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

Will Spurs and Manchester City’s woeful away form ruin their UEFA Cup prospects?

Two poor domestic travellers visit the Ukraine and Denmark

Tottenham and Manchester City have been two of the poorest away sides in the Premier League this season but so far their domestic struggles on the road haven’t hampered their UEFA Cup bids.  Tonight though both face tough tasks, with Spurs facing Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk and the Citizens travelling to Copenhagen. Here are all the important stats:

Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham (6.45pm, Five)
Tottenham have won just two of twelve Premier League away games this season and are only marginally better in cup competition, with two wins to show from their last six on the road. Redknapp has won just one of his last four European away games with West Ham, Portsmouth and Spurs. Their Ukrainian opponents were the best team not to qualify to the last sixteen of the Champions League. They won five of their eight games in the competition and became the only club to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp this season. With Redknapp leaving players behind in London, Spurs may struggle.

FC Copenhagen v Manchester City (7.05pm, BBC3)

Posted: February 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

There’s even more irrelevant UEFA Cup action tonight

Not even Five decided to screen Spurs and Man City’s reserves

(Photo Credit: Owen Humphreys, PA Wire)

While there wasn’t much to get excited about with last night’s UEFA Cup football, chickendinner could at least comfort ourselves with the knowledge we predicted wins for both Portsmouth and Hamburg. Today Tottenham and Manchester City are in action in equally unimportant games that even the TV companies have decided aren’t worth bothering with. chickendinner has decided to take sympathy on the unwanted UEFA Cup group stage fifth matchday though by giving it some exposure. Here’s what to expect from both games:

Racing Santander v Manchester City

Posted: December 18th, 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