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We’re heading towards the end of October, and we got off to a great start to the week yesterday, with the Steelers doing the job for us after a scary start. We got off to the best start possible, with four goals in the West Brom vs Manchester United match. Admittedly the match did not play out exactly how we saw it going, but we got the goals we were expecting, including an unexpected one from Marouane Fellaini. Then the Steelers came up good, beating the line by a few points. It was just unfortunate for us that the Oilers found a miracle win and ruined what would have been a 3-0 night for us. Still, a winning start to the week is a lot better than most tipsters!
Today, there’s a glut of soccer action from around Europe, with a lot of the big guns in action. One early kick-off as Manchester City travel to Russia to take on CSKA Moscow. The glamor tie of the round being Roma hosting Bayern Munich, with some of the world’s greatest players on show.
Elsewhere today, we have NHL action with ten games on offer for us. So we go from feast to famine on that front. It’s definitely a night for the sports nuts out there, which definitely includes us.
Barcelona vs Ajax:
There was a time when this match-up would be two of the best teams in Europe duking it on the big stage. But what’s happened to Ajax over recent years is simple – their big names don’t want to stay in the Netherlands. And who can blame them? The best players want competition in the league and will head to Spain, England, Germany and Italy for that. So Ajax have become a bit of a feeder club for the biggest teams in Europe. That’s not to say they’re not a strong team, but they’re definitely not the force of old. So they travel to the Nou Camp looking to make an impression.
That’s not going to happen. Last year in the same fixture, Lionel Messi grabbed himself a hat-trick in a 4-0 win for the hosts. We can see that scoreline happening again tonight. Why? Barcelona have lost once in 28 home European games and Ajax do not have the firepower to do anything about that. We can see a comfortable win for the Spanish giants, and we have to get on the handicap line for this game. The line is -2, so Barcelona have to win by 3 or more, which is more than possible for them, considering most of their home games are won by several.
Schalke 04 vs Sporting Lisbon
Not the high-profile tie of the round, but two solid, European stalwarts here, and both will appreciate how vital this match (as well as the return leg) are to their chances of qualification. Chelsea are going to qualify from Group G, and it’s any one from three in terms of who will take second place. So both teams need to get out there and attack.
Schalke, having drawn their first two matches in Group G, have to get out there and attack, and it is at the heart of Roberto di Matteo’s philosophy. but they can be shaky at the back, and Sporting Lisbon are no slouches, knocking in 3 away from home at the weekend. We can easily see both teams grabbing a couple here, so over 2.5 goals is definitely the play of the day with two attack-minded clubs having to go for the win.
Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars Betting Tips:
The Canucks have started their campaign well, but you shouldn’t be reading too much into that. Of their three wins, two have come against the struggling Oilers as well as one over the Flames. It’s hardly two of the biggest scalps. The looked distinctly average in their only defeat of the season – a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
By comparison, the Stars have come up against a far tougher start to the season, facing the Hawks, Preds, Jackets, Penguins and Flyers, while picking up a couple of solid wins and only one loss along with two ties. The Stars have been keeping up with some strong teams at this early stage of the season, and the Canucks are not quite in that league, losing to the teams they are expected to lose to and beating the weak teams.
Stars at home here is great value, and you should be on this before any of the value disappears.
