Why Chelsea should win but need to be wary of away goals

Chelsea/Juventus, 7.45pm, Sky Sports Xtra, Free Bets, Best Odds

Juventus have waited three years to return to the knockout stages of the Champions League but must have been cursing their luck when they drew British opposition, considering their record is ever worse than Roma’s.

Claudio Ranieri has already suggested that Chelsea’s decision to change managers has hindered his chances of a victorious return to Stamford Bridge but the odds were stacked from the outset because of their recent results in England and Scotland.

One positive for the Bianconeri is that on six of their last eight visits they have scored, which means that even if they lose, they stand a strong chance of taking an away goal back to Turin with them and Chelsea have already been humbled in Italy once already this season.

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Man Utd face Jose Mourinho and the curse of the holders

Inter Milan/Man Utd, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

The football in the last two Sir Alex Ferguson/Jose Mourinho encounters - in the 2007 FA Cup Final and the Community Shield three months later - may have been awful but there is no denying the sense of anticipation brewing as the two great managers prepare to collide once more. Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game:

GRAVEYARD OF THE CHAMPIONS
In each of the last four years, the Champions League holders have been eliminated at this stage of the competition. Inter Milan were the team who started that tradition by knocking out Porto four seasons ago. Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho’s first ever meeting came in the round of 16 five years ago, when Mourinho’s Porto won the home leg 2-1 before holding Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Manchester United and Inter Milan last came to blows ten years ago at the quarter-final stage. On that occasion, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side played the first leg at home and won 2-0, before drawing 1-1 at the San Siro. On that day Nicola Ventola put the Italian side ahead in the 63rd minute only for Paul Scholes to equalise with two minutes to go.

MOURINHO v FERGUSON

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Can Arsenal take advantage of Roma’s record in England?

Arsenal/Roma, 7.45pm, ITV4, Free Bets, Best Odds

Roma knocked out Real Madrid at this stage last year but as our table above shows, they have got an awful recent record in England and have lost four of their last five visits 1-0. Their boss Luciano Spalletti is adamant those statistics won’t count against them but if they do, it means all Arsenal need to do is score. The only problem there is that Arsene Wenger’s side have failed to find the net themselves in four of their last six games. Paddy Power offer 21/10 on Arsenal winning to nil while 1-0 is 6/1 with 888sport. However, if you expect the Gunners to be contained again back a goalless draw at 9.2 on Betfair.

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Coventry look to cause an upset away from the cameras

Previews of Tuesday and Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replays

Anyone who saw the initial West Ham/Middlesbrough game will be baffled by ITV’s decision to televise that replay over Blackburn’s potentially dangerous trip to Coventry. Even the clubs were caught off-guard by the decision to move the match for the public’s pleasure, judging by West Ham’s failure to warn fans the date could change and Middlesbrough’s decision to send tickets out saying the game was on Tuesday. Here are all the key statistics about the first three replays:

Coventry v Blackburn (Tuesday 7.45pm)
ITV’s decision to ignore this tie could prove wise however as only one goal has been scored over the course of Blackburn’s last four away games. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes offer 23/10 on the game requiring extra-time and that looks enticing. Sam Allardyce’s side have won just one of their last eight away games - and that was away to Blyth Spartans - but at the same time they unbeaten in four, with three of those finishing 0-0. Coventry have lost just one of their last nine home games and knocked Blackburn out of the FA Cup last season.

Fulham v Swansea (Tuesday, 8pm)

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Chelsea should go on to finish above Aston Villa now

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Aston Villa’s chances of finishing above Chelsea were severely damaged by the Blues completing the double over them. Not since 1993-94, when they beat champions Manchester United twice, have they finished below a team they’ve triumphed over home and away.

2. Blackburn may have ended Manchester United’s clean sheet record but after losing 2-1 they remain one of three clubs, alongside West Brom and Bolton, who have lost all their matches against the “Big Five” this season.

Posted: February 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Spurs need to avoid another late collapse away to Hull

Hull/Tottenham, 8pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Tonight sees a team that can’t win away from home travel to one who can’t find three points anywhere. Here’s everything that you need to know:

SPURS DON’T WIN AWAY…
Tottenham have lost seven consecutive away games in all competitions and have won just two league games on the road all season. They have only kept one domestic clean sheet away from White Hart Lane all season and their last four Premier League conquerors haven’t exactly been world beaters: Newcastle, West Brom, Wigan and Bolton.

…BUT HULL DON’T WIN ANYWHERE
Since winning six of their first nine Premier League games, Hull have won just one of sixteen. They are on a run of nine games without a win but drew away to Chelsea in their last outing. The Tigers have the worst home record in the division having won just three of their twelve league games at the KC Stadium, only one of which has come in their last eight.

HULL ARE YET TO DO THE DOUBLE

Posted: February 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment