All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Tottenham Hotspur vs APOEL – Champions League Group H Preview

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Tottenham Hotspur vs APOEL – Champions League Preview – Tottenham sign off their Champions League group with a game against bottom of the table Apoel Nicosia.

Spurs have already secured top spot in Group H as they round off what has been a fantastic European campaign so far. With four wins and only one defeat including taking four points off the reigning European Champions, few would have predicted Tottenham would have won their group with a game to spare.

In fact, few would have fancied Spurs to make it out of their group at all. With the Wembley hoodoo still above their heads in September, winning the ‘group of death’ is an achievement that shouldn’t be played down. Spurs have shown they are more than capable of mixing it against the very best and it should fill them with confidence ahead of the knockout rounds in February.

In the league however, Tottenham are starting to struggle. Mauricio Pochettino’s men have recorded just one win in their last six league games, which has left them adrift of their Premier League rivals. Since their defeat at the hands of Arsenal, Tottenham have just collected two points from a possible nine, with serious questions being asked about their top four credentials. Whilst this dip in form is hardly ideal, Spurs can take comfort from the fact they’re only four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

Alli will be in the squad to face APOEL this Wednesday Photo Credit: skysports.com

Apoel have only managed two points from their first five group games. They’re yet to win in this year’s competition, but if they can better Borussia Dortmund’s result against Real Madrid, they will find themselves in the Europa League. Domestically they have won their last four games which leaves them third in their respective division.

In the league this season, Tottenham have been awarded the second highest number of corners. Spurs have averaged 6.7 corners from their 15 league games. At home, there average is even higher with 63 corners from 7 league games (9pg). They have, however, conceded the fourth highest number of corners at home in the Premier League, averaging at 5.7 a game. With this in mind, corners would not be a bad shout for any potential RAB’s on Wednesday night.

Spurs only previous meeting against Apoel came in the reverse fixture back in September. Tottenham came out victorious on that occasion, with a Harry Kane hattrick sealing a 3-0 win. Given that there is nothing riding on this match, I think Tottenham may make a few changes in order to rest players for the Premier League. They should still get the job done comfortably though.

 

Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Apoel

 

SKYBET RAB: SPURS TO SCORE 2+ GOALS AND GET 10+ CORNERS- 11/4

SKYBET: LLORENTE TO SCORE FIRST AND SPURS TO WIN 3-0- 16/1

SKYBET: SPURS TO WIN TO NIL- 1/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND TOTTENHAM TO WIN- 13/8

BET365: SPURS OVER 2.5 – (link no longer available)

BET365: 0-0 DRAW- (link no longer available)

BET365: SPURS TO WIN 2-0 CORRECT SCORE- (link no longer available)

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid – Champions League Group C Preview

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Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid – Champions League Preview – After securing their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Chelsea will be hoping to seal top spot against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Antonio Conte’s men hold a two-point lead at the top of Group C and know a win would secure them first place. Chelsea beat Atletico back on matchday two, with a late Michy Batshuayi goal sealing them the win.

Hazard and Morata have formed a formidable partnership in attack Photo Credit: skysports.com

Chelsea have won five of their last six games, and haven’t lost since their defeat to Roma in October. In the league, Chelsea secured their sixth win in seven games when they beat Newcastle 3-1 at the weekend. In keeping with his recent form, Eden Hazard ran the show, grabbing himself another brace. The Belgian now has 11 goals this season, despite missing the beginning of the campaign through injury. If Chelsea are to challenge for the title, then their hopes are pinned on the form of this man.

Since losing to Roma 3-0, Conte has dropped Brazilian defender David Luiz. The Brazilian had been a mainstay since re-joining the club last year, but after an alleged row with Conte, he has started just two games since October. In his place, Andreas Christensen has impressed. The Danish defender is finally getting a run in the team at the heart of Chelsea’s back three and has looked accomplished. He has started Chelsea’s last five games with the side only conceding two goals and collecting three clean sheets. If the Danish youngster continues in this rich vein of form, it might spell the end for Luiz’s second stint at the club.

Griezmann looks back to form after a poor start to the season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Atletico go into this match knowing they have to win. Anything less than three points would see the Spanish club dumped out at the group stages after reaching the semi-final or better in three of the last four years. If Atletico do win, they have to hope Roma fail to beat Qarabag, a result that would see Diego Simeone’s men through by virtue of their head to head record.

The last time these two sides met at Stamford Bridge was the semi-final of this competition in 2014. Atletico won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to take them through to the final, where they would be later defeated 4-1 by Real. Having met only six times in Europe, Chelsea have won twice.

In the league this season, Chelsea have kept seven clean sheets from their 15 games. That percentage ranks them joint second in the division, with only Manchester United above them. Similarly, Atletico have been one of the tightest defences in La Liga, conceding just seven goals. Keeper Jan Oblak has managed eight clean sheets from 14 games as a result.

With that in mind, I think this will be a tight game with a lot riding on it. I think Chelsea may just scrape through with a victory, given their impressive form of late.

 

Prediction: Chelsea 1-0 Atletico Madrid

 

SKYBET: MORATA AND GRIEZMANN TO BOTH SCORE- 11/2

SKYBET: BTTS AND ATLETICO TO WIN- 6/1

SKYBET: HAZARD TO SCORE AND CHELSEA TO WIN 2-1- 28/1

SKYBET: WILLIAN TO SCORE OUTSIDE THE AREA- 5/1

BET365: ATLETICO TO WIN 1-0- (link no longer available)

BET365: CORRECT SCORE CHELSEA 1-0- (link no longer available)

BET365: TOTAL GOALS AND BTTS- (link no longer available)

Birmingham City vs Wolves – Match Preview

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Birmingham City vs Wolves – Match Preview – League leaders Wolves face a short trip to St Andrew’s as they face Birmingham in the West Midlands derby.

Wolves have had a stellar campaign so far and hold a one point lead over second place Cardiff at the top of the table. If Nuno Santo’s men were able to win it would push them ten points clear of third place Bristol City. Since losing to QPR in October Wolves have gone on to win all of their last five matches. That run also leaves them with one defeat in eight league matches, which stretches back to September.

After an underwhelming first season in the black country, Ivan Cavaleiro has stepped up to be one of Wolves brightest performers in recent weeks. The former Monaco winger has six goals this season, including four goals in his last three matches. The front three of Cavaleiro, Diogo Jota and Leo Bonatini is one of the most feared in the division, racking up 26 goals between them. The form of those three has meant that last season’s player of the year, Helder Costa, has had to settle for a spot on the bench.

Cavaleiro has scored 6 goals so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Birmingham currently sit in 22nd spot in the Championship, level on points with Bolton who sit just above them. After a less than ideal campaign so far, Blues are in dire need of a few results to steer them clear of the drop zone. Last time out they did pick up an impressive point away at Sheffield United, meaning they’ve gathered four points from their last three games. If Birmingham are to get themselves out of trouble, it’s critical that they improve their home form. They’ve won just four of their home games so far this season and with Steve Cotterill’s side struggling on the road, they need to turn St Andrew’s into a fortress.

Blues have won just two of their last eight games against Wolves and haven’t beat them at home since 2015. They did however win the last encounter, when they defeated Wolves 2-1 at Molineux in February.

Adams has 5 goals for Birmingham this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Birmingham City are the lowest scorers in the division, with just ten goals in their 19 matches. Only 12 of their 19 games have had over 1.5 goals in, which is the third lowest in the league. Wolves, however, have had over 2.5 goals in 16 of their 19 games, ranking them sixth highest.

With the top scorers in the league coming up against a side who can’t score, there’s only one way I can see this finishing. I think a good bet would be Wolves to score 2 or more goals, as I think they’ll secure a comfortable sixth win on the bounce.

 

Prediction: Birmingham City 0-2 Wolves

 

SKYBET: CAVALEIRO TO SCORE AND WOLVES TO WIN- 4/1

SKYBET: ADAMS TO SCORE FIRST AND WOLVES TO WIN 2-1- 90/1

SKYBET: BONATINI TO SCORE A BRACE- 13/2

SKYBET: BIRMINGHAM TO WIN 1-0- 14/1

SKYBET: BOLY TO SCORE A HEADER AND BIRMINGHAM TO MISS A PENALTY- 350/1

BET365: CORRECT SCORE WOLVES TO WIN 2-0- (link no longer available)

BET365: OVER 2.5 GOALS AND BTTS – (link no longer available)