Football Predictions

The last four return games of the round of sixteen of the Champions League are taking place this week. Bet365 specially offers an incentive for the match Chelsea London against SSC Naples. But we will have a look at all matches in a chronological order.

FC Bayern Munich against FC Basel

Munich is going to play against Basel. At the moment, Basel disposes of an outstanding shape. This should be known to everyone since the preliminary round at the latest. At first they made up a 3:0 against Manchester United and then they played 3:3 in the Theater of Dreams. The decisive match of Manchester United against FC Basel took place at the last match day of the preliminary round. FC Basel won this match in St. Jakob Park and they moved into the round of sixteen. The consequence for Manchester United was the third place within their group and therefore the knockout in the Champions League. That means that Manchester United is going to play its next match on Thursday within the Europe League. FC Basel won its last match in the Swiss league 0:2 against Grashoppers Zurich in Zurich, which means that they won their last match just as Bayern Munich, which won 7:1 in their own stadium against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Does that mean that Munich is now ready for Basel? Or does that mean that there is nothing left anymore after Saturday? Odds on Munich are very low but since Munich has to win with a difference of one goal, handicap-1 can be applied very well. If Munich does not reach the next round, huge discussions will follow there. I assume that Munich is going to win in a very clear manner, even though I would grant the next round to Basel since they are the big surprise of this year´s Champions League season. A great deal will also be the 1.5 since I believe that Munich will score one goal and Basel is only going to reach the next round if they score a goal by themselves.

Inter Milan against Olympique Marseille

Today, in addition, there will be the match Inter Milan against Olympique Marseille. Since Marseille won the first leg against a flagging team from Milan, they are odds-on favourite on reaching the quarter final. Therefore my predictions turn out to be clear with Marseille reaching the next round with a 1.44 on Bet365.

Chelsea London against SSC Naples

Tomorrow (14 March 2012), Chelsea London is going to play against SSC Naples. London lost the first leg in Naples with 3:1. Of course, London is intending to straighten this result at Stamford Bridge but at the moment, Naples has the self-confidence to reach the next round. If Naples scores a goal, they will be nearly unreachable for London. Since they are an Italian team, it is said that they dispose of a very good defence. Although Naples possesses a strong offensive, they should make use of this Italian virtue. This season, Chelsea is not in a good shape and even within the English league they have to be careful not to lose the rank allowing the participation in the Champions League and being kicked out of the Top 4. In general, the English teams are flagging at the moment, which offers a huge chance for Naples even though this will not be good for the five-year-assessment of the Uefa from a German point of view. I think the result will be 2:1 and therefore my predictions will be 2.5 goals. You should bet on this match at Bet365 in any case since Bet365 offers a great incentive. If you bet using a sum up to £25 regardless which kind of bet, you will be given a free bet in the amount of your previous wager on a live bet at the match Chelsea-Naples. That means making proper predictions and maybe assuring them during the match or maybe making more profit.

Real Madrid against ZSKA Moscow

The last match of these four will take place in Madrid between Real Madrid and ZSKA Moscow. Here, Real Madrid should be odds-on favourite. But how often did teams fail when being the odds-on favourite? In Moscow the result was only a 1:1. But although Moscow scored the 1:1 not until the additional time, a 1:0 against Madrid within the regular time was also a great success. So if Moscow again disposes of a great defence and maybe scores a goal, they will have the possibility to reach the next round, which would mean the knockout for Madrid within the Champions League. Basel against Manchester offers a great example for such a result. Therefore I prefer not to bet on this match and, in addition, the odds are too low.

Cheltenham Festival – Be part of the ‘Cheltenham roar’

The biggest horse racing festival in the sporting calendar is here! And Unibet will be offering odds on all of it!

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious racing events in the UK, and run over four days, there is plenty of action to catch.  Starting on Tuesday 15^th March, the men put on their finest suits, the women put on the grandest hats and head to the West of England and mingle amongst the royalty and the esteemed at the most magnificent of sporting events.

Without doubt the ‘jewel in Cheltenham’s crown’ – the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a major national event, and many would class it as unmissable.  Ran on the final day of the event, over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs (5,331 metres) and consisting of twenty-two fences, there is plenty of time for drama – and in the Gold Cup, drama is usually guaranteed.  Previous races have seen an odds on favourite in Kauto Star fall four jumps from home, Norton’s Coin who was a 100.00 outsider shock the market in 1990, and the UK’s favourite grey horse, Desert Orchid breaking a 66 year hoodoo to become the first grey to win the event.

This year is the year of the old guns. The current holder, Long Run is the odds on favourite and odds of 2.75 at Unibet, whereas Kauto Star, who is acclaimed to be the greatest British racehorse of all time can be backed at 5.00 as he returns to try and find his 2007-2009 form where he triumphed twice. However, there are doubts about Kauto Star’s form, and he is currently ‘50/50’ to start the race according to his trainer.

“The public feel a great affiliation with these horses as they watch them battle year in year out” says Erik Backlund, Head of Unibet’s Sportsbook.

“It’s great for the sport that these rivalries continue to occur, and with Unibet you can back your favourite and who knows, come Friday evening the country may have a new horsing hero.”

Other possible options for the race are Burton Port and Grands Crus at 10.00, both performing favourably in the market and Time for Rupert at 80.00, who can try and emulate the exploits of Norton’s Coin as the rank outsider.

On the opening Tuesday it is one of the punter’s favourite events, the Champion Hurdle, and the 2010 and 2011 winners dominate the betting, with 2011 winner Hurricane Fly a massive favourite at 1.90 and 2010 winner Binocular available at 6.00.  On the Wednesday people gather to watch the race named after the late, but great, Queen Mother and again the past two winners control the market, Big Zeb, who won in 2010 available at 5.50 but easily outbacked by last year’s winner, Sizing Europe at 1.90.

Unibet also offer markets on best jockey and best trainer, with stalwarts of the industry Ruby Walsh (1.67) and Barry Geraghty (4.50) the favourites to win the best jockey crown and Willie Mullins (2.25) and Nickie Henderson (3.50) the best placed for the trainers crown.

“I think that 15 time champion jockey and 2010 Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy is another public favourite and would be an interesting bet at 12.00.” says Erik.

Unibet have Ante Post prices online for every race from Cheltenham Festival and offer Place markets on all the top races. Unibet offer UK Horse Racing prices throughout the year on all the top Group 1 and Grade 1 action, as well as Horse Racing markets in France and Sweden. It is the place to be for some of the most competitive Horse Racing odds on the market.

Unibet Press information

Poldi and Arsenal London

Today and yesterday, two “surprising” transfers were publicised. Lukas Podolski (* 4 June 1985) is very likely leaving Cologne in order to join the team of Arsenal London. Consequently Cologne is going to lose its most important player and a real role model. Arsenal London, on the other hand, will be enriched by another German international. He is a real team player and sacrifices himself for his teammates. In front of the goal, he is not very selfish as well and often integrates his teammates with his passes. With this manner, the striker has already scored 31 goals for Cologne since 2009. For the German national team, he scored 43 goals in his 95 matches. The transfer fee is reported to be 13 million Euros but these reports are unconfirmed up till now.

Arne is going to start a fire in Chicago

Arne Friedrich, who was without any club within the last months, is going to play for Chicago Fire in the new season. Arne Friedrich took part in 15 matches for Wolfsburg during the season 2010/2011. Due to some disagreements with Coach Felix Magath and a serious injury, he asked for dissolution of his contract. From 2002 to 2010, he played for Hertha BSC Berlin and in his 231 matches, he scored 14 goals. As a defender for the German national team, he was responsible for allowing the goal keepers quiet matches. He scored his first goal, which has also been his last up till now, for the national team during the 4:0 victory against Argentina during the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. He will be a real enrichment for Chicago Fire´s defense, if he is not suffering another serious injury again. Doubtlessly he is in a better shape compared to many other stars who are going to go to the United States in order to end their careers steadily, for example, Henry and Beckenbauer, just to name two of them. In his first match for Chicago Fire on the 17 March 2012 against Montreal, he will be able to prove that he can run a successful defence. Maybe we will then see him again in the jersey of the German team.