Category: Football

Bayern Munich are favourites for the Champions League after setting up a final clash with Chelsea.

The Germans beat Real Madrid 3-1 on penalties following a 3-3 aggregate draw in their semi-final on Wednesday.

Bayern, available at 22/1 when the tournament began, are now a best of 1/2 with Coral, Betfred and bodog to lift the trophy on May 19 when the final takes place in their home stadium, the Allianz Arena.

Chelsea, who stunned Barcelona with a 3-2 aggregate win in the first semi-final, are out at 15/8 with Boylesports and bodog. 7/4 is more widely available.

The Blues hit 28/1 in the outright market after losing the first leg of their last-16 clash against Napoli 3-1 in February.

As for the 90-minute match betting, Bayern are odds-on at 10/11 with Hill’s.

Sky Bet fancy the Germans even more – they go 5/6 – but they are prepared to offer 13/5 about Chelsea, while they have the draw out at 5/2.

Both sides will be missing key men for the showdown.

David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo all picked up yellow cards against Real which will rule them out of the final.

Chelsea will be missing John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles due to suspension.

Chelsea, however, have yet to conquer Europe. The closest they have come was in 2008 when they lost the final on penalties to Manchester United.

source: www.bettingzone.co.uk

Side with the South Americans

Valencia were soundly beaten by Atletico Madrid in last week’s Europa League semi-final first leg but a late goal in the capital gave them some hope ahead of Thursday’s return fixture.

Madrid will now only take a two-goal lead to the Mestalla after Ricardo Costa made it 4-2 with his injury-time strike.

While Madrid remain firm favourites to reach next month’s final in Bucharest, the tie is far from over, particularly with two away goals in the bank. They will also go into this one knowing they have not lost any of their last 21 home games in this competition.

Valencia will have little choice but to go for it but the way they were picked apart in the first leg suggests they have a big task keeping their visitors out.

The good news for Valencia is they have managed to do so twice in the Spanish league this season, while going forward they have been scoring plenty of late.

In each of their last three home games they’ve banged in four goals, while they also scored three here against Bayer Leverkusen and seven against Genk in the Champions League earlier in the season, not to mention four against PSV in this competition.

In short, we’re expecting goals but with the layers once again thinking along the same lines and keeping prices low in their over 2.5 and 3.5 goal markets, we’re going to head to the anytime scorer markets in search of profit.

For Valencia, Jonas is the man we’re happy to side with a what appears to be a decent price of 5/2.

He’s netted 16 times in 49 apperances this season, while his recent form is good as he’s netted four times in the last four games, a run which includes one in last week’s first leg and another at the weekend against Real Betis.

The Brazilian looks a decent alternative to his better-known colleague Roberto Soldado, who is odds-on in places.

We’re not going to stop there though.

With Atletico looking more than capable of punishing Valencia at the back, we can’t resist backing Falcao to score for them.

The Colombian has a wonderful record in the Europa League, finishing as its top scorer last season with 17, while this term he’s bagged 10 making him the joint leader in the scoring charts. During the two-year period, he averages exactly a goal a game.

Throw in the fact that he’s found the target 22 times in 30 league games and you begin to wonder why he’s available at 2/1 to net here.

Like Jonas, Falcao has four in his last four outings and scored twice in the first leg.

With his side in good form having won six of their last eight in all competitions, the price looks too big to us.

The other semi-final looks more evenly poised – Sporting Lisbon taking a 2-1 advantage into the second leg away to Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao, who famously knocked Manchester United out in the last 16, are a best of 8/11 to qualify, which looks about right.

Sporting’s recent away record in Europe is not great but of course they don’t have to win the match to reach the final.

Athletic have impressed in this competition but such has been their stuttering domestic form – they are only sixth in the Primera Division – you can’t help but fear they will throw in one of their shockers in Europe eventually.

We’ll swerve this one and keep our fingers crossed for a goal feast on the east coast where a goal for either Jonas or Falcao will ensure a profit.

source: www.bettingzone.co.uk

Wayne Rooney was the only significant absentee from the open portion of training ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League last-32 decider against Ajax at Old Trafford tomorrow.

There has been no suggestion of an injury to Rooney, although with an important Barclays Premier League trip to Norwich looming on Sunday, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not want to take any chances with his star man.

The remainder of United’s first-team squad were present, including midfielder Anderson, who has been missing recently.

On a windy day during which temporary fences erected to shield building work at United’s Carrington training complex blew down, long-time absentee Michael Owen was spotted doing some jogging on his own as he tries to battle back from injury.

Owen has not featured for United since suffering a thigh muscle problem in a Champions League group phase match against Otelul Galati in November.

United would appear to be in little danger of early elimination following their 2-0 first-leg win in Amsterdam last week. Victory would secure a last-16 meeting with either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao next month.

Source sportinglife.com

Andre Villas-Boas admitted speculation over his future would only intensify after Chelsea lurched to yet another defeat that left them in danger of Champions League elimination.

Villas-Boas watched his Blues produce their latest defensive horror show to lose their last-16 first leg 3-1 and pile the pressure on their beleaguered boss.

And he acknowledged afterwards his side had shot themselves in the foot yet again as they extended their winless run to five matches.

The Portuguese has repeatedly insisted he has the full backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich but this performance would have done nothing to convince the Russian to deliver the vote of confidence his manager now needs more than ever.

“Speculation will continue as the results don’t happen,” Villas-Boas said.

Having thrown away leads with alarming regularity both at home and abroad this season, Chelsea duly did so again as captain John Terry’s injury absence continued to tell.

Juan Mata gave them the dream start but all three of Napoli’s subsequent goals were the result of poor defending, even if Edinson Cavani’s second carried suspicions of handball.

Villas-Boas said: “We have to solve these mistakes at the back.

“We need this concentration right and this efficiency right, for sure.

“At the moment, without John, a very important player for the team, we have suffered a lot of goals recently.

“We had improved a lot at the beginning of January, so we have missed John.

“But we have full belief in these players and we have to continue to work with them to get it right.”

David Luiz’s latest mistake was the most costly, gifting Napoli the third goal that made them firm favourites to win the tie.

“It’s obvious that that player has become a target,” said Villas-Boas.

“He’s a fantastic young player with a big future ahead of him, and he has to work to try and be a bit better.

“We suffered three goals. If he’s linked to one, he might not be linked to the other two.”

As well as taking flak for standing by Luiz, Villas-Boas is bound to face criticism for his decision not to start either Frank Lampard or Michael Essien.

Much has been made of the Chelsea boss’ relationship with Lampard in particular, but he insisted his team selection was purely tactical, while Ashley Cole did not start after only just recovering from injury.

“You can have your opinion but it was based on what was the best team in my thoughts,” Villas-Boas said.

“Whatever explanation I give you, in the end it would be a fantastic explanation if we’d won the game.

“Any explanation is now useless given the result of the game, so there’s no point.”

Villas-Boas, who admitted one of the formations he had been toying with but did not end up using had been written on a piece of paper left at the team hotel, added: “I had a conversation with Ashley and Frank.

“Through the players that they are and the players with the experience they have, they felt they could have helped the team.

“That’s perfectly understandable.”

Only three teams have overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in Champions League history but a defiant Villas-Boas said: “I want us to be the fourth.”

He added: “It’s a negative result, of course, but a result we are sure we can turn around at the Bridge due to the amount of chances we had.”

source: sportinglife.com

It is understood that interim England coach Stuart Pearce will name an inexperienced squad for a friendly date with Holland.

Pearce, who has been handed the national reins in the wake of Fabio Capello’s resignation, is set to announce his squad on Thursday.

It is expected that he will take the opportunity to experiment, with a number of senior stars set to be overlooked.

A meeting with Holland at Wembley on 29th February will see England step up their preparations for Euro 2012.

They need to start piecing together plans for that tournament, but are keen to take a look at as many players as possible before a decision has to be made regarding their final 23-man squad.

As manager of the U21 side, Pearce is fully aware of what the next generation of English talent could bring to the fold.

He is expected to call on a number of those he has worked with during his time with the Young Lions, offering them an opportunity to impress on the biggest stage.

source: sportinglife.com

John Terri is set to be out for up to two months after aggravating his knee injury, Press Association Sport understands.

Terry is due to undergo what is understood to be a small procedure on the right knee that has been troubling him ever since he collided with a post in last month’s FA Cup clash with Portsmouth.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas had been hoping the 31-year-old would recover in time for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash at Napoli.

But, despite taking part in training last night, the England centre-back woke up in considerable pain at Chelsea’s team hotel this morning and will now miss Tuesday night’s game and next week’s international friendly against Holland.

The news is huge blow to the club, who have not won a match or kept a clean sheet since Terry was first ruled out three weeks ago.

A two-month absence would see him miss potential Champions League and FA Cup quarter-finals as well as a host of crucial Barclays Premier League games as Chelsea struggle to secure a place in the top four.

Terry had played through the pain of what was bruising on the bone for three weeks and the club were hoping a period of rest would see him make a full recovery.

But he is now set to undergo a small procedure in the next 24 hours after the Blues fly home from Tuesday night’s Champions League last 16 first leg.

England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce is scheduled to name his squad for next Wednesday’s friendly with Holland on Thursday morning.

Terry’s absence relieves Pearce of the problem of having to decide whether to pick both the deposed captain and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Terry lost the armband while he awaits trial for allegedly using a racist slur against Ferdinand’s brother, QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

Terry denies any wrongdoing and the Football Association’s decision to strip him of the captaincy led to Fabio Capello quitting as England boss almost two weeks ago.

Source sportinglife.com

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has apologised for his recent conduct following his touchline row with manager Roberto Mancini in September.

The 28-year-old returned to the club last week , following a self-imposed, three-month exile in Argentina.

“I wish to apologise sincerely and unreservedly to everybody I have let down and to whom my actions have caused offence,” Tevez said in a statement.

He has also withdrawn his appeal against the club’s misconduct charge.

“My wish is to concentrate on playing football for Manchester City Football Club,” he added.

The Argentina international has been missing from the City squad since November and has not featured for the club after boss Roberto Mancini alleged the striker refused to come on as a substitute during City’s 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in a Champions League tie in September, although Tevez claimed there had been a misunderstanding.

Carlos Tevez’s apology marks a significant rapprochement in this often bitter dispute.

It should be viewed as a pragmatic measure by both club and player, following lengthy negotiations this month between Kia Joorabchian, Tevez’s representative, and John McBeath, Manchester City’s acting chief executive.

Having failed to secure a move to, notably, AC Milan in the January transfer window, Tevez faced a choice of continuing to play golf in Argentina or returning to Manchester to fight for his place in the team.

It may still be the case that Tevez moves on in the summer, but for now peace appears to have broken out at the Etihad Stadium.

Straight after the incident, Mancini claimed the Argentine was “finished” at City, though he later suggested an apology would put an end to the matter.

Tevez was suspended and later fined for misconduct before he flew back to South America to begin his unauthorised leave on 7 November, for which he has lost nearly £10m in salary, fines and bonuses payments.

During his three-month absence, the former Manchester United and West Ham striker was linked with transfer window moves to AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain but failed to secure a switch away from Manchester.

West Ham chairman David Gold has also revealed his club made a number of attempts to bring Tevez back to Upton Park on loan.

Earlier this month relations seemed to have thawed and Mancini named the Argentine in his 25-man squad for the rest of the season.

BBC Sport understands that neither Tevez nor Mancini have spoken to each other since the striker arrived back at Manchester City last Tuesday.

Tevez has since begun a two to three week training program designed to return him to fitness. He is not in the club’s European squad ahead of their Europa League clash against Porto as he is not registered for the competition.

Former Manchester City star Dennis Tueart told BBC Radio 5 live that the Argentine’s return had not surprised him, and insists the club’s handling of the affair was “a message going out to the world of football that we are not a soft touch”.

“Once the transfer window closed and he realised that the grass wasn’t greener elsewhere and no-one else was prepared to pay the money, where else could he go?” said Tueart.

The former winger added that the fine form of City’s strikeforce makes Tevez “fourth choice” and said “if Sergio Aguero keeps producing the goods he has all season, Tevez won’t get a game”.

“If he’s introduced, he will be introduced off the bench and it will be interesting to see what his attitude will be if he’s asked to resume warming up,” said Tueart.

Source: bbc.co.uk

Harry Redknapp Redknapp’s side saw a six-game winning run halted by Stoke on Sunday

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is not interested in taking on the England manager’s job “at the present time”, according to club chairman Daniel Levy.

“Harry has 18 months left on his contract. As far as Harry is concerned, he is very happy here and he doesn’t particularly want to consider England at the present time,” said Levy.

“We will worry about that situation if it arises in the summer.”

Current England boss Fabio Capello will leave the role at the end of Euro 2012.

Redknapp has previously said the England job would be “hard to turn down” and described the position as “the pinnacle of your career”.
Harry Redknapp’s managerial career

He also claimed in September 2010 that he was taking his career a week at a time.

The 64-year-old took the reins at Tottenham in October 2008 with the team four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League after a miserable start to the season under Spainard Juande Ramos.

He oversaw a recovery in their form as they climbed to eighth by the end of the campaign and then qualified for the Champions League in his first full season in charge in 2009-10.

Tottenham claimed famous victories over Inter Milan and AC Milan en route to the last eight of the premier European competition and have won plaudits for an attacking style that has taken them to fourth in the Premier League table this season.

Redknapp is due to face trial in January on tax evasion charges relating to his time as manager of previous club Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, the Tottenham boss has been warned over his future conduct following his post-match comments about the performance of referee Chris Foy during the defeat at Stoke.

The Spurs boss said he felt like Foy “was quite enjoying not giving us anything” during the 2-1 defeat.

The Football Association looked at the comments but decided against taking disciplinary reaction and instead have written to Redknapp.

An FA spokesman said: “We have written to Harry Redknapp following his post-match comments on Sunday warning him as to his future conduct.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince believes the transfer window has come at the right time for the club.

United announced that midfielder Darren Fletcher is to take an extended break from the game because he is suffering from ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition.

The Old Trafford club had previously stated they did not intend doing much activity in the transfer window – but Ince believes the absence of the Scotland international means they may reverse that decision.

With fellow midfielders Anderson and Tom Cleverley sidelined and central defender Nemanja Vidic also injured, Ince believes Tottenham’s Luka Modric may interest manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ince told BBC Radio Five Live: “I feel they need that creativity in midfield, losing Paul Scholes was a big loss obviously.

“You’re not going to get players like Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, those players aren’t around anymore.

“The game has changed since then and you don’t get those type of characters, so he (Ferguson) has got to look at another way of controlling the midfield and I think that can come from creativity in someone like Luka Modric or Andres Iniesta, they are the players I would be looking at.

“I’m sure Sir Alex will take stock and he’ll be looking at what type of player he will need in January and it won’t just be in midfield, I’m sure he’s looking at a centre-half with Vidic being out.

“But I’m sure he knows what to do, there’s no point me telling him what to do because he’s the greatest manager I’ve ever played under.”

Former West Ham, Liverpool and United midfielder Ince also believes a goalscorer should be on Ferguson’s wishlist, particularly with Javier Hernandez out for several weeks with an ankle injury.

He added: “There is a lot of pressure on Rooney and we saw what that did to him in the World Cup.

“If you are going to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea you need someone who is going to score you 20 goals a season and you can’t just rely on Wayne Rooney to do it year in and year out.

“Nani has chipped in and Ashley Young was flying early on, but they have quietened down form-wise, so you wonder where the goals are going to come from.

“[Dimitar] Berbatov’s not playing enough, Michael Owen is out injured again and Danny Welbeck is still a young lad but he will chip in with goals.”

Harry Redknapp believes football should experiment with two referees after a recent spate of controversial decisions.

Tottenham were on the wrong end of what they believe were costly errors by the match officials during their 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Manchester City were denied what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty during their 2-1 reversal at Chelsea on Monday night.

Redknapp feels these mistakes could be eradicated if extra officials were introduced.

He appreciates that it would be difficult for a rule change to be implemented, but feels football needs to explore all possible avenues when it comes to getting big decisions right – with so much riding on the outcome of results at the highest level.

“This could make me just about the most unpopular manager among my colleagues in the Premier League, but I reckon it might be a good idea to have not one but two referees in every match,” Redknapp wrote in his column in The Sun.

“Refs have a tough job, I know that. The other managers know that.

“I don’t want to criticise them, but if we can think of a solution where they can work more effectively and we avoid these fall-outs surely it must be better for us all.

“Referees are human and can make errors and bad calls, just as I can, and, do.

“However, if we had two referees on one pitch, perhaps one in each half, surely it would cut the risk of getting a big decision wrong by 50 per cent.

“In Europe, we have had extra refs on the touchline and that has helped.

“But two on the pitch could be something worth experimenting with.

“We have lots of top-class referees so it could only make their job easier if they got some help on the pitch.

“Key decisions are being made in big games and there is so much more pressure involved nowadays.

“Virtually every match is on the telly and I think we must look at every angle of making sure we get it right.”