UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

[western skies]

[TABLE=class: couponTable]

[TR] [TH][/TH] [TH=class: firstColumn]Wednesday 15 February 2012[/TH] [TH]Home[/TH] [TH]Draw[/TH] [TH]Away[/TH] [TH=class: bppWidth]BPP[/TH] [/TR] [TR=class: row0] [TD][/TD] [TD=class: firstColumn] Zenit Saint-Petersburg v Benfica (17:00 GMT) [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 2.56 [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 3.3 [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 3.2 [/TD] [TD=class: bppWidth bpp]100.62 %[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [/TR] [TR=class: row1] [TD][/TD] [TD=class: firstColumn] AC Milan v Arsenal (19:45 GMT) [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 2.06 [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 3.5 [/TD] [TD=class: selectionBestOdd] 4 [/TD] [TD=class: bppWidth bpp]102.12 %[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Like the odds on Arsenal considering a good record English teams have against Italian sides.

[ThusPrider]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Ah, this fixture reminds me of the 30 yard Fabregas goal that gave Arsenal progression a couple of seasons ago. Arguably both teams are weaker now than then. Looking forward to this fixture, might stick a bet on Arsenal to qualify if its around evens as I see them as being the marginally better team through 2 legs. I dont think Arsenal will try to camp out a 1 - 0 or 0 - 0 draw in this leg, as this season it never look like Arsenal knows how to defend. Wenger will want at least one away goal.

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Like the idea of Arsenal qualifying. They are currently @ 1.90 to qualify with most bookies, while a few have them @ 2.00.

[ThusPrider]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Mate, you should really try to open a Pinnacle sports account! I know many have told you but you're missing out on loads of value, even if your bets are small. Arsenal to qualify is currently 2.070 with Pinnacle, even if you stake just £100 theres a difference of £7 between EVS and 2.070, making you on average £3.50 worse off. It can all add up quickly! Im not sure if you will have difficulties opening accounts with more bookies due to where you are, but you should really try. 188bet also offers very good odds and take very small margins I have noticed.

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

Mate' date=' you should really try to open a [i']Pinnacle sports account! I know many have told you but you're missing out on loads of value, even if your bets are small. Arsenal to qualify is currently 2.070 with Pinnacle, even if you stake just £100 theres a difference of £7 between EVS and 2.070, making you on average £3.50 worse off. It can all add up quickly! Im not sure if you will have difficulties opening accounts with more bookies due to where you are, but you should really try. 188bet also offers very good odds and take very small margins I have noticed.

It's not about difficulty. But the problem is some bookies for instance 188bet charge $20 for every withdrawal you make to Azerbaijan, plus our banks charge you 3-4% every time you make a deposit to online bookies.

[ThusPrider]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

It's not about difficulty. But the problem is some bookies for instance 188bet charge $20 for every withdrawal you make to Azerbaijan' date=' plus our banks charge you 3-4% every time you make a deposit to online bookies.[/quote'] Oh I see, have you tried things like Moneybookers or Neteller? Does WH & Bet365 not charge you?

[IAmGooner]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February I like us in this fixture I have to say. Milan are vulnerable to pace against their full-backs, they hate playing against high tempo English sides, Walcott and Chamberlain could prove very useful players in this one. We can be dodgy at the back but Milan dont stretch teams out wide, they lack guile from midfield(as do we to an extent this season without Cesc, our threat is coming from pacy widemen in this one)...Vermaelen should be getting moved to his favourite CB spot with Mertesacker now injured and I think him and Koscielny can stifle Ibrahimovic....Gibbs is back and could start at left back or Vermaelen remaining at left back and Djourou coming into the centre. I really think we can contain Milan away from home, congest the area outside the box and hit on the break should be the order of the day. Second leg at home too IMO is an edge for us, I think we will avoid defeat in the San Siro and play hard at home to put Milan out. Arsenal +0.5 AH vs Milan @ 1.80 (Bet365:5pts) Arsenal to qualify @ 2.060 (Pinnacle:5pts)

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

Oh I see, have you tried things like Moneybookers or Neteller? Does WH & Bet365 not charge you?

No they don't. Deposit and withdrawals are free of charge. I am really going off topic again but it seem to me a bit complicated. For instance if you have 10 different accounts you will need decent amount of money in each one. So for instance if you average stake is 50 euro you will need at least 200-300 euros in each account (2,000-3,000 total).

[ThusPrider]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Yeah, better not clog up this thread any more, though if you just open one Pinnacle sports account/188 account, I suggest you close all your other accounts and just use that Pinnacle account, as 80% of the time they will offer near to the best odds. Dont worry about what ive got to say, just do the thing that you feel most comfortable with! At the end of the day getting abit of fun from betting is the most important thing.

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

I like us in this fixture I have to say. Milan are vulnerable to pace against their full-backs, they hate playing against high tempo English sides, Walcott and Chamberlain could prove very useful players in this one. We can be dodgy at the back but Milan dont stretch teams out wide, they lack guile from midfield(as do we to an extent this season without Cesc, our threat is coming from pacy widemen in this one)...Vermaelen should be getting moved to his favourite CB spot with Mertesacker now injured and I think him and Koscielny can stifle Ibrahimovic....Gibbs is back and could start at left back or Vermaelen remaining at left back and Djourou coming into the centre. I really think we can contain Milan away from home, congest the area outside the box and hit on the break should be the order of the day. Second leg at home too IMO is an edge for us, I think we will avoid defeat in the San Siro and play hard at home to put Milan out. Arsenal +0.5 AH vs Milan @ 1.80 (Bet365:5pts) Arsenal to qualify @ 2.060 (Pinnacle:5pts)

Just will add some info I have taken from uefa.com "The Italian giants bowed out to Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 months ago, Manchester United FC having got the better of them the previous season. In 2007/08 it was Arsenal themselves who began a poor sequence for Milan against English sides when they triumphed at this stage, meaning the Italian club's last three campaigns have been ended in the last 16 by English opponents with a home defeat on each occasion." Arsenal to Qualify @ 1.91 (4 units) ​William Hill

[Feduloff]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Zenit misses important playmaker Danny, best keeper Malofeev, very important def Domenico Criscito Russian League is not yet playing, could be a negative effect for them. There is no new purchase of the strong player, only loss. Benfica in great shape, won every game in Portuguese League since November (15-3-0, first place). 11 wins in a row now for them. X2 1.60, AH2(0) 2.15 8/10

[MisterBadham]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Zenit v Benfica Key Stat: Benfica have scored in every match this season. The Russian domestic championship has been on a winter break since November and Zenit could be caught cold on their first competitive outing for a couple of months. Benfica are unbeaten in their domestic league as well as European competitions, scoring in every game and look major value for a shock win. Benfica DNB @ 2.20 (3 units) Betfair Over 0.5 Away Goals @ 1.44 (5 units) Coral

[c0ld22]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February you should consider the temperature factor , will be -16 C and all the big weastern teams had problems playing against russian or ukrainian teams on their home ground barca won with 1-0 last year at donetsk with a goal that caused a big scandal if i remember right and also an inter in great shape won 1-0 aganist cska 2 years ago benfica cannot be compared with giants like inter and barca and i am sure that zenit will get something out of this game

[Mustafa]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

you should consider the temperature factor , will be -16 C and all the big weastern teams had problems playing against russian or ukrainian teams on their home ground barca won with 1-0 last year at donetsk with a goal that caused a big scandal if i remember right and also an inter in great shape won 1-0 aganist cska 2 years ago benfica cannot be compared with giants like inter and barca and i am sure that zenit will get something out of this game

Good point. Was thinking about Under 2.5 Goals but @ 1.55-1.57 it does not worth the risk.

[gogoto]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

Zenit v Benfica The Russian domestic championship has been on a winter break since November and Zenit could be caught cold on their first competitive outing for a couple of months.

Zenit returned to work on 12 January and had training camps in Dubai (15-27 January) – winning the invitational Match World Cup – and at the Italian national team base in Florence (29 January to 8 February).• Friendly results 18/01: Zenit 2-1 FC Bunyodkor, UZB (Huszti 13, Criscito 43) 20/01: Zenit 2-1 Iraq Olympic side (Bukharov 10, Kerzhakov 75) 23/01: Zenit 5-0 Uzbekistan Olympic side (Lazović 10pen, Rosina 69 80, Danny 84 86) 25/01: Zenit 4-0 PFK Lokomotiv Tashkent, UZB (Lazović 3, Kerzhakov 52, Huszti 56, Bukharov 80pen) 26/01: Zenit 1-2 FC Shurtan Guzar, UZB (Luković 69pen) 01/02: Zenit 3-1 Serie D U19 XI, ITA (Lombaerts 40, Danny 50, Denisov 54) 04/02: Zenit 5-2 US Pistoiese 1921, ITA (Luković 19pen 27pen 57pen, Fayzulin 44, Huszti 59) 06/02: Zenit 1-0 AC Cesena, ITA (Kerzhakov 22)

[MisterBadham]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Appreciated but I don't believe friendly matches have any comparison to a champions league knockout stage tie, I never once said that they stopped training I thought people would work that out themselves seen as their in the last 16 of the champions league. Thanks for your input but my mind is set, greatly appreciated. Mister Badham

[c0ld22]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February AC Milan vs Arsenal "Boateng, Nesta, Pato and Flamini took part in the entire session with the others, as they did yesterday. The three goalkeepers Abbiati, Amelia and Roma were also all present." Good news from Milan's website , with Nesta and Tiago Silva in the starting lineup the italians will have a rock solid defense and also Boateng will bring an ofensive plus. The 80.000 italian fans will not accept anything but a win after the defeats against Inter and Juventus , not to mention the double loss against a full potential Barcelona when Milan scored four goals against the best defensive in the world at that time. Arsenal barely won last game with a mediocre team and even though they hammered Blackburn with 7-1 it doesn't mean that they are good enough to beat teams like Milan , Man Utd or Real Madrid. Even though Van Persie is having a great season , he doesn't have the support of Xavi , Iniesta and Fabregas like Messi had. This is a must win for Milan and I think that Ibra , Robinho , Boateng or Pato won't fail to deliver some goals. Milan to win at 2.1 @ bet365

[kerry9000]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

you should consider the temperature factor , will be -16 C and all the big weastern teams had problems playing against russian or ukrainian teams on their home ground barca won with 1-0 last year at donetsk with a goal that caused a big scandal if i remember right and also an inter in great shape won 1-0 aganist cska 2 years ago benfica cannot be compared with giants like inter and barca and i am sure that zenit will get something out of this game

Inter got a result just last year against CSKA, in their 3 homes games in the CL they only failed to win once and that was against the group winners APOEL and i would rate Benfica a better side than APOEL. Benefica DNB 2.1 ladbrokes looks good

[gogoto]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

Zenit v Benfica Key Stat: Benfica have scored in every match this season.

Last season 23% of goals in the Champions League came from set pieces so it might be a good idea to look for the dead-ball specialists. Have a look for Ronaldo (his free-kick on matchday 4 ensured qualification for Madrid), Moskva star Alan Dzagoev (scored with a stunning strike against Inter on matchday 3), Robben, Frank Lampard and specific for this match Benfica striker Óscar Cardozo’s sublime left-foot. Cardozo to score anytime 3.10@bet365

[frenchypauly]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Ok here is what I am thinking. 1) Zenit vs Benfica - Both teams to score @ 2.00 BET365 This is CL knock-out stages, you have to do well at home, and nick a goal away from home! I expect Zenith to score! Benfica are not coming here for a 0-0 they want a goal too! I can honestly see both teams scoring! More intuition than statistics. Someone already mentioned Benfica are on 11 match win streak, and scored in every game. Nice stat! 2) Milan vs Arsenal - Milan to win @ 2.10 BET365 This game has revenge written all over it! Milan will go 110% to make sure they don't lose to Arsenal again, to a North London team again, to an English side again. It is no-no. It is a grave sin! I think the players are very aware of this, and I think they will rise to the occasion! Arsenal as always will be cute, but will fall short yet again!

[vinnyno10]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benfica There is absoultely no doubt in my mind that Benfica are going to qualify for the next round here. Malafeev & Danny are both injured, which is a massive loss to the squad, in my opinion are the 2 most influential players in this team. I thought Spalletti did very well with his team to get them through the group stage and I rate him highly as a manager, but some already mentioned that Zenit hasn't played a competitive match since the draw at Porto on 6/12/11. Benfica are on fire domestically, and undefeated away in the CL this season. They beat Basel & Galati away and drew 2:2 with Man United in group C. This side has goals in them and I'm sure they will look to gain an advantage in the first leg. Benfica 2.90 at paddypower.com

[Petersson1984]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February I dont give much for the weather. These are top players. They know what conditions Moscow brings this time a year. Look at Olympiakos yesterday. Inter, Twente, Barcelona ect all went to eastern europe and won in freezing temp.

[blackcrow]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Benfica @ 2.97 pinnacle Benfica are in great form, having won their last 11 games in all competitions, and especially up front, they have been very productive, scoring at least two goals in their last 9 games, and scoring at least 3 goals in 7 of these last 9 games. Defensively, they have only 5 clean sheets in these 11 games, but have not allowed more than one goal in the other 6 games, so they have done pretty well at both ends of the pitch. While they will have a tough time going east to play in very cold conditions in St Petersburg, Benfica have the advantage of match fitness, and though Zenit have played some friendlies, will probably be underdone against a very confident and attack-minded side. Can see a similar situation to last nights games where Olympiacos looked the better side against Rubin Kazan who also were coming off a winter break. Zenit beat both Shaktar Donetsk and Porto at home, while they drew with Apoel Nicosia, but if you draw comparison with Porto and Benfica who play in the same league, Benfica are the better side. Like the away team to take advantage of Zenit missing some important players and take a lead going into the second leg at home AC Milan @ 2.15 pinnacle Milan have been very good at home in the Serie A, winning 3 and drawing one of their last 5 home games, and have allowed just the one goal, so their defence is very good, and will need to be to close down van Persie, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain. But if they can do that, believe they have the edge up front where Ibrahimovich is much like van Persie, but Robinho has that touch of class about him to turn a game. Arsenal's defence have conceded goals in 5 of their last 6 games, and without the experience of Mertesecker in defence for this game, may be left vulnerable to Milan's attack here, who do have much more guile about them, then they would normally face in the EPL. Like Milan to edge this, as like their defence to hold up while their attack has the ability to score on Arsenal

[ThusPrider]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February AC Milan vs Arsenal I have been thinking about this one for a loooong time. Firstly, I think AC Milans squad is marginally stronger than that of 3 seasons ago, with Arsenal getting slightly weaker, losing both their goalscorers on that night. It was indeed a great goal by Fabregas on the night that unlocked AC Milans italian defense from 35 yards, and really it could have gone either way being 0 - 0 after both legs. Adebayor is gone, but Van Persie being fully fit and at his prime is a superior replacement, whilst Arteta isnt as good as Fabregas dictating the midfield, Oxlade-chainberlain looks to be a great find for Arsenal. Despite the game being delicate poised in the second leg, it was very open, with Arsenal knowing an away goal counts for double. I dont think Arsenal will try to contain Milan here, they will go out to try and get that all important away goal, which in the end was what won the tie for them in the same fixture 3 seasons ago. Both sides have excellent attacking players that im a great fan of. Ibrahimovic is one of my favourites, though controversial for some as being overrated around the Barcelona fiasco, theres no doubt he is a big game player and will produce. Pato, Robinho and Boateng are all great players, and the latter produced a stunning goal against Barcelona in a game with little liability. Van Persie, Walcott and Arteta are all great attacking minded players. Along with Ramsey and Song its a sturdy midfield to keep the game flowing, switching attack to defense. This was the game of the last 16 and definately the pick of the bunch. I expect the big build up to yield a good game. Mertesacker is out with Vermaelon sacrifising his favourite position to fill in for him, and though this may sound harsh, but the loss of Mertesacker could even be a positive for Arsenal. He has made so many mistakes that has cost goals in this Arsenal campaign. Ones I can remember is against Norwich to let Morrison score, and more recently McClean. The latter probably wasnt entirely his fault, though it was very clumsey and doesnt fill you with alot of confidence when hes on the ball. Previous games in the champions league for Arsenal away from home have all been good games. Against Udinese and Dortmund, both times Arsenal have played very well and have been impressive. Against a lesser Marseille side, though it was a late Ramsey goal that won for them, it was well deserved having been the better side away from home for most of the game. I expect a big performance from the stars players in this game. My mug instinct predicts 2 - 1 to either side. imo odds should be about 11/10 O vs 10/11 U (48/52) Over 2.5 2.170 Pinnacle 10/10 Over 4.5 9.050 After commission Exchanges Lay over 4.5 @1.12 3/10 Nice type ups for the Zenit - Benfica games guys. Right on my wavelength! Ill say no more here. Benfica 2.970 Pinnacle 5/10

[MisterBadham]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February Let’s look at the Gunners first of all. Domestically their title race is over and they’re fighting for a place in next season’s Champions League. But in Europe this season they’ve been superb so far, cruising into the knockout stage with three wins and two draws. They will travel to AC Milan with Thierry Henry in the squad for the last time and determined to send him back to the States on a winning note. The Italians top Serie A by two points from Juventus but have won only one of their last three, failing to score in two of them. I reckon if Arsenal go to the San Siro looking for a victory they should get it and if they fail I see them coming away with at least a draw. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be less known to the Italian defence than the likes of Van Persie and Walcott but they could be in trouble if they take their eye off him. The youngster could be a good bet to score at anytime as I can see him getting in behind a slower than average defence. Arsenal +1 @ 1.73 (3 units) BoyleSports Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to score at anytime @ 7.0 (1 unit) Betfair

[justin81]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February

you should consider the temperature factor , will be -16 C and all the big weastern teams had problems playing against russian or ukrainian teams on their home ground barca won with 1-0 last year at donetsk with a goal that caused a big scandal if i remember right and also an inter in great shape won 1-0 aganist cska 2 years ago benfica cannot be compared with giants like inter and barca and i am sure that zenit will get something out of this game

I don't think temp. should matter that much. I watched Rubin-Olympiakos yesterday and Greeks didn't have any problems with the climate, but many said that it could be a problem for them. And they looked as the better side comparing to Rubin which didn't show anything special. They couldn't even score from the penalty spot or create anything solid with one man advantage. Benfica is on fire where Zenit played just friendlies, additionally missing key players X2 or 2DNB looks very tempting.

[c0ld22]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February I just didn't bet on this match , seems to unpredictable Zenit is a much better team than Rubin , also Rubin played in Moscow in an empty stadium while in Sankt Petersburg will be a full stadium to encourage Zenit Today i'm going with Milan and some brazilian teams:hope

[DCFC4Life]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February I like Arsenal to qualify over 2 legs over Milan. Laying Milan or backing Arsenal +1 will be my bet letter provided the starting line ups aren't dramatically different to what Im expecting. Walcott + Oxlade-Chamberlain's pace down the wing's will be the big difference in this game I think. Having seen Marco Amelia a couple of times recently I wonder how he has a World Cup winners medal (check out the ex-West Ham's striker who's name has slipped out of my head's goal versus Milan a month or 2 ago versus Amelia!). Arsenal's defence does concern me. Fortunately Robinho is out of form and a lot of the Milan midfield is injured. Arsenal over 2 legs for me :) C'mon England!

[vinnyno10]

Re: UEFA Champions League > Wednesday 15 February The pitch at St. Petersburg is as bad as I've seen at this stage of the competition. Lets hope it doesn't work in Zenit's advantage.. I see that Benfica have set out a positive attacking team, they should definately score here tonight. :hope