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Tuesdays Soccer – by Chris.
Champions League
Real Madrid - Lyon 2.05 - 3.65
The Best bet of the day (2.05). I can assure you that Lyon are nowhere near their best form. I have seen their last league games, vs bottom sides Valenciennes and Sedan, and I could not recognise Houllier's team. They won these fixtures 2-1 and 1-0, but their goals were purely accidental and lucky. Their fluent, quick football was gone. They have obvious problems up front, with Fred, Benzema, Govou and Wiltord all out of action. Carew and Remy started in the Sedan fixture. Well, they have no others.
With Real it is the other way around. I expect Real to dominate Lyon tomorrow much the same way that they were dominated by Lyon 2 months ago. Beckham, Ronaldo and Cicinho remain sidelined, but no big deal. Worse is that Cannavaro risks missing this match. Salgado is ready to replace Cannavaro. Robinho will be back tomorrow and Guti has been declared fit to play.
Let me put it this way. If Real fail to win tomorrow, it will cost me money. (2.05)
Steaua Bukarest - Dynamo Kiev 1.85 - 4.55When Steaua defeated Dynamo, 4-1, in Ukraine, they used speedy counter attacks to perfection. It will of course be a different type of game tonight, with Steaua playing in front of their home fans, and it is more likely that the Ukrainians will be the counter attacking side. Some 10 days ago the Steaua captain Radoi returned from his long injury spell. He came on as a late sub against Nacional and scored with a penalty kick. Not only Radoi is back, also Cristocea is fit to play again.
D Kiev are 12-3-0 in the Ukrainian league and they just recently defeated their arch rivals Shaktar. In other words, their domestic form is perfect. Missing tonighr, their Ukrainian international, Rebrov. Kind of hopeless situation for Dynamo tomorrow. They can practically forget about the third place in the group, with Steaua 4-1 winners in the first meeting. From experience I know that there are no easy wins in the Champions League. Anyway, my choice would probably be the home win. (1.85)
Benfica - FC Copenhagen 1.53 - 7.00
When these sides played out a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen, Benfica never wanted anything but a 0-0 result. They had no problems whatsoever keeping the home side at bay during the 90 minutes. Tonight Benfica will be without the injured defender Luisao. Nuno Gomes and Miccoli up front, I guess.
FC come more or less full strength, with only Bergdolmo and Pimpong on the sidelines. Key players are M Allbäck, T Linderoth and J Grönkjaer. It is difficult to grasp their 1-0 win against M United. They had half a goal chance during the 90 minutes, but it turned out to be enough.
Benfica are a terrific home side in these European fixtures, and I can only picture a home win. (1.53)
Celtic - Manchester Utd 4.00 - 2.00
Vennegoor of Hesselink and T Gravesen are back for this game. As you remember both were missing 3 weeks ago, when Celtic lost to Benfica, 0-3. G Caldwell caused the first two Benfica goals. He is an injury doubt tomorrow and he will probably be replaced by B Balde. Cannot be a bad thing. Kenny Miller should be fit to play up front with Vennegoor.
United have all their players available.
I never expected Celtic to match M United at Old Trafford, but as the 2-3 result indicates, Celtic were always in the game. So Celtic can win tomorrow? Personally I do not think so. This is one of the really big fixtures, Celtic vs M United at the Celtic Park, and usually the big United names love these kind of hot encounters. It will bring out the best out of them, at least in my opinion. Away win. (2.00)
Arsenal - Hamburg 1.25 - 15.00
Must win game for Arsenal, but fortunately they are up against a constantly underachieving Hamburg side. Hamburg are pointless in this group and in Germany they have managed 1 win in 13 league games, amazing but true. Guerrero, Sorin and Klingbeil are missing for the Germans.
Arsenal have to do without Gallas and Rosicky, but should have F Ljungberg back. Van Persie will be fit to play and one of Senderos or Djorou will replace Gallas.
Wrong scene for Hamburg, this Champions League scene. Home win. (1.25)
CSKA Moscow - Porto 2.05 - 4.00
They have yet to concede a goal in this group, CSKA, despite two meetings with Arsenal. OK, they were extremely lucky at the Emirates Stadium, but fact is that their win against Arsenal in Moscow was much deserved. Missing tomorrow, their Russian international defender S Ignashevich and their striker Jo. The other Brazilians, Dudu and Wagner Love will play of course, as well as Carvalho,
Porto miss their young talent Anderson once again, but they have both Ibson and Adriano available again. Postiga, L Lopez and Quaresma in the front line, I should think.
According to reports there was a lot of champagne on the plane back to Moscow the other day, when CSKA returned home form Vladivostok as Russian champions. They should be sober by now, hopefully. I prefer the home win alternative. (2.05)
AEK Atens - Milan 5.00 - 1.78
Coach S Ferrer has obviously been very good for AEK. They have won their last 5 league games and they are now third in the Greek league, with 7-3-1 after 11 rounds. They also won their first Ch. League game ever 3 weeks ago, when they defeated Lille, 1-0. Liberopoulos and J Cesar among their goal scorers at the week end.
Did you notice that Costacurta, (40 years) Maldini (38) and Cafu (35 or 37) all started for Milan in the Empoli fixture? A bit embarrassing, is it not? Tonight Milan have to do without two key players, Nesta and Gattuso, plus Serginho, Kaladze and Ambrosini.
Champions League is what matters to Milan nowadays, as the point reduction and poor domestic form has made their Serie A season a very sad affair. They can forget about winning the Champions League, and I wonder what will happen with their next season in Europe? The Intertoto Cup? This game? Maybe Milan still are at least one class above AEK. (1.78)
Lille - Anderlecht 1.62 - 7.25
Lille usually win their European home fixtures, it is simple as that. At least against limited sides like Anderlecht, but also M United have lost to Lille. Long term injured are Audel and Dumont, and Lille are also without the suspended duo, Cabaye and Tavlaridis. They can handle those absentees.
Anderlecht miss their first choice keeper Zitka, with Schollen deputising. Frutos also sidelined. Bad dress rehearsal for Anderlecht, as they lost to Gent at the weekend, 1-2. As many as 12.000 Belgian supporters have made the journey to France. Quite impressive, but my choice is nevertheless the home win. (1.62)
Chris.
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