UEFA Champions League 14th and 15th August

[kompressaur]

The first leg matches will be played on Tuesday 14/ Wednesday 15 August, with the second legs on 28/29 August.

FH Hafnarfjordur/BATE v Zaglebie Lubin/Steaua Bucuresti
Levski Sofia/Tampere United v FC Astana/Rosenborg
Spartak Moscow v CELTIC
Werder Bremen v Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
FK Ventspils/SV Red Bull Salzburg v Shakhtar Donetsk/Pyunik
Ajax v MSK Zilina/Slavia Prague
Valencia v Debrecen/IF Elfsborg
Genk/FK Sarajevo v Dynamo Kiev
Fenerbahce v Anderlecht
RANGERS/Zeta v Crvena Zvezda/Levadia Tallinn
Toulouse v LIVERPOOL
Benfica v FC Copenhagen/Beitar Jerusalem
Lazio v Dinamo Bucuresti
Sparta Prague v ARSENAL
FC Zurich v Besiktas/FC Sheriff
Sevilla v AEK Athens

[all_funkt_up]

Interesting to note that Toulouse have been given special dispensation to play their game at 3.30 (GMT) in the afternoon (4.30 CET) on the wednesday. I have never heard of a team being allowed to do this before. Surely it gives them an 'unfair' advantage as they would be used to the heat, Liverpool probably less so.

[allthethings]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Interesting to note that Toulouse have been given special dispensation to play their game at 3.30 (GMT) in the afternoon (4.30 CET) on the wednesday. I have never heard of a team being allowed to do this before. Surely it gives them an 'unfair' advantage as they would be used to the heat, Liverpool probably less so.

Just as surely it won't matter.

[all_funkt_up]

Tuesday August 14th



19:45 Lazio 1.36 4.00 D. Bucharest 7.00

20:00 Rangers 1.73 3.40 R.S. Belgrade 4.00
20:15 Benfica 1.44 3.75 FC Copenhagen 6.00
21:00 Valencia 1.20 5.00 Elfsborg 11.00


Wednesday August 15th



15:30 Toulouse 4.00 3.00 Liverpool 1.83

17:00 S. Moscow 1.83 3.10 Celtic 3.75
17:00 Tampere Utd 2.75 3.25 Rosenborg 2.20

18:00 BATE Borisov 3.20 3.20 Steaua Bucharest 2.00
19:00 Fenerbahce 1.67 3.25 Anderlecht 4.50
19:00 FK Sarejevo 3.20 3.20 Dinamo Kiev 2.00
19:15 FC Zurich 2.37 3.10 Besiktas 2.62
19:30 Ajax 1.40 3.75 S. Prague 7.00
19:30 Salzburg 2.20 3.25 Shakhtar Donetsk 2.75
19:30 Werder Bremen 1.25 5.00 Dinamo Zagreb 8.00
19:45 Sevilla 1.28 4.50 AEK Athens 8.00
19:45 Sparta Prague 4.00 3.10 Arsenal 1.80

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Have to say Spartak Moscow should interest a few folk i would imagine. Due to loyalties i wont be beating on the match but its hard to see past the home win here.

Celtics away record in the CL is nothing short of abysmal. It must be one of the worst around. Never won an away tie that i can remember and rarely ever picked up a point. Last seasons Group games resulted in Celtic conceding 3 goals in each of their 3 games.

This season they havent looked all that great but thats to be expected since its the start of the season. Made some decent buys mind.

Spartak more than halfway through their season and sitting top of the league. Doing well with some quality about them. They also play on an artificial pitch which will be new to Celtic.

At 2.00 oddswise i think you would be foolish not to follow the home side here as its a very decent bet imo (unfortunately ).

[WeegieDave]

Agree with Kiko on this, Celtics away form in this competition is extremely poor (something like 2 points in possible 39 or something). Just took a bit of the Evens that was available on Spartak on Betfair.

In the other games, I don't have much to say on the Rangers game. Don't think that Red Star are the same team that they used to be, but will still be a danger. Would probably need some more info from any Serbian punters on here.

Some decent accumulator material on there as well imo. Lazio and Valencia on the tuesday should win, team news pending, and possibly Werder Bremen and Sevilla on wednesday, again team news pending.

The one bet I like the look of is the 2.75 available for Shahktar Donetsk. A decent team with prior CL experience. Anyone have more info on Salzburg?

[texonja]

Crvena Zvezda would definitely be without Dusan Basta. Maybe someone would not agree with me, but he is one of the key players.
Also, Igor Burzanovic, their striker and goalscorer in Talin is injured and he is still questionable. Portugese Lucas is also questionable.

I agree it would not be easy match for Rangers, but sadly I must say that my Zvezda is not even close good as we all hoped it will be... Without real ideas when attacking, not perfect when defending. This team needs games to play and this game against Rangers is just to early.

Zvezda will come for 0:0 or 1:1 , Rangers will play for 1:0 or 2:0 , I guess... so if Rangers doesn't score in first 15-20 minutes, then this would be definitely low scoring game and maybe best option is under 2.5 goals @1.70

Also, this South American players who signed this season for Zvezda sucks... Only good "foreigner" is Castillo, but he came in 2006/07 season. Castillo and Koroman are IMO only players that try to play football in this team. Rest of players without real ideas... simply terrible. We don't have player who can score goals, who is real "killer" in attack... Even if Burzanovic play in attack - same thing. Did you see his goal in Tallin? It was funny if you ask me!

My heart will be with Zvezda side tommorow, but my money will definitely be with Rangers. For @1.70 (several online bookmakers) it's more than value! At Betfair it was 1 @1.73 yesterday... today is @1.69 and going down...

[Betfly]

Agree with above statements Re Celtic (pains me too!)

But evens is huge.Throw in plastic pitch factor and even more likely.

Remember season 04/05 with Celtic away to Shaktar & humped 3-0.

Best high street price 10/11 with Betfred.

[selectabet]

Yeah, I have to let my head rule my heart on the Spartak v Celtic game. I can't see the hoops getting a result there, not with their CL record, the plastic pitch, patchy form, oh and Spartak are top of the Russian league after 20 games.

Their price is getting shorter by the minute. One for my accumulator for definite.

Speak of accumulators, for anyone thats interested I've uploaded my little spreadsheet tool I use to compare bookies odds - making sure I always get the best price You can download it here if you like... Betting Tools « Selectabet

[bluemal]

well us bluenoses will be have a double on spartak and rangers to win

[VacheronLim]

any thoughts on lazio and befica matches as well buddies? well i tot both, just like rangers look good to grab a first leg advantage tonight, not gonna stick them in the combo for fear of a single screw up will ruin it all, perhaps juz singles all on the AH?

[Towers]

Spartak will surely beat the Scottish champions Celtic? Celtic have just started their season with 0-0 home to Kilmarnock and face a much stronger opponent when they play this russian side. Even worth to play on Spartak with -1 hc?

The champions from my country, Rosenborg, will travel to Finland to face Tampere United. They beat a poor side from Kazaksthan last round, but this will be something else. Rosenborg are having some problems in the norwegian league this season. 10 points behind leaders Brann from Bergen. Their defence are not great. To many old players and 35 year-old Kvarme, former Liverpool,Sociedad and St.Etienne-player, will retire after this season. Rosenborg have a big tradition in the champions league, but they must be be at their best to progress to the group stages.

Odds over 3 on Tampere is nice. Tampere could very well win 2-1 or 3-2 I think. Rosenborgs defence is not rock-solid as I said. The player with most medals in the norwegian football ever, Roar Strand, will not play because of injury. He has been an important part of Rosenborg for many,many years. Maybe not their most important player these days, but he is always in the first team. Jarkko Wiss from Tampere, used to play in Norway and knows Rosenborg and some of their players. 6-8 years ago I would say that Rosenborg should be big favorites, but not now.

Tampere small favorites for me here. Rosenborg to progress on away goals, maybe....

[WeegieDave]

Originally Posted by VacheronLim

any thoughts on lazio and befica matches as well buddies? well i tot both, just like rangers look good to grab a first leg advantage tonight, not gonna stick them in the combo for fear of a single screw up will ruin it all, perhaps juz singles all on the AH?

Can't see past Lazio to beat Dinamo Bucharest, Benfica should beat Copenhagen - they have prior experience in the CL but they are a v.poor away team IIRC. Valencia should also beat Elfsborg easily. The dodgiest one for me is Rangers, but thats only cos I'm a fan. I'd rather watch us nervously get the first leg lead without worrying about the cash as well.

Have gone for a treble of Valencia, Lazio and Benfica around 2.8. They really should all win. Wouldn't put you off adding Rangers to that just because I'm nervous about the game.

[bulit]

Originally Posted by texonja

My heart will be with Zvezda side tommorow, but my money will definitely be with Rangers. For @1.70 (several online bookmakers) it's more than value! At Betfair it was 1 @1.73 yesterday... today is @1.69 and going down...

My favourite club, today, play agaist Rangers. Like you texonja I'm also with Zvezda today but when we talking about betting no place for feelings.
My money is also on Rangers. On this odds against ,this year, poor team of Red Star imo this is must bet match.
Also Red Star have new coach. He lead them only one game in Saturday against Cukaricki (newcomer in domestic league) and they played only 0-0
My stake will be medium only because they play against my team.
GL

[traeth]

Benfica 1.44 3.75 FC Copenhagen 6.00

I'm going against the flow with my betting on this match. I believe that there is very little difference between these two side , and the difference in odds interest me . I'll be laying Benfica @1.5 with betfair.
Both sides were in the C.L. group F with Man U and Celtic last season. In the games I saw I was more impresseed with København than Benfica .
København has already started their season and played in the second round . They are third in their league with ten points from five games. They needed an Allback extra-time goal to eliminate Beitar Jerusalem. Benfica are yet to start their season.
I think this will be a close match and København will be playing this very defensive. With this in mind the odds indicate a big difference .
Betfair offer @9.2 , but i'll be playing safe and laying Benfica @1.5

Last season's C.L. table
Clubs Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Man. United 6 4 0 2 10 5 12
Celtic 6 3 0 3 8 9 9
Benfica 6 2 1 3 7 8 7
København 6 2 1 3 5 8 7

Group results for both teams
København
København 0 - 0 Benfica
Celtic 1 - 0 København
Man. United 3 - 0 København
København 1 - 0 Man. United
Benfica 3 - 1 København
København 3 - 1 Celtic

Benfica
København 0 - 0 Benfica
Benfica 0 - 1 Man. United
Celtic 3 - 0 Benfica
Benfica 3 - 0 Celtic
Benfica 3 - 1 København