Yesterday was a frustrating day for fans of Eredivisie strugglers De Graafschap, who had to watch their team lost 3-0 to PSV Eindhoven. While 2-0 down, many supporters were enraged that the assistant referee denied a scoring opportunity for on-loan Chelsea striker Ben Sahar. The linesman appeared to make the correct decision, but this didn’t stop one angry chap from dealing with the situation in a rather Paolo Di Canio-esque manner.
The angry “Super Farmers” fan received a one-year stadium ban for this naughtiness.
Chelsea 2/ CFR Cluj 1
Luiz Felipe Scolari won’t need to get on the next BA flight to Brazil as Chelsea just about managed to see off slightly rubbish Romanian side CFR Cluj. After the campaign thus far, it’s hard to comprehend that just seven months ago, John Terry was helping the West Londoners lose in the final.
PSV 1/ Liverpool 3
Over in Holland, Liverpool secured top spot in Group D, but only after a shaky start.
Spoiler bonus: See Jose Mourinho’s Inter punished by a Chelsea star on loan in Germany after the jump…
The folks at chickendinner told you Chelsea wouldn’t get a result in Romania, so lets hope you followed their betting advice and had a better night than the likes of Didier Drogba.
Back in the UK, Dirk, Robbie and Steve managed to sink PSV Eindhoven, the latter of whom treated us to his 100th goal in a Red shirt.
Champions League, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free £10 bet
After being thrashed 3-0 at home by Atletico Madrid - a team who hadn’t played Champions League football for over eleven years - in their opening game, it’s hard to see PSV taking anything from Anfield against a Liverpool team who have broken the habit of a lifetime and opened with an away win.
Here’s five reasons why Liverpool will win and how to make money on tonight’s game, courtesy of our well informed amigos at chickendinner:
1. The sides have clashed twice before in the Champions League at Anfield and on both occasions Liverpool have been victorious.
2. Rafael Benitez’s side are unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions since losing to Manchester United on March 23 (this excludes their extra-time defeat to Chelsea).
3. PSV have won just three of their last eight away games in all competitions.
4. And while one of those wins was away to Tottenham in last season’s UEFA Cup, they have won just one of their last six Champions League games on the road.
5. On the last two occasions where Liverpool have won their Champions League opener they have either gone through the group unbeaten or not lost until qualification was assured.
Sick of sticking to the same old weekly pattern of tomorrow following today etc? Then great news, man! Here’s what the papers are going to be saying in the morning…
Calderon wastes opportunity
Ramon Calderon has become an expert in sending out mixed signals over the last few weeks, telling the world and Rafael Nadal that Ronaldo is on his way to Real Madrid one minute, then making out he was just kidding the next. Now Marca have reported that the Glazers are ready to sell Ronaldo after all, but given a chance to stir things up on Radio 5 Live, Calderon thought it best to deny everything. What is that little minx up to?
Fat Ronaldo going Dutch?
PSV Eindhoven have been so impressed with Ronaldo’s big blubbery stomach (pictured) and smooth smoking technique that they want to bring him back ‘home’ to, um, Holland. “Perhaps something beautiful will happen this summer,” honked manager Huub Stevens, before mysteriously adding, “it’s possible that we can eventually make use of him in another role as well.” Hang on - Holland? Another role? Gimp mask? Don’t do it, Ronny!
English clubs are flying high in Europe right now, but Everton and Tottenham are hanging on for dear life in the Champions League’s less-respected little brother. Both are chasing a deficit in tonight’s Round of 32 second leg, and both are more than likely to miss out on a place at the City of Manchester stadium final in May. Still, if you fancy a patriotic bet - maybe a surprise English double - head to the oddschicken for the best odds available.
UEFA Cup Round of 32
Everton/ Fiorentina (ITV4, 7.45pm)
PSV Eindhoven/ Tottenham Hotspur (Five, 7.45pm)
Good news for fans of Europe’s least favourite cup - the days of UEFA Cup games being banished to Channel Five or ITV426+1 are over (for now). The competition still takes place on the worst day of the week for football, but Juande Ramos will strive to continue his excellent European record against PSV in ITV1’s primetime slot. People hoping to see another sub-par drama special with the guy from Cold Feet in it may be disappointed, but you may make the evening’s events a little more interesting with a punt - Spurs are 7/10 favourites to win tonight and 6/1 to win the competition outright.
Use our patented betting machine oddschicken to find great value odds on tonight’s action, such as sportingbet’s 15/2 on a 2-1 Tottenham win.
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