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UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March


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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

Yes they did, vs the Mighty BATE :) The line-ups talk for themselves, in my opinion: many key players are rested, and let the subs do what they can. Even with their best team, I would still rate Benfica as a favorite.
???? They went a goal up in the first leg away to Benfica :unsure I'm not disputing they should be made favourites, it's just that we've heard many many times how one side aren't interested, and they're resting players etc. The majority of times, it's all a little over reactionary. The thing for me is that Benfica hold the lead, albeit a slender one. So, I think they won't really have to get out of second gear to qualify the tie.
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Aw, you were talking about the goal in the 1st leg, sorry. Anyway, there's no over-reaction in the line-ups, since there are facts. If it were the most important game of the season so far for them, the best players would play, and they didn't. This does not mean they don't care at all, but it's obviously not 100% their priority. Lille was in the same mindset, and even though they scored, they got sent home by PSV - and Benfica are even more out to win in EL than the Dutch leaders, who had to worry about Eredivisie too.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

Benfica takes it far more seriously than PSG. The latter didn't send their best teams to the Estádio da Luz for the 1st leg (some players were even upset). Domestic league and cup are the priority for PSG.
I don't know how many of you saw the highlights of the first game. At the time when PSG head the lead 0-1 they could easily go up on 0-2 or 0-3 but they missed couple of sitters for which they have been punished later so I don't believe that they are such big outsiders. Benfica sure seems like a more quality team, but given the fact that PSG need just one goal, anything is possible.
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Hi all, In my first post, please let me try to contribute to the discussion on the match Paris SG v Benfica: - No doubt, Benfica treats the EL very seriously, as it has no chance to win the domestic championship (and no concern about CL qualification). Last Sunday, they rested 3 players from the starting line-up, even though they were missing 3 more players, because of cards. Consequently, they lost 2 points at home... - On the other hand, PSG treats the EL somewhat less seriously, since the domestic title and the CL spot are its priority. As mentioned, they did not send their best team in the 1st leg. Similarly, as one recalled, they rested a number of starting players in the 2nd leg of the previous round, eventually sweating to advance over BATE. (In that round, another French team, Lille, went without many players to the 2nd leg match, against PSV, essentially giving up on the competition. And they went ahead 0-1...) Next Sunday, PSG plays against Marseille, away. A defeat will leave them 6 or more points away from the last CL spot, in 5th position. - In terms of quality, I must confess that I do not know much about PSG, as I do not follow that closely the French League 1. I follow Benfica a bit better - and it appears to have a lot of quality in its ranks, even though its current form is not as good as the one a month ago. - Finally, I would be very careful about the "both teams to score" bet. In 5 EL home matches this season, PSG has allowed only Sevilla to score; and two games finished 0-0 (while two more finished 2-0). I will not be surprised if PSG plays a tight match, in the style of the League 1, with the aim to win 1-0... Overall, a very difficult match to call. Somehow, I like the under 2.5 goals prediction, currently at 1.80, at Bet365. A goal by Benfica will kill the game; whereas a goal by PSG will lead to defense, defense, defense... Still, I feel more like staying away. GL all! Ciao, M.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Zenit St Petersburg -1 @2.025 @bet365 Zenit were the better team for most of the match in Enschede. Both Twente goals came against the run of play. Zenith carried the match and if not for the Twente keeper making some brilliant saves finding the ball on some scrambles the tie could have been quite different. At home with a massive push to get back into this tie Zenit should be able to score a win and make this tie interesting until the end.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Liverpool vs Braga Liverpool in this competition have been very good defensively despite fielding some under strenght teams for this tourney. They have conceded just five goals in 13 games recording eight clean sheets in the process.Braga also not known to be good travellers away from home,winning just 2 away in their domestic season.Their last trip to england didnt end up to good with a 6-0 thumping from Arsenal.Despite Missing Gerrard & suarez for this game,i still think they will have enough about themselves to get thru.Carroll will be a handful Liverpool to qualify(Gonna be searching for a decent price) & Liverpool -1 @ 0.730 @SBOBET (6/10)

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

Totally agree with Mahno that Kiev are overpriced as are my team Rangers @ 3.1 on Betfair. Trust me thats not a biased view. PSV are a good team but nothing more and Rangers are unbeaten in their last 10 in this competition at Ibrox. Our injury problems have eased since the game last Thursday and we should be fielding a pretty strong and more experienced team for this game. In the Champions League at home only Man utd beat us with a late penalty, but we beat Bursaspor and and against Valencia we should have beaten them by 3 or 4 in what was our best performance of the season. Rangers are being underestimated again in Europe and i simply don't see why PSV are favourites for this match. SJ can't split them going 13/8 which i think is about right, so imo there is definite value on Rangers here @ 3.1 but i will be looking to take them on one of the Asian lines.
Rangers + 0.25 @ 1.84 Pinnacle Rangers now out to to 3.2 on Betfair which is to big, but as ive already mentioned i think we are being underestimated again. Forget last sesons CL results as Smith tactics were much more attacking and didn't play to out strenths. This season he has reverted back to the more cautious style that seen us reach the uefa cup final. Looking back at those result against teams of better and similar Quality to PSV, we have a tremendous record at home in terms of going not conceding or getting beat. This will be tight and PSV may well win, but a score draw would see them through, and although i hate betting on my team i'm convinced there is value on Rangers tonight and even a draw would secure a nice profit.
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Zenit Vs Twente Twente have not had the best of preparation for the game.

 
The Eredivisie side have already encountered problems in Russia since they landed this afternoon.
They waved their right to train at the Petrovski Stadium due to concerns about the ground's pitch due to the wintry conditions at the ground.
The conditions are unlikely to change much on Thursday night, though, with temperatures expected to plummet to -10 degrees for the game.

taken from ESPNSTAR. Though they have had a game against Rubin kazan in similar situation(weather wise),i really think Zenit will be a different proposition.Only the heroics of Twente keeper Mihaylov kept them in the game in the first leg.Going to be a very interesting game.Zenit will be looking for a goal that will change the complexion of the game & try to attack at every oppurtunity.Twente will have plenty of chances to hit em on the counter when Zenit attack.I see a very open game in prospect. Over 2.5 @ SBOBET $ 0.800 (8/10) Zenit -1 @ SBOBET $0.950 (3/10)

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

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Spartak Moscow vs Ayaks Amsterdam 17.03.2011 21:05 Moscow Referee: Atkinson(ENG)

FC Spartak Moskva welcome AFC Ajax to Russia for their UEFA Europa League round of 16 decider sporting a good record against their visitors as they defend a 1-0 first-leg advantage. A clinical second-half hit from Alex on a night of Ajax misses earned Spartak their success on Thursday. Spartak played in Amsterdam against Ajax in the first leg of Europe League on round of 16. Our team wins with advantage minimal. The second leg will be played in Moscow at 17 of Macrh on the Luzhniki stadium. Ibson and Welliton could play this match after out of disqualification. Ajax — Spartak 0:1 (0:0) Goal: 57' Alex Spartak: Dikan, Kombarov K., Suchy, Rojo, Makeev, McGeady (91'Yakovlev), Carioca (85'Sheshukov), Ibson (58'Welliton), Alex ©, Kombarov D., Dzyuba Y.C.: 38'Suchy, 70'Welliton, 77'Rojo

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Previous meetings • Ajax coach Frank de Boer and his assistant Danny Blind were starters in both legs of the clubs' only previous competitive tie as Oleg Romantsev's Spartak beat Morten Olsen's Ajax 3-1 away and 1-0 at home to reach the 1997/98 UEFA Cup semi-finals, where they lost out to FC Internazionale Milano. • The teams for the return leg in Moscow on 17 March 1998 – 13 years to the day before the second leg of this fixture – were: Spartak: Filimonov, Khlestov, Ananko, Evseev, Romaschenko, Alenichev, Titov, Kechinov, Tikhonov, Shirko, Buznikin (Tsymbalar 45). Ajax: Van der Sar, Melchiot, Blind, Oliseh, Frank de Boer (Sier 32), Ronald de Boer, Gorre (McCarthy 75), Rudy, Van der Meyde (Litmanen 60), Arveladze, Laudrup. • Andrei Tikhonov, who also started both legs, is now one of coach Valeri Karpin's assistants at Spartak. Match background • Prior to the first leg, Spartak had not won in their last four games against Dutch sides, recording two draws and two defeats since beating Willem II 3-1 in Tilburg in a UEFA Champions League group stage game on 26 October 1999. • Spartak are the only Russian side Ajax have ever faced, but the Premier-Liga club have played 13 other games against Dutch opponents, with their overall record reading W10 D4 L2 (W5 D2 L1 at home). • Spartak have lost only one of their last eight games on their travels in Europe, winning six and drawing one; a 4-1 defeat at Chelsea FC on UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 this season blotted their copybook. • Prior to the sides' opener, Ajax had won their last three European games without conceding. Their record at home in UEFA club competition this season now reads W3 D2 L2. • Spartak are without a win in their last three European home contests, recording a draw, two defeats and just one goal at the Luzhniki Stadion since beating MŠK Žilina 3-0 on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group stage. • Ajax have won their last two European away games without conceding, and have yet to lose in six UEFA Europa League fixtures on their travels since the competition evolved from the UEFA Cup. Team facts • This is the only round of 16 tie to involve two sides that competed in the UEFA Champions League group stage in the autumn. • Liverpool FC won the UEFA Cup three times (in 1973, 1976 and 2001) and are thus the most successful side left in this season's competition, though PSV Eindhoven (1978), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1988), Ajax (1992), FC Porto (2003), PFC CSKA Moskva (2005) and FC Zenit St Petersburg (2008) have also won it. • Spartak's Brazilian striker Ari played in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar from 2007 to 2010, and scored in a 2-0 Eredivisie win against Ajax on 23 November 2008. He also put AZ ahead at the Amsterdam ArenA on 13 January 2008, but his side went on to lose that league game 6-1. • Ajax are two goals shy of conceding their 100th in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Cup; this is their 106th game in the competition. They have more UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League experience than any other side in the round of 16. • Spartak's Glasgow-born Irish international Aiden McGeady is one of two Irish players left in the competition along with Manchester City FC's Shay Given. This season's UEFA Europa League final will be staged in Dublin on 18 May. Penalties • Spartak have won one European penalty shoot-out and lost another. Current coach Karpin was among the scorers as SSC Napoli were eliminated from the 1990/91 European Champion Clubs' Cup second round at the Luzhniki, but they lost a 2007/08 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie against Celtic FC with a 4-3 spot-kicks defeat in Glasgow. • Ajax have won only one of their five UEFA penalty shoot-outs, beating Grêmio FB Porto-Alegrense 4-3 in Tokyo to win the 1995 European/South American Cup; current coach De Boer and his assistant Blind were among their scorers. However, they lost the 1996 UEFA Champions League final on penalties to Juventus (4-2 in Rome) having also lost shoot-outs at PFC Levski Sofia (5-3 away), Bohemians 1905 (formerly FC Bohemians Praha, 4-2 away) and Juventus again (3-0 away). Source: uefa.com

Kavkaz on tour: First of all Spartak had in the first leg a fantastic gkper who saved all. Ayaks dominated but a wonderfull shoot from Alex and Spartak celebrated narrow win. I bet 2 @ 6.25 small stake (you can find preview on the other tread). Now Ayaks has problems with gkpers, it is likely Spartak scores because they play well at home. I think Dikan was a bit distracted after all awards received from press and now what? He receives 4 from average side Rostov as Spartak were crushed on Monday. My team didnt have enough time to rest because almost all regulars played in the game with Rostov. Spartak played a draw 1-1 with Basel in Moscow but it Basel who missed very clear chances. Besides Dikan's performance it was unique I doubt he will save again my team ( I wish! ) from Ayaks forcing. Spartak has a lots of players who can score against 3rd gkper Ayaks will field: Welliton, D. Kombarov, Alex, Ibson or Aiden McGeady possible on target tonight. Spartak use wings very well, from Dmitry or Aiden will come most of dangerous opportunities. Now looking at the line-up whe can see brasilian Welliton in the start. This is good because Valery Karpin knows Ayaks must go forward, same move was happening in the first leg when he substitues Rafael. Spartak always play for the kill - score goal min 57 in such diffikalt away fixture and you put in second striker Welliton and get other striker Dzyuba in midfield (useless ! ) for the rest of game just because Karpin was trying to find a break and a letal counter to close 2-0 the game! In the game with Basel, swiss team searching for the goal wich might see them advance but in final minute a letal counter and Spartak leves 1-1. Now its going to be left Dmitri Kombarov - right Aiden - and alone striker Welliton. It is true he comes after injury but he moved well in the first leg and had a good appetite for hunting Ayaks defense (opposite to Vagner Love nowadays). My play is: Over 2.5 @ 2.00 Betsson Stake: 6/10 Both to score also could be a good choice, but odds offered are not the best ..around 1.70. Wellliton is priced 2.60 @ Bet365

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Today i made a accumulator with 5 games Liverpool vs Braga 1 Man city vs Dynamo 1 Zenit vs Twente 1 Spartak vs Ajax 2 DNB Rangers vs PSV 1 DNB odds ~ 11.5 Liverpool should win this game even without Gerrarg and Suarez , because Braga have very poor away form and this is the last trophy that Liverpool can win. I have a feeling that City might win 1 - 0 , because Dynamo will defend all game , and City Will score one goal , maybe two. For me Zenit will surely win , because they looked a lot better that Twente in first game. In my opinion Rangers are underrated at home , i think that this game might end 1 - 0 or 0 - 0 . And the last game might be the most risky , but i think that Spartak was very luck to win at Amsterdam and Ajax will show their class at Moscow. Sorry for my Borat style english :lol

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March I dont trust City, wathced them against Wigan, Reading, they actually dropped form. Interesting what Mancini said: A top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League is the priority, and on Sunday City will fight Chelsea for third place having played nine more games than Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Asked if a European exit might benefit him, Roberto Mancini said: "It’s difficult for me to think like this. But if we go into the quarter-finals, we’ll play every three days until the end of the season. This will be a problem." I am on Dinamo today. X2 or Dinamo to qualify.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Couple I like tonight. Not bothering with 1X2 markets as this is the Europa League, which often throws up a few wild cards. Bayern Leverkusen V Villarreal OVER 10 Asian Corners @ 1.90 - BET365. Strange line here as Leverkusen hit this just on their own in the first leg. I don't believe for a minute that Leverkusen are out of the tie, and for two attack minded teams, I find it strange the line isn't set higher. Considering the stake is returned if only ten are hit. Rangers OVER 4.5 corners @ 1.90 - BET365. Another one I find strange. Rangers hit seven in the first leg, and I expect this game to be played in a similar fashion, even though it is at Ibrox. I can also see Rangers chasing the game at some point.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Rangers-PSV Over 10 corners AH @1.9 (b365) Another tight game is expected today, as Rangers' solid defense meet PSV's usually prolific attack that stayed silent in the 1st leg (0-0). Rangers are the draw specialists in European competitions, and they should not be underestimated as they surely are a tough nut to crack, especially at Ibrox. Manchester United had to wait the last minutes to take the 0-1 win in November, and they couldn't beat them (0-0) at Old Trafford in September. The Gers also have the worst ball possession % of CL, with 34%. So, while they can stand pressure, they have a hard time scoring. Messi once called their style "anti-football". PSV, on the other hand, has the best attack of Eredivisie, with 2.63 goals per game, and they score 1.67 goals per game in EL, which is pretty good. They also have heart, and more than once this season they trailed on the score and managed to turn around the game. First leg was a stalemate - 0-0 - which is pretty much what the Scottish side wanted. Now they will have to score, and it's another story. They usually play some air-tight 5-4-1, while PSV play 4-3-3. The Dutch team assets are the fairly good wingers, Dzsudzsak and Lens; Berg is the striker, and he has ups and downs in Eredivise, but he pulled out good performances in European games. As for Rangers, Diouf is a good striker, and Naismith will most likely play. I think it's going be a tight game, and we should see a lot corners as PSV build up pressure - and Rangers try to score at last. In European games, PSV matches saw (from older to newer) 15-5-11-10-9-14-11-8-15 corners, generally getting more corners than their opponents. In Eredivise, it goes 10-15-11-13-15. As for Rangers, in CL it goes 3-7-17-14-14-4, and in EL 8-11-15. No side is going to give up, and goals won't prevent corners as the trailing side will work hard to come back. Pretty strong bet for me.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Rangers- PSV = 2 (2.37) bet365 Preview: Rangers: unavailable: Lee McCulloch, Nikica Jelavic, Jamie Ness, Kirk Broadfoot, Sasa Papac. PSV, there were no absences. The first leg at PSV ended with the score 0-0. Gone stingy occasions. Guests cautious and Fred Rutten's men can create, but not to exploit, a couple of opportunities. Tonight I think the music is different because the two teams have to attack to achieve the qualification to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. The Rangers addition to this crucial match on Sunday facing Celtic in the League Cup final. Given the commitment of the cup and the many absences in the home of the Rangers I think PSV will win the game. :hope:hope:hope

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Manchester City vs Dynamo Kyiv City will win the tie as they have quality of players and they are very different at Home when compare with away games. At time City seems to be very unpredictable but still i don't see them losing this game at Home.Plus City will welcome Miler in their squad. City to win @1.5 , Bet365 Zenit vs Twente Zenit has to score 4 goals in order to progress , its an open game and i see this a goal fest. Twente has score with the average of 1.62 goals at away matches. Goal (both teams to score) @ 1.72, Bet365 :hope Good Luck all.

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

Rangers-PSV Over 10 corners AH @1.9 (b365) I think it's going be a tight game, and we should see a lot corners as PSV build up pressure - and Rangers try to score at last. In European games, PSV matches saw (from older to newer) 15-5-11-10-9-14-11-8-15 corners, generally getting more corners than their opponents. In Eredivise, it goes 10-15-11-13-15. As for Rangers, in CL it goes 3-7-17-14-14-4, and in EL 8-11-15. No side is going to give up, and goals won't prevent corners as the trailing side will work hard to come back. Pretty strong bet for me.
I agree with you on this, and will follow with medium stakes :hope
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Man City-Dinamo Kiev = over (1.82) Totosì Preview: Man City: in doubt: Nigel De Jong, Adam Johnson; James Milner on the bench. Dynamo Kiev: injured: Artem Milevskiy; unavailable: Taras Mikhalik, Oleksandr Aliyev. The first game ended with the score 2-0 in favor of Dinamo Man.City and now has no choice but to attack is to try to get through the round. The attackers have Man.City how various Tevez, Balotelli, Silva is able to solve the game at any time. Statistical data from the last 3 games played at home in Europe Man.City League are all terms over, same thing for the Dynamo Kiev in the last three games played away from home in Europe League has ended all over. Given that the strength in the offensive phase of the home team I think it's a game with many goals. :hope:hope:hope

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Paris Saint Germain - Benfica

Hi all, Paris SG v Benfica: - No doubt, Benfica treats the EL very seriously, as it has no chance to win the domestic championship (and no concern about CL qualification). Last Sunday, they rested 3 players from the starting line-up, even though they were missing 3 more players, because of cards. Consequently, they lost 2 points at home... - On the other hand, PSG treats the EL somewhat less seriously, since the domestic title and the CL spot are its priority.
Last Sunday Benfica rested a bit more than 3 players. Their starting 11 had only Aimar as a usual starter and 10 more that usually sit on the bench. As for the motivation factor I honestly cannot understand why everyone keeps saying that EL is not their priority. If they don't want to win it I wonder myself why they even enter the competition. I think every single player wants to reach as far as they can in these competitions... Anyway IMO Benfica will enter this game for the draw. They have a small advantage from the 1st leg and I think they will try to manage that. I have to say that Benfica is a poor away side. They lost al 3 matches in CL group stage without even scoring a goal. They have also almost always conceded the first goal in the last few games: Maritimo, Stuttgart,Sporting, Paris St Germain, Portimonense. For me the fact that they might enter the game with the draw in mind usually leads them to defeat, because they are not a defensive minded team. Having said that I don't fancy them to win in Paris even in front of a huge portuguese crowd (30.000 plus expected, most of them immigrants). They can qualify for the next phase but they can also easily step out. My call would be: PSG DNB @ 2.00 - Betfair Just my 2 cents
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March Spartak - Ajax over10,5 corners (including extra time) @1,93 (unibet) The first game had 13-0 in corners because Dikan (sp?) cannot catch a ball. The goalkeeper of Spartak keeps a good number of shots out but punches them all away rather than catching the shots. Spartak - Ajax over2,5 @2,1 (Stan James) If Ajax gets an early goal Spartak will have to attack and Ajax have Verhoeven in goal who is the third goalie. He is decent but nowhere near the quality of Stekelenburg. Ajax is likely to concede especially with the attacking force of Spartak. If Ajax doesn't get the early goal they will have get exposed at the back because they need to score and that may cost them a goal which leads to them taking even more risks. Ajax also created lots of chances in their home game but were very unfortunate in their finishing so goals are at the horizon. :hope

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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

Rangers-PSV Over 10 corners AH @1.9 (b365) I think it's going be a tight game, and we should see a lot corners as PSV build up pressure - and Rangers try to score at last. In European games, PSV matches saw (from older to newer) 15-5-11-10-9-14-11-8-15 corners, generally getting more corners than their opponents. In Eredivise, it goes 10-15-11-13-15. As for Rangers, in CL it goes 3-7-17-14-14-4, and in EL 8-11-15.
Very interesting observation i must say and it seems you enjoy the corner race a lot. Will follow you in this. :ok
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

I am looking for a decent double today' date=' any suggestions?[/quote'] Depends what odds you're looking for. For just above evens, I'd say that Man City and Liverpool to win is as near as I think is a banker, but you'll only get evens or 6/4 etc.
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Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday 17 March

I am looking for a decent double today' date=' any suggestions?[/quote'] :welcome to PL :ok What do you think ia key, because no one can tell you what to put your money into. If you want two selections without putting the effort in yourself, then this thread contains as many selections to fill more than a few coupons....my advice would be to pick two at random....
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