Category: Football

Manchester United v Arsenal: Bitter Rivalries Resumed At Old Trafford

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

With the (mostly) tedious round of international fixtures thankfully over and done with, a welcome return to the Premier League beckons as Manchester United and Arsenal kick off the bill in fine style on Saturday.

Formerly the bitterest of enemies in their annual tussle for top division supremacy, it is fair to say that this once-fierce rivalry has gone off the boil in recent seasons – but that looks set to change this weekend as old hostilities are resumed between Arsene Wenger and newly-appointed Red Devils manager, Jose Mourinho.

There’s certainly no love lost between the pair, with Mourinho memorably branding his opposite number a “voyeur” after the Frenchman’s comments on what he perceived to be a negative Chelsea side in the 2005 season. Wenger allegedly considered legal action before responding with a withering put-down of his own.

“He’s out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful,” the long-standing Arsenal manager said in riposte to what he deemed to be one personal attack too many from his venomous Portuguese opponent. “When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.”

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Although there have been numerous other flare-ups between the pair over the years, both Mourinho and Wenger will surely prefer that their teams do the talking for them on the pitch this Saturday – and the bad news for the visitors is that the statistics make for grim reading as far as an away win is concerned.

Not only do the Gunners have an abysmal record at Old Trafford in recent years, but Wenger is also winless against his opposite number in 13 attempts; with Mourinho drawing six of the pair’s competitive meetings and winning the remaining seven, including a notable 6-0 demolition at Stamford Bridge in March 2014.

That being said, a stuttering start to life as Manchester United boss means that the bookmakers think there is little to choose between the two teams on this occasion, with United seen as narrow favourites at 31/20 by William Hill, and Arsenal not far behind at 23/10 with Sky Bet. The draw, meanwhile, is available at a best price of 19/10 with Bet Victor, meaning no one is entirely sure what to expect from Saturday’s early kick-off.

No PL Audition For Ibrahimovic

One thing that is for certain, however, is that Mourinho’s men will be without the services of talismanic centre-forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who misses the match due to suspension. With the big Swede being responsible for six of United’s 16 Premier League goals so far, this naturally leaves something of a void in the first scorer market, with Olivier Giroud surprisingly seen as the man most likely at 11/2 with Sky Bet.

With the French striker being mostly confined to the role of substitute this season, it seems an erroneous price when you consider that Alexis Sanchez is likely to retain his position up front for the Gunners. The Chilean returned from injury to score twice against Uruguay during the international break and is seen as a 13/2 shot with William Hill to break the deadlock here, with teammate Theo Walcott also available at 8/1.

For the home side, meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is the 6/1 favourite with Coral, but there might be more value to be had in Unibet’s 7/1 quote on Wayne Rooney doubling his tally for the season. True, the United skipper has been far from convincing in recent months, but with 14 career goals against Arsenal to date, it would certainly be fitting if an old constant decided the latest meeting between these two evolving teams.

Portugal Expected to Run Riot on the Algarve

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

EUROPEAN champions Portugal host minnows Latvia at the Estadio do Algarve on Sunday night in World Cup qualifying Group B, and this could get very messy for the visitors.

The Portuguese are a very warm favourite for the win at general 1.07 which will give them their third successive international win and in the last two they’ve been banging in the goals for fun with 12 scored in two 6-0 wins over Andorra and The Faroe Islands.

Latvia arrive in the Algarve after back-to-back home defeats and even though some might be tempted by the massive 51.0 on the visitors to win this with Bet365, a $10 on them at the 50s means that you will LOSE $10.

The Latvians struggled to get past one of the worst sides in Europe, Andorra 1-0, in their only win in this campaign, and up against a Portugal side that is buzzing after their success in the summer, this is expected to be very, very one-sided.

The Asian handicap line is pitched at -2.75 for Portugal, which is 1.84 with Ladbrokes, and I can see them covering that line very easily and maybe before half-time.

In their previous meeting in 2005 Portugal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners and against a side that’s only scored just ONCE in qualification so far; for bigger hitting clients a Portugal win to nil looks like finding the cash on the street at the 1.45 that is being offered by BetVictor.

In recent Portugal matches, they’ve raced into early leads. I can see them flying out of the traps yet again in this one, and Portugal half-time/Portugal full-time will also appeal to money buyers at the 1.40 with Coral.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the star-man for the Portuguese, but the Real Madrid superstar is a very short 2.75 favourite to open the floodgates with the first goal.

Porto’s Andre Silva has scored four goals in four matches, and the 21-year-old striker is flying for both club and country at present with seven goals already in the Portuguese league; he makes much better appeal in the first goalscorer markets at the general 4.50, and in a match which could turn into a rout, I also like the 21.0 with Betfair Sportsbook on him to score his first international hat-trick.

The Netherlands Need to Bounce Back

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Netherlands have one of the greatest traditions in modern European football. Their success at international level since 1974 has been remarkable for such a small nation. It all started for The Netherlands with that famous World Cup Final against West Germany in 1974. Johan Cruyff scored with an early penalty but the Dutch became complacent. The result was a 2-1 win for the Germans.

Further complacency stopped them from winning the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Once again they were beaten in the final. The problem with the Dutch is their sense of footballing superiority. Their love of “total football” and a fixation on fancy play is often their downfall. Their only tournament success came in 1988 in the European Championships. Dutch international football has slipped a long way since their 2010 World Cup Final loss to Spain.

Do They have The Players

Their current World Cup qualifying campaign hasn’t started well. They have a relatively tough group with France and Sweden facing them. With just one win in the opening three games, the pressure is on to win their next game. That match comes on Sunday when the Dutch make the short journey to play Luxembourg.

A few years ago this fixture would have been a formality for the orange men but not anymore. Luxembourg has strengthened substantially in recent years and is much more solid in defence. They are capable of taking points from many teams these days. A combination of a stronger Luxembourg side and an underperforming Dutch team doesn’t make this fixture a walk in the park.

The Netherlands currently sit three points behind France and Sweden. Any result other than a win would be a disaster. In terms of strikers and midfielders then it is clear that the Dutch are lacking quality. Apart from Georginio Wijnaldum who plays for Liverpool, their midfield doesn’t have a single player that plays at a top club. They only have two class players in their squad. Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder have played at the highest level but both are over 30 years of age.

So Where is The Value Bet

Despite all this, The Netherlands are still big favourites to overcome Luxembourg. Bet365 are as short as 1/8 for a Dutch victory. Luxembourg is 15/1 with the draw at 8/1. If you don’t fancy those odds then how about something a little different? SkyBet quotes 11/4 on the game being level at half time and The Netherlands winning at full time.

Even the supposed whipping boys are defensively solid these days. The so-called minnows know how to frustrate the big teams. No team seems to thrash these weaker teams anymore. If you fancy an upset and a Luxembourg win after leading at half time then Bet Victor quote 30/1 for that. A good bet but only if you don’t mind losing your money.

World Cup Qualifier: Wales vs. Serbia to be a Cracker

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Wales vs. Serbia on November 12 is a chance for the home side to not only take another step closer to the 2018 World Cup, but erase the memory of a 6-1 defeat. Back in 2012, long before they shocked the world by reaching the semi-final of the European Championship, The Dragons suffered a thumping loss in a similar situation.

Bidding to reach the 2014 World Cup finals, Chris Coleman’s Wales travelled to Serbia in search of something special. Unfortunately, defensive errors before the 30-minute mark put the visitors two goals behind. A Gareth Bale free kick closed the deficit soon after, but a lack of ambition and attack, Wales went on to lost 6-1.

Same Players but a New Look Wales

On that occasion, a young Jonny Williams was watching from the dugout wondering if he’d get a run out. Now, four years on and with another World Cup beckoning, things are a little different. Williams is no longer a regular on the subs’ bench and he believes his country has what it takes to win. Not only that, but Wales have proven they can compete on the international stage.

Unfortunately, Serbia still look as tough an opponent as they ever were. Slavoljub Muslin’s team are a typically tough, well organised outfit and, so far, they’ve been faultless in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Currently sitting top of Group D with seven points, Serbia have won two and drawn one.

Although conceding goals has been a slight issue, Serbia have scored seven in three which is impressive by any team’s standards. Fortunately, however, Wales have been equally prolific in front of goal with a 4-0 win over Moldova being the best of the three results so far. With the bookies unable to separate the two teams when it comes to goals, it seems as though home advantage will be the deciding factor this time around.

Goals are a Given in this One

The outright betting line at Coral currently has Wales as the favourites at 11/8 while 21/10 is the price for a draw of a Serbia win. Over at SunBets it’s a similar story with the home side leading the way at 7/5.

With both teams showing they’re capable of scoring and conceding, there are two likely scenarios in this match. The first is that there will be goals. Now, if you want to take a punt (and it really would be a punt) on history repeating, Coral will give you 200/1. If, however, you’re a fan of money and don’t enjoy setting fire to it, a high scoring line looks like good value. Over 2.5 goals is 5/4 at bet365 and looks a possible outcome as does an 11/5 on a draw with SunBets.

Italy Heavy Favourites Against Liechtenstein

Over in Group G, Italy will be looking for a comfortable win when they travel to Liechtenstein. The landlocked principality isn’t noted for its prowess in the football world and, if we’re honest, are only a few notches above the likes of San Marino. But, for all their diminutive qualities, they’re in the qualifying rounds for the World Cup and will pose at least some resistance to Giampiero Ventura’s side.

After three games the Italians have been true to form. Seven points from three puts them level with Spain, but a goal difference of just three puts them in second place in the group. Much like Italian teams of old, the current squad is often content to squeeze out a win, but things might be a little different against Liechtenstein. Indeed, with 12 conceded in three and an 8-0 loss to Spain on the recent list of results, November 12 could prove to be a long night for Liechtenstein.

Italy Will be in the Driving Seat

In fact, when you consider that Italy held Spain to a 1-1 draw, and they were able to decimate Liechtenstein, it’s hard to see how the home side will come away with anything other than a spanking. The bookmakers’ outright odds are frankly embarrassing at this point with SunBets making Italy the 1/16 heavy favourites.

For any value in this match at all the best bets are in the scorecasts. 4-0 Italy is currently 11/2 at Coral while a repeat of the Spain result is a generous 66/1. Of course, there’s always the chance of an upset in this one, but it’s unlikely. Whereas Wales and Serbia will be competitive and may go either way, this game should be all one-way traffic in favour of the Italians.

Unbeaten Ireland Face Stern World Cup Qualifying Test

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Life is fairly rosy if you’re a Republic of Ireland supporter right now.

The boys in green currently sit joint top at the summit of FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group D, and only trail leaders Serbia on goal difference after their unbeaten start on the long and winding road to Russia 2018.

This weekend, however, Martin O’Neill’s team face a very tricky assignment in the form of an away trip to the Ernst-Happel Stadion, where they face fourth-placed Austria. True, the hosts were fairly wretched at last summers’ European Championship, but their home record makes grim reading for Republic of Ireland.

Ten Of The Best

Marcel Koller’s men are currently unbeaten in their previous 10 competitive home matches and have a 100% record against R.O.I. in Austria in recent years, winning their past four encounters while scoring 11 goals to the visitors’ one. With their biggest win being a 6-0 demolition in the 1972 Euro Championships, O’Neill will be mindful of keeping things tight so as not to derail his side’s current qualifying momentum.

While a repeat of that damaging encounter looks highly unlikely here, the bookies are currently giving Austria the edge, with Matchbook offering a best price of 21/10 on the home side emerging victorious. R.O.I. are meanwhile priced at 10/3 to get the win at William Hill, with the draw also available at 11/5.

Austrian frontman Marc Janko is currently rated as the 4/1 favourite to open the scoring on Saturday with Boyle Sports, while R.O.I. stalwart Jonathan Walters perhaps represents the best value for the visitors at 10/1 with Bet365. Whatever way you cut it, however, it should be far from an easy night for the away team, with a 1-1 draw being the best-priced positive result for the Republic at an enticing 6/1 with William Hill.

Spain Expected To Stroll

Over in Group G, meanwhile, things are expected to be far more straightforward for top-of-the-table Spain as they take on a FYR Macedonia side who are yet to record a point in this year’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign. La Furia Roja has scored 11 goals in their three games so far – conceding just once to Italy – but this should be tempered by the fact that the majority of those strikes came as they beat Liechtenstein 8-0.

FYR Macedonia, on the other hand, has shipped seven goals in their opening three games; and though they have found the back of the net on each occasion, the team currently have nothing to show for their efforts in Group G so far. The disparity in the two sides’ form going into this one is certainly reflected by the prices on offer from the bookies, with Spain rated as red hot favourites at 1/20 with Bet365, Betfred and Sky Bet.

Indeed, the home side is so highly-fancied here that you can get odds as big as 70/1 with Betfair on the visitors causing an upset, with even the draw coming in at a prohibitive 14/1 with Betfred. Despite the huge prices on offer, backing such an outcome looks sheer folly, so if you are determined to bet on Macedonia causing Julen Lopetegui’s men problems, both teams to score is as good as it gets at 27/10 with Betfair.

In terms of first scorer picks, the veritable who’s who of attacking talent in the home side’s ranks and the paucity of options for the opposition makes it a tough market to call. Diego Costa is currently the 13/5 favourite with Bet Victor – and with the Chelsea man currently on fire in the Premier League, you can also find an improved price of 15/8 on the burly centre-forward scoring two goals or more courtesy of Bet365.

Goals Hard to Come by on Friday Night

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THE World Cup qualifiers are back this weekend, which usually means a lack of goals and a lack of excitement, and that certainly looks the case in Group C on Friday night when Northern Ireland host Azerbaijan.

The Irish performed heroics for boss Michael O’Neil to make it to last summer’s European championship finals, but they are a side that seems to do better when given the underdog tag and as the 1.62 favourites for a Belfast win that’s not a price that I would be rushing to take.

Azerbaijan is an improving nation, and under the guidance of manager Robert Prosinecki they’ve picked up seven points from three qualifiers and are more than capable of holding the favourites at Windsor Park.

You can get a massive 7.00 on an away win, which looks a little beyond them but the draw certainly does appeal at the 3.75 that Bet365 are offering.

In all four previous international matches between these two countries everyone has produced under 2.5 goals, and with Azerbaijan’s three matches in this campaign resulting in just TWO goals, under 2.5 on a freezing cold Belfast night looks a certainty at the 1.50 that Coral will offer you.

One goal, if we get one, should be enough for either side to win this and with Azerbaijan yet to concede in this qualifying campaign under 1.5 goals at 2.50 with William Hills looks appealing as does no goalscorer in the match at a more working man’s price of 7.00 with the same company.

GROUP A’s table-topping clash in Paris between France and Sweden looks a lot more appealing on the eye, but this is another that could disappoint.

These two countries have an identical record in qualification so it should be very difficult to split the two sides.

But that is not the case at all, as France are a very short price 1.28 with William Hills to claim top spot; however, if there is any international side in Europe who can let you down at short prices the French will be very close to the top of that list.

The French did impress in their last home match, coming from behind to beat Bulgaria 4-1, but I don’t believe the gulf between these two sides is as big as the bookies have it, and the Swede’s look huge at 16.0 with Bet365.

Sweden did lose 1-0 on their last visit to Paris in 2014, and in their last five matches in the French capital they’ve never been beaten by more than one goal, so the best bet in the match is Sweden +1.5 on the Asian handicap lines at the generally available 11/10 with most firms.

This looks another match where goals will be hard to come by, as six of the last seven matches between these two countries have featured under 2.5 goals; again that looks a spot of value at the 2.10 with Paddy Power.

If the French don’t score early, then an expectant Paris crowd usually gets on the team’s back. This could turn into a very nervy night and one goal might be enough to win it for either side and under 1.5 is also on my bet radar at 4.10 with BetVictor.