Champions League- Arsenal to Dutch it Over Alkmaar
TUESDAY
Liverpool are 5/6 (Paddypower) to beat Lyon at Anfield and while our heart says a home win we’re not so sure that will happen. Liverpool will miss Torres through injury for this game and they won’t find it easy to break a Lyon rearguard who haven’t conceded a goal in the competition yet.
Lyon have just won once on British soil in European Competition, but they do boast an excellent away record in the Group stages of the Champions League having won 10 and drawing three of their last 15 away ties. With Liverpool looking out of sort sin recent weeks we believe it could be the best option to lay Liverpool on the exchanges as we can see Lyon taking something from this game.
Lyon do look attractively priced at 4/1 (Skybet) to get a win but we’re predicting a draw 12/5 (Coral) to be the out come. A small bet on a 1-1 result 6/1 (Coral) could be a winning bet, but we’re more inclined to think this might finish goalless and we’re going for a 0-0 scoreline 12/1 (Skybet).
Arsenal travel to Holland to play AZ Alkmaar and even though they are away from home they are odds on to get a win. AZ managed a draw against Standard Liege in their last home tie, but Arsenal will be a far tougher prospect. Alkmaar usually try and go forward, but they have found goals hard to come by domestically and that could be a problem.
Taking Arsenal to keep a clean sheet could be worthwhile at 11/10 (Paddypower) and even taking them to win to nil 13/8 (Skybet) is a bet we’d urge you to seriously think about.
We have to go for Arsenal to win 1/2 (Bet365) and think a 2-0 scoreline 13/2 (Skybet) as well as a bet on Robin Van Persie 4/1 (Ladbrokes) to be first goalscorer are all worth a bet.
Rangers won’t have it all their own way against Romanian side Unirea Urziceni. The Romanians are a decent side and the Scottish champions will have to be at their best to win this match. We believe they will have enough to just shade it, although it will be tight. We recommend taking the over 2.5 goals 11/10 (Coral) as well as having a bet on both teams to score Evens (Ladbrokes).
We’re predicting a Rangers win 4/5 (Bet365) and think that Steven Davis 16/1 (Bet365) could provide the first goal.
WEDNESDAY
Manchester United have injury problems ahead of their trip to Moscow to take on CSKA. United have an exceptionally good away record in this competition , having won their last 13 away games, but their record against Russian teams isn’t great and they don’t look enticing enough at 4/5 (Ladbrokes) for us to back them.
CSKA 11/4 (Ladbrokes) will play their usual patient game, but even with players missing we believe United can hold them.
Our forecast here is a draw 23/10 (Bet365) and think the under 2.5 goals should be backed at 4/6 (Paddypower). We’re also tipping a 1-1 scoreline 6/1 (Paddypower).
Chelsea have to improve on their last two domestic performances if they are to take the three points form their match with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. Another three points for Chelsea would all but see them qualify and with Atletico looking a little vulnerable these days we’re tipping Chelsea to win.
Chelsea are 4/11 (Ladbrokes) to win and a 1-0 correct score bet 6/1 (Bet365) looks a decent price. Having a bet on Michael Ballack 10/1 (Paddypower) be first goalscorer could bring a nice return.
