Back the favourites to reach the Europa League final

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Fairly dull first legs have left both Europa League semi-finals finely poised, so there is an opportunity to make money just by picking the finalists. Fulham and Atletico Madrid are the two favourites to go through after favourable first-leg results, yet can be backed at 9/4 with Bet365 to meet in Germany.

Fulham have won seven of their eight European home games this season, whereas Hamburg have escaped without a beating in only two of their last

Posted: April 29th, 2010 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Liverpool are unlikely to do the double over Real Madrid

Liverpool/Real Madrid, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Juande Ramos has promised that the “famous Anfield roar” holds no fear for his side and who can blame him when it hasn’t intimidated teams like Stoke and Hull this season. The Sun today reported that 91% of teams who win the away leg 1-0 progress, bringing into question ITV’s decision to again give Liverpool prominence over Chelsea, but while the Reds should still qualify, here are five reasons why they won’t win tonight:

1. Liverpool haven’t won consecutive home games since October. They have played twelve times at Anfield since their 1-0 win over Portsmouth over four months ago but have won just five of them.

2. Rafael Benitez’s side have won both the home and away legs of a Champions League knockout tie on just two of their last nine attempts.

3. Real Madrid have won four consecutive away games since facing Barcelona in Juande Ramos’ game. They haven’t conceded a goal throughout that run, have scored eleven times and have managed at least two goals in each game.

Posted: March 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Liverpool can pip Atletico and win Group D

PSV/Liverpool, 7.45pm, ITV4, Best Odds, Free Bets

In order to win Group D tonight, Liverpool need to win in Holland by a margin two goals better than that of Atletico Madrid in Marseille or, more plausibly, hope the Spanish side slip up. Here’s why that is a strong possibility:

Why Liverpool should beat PSV fairly comfortably
Liverpool made two trips to Eindhoven in the 2006-07 season and on both occasions they shut the Dutch side out. Their second away game there finished 3-0 and they scored three against them at Anfield earlier this season in a 3-1 triumph. PSV have lost four of their five Champions League games this year and lost 3-0 at home to Atletico Madrid.

Why Atletico Madrid could be held by Marseille

Posted: December 9th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

England’s worst Champions League week in over five years

A few facts and figures on the Premier League’s poor performance

This was the first time since September 30-October 1 2003 that none of the Premier League’s participants in the Champions League group stage managed to pick up three points.

On that occasion, there were only three English teams in action because Newcastle lost in the qualifiers. Arsenal were the only side to pick up a point, drawing 0-0 away to Lokomotiv Moscow, while Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Besiktas and Manchester United 2-1 in Stuttgart.

All three of England’s Champions League goals this week - John Terry’s against Roma, Steven Gerrard’s against Atletico Madrid and Ryan Giggs’ against Celtic - came in the final sixteen minutes with the English team already trailing. At no point this week did one of the Premier League teams lead while Arsenal, despite being the only ones not to score, were the only of the four who never fell behind.

Posted: November 6th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Liverpool will beat Atletico Madrid

Liverpool/ Atletico Madrid, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free £10 bet

Two weeks ago chickendinner boldly stated that Liverpool wouldn’t return from Spain with three points and because our prediction came true, the Reds are still tied with Atletico Madrid at the top of the group. However a win today will all but ensure qualification to the knockout stages and here’s why they shouldn’t slip up:

1. Liverpool haven’t lost consecutive games once in 2008 and have only done so once in the last eighteen months.

2. The Reds have yet to lose at Anfield in the Premier League or Champions League in 2008 with their solitary loss there coming against Barnsley in the FA Cup.

3. Rafael Benitez’s side won all three games in the second-half of the group stage last year, despite winning none of the first three.

4. It was at this point in last year’s campaign that, having fallen to a 2-1 defeat a fortnight beforehand in Turkey, Liverpool thumped Besiktas 8-0 in the return tie.

Posted: November 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Real Madrid should win La Liga again

Past trends indicate three in a row for Calderon and co

Once the sangria induced hangovers have cleared, Spain’s footballing fraternity will have to stop basking in their Euro 2008 glory and look forward to kicking lumps out of each other in the new La Liga season. Because we care so much, here’s a guide to just about everything that’s going to happen.

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To find trends and research results, head to the chickendinner stats centre

» Real Madrid have secured successive La Liga titles but not since 1990-1994 (Barcelona) have any Primera Liga side managed to retain the championship three years in a row. However, the last time Real Madrid won consecutive league titles, they went on to win five in succession – 1985-1990.

» chickendinner superfact: Celta Vigo finished sixth in 2005/06 and were relegated the very next season. Real Zaragoza ended the 2006/07 season in sixth position and also found themselves relegated a year later. That spells bad news for Racing Santander who were this year’s sixth placed side.

» In four of the past five seasons, the side that finished fourth in La Liga went on to struggle in the next campaign, finishing tenth or lower and on one occasion being relegated. Atletico Madrid may be in for a long season.

Posted: August 29th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment