Football Betting

In the end, following a Premier League season that has lurched from one extreme to the other, we witnessed a conclusion that a scriptwriter would dare not pen for it would be written off as too fanciful.

For 92 minutes Manchester City’s worst fears – that they were destined to choke when it matters – were realised. Arch nemesis Sir Alex Ferguson had already upped the ante before the game by speaking of the ‘untold damage’ losing the title from such a commanding position would do for Roberto Mancini’s men.

Indeed the physiological blow would have been significant and taken a lot time to recover from and United’s 20th league title probably would have been their sweetest.

But Sheikh Mansour splashed out lavish sums on footballing superstars for a reason – he demanded big name, big game players.

And when it mattered, with two goals needed in the stoppage time of the final day of the season, £27million striker Edin Dzeko nodded them level before Sergio Aguero (a snip at £35million) had ice in his veins to collect Mario Balotell’s pass, dummy away from two players and power the ball past Paddy Kenny.

It was football at its most stunning, with agony replaced by ecstasy in an instant, and the roles reversed at the Stadium Of Light, where Manchester United’s fans and players had to endure an agonising three minutes on the field, with their game over and the destiny of the title out of their hands.

For punters who bet on soccer games, Sunday afternoon was a dream. The lead at the top of the table changed hands four times during the course of the afternoon, with only the bravest of punters predicting City would do it as their game ticked over into five minutes of stoppage time.

Even some City supporters had endured enough and had left the Etihad Stadium, only to desperately try and scramble back in when they heard the cheers.

Most soccer betting tips and expert writers are predicting a long and sustained spell of success for the Blue side of Manchester following this win.

Given they have the wealth of Sheikh Mansour behind them; simple maths dictates that they will reign at the top until he decides to walk away.

However, it is one thing to win once, it is another to win consistently, and they don’t have to look far to see what it takes to create a footballing dynasty.

Ferguson was gracious in defeat but the hurt was plain to see. Despite being at the end of his managerial career the fight and hunger seems as strong as ever and he will not want to be outdone by the ‘noisy neighbours’.

Which means next season could be even more exciting.

With the Premier League title slipping out of his grasp, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has attempted to pile the pressure on rivals City ahead of the final weekend of the season.

The Red Devils are only in second place courtesy of goal difference but with the deficit currently standing at eight; it would take an almighty – and unlikely – set of results to see them reverse those figures.

Ferguson, therefore, is relying on QPR to try and grab a result from the Etihad Stadium while his own side must win at Sunderland.

The Black Cats may have a number of ex-United players in their ranks but that does not mean they will just roll over for United. Manager Martin O’Neill is known for producing disciplined, organised outfits and he will demand nothing less than 100% at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. United though have the best away record in the division, with 12 wins, three draws and just three defeats from their 18 games on the road this season.

City meanwhile have been fearsome on their own turf, only dropping points once – a 3-3 draw with Sunderland five weeks ago. It is their home form that has really fuelled their title charge this season and it would come as no surprise if another sparkling performance secured them just their third ever league championship and first Barclays Premier League trophy on Sunday.

QPR currently stand in 17th place after last weekend’s dramatic late win at home to Stoke, but they know a defeat – combined with a Bolton win at Stoke – would see them drop back down to the Championship.

Ferguson concedes that the latest odds suggest relegation-threatened Rangers will struggle to get anything from the game, even if that would consign them to the drop.

“Of course, the odds are stacked against them,” said the Scot. “City are in good form and at home. It will not be easy for them because the pressure on them will be enormous, the fans will be putting the referee under tremendous pressure.”

The United boss did afford one last attempt at mind games, playing on City’s greatest fear. City supporters have long since deplored their team’s ability to make a mess of things, even when they are in a seemingly safe position – ‘typical City’ they call it.

To do so now would certainly eclipse all their previous failures; the City fans know it and so does Ferguson:

“It’s not going to be easy because on the face of it you expect City to win. And so do I. But as long as human beings are human beings, you never know. You just hope something stupid happens.

“Of course, the odds are stacked against them. City are in good form and at home. It will not be easy for them because the pressure on them will be enormous, the fans will be putting the referee under tremendous pressure.”

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are eyeing for European scoring records and they are locked in a personal duel in carrying Barcelona and Real Madrid toward an exciting finale in the battle for the Spanish league title.

In nine days in a “Clasico” that, the two powerhouses set to meet and that could well decide the title race. Ronaldo, after matching his own record of 40 league goals in one season, kept Madrid 4 points ahead of their rival on Wednesday by scoring a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid. He became the first player from Europe’s major leagues to record two successive 40-goal seasons.

Since Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, there are without doubt Planet Football’s two greatest players of the current generation, and have been battling for supremacy in La Liga. Messi picked up the Pichichi trophy, two seasons ago as the La Liga’s top scorer with 34 goals. Ronaldo made a new record tally of 40 in the last season and got ahead of Messi.

This season, there are still six games left and Ronaldo is on 40, equaling last season’s record and Messi on 39. Ronaldo banged his 12th hat trick since signing for Real and his sixth hat trick of the season, in the 4-1 destruction of ill-fated cross-town opponents Atletico Madrid.

The records and statistics are so abundant that their significance can wear thin with the repetition. No matter how many times it has updated and repeated, one tally never stops sounding astonishing, 138 goals in 136 games since he joined the club.

When Real Madrid spent £80 million on Ronaldo three seasons ago, it was a shrewd investment. This summer, to renew the deal penned in 2009; they will sit down with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes.

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi is Barca own record-breaker. In Tuesday’s 4-0 win at home to Getafe, he scored his 39th league goal of the campaign. It was his 61st in all competitions compared to 52 for Ronaldo.

In Saturday’s late kickoff (2000), Pep Guardiola’s side visit fifth-placed Levante and could find themselves seven points behind Real by then. In three weeks, Barca has trimmed their deficit by six points following the Madrid club’s draws against Malaga, Villarreal and Valencia. In the ‘Clasico’, they have a slightly easier run-in as well as home advantage. The title will be decided on head-to-head record, if the two teams finish level on points.

The best betting odds for the ‘Clasico’ have Barcelona (4/5) and Real Madrid (33/10).

Didier Drogba is desired by Chelsea’s coach to remain at the club. Of Chelsea’s 4-3-3 attack, Drogba and Fernando Torres are at present competing to be the central focus, although before Saturday’s Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur, Ancelotti has evaluated the pair in a 4-4-2 system in training.

Over the fitness of Michael Essien (knee) and Ramires (hamstring), Ancelotti has dismissed fears, with the latter back in the frame after missing the last three matches. Following the same period on the sidelines with a similar injury, defender Alex is fit again.

In spite of being 6 points behind United, Chelsea has a legit shot, with the Red Devils having forthcoming games against Chelsea and Arsenal. Drogba and Torres look to begin together, given both players seemed to have shaken off the rust, could prove to be demoralizing tandem.

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone, after his ankle injury flared up, looks likely to miss to short trip to Stamford Bridge. There is uncertainty over Vedran Corluka (ankle) and Niko Kranjcar (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto is out with a hamstring injury. Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and Ledley King (groin) are still uncertain, although they have been training this week.

This season, Tottenham have really shot themselves and look like they will be deprived of a chance in what would have been their second Champions League. Redknapp will be a game time decision, even though he will want to make use of Gareth Bale.

The internet sports picks are offering great soccer betting odds. Chelsea is favorite against Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea is 8/15, while Tottenham are 13/2.

Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti in his latest statement has claimed that that for Chelsea FC, Didier Drogba is not just a major figure of the recent past; rather he is an integral part of the club’s future. This statement came after there were rumors about Drogba role after signing of Fernando Torres for £50m.

The draw at Fulham made Ancelotti drop Drogba to make room for Torres. He replaces the Spaniard in the last 19 minutes of the game. The current scenario has made things clearer for players at Chelsea FC. Club’s high earner may have to exit the club this summer, similar to the way Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and 3 others were shown the door in June 2010. This has triggered rumors and speculations about Drogba’s position, whether he will be the one who will be sacrificed at the end of this season.

Drogba is a fabulous striker and it was nice to know that Ancelotii still has faith in the Ivorian striker. This is his seventh season for Chelsea and with 141 goals from 295 appearances; he has an impressive record for the club.

For Chelsea last year, Drogba enjoyed his best campaign and he scored 37 goals from just 44 games, which helped to claim the domestic Double for the west London side. In this season, he has been struggling to find form and repeat those outstanding stats. His current form is a problem for Chelsea, as it has affected the Chelsea’s dream to defend the Premiership title.

Chelsea now should regain focus and concentrate in the FA Cup. With Ancelotti confirming Drogba’s return, Chelsea will host Everton. It is a replay of their fourth-round tie. Drogba will play in place of Torres.

David Luiz will not feature in the match. He signed £21.3m from Benfica. Having impressed on his debut against Fulham, Ancelotti confirms that against David Moyes’s men, the defender would start, after displaying impressive play against Fulham. Luiz was backtracked as he had signed for Chelsea on 31 January. Including him in the squad would have defied rules of the Football Association, which states that, for a player to take part in the fourth round of the competition, he must be registered with his current club by 28 January.

Chelsea’s star player, Frank Lampard admitted that it would be a “disaster” for Chelsea football club if it does not qualify for the forthcoming season of Champions League. The team has dipped down to fifth position in the EPL and with 12 matches to go, things does not look that great for Chelsea FC.

Tottenham legend Gary Lineker believes Chelsea will make it to the Champions League final this season and they are the best bet in the current English football teams. Despite the big slump in their position in the EPL, Lineker is confident that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will go all the way in Europe.

Chelsea faces Everton on 19th Feb in the FA Cup. The critics will watch Chelsea’s performance closely. According to various sports betting sites the best odds for Chelsea to win is 4/7 and the best odds for Everton to win is 11/2.

The Reds, after beating the Macedonians 2-0 at Anfield on Thursday night completed the easiest of 4-0 aggregate victories over Rabotnicki in their Europa League third qualifying round second-leg tie.

It will be on Sunday week when Liverpool next appears at Anfield when they host Arsenal in what is one of the standout fixtures of the opening weekend of the league season.

By then Cole is optimistic that he and his teammates will have moved up a gear, although even then the England international stressed Roy Hodgson’s side should be judged not just the first few matches but also over an entire season.

However, under former manager Rafael Benitez, the start of the previous campaign set the tone as they lost two of their first three matches and went on to post their worst Premier League finish, seventh, for over a decade.

With the Gunners and both Manchester clubs to play in the first five fixtures, this time around is even tougher.

Cole said, “We’ve had two [competitive] games now and we’ve got Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina and the others to come back. We’ve got a lot to work on and there is a lot for us to do. We’ve got to come together and continue to improve. We have to keep working hard every day on the training pitch and go from there. We know we’ve got a long way to go. You can’t assess anything on the first six games of the season; you have to judge us in May. All Premier League games are tough; sometimes the ones that seem easier are the ones that turn out to be the tougher ones.”

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