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Wednesday’s Champions League Betting : Sporting Braga vs Celtic

There are some big name sides in action this Wednesday evening in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Who will take an advantage into the second leg?Online handicapping portal BetRepublic.com previews the three biggest games here.

Debreceni VSC v FC Basel @ Soccer Betting Tips :

This match sees the Hungarian champions take on the Swiss champions for a place in the playoff stage of the qualification section of the Champions League. Online sportsbook BetRepublic.com make Basel the favourites to win this first leg tie at evens ahead of Debrecen and the draw at odds of 11/5. Will the Swiss champions live up to their pre-match billing as favourites?

Basel had a reasonable season in Europe last season. They finished third in the same Europa League group as Roma and Fulham, only failing to progress on the final matchday as they lost 3-2 to eventual finalists Fulham.

However, they did secure an impressive 2-0 win over Roma before losing out to the more illustrious sides from Italy and England. They did secure the domestic double of league and cup in the 09/10 season in Switzerland as well and will be a major threat for Debrecen.

Last season Debrecen got a tough Champions League lesson as they lost all six matches as they were drawn against Lyon, Liverpool and Fiorentina in their group. They failed to score in four games, only finding the net against Fiorentina on five occasions in their two matches, but still losing both. They conceded nineteen goals in total in the six matches. Can they get one step closer to getting back to the group stage again by beating Basel?

I don’t see it, and feel that Basel are great value at evens for the win. I also see goals in this match as there have been eight in Basel’s first two league games of their new season and there were seven in Debrecen’s second round qualifying game, so my money will be on Basel to win @ evens and over 2.5 goals @ evens.

Ajax vs PAOK Saloniki:

This match sees the runners up in the Dutch and Greek leagues in the 2009/2010 season go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League qualification playoffs, but who will take victory in the first leg game in Amsterdam? Books make Ajax the 2/7 favourites, with PAOK available at 7/1 and the draw can be backed at 7/2.

Ajax are the more well known of these two sides after their Champions League exploits in the mid 1990′s that saw them claim the title in 1995 and lose the 1996 final on penalties. They are not the power that they once were – they have not won the Dutch league since 03/04 – but finished well in their domestic league last season but were beaten by former England manager Steve McClaren’s FC Twente by a point.

PAOK had an extraordinary season last year, but still managed to throw things away when they had the chance of a league and cup double, however they salvaged things by winning the end of season playoffs to book themselves a spot in the Champions League. They have had a poor pre-season and fired their management team, so they face a massive task to win this game.

I actually do not think they can do it and I fancy Ajax to lead at half time and win the game at odds of 10/11 and I see there being a few goals on top of this too, so I’m backing over 2.5 goals at odds of 8/11.

Sporting Braga vs Celtic:

Who will progress to the Champions League qualification playoffs in this matchup between the runners up in the Portuguese and Scottish leagues? Braga are the favourites for victory in the first leg tie in Portugal at odds of 19/20 with Celtic available at 23/10 and the draw can be backed at 9/4.

These sides had completely opposite seasons last time out with Braga gaining their best ever league finish, while Celtic were completely outplayed by Rangers throughout the season and finished six points behind their city rivals after they fired Tony Mowbray and replaced him with club legend Neil Lennon.

Lennon lacks experience and this match will be his toughest so far, can he get something from this game to ensure that the match is still alive when they come back to Celtic Park next week?

Neither side have played competitively since the end of their seasons in May, but I feel that Celtic should have enough not to lose this game. As a result I am backing the draw at odds of 9/4 with both sides to score at evens.

BetRepublic.com Recommends:

FC Basel to beat Debreceni VSC @ evens

Over 2.5 goals in the Basel v Debrecen game @ evens

Ajax/Ajax HT/FT v PAOK @ 10/11

Over 2.5 goals in the Ajax v PAOK game @ 8/11

Braga v Celtic to end as a draw @ 9/4

Both Braga and Celtic to score @ evens

Check out the most updated Soccer Betting Tips

Fulham vs Stoke City Preview : Wednesday’s Premier League Betting

This Wednesday evening sees four teams play their games in hand before we reach the weekend and the final games of the 2009/2010 Premier League season. Fulham take on Stoke City in a mid-table battle while the big game of the night sees Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur in a match that could decide who of the two will be playing in the Champions League next season. BetRepublic.com previews both matches and offers some great value bets here.

Fulham v Stoke City:

The first match between these two sides this season was an epic match, with Stoke leading 3-0 at half time before almost throwing the game away in the second half and just about taking the points with a 3-2 victory. However, this match is to be played at Craven Cottage rather than the Britannia Stadium and Fulham are a much better side there than on the road.

Of their eighteen home league matches this season Fulham have lost just four, winning eleven and drawing three. Their losses have all come against top six sides (Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City). However, they are safe in the Premier League and their thoughts will be on ensuring that their best players are rested and un-injured for the Europa League final in one weeks time. Will this affect them in this match, which is effectively a nothing game? I feel it will as Roy Hodgson will make changes and rest several of his first team.

Can Stoke take advantage of this? They have an away record of three wins, eight draws and six losses in their seventeen away league fixtures this season. Even with the changes that Fulham are likely to make I don’t see Tony Pulis’ men getting any more than a draw out of this match.

BetRepublic.com Recommends: Back the draw @ 12/5 with there to be under 2.5 goals @ 4/6

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur Live Soccer Betting Tip:

The race for fourth is still wide open between these two sides, with Spurs currently sitting fourth in the Premier League on 67 points with a +27 goal difference and Man City sitting fifth on 66 points with a +29 goal difference. A win for Spurs in this match will ensure that they’ll be in the Champions League next season and they would close to within two points of Arsenal, bringing the battle for third place down to the final day of the season.

However, it will not be easy for Spurs as they travel to Eastlands where Man City have won twelve and drawn four of their eighteen home league games. They have lost just twice at home this season and both losses – v Everton and Manchester United – have come in the last five matches, however they bounced back after losing to city rivals United with an impressive 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

Will they be able continue on from that win over Villa and move into fourth place in the league?
City have a good chance as Spurs’ away form has slipped in recent weeks and they have lost four of their last seven away league matches, including both of their last encounters on the road against Sunderland and Manchester United. In the other three away games they have beaten Wigan Athletic and Stoke City and managed to draw at St. Andrews with Birmingham City.

Their manager, Harry Redknapp, will have them pumped up for the biggest game of their season and they will make it a great game, but I cannot see them getting anything from the game. However, Spurs have found the net in five of their last six away games and Man City have conceded goals in four of their last five home matches so I see there being goals.

BetRepublic.com Recommends: Back Manchester City to win @ evens and over 2.5 goals in the match @ 7/10

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