Kazan v Inter
This game takes place at 17:30, ealier then all the other games. Kazan got off to a bad start with a 3-1 loss to Kiev in a game they were leading in. Inter also didnt start too well with a fortunate draw to Barcelona and are currently in poor form. Inter Milan are also missing several key players in Marco Materazzi, Wesley Sneijder and Thiago Motta. Kazan have a clean bill of health and will make things difficult for Inter and will set out to get at least a draw from the game, another loss and Kazan can almost certainly count them selves out of the cup. Dispite this i think under the managment of Jose Mourinho, the quality of Inters squad, and experience will tell here, i can see the Nerazzurri winning...by a small margin.
Leans: Inter Milan / Under 2.5
Alkmaar v St. Liege
Eredivisie champions Alkmaar have started the season in bad form with only 1 victory in the last 5 games in all comptitions. Standard Liege have began the season in good form and were slightly unfortunate to not get a point from the Arsenal Game. This game could be a candidate for an upste. An in form St. Liege to beat an out of form Alkmaar who may have a few key members injured (match time decision).
Leans: St Liege -0 / Over 2.5
Arsenal v Olympiakos
To begin with the odds on Arsenal make them unplayable, Olympiakos have a good squad and a excelent manager in Zico who has good european experience (fenerbahce's recent run in the Champions League) who deliverd a few upsets on the way.) Arsenal are still missing there 2 main keepers as well as Denilson, Walcott, Nasri and Bendtner. Im suspecting there could be an upset here, maby Olympiakos + goals , or "Both Teams to Score" at +100.
Leans: Olympiakos +goals / Over 2.5 / Both Teams to score
Barcelona v Din. Kiev
Barcelona look an even better prospect then last season with the transfer of Ibra, he has added the element of strenght and height in attack which they lacked last season (both Chelsea Games). The football Barcelona are playing is simply unmatchable and i dont see Kiev stopping them. Kiev are going to park the bus in the Nou Camp, but i dont think they will succeed, especailly with Ibrahimovic up top, parking the bus agast Barcelona will be a dangerious tactic. Convincing Barce win here
Leans: Barcelona - the goals
Debrecen v Lyon
Including me, i think its safe to say we all underestimated Debrecen last game vs Liverpool. Even without there key Midfielder and Striker they put up a good fight. Against Lyon Debrecen will be looking to win a point and will defend in numbers and try counter attacks to find a goal. Lyon are missing key attacking players such as Lisandro Lopez and Debrecen are still missing lots of players. I can see Debrecen making life difficult for Lyon and forcing a draw / narrow Lyon win.
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
Fiorentina v Liverpool
A tough encounter awaits Liverpool at Fiorentina. Fiorentina have been in faily steady form, and are defendinf well with 5 clean sheets in the last 6 games. Fiorentina will be well aware of the Torres threat and will defend deep because of this to evade Torres's devistating runs behind the defensive line. Liverpool on the other hand will be well aware that a point agast Fiorentina away will be a good result and will also set out to defend in numbers and counter with the pace of Torres. i belive both teams will cancel each other out and it will end up in a low scoring game.
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
Rangers v Sevilla
Rangers havnt beaten a Spannish side since 1985 when they beat Osasuna 1-0, Rangers went on to loose the 2nd leg and tie. Rangers are also in bad form with only 1 win in the last 5 games in a league of quite low quality. On top of this it seems the Rangers squad lacks alot of quality, however one thing Rangers will do is battle, what they lack in quality they try make up for with grit and detirmination. However opposing them are one of the most formidable teams in europe at the moment with 5 wins in 5 games scoring 14 goals and conceeding only 1 goal. Another Factor to consider is that Sevilla have the best striker in the world at the moment Luis Adriano, who can score all types of goals. Rangers will park the bus, but i cant see anything other then a Sevilla win.
Leans: Sevilla (Correct Score: 0-2)
Unirea U v Stuttgart
Stuttgart have had a slow start to the season and should be playing alot better considering the squad they posses. They seem to have trouble scoring agast closed defenses and seem to be missing Gomes in attack. Unirea have kept a good home form and play like all Romanian teams poses a strong defense, and seem to be heading in the right direction under manager (Romanian Legend) Dan Petrescu. Unirea have a clean bill of health and will be looking for a point or to knick a 1-0 win. With Stuttgart struggling to score (last two games scored 6 but one was against lower league and one vs relegation prospect team
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
This game takes place at 17:30, ealier then all the other games. Kazan got off to a bad start with a 3-1 loss to Kiev in a game they were leading in. Inter also didnt start too well with a fortunate draw to Barcelona and are currently in poor form. Inter Milan are also missing several key players in Marco Materazzi, Wesley Sneijder and Thiago Motta. Kazan have a clean bill of health and will make things difficult for Inter and will set out to get at least a draw from the game, another loss and Kazan can almost certainly count them selves out of the cup. Dispite this i think under the managment of Jose Mourinho, the quality of Inters squad, and experience will tell here, i can see the Nerazzurri winning...by a small margin.
Leans: Inter Milan / Under 2.5
Alkmaar v St. Liege
Eredivisie champions Alkmaar have started the season in bad form with only 1 victory in the last 5 games in all comptitions. Standard Liege have began the season in good form and were slightly unfortunate to not get a point from the Arsenal Game. This game could be a candidate for an upste. An in form St. Liege to beat an out of form Alkmaar who may have a few key members injured (match time decision).
Leans: St Liege -0 / Over 2.5
Arsenal v Olympiakos
To begin with the odds on Arsenal make them unplayable, Olympiakos have a good squad and a excelent manager in Zico who has good european experience (fenerbahce's recent run in the Champions League) who deliverd a few upsets on the way.) Arsenal are still missing there 2 main keepers as well as Denilson, Walcott, Nasri and Bendtner. Im suspecting there could be an upset here, maby Olympiakos + goals , or "Both Teams to Score" at +100.
Leans: Olympiakos +goals / Over 2.5 / Both Teams to score
Barcelona v Din. Kiev
Barcelona look an even better prospect then last season with the transfer of Ibra, he has added the element of strenght and height in attack which they lacked last season (both Chelsea Games). The football Barcelona are playing is simply unmatchable and i dont see Kiev stopping them. Kiev are going to park the bus in the Nou Camp, but i dont think they will succeed, especailly with Ibrahimovic up top, parking the bus agast Barcelona will be a dangerious tactic. Convincing Barce win here
Leans: Barcelona - the goals
Debrecen v Lyon
Including me, i think its safe to say we all underestimated Debrecen last game vs Liverpool. Even without there key Midfielder and Striker they put up a good fight. Against Lyon Debrecen will be looking to win a point and will defend in numbers and try counter attacks to find a goal. Lyon are missing key attacking players such as Lisandro Lopez and Debrecen are still missing lots of players. I can see Debrecen making life difficult for Lyon and forcing a draw / narrow Lyon win.
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
Fiorentina v Liverpool
A tough encounter awaits Liverpool at Fiorentina. Fiorentina have been in faily steady form, and are defendinf well with 5 clean sheets in the last 6 games. Fiorentina will be well aware of the Torres threat and will defend deep because of this to evade Torres's devistating runs behind the defensive line. Liverpool on the other hand will be well aware that a point agast Fiorentina away will be a good result and will also set out to defend in numbers and counter with the pace of Torres. i belive both teams will cancel each other out and it will end up in a low scoring game.
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
Rangers v Sevilla
Rangers havnt beaten a Spannish side since 1985 when they beat Osasuna 1-0, Rangers went on to loose the 2nd leg and tie. Rangers are also in bad form with only 1 win in the last 5 games in a league of quite low quality. On top of this it seems the Rangers squad lacks alot of quality, however one thing Rangers will do is battle, what they lack in quality they try make up for with grit and detirmination. However opposing them are one of the most formidable teams in europe at the moment with 5 wins in 5 games scoring 14 goals and conceeding only 1 goal. Another Factor to consider is that Sevilla have the best striker in the world at the moment Luis Adriano, who can score all types of goals. Rangers will park the bus, but i cant see anything other then a Sevilla win.
Leans: Sevilla (Correct Score: 0-2)
Unirea U v Stuttgart
Stuttgart have had a slow start to the season and should be playing alot better considering the squad they posses. They seem to have trouble scoring agast closed defenses and seem to be missing Gomes in attack. Unirea have kept a good home form and play like all Romanian teams poses a strong defense, and seem to be heading in the right direction under manager (Romanian Legend) Dan Petrescu. Unirea have a clean bill of health and will be looking for a point or to knick a 1-0 win. With Stuttgart struggling to score (last two games scored 6 but one was against lower league and one vs relegation prospect team
Leans: Under 2.5 Goals
Wilforth, Whats your thought on the Inter game, i just watched the kiev v Kazan highlights and Kiev had loads of chances even when Kazan were defending with everybody behind the ball, if anything near that is given to inter milan, inter will win comfortably
Olympiakos will be next
