The schedulers put the wrong match on television yet again

Aston Villa/MSK Zilina, 7.45pm, Five, Best Odds, Free Bets

Tonight’s televised UEFA Cup game sees Aston Villa, with a 100% record in their group host MSK Zilina who are yet to win and almost certainly heading out. Meanwhile you need a radio or a dodgy internet stream Portsmouth, who realistically need a win travel to Wolfsburg, who have won both of their group games so far. Here’s our preview of those games:

Aston Villa v MSK Zilina
Martin O’Neill’s side are unbeaten in Europe this season but have drawn two of their last three home games. and as they are fielding a weakened side, the general 4/1 offered on the draw is tempting. However, Villa should have enough to beat Zilina, who have only won three of their nine domestic away games this season and have failed to score in their last two UEFA Cup games. They are while Marlon Harewood, who opened the scoring in his last start against Litex is 10/11 to win to nil with Paddy Power11/2 with the Irish bookmakers to be the first goalscorer.

Wolfsburg v Portsmouth
The German side’s form is quite easy to disect: they never win away in the Bundesliga or UEFA Cup - besides a 3-2 win against Braga - and worryingly for Portsmouth, they never lose at home. The German side have lost one home game since last November and that was in April and this season they have won eight of nine. Portsmouth have lost their last two European away games but have scored over two goals in each of their last three games. A third 2-2 in under a fortnight can be backed at 16/1 with Bet365.

Posted: December 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn |