Picks for 26 Feb, 2009

Top Picks: Paris St Germain, AC Milan.
Additions: Valencia, Marseille.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Paris St Germain (+1/2 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Paris St Germain will take a commanding 2-0 lead into the second leg of their UEFA Cup last-32 tie against Wolfsburg. The French outfit have surprised many with their rich vein in form as they currently sit comfortably in 2nd position in the French Ligue 1. Wolfsburg will be banking on their home form to dig them out of a hole as they look for a second-leg comeback. Nevertheless, stats are backing the away team at 57.14% to share the spoils here and qualify for the next round.

2) AC Milan (-3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
AC Milan will be looking to finish where they left off when they surprisingly drew with a stubborn Werder Bremen in the 1st leg match, despite controlling a majority of the game. They are hot favourites to lift this cup, and with their excellent home form, no one will doubt their ability to see off Bremen. Go with the home team to win comfortably.

Picks for 19 Feb, 2009

Top Pick: Tottenham.
Addition: Ajax Amsterdam.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Tottenham (+1/2 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Tottenham travels to visit Shaktar with a supposed under-strength team as Rednapp prioritizes the upcoming matches for Premier League survival. Despite this fact, they are still pretty strong considering that those few who were left behind were ineligible anyway. Shaktar are not a traditional powerhouse, and Spurs should be able to play freely to return with a point at least.

Picks for 18 Feb, 2009

Top Picks: NEC Nijmegen, St Etienne.
Additions: AC Milan, Deportivo.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) NEC Nijmegen (+1/2 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
UEFA Cup 3rd round knockout tie sees German outfit Hamburg visiting Nijmegen. Hamburg are a traditionally strong home team, but tend to struggle on away games. They have not drawn in their last 8, and this match is a potential banana-skin for them to stumble again. The Dutch team plays a strong attacking formation, and we could see Hamburg shutting the doors for scoring draw.

2) St Etienne (+3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Despite St Etienne's poor run of form in the French Ligue 1, it has been absolutely opposite when they play in the UEFA Cup. They travel away to Greece to play Olympiakos, who will be hoping to utilize their home advantage to full use. The Greeks might have the experience of Champion League football with them, but with the mounting pressure of expectations from the fans, Olympiakos has the tendency to shoot themselves on the foot when they are favourites. Stats are showing that St Etienne have not lost any of their away UEFA matches, and this tie could see them continuing to do so.

Picks for 15 Feb, 2009

HOT PICK: ASTON VILLA
Top Picks: Fiorentina, Mallorca (Over 2.5g).
Additions: Almeria, Sporting Gijon.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Aston Villa (+1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 9/10
Match of the day as two of the most in-form team meet in this FA Cup tie at Goodison Park. Everton are beginning to show the form that brought them to European qualifications last season while Villa continues to exceed everyone's expectation with the type of consistency shown by the top 3 sides in EPL. Nevertheless, Villa should hold the edge as their counter-attacking style would suit playing away here.

2) Fiorentina (+1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Fiorentina visits Genoa in search for another win as they pursue the lucrative top 4 spot in Serie A. Genoa, who have recently slowed down in form after a run of wins seeing them occupying the 4th spot, will be hoping to bounce back to hold on to it. However, the Violas will be tough opponents and a handicap start given by the home team should be taken without hesitation as Genoa are not top 4 material.

3) Mallorca (Over 2.5 goals)
Ratings: 8/10
Two struggling teams at the bottom of La Liga square off seeking to rejuvenate their faltering season. Both Numancia and Mallorca will be going all out for a win as a point would do neither any good. Unfortunately for both of them, home team Numancia is conceding an average of 1.36 at home while Mallorca is averaging 1.87 away. This match has OVER 2.5 goals written all over it.

Picks for 14 Feb, 2009

Top Picks: Bologna, Middlesbrough.
Additions: Werder Bremen, Osasuna.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Bologna (+3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Out of sorts Napoli welcomes Bologna in a match that could spring a surprise result. Napoli downturn in form in recent weeks has seen them tumbling to 8th spot - a situation which Bologna would want to take advantage of. With Napoli struggling to score and leaking consistently, stats are backing Bologna to take at least a point from here.

2) Middlesbrough (+1/2 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Gianfranco Zola's team are in a hot streak, apart from their 0-1 loss to Man Utd last week. With such a rich vein in form, everyone would be expecting them to win this FA Cup tie convincingly. However, stats are only giving them a 38.46% chance for this outing as they have not scored in their last 2. Stats are backing Boro at 66.67% as they have not scored in their last 3 either.

Picks for 8 Feb, 2009

Top Picks: Siena (Over 2.5g), Lyon, Bayern Munich.
Additions: AS Roma.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Siena (Over 2.5g)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Sampdoria host Siena, who sits a point above them at the lower rung of the Serie A. Both teams have been out of sort lately, conceding unnecessary goals with their leaky defense. Siena has not scored in their last 4 away, and will probably be able to notch one here. Sampdoria will also look to take advantage of Siena's poor away form. Therefore the logical call here is to go for Over 2.5 goals for this match.

2) Lyon (-1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Lyon did no favours for themselves when they drew against St Etienne previously, which sees them holding a slender 1 point lead at the top of the French Ligue 1. They cannot ill afford another draw as there are 5 teams behind them who are within range to take advantage of any slip ups by the leader. Despite this, Lyon will take comfort that they have an excellent record when visiting Nice. A solid away win is on the cards as they seek to re-affirm their lead.

2) Bayern Munich (-1 1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
Bayern's costly slip up last week against Hamburg have seen them slipping to 4th position in the Bundesliga. They are now 3pts behind surprise leaders Hoffenheim, who travel to basement team Monchengladbach with the opportunity to stretch their lead at the top. This is a must win match for the home team and with head-to-head stats favouring them it should be put them back on track in the title race with an easy 3pts win.

Picks for 7 Feb, 2009

HOT PICK: LE MANS
Top Picks: Bolton, AC Milan.
Additions: Chelsea (Over 2.5g), Blackburn, Sochaux.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Le Mans (+3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 9/10
Le Mans pays visit to in-form Toulouse, who currently lies in 6th position in Ligue 1. Toulouse have not conceded in their last 5, underlying their defensive strength to grind out results that have propelled them to the top 6. Despite their defensive qualities, they have struggled on the opposite end to score. Le Mans have an excellent head-to-head record against the home team, and at 3/4 ball head start, there is a high chance for them to surprise the home team.

2) Bolton (+3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Everton will be buoyed with their recent extra-time win over Liverpool to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. They have won the 6 on handicap, a run which has seen them consolidating the 6th spot in the Premiership. Despite this, they have struggled to score, averaging a meagre 1.21 goals per match at home. Bolton will provide stiff opposition to the home team as they are since rediscovered their form to win the last 4 on handicap.

3) AC Milan (-1 3/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
6pts separates AC Milan from Inter at the top of the table as they seek to close the gap with the stuttering leaders. With the upcoming derby against Inter being lined up for the following week, Milan knows that this match against Reggina is of outmost importance to notch another win to keep pace with Inter. AC Milan has been in a rich vein of form, and should have no trouble disposing the basement team.

Pick for 5 Feb, 2009

Top Pick: Barcelona.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Barcelona (-2 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
Copa Del Rey semifinal sees the juggernaut team of Barcelona hosting surprise opponent Mallorca. Nou Camp stadium will be full of expectations for their team to cruise in the final, and i would strongly agree with the crowd too. Team for team, Mallorca is way below them and the stats doesn't lie either. Mallorca is currently languishing at the bottom of the Spanish La Liga, and although they would want to do well in this match, their main focus will be surviving from relegation. Go with the home team to win confortably.

Picks for 4 Feb, 2009

Top Pick: Liverpool.
Addition: Sevilla.

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Liverpool (-1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
Merseyside derby sees Everton battling arch nemesis Liverpool again in the form of an FA Cup tie. Clashes between these 2 teams have often produced exciting battles. Everton comes into this match with 5 wins on handicap in their last 5. Liverpool will be wary of this and will approach the match in their typical 4-5-1 formation. With Torres back in the lineup, stats are favouring the away side to progress into the next round.

Picks for 1 Feb, 2009

HOT PICK: LYON
Top Picks: Bologna, Recreativo.
Additions: AS Roma, Palermo, Deportivo (Over 2.5g)

Match analysis are as follows:

1) Lyon (-1 1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 9.5/10
After the morale boosting French Cup win over bitter rivals Marseille, Lyon will be seeking to extend their position at the top of the French Ligue 1 against visiting St Etienne. The home team are in great form, having not conceded in 5 out of their last 6 matches. Stats are backing them to win comfortably at 80%, and this is on top of the fact that Lyon has won ALL their home matches against the visitors.

2) Bologna (+1/4 on AH)
Ratings: 8.5/10
Fiorentina faces a resurgent Bologna as the visitors seek to turn-around their stuttering form to stay abreast with the other teams for the lucrative 4th spot in Serie A. Despite winning their last match against Napoli, they have failed to convince as 3 defeats prior to that match has undermined their ability to keep tabs with rivals Roma and surprise team Genoa. Bologna have recently found their form and will provide stiff opposition. A draw is a high possibility considering the Fiorentina has not drawn in their last 12 away matches.

3) Recreativo (+1/2 on AH)
Ratings: 8/10
Recreativo will be looking to capitalize on Espanyol's dip in form and morale after the home team's energy-sapping loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Cup. Recreativo are in good form, unbeaten in their last 4 matches and keeping a blank scoresheet in their last 2. Head to head also favours the away team, and stats are giving them a 60% chance to at least gain a credible point.