Week-end football, Superbowl

It is always the case that the matches following the end of the transfer window spring their cans of surprises because teams have reinforced or weakened during the flurry of activities that characterize the end of transfer proceedings. In addition, new players that are propelled straight into the first team have to gel immediately; so while it will be interesting to see how the forms of all the teams have been affected, caution is the word for the first batch of matches this week-end.

I cannot see Man Utd losing at Fulham. For one, the hosts will be without their main goal scorer Berbatov, while the Red Devils have all their major weapons, bar Ashley Young, at their disposal. The confident selection is Man Utd as a win.

West Brom look exposed against Tottenham. Striker Odemwingie threw a fit and tried to force a vain transfer to QPR on the last transfer day. Talk about morale hit to the team. Spurs were forced to dig deep last week to earn a point at Norwich and will be better served with a seemingly fully-fit Defoe. I see value backing the visitors as a draw-no-bet on this one.

In La Liga, I like Barcelona on their road trip to Valencia. The team is in excellent form and should have trounced Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Cup on Wednesday. They only put one past the Los Blancos although they had clear chances to put the match and tie away. Messi did not score but brave would be the one to oppose him again against Valencia. The hosts are possibly the third best team in La Liga but there is a gulf between them and the Blaugrana. Barcelona is a straight win selection.

Malaga should win at home to Zaragoza. Real Madrid should either win or draw at Granada, and I see Rayo Vallecano as the value bet in La Liga with a +1 goal handicap as they visit Sevilla.

Finally, it's the Super Bowl on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers are short favourites but I have a feeling the Baltimore Ravens will win this. They are the better balanced team and their quarterback Joe Flacco has the ability to unlock the sometimes unorganized 49er defence. I am no American football expert, but from what I've seen, and I could be wrong, I will speculate and believe going with the Ravens is definitely worth a small crack at the current odds.


Win: Man Utd, Barcelona, Malaga
Draw-no-bet: Tottenham, Real Madrid
+1 Handicap: Rayo Vallecano

More misery for Man City

Mancini is right for this week-end; there's a big chance that Man Utd strike the decisive blow to his team's aspirations for the title. There is little doubt that the Red Devils will open up an 8-point gap before Man City lock horns with Arsenal a while later. I cannot see QPR going away from Old Trafford with a point, let alone with the win. It's pretty much 3 important points in the bag for the current leaders.

It's very hard, but not impossible, to see Man City grabbing 3 points from their visit to the Emirates. Their current form is certainly not good enough. Unless their talisman Tevez can conjure up something, or the team gets its act together, they are in with a chance, but you wouldn't bet the house on it. This match is important for the Gunners as well for their quest to secure the all-important 3rd or 4th spots for next year's Champions League football. The game can swing either way.

I like West Brom's chances at home to Blackburn. The hosts are always competitive under Roy Hodgson and although Blackburn have enjoyed some success lately, I think they are still one of the bottom teams of the EPL. I recommend WBA as a draw-no-bet.

Also, Stoke makes a lot of appeal against sorry Wolves. The latter are going down, no doubt about it. Stoke looks safe as a draw-no-bet as well.

In Europe, I see wins for powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga, and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Barcelona should win at bottom club Zaragoza to keep their slim title hopes alive. Real Madrid have a tougher assignment against third-place team Valencia but the latter played in midweek in the Europa League and are bound to have freshness problems against the rampant hosts. Also, the visitors are an erratic team this year and are simply not as good as in previous years. Real Madrid should have no trouble grabbing another 3 straight points.

Win: Man Utd, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich
Draw-no-bet: West Brom, Stoke