[CL 2nd qual rd - return leg (7 - 8/8)]

Re: CL 2nd qual rd - return leg (7 - 8/8) Nice write-up on the BATE game, 888. Like you say, they rested 8 first choice players at the weekend and this largely explains the 1-0 loss at Smorgon'. I think that BATE will take tonight very seriously and look to get a couple of early goals to put the tie beyond any doubt. Hafnarfjordur's defence looked awful in the first leg and I can see them conceeding a few tonight again. The best value bet looks to be BATE to win Half/Full Time @ 2.1 on Betfair.

[CL matches - return leg - 6-7/3]

Re: CL matches - return leg - 6-7/3 I've gone for over 2.5 goals in the Liverpool - Barca game. In the first game, Barcelona were all over them in the first 20 minutes or so and then mysteriously took the foot off the pedal and allowed Liverpool back into the game. I can't see them going 90 minutes without scoring tonight if they maintain a high tempo. Also, recently Barca had to go to Zaragoza in the Spanish Cup after losing the home leg and they blitzed them early on, scoring twice in the first 25 minutes. Now, Liverpool are probably a stronger team than Zaragoza, but the precedent for a Barca comeback has been set. On the flipside, there's been some pre-match talk about how Spanish teams don't like (and even don't know how) to play against Crouch and if he starts tonight his sheer physical presence could intimidate Barca into making silly mistakes at the back. And, of course, Liverpool are always likely to nick at least one on the break.

[UEFA Cup matches 8/3]

Re: UEFA Cup matches 8/3 Spurs to win @2.44 (Betfair) looks good to me. Tottenham have won their last four (3 of them away), scoring 14 goals in the process. The morale will be particularly high after Sunday's dramatic comeback against West Ham. While it is always dangerous to underestimate Portuguese sides on their home turf, Braga are not in the same bracket as Porto, Benfica and Sporting. On the other hand, Spurs have already won at two difficult grounds in this season's competition (Besiktas and Leverkusen). I can see Sevilla rolling over Shakhtar for the reasons already mentioned above. Finally, I would be wary of backing Osasuna (despite the odds). Ibrox is a very intimidating venue, especially on European nights, and Rangers have improved greatly under Walter Smith recently. I think Osasuna will be happy to nick a draw and take Rangers back to their tight little stadium.