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3 more predictable games or rather more likely outcome !
Inter vs Newcastle - Newcastle not to lose at least due to Inter's lack of strikers and Newcastle's good form recently both at home and playing away in Europe.
Man Utd vs Basle - Basle not to lose at least as Fergie will play with young and fringe players, resting seniors for the league. Utd are group winners already. (Remember 1st round game against Macabi ?) Also I feel Basle have the quality in the team to do it.
Real Madrid vs AC Milan - Must win situation for Real and I think they have the players to do it. AC like Man Utd are already group winners so no need to go out and break a leg in this game.
These are juz my observations, constructive comments are most welcomed.
I agree on Sparky, Real is my favourite to win, perhaps a possible upset may occur in London, Arsenal were never lucky, when it mattered in Champions league, they can make it all wrong again, Italians have right weaponry for them...
Only early thoughts, more to come, when we read some news about players available...
Macoti i agree in the sense we never have the break in champions league football but experience lets you learn from the past. And arsenal at home to italian teams rarely lose. Our last two matches against italian opposition at highbury (from memory) were juventus we won 3-1 and lazio we won 2-0. these were in the past few years and we have a stronger team now more hungry for it. I believe we have the strength and mentality to beat Roma. But like you say macoti it could end up being one of those 'what might have beens' for arsenal again. But i dearly hope not.
I think this is probably a year, you could do it, since you are leading Premiership and can concentrate on Champs league more, the only concern I have is Romas showout in Valencia, they were impresive. But a lot of things will rely on Totti, so Arsenal are favourites, Roma may be value for surprise.
I know you are Arsenal supporter, so I wish you good luck and a win which will place you into quarters!!
I like Ajax to win v Valencia more and more, also some injury reports from Inter and Arsenal. Henry is 50%-50% and Cole is missing for sure, Recoba, Crespo and Batistuta with Matterazzi all missing for Inter. On the other side, Bellamy back for Newcastle and Totti and Cassano attacking power for Roma.
Van der Vaart back for Ajax, joins Ibrahimovic in attack.
So perhaps Ill try a treble Ajax-Barcelona-Real.
I agree that Basel have quality to do well against United, away with +1 handicap seems a good pick, and OVER 2.5 as well. I also favor a high score thrashing of Leverkusen by Barcelona. Bayer commercial director and coach stated in interviews that this game is nothing more than a nuisance for the team that's back to relegation fighting after losing to archrivals Bayern Munich twice in 4 days.
but I reckon that Roma at a price of 6.00 to win is a fantastic price bearing in mind their need to win and their 3-0 win over Valencia.
However I'll take ROMA at +1/2 Asian Handicap instead - pays out $2.05 on a win or a draw - as I think I'll need a couple of FREE beers to get over the match result.
That's is one bet I won't be happy to collect .
The Gooner GOONERSGUIDE.COM
Your FREE Guide to Global Football Betting
27/11/2002 20:45 Leverkusen 1-2 Barcelona 1-0
17/10/2001 21:45 Barcelona 2-1 Leverkusen 2-1
25/09/2001 00:00 Leverkusen 2-1 Barcelona 0-1
26/02/2003 L2 Newcastle 3-1 Leverkusen 3-0
18/02/2003 L2 Leverkusen 1-3 Newcastle 1-3
10/12/2002 L1 Inter Milano 3-2 Leverkusen 2-0
27/11/2002 L1 Leverkusen 1-2 Barcelona 1-0
26/02/2003 X Inter Milano 0-0 Barcelona 0-0
18/02/2003 W3 Barcelona 3-0 Inter Milano 2-0
11/12/2002 W2 Barcelona 3-1 Newcastle 2-1
27/11/2002 W1 Leverkusen 1-2 Barcelona 1-0
Inter midfielder Cristiano Zanetti out of Wednesday's Champions League Group A match against Newcastle because of a sore hamstring.
Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba, who scored twice in Inter's 2-1 win over Bologna at the weekend, is serving the second of a three-match suspension.
Bellamy is back for Newcastle.
Argentines Hernan Crespo and Gabriel Batistuta are injured and ineligible respectively.
Double Chance 11 Mar 03 20:45 1X X2 12
Inter Milan v Newcastle United
1.16 1.84 1.26
Hi Gooner, i know the feeling exactly cause i am a Man Utd fan and i am going against them this time.
Do u guys think that the Valencia vs Roma game produced a very very strange result 0-3 ????
That aside, i must agree that Roma are in with a chance this time as totti, their lucky charm is back and Cole, Keown and Campbell are missing from the arsenal back line. The number 14 is rated a doubt too! Can anyone confirm ???
Ajax should prove to be a match for Valencia as well.
Valencia don't seem to be in top gear now and Ajax with a fully fit squad should be worth backing at AH level. Ajax not to lose at least.
Yes Mirko, Newcastle seem the way to go at AH +1/2.
Newcastle are not afraid to play away in Europe now and with Alan Shearer in good form and Bellamy back after serving his suspension, yes Newcastle not to lose at least.
What is there to be said against a home win for the Spaniards tonight?
Leverkusen are only a shadow of their former self and it is common knowledge that they concentrate on their domestic league first and foremost.
Bayer played terribly against Bayern München and it seems as though all their self-confidence has gone. A few players will be rested for this match, since it is absolutely worthless for the Germans.
If Barca take this encounter seriously they should have no problems to beat this poor Leverkusen side.
A home win for the Catalans which would see them win this group.
play last weekend !!! Their last game against Boro was played last Tuesday but Inter last played on Saturday. That aside, Inter have many injuries worries eg Recoba and Meterazzi both of whom played against Bologna and long term casaulty Crespo who have been their top European scorer. Batigol is not eligible to play and Kallon is also out leaving only Vieri as the only recognised striker.
However having said that, anything can happen but i strongly support Castle not to lose at least.
Inter's starting 11 over the weekend against Bologna -
Francesco Toldo 1
Fabio Cannavaro 13
Ivan Ramiro Cordoba 2
Marco Materazzi 23
Javier Zanetti 4
Luigi Di Biagio 14
Berezoglu Emre 5
Buruk Okan 22
Cristiano Zanetti 6
Gabriel Batistuta
Alvaro Recoba 20
No Jhim, i don't think Cuper rested anyone, he did not have that luxury !!!
newcastle did not play, i forgot. Just read at UEFA.com about Inters injuries, it does look worrying but I still think they will win at home, the players remaining shoudl be good enough but if both Zanetti and Mazerrati are mising that is not good. here is the report from UEFA....
Cannavaro drives Inter forward Tuesday, 11 March 2003
By Paolo Menicucci in Milan
As a patched together Internazionale FC prepare to face Newcastle United FC at the San Siro, defender Fabio Cannavaro is setting his sights on victory.
We must qualify for the quarter-finals without waiting until the last match against [Bayer 04] Leverkusen
Fabio Cannavaro
Injury list Despite a raft of injuries which will see the Nerazzurri without Marco Materazzi, Cristiano Zanetti, Daniele Adani, Matías Almeyda, Domenico Morfeo, Stéphane Dalmat, Mohamed Kallon, Hernán Crespo and Nicola Beati for the vital UEFA Champions League game, Cannavaro is determined to succeed. "Every time we play we want to win," the 29-year-old told uefa.com. "We must qualify for the quarter-finals without waiting until the last match against [Bayer 04] Leverkusen."
Great replacements "We have been dealing with emergencies for a long time now," he said. "We are used to it. All the absences will make the match more difficult for us but we know that we have a great squad and that we will [still] have great players in every position.
This message has been edited by Jhim on Mar 11, 2003 3:14 PM
Keown and Campbell have picked up minor injuries. It is mis-leading to say they will be missing. I'd expect both to play, and I'd be amazed if at least one of them didn't play certainly. Also, Henry will play if anywhere near fit, which is looking likely. Arsenal know this is one game where they have to have as many of their best players as possible.
Materazzi did start and that's how he got injuried early on in the game, in fact was substituted in the 6th min. and Recoba is in fact serving a suspension.
Jhim, be thankful that it is the italian Zanetti who have just returned from injury that is out. Capt Javier Zanetti will play as far as i know.
The worrying thing for Inter is their lack of "REAL' strikers. Of course there are others who can score goals but I cannot back them (AH -1/2) against a in form Nawcastle team who are very liable to score goals.
Hi zonker84, i was juz passing on information i picked up from the other soccer sites. Well all 3 of them are in fact having some degree of injury and will all have last min fitness test. Yeah you're right they may play !!!
I believe that from today Arsenal will begin a 2-3 games bad performance period...i watched them against Chealse and they showed me some...sighns of mental tieredness...They have came to a point that fantacy doesnt produse them any chances against teams that play good defence...they need some new inspiration to continue to play their game..so today i believe that they cant score more than once...its for me an 0-0 or 1-1 game...sorry Gunners of this site but i have this feeling.We will see tonight but i will risk a medium stake on a draw in this game and an away win for Valenthia against Ajax...
Sparky if you worry so much about Inter not having strikers, why you dont worry about Ajax who also have the same problem. Ibrahimovic is the only one. Van Der fart( )is a midfielder, Mido is history and Litmaneen is injured.
the majority of news on injuries or late fitness tests is usually bullshit paper talk or managers playing mind games with each other, like for instance a couple of weeks ago Hearts,as reported by the BBC, had half their team down with the black death or some similar virus but still came out and hammered,Kilmarnock I think it was, 3-0 with most of the virus carriers playing blinders.
The only way to be sure a player isn't playing is if he's suspended and if it isn't a long term injury I wouldn't believe a word of it unless I'd seen the X-rays but got to admit when the word doubtful is thrown about it will usually sway my judgement somewhat.
Arsenal are available at betfair @1.21 not to lose laying Roma @5.7, this has to be the safest bet in this match because if they don't get anythin out of this can't see them doing anything in their last game in Spain.
My bets are:Roma @ 4.85(but you can find better odds).I'm Roma fun and I hope Totti and Cassano to do a big Match and Arsenal playing not at top.Juve @ 1.85:I prefer put my money on Juve then Inter but I think Inter should win.Double Barca over/Basel over @2.80 GB..........I forgot to say that I don't think Juve will not win for two conscutive times on champions....
Marko what are u talking about. Totti actually tried to hit Kewon. OK, maybe attackers get a lot of beating by defenders, but to try to hit him so obviously and in front of the ref -that was really stupid of Totti. What is he trying to prove anyway? I am on Roma but I don't care about the money. Its the behaviour the pisses me off.
Wrath, try to jump and cover your ball and see where your hands would be? Totti just jumped, and tried to cover his ball... he did not hit that defender at all. He was FILMING...
But few minutes after Arsenal player hit Tommassi and that was violence and clear red but he only got yellow?!?!
Under normal circumstances you'd be right but in this case Totti looked back seconds before he jumped for the ball . He looked back to see where exactly Kewon was and he jumped with the arm extended as far as he could in order to hit Kewon in the face. Thats how I saw it Marko.
...I totally agree with Wrath about Totti.He has been stupid....also because the refee told him to calm down few minutes before....I have sill hopes to qualify.....
I really fancy Man Utd to win this one, but team selection is a niggling worry. I am still undecided whether to bet on this one.
Confirmed Champions League quarter-finalists Manchester United seek their 10th victory in this season's competition on Wednesday with Sir Alex Ferguson claiming his squad is not big enough to cope.
With Roy Keane and Juan Sebastian Veron sidelined for up to four weeks and Quinton Fortune and Mikael Silvestre also missing Wednesday's visit by Swiss outfit FC Basle to Old Trafford, Ferguson has little option other than to give youth a chance.
The return of Diego Forlan and Laurent Blanc does ease his selection problem slightly but room to rest some of his more experienced stars ahead of Saturday's must-win Premiership trip to Aston Villa is minimal.
"We are two or three players short of having the kind of strong squad the likes of Juventus and AC Milan have in the Champions League and both Arsenal and Liverpool have in the Premiership," admitted Ferguson.
"With a nucleus of about 17 outfield players, it is certainly one of the weakest in terms of numbers and it looks a bit thin when you get a few injuries like we have at the moment."
Ferguson tried to rectify the situation before the season started with a move for Rennes full-back Julien Escude and Argentinian defender Nicolas Burdisso.
Neither of those two moves met with success and the Red Devils chief suffered another failure in two attempts to snatch speedy striker David Bellion from Sunderland during the transfer window.
Despite chief executive Peter Kenyon's protestations that there will be no huge sums of cash available to Ferguson during the summer, it is clearly an issue the manager is seeking to resolve and a French scouting mission at the weekend saw him again watch Escude in action, with a firm bid likely to follow.
Ferguson also travelled to Nantes to tie up the latest in a number of 'agreements' United have with continental clubs over the exchange and training of young players.
The initial deal with Belgian side Royal Antwerp has been a notable success, with the likes of John O'Shea and Luke Chadwick gaining valuable playing experience at a higher level than they would encounter in the reserves.
United are also using the deals which spread as far as South Africa and the USA to unearth some talent of their own in an effort to counteract the new regulations governing the training of schoolboy players.
Currently, clubs cannot formally train any child who lives 'over an hour' from their home ground, a ruling Ferguson cannot see the sense in.
"This regulation is causing problems for a lot of clubs and I don't see the value of it," he said.
"I certainly don't think this system is going to produce the players everyone expects.
"We have guarded ourselves against it by developing alliances throughout the world. It is something we will continue to do because it is imperative that we still produce young players of our own."
Clearly that problem is more long-term than the selection dilemma Ferguson faces to take on Basle.
He confirmed there would be at least seven experienced outfield players in his starting line-up on Wednesday, all of whom, injuries permitting, would also be involved against Villa.
Of the quartet definitely out, only Silvestre has any chance of making the trip down the M6, so Ferguson will make a late decision on whether David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy will face Christian Gross' side.
Fabien Barthez is almost certain to be given a rest, with Roy Carroll and Ricardo vying for the goalkeeping role.
Ferguson admitted his injury concerns have forced a rethink over his desire to give Darren Fletcher a first Champions League start and the Scot now looks set to be on the bench.
"If Mikael had been fit I would certainly have played Darren," said the Old Trafford chief.
"But I need to get the right balance in the team and that means only two of my younger players will start."
Full-back Danny Pugh and exciting youth team prospect Kieron Richardson are likely to be the lucky men, with Fletcher, Daniel Nardiello and long-serving central defender David May likely to be on the bench.
"Even though we have already qualified, it is important that we are seen to be acting fairly with the other teams in the group," said Ferguson.
"I would hate for us to turn in a bad performance and then have all sorts of question marks raised against us after the game."
Also burning in Ferguson's mind is the single defeat United have suffered in the competition proper this season, the shock 3-0 reverse to Maccabi Haifa in Cyprus when the Scot started with Richardson, then brought on Nardiello and Danish teenager Mads Timm as the game turned against his team.
"I played a lot of young players in that game and although we played well in the first half, overall it wasn't the kind of result Manchester United expects," he said.
Team (from): Barthez, Carroll, Ricardo, G Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Beckham, P Neville, Scholes, Butt, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan, Roche, Richardson, Pugh, Fletcher.
Champions League surprise package Basle enter Old Trafford on Wednesday night with coach Christian Gross admitting only a "perfect" performance will stave off almost certain elimination.
Gross has restored the reputation which was so badly tarnished by his ill-fated 12-month stint at Tottenham by taking Basle further than any Swiss side in the 10-year history of the competition.
Yet, having fallen to the bottom of Group D following their 1-0 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in Spain a fortnight ago, Gross knows his team must beat Manchester United to stand any realistic chance of accompanying the Red Devils into the last eight.
Gross recognises the visitors' chances have been marginally enhanced by the likelihood of Sir Alex Ferguson naming a few unfamiliar faces in his own team and he also believes Basle will create some chances.
But he concedes there can only be potential for an upset in "the biggest game" in his club's history if every single member of his side performs to their absolute maximum.
"Because the final is at Old Trafford, Manchester United have been focussing on the Champions League since the start of the season," he said.
"We have written a few new chapters of our own this year but tomorrow's match represents the biggest game in Basle's history and for us to get a result, everybody must play to perfection."
In a team underpinned by the exceptional talent of the Yakin brothers, defender Murat and - reportedly Liverpool-bound - playmaker Hakan, there will be at least one name familiar with United's England contingent at least.
Scott Chipperfield was part of the Australian side which inflicted the humiliating 3-1 defeat on Sven-Goran Eriksson's men at Upton Park last month.
Chipperfield will be given the job of blocking Ryan Giggs' left-sided bursts should the Welshman play, having already inflicted plenty of damage on Gross already by grabbing both goals when United turned Spurs over at Old Trafford five years ago.
Argentinian striking duo Christian Giminez and Julio Rossi form the main goal threat to the home side.
Both were on target in the stunning opening to the first phase group encounter with Liverpool, which saw the Swiss side gallop into an early 3-0 lead before eventually being forced to hold on for the draw which saw them into the final 16 at the Anfield outfit's expense.
Having already disposed of Celtic in the final qualifying round, Gross could claim to have delivered the perfect response to the many critics from his time at Spurs, which started when he famously arrived for the press conference to confirm his appointment clutching a tube ticket.
His team also performed well for an hour against United in November before Ferguson's decision to switch Mikael Silvestre to central defence and move John O'Shea to left back provided the visitors with the solid platform from which they went on to register a 3-1 win.
A similar scoreline in favour of the away side would suit Gross nicely, although he insists his team must be on their guard against a United team, who have won nine of their 10 games in the competition so far this season.
"If you don't take risks against Manchester United, you don't win," he said. "But equally, we cannot afford to be naive, especially at the start of the game.
"The players must retain plenty of self-confidence, particularly in midfield and in attack they must be cold-blooded.
"One thing you know about Manchester United is that you will get chances. For us to make the best of ourselves, we have to take them."
Again we dominate and fail to win the match. Surely we can regather and get a point a t the mestalla - its a mammoth task which i hope we're up to. The Totti incident was a straight red. Clear intent to elbow keown as replays show him looking towars keown before the leap. Keown had been niggling at him but no need for retaliation of that order. The bark was worse than the bite admitttedly but like i say with clear elbowing intent he had to go.
Till the mestalla
and i certainly hope it will be as good as the previous nite.
Dortmund vs Lokomotiv - Dortmund are not too impressive recently mostly due to Rosicky sitting out games. He will be missing again but so too are Lokomotiv missing their capt Loskov and a few other key players. The Russians have no realistic chance of progressing unless they win this game and the next at home to Real Madrid and on top of that, Real must not win tonite. And for good measure, Dortmund must not win their last game against AC Milan.
This surely cannot happen so we will presume that Loko are out of the equation and like Leverkusen last nite will not be a threat to Dortmund in Germany.
Dortmund will win this game hands down i think BUT again can they win by 2 clear goals for us to collect ???
With total focus i fancy them to do it !!!
Real Madrid vs AC Milan - I say again a must win situation for Real and despite Rivaldo and Ancelotti claim that they want to eliminate Real tonite, the lingering question is CAN they ???
I don't think so. They have qualified and they are not in form now (had a very poor game against Chievo over the weekend) whilst Real are in top gear recently, disposing Racing Santander, the form team in Laliga recently with a 4-1 margin. Except for 1 or 2 doubts in the defence, all the midfielders and strikers are fit, yes including Ronaldo. Guti, Raul and Zidane are really in top form now.
AC will miss Pipo Inzaghi and a few other key players but like i said missing players or not, they are not IN FORM !!!
Real to win and again can they beat the -1 goal handicap ???
Juventus vs Deportivo - This is the toughest game to call tonite i feel bacause they are very evenly matched teams and they both have almost full squad to pick from and they both cannot afford to lose tonite !!!
Both teams are in fairly good form now. The only factor here is home advantage to Juve BUT then again Deportivo can win against top teams in Europe playing away, like beating Bayern Munich in Germany.
At AH Juve -1/2, i am not too sure.
United vs Basle - Fergie is already saying that his squad is not big enough and he will have to throw in a few youngsters in this game. That means don't blame him if Utd loses tonite !!!
Basle are still in the running for a 1/4 final slot and with alll the key players fit, i really fancy them not to lose at least.
and i certainly hope it will be as good as the previous nite.
Dortmund vs Lokomotiv - Dortmund are not too impressive recently mostly due to Rosicky sitting out games. He will be missing again but so too are Lokomotiv missing their capt Loskov and a few other key players. The Russians have no realistic chance of progressing unless they win this game and the next at home to Real Madrid and on top of that, Real must not win tonite. And for good measure, Dortmund must not win their last game against AC Milan.
This surely cannot happen so we will presume that Loko are out of the equation and like Leverkusen last nite will not be a threat to Dortmund in Germany.
Dortmund will win this game hands down i think BUT again can they win by 2 clear goals for us to collect ???
With total focus i fancy them to do it !!!
Real Madrid vs AC Milan - I say again a must win situation for Real and despite Rivaldo and Ancelotti claim that they want to eliminate Real tonite, the lingering question is CAN they ???
I don't think so. They have qualified and they are not in form now (had a very poor game against Chievo over the weekend) whilst Real are in top gear recently, disposing Racing Santander, the form team in Laliga recently with a 4-1 margin. Except for 1 or 2 doubts in the defence, all the midfielders and strikers are fit, yes including Ronaldo. Guti, Raul and Zidane are really in top form now.
AC will miss Pipo Inzaghi and a few other key players but like i said missing players or not, they are not IN FORM !!!
Real to win and again can they beat the -1 goal handicap ???
Juventus vs Deportivo - This is the toughest game to call tonite i feel bacause they are very evenly matched teams and they both have almost full squad to pick from and they both cannot afford to lose tonite !!!
Both teams are in fairly good form now. The only factor here is home advantage to Juve BUT then again Deportivo can win against top teams in Europe playing away, like beating Bayern Munich in Germany.
At AH Juve -1/2, i am not too sure.
United vs Basle - Fergie is already saying that his squad is not big enough and he will have to throw in a few youngsters in this game. That means don't blame him if Utd loses tonite !!!
Basle are still in the running for a 1/4 final slot and with alll the key players fit, i really fancy them not to lose at least.
Nice one sparky I followed your Dortmund tip and added Juve at +0.5 for a nice but late late double. Dont usually bet on the asian but that may change! Keep up the good work.
We must qualify for the quarter-finals without waiting until the last match against [Bayer 04] Leverkusen 
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