Could Torres and Drogba be the answer?
Posted May 16, 2012 – 10:03 am in: SoccerIt says much about the revival at Stamford Bridge that two strikers who were widely tipped to leave the club – Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba – could start together in the Champions League final.
Blues interim boss Roberto Di Matteo has hinted that the duo could lead the line against Bayern Munich on Saturday, even though they have never started together under the Italian.
The London club begin the game as outsiders in the Champions League Betting given Bayern will be on home turf as well as a raft of injuries and suspensions that have forced the Italian to consider different selection options – including Torres and Drogba in tandem.
Drogba’s name in the starting XI would perhaps not be considered a surprise. The Ivorian has perhaps symbolised the resurgence in Chelsea’s form since the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and he was back to his blistering best in the recent FA Cup final win against Liverpool.
A few months ago though it appeared he would be on his way out of Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas, charged with revamping an aging squad, was attempting to limit Drogba’s role in the first team, something the former Marseille striker wasn’t happy about.
With his contract up at the end of the season an end to his west London love affair seemed certain, as the club were unwilling to offer him the two-year deal he was demanding.
But as Chelsea progressed in Europe under Di Matteo there also appeared to be a softening in their stance towards the striker and his continued value to the first team. And the opportunity to lead the line in one the club’s biggest ever matches suggests his time at the Bridge has a while to run yet.
Torres meanwhile is one of the great mysteries of sport. The Spaniard, once one of the most feared strikers in world football, has suffered an alarming dip in form over the past year, often cutting a disconsolate and near-tragic figure.
The £50million price tag has hung over him throughout his time at Chelsea, with other factors, such as a clash of dressing room egos, also rumoured to be hindering his form.
A ticket out of his Stamford Bridge hell appeared to be the only answer, but the Blues were unwilling to give up on such an expensive asset.
However, Like Drogba, the dismissal of Villas-Boas appeared to rejuvenate Torres and although he is still nowhere near his peak, he has shown signs of rediscovering his touch, with his semi-final goal against Barcelona the highlight.
A starting place alongside Drogba at the Allianz Arena would be another step on the road to redemption and prove best form is not already behind him.
With the European Championships on the horizon don’t forget to use your Betfair Euro 2012 Free Bet on your tip for glory in Poland and the Ukraine.
Comments Off | Tags: Bayern Munich, Champions League, Didier Drogba, European Championships, Fernando Torres, Roberto Di MatteoEuropa League Finals Decided – Bilbao to Face Atletico
Posted April 27, 2012 – 7:35 am in: SoccerAdrian Lopez earns Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at La Liga rivals Valencia by scoring a fizzing volley to ease his team into the Europa League final 5-2 on aggregate. Atletico won the first leg 4-2. The hosts were unable to breach the visiting defense, although Atletico survived a first-half siege at a noisy Mestalla.
Diego found Adrian wide of the area on a counter-attack in the 60th minute, after the ball bounced, the Spanish youth international struck a spectacular shot inside the far post. Adrian Lopez netted in the 60th to give Atletico a 1-0 win as it eased into the May 9 final in Bucharest, Romania, on a 5-2 combined advantage, after resisting Valencia’s first-half push.
On the hour, Adrian scored at the end of a counter-attack when Diego found him wide of the area and, after he chested the ball down, the Spanish youth international struck a magnificent shot inside the far post.
In search of an early goal, Valencia poured forward to start the fight back from their first-leg deficit but ran into inspired Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, who kept them at bay. Sergio Canales, stretchered off in tears with what looked like a serious knee injury in the 59th minute and then almost immediately Adrian ended the game as a contest. The hosts had one of their brightest performers on the night.
Tiago struck a Valencia player’s hand in the area and foolish red card came after he appeared to have been penalized for a handball, and both teams became involved in a messy scuffle. in 2010, Atletico beat Valencia in the quarterfinals on their way to winning the tournament with an extra-time 2-1 victory over Fulham in Hamburg.
From the start, Llorente caused Sporting trouble and produced Bilbao’s 17th-minute opener by chesting a pass back for Susaeta to beat goalkeeper Rui Patricio with a bouncing shot. when Van Wolfswinkel fired in a rebound just inside the edge of the box in the 44th, the visitors leveled.
The game appeared destined to go into added time. Then, Llorente rode his defender and flicked Gomez’s short cross off the post and into the net. This was his seventh goal of the tournament. In the Copa del Rey final, Bilbao will also play Barcelona.
Comments Off | Tags: Adrian Lopez, Europa League, Thibaut CourtoisTennis: ATP Miami Masters 2012: Rafael Nadal Moves Into Last 16
Posted March 26, 2012 – 6:28 am in: tennis
World number two Rafael Nadal and fourth seeded Andy Murray, without even breaking a sweat, cruised at the ATP/WTA Miami Masters tournament to make it into the last 16.
In a third round match on centre court, Nadal continued his domination over Czech Radek Stepanek with a straight forward 6-2, 6-2 victory. He did not even hit a ball. Dating back to their first meeting in 2004, Nadal has now beaten Stepanek in all six contests. Nadal is chasing his first Miami title. Murray reached the fourth round when Canadian Milos Raonic withdrew with a right ankle injury.
After the end of the game, Nadal said that he is happy with land in the fourth round winning two matches with positive feeling and with comfortable results. He added that he will just try to keep doing well and he will try to keep improving a little bit the level.
Nadal won 74 percent of his first-serve points and finished with three aces. He saved both break point chances he faced in the 86-minute match. He will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the next round. Nishikori breezed past Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2.
Nadal said of Nishikori that the match against the Japanese would be a very difficult match for him. He added that he is a fantastic player and he has the talent to play very aggressively and hit the ball very early.
The 24-year-old Scot Murray will face 13th seed Gilles Simon from France for a place in the quarterfinals of a tournament. Murray won this tournament in 2009. Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov beat seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych and recorded his first victory over a top 10 player. Dimitrov won 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes. For the first time, Dimitrov saved five of seven break points to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament. He fired down 10 aces to get past 18th-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. In their head-to-head series, Tipsarevic leads Dimitrov 2-0 with both meetings coming last year at Eastbourne and Washington.
In women’s division, Venus continues to surprise. Williams and Aleksandra Wozniak match was an enthralling one. It was a three-hour match with three-set battle. In the third set, Wozniak worked to a match point at 5-4. Williams pushed the match to a winner-take-all, first-to-seven-points, tiebreaking mini-game. Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska crushed Silvia Soler-Espinosa, of Spain 6-1, 6-2 and French seventh seed Marion Bartoli defeated Simona Halep 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in other women’s matches.
The betting odds for the upcoming Round 4 matches are as follows:
Murray (1/6) vs. Simon (4/1), Dimitrov (5/2) vs. Tipsarevic (2/7), Tsonga (2/7) vs. Mayer (5/2) and Nishikori (12/1) vs. Nadal (1/25).
Makarova (10/3) vs. Sharapova 1/5), Kirilinko (5/4) vs. Bartoli (4/7), Stosur (5/2) vs. Williams (2/7), Li (2/5) vs. Lisicki (7/4), Blanco (10/1) vs. Radwanska (1/20), Wickmayer (7/4) vs. Wozniacki (2/5), Azarenka (1/25) vs. Cibulkova (12/1) and Williams (6/4) vs. Ivanovic (1/2).
Will LeBron James Ever Win an NBA Title?
Posted January 18, 2012 – 10:55 pm in: NBALeBron James was beloved early in his career. He was the talk of Ohio when he dominated the high school basketball scene and later he was loved just as much as the Akron Hammer playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James played the hometown hero in Cleveland but did not see eye to eye with his owner Dan Gilbert when it came to building a team. James shined in Cleveland despite being on a small market team.
James NBA career began at the tender age of 18 as the No. 1 pick by the Cavaliers in 2003. LeBron was named the NBA MVP in his first season and later scored 5,000 points faster than any other player in NBA history.
In 2008-2009 LeBron won his first NBA MVP Award. The honor was well deserved. LeBron and Cavaliers struggled but individually James dominated on the floor against the best in the NBA.
Before the 2010-2011 NBA season James elected to “take his talents to South Beach” as he joined up with Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade and Toronto star Chris Bosh. The three stars underwent plenty of scrutiny but they did make their way to NBA Finals, only to lose to the Dallas Mavericks.
James is averaging an amazing 27.7 points per game in his career and he is showing no signs of slowing down. When LeBron came to Miami he predicted the team would win multiple championships and falling just short in 2011 has inspired him to double down and focus in the 2011-2012 strike-shortened season.
You want to get in on this action? Check out the prop odds for all of the NBA betting this season.
Comments Off | Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, NBAA Review of the NHL Eastern Conference First Quarter
Posted November 17, 2011 – 8:17 am in: NHLThe Southeast Division and the Northeast Division are in some great battles at the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference and things are wide open in this conference.
In the Southeast Division the favourites, the Washington Capitals and the long shot, the Florida Panthers are even up with both teams are cutting their way through the competition. Expectations were high for Washington going into the season but Florida is surprising everyone as both teams have 21 points.
In the Northeast Division things are going pretty much the same way. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres are neighbours just across the border from one another and the Niagara Falls but are also neighbours in the standings. While it is true that the two teams are similar, the exception is that the Maple Leafs has given up 19 more goals than the Sabres.
Leading the NHL in points the Pittsburgh Penguins are tied with the Western Conference leaders, the Chicago Blackhawks, with the 25 points. The Penguins, despite their star player Sidney Crosby, being out with concussion issues, are keeping pace in this race.
Long before we ever get to the month of December there are several teams that are already eliminated from the NHL playoffs. The New York Islanders are so far gone that they already seem to be the only candidate for the No.1 draft pick.
Is Pittsburgh the favourite to win the Eastern Conference? They could easily win the conference if No. 87 came back but they will still win the conference without their star player Sid the Kid Crosby.
Comments Off | Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, NHL Eastern Conference, Northeast Division, Pittsburgh Penguins, Southeast Division, Toronto Maple Leaf, Washington CapitalsClemson Tigers Looks to Continue Magical Season Against Virginia Tech Hokies
Posted September 28, 2011 – 12:37 pm in: UncategorizedThe Clemson Tigers look unstoppable early in the season. They have consecutive wins over ranked opponents, No. 21 Auburn and No. 11 Florida State. Now they take on their third ranked opponent, current No. 11, the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Clemson will face the toughest defense they have played this season. The Virginia Tech defense has allowed only ten points per game but the level of competition they have faced is less superior to the Clemson Tigers. The Hokies have handled Appalachian State, East Carolina and Marshall. The defending ACC champs need to step up and show they can repeat in this critical game.
Clemson can take the dominating position in the ACC with a win over last years conference champs. If Clemson does have a weakness it is defense. They are surrendering 25 points per game and they have won some close games against some of the best teams in the country.
Tajh Boyd has shown veteran qualities at times for the Tigers as the quarterback during this streak. Boyd made one of the most bone-headed plays of the year last week, literally giving Florida State seven points. Boyd shook off the mistake and led his team to victory 35-30.
Despite Clemson coming into this game with a 4-0 record, the Hokies are favored by seven points at home in college football betting. The Hokies defense is the key in this game and Clemson’s lack of defense could also come into play. Seven points is a lot of points to give up to Clemson but the Virginia Tech defense is capable of holding them down.
Comments Off | Tags: ACC champs, Clemson Tigers, college football betting, Tajh Boyd, Virginia Tech HokiesMatch Preview – Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Garcia
Posted May 27, 2011 – 2:09 am in: tennis
Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated Mirjana Lucic of Croatia and started her pursuit for French Open title in style, with a 6-3 6-0 in the first round match at Roland Garros. It was a one-sided affair.
Now, to secure her berth in the last 32 of the French Open 2011, she will take on seventeen-year old French qualifier Caroline Garcia. In the WTA Rankings, the French teen sensation is ranked 188th. After performing well at the ITF circuit, earlier this year in January, she earned a wild-card entry to Aussie Open and thump Varvara Lepchenko in the first round in her maiden appearance in the main draw of a WTA tournament. The Frenchwoman without doubt left an impression, even though she lost to Ayumi Morita in the second round.
Unexpectedly, Garcia dispatched her Czech opponent Zuzana Ondraskova in the first round match at the Roland Garros and made an astonishingly sturdy start to the 2011 French Open. She overwhelmed her Czech opponent with 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.
In this year’s Roland Garros, Sharapova is being talked off as a prospective champion as Kim Clijsters is looking ring-rusty, Williams sisters are absent in the tournament and world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki is still to crack a Grand Slam.
Sharapova said that no matter what her rankings are, be it 100 or be it 10, she believes that no matter whoever she faces, her opponents want to beat her because of what she had achieved in the past.
On 26 May 2011, Sharapova will be up against Caroline Garcia. Sharapova seems to be the obvious favorite to win the match. The betting odds are Sharapova (1/25), while Garcia (23).
Comments Off | Tags: Caroline Garcia, French Open 2011, Maria Sharapova, Roland Garros, WTALos Angeles Galaxy Vs. New York Red Bulls – Match Preview
Posted May 7, 2011 – 1:48 am in: Soccer
On Saturday, the New York Red Bulls will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer game and this game will be an electrifying one for several reasons. In any sport a clash between New York and Los Angeles always brings out a unique atmosphere. This weekend’s game will involve two of the best teams in the MLS, more specifically.
In MLS betting lines, the Galaxy are a +110 home favorite, New York is a +300 road underdog, and a Draw is at +240.
While the Galaxy dominates the standings in the Western Conference, the Red Bulls currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. For most of the season so far, it is also worth mentioning that Los Angeles has held the number one spot in the league table.
A packed Home Depot Center will be an intimidating venue for the Red Bulls, on Saturday evening. With a tremendous amount of confidence and momentum gained from the last three games, New York will arrive in Los Angeles though. Taking out D.C. United 4-0 and enjoying a solid 1-0 victory over Kansas City, the Red Bulls overpowered the Earthquakes 3-0.
For the first time this season, it was in those games that Thierry Henry finally scored for New York. By scoring three goals this season, newcomer Englishman Luke Rodgers has surprised many fans. Rafael Marquez, New York’s other star player, has recently created goal scoring opportunities for his teammates as well as he has been doing his job in the back end of the pitch.
Los Angeles striker Juan Pablo Angel, who will play against his former New York teammates with whom he built strong bonds, this game will be particularly dramatic for him. Angel has yet to enjoy similar success that he’d had when wearing a Red Bull Jersey, having only 1 goal in eight games with Los Angeles this season.
Against New York, David Beckham and Landon Donovan will be providing the usual threats though. The Galaxy‘s recent loss to Dallas may be an unpleasant blow to the team’s morale, also, after avoiding losses in April.
Comments Off | Tags: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, SoccerGame Preview: Nuggets vs. Thunder
Posted April 20, 2011 – 7:51 am in: NBA
Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will be playing alongside each other on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:00 PM ET at Oklahoma City Arena, Oklahoma City, OK. A ton of action has been witnessed in these last few weeks at the sports betting websites. The Oklahoma City Thunder seems to be the favorite to win. The odds for Thunder are 1 / 2 and Nuggets 9/5.
In the 2011 NBA Payoffs, injuries are becoming a ubiquitous story and the Denver Nuggets are no exception to the rule.
In somewhat contentious fashion, the Game 1 was lost by Nuggets to the Oklahoma City Thunder. For Game 2 on Wednesday night, the Nuggets have already ruled out starting shooting guard Aaron Afflalo. He has been on and off throughout the last month or so because of a left hamstring injury. His absence from the squad at the most significant time of the season is obstructing him and his team badly. Afflalo had missed 13 of the final 18 regular-season games with an injury he originally suffered March 5 and worsened March 19, April 1 and April 11, aside from missing the team’s first playoff game on Sunday night.
The NBA’s highest scoring tandem other than Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Durant and Westbrook were accountable for overcoming the Nuggets 107-103 in Game 1. In Game 1, Oklahoma City depended a great deal on Durant and Westbrook. In the same game, both had scored at least 30 points. In the regular season, this feat was accomplished by the duo only five times. Eric Maynor was the only one other player, who scored more than five in Game 1, with 12 points.
George Karl is one on whom, Denver’s opportunity hinges on. How far this basketball lifer can prod his Nuggets remains to be seen on Wednesday night.
No Comments | Tags: Denver Nuggets, LeBron James, NBA, Oklahoma City ThunderSony Ericsson Open – Bhupathi/ Paes through to Finals
Posted April 2, 2011 – 2:40 am in: tennis
Third seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi booked a berth in the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open by saving a match point on the road to a hard-fought three-set triumph over Oliver Marach and Janko Tipsarevic.
To set up a clash with second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor, the third-seeded Indian pair won 6-3, 5-7, 11-9. Mirnyi and Nestor, in their semifinal match overwhelmed fourth seeded Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner.
To even the match at one set all, Bhupathi and Paes led 6-3, 2-0 before Marach and Tipsarevic turned things around. Mirnyi was Bhupathi’s partner in 2010, which is quite ironical, when they went down to Paes and Lukas Dlouhy in the summit clash at this tournament. Paes and Bhupathi are again at the identical stage this year but will be paired together as they take on Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Daniel Nestor of Canada for the trophy clash, after playing against each other in the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open doubles final.
At the Sony Ericsson Open, Bhupathi and Paes are looking in a great touch. In the second round, they ousted Marc Lopez and David Marrero of Spain 7-6(5), 6-4. Bhupathi and Paes whipped Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the match.
The betting lines for the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open has seen a lot of action in the last few weeks. The betting odds for the doubles final are – Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (5/6) and Max Mirnyi/Daniel Nestor (5/6).
No Comments | Tags: Daniel Nestor, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sony Ericsson Open