MEBET365 - FREE Tips For Betting, Football Bet of the Day

Serie A Betting: No stopping Napoli

<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128741808" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #666966; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Fiorentina v Napoli</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128741808" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #666966; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Thursday, 19:45</a></span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128741808" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #666966; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Live on BT Sport 1</a></span><br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_1_1_1_148224385751356" style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Napoli turned on the style at the weekend against Torino, and they look to have regained their early season momentum: there's no question that the mid-season break has come at the wrong time for Maurizio Sarri. </span></div>
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: 600;">Napoli have now won four consecutive games</span> in all competitions, scoring 15 goals in the process, and while you can criticise them defensively, I don't think that they'll have too much to fear from Fiorentina on Thursday, even at the Artemio Franchi.<br />
La Viola look lost to me right now: reputation may give them an aura, but it's sorely misplaced, and after recommending Lazio to beat them at the Olimpico on Sunday, I make no apology for going against them again. There's unrest at the club, <span style="font-weight: 600;">Paulo Sousa</span> is in the process of losing the fans, and Napoli are primed to make the most of it.<br />
Borja Valero looks to miss out again through injury and he's the midfielder who really makes this team tick. Dries Mertens, on the other hand, has scored seven goals in two Serie A games - something nobody had achieved since 1974.<br />
Napoli are unbeaten in their last seven visits here, and there's no sense that home advantage will particularly favour Fiorentina. I know that they're unbeaten here so far this season in Serie A, but they've been lucky to stay that way, and I think that Napoli, <span style="font-weight: 600;">at odds against</span>, will take that record on Thursday night.<br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet: <a href="https://btfr.co/128741808" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Napoli to win at Fiorentina @</span></span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="0" oldtitle="11/10" style="background-color: #ffb80c; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: 0.2s;" title="">2.14</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><a href="https://btfr.co/128742377" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Palermo v Pescara</a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><a href="https://btfr.co/128742377" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Thursday, 19:45</a></span><br />
OK, so 19th against 20th in Serie A may not seem the sexiest match of the week in Italy (largely because it isn't), but it does still provide us with a betting opportunity. Palermo are poor, Pescara are poorer, and so the former should be backed to beat the latter at home.<br />
Palermo come into this game buoyed by that <span style="font-weight: 600;">dramatic win</span> against Genoa on Sunday. They scored twice in the closing moments of the game to win it 4-3, and sometimes a boost like that can inspire an average team to even bigger performances. I think that this is one of those occasions.<br />
Pescara have lost every away game this season bar one, and they've failed to win a single match without the help of an administrative decision. It seems strange to enthuse about Palermo: they too have been seriously under par during this campaign, and have <span style="font-weight: 600;">lost eight out of eight home games</span>.<br />
There's something special about the <span style="font-weight: 600;">Renzo Barbera</span> though, when the home fans believe. The win in Genoa will supply a positive atmosphere for just about the first time this season, and I think that, along with Pescara's weaknesses, will see Palermo finally triumph at home.<br />
Valerio Verre is suspended for the Delfini with Simone Pepe and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck injured.<br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet: <a href="https://btfr.co/128742377" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Palermo to beat Pescara @</span></span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="6/5" style="background-color: #ffb80c; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: 0.2s;" title="">2.22</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><a href="https://btfr.co/128742197" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Genoa v Torin</a>o</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><a href="https://btfr.co/128742197" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Thursday, 19:45</a></span><br />
My final recommendation of the calendar year doesn't require a great deal of explanation. <span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128742224" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">After there were seven goals at Marassi on Sunday</a></span>, all we need for this bet to do its thing is four, and given the nature of the visitors this week, that seems more than possible.<br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128742224" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Five of Torino's eight games have featured Over 3.5 goals</a></span>, and as they proved in Naples on Sunday, they're capable of producing a real gung-ho shooting match. Joe Hart may not love their style, but I do, and there's no reason for them to change the way that they play against a Genoa side they'll feel that they can beat.<br />
The home team can be a little more circumspect, and so this is a long way from a sure thing, but I feel that there's enough potential juice in this to merit a punt on <span style="font-weight: 600;">Over 3.5 goals</span>. Add in that Genoa goalkeeper Matteo Perin is suspended along with Luca Rigoni, and Miguel Veloso injured, you further weaken their squad.<br />
Good luck with this bet, and good luck too for Christmas and the New Year. May they both be happy and profitable, and see you, along with Serie A, in 2017.<br />
<span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet: <a href="https://btfr.co/128742224" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 3.5 Goals in Genoa v Torino @</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span></span><span aria-describedby="qtip-2" class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="15/8" style="background-color: #ffb80c; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: 0.2s;" title="">2.92</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cvzyfdGaoEcs-n9o5ghfrHbr84Pt8_UB9KDhZZY-YzGdgrgFLhe6Nl6O4A5FfNwEdxrTfADypbIeCEd1eSUKgu-K1mp5QKVI0EXQhT5BG2pY-A9MONrvyuiDJY0ZHe_id-xSoloa1kY/s1600/Naples-Villarreal-Marek-Hamsik_full_diapos_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cvzyfdGaoEcs-n9o5ghfrHbr84Pt8_UB9KDhZZY-YzGdgrgFLhe6Nl6O4A5FfNwEdxrTfADypbIeCEd1eSUKgu-K1mp5QKVI0EXQhT5BG2pY-A9MONrvyuiDJY0ZHe_id-xSoloa1kY/s640/Naples-Villarreal-Marek-Hamsik_full_diapos_large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_1_1_1_148224385751356" style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;"></span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;"></span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>

Serie A Betting: No stopping Napoli

Fiorentina v Napoli Thursday, 19:45 Live on BT Sport 1 Napoli turned on the style at the weekend against Torino, and they look to have r...

01:50

Bundesliga Betting: Leipzig to hold their own against the champions

<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743062" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;">Wednesday December 21, 19:00</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;">Live in BT Sport</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743090" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Back RB Leipzig +1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.23]</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743240" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Hertha Berlin v Darmstadt</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Wednesday December 21, 19:00</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743268" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Back Hertha -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="11/10" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.10</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743151" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">FC Koln v Bayer Leverkusen</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Wednesday December 21, 19:00</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><a href="https://btfr.co/128743214" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;" target="_blank">Back Koln Draw No Bet at [2.13]</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the criticisms of the Bundesliga in recent seasons is that no-one has really been able to stand up to Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund pushed the title race into the final month of the campaign last term, but fell away at the end. This season, newly-promoted RB Leipzig are the chief challengers, and they visit the Allianz Arena <span style="font-weight: 600;">level on points</span> with the champions.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Bayern and Dortmund have produced some great attacking displays at times this season, I believe Leipzig have been the <span style="font-weight: 600;">best team to watch</span> on a consistent basis. They attack with speed and adventure, and they have featured some of the league's top performers. 20-year-old striker Timo Werner has scored nine goals, and is starting to look like the complete package. Swedish midfielder <span style="font-weight: 600;">Emil Forsberg</span> has been a revelation, scoring five goals and setting up eight more.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Forsberg is one of the players who helped Die Roten Bullen win promotion last term, and many of those players have stepped up with no trouble at all. Austrian wide forward Marcel Sabitzer has been superb, striker Yussuf Poulsen has worked incredibly hard to make space for Werner and the midfielders, and young centre-back <span style="font-weight: 600;">Willi Orban</span> has been sensational.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leipzig have the best away record in the league, with 17 points collected from an available 24. Coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ralph Hasenhuttl</span> has put together a tactical scheme that keeps opponents at bay, but also allows his attacking players room to express themselves.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bayern started their first season under <span style="font-weight: 600;">Carlo Ancelotti</span> like a greyhound out of a trap, but they have stumbled since. Ancelotti has been too strongly wedded to his preferred 4-3-3 formation, and all too often Bayern's approach play has been ponderous and has lacked incisiveness. There has been an overreliance on the goals of <span style="font-weight: 600;">Robert Lewandowski,</span> with Thomas Mueller misfiring, and injuries hampering both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There have also been gaps defensively. Bayern have kept just three clean sheets in their last ten Bundesliga games, and for all the pre-season talk of <span style="font-weight: 600;">Mats Hummels</span> and Jerome Boateng forming an all-star defensive partnership, Javi Martinez has actually been Bayern's most consistent centre-back this term.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, these issues are all relative, and Bayern are still top on goal difference. However, there are certainly weaknesses for an excellent Leipzig team to exploit. Bayern are <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="0" oldtitle="40/85" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); font-weight: 600; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><a href="https://btfr.co/128743090" style="background: transparent; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">1.48</a></span> to win this, and that seems too short to me. If you back Leipzig +1.0 on the Asian Handicap at <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="6/5" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); font-weight: 600; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><a href="https://btfr.co/128743090" style="background: transparent; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">2.22</a></span>, you'll have a decent winner if Bayern fail to win, and you'll only lose your stake if Leipzig lose by two goals.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a wonderful start to the season, Hertha have hit a brick wall in the last fortnight. A very flat performance against Werder Bremen yielded a 1-0 loss, Hertha's first failure to win at home this season. That was followed by a 2-0 reverse at Leipzig, in which Pal Dardai's men were clearly second best.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, the basic truth is this - Hertha have won all but one of their home games in the Bundesliga, and on Wednesday night they face <span style="font-weight: 600;">the worst team</span> in the division. Darmstadt have lost their last seven league games, they are rock bottom, and they'll be drained after a heroic but ultimately fruitless performance against Bayern on Sunday.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hertha are generously priced at <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="5/8" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); font-weight: 600; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><a href="https://btfr.co/128743090" style="background: transparent; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">1.63</a></span> for the win, but the capital club have scored at least twice in all but one of their home games, and I fancy them to win this comfortably.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a Rhineland derby that means a lot to both sides in terms of how optimistically they go into the winter break. Koln fans are dreaming of European qualification, and the Billy Goats go into this game in seventh spot, just two points outside the Europa League spots. Coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Peter Stoger</span> has done a terrific job in the last few years, winning promotion and building on that success with a reliable gameplan and excellent man-management.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A rock-solid defence and hard-working midfield sets the platform, and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Anthony Modeste</span> scores the goals. The imposing Frenchman has netted 27 goals in 49 Bundesliga games, an amazing record in a team that isn't exactly awash with creativity.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Koln are unbeaten at home this term, and they will have no fear of facing a Bayer Leverkusen side that is desperately struggling for form. On Matchday 14, they played with 11 men against 10 for most of the match at Schalke, and were comprehensively outplayed, only to snatch an undeserved late winner. On Sunday, they put in the worst performance I've ever seen them produce under coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Roger Schmidt,</span> as they lost 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened Ingolstadt. The fans at the BayArena booed from the 15-minute mark onwards, and Leverkusen now find themselves seven points off the top four.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Schmidt deserves the chance to turn things around. Leverkusen have reached the last 16 of the Champions League, and they dug themselves out of a hole last season, but the form has to improve soon. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Chicharito</span> has now gone more than ten hours without a Bundesliga goal, his worst drought since moving to Germany, and the defence is making some bad errors. To make matters worse, Charles Aranguiz will be missing from the midfield because of suspension.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Koln are so strong at home, they'll have a raucous set of fans roaring their support, and Leverkusen are short of confidence.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYuSOzxie0jHFTMFl75aP3Y-ApZ5J840_hNJJyeRaLHxmzBzGu_lX852LLvFiKCCaseuqw1CXNeMZGr7drmKBBIHviUGfo9iWXhJ9Jc6Nkw1OO8JIPkYMrUmZOO1BgRI4n7i4PXUZ8Xg/s1600/images1675810_ancelotti_9202_1472956108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYuSOzxie0jHFTMFl75aP3Y-ApZ5J840_hNJJyeRaLHxmzBzGu_lX852LLvFiKCCaseuqw1CXNeMZGr7drmKBBIHviUGfo9iWXhJ9Jc6Nkw1OO8JIPkYMrUmZOO1BgRI4n7i4PXUZ8Xg/s400/images1675810_ancelotti_9202_1472956108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>

Bundesliga Betting: Leipzig to hold their own against the champions

Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig Wednesday December 21, 19:00 Live in BT Sport Back RB Leipzig +1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.23] Hertha Berlin...

01:33

BBL : Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat

<strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: inherit;">Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat @ Adelaide Oval – Wednesday 7:40pm AEDT</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Adelaide Strikers will have a point to prove this season after recording a 7-1 record in the regular season of BBL 05, only to go down to the Usman Khawaja-inspired Sydney Thunder by 8 wickets in last year’s semi-final at the Adelaide Oval.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Wolf has the Strikers as his smokeys of BBL 06 and believes they represent great value at $7.50 to win the competition and $4 to make the grand final.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Strikers hold a 3-2 record over the Brisbane Heat and will need to be out of the blocks quickly, starting with a win over the Heat here as they’ll be missing arguably their best player in Travis Head for a large part of the competition when he represents Australia in the ODI series against Pakistan in January.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
Head was the 5th highest run scorer during BBL 05 and has recorded scores of 50 and 57* in his last two innings against the Heat.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The addition of Ben Dunk from the Hobart Hurricanes and the experience of Brad Hodge (6th all-time run scorer in BBL history) will ensure that the Strikers have plenty of strike power with the bat at the top of the order.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The one worry for the Strikers is their lack of spin options with Adil Rashid away with the England side, while Jon Holland could miss the clash through injury.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Heat’s new addition, Alex Ross won’t have to wait long to take on his former side and will add plenty of depth to an already strong batting line-up containing last season’s top run scorer Chris Lynn and the returning Brendon McCullum.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Achilles’ heel for the Heat is always the strength of their bowling attack when they are so heavily weighted in favour of their batting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
West Indian spiiner Samuel Badree led the Heat wicket-takers last season with 9 wickets and will need to have another strong season if the Heat bowlers are going to back up their batsmen.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The loss of the retired James Hopes is also a massive blow as he contributed 24 wickets in his Heat career, ranking him as the 3rd all-time wicket-taker.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The Strikers have won the last two clashes against the Heat and posted their 7th highest all-time score of 2/179 in the 8-wicket win in January.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
As already mentioned, The Wolf is expecting big things from the Strikers this season and should start their campaign with a third consecutive win over the Heat.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBTDm66rxS5USQUfJalsNzr1pw_q0rjZO0L9au7tAV7Wxjyg4zQlpQKlW0DakHaQy1ZA3WVNNh86CTOHwNLwqVkOJLlqNn20qJsKU5OcG27qPQE75hZfgdgXYDVm03WqHM1_kXYG0lwE/s1600/0fe6cf2d63cdc08a068953a0c03f6e39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBTDm66rxS5USQUfJalsNzr1pw_q0rjZO0L9au7tAV7Wxjyg4zQlpQKlW0DakHaQy1ZA3WVNNh86CTOHwNLwqVkOJLlqNn20qJsKU5OcG27qPQE75hZfgdgXYDVm03WqHM1_kXYG0lwE/s400/0fe6cf2d63cdc08a068953a0c03f6e39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />

BBL : Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat

Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat @ Adelaide Oval – Wednesday 7:40pm AEDT The Adelaide Strikers will have a point to prove this season af...

17:35

Big Bash League today

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers @ Spotless Stadium – Tuesday 7:40pm</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sydney Thunder will be in unfamiliar territory as defending champions when they host cross-town rivals, Sydney Sixers in the 10th edition of the Sydney Smash.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No longer are the Thunder the whipping boys of the Big Bash, but instead their number will be marked as we head into the sixth season of the Big Bash League.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Thunder have a wealth of experience that they’ll need to replace after the departures of Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis, while the loss of Shane Watson (injury) and Usman Khawaja (Australian Test duty) will test their depth in the opener against the Sixers. English captain Eoin Morgan returns to the Thunder and will have plenty of responsibility on his shoulders as interim captain, while Watson is out. Domestic veterans like Aiden Blizzard and Ben Rohrer will need to also contribute with the bat to allow the underrated Thunder bowling attack to compete.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three of the Thunder’s current bowling attack in Gurinder Sandhu (22) Clint McKay (18) and Andre Russell (16) feature in the all-time wicket-taker leaderboard for the Thunder behind Dirk Nannes on 23 wickets.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If the Thunder is missing plenty of experience with the bat, it’s the opposite for the Sixers with four of their frontline bowling attack in Jackson Bird, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, missing on Test duty. They’ll also be without opening batsman Nic Maddinson who is also in Brisbane for the Test against Pakistan.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sixers hold a 7-2 record in the Sydney Smash although the Thunder can take plenty of confidence, winning both of the clashes last season on their way to taking out the title.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Thunder won the first encounter by 36 runs, with Mike Hussey the hero with 80*, while Andre Russell (3/13), Shane Watson (3/13) and Clint McKay (2/11) all contributed with the ball.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the second clash last season, the Thunder got the job again, this time by 46 runs with Watson (66), Russell (46) and Hussey (41) all in the runs.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maddinson (70) was the best for the Sixers in a beaten side, while McKay picked up another 3 wickets, taking his tally to 6 wickets in both clashes against the men in magenta last year.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only are the Sixers missing a Test calibre bowling attack, but the loss of Maddinson and fellow opening batsmen Englishman Michael Lumb leaves them missing their top two all-time run scorers.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Thunder have similar headaches with the bat as already mentioned, but The Wolf feels they have a more solid and versatile bowling attack that could prove all the difference in a tight Sydney Smash.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thunder: </span>Ben Rohrer (c), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran (wk), Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Jay Lenton (wk), Clint McKay, Eoin Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Andre Russell</span></div>
<div id="unruly-publisher-marker__inArticle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" unruly-publisher-marker="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.sport/sport//cricket_5">
</div>
<div class="w_unruly ad-block ad-custom unruly_insert_native_ad_here" data-ad-size="4x4" data-ad-tar="pos=1" data-device-type="web" data-google-query-id="CMbG6dySgtECFQg4lgodCuwK6g" id="ad-block-5663608246-2" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.sport/sport//cricket_5__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="4" id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.sport/sport//cricket_5" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.sport/sport//cricket_5" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="3rd party ad content" width="4"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ben Rohrer </span>(hamstring) has been cleared of injury and will captain the side, with <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shane Watson </span>(calf) out for the first two games. The Thunder are also missing <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Usman Khawaja </span>(Test duty), <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Hussey </span>and <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacques Kallis </span>(both retired) from last year’s championship side. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pat Cummins</span> and <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Andre Russell </span>form one of the most feared pace attacks in T20 cricket.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sixers:</span> Moises Henriques (c), Brad Haddin (wk), Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Daniel Hughes, Joe Mennie, Stephen O’Keefe, Jason Roy, Jordan Silk, Henry Thornton.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moises Henriques</span> (leg) has been cleared and will captain the side. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brad Haddin</span>will keep wickets ahead of English import <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sam Billings</span>, who will play as a specialist batsman. The Sixers are very thin on talent for this game, with <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Josh Hazlewood</span>, <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird, Nic Maddinson </span>and <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan Lyon </span>all on Test duty.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVl65ejmkxxz4hHcXMZMhI8cw9lKNcXedstFrKRdTKO48JqqvOpAeBrZT-umb1DsvpIOXkuSbF1SoABS4iFzg3nLsaG-HAmsbcKxkmryoDg1bZ_KsBrFAQzMuqaNFq2FeAPgXh8-PnKA/s1600/e12bd444d741ed880e1ba1aaf142fd17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVl65ejmkxxz4hHcXMZMhI8cw9lKNcXedstFrKRdTKO48JqqvOpAeBrZT-umb1DsvpIOXkuSbF1SoABS4iFzg3nLsaG-HAmsbcKxkmryoDg1bZ_KsBrFAQzMuqaNFq2FeAPgXh8-PnKA/s400/e12bd444d741ed880e1ba1aaf142fd17.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />

Big Bash League today

Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers @ Spotless Stadium – Tuesday 7:40pm The Sydney Thunder will be in unfamiliar territory as defending champ...

17:31

Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol: Suarez at the double as hosts cut gap at top

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luis Enrique's side have moved above Sevilla and into second place in the table, three points behind Real Madrid, after a convincing win over their local rivals</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two goals from Luis Suarez and a scintillating Lionel Messi display helped Barcelona to a 4-1 Catalan derby win over Espanyol on Sunday.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suarez scored in each half before Jordi Alba added a third, but it was some astonishing footwork from Messi that brought Camp Nou to its feet as the home fans celebrated a victory that takes them back into second place in La Liga.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barca had not been beaten by their city rivals since 2009 and they looked set to extend that run as soon as Suarez put them ahead following a spectacular long pass from Andres Iniesta.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luis Enrique's side dominated proceedings while keeping an in-form Espanyol side firmly at arm's length, although there remained a certain amount of nervousness as they struggled to find a killer second goal.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But two remarkable runs from Messi allowed Suarez and Alba to score in the space of a minute midway through the second half before his late strike, scored after David Lopez's consolation, capped arguably one of the champions' best displays in La Liga this season.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result puts Barca back above Sevilla and into second place, three points behind newly-crowned world champions Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suarez led a swift Barca counter with a brilliant turn on the halfway line in just the seventh minute, but Messi surprisingly failed to turn home Neymar's low cross from the left.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hosts did not have to wait long for the opener, though.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Javier Mascherano won the ball near the edge of his own penalty area, Iniesta fired a brilliant long pass towards Suarez, who killed the ball with a superb first touch before racing into the area and slotting low past Diego Lopez.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Messi fizzed a low shot narrowly wide of Diego Lopez's left-hand post just before the half-hour mark, though a goal would have been controversial as David Lopez had gone to ground after being caught in the face by Sergio Busquets' raised hand.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suarez was denied a second by a good save at his near post from Diego Lopez after a sublime throughball from Messi, and the goalkeeper had to be replaced by Roberto after picking up an injury in making the stop.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just as the home fans were growing a little restless, Messi came to life to make the points safe.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, the Argentina captain produced dazzlingly quick feet to ride three challenges on the edge of the area before unleashing a low strike, and when Roberto could only parry the ball back out, Suarez was on hand to covert the rebound.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A minute later, Messi surged through the Espanyol defence with a blistering run and, when the ball broke to Alba inside the box, the full-back arrowed a fine finish into Roberto's bottom-right corner.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Lopez turned a brilliant finish high into Marc-Andre ter Stegen's net from 18 yards after a flowing counter-attack involving Pablo Piatti and Gerard Moreno, but Messi scored the goal of the game in the dying minutes to bring Barca's league commitments for 2016 to a stylish close.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driving forward on the break, he played the ball to Suarez and received a delightful chipped pass in return before prodding the ball through Roberto's legs and into the net.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifINadvTgsy2gKk1mQnWWrFeYeGYNGDoIXJq0KI8xmDoRGHFAGAcKCYyKPAz9_LATEMuiqEkGolWdeVNTKp-snDA6MgMJLRSFa0jNJ79qH4V9q4FPZ8Feg-Fht2wk8h_s38sVKEfgGp6w/s1600/1111_2016121906064022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifINadvTgsy2gKk1mQnWWrFeYeGYNGDoIXJq0KI8xmDoRGHFAGAcKCYyKPAz9_LATEMuiqEkGolWdeVNTKp-snDA6MgMJLRSFa0jNJ79qH4V9q4FPZ8Feg-Fht2wk8h_s38sVKEfgGp6w/s640/1111_2016121906064022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol: Suarez at the double as hosts cut gap at top

Luis Enrique's side have moved above Sevilla and into second place in the table, three points behind Real Madrid, after a convincing wi...

01:15

Juventus convinced tempting Alexis Sanchez away from Arsenal

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juventus are convinced they can tempt Alexis Sanchez away from Arsenal.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sun says the Italian champions have made no secret of their desire to capture the Chilean after chasing him in the last transfer window.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sporting director Giuseppe Marotta claims Juventus failed with a £34million bid for Sanchez in July, despite apparently meeting the asking price set by Arsenal.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the Gunners could be wishing they cashed in after so far failing to convince Sanchez to pen a new deal at the Emirates.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arsene Wenger has allegedly offered Sanchez a wage increase taking him to £180,000-a-week, but the player is said to be holding out for almost double that.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuttosport says Juventus will look to take advantage of Sanchez's uncertain future by launching a final 'take-it-or-leave-it' bid next summer.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's reckoned Juve chiefs are still 'dreaming' of fielding Sanchez alongside Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAupEptY0AmthoriW_idEwbkPh-PXeW8V3l2sU9v6oxUPlzU9ZQIkrhGkyvu_OPqugtaEI7SGP1KyKFnarKTkvY8_ZFn9s_Vf3eDgS5O8QxmkquWyDG4ixO5djWltzhV9FqPTqCndlFZk/s1600/thumb_3376_default_large_2016121910012870.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAupEptY0AmthoriW_idEwbkPh-PXeW8V3l2sU9v6oxUPlzU9ZQIkrhGkyvu_OPqugtaEI7SGP1KyKFnarKTkvY8_ZFn9s_Vf3eDgS5O8QxmkquWyDG4ixO5djWltzhV9FqPTqCndlFZk/s640/thumb_3376_default_large_2016121910012870.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="mc_tag" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0px;">