CONCACAF Champions League: 10-12 March

[Napoleon Solo]

2010-3-10 03:00	Columbus vs Toluca	3.29	3.51	2.45
2010-3-11 03:00	CD Marathon vs Unam Pumas	2.50	3.35	3.26
2010-3-11 05:00	Comunicaciones vs Pachuca	3.49	3.45	2.21
2010-3-12 03:00	Arabe Unido vs Cruz Azul	3.00	3.25	2.25

[Napoleon Solo]

Columbus v Toluca

Columbus have a few things going against them coming into this match. This will be the first game of the season, their last competitive game being played in November. None of their players have played the full 90 minutes in any of their warm-up games and the club were still using trialists to fill out the roster up until last week. Star forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto and captain Frankie Hejduk will not play because of suspensions, while defenders Chad Marshall and Jed Zayner will not play due to injury.

Toluca are already nine games into their season so match fitness shouldn't be a problem. Toluca's only missing players will be defender Édgar Dueñas and forward Néstor Calderón so the team will be almost at full strength. They started the season poorly, without a win in their first five games, but are now unbeaten in their last four, winning twice.

The weather has conspired against Columbus. Up until a few days ago, there was plenty of snow about and the weather was freezing, which would have suited the US team. However, the snow has melted and the temperature is much milder.

US teams also have a terrible record against Mexican teams, even in games played in the US. The current record is 25 wins, 17 draws and 38 losses. That's an awful statistic for a country which is arguably the regions strongest football nation.

The Columbus players may also have their minds on another issue at the moment, an ongoing dispute between the MLS and the players union, which could see the start of the MLS season disrupted.

All things considered, I'm going to take a chance on the Mexican team coming away from the Crew stadium with a win.

Toluca at 2.40 (PaddyPower) - 3 points

Toluca could make this tie quite comfortable for the second leg, especially with the missing players in defence for Columbus.

Toluca -1 @ 4.50 (Bet365) - 1 point

[Napoleon Solo]

Marathon v UNAM Pumas

One other bet I like is Marathon of Honduras to beat the Mexican team UNAM Pumas.

Marathon have a very strong home record at home in this competition, having beaten some decent Mexican and US sides over the past few seasons. They're not doing brilliantly in their league this season, but they're usually pretty strong at home.

UNAM are apparently making the Mexican league their priority this season. They're sending a squad full of reserves and youth players, most of which play for Pumas Morelos (basically Pumas second team which plays in the Mexican second division).

With Marathon's strong home record and Pumas teams being made up of reserve and youth teams players, I'm putting a decent bet on the home side and a small bet on them beating a one goal handicap.

Marathon @ 2.50 (PaddyPower) - 4 points
Marathon -1 @ 4.60 (Bet-at-home) - 1 points

[Carlito]

Sounds like good info Napoleon. I'm gonna get on them

[Carlito]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Solo

Marathon v UNAM Pumas

One other bet I like is Marathon of Honduras to beat the Mexican team UNAM Pumas.

Marathon have a very strong home record at home in this competition, having beaten some decent Mexican and US sides over the past few seasons. They're not doing brilliantly in their league this season, but they're usually pretty strong at home.

UNAM are apparently making the Mexican league their priority this season. They're sending a squad full of reserves and youth players, most of which play for Pumas Morelos (basically Pumas second team which plays in the Mexican second division).

With Marathon's strong home record and Pumas teams being made up of reserve and youth teams players, I'm putting a decent bet on the home side and a small bet on them beating a one goal handicap.

Marathon @ 2.50 (PaddyPower) - 4 points
Marathon -1 @ 4.60 (Bet-at-home) - 1 points

I don't know where you got that information but this seems to contradict what you said

http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/News...988226,00.html

[yorkieacer]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Solo

Columbus v Toluca

Columbus have a few things going against them coming into this match. This will be the first game of the season, their last competitive game being played in November. None of their players have played the full 90 minutes in any of their warm-up games and the club were still using trialists to fill out the roster up until last week. Star forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto and captain Frankie Hejduk will not play because of suspensions, while defenders Chad Marshall and Jed Zayner will not play due to injury.

Toluca are already nine games into their season so match fitness shouldn't be a problem. Toluca's only missing players will be defender Édgar Dueñas and forward Néstor Calderón so the team will be almost at full strength. They started the season poorly, without a win in their first five games, but are now unbeaten in their last four, winning twice.

The weather has conspired against Columbus. Up until a few days ago, there was plenty of snow about and the weather was freezing, which would have suited the US team. However, the snow has melted and the temperature is much milder.

US teams also have a terrible record against Mexican teams, even in games played in the US. The current record is 25 wins, 17 draws and 38 losses. That's an awful statistic for a country which is arguably the regions strongest football nation.

The Columbus players may also have their minds on another issue at the moment, an ongoing dispute between the MLS and the players union, which could see the start of the MLS season disrupted.

All things considered, I'm going to take a chance on the Mexican team coming away from the Crew stadium with a win.

Toluca at 2.40 (PaddyPower) - 3 points

Toluca could make this tie quite comfortable for the second leg, especially with the missing players in defence for Columbus.

Toluca -1 @ 4.50 (Bet365) - 1 point

Unlucky it was looking good at half time, so was the outright win until the 85th minute

[Napoleon Solo]

Originally Posted by Carlito

I don't know where you got that information but this seems to contradict what you said

http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~1988226,00.html

I wouldn't pay any attention to the CONCACAF site, their info is usually extremely out of date.

I got the information from another forum, which I then checked on the official UNAM Pumas news site. http://www.unam.me/pumas-unam.html

[Carlito]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Solo

I wouldn't pay any attention to the CONCACAF site, their info is usually extremely out of date.

I got the information from another forum, which I then checked on the official UNAM Pumas news site. http://www.unam.me/pumas-unam.html

I had them backed before I read the Concacaf site anyways. Best of luck

[Carlito]

Cheers Napoleon. I'll never doubt you again
Had them at 3-1 (HT-FT) and threw in Lima for the double. Nice win. Keep up the good work

[MicPick]

Thursday

ARABE UNIDO V CRUZ AZUL -0.25 AWAY@1.88 PINNA

On Thursday, Arabe Unido will be without Armando Cooper regular mid, Francisco Castaneda reserve mid and goalkeeper regular Carlos Bejarano, each serving a one-game suspension that carries over from the Group Stage.

No inj/susp for the visitors.

[rcgills]

Cheers Napoleon Took Toluca and Marathon in a DNB double, so ended up making a small profit, thanks.

[MicPick]

Originally Posted by Mister X

Thursday

ARABE UNIDO V CRUZ AZUL -0.25 AWAY@1.88 PINNA

No inj/susp for the visitors.

sorry guys, read now that many regulars will be rested for the visitors.

El profesor Enrique Meza Salinas y el profesor Roberto Pérez Loarca, llevaron a cabo la práctica del día con Israel López, Fausto Pinto, Gerardo Torrado, Christian Giménez, Emanuel Villa, Jaime Lozano, Maximiliano Biancucchi, Joel Huiqui y Julio César Valdivia, quienes trabajaron con algunos elementos de la Sub-20 para complementar las dinámicas del día

[Napoleon Solo]

Thanks Carlito!

Originally Posted by Mister X

Thursday

ARABE UNIDO V CRUZ AZUL -0.25 AWAY@1.88 PINNA

No inj/susp for the visitors.

Merged your post with the existing thread Mister X.

Actually, your statement above isn't entirely ture. Cruza Azul are travelling to Panama without a host of first team players.

I'd have been interested if I could have got better odds on the home side, but as it is I think I'm going to stay away.

[Napoleon Solo]

No problem RC!

[Napoleon Solo]

CF Arabe Unido v Cruz Azul

Think I might actually risk a bet on the home team now that I've found some decent odds.

Arabe have a decent home record in the Champions League this season, having beaten Olimpia of Honduras, an understrength Pachuca side and drawn with Houston Dynamo. Panamanian teams aren't among the best in the CONCACAF region, but Arabe seem able to hold their own.

As already stated, Cruz Azul are resting regular first team players for this match as they have an important Primera Division match against Toluca in just two days. A mixture of first team, reserve team and youth players have travelled to Panama for this match.

I'm not as confident of this match as I have been of the others, but the odds of 3.20 from Betsson are certainly worth a bet.

CF Arabe Unido @ 3.20 (Betsson) - 2 points