The Spoiler has a bit of a soft spot for Chris Hughton but he let us down badly last night by leaving the Hare well and truly malnourished at Bramall Lane - using him in only the last six minutes to render yesterday’s bet null and void.
Today, we’re taking no chances, pursuing an accumulator so that nothing besides the weather and floodlight failure can rule the bet pointless. We’re looking to turn £10 into £104.70 by backing Juventus, Porto, Wolfsburg and Manchester United to win tonight. Here’s why:
Maccabi Haifa v Juventus - The Israelis have lost all three of their matches so far without scoring.
APOEL v Porto - Porto won their first group meeting and over the past three seasons, whenever they do that they go on to complete a double.
Besiktas v Wolfsburg - A big ask, although Besiktas have lost four of their last ten home games and have scored just once this season in Europe.
Manchester United v CSKA Moscow - United are unbeaten in 23 Champions League matches at Old Trafford, of which they have won 18.
Combine these four together using the Betfair Coupon and you stand to win over ten times your initial stake!
Chelsea 1/ Porto 0
The Blues didn’t exactly carry themselves with the confidence that has allowed them to steamroll through Premiership opposition so far this season, but they claimed a vital three points against their Portuguese visitors thanks to an impressive finish from Nicolas Anelka. Porto’s Hulk tried his best to beat Petr Cech, but the tabloid headline writers were ultimately denied a hilarious pun.
Besiktas 0/ Manchester Utd 1
There were frayed tempers on and off the pitch over in Turkey: Wayne Rooney threw his boots down in fury when he was pulled off for a Fit & Healthy striker just after the hour mark, and appeared to share a few choice words with vitriolic home fans who had to be restrained by stewards. It probably won’t go down as a classic, but Paul Scholes did enough to secure an important away victory.
Spoiler bonus: Cristiano Ronaldo was firing on all cylinders in Zurich, bagging a confidence-boosting brace of free kicks. Check it out after the jump…
As The Spoiler’s end of season festivities get into full swing, today we look at the best signings of the 2008/09 Premier League campaign. Sorry Wisey, Xisco and Coloccini didn’t make the cut…
Jose Bosingwa (Porto to Chelsea, £16.3m)
Whether Jose Bosingwa (or ‘Boswinga’ if you’re Jamie Redknapp) was officially a Big Phil Scolari signing is a point of contention, but considering the four other members of his inspirational clutch of signings have only racked up 22 starts and three goals between them, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. However, what can’t be argued against is how seamlessly the full back has slotted into Chelsea’s defence this season, in a role the Blues have previously struggled to fill.
James Beattie (Sheffield Utd to Stoke, £2.5m)
It was fair to assume Beattie’s Premier League days were numbered after a pretty woeful spell at Everton earned him a move down to the Championship with Sheffield United last season. Yet after answering Stoke’s SOS call in the January transfer window, Beatts has signaled his return to the top flight by averaging nearly a goal every other game and contributing to 13 of the 24 points Stoke have picked up since his arrival. Such season-saving form might just be the best £2.5m Tony Pulis has ever spent.
Marouane Fellaini (Standard Liege to Everton, £15m)
Fellaini’s Premier League success isn’t too surprising considering the fact that 32 foreign scouts were in the crowd to watch him play in Liege’s title-winning league match last season. Still, the lanky afro cultivator was pretty much unknown to fans over here until making his mark as the driving force behind a Liege team that by all rights should’ve beaten Liverpool to Champions League qualification at the start of the season. Clocking in with an impressive nine goals and firmly establishing himself as a midfield battler, that £15m price tag everyone laughed at now looks a bit less ridiculous.
Wilson Palacios (Wigan to Tottenham, £12m)
Harry Redknapp’s transfer market dial
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Joey Barton to Blackburn
Following his suspension, Newcastle are said to be “gathering evidence” against the violent moronic thug, suggesting his contract may be terminated. The Independent claim Sam Allardyce - who originally brought Barton to Newcastle - could give him his 4,056th second chance at Blackburn.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: We are stunned that anyone wants to employ such a waste of blood and organs, but Blackburn did bring in the Premiership’s second most vile player, El-Hadji Diouf.
Aly Cissokho to Tottenham
The talented 21-year-old Porto left-back is under contract until 2012, but
Last night, Ryan Giggs found out exactly why the Estadio do Dragao has such a fearsome reputation. Thanks to Spoiler reader Sarah for submitting this classic example of Champions League Sporno. If you’ve seen any great sport/ porn hybrids lately, send them here and we’ll make you one thousand pennies richer if we use it.
Tricky winger believes 40-yard strike is his best yet
Never one to blow his own trumpet, Cristiano Ronaldo declared his match-winning strike against Porto last night as his greatest ever:
“It is the best I have scored.
“It was a fantastic strike and I can’t wait to see it again on DVD. I am very happy with it.”
The Spoiler believes this 65mph effort is C-Ron’s best goal from open play, but still feel that last year’s ridiculous free kick against Portsmouth is still his best goal…
Platini despairs as English teams guarantee a place in the final
Arsenal 3/ Villarreal 0 (Arsenal win 4-1 on agg.)
Hopefully, you followed The Spoiler’s astute advice and backed an Arsenal/ Manchester Utd win double last night. The Gunners booked a semi-final bout with Fergie’s men after a comprehensive victory over the Yellow Submarine. “That was a comprehensive victory over the Yellow Submarine,” Arsene Wenger was not heard to remark.
Porto 0/ Manchester Utd 1 (Manchester Utd win 3-2 on agg.)
Over in Portugal, Manchester Utd rediscovered the ability to make accurate passes to one another that was so severely lacking in the first leg. After Cristiano Ronaldo’s piss-takingly long-range strike, it seems the Estadio do Dragao is no longer a scary place.
With only Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown and Darren Fletcher certain to miss out through injury, Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t short of options for tonight’s second leg at Estadio do Dragao. The Manchester United boss often favours a 4-3-3 for European games but here’s how The Spoiler would line the holders up:
We’ve chosen 4-4-2 and have opted for the tireless grafting of Park Ji-Sung and Carlos Tevez over the experience of Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov’s calmness and occasional brilliance. Do you agree with our selections? Let us know with a comment below.
Loading ...