Portsmouth are running high after victory against WBA and qualification for FA Cup final where they will face Cardiff with great chance to win competition. They will need lot of confidence for today’s match against Newcastle who won last three Premiership matches.
After historic victory over WBA they have continued with good results against West Ham and took all three points from London. Currently, Pompeys sit at sixth table position with four points advantage in front Aston Villa and Blackburn whose are their main rivals for UEFA Cup table spot. Today they have opportunity to continue with good results against the team they already beat this season 1-4 at St James Park. Last season’s 2-1 victory in front domestic supporters is another reason to believe in good result here. Portsmouth have won five from last six domestic matches, only Chelsea drew at Fratton Park, so they are a favorites here. All players will be available, so we could expect real pressure from the beginning of the match.
On the other hand Newcastle finally waked up. The main reason for good results is recovered Australian player Mark Viduka who brought new spirit to the team. Magpies won nine points from last three matches and avoided relegation battle. Keegan’s team is more confident then in the previous part of the season and will be without pressure at Fratton Park. Maybe it is a right time for revenge for humiliation in the first part of the season.
The domestic team needs points more then visitors, but for I am sure that Nerwcastlke won’t sit back and wait. They have enough quality to be equal with Redknapp’s team and I believe that that they will try in open match to stay unbeaten. On the other hand Pompeys won all home matches in 2008, except match against Chelsea. New points will mean one step closer to UEFA Cup in next season. Both teams have much quality in attack, then when they perform defensive tasks, so I expect lot of chances and consequently a lot of goals here. Odds for Over 2,5 are fair, so I will stake 8 at 2.02 with Bet365.
Portsmouth vs Newcastle
Getafe - Bayern
One of the hottest favorites to win the UEFA competition has a though test in second leg of quarter-finals. Getafe shocked Bayern in Munich by late Cosmin Contra equalizer, so Spanish debutants has a great opportunity to make the biggest surprise in this stage of competition.
Good work with mediocre team has started with Bernd Schuster era, while Laudrup just continue with high level managing, so results are great for small Spanish club. Currently, they sit at twelve table position, but they are away from relegation zone. Due to the fact that Laudrup’s team compete in UEFA Cup results in Primera have been on the same level like a last year. Anyway, main aim is achieved with staying in elite for one year more, while success in UEFA cup warms their supporters’ hearts.
Match at Alianz Arena give them opportunity to continue dreams in UEFA Cup. In the same time they showed in last round of Primera that they can stay unbeaten against Barcelona at Camp Nou. Now they need exactly same result and they will be in the last four of UEFA Cup. But, it want be a easy to keep clean sheet against one of the most dangerous attacks in Europe. Laudrup will try with nine players behind the ball and wait opportunity from counter attacks. It could be a useful tactics till visitors score, but what if they score? Main problem for Getafe is efficency, so in my opinion one Bayern’s goal will broke their dreams.
On the other hand Hitzfield’s team must to score if they want to continue European competition. They are one of the favorites for the throne, so elimination in this stage of competition will be a huge strike for German giant, after they failed to qualify for Champions League last season. Currently, they are leaders in Bundesliga table and with form they showed against Nurnberg in the last round, they will stay on the top of the table till the end of the season.
In the first leg Luca Toni scored opener and everything was fine for Bavarians. But lately, they failed to convert very good chances in goals and decide about qualification. Now they have to pull up hot potatoes from fire, because they are in must score situation. All players are available and for sure Bayern has quality for victory here. Hityfield will line up Klose and Toni together flanked by Ribery and Podolski behind.
We could expect huge visitors’ pressure from the first whistle and it just question of time when domestic defense will be break down. I believe that Bayern will beat Getafe, so I will take great odds 2.20 at Bet 365 stake 9.
Barcelona - Schalke
This is the most important match in the season for both clubs. After not impressive results in Primera, Barcelona has only opportunity in Champions Legaue to catch trophy, while visitors are out of title race in Bundesliga, but another success in Champions League will satisfy supporters’ ambitions.
Barcelona failed to beat Getafe in last round of Primera and supporters became very nervous, due to the fact that Blaguarana didn’t make closer gap to Real Madrid, who drew at Majorca. Frank Rijakaard’s team have had possession, but failed to convert a couple very good opportunities to lead. Lack of attacking options made Rijkaard’s tactics predictable and some of Primera clubs find way how to play against Barcelona. Hetafe played with nine players behind the ball, so Catalonian team couldn’t find any crack in visitor’s defence without Ronladihno, Messi and Deco.
In this occasion situation is much different. Barclona could play without pressure thanks to first leg Bojan’s goal. They don’t need to score to qualify. Visitors have to try with offensive tactics - consequently Barclona strikers will have more space in attack. The late form of Bojan and Giovani are the main supporters’ hope. They could wake up and inspire rest of the team, alongside Iniesta and Xavi whose going to be a crucial part of the machinery in mid-field.
On the other hand visitors have a reason to be unhappy after the first leg. They were better team in anyway, but lack of concentration in front Valdes’ goal is reason why they didn’t make better result. However, they showed that they have quality to play equal with Barcelona stars, so with enough confidence they could make problems to Rijaakard’s team. Coach Mirko Slomka won’t leave his favorite 4-3-3 formation, so Kuranyi, Asamoa and Altintop will be a main treats for Valedes. The most experienced among them, Kevin Kuranyi, was rested in last round of Bundesliga against Hanza, where his team won another three points. His experience and motivation in big games could pull up Schalke in performance for qualification in the next round. Anyway, it will be hard for visitors to overpower Barcelona in mid-field, where this match will be decided.
I believe that visitors will try to make pressure after the first part of the match. This is their first appearance at Camp Nou, so they have to accomplish to atmosphere in the first couple of minutes or they will be in problems. Due to the fact that Barcelona could sit back and wait enough space in attack for their fast strikers, I think that domestic team will have large chance to score. Bojan, Henry and Giovani will use their speed in counters and I think that Barcelona could beat -1 asian handicap and come back on winning ways easily. They won’t satisfy with minimal victory due to a lot of critics in last couple of days, so they will play with full gas till the last whistle. I will take Barca to beat -1 asian handicap at 1.80 with Bet365.com, stake 9!
Atletico Madrid - Almeria
This could be the most important match for Atletico in Primera this season. Their dreams about Champions League table spot are in doubt after last weekend’s trashing against Villareal.
One my friend said that it is not easy to be Atletico fan and he was right. Red-Whites have continued with inconsistent form and only two weeks after amazing performances against Sevilla and Barcelona they didn’t nave any chances at Madregal. Once again the main guilty is on the back line which wasn’t capable to stop in form VIllareal creative players in attack. The coach Aguire has had a real headache with defensive tasks. He had all season long to solve some problems in back line, but obviously it wasn’t easy job he had to do. Seitaridis made come back after three and a half months of absence and his crucial mistakes against Villareal in the finish of the first half decided the winner of the match. After that everything gone in the wrong way and all positive energy and motivation were wasted.
Now Atleti are points equal with Rasing at fourth table position and if they want to stay in front Rasing who will host Deportivo, they have to beat Almeria. Good news from coach Aguire comes from team’s doctors due to Siamo Sambrose is recovered and will be available for today’s match. He is crucial part of machinery in the mid-field. His inspiration and experience has great value and could be a crucial advantage against one of the best defences in a league.
Almeria supporters already celebrate due to the fact that their team will play in the elite for one year more. Before the start of campaign only aim was to survive and they reach it. However, there are some chances for even better placement. Currently, they sit at eight table position only three points away from UEFA Cup table positions. It is hard to believe that Alemria could beat Espanyol and Sevilla in that race, but for sure team of Unai Emery will fight till the last round.
The main Almeria weapon could be a counter-attack. Negredo and Crusat have already shown their capabilities and talents in situation like this. Almeria have recorded only three away victories so far, but now they are without any pressure, so they could turn on their attacking options on a higher level.
Atletico have had difficulties when they play under pressure in front domestic supporters. I believe that they have better and more quality team then Almeria, but they have to show it on the pitch. Visitors won’t sit back in situation when they have nothing to lose. Lot of chances on the both sides cloud be characterize this match, so my choice is Over 2,5 goals. I will bet 8 on Over 2,5 with Bet365 at 2.05.
