Champions League 5-6th April

[slick]

UEFA Champions League
05 Apr 19:45 Inter Milan v Schalke 1.53 3.80 7.00
05 Apr 19:45 Real Madrid v Tottenham 1.40 4.50 8.50
06 Apr 19:45 Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk 1.20 6.50 15.00
06 Apr 19:45 Chelsea v Man Utd 2.10 3.20 3.75

Odds Bet365

[traeth]

With Real losing at home yesterday is there any value in Spurs?
At this stage in this competition there arn't any poor sides left and with it being a two leg affair the away sides could be in defensive mode. I was considering laying the home sides but I can't be laying Barca at home .
These thoughts need shooting down , fire away

[rcgills]

Real Madrid were missing a lot of players yesterday, Traeth - Ronaldo, Benzema, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Kaka were all out, and I think I read before kick off they were resting Pepe too, although don't know whether they did or not in the end.

Ronaldo and Benzema are supposedly highly doubtful for Tuesday, although whether that's true or just a bit of mind-games from Madrid I don't know. Not sure about the other players who missed yesterday.

[traeth]

thanks rc that's the kind of info I need to resist my temptation of placing those mug bets

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Real Madrid were missing a lot of players yesterday, Traeth - Ronaldo, Benzema, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Kaka were all out, and I think I read before kick off they were resting Pepe too, although don't know whether they did or not in the end.

Ronaldo and Benzema are supposedly highly doubtful for Tuesday, although whether that's true or just a bit of mind-games from Madrid I don't know. Not sure about the other players who missed yesterday.

Pepe was on the bench yesterday and came on for the final 15 mins or so. I see Mourinho has come out saying that they will defy medical orders and go with what Ronaldo thinks about whether he will play or not - I reckon it is a certainty he will.

Any word on Di Maria RC? He went off with what seemed an injury yesterday but I haven't heard anything more on it?

I also think Real are going to put a few past Spurs, outwith Barcelona I would rate them as the second best team around right now.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Any word on Di Maria RC? He went off with what seemed an injury yesterday but I haven't heard anything more on it?

Just had a quick flick through Marca's website, only mention of Di Maria that I can see is for the fact he'll be suspended for next weekend for 5 bookings, no mention of him potentially missing the Spurs game.

[Bigkegman]

In the Chelsea v Man Utd market Paddypower are refunding all losing bets if Man Utd win the match

[HastGill1]

Real Madrid v Tottenham

Been looking at this game closely like I'm sure a lot of others have. The 0-1 loss to Gijon on Sat might be a blessing in disguise for Mourinho, there is no way they can win the league now and can fully concerntrate on the CL, the squad hasn't looked quite as fresh since Christmas but still their record in La Liga and the CL is exceptional. Higuain was a surprise sub at the weekend and is certainly their best option up front although he won't be starting tonight, I don't believe Benzema is in his class and haven't ever been that impressed by him despite some of his recent good press (out tonight regardless), Adebayor has looked decent when he has played for Madrid though and I wouldn't rule out a decent performance for him tonight against a defence he will obviously know well.
The defence is solid and the midfield settled, think Ronaldo will start which is obviously a big boost, his pace is crucial to the way they play and along with Oezil and Di Maria will be the creative players most of the ball will go through. Alonso is a cracking player who keeps the ball moving through midfield with Khedira adding the steel alongside..

---------------------------------Casillas-------------------------------
--Ramos----------------Pepe-------------Carvalho------------Marcelo--
----------------------Khedira----------------Alonso--------------------
--------------Di Maria---------------Oezil------------Ronaldo-----------
---------------------------------Adebayor-----------------------------

Its difficult to pick many holes in that side, Oezil and Khedira have added so much to the side since they have arrived, Adebayor was a surprise loan move but can hold the ball up better than Benzema and link the play well which is likely to be important against what is likely to be a fairly defensive Spurs side keeping a deep defensive line..

Think Spurs were quite fortunate to go through after the battering Milan gave them at WHL, they had to be very dogged defensively which is not their natural game but they did it well and showed over the two legs they are not just an attacking side. The question is though are they starting to burn out? Their best player without question is Van Der Vaart, people talk about Bale but he is no where near the technical talent of VDV, if him and Modric tick, Spurs tick. Since coming back from injury though VDV has not been hitting the same standards he was before, most games he has been subbed halfway through the second half and is obviously disappointed with this stating that he 'expected' to be kept on the pitch for longer after the recent international break (although he wisely back tracked from this statement soon after by praising Redknapp's managerial skills!). He is a key player for Spurs tonight, we all know what Crouch can do in the air but he cannot run down the flanks, he will need support quickly from Bale and VDV, if he gets too isolated Spurs are likely to be in trouble. They have little choice though up front, they need someone who can bring others into the game as they are likely to be without the ball for long periods. Their side pretty much picks itself:

----------------------------------Gomes------------------------------
--Corluka------------Dawson----------------Gallas------------Ekotto--
--Lennon------------------Modric---------Sandro----------------Bale--
--------------------------------------------VDV-----------------------
-------------------------------Crouch---------------------------------

Spurs are obviously underdogs in this one, it would make sense for them to approach it in the same way they did the first leg in the San Siro although they are likely to face a much sterner test than Milan provided. Real Madrid's home record in the CL so far is virtually flawless; Ajax 2-0, Milan 2-0, Auxerre 4-0, Lyon 3-0. This follows their home form this season, its very strong, before Sat they had won the last 25 matches there! Spurs away form has been sketchy at best, they have drawn 2 and lost 1 of the last 3 away to the sides that I think will occupy the bottom 3 spots in the PL this season in Blackpool, Wolves and Wigan. Their CL away form is pretty poor also if you take out the Milan game, not winning a game in the group stages.

The recent scoring problems I believe are down to the aforementioned problems with VDV, he is the key to this side, with him not firing currently and Bale not 100% fit they could struggle to score. I do think they can have some luck down the flanks though, Lennon and Bale can certainly cause Marcelo some problems as he is not the best defensively and Ramos does like to get forward and leave gaps although I imagine he will be more discliplined tonight. Sandro needs to be superb tonight as we saw the problems Seedorf gave Spurs at WHL distributing the ball to the forwards, expect Alonso to do similar tonight with Di Maria, Ronaldo and Oezil. I'm not sure Spurs can keep this attacking line up at bay, the defense has certainly got stronger and more organised as the season has gone on and they will be severely tested tonight. Real can be patient, 1-0, 2-0 is a good score for them to take to London, and make no doubt about it Mourinho will know how to exploit Spurs and will have done his homework, for Spurs as I said I think the flanks are key and any joy they do get will need to come from the pace of Lennon and Bale. I can't see beyond Real here..

Real to win to nil: 2.5 (Ladbrokes) 4/10
Time of First Goal 28+ 1.9 (Bet365) 2.5/10
2-0 - 7 (Coral) 1/10
3-0 - 10.5 (Betchronicle) 1/10

[ONEDUNME]

It's no good, I'm going to have to turn the TV sound down. I can't bear any more of Derek Trotter doing the co-commentary.

Dawson throws a man to the ground and tries to elbow the keeper in the head and ...."I have to say I can't see anything wrong with that.."

Then you should have gone to specsavers you twat

[Bigkegman]

Cant believe Ray Wilkins is talking about how Tottenham CAN SCORE GOALS.....

latest games

West Ham 0-0
Wigan 0-0
AC 0-0

ok game before these 3 was a 3-3 draw against Wolves but they are playing fecking Real Madrid !!!!

time to mute the tv also

[Bigkegman]

What a goal from Stankovic !!!!! You dont see many of these but wat a goal

[slick]

I'm pretty sure Wilkins is after a job at Spurs Kegger as he was so much up their arse, it got me when he said Spurs don't deserve this, thiers no way after their performance they deserve to be 4-0 down, he was right they deserved to be 10-0 down, I didn't like the way he kept referring to Carvalho as 'Ricky' either to remind us he used to work at Chelsea.

[slick]

Those are big odds for United tonight but I won't be touching it, I'll just enjoy the game.
I can see the Rags turning Chelsea over but with their current defensive frailties anything could happen, I also expect both teams to score.

[Bigkegman]

I'm going for Torres to score tonight.

He's got no confidence and shouldn't be favourite but i just think he could step up to the plate tonight and deliver....... (lets fecking hope so )

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by Bigkegman

I'm going for Torres to score tonight.

He's got no confidence and shouldn't be favourite but i just think he could step up to the plate tonight and deliver....... (lets fecking hope so )

I'm with you mate. Bought his player goal minutes (along with Park who I always back) and also bet him first scorer with the money back offer with paddy power mentioned above