</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hosts look far too short at 1.86 considering their modest form this season. Southampton have failed to win their last four home games and there is precious little evidence to suggest the favourites are worth backing this weekend. The Saints lost at home to West Brom last season and could struggle to deliver again in front of their supporters.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Baggies are available at 5.30 but this bet also requires a leap of faith because they have not won for two months. Pulis is unlikely to set them up in a particularly positive way and the visitors may be more focused on frustrating Southampton. West Brom appeal slightly more than the hosts but there is a much stronger bet in this market for the televised clash.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Brom have drawn three of their last four league matches including their last two fixtures and there must be a strong chance of another stalemate. Southampton have also been held in two of their home games this season and the hosts may not have the creativity to break down their opponents. The draw is on offer at 3.55 and offers plenty of appeal in a game between two evenly-matched sides.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lack of goals looks likely</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any viewers hoping for a feast of goals may be sorely disappointed with both teams struggling to find the net this season. West Brom and Southampton have only managed seven goals each in eight league games so it is no surprise under 2.5 goals is priced up as short as 1.65 especially with strong defensive records. This looks likely but is ultimately not a big enough price to recommend.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opta Stat</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southampton have drawn a blank in nine Premier League home games so far in 2017, only three Premier League sides have failed to score in more home matches in a calendar year. The Saints are 16/5 to score no goals this weekend.</span><br /> <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;">Ref Watch</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Graham Scott takes charge of this evening clash and the referee has sent off one player from three Premier League games this season. The official dismissed five players in 28 games during the previous campaign.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back the draw at 3.55</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgaNQCGPYy2UO0xl84pV8K4sOH97DcQAsoI5gbuHpTtAoyujztBf2bnNgPHIGZWOaBPIDXgA8vaRzdsE0JbVnqLdrGflxhHteIGuumYFP1FYHkPso_FGqPTIzP4WUCBp2nLimcG5hKVs/s1600/57ff56efec32e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgaNQCGPYy2UO0xl84pV8K4sOH97DcQAsoI5gbuHpTtAoyujztBf2bnNgPHIGZWOaBPIDXgA8vaRzdsE0JbVnqLdrGflxhHteIGuumYFP1FYHkPso_FGqPTIzP4WUCBp2nLimcG5hKVs/s640/57ff56efec32e.jpeg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Southampton v West Brom: Stalemate could be on the cards in Saints' clash

Southampton v West Brom Saturday, 17:30 Live on BT Sport 1 Saints still struggling for wins Southampton have been unconvincing so far t...

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Huddersfield v Manchester United: Toothless Terriers no match for visitors

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huddersfield Town v Manchester United</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, 15:00</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tough times for Terriers</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three games into the season, Huddersfield must have been wondering what all the fuss was about. The Premier League, that stiffest of footballing challenges, was bending to their will. Wins over Crystal Palace and Newcastle were followed by a creditable draw against Southampton - their third clean sheet on the spin. Everything seemed easy.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things haven't gone quite so smoothly since. The Terriers have claimed just two points from the last 15 available, meaning they start the weekend just three points above the dropzone. With those below them beginning to stir and some tough fixtures coming up (they also face Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next nine games), the picture could yet get more grim.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that head coach David Wagner is getting too negative just yet. "I am full of confidence and have every trust and belief in the group," he said this week. We know what we have to do to be successful." Selection-wise, there may be a recall for left-back Chris Löwe, who was dropped for the trip to Swansea after a bad game against Spurs.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">United growing in Mourinho's image</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend's match against Liverpool was not much to write home about, but a point from a trip to Anfield was another good result for José Mourinho and Manchester United. They may not quite be able to match the attacking majesty of their city rivals, but this is clearly a team that is going to take some shaking this season: after eight games, only one player - Stoke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - has netted against them in the Premier League.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There have been two more clean sheets in Europe, the latest coming against Benfica on Wednesday night. That helped them maintain their 100% start in that competition, even if some of the attackers had a night to forget. After just a single, fortuitous goal across the last 180 minutes of action, there may be some retribution on Saturday afternoon.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marcus Rashford could be out this weekend with a suspected knee injury, while centre-back Eric Bailly is likely to miss out again. But Phil Jones, who seems to be rated as a doubt by his manager every week, will probably return to the starting XI after a rest in midweek.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">United unlikely to be troubled</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going purely on form, it is impossible to look past Manchester United here. They have been imperious in the Premier League, with only that surprise 2-2 draw at Stoke really blotting their copybook thus far. They will be going to the John Smith's Stadium to win and can be backed to do so at 1.37.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That price isn't the most compelling, so it is worth looking for some extra juice in another market. The fact that Huddersfield have scored just twice in their last seven games (all competitions), coupled with United's fantastic defensive record, means the 9/10 available on the Red Devils to win to nil is worth snapping up.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosts may not contribute in goal stakes</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the Terriers unlikely to contribute much, the goal markets aren't enormously appealing. United have cut loose a number of times already this term, but the recent trips to Southampton, Liverpool and Benfica failed to produce fireworks and they have clearly missed the attacking thrust of Paul Pogba since his injury. You can back over 2.5 goals at 2.00, which seems fair enough, but this could very easily be a routine 2-0 away win.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lukaku can return to scoring ways</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huddersfield's troubles in the final third are reflected in the prices for anytime goalscorers: their most likely threat is Thomas Ince at 4.30. The more attractive options will be wearing red this weekend, with Romelu Lukaku the pick at 1.72. The Belgian has gone two games without a goal for the first time this season and will be keen to get back on the horse here.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Manchester United to win to nil at 9/10</span><br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcTGxv37h_TJCdvZZMXo85z3_1ftFu_WF2Oq1i0_Lkd5mmr8y_4WH7IFs6DBJG_s3VE-MUnDU_-6XnKnTph1hDkcx9UzKkyavUrb53RdCV95sd6Po8yvjPW9AYaEeGhulQ7fPI6GxuMw/s1600/nintchdbpict000361074300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcTGxv37h_TJCdvZZMXo85z3_1ftFu_WF2Oq1i0_Lkd5mmr8y_4WH7IFs6DBJG_s3VE-MUnDU_-6XnKnTph1hDkcx9UzKkyavUrb53RdCV95sd6Po8yvjPW9AYaEeGhulQ7fPI6GxuMw/s640/nintchdbpict000361074300.jpg" width="640" /></a>

Huddersfield v Manchester United: Toothless Terriers no match for visitors

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United Saturday, 15:00 Tough times for Terriers Three games into the season, Huddersfield must have been ...

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