Bundesliga Betting: Stoic Schalke to frustrate the champions

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Schalke have only trailed at the break on three occasions in the league this season, and Bayern took 81 minutes to break them down in the reverse fixture."</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Lay Bayern in the Half Time market at</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/8">1.62</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Bayern Munich v Schalke</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday February 04, 14:30</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As usual, Bayern Munich are top of the pile in Germany, but it would be remiss of me to suggest that they are firing on all cylinders. Carlo Ancelotti's side needed a piece of late magic from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert Lewandowski</span> to win in Freiburg, and then they survived a jittery finish to win in Bremen last weekend.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Rather than controlling games from start to finish in the way that Pep Guardiola's Bayern often did, this version is relying on moments of individual brilliance. Fortunately for the Bavarian giants, they have players who can provide such dramatic interventions. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Douglas Costa</span> rescued a flat display at Darmstadt with a rocket of a shot, Lewandowski's wonderful goal gave his side an undeserved victory in Freiburg (Arjen Robben's words, not mine), and Robben scored a brutally-struck opener at the Weserstadion.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Schalke have had a rollercoaster of a season, with injuries hampering their progress throughout. The Royal Blues were awful in last weekend's defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, but I'd always <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">back their defence</span> to be competitive. For example, they held Bayern at bay in the reverse fixture for 81 minutes, before Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich delivered two late blows.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Schalke have only trailed at the break in three of their 18 Bundesliga games, and although I suspect Bayern will eventually wear them down, it might take a while. Schalke's strongest area is at centre-back, and they have conceded just eight first-half goals, a record only eclipsed by Bayern. The league leaders are trading at <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/8"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">1.62</span></span> in the Half Time market, and that's a price I'm willing to oppose.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Lay Bayern in the Half Time market at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/8">1.62</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Augsburg v Werder Bremen</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday February 05, 14:30</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on BT Sport</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Werder Bremen are deep in <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">relegation trouble,</span> but there was something encouraging about the way they pushed both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich hard in a pair of 2-1 home defeats. The Bremen attack is really starting to click - <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Max Kruse</span> is scoring goals now that he is fit, and Serge Gnabry's progress after a period of stagnation at Arsenal has been a big boost. New signing Thomas Delaney has also hit the ground running after his switch from Copenhagen, giving the Werder midfield some added bite.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The problem, as it always is with Werder, is the defence. The northerners have the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">worst rearguard</span> in the top flight, having leaked 38 goals in just 18 games. In three of the last four calendar years, Bremen have conceded the most goals in the Bundesliga, so this is a chronic issue.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Augsburg are more circumspect, although they are trying to play more attractive football now under new coach <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Manuel Baum.</span> The Swabians have the second-worst attack in the league, having scored just 15 goals, but even they should find some gaps to exploit against leaky Werder.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Werder have played 18 Bundesliga games this season, and 16 of them have seen both teams score. That's the outcome I'm predicting this weekend.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back Both Teams To Score at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.88</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Eintracht Frankfurt v Darmstadt</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday February 05, 16:30</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on BT Sport</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Torsten Frings</span> could hardly have picked a tougher way to start his Bundesliga coaching career. As Viktor Skripnik's assistant, he successfully fought a tense relegation battle last season, but was jettisoned along with Skripnik earlier this term. He is now trying to take the Bundesliga's bottom team to safety.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I said at the start of the season in this column that I felt Darmstadt had the weakest squad in the Bundesliga, and that they would finish bottom of the standings. I've seen nothing to change my mind, and last weekend's <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">shambolic</span> 6-1 home defeat to FC Koln reinforced that view. After that defeat Frings was understandably furious, and he slammed the lack of commitment shown by defender Florian Jungwirth, who has since moved to the MLS.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ahead of this Hessen derby, Eintracht Frankfurt are on a high after an excellent 1-0 win at Schalke. A well-worked free-kick saw Alex Meier score the only goal of the game, and then Frankfurt did what they do best, restricting the opposition with a superb defensive display. All three of their chief centre-backs, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus Vallejo,</span> David Abraham and Makoto Hasebe, are having excellent seasons.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Frankfurt have won three of their last four home games in the league, and they haven't been beaten at the Commerzbank Arena since April. Bayern Munich were held here, and Borussia Dortmund were beaten. Even in the high-pressure environment of a derby that means a lot to both sets of fans, the Eagles should have no problem against a team that is desperately short of quality and confidence.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back Eintracht Frankfurt -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10">2.10</span></span></span></span></div> <div> <span style="background: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10"><br /></span></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutSXBL6eQjxboISO4oIiZCA_Gnx5x-bA09FJZ4JPgRMFIiTarsDQfsVoHLKCGfGWVYMKw3OkJqua2RX5BeGRqTqcIy2cR9aQL5ZHyTge0a2lgDrJzAxFx1ZItBRm_MQdierXNgK3x5zs/s1600/04-02-tr16-500c-bayern-scha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutSXBL6eQjxboISO4oIiZCA_Gnx5x-bA09FJZ4JPgRMFIiTarsDQfsVoHLKCGfGWVYMKw3OkJqua2RX5BeGRqTqcIy2cR9aQL5ZHyTge0a2lgDrJzAxFx1ZItBRm_MQdierXNgK3x5zs/s640/04-02-tr16-500c-bayern-scha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div> <span style="background: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10"><br /></span></span></span></div>

Bundesliga Betting: Stoic Schalke to frustrate the champions

"Schalke have only trailed at the break on three occasions in the league this season, and Bayern took 81 minutes to break them down in...

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Ligue 1 Betting: Resurgent Marseille to continue to climb the table

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Marseille have won 2/2 matches over the past week. Metz have made a poor start to 2017, losing three out of<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />five matches and scoring just three goals in the process."</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back Marseille to win at Metz @</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.91</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Metz v Marseille</span> (19th v 6th)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fri. 19:45 GMT<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Live on BT Sport 3</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Marseille have had an exceptional week and will expect to collect all 3pts against struggling hosts this weekend.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Rudi Garcia's side were 5-1 winners over Montpellier last weekend and followed up with a 2-1 extra-time French Cup win over Lyon on Tuesday night.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Dimitri Payet made his return in a Marseille shirt against Lyon following his £25m return move from West Ham United, and should play a part this weekend. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Payet's arrival, along with that of veteran left-back Patrice Evra (from Juventus) and €12m midfielder Morgan Sanson (Montpellier),</span> has signalled Marseille's ambition to challenge for a top-four spot this season.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Metz are in the relegation zone and weaker than Marseille all over the field. Philippe Hinschberger's have made a poor start to 2017 (W1-D1-L3 in all competitions), scoring just three times in those five fixtures. They'll struggle to shut out a Marseille attack that has shone over the past seven days.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With Marseille looking to climb the table there's no way the visitors will sit back and merely settle for a draw. Back the visitors to claim all 3pts.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Marseille @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11">1.91</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Bordeaux v Rennes</span> (7th v 9th)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sat, 19:00 GMT</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's little between these teams in the Ligue 1 standings but Bordeaux are clearly the stronger of the two sides at the moment.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Jocelyn Gourvennec's hosts have made an excellent start to 2017, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">winning five of seven games (W5-D1-L1) in all competitions and scoring 11 goals in the process.</span> The fact their sole defeat came at the hands of PSG is another reason for confidence as PSG are obviously a lot better than the side Bordeaux face this weekend.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Visitors Rennes are winless in their last eight matches against Ligue 1 opposition in all competitions (W0-D3-L5) so they'll lack self-belief as they travel to Gironde for this match. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Rennes have had a horrible transfer window, too:</span> their best two wingers, Paul-Georges Ntep and Kami Grosicki, have left, moving to Wolfsburg and Hull City respectively, robbing Rennes of precious pace and invention on the flanks. Without those two the supply line to lone striker Giovanni Sio - far from prolific at the best of times - has been fatally weakened.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Bordeaux's low win rate (8/22 in Ligue 1 this season) is a concern but they're playing far more fluently and effectively than Rennes at the moment. The hosts' team news is also good as manager Gourvennec is likely to have a full squad or close to a full squad to pick from.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's enough evidence that Bordeaux ought to collect all 3pts, making the home victory the choice.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bet<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Bordeaux @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/1">2.00</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/1"><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI_QLRVAdQ6qtrxc174MEmKVdJjnZXP0yTQNeRn4VkLe2xkguo257m_sPLMt-s370Z0Pu9a4ycWF2bqA73g27_UZaZuD120htPQK6mtBDoeJViA_12Cxwo9HN0z3Nvbi6BOIhwOsVXXI/s1600/bordeaux+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI_QLRVAdQ6qtrxc174MEmKVdJjnZXP0yTQNeRn4VkLe2xkguo257m_sPLMt-s370Z0Pu9a4ycWF2bqA73g27_UZaZuD120htPQK6mtBDoeJViA_12Cxwo9HN0z3Nvbi6BOIhwOsVXXI/s640/bordeaux+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/1"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>

Ligue 1 Betting: Resurgent Marseille to continue to climb the table

"Marseille have won 2/2 matches over the past week. Metz have made a poor start to 2017, losing three out of five matches and scoring ...

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Southampton v West Ham: Irons to strike at St Mary's

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Andy Carroll will give the newly formed Saints’ central defensive partnership a real test and he will be supplied by Robert Snodgrass."</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin: 7px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back West Ham @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">4.80</span></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Southampton v West Ham</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Saturday February 4, 15:00 GMT</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Southampton</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Saints may be through to the final of the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">EFL Cup</span> but they are in miserable form in the Premier League and they were dumped out of the FA Cup in a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Claude Puel's</span> side were beaten at the struggling, Swansea, on Tuesday and that was their fifth defeat in six matches. </span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">They did beat Leicester during that run, but the champions are having their own issues and, perhaps the most worrying thing for Southampton is that they conceded plenty of goals during that period.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things won't be any easier at the back this week as <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Virgil van Dijk</span> has been ruled out for two to three months. With the experienced Jose Fonte likely lining up against his former team on Saturday, Saints' fans will be wondering what happened to their once rock-solid defence.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">West Ham</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hammers will just be pleased to not be playing Manchester City this weekend as they were beaten 4-0 by them at home on Wednesday and that came only four weeks after they were <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">thrashed 5-0</span> by them on the same ground in the FA Cup.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Slaven Bilić's</span> have been very hit or miss this year but they seem to be finding their stride on their travels as they've lost just one of their last five away from the London Stadium, and that includes two wins from their three latest outings.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned above, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Jose Fonte</span>, has joined the Irons in the January transfer window, as did Robert Snodgrass, who may be set for his first start as a West Ham player at St Mary's.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Odds</span> </span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Southampton <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">1.90</span></span> West Ham <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">4.80</span></span> The Draw <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/4"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">3.75</span></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Betfair layers have the hosts as odds-on for this one but I can't agree with that. Southampton aren't anywhere near their best at present and their <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">injury hit squad</span> have already played plenty of matches this year as they were in the Europa League and have also reached the League Cup Final.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The value has to be in the visitors as despite their unreliability, at <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">4.80</span></span>, they are worth taking a chance on. Andy Carroll will give the newly formed Saints' central defensive partnership a real test and he will be supplied by <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert Snodgrass</span>.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hammers netted three times in their 3-1 win at the Riverside a fortnight ago and they also put four past Swansea at the Liberty on Boxing Day. Their <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">goal-scoring prowess</span> was also on show in a 2-2 draw at Anfield and while they ended up losing the match, they were beating Spurs 2-1 at White Hart Lane with only two minutes to go in November.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Over/Under 2.5 Goals</span> </span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Over 2.5 Goals <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">2.08</span></span> Under 2.5 Goals <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/11"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">1.92</span></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another market where I disagree with the odds is this one as I would have them the other way round. I've already written about West Ham's goal-scoring record and it's also worth noting that <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">only five</span> other Premier League teams have conceded more.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Southampton have had their issues with their forward options but they still <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">netted three times</span> against Leicester on their latest outing in front of their own fans and they have now scored in each of their last five at home.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have huge concerns about their defence however as, on paper at least, it looks the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">weakest</span> it has for a number of years, and Spurs scored four times here at the end of December and West Brom helped themselves to two last month.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want something at an even bigger price than <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">2.08</span></span> though so I'm going to risk the extra goal and back <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">over 3.5</span> at around the <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">3.80</span></span> mark. A selection which would have landed in three of West Ham's last four away games and two of Southampton's last six in all competitions at home.</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Recommended Bets</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back West Ham @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">4.80</span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">Back Over 3.5 Goals @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;">3.80</span></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGIrtR3AU8rMYOPqHVVit_py0wWOtwk1Ry22u5Hc_ICgBvsf5xYf1DEaNkqjZbJ9fXw5DE6lBPFgfRe25p6GinOZkNgRy_xSv4O0Z7kjW8LPnAASdiCMWL4Ns6azXB58b0-6hCmMZN4k/s1600/sou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGIrtR3AU8rMYOPqHVVit_py0wWOtwk1Ry22u5Hc_ICgBvsf5xYf1DEaNkqjZbJ9fXw5DE6lBPFgfRe25p6GinOZkNgRy_xSv4O0Z7kjW8LPnAASdiCMWL4Ns6azXB58b0-6hCmMZN4k/s640/sou.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: initial; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; transition: color 0.2s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>

Southampton v West Ham: Irons to strike at St Mary's

"Andy Carroll will give the newly formed Saints’ central defensive partnership a real test and he will be supplied by Robert Snodgrass...

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