Barcelona
Jose Guardiola’s men left the Nou Camp 2 weeks ago with their held high and their pride well entirely restored after they asserted their dominance over Arsenal in the 2nd leg of the round of 16. They showed everyone that day that even without pivotal player Gerard Pique they can still match anyone blow for blow. Barcelona will always be dangerous and with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Villa fit and likely to start they will go into this fixture surely as hot favourites. Domestically Villa has suffered a dip in form lately; he suffered a torrid time in Barca’s fixture against Getafe in which they only managed a narrow 2-1 win due to a Dani Alves screamer and a late strike from Bojan. So he will be looking to re-assert himself in this important fixture so a bet on him scoring a brace in this fixture could be an intelligent one at odds of 4.5 on BetFred.
Lionel Messi on the other hand had a stormer of a game and provided the assist for both goals in this fixture, after dazzling the Getafe backline with his trademark trickery. Messi still leads the La Liga scoring charts and after his performance at the weekend and against Arsenal in the round of 16 he is definitely one to watch. So a bet on him to score at any time looks like it could definitely end up paying off with odds of 1.67 on Coral. Barcelona may score a lot but this open style of play does leave them open to defensive frailties and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last 3 games, so with Shakhtar coming here with nothing to lose why not have a bet on both teams scoring at odds of 2.25 on SkyBet.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar are already a clear 12 points ahead of their nearest rivals Dynamo Kiev in their domestic league and look set to run away with it, their 4-0 demolition of Volyn at the weekend being evidence of this. Influential captain Dario Srna picked up the man of the match award and rightly so, providing the assists for three of the four goals netted in the fixture. He will be a massive figure for Donetsk at the Nou Campo and will need to be at his best to get forward as well as stopping the marauding runs of Lionel Messi, he is a good bet to score the last goal of the fixture at odds of 29.0 on SkyBet.
Manchester United target Douglas Costa scored a fine goal at the weekend and with rumours of a move to Manchester rife he will be looking to put in a hell of a shift against ‘The best team in the world’ so a bet on him opening the scoring could be an ambitious one but could in the end pay off at odds of 19.0 on SkyBet.
Highlighted Bets:
To Score a Brace David Villa 4.5 BetFred
Anytime Goalscorer Lionel Messi 1.67 Coral
Both Teams to Score 2.25 SkyBet
Last Goalscorer Dario Srna 29.0 SkyBet
First Goalscorer Douglas Costa 19.0 SkyBet
By John Fernandez
It’s another EL Clasico on Tuesday when the two Spanish giants clash again in the Semi Final of the Champions League. This is the fourth meeting in 18 days between the two clubs and perhaps the most important with a place in the Champions League final at stake. Barcelona take a 2-0 advantage into the second leg on Tuesday and have not lost at home to Real since 2007.
Barcelona
Barcelona took revenge for their Copa del Rey defeat in the first leg with a controversial away win. It was a rather scrappy game until Leo Messi brought the game to life with two great goals. Barca also recorded a 5-0 home win over Mourinho’s men earlier in the season and so are rightly favourites for this tie and best priced at 1.67 with Bet365 to get the win. Pep Guardiola will be hoping to progress to the final for the second time as Barcelona manager as he looks for a La Liga and European Cup double this season. That man Messi has scored an unbelievable 52 goals this season and is therefore a great bet at 4.5 with Paddy Power to open the scoring on Tuesday night. A strong defence has also been key for the Blaugrana this season as they have only conceded 19 goals in 34 league games.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid lost a bad tempered first leg at home to Barca on Tuesday and followed it up with a 3-2 home defeat to relegation threatened Real Zaragoza on Saturday. Pepe and Mourinho were both shown red last Wednesday and so the defender will be suspended whilst Jose watches from the stands. The defeat could be critical for Madrid as they will have to score 3 times against a solid defence if they are to progress to the final. Real will also have to try and keep their temperament in Barcelona if they are to stand any chance as they have had 4 players sent off against their rivals this season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in the cup final a few weeks ago and looks the most likely to get on the score sheet for Los Merengues, so odds of 3.0 from coral for the forward to score at any time are looking very good. There are also decent odds of 2.88 available from Bet365 for the away side to score first.
Highlighted Bets
Barcelona WIN – 1.67 Bet365
2-1 home WIN – 9.0 Unibet
Leo Messi to score first – 4.5 Paddy Power
Ronaldo anytime scorer – 3.0 Coral
Madrid to score first – 2.88 Bet365
By Sam Markham
Barcelona
Barcelona’s narrow weekend victory over Real Zaragoza at the Nou Camp will have definitely raised spirits for the Catalan giants. They are now 10 points clear of closest rivals Real Madrid in La Liga and will be looking to this game to show that the first leg really was just a fluke. Barca go into this clash as firm favourites to not just win this fixture but to progress and win the competition, they have understandably unfavourable odds of winning at 1.3 on StanJames to win the game.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be missing key man Gerard Pique and will be forced to replace him, meaning that the defensive stability they had in the first leg of the fixture could be lost for this game. Star man Lionel Messi has been on fantastic form this season with 27 goals in all competition and can count himself extremely unlucky that he didn’t walk away with a goal at the Emirates in the 1st leg. The Argentine magician is priced at 1.57 on William Hill to score at any time in the fixture.
Arsenal
Since Arsenal’s miraculous comeback against the Catalonians in the 1st leg Arsenal’s form has been extremely erratic, with draws against Leyton Orient, Sunderland and losses against strugglers Birmingham it’s hard to predict which Arsenal are going to pitch up. Arsene Wenger will be hoping that the Arsenal that played the last 30 minutes when they previously faced Barcelona will be the ones heading to the Nou Camp.
Integral to this will be whether captain fantastic Cesc Fabregas is fit, as well as on form striker Robin Van Persie who caused the Barcelona backline a whole host of problems in the last fixture. Arsenal will surely be a much more favourable bet if the two players are fit, the odds of Cesc Fabregas opening the scoring are 17.0 on BoyleSports. Arsenal trailed at half time in the last fixture and could be good value to do the same at odds of 51.0 on Bet 365.
Overall it looks like it could be a tight affair and it may come down to extra time, the question will be who can bring on and make the most impact with the fresh legs of substitutes. Barcelona boast Dutch international Ibrahim Affelay on the bench while Arsenal could bring on players like Andrey Asrshavin who is starting to find form again. Whatever happens this is one to watch for sure and is way too close to call.
Highlighter Bets:
Outright Barcelona 1.3 StanJames
Anytime Goalscorer 1.57 William Hill
First Goalscorer Fabregas 17.0 Victor Chandler
Half Time/Full Time Barcelona/Arsenal 51.0 Bet 365
By John Fernandez
Arsenal Champions League Position: 2nd Champions League Form: WWWLL
Arsenal’s last 2 Champions League games have not exactly gone to plan, qualification looked certain after the first 3 fixtures. However big slip ups have prevented automatic qualification before Christmas. Arsene Wenger’s men showed that they were made of sterner stuff this weekend when they beat Fulham 2-1. Samir Nasri has been nothing short of inspirational this season and while Cesc Fabregas’s absence is still felt in the Arsenal camp, Nasri has been able to fill in the boots nicely. Nasri’s 8 goals this season have helped Arsenal to reach the top of the Premier League, so a bet on him to open the scoring at 5/1 at Bet 365 isn’t a bad shout.
Arsenal will again be without first-choice centre back Thomas Vermaelen and goalie Manuel Almunia and therefore will be relying on stand in keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who in all fairness has stood in very well. Arsenal also have Robin Van Persie back to full fitness and Arsene Wenger may be tempted to go with two strikers in the shape of Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh. So going forward Arsenal look strong but it is at the back that they usually suffer, so a bet on both teams to score at 13/8 on Coral looks like a promising one.
Partizan Champions League Position: 4th Champions League Form: LLLLL
Partizan have not had the best luck in the Champions League, managing to score only in one of 5 games in the Champions League. This game however was against Arsenal, again emphasising Arsenal’s defensive frailties. Partizan back home are in good form sitting at the top of the Serbian league table. Their reliance on the goals of Brazilian striker Cleo is a notable weakness though with goals coming from few other areas of the pitch.
Arsenal have a dodgy European record lately but should be expected to pull out the stops for this game, it really is make or break. This week Bacary Sagna said: ‘We don’t want our season to be over in December, we must win.’ So obviously Arsenal’s team will be satisfied with nothing less than a win.
Highlighted Bets:
First Goalscorer 5/1 Bet 365
Both Teams to Score 13/8 Coral
Arsenal Win 1/9 Paddy Power & Stan James
By John Fernandez
When Barcelona’s name was picked out of the hat for this round of 16 game no team would have been happy. Not least Arsenal after their demolition at the Nou Camp in last year’s competition where a fantastic performance from Lionel Messi sent the visiting Gunners packing. Lionel Messi has relatively short odds to repeat a hat-trick in this fixture at the price of 26.0 on SkyBet.
Arsenal
Arsenal have been in fantastic form lately and are unbeaten in their last 8 games. While mounting a good title challenge against Manchester United will most definitely be priority number 1 for Arsene Wenger, he will definitely want to give a good performance after their demolition last year. The newly fit Robin Van Persie has been on fantastic form lately with 9 goals from 5 games, so a bet on Van Persie opening the scoring or scoring anytime must be a good one for anyone believing Arsenal can get anything out of this game. He is priced at odds of 9.0 on Stan James to score first and at 3.6 on Stan James to score at any time in the fixture.
Arsenal have been scoring very freely lately and while Barcelona may not be the easiest team to break down with players like Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique marshalling the defence. But this definitely will be a high scoring fixture; the odds on there being over 4 total goals in the fixture are decent at 2.62 on PaddyPower.
Barcelona
Barcelona are being hailed as the best team in Europe under Pep Guardiola and it would be a difficult to disagree with anyone saying they were. However they are not infallible, their latest domestic result against strugglers Sporting Dijon which ended their outstanding 16 game winning streak confirmed that. A team with world cup winners David Villa, Xavi, Adres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Pedro is not one to be taken likely by any stretch of the imagination.
Star striker David Villa is on deadly form of late and could be great value to score a brace at 9.0 on SkyBet. Apart from that in all honesty with Barcelona the threat could come from anywhere, the pace of Pedro will test Arsenal’s full-backs while Xavi and Iniesta’s tiki taka football could be too much for defensive midfielder Alex Song.
Overall I can see this being tighter than last year’s game at the Nou Camp and this can only be good news to any neutrals expecting good game of football, with Arsenal’s team at nearly full strength and Barcelona playing some outstanding football it will be a goodin that will be decided by one goal, Barcelona to pip it 3-2 has good odds of 32.0 on Bet Fred while anyone fancying Arsenal at this core line will find great value at 41.0 on Bet Fred.
Highlighted Bets:
To score a Hat-Trick Lionel Messi 26.0 SkyBet
First Goalscorer Robin Van Persie 9.0 StanJames
Anytime Goalscorer Robin Van Persie 3.6 StanJames
To score a brace David Villa 9.0 SkyBet
Barcelona 3-2 34.0 BetFred
Arsenal 3-2 41.0 BetFred
By John Fernandez
The World Cup is set to be the biggest online betting spectacle with over 65 live matches. Our world Cup Betting resource provides team previews, group betting predictions, match previews and a choice of free bets from online bookmakers.
Spain are the current favourites closely followed by Brazil and England for World Cup glory. Read our Outright betting preview here with expert betting tips and a review of the best odds for each team competing in South Africa 2010.
Our latest betting feature is who will be England’s top goalscorer at the World Cup? Wayne Rooney is currently the red hot favourite at odds of 6/4. Read our England top goal scorer betting preview here.
Golden Boot betting is one of the most exciting betting markets at the World Cup, with an abundance of the World’s best players in with a shout. Fernando Torres is the current favourite, but can Wayne Rooney pip him to the title, or maybe Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo? Read our Top Goalscorer betting preview.
We’ve now added match betting previews for each of England’s opening group games, England vs USA, England vs Algeria and England vs Slovenia. Check them out for the best odds, tips and free bets.

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The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is set to be one of the most competitive World Cup betting events in many years. The fact this is the first World Cup to be held on the African continent adds an extra dimension to deciding who will win this year’s tournament.
Spain are the current favourites to win the world Cup at odds of 4/1 thanks to their unbeaten run of 42 games which stretches back prior to their Euro 2008 Championship win. With Fernando Torres and David Villa in sensational form it will be a tough task for anyone to stop them.
Brazil are second favourites for the World Cup, and although not in the greatest of form during qualifying, they will be comforted by the fact no European side has ever won the World Cup outside Europe. The Brazilians obviously possess some of the most talented attacking players in the world, but defensively they are questionable. Brazil can be backed at best odds 5/1.
England will be a very popular World Cup bet thanks to the sensational form of Wayne Rooney and strong form during qualification. England can be backed at best odds of 6/1 to emerge victorious in South Africa.

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Fourteen years ago a fresh-faced Gary Lineker scooped the coveted Golden Boot award, notching six goals at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. How Fabio Capello will be hoping one of his strikers can emulate Lineker’s achievement in South Africa. Fifteen players have scored for the three lions since the Italian was appointed in 2008, and after touching down in Johannesburg it is worth considering who will spearhead England’s pursuit of World Cup glory. Well, let’s take a look at the candidates.
Latest England top goal scorer odds from Paddy Power – Click here for £10 free bet
Wayne Rooney – 6/4
Frank Lampard – 4/1
Steven Gerrard – 8/1
Peter Crouch – 9/1
Jermaine Defoe – 8/1
We can only start in one place. Since bursting onto the international scene in 2003 and becoming the youngest player to score an England goal; Wayne Rooney and goal scoring have been used simultaneously in the same sentence, and it comes as no surprise that he heads the market to finish as his country’s leading marksmen in this years showpiece event. Come on, it is hard to look elsewhere considering Roon represents our biggest chance yet of following in the footsteps of the lads in ’66. At 7/4, and barring any injuries or dismissals (just cast your minds back to Portugal in 2006), Wayne seems certain grab the goals in South Africa. Despite never scoring in his maiden World Cup in 2006, it’ll take more than this to scare the punters off this time around. Its Rooney’s time to shine and this World Cup gives Wayne Rooney the chance to cement his status as one of the best players in the world.
After missing consecutive spot-kicks for club and country, Frank Lampard’s odds to be England’s top scorer may have drifted slightly. But what does that matter, England are notorious for missing penalty kicks in vital shootouts anyway. The Chelsea ace has vowed to continue to take penalties and Capello’s has backed the midfielder should he get the chance from twelve yards in the tournament. SkyBet are offering 11/2 the ex-West Ham outscores his team-mates and may well be nibbled at before the big kick off against the USA.
Peter Crouch’s only World Cup goal to date came four years ago against Trinidad and Tobago, but will England fans be treated to more of his robotic dancing this year? The beanpole striker has promised to bring back ‘the robot; dance celebration – but only if he scores in the World Cup FINAL in South Africa. Yes Peter, we need to get there first! It is unclear whether Capello will pair Crouch with Rooney or decide to utilise his height from the substitute’s bench – SportingBet offer best odds of 8/1 that he scores the majority of England’s goals this summer.
If goals are going to come from midfield, Steven Gerrard probably looks next best behind Lamps to supply them. The Liverpool captain’s two goals in Germany four years ago were enough for him to finish as his country’s leading goal scorer, so could his goals propel England’s march to towards the World Cup final? He is best priced at 9/1 with Boylesports to do so – probably best left should Capello occupy him in an unfamiliar left-sided role.
Crouch’s club strike partner Jermain Defoe is next best in the betting contenders at 10/1 with Paddy Power. A dip in form in the latter stages of the Premier League, means Jermain needs to rediscover that killer instinct infront of goal, and quick. Defoe has not been a regular under Capello but has still managed to net eight times under his reign and was England’s third top goal scorer in 2009. Given time on the pitch, could it be his chance to burst onto the international scene with the majority of England’s goals?
Mr.Capello’s decision to include just four strikers in his squad, probably meant Emile Heskey was chosen at the expense of Sunderland’s Darren Bent – this despite the latter bagging 24 goals for his club this season. Heskey is no stranger to pulling on the three lions jersey with 58 caps to his name, but a poor return of just seven goals acknowledges the long 20/1 market price being offered by the bookmakers. Joe Cole, John Terry and Aaron Lennon are best of the rest for leading goal scorer contenders with prices starting at 16/1. In the very unlikely event that England fail to score in South Africa, Betfred offer 125/1 that there is no England goalscorer.
Return back to our World Cup betting zone
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So Spain and Holland will contest the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but will it be a Spanish year or an Oranje one? Whatever happens in Sunday’s Soccer City final we’ll have a new winner of the most coveted trophy in world football. The Netherlands will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky after falling at the final hurdle in ’74 and ‘78 while Del Bosque’s Spain are bidding to become only the second European champions to be crowned world champions. Arguably the best two sides never to hold aloft the famous Jules Rimet trophy finally have the chance to break their eagerly anticipated ducks, but which will rise to the challenge?
Spain – 6/5 Willaim Hill
Draw – 11/4 Betfred
Holland – 12/5 Stan James
Van Marwijk’s side have won all their games on route to the final dispatching of Brazil in the process and Coral go 11/4 they complete a clean sweep of victories and triumph in Johannesburg’s showcase final. Paddy Power offers best priced odds for them to lift the trophy at 6/4 which may be the best option should extra time and/or penalties be forced. Spain are sure to prove their the sternest test yet but for a country that has given us Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Dennis Bergkamp, wouldn’t it be deserving of their current crop of players to go down in world footballing folklore.
Spain shrugged off their opening game disappointment recording knockout victories over Portugal and Paraguay before seeing off the Germans, ironically all by the same one nil scoreline. Bet 365 chalk up the best priced odds for a Spain win at 11/10 which seems very generous indeed considering they are are as short as 4/7 (Stan James) to lift the trophy. Similarly, the correct score market appeals with Spain seeming to have a habit of winning by a goal to nil. Ladbrokes offers 11/2 they win again by this scoreline and this could appeal should we have a low scoring final as some might expect.
If we’re to see an extra thirty minutes football at Soccer City then the draw is currently trading at 12/5 with Betfred. However neither side has needed extra time in the tournament and expect the winners to be crowned in ninety minutes play.
There are several bets that catch the eye as we prepare to say farewell to South Africa and the 2010 World Cup. Spain’s shut-outs of late make leading claims for them to keep a clean sheet and win Sunday’s final and Paddy Power offers 21/10 that this so happens. The half time market must not be overlooked either, the Irish bookmakers again go 6/4 the first forty-five ends goalless. And if you think this final will be flawed with a controversial dismissal as in Berlin four years ago, a sending off in the match is available at 3/1 with Victor Chandler.
Spain to keep a clean sheet at best odds 21/10 with Paddy Power – Get £20 free bet at Paddy Power
First half to be goalless at best odds 6/4 with Paddy Power – Get £20 free bet at Paddy Power

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Not only were all the Ivory Coast hearts in mouths when Didier Drogba landed heavily on his arm under a robust challenge in the friendly against Japan – but the neutrals were also praying the striker’s injury would not rule him out of the World Cup in South Africa.
Best odds for Portugal vs Ivory Coast:
Portugal – 5/4 Willaim Hill
Draw – 23/10 Betfred
Ivory Coast – 13/5 Stan James
This is because the World Cup is the best show designed for the best players in the world and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba certainly fits this bill. So here’s hoping after a successful operation Drogba is able to lead the Elephants out in their opening Group G game against Portugal. Port Elizabeth plays host to this one as Sven Goran Eriksson’s men begin to plot progression through a group which was immediately labelled as the ‘Group of Death’. Quite ironic considering the Cote D’Ivoire four years ago were paired alongside Holland and Argentina. The opposition is no more generous this time around either, with Brazil and Carlos Queiroz’s side favourites to make the last 16 at the expense of the African’s and Korea.
Despite making their first ever World Cup appearance in 2006, Les Elephants could well be Africa’s best hope on familiar home soil in the southern part of the continent. The luck of the draw has been unkind to them but few would be surprised if they toppled the Portuguese in the opener and fought them to the wire for second place in Group G behind likely winners Brazil. For this reason, there is value in the 5/2 Paddy Power offer for an Ivory Coast win and this should see some money. Sven’s men are 7/4 with BlueSquare to finish second in the group which seems worth a bet considering Portugal’s woeful performances in qualifying, which saw them scrape through via the play-offs.
Several Premier League stars will be on show for the Cote D’Ivoire, the aforementioned Drogba will be accompanied by Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, and former Pompey loanee Aruna Dindane. Interestingly the latter fired two goals and one assist in Germany four years ago and if Didier’s fractured arm fails to heal in time, Dindane looks next best to bag the first goal at 17/2 with Bet365; obvious claims are though for Drogba at 11/2 (Paddy Power). Punters are buying the hype around the Ivory Coast this summer and one could argue, but for the draw where they are likely meet Spain in the last 16 if they progress, they could go far this summer. However, a big question mark hangs over the head of Sven-Goran Erikkson and whether he will have had enough time to get to know his new team and get the best out of Drogba and co.
The Portuguese were fortunate to reach South Africa, but they rarely fall flat on their faces at the major tournaments. They have reached the semi-finals in three of the last three competitions and have a habit of winning when it matters. Playing to the level they did in qualifying will not get them far in the World Cup, but if they can turn it on in this crunch opener the winner is likely to proceed along with Brazil. BlueSquare offer the best odds for a Portuguese win at 7/5, but if you fancy the Europeans act quickly because these odds will no doubt shorten if Didier Drogba’s name fails to make the Ivory Coast team sheet. The draw at Nelson Mandela Bay is available at 12/5 (Betfred), but beware because Portugal haven’t recorded a draw in the previous four tournaments, winning eight of those and losing just four.
Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score a single goal or assist in seven games as Portugal had to play-off for the right to appear in South Africa. Nevertheless, all eyes will be glued to the world’s most expensive footballer and rightly so, he is capable of winning football matches singlehandedly and will be out to prove his performances in qualifying were just a minor blip. There would be no better way to start than netting his country’s opening goal against the Cote D’Ivoire and he’s the favourite to do so at 9/2 with Betfred. The Real Madrid galactico will be on free-kick and penalty duty so this bet looks a steal. Another not to be discounted from the First Goalscorer betting is Sabrosa Simao, he hit four goals in six starts in qualifying and must be respected at 9/1 (Coral).
Ronaldo to score first at best odds 9/2 with Betfred – Get £50 free bet at Betfred
Sabrosa Simao to score first at best odds 10/1 with Blue Square- Get £66 in free bets at Blue Square.

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