Away wins are a rarity in UEFA Cup semi-final first-legs

Dynamo Kiev/Shakhtar Donetsk, 5.30pm, ITV4, Best Odds
Werder Bremen/Hamburg, 7.45pm, ITV4, Free Bets, Best Odds

While the Big Four have dominated the Champions League for two successive seasons, the Premier League’s claim to the “best league in the world” moniker is brought into question by the fact that none of the not-so-big 16 have won the UEFA Cup in the last 25 years. We’ve grown accustomed to all-English Champions League semi-finals but tonight teams from the Bundesliga and the Ukranian Premier League fight it out for the right to represent their country in a guaranteed Germany v Ukraine final:

SEMI-FINAL STATS

» The away side haven’t won a UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg in any of the last six seasons and only one of the last 18 have ended in the visitors’ favour.

» There has only been one goal in this week’s three big televised games this week and there is a danger that the drought could continue - only eight of the last 24 UEFA Cup semi-finals have broken the 2.5 goal barrier.

Posted: April 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Arsenal can’t be written off despite losing the first leg

Five stats about this week’s Champions League semi-finals

1. Manchester United have scored on each of their three previous trips to the Emirates, despite only taking a point from those games.

2. However, Arsenal’s current home defensive record has been fantastic despite their injury problems. The Gunners have conceded just once in their last 12 games at the Emirates.

3. Arsene Wenger’s side have never failed to score in nine meetings with the Big Four sides at the Emirates. They have scored twice in each of their three home games there against Manchester United.

Posted: April 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Ten number-based stats to help you bet on tonight’s semi

Man Utd/Arsenal, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

0 - The number of losses Manchester United have suffered in their last 23 Champions League games.

1 - The number of victories Arsenal have claimed on their last six trips to Old Trafford. They have lost the other five.

2 - The number of times that Arsenal have faced fellow Premier League opposition in the Champions League prior to this - Chelsea in 2003-04 and Liverpool last season. On both occasions they were eliminated.

Posted: April 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Will Middlesbrough or Newcastle reveal themselves as unlikely escapologists?

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Alan Shearer, the new Messiah, is getting desperate. His plan to get Michael Owen scoring backfired, he keeps ineffectively tinkering with players and formations and even turned to an opera singer for inspiration. But while Newcastle look hopeless now, the most memorable acts of escapology are the unexplainable ones - transformations from hopelessness to safety that nobody anticipates. Will any of this year’s bottom three join the elite group of teams who have saved their season with just four games to spare?

» In the last twelve seasons, only five sides have escaped relegation having been in the bottom three with four games to go.

» The encouraging news for Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom is that three of those five “Great Escapes” have taken place in the last two seasons – West Ham two years ago and Bolton and Fulham last year.

Posted: April 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Chelsea need to repeat their Anfield heroics to get a good result away to Barcelona

Barcelona/Chelsea, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Whereas the thought of Chelsea and Liverpool clashing again in the Champions League this season was greeted gloomily, the fifth pairing of Barcelona and the Blues in ten years has been eagerly anticipated. Hopefully it won’t fail to match expectations like Barca’s semi-final encounters with Manchester United did last season:

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ADVANTAGE BARCELONA?
Chelsea haven’t won a Champions League game at the Nou Camp - losing two and drawing two - and Barcelona have a fantastic home record this season - winning 22, drawing three and losing just two of their 27 games there this season. They have scored in every home match since last year’s semi-final first leg against Manchester United. Chelsea haven’t won any of their last seven Champions League matches on foreign soil. Pep Guardiola’s side are generally available at 8/11.

Posted: April 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Six reasons why Newcastle should beat Portsmouth

Newcastle/Portsmouth, 8pm, Setanta Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Portsmouth destroyed Newcastle 4-1 at St James’ Park last season - charging into a 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes - and they have only lost two of their last nine games. However, here are six reasons why Newcastle should win arguably their biggest game of the decade and at the very least take a point:

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1. Newcastle have won eight of their last ten home games against Portsmouth.

2. The Magpies’ heaviest win of the season came in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park when they destroyed Portsmouth 3-0.

3. Alan Shearer was never beaten in five Premier League clashes with Pompey as a player.

Posted: April 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment