Chelsea are 9/5 with Bet365 to win against Barcelona tonight

Chelsea/Barcelona, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Barcelona’s 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid has seen them installed as 13/8 favourites tonight while the hosts are available at 9/5 with Bet365.

Headline trends:

» Chelsea have won their last six Champions League home games against foreign opposition.

» Away-goal chasing Barcelona have scored in 21 consecutive La Liga and Champions League away games.

Posted: May 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

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:

Click here for a free £10 bet with Ladbrokes

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

In-form Valencia are 3/1 to end Barcelona’s amazing run

Valencia/Barcelona, Sat 9pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Barcelona have won a ridiculous 26 of their 32 La Liga matches this season - more than ten of the last 11 champions have managed in a whole campaign - and have lost just three times. Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last seven league games without conceding a goal and have scored 13 goals in their last three league clashes with Valencia, keeping clean sheets on every occasion. However, here’s why Unai Emery’s side stand a reasonable chance of throwing the title race wide open ahead of next week’s Clasico:

Click here to claim a £200 free bet basket with Bet365, who offer best prices on a Valencia win (3/1) and David Villa scoring (15/8)

» Valencia have won their last five matches and have scored three or more goals in three of those games.

» The cash-strapped club have won three of their last four home games against the league leaders.

Posted: April 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 4 Comments

Why 13/10 Liverpool should be capable of beating Chelsea

Liverpool/Chelsea, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Liverpool have clashed with Chelsea in each of the last four seasons in the Champions League and on every occasion, they have failed to win the first meeting. However, with the home side playing their best football of the season and having already got the better of Chelsea twice this year, they won’t have a better opportunity to end that run. Here’s why Liverpool should justify the 13/10 offered by Paddy Power:

» Liverpool haven’t been beaten at home in the Premier or Champions League since December 2007, when they lost 1-0 to Manchester United.

» The Reds have only lost one of their last eight meetings with Chelsea in ninety minutes, going unbeaten in five and winning the last two.

» Rafael Benitez’s side have won their last five games, scoring sixteen while conceding just once.

Posted: April 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Arsenal are unlikely to win at El Madrigal

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

Arsenal are enjoying their best form in over a year and are capable of delivering on the road in Europe - as results away to Inter and AC Milan have shown. But while they are capable of excellence, more often than not they disappoint, which is why we find it hard to justify backing the visitors at the general price of 8/5:

1. Arsenal have won just three of their last fourteen Champions League away games (excluding qualifiers), which is a win percentage of just 21%.

2. Today is the four-year anniversary of Villarreal’s last European home defeat. Since then they have played fifteen, winning eight and drawing seven.

3. The Yellow Submarine haven’t lost at home in 2009 and have only lost two of their last 34 games at El Madrigal. Those losses came against league leaders Barcelona and Real Valladolid, who have won seven games against the top seven this season.

Posted: April 7th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ten statistics about England’s qualifying clash with Ukraine

England/Ukraine, Wednesday 8pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

England fans have a reputation for fickleness but the antics of the Wembley crowd must seem refreshing to Fabio Capello when compared to the actions of some supporters in his homeland. Italy fans in Bari are expected to boo Marcello Lippi, the man who won them the World Cup, tonight and cheer his predecessor Giovanni Trapattoni, the man who twice flopped in international tournaments. The reason? Lippi refused to call up their favourite son Antonio Cassano. Capello on the other hand can expect a hearty applause this evening despite trying to pick even Darren Bent ahead of Michael Owen. Here’s ten stats about tonight’s game with Ukraine:

1. Both teams are unbeaten in Group 6, with England winning all four of their games. Ukraine have won two and drawn one of their three.

2. Ukraine are unbeaten in eight games and have won four consecutive away games.

3. However, they have been seen off easily on their two previous trips to England - losing 2-0 in 2000 and 3-0 in 2004.

Posted: April 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment