HERACLES ALMELO vs WILLEM II (DUTCH EREDIVISIE)

heracles are a shit team. willem ii are actually quite good, and they will be confident after defeating fc groningen convincingly 3-0 last weekend. they will be looking to extend their winning run, and i think that the least they will do here is get a draw.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on willem ii +0/0.5 @ 1.85 = $9.25

SEVILLA vs FC BARCELONA (LA LIGA)

barcelona banished the memories of a disappointing 1-1 home draw with getafe emphatically in midweek, thrashing sporting lisbon 5-2 in lisbon. they will look to bring the form to seville to continue getting 3 points after real madrid closed the gap to 3 points last weekend. with messi back in the side, and jesus navas sitting out through suspension, i fancy barcelona to have enough in them to grab an away win.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on barcelona -0/0.5 @ 1.80 = $9.00

GETAFE vs REAL MADRID (LA LIGA)

on a weekend of derbies, bernd schuster leads his madrid side to his former club getafe in search of 3 points which are vital if they are to catch leaders barcelona. real madrid are without ruud van nistelrooy and gonzalo higuain, so a win is by no means certain. recent games involving either getafe or real madrid have all been low-scoring, but i think this has the potential to be a high-scoring game because it's a derby.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on over 2.5 goals @ 2.00 = $10.00

FC SOCHAUX vs BORDEAUX (LIGUE ONE)

bordeaux are a good team, and they showed that when they outplayed chelsea for 90 minutes in midweek and were rather unlucky to have come out of the game with only 1 point. they face sochaux, who are struggling in ligue one, and i think bordeaux will finally get their title challenge back on track after two winless games in the league.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on bordeaux -0/0.5 @ 1.92 = $9.60

BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs BAYERN MUNICH (BUNDESLIGA)

i think bayern munich have been in too good form of late to lose this one, despite bayer leverkusen being at home. toni, klose and ribery have struck up a very good understanding, and i think they should have enough to see off leverkusen and condemn them to a second straight defeat.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on bayern munich level @ 1.83 = $9.15

SUNDERLAND vs BOLTON (BPL)

sunderland have been in poor form of late, with their 2-1 win against blackburn being the only win in 4 games. however, they have been unlucky on more than one occasion, and with the quality in their squad, i think they are due another win. chimbonda and diouf come back from injury, which is good news for sunderland fans. bolton have over-achieved, and i expect normal service to be resumed here, with sunderland grabbing a vital victory.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on sunderland -0/0.5 @ 2.00 = $10.00

BURNLEY vs DERBY COUNTY (COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP)

derby county have been unlucky of late, not picking up points when they deserve to. their 2-2 draw with preston was achieved without their first-choice defence, and still they looked like claiming all 3 points. they travel to burnley with james tomkins on a one-month loan, and he should help to ease the defensive woes of late. also, luke varney has been added to the squad, and i think derby have it in them to at least secure a point away from home.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on derby +0.5 @ 1.920 = $9.60

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs BIRMINGHAM CITY (COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP)

wolves have won their last 7 games in a row. they're no manchester united or chelsea, so for them to have such an impressive run is most improbable. they come up against birmingham, who themselves need a win to stay in touch with wolves, as the gap currently stands at 6 points. i really do not think wolves will be able to win this one, as i see birmingham getting at least a draw from this.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on birmingham + 0/0.5 @ 1.925 = $9.625

KASHIMA ANTLERS vs JUBILO IWATA (J-LEAGUE)

kashima antlers currently sit pretty at the top of the standings after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over oita trinita last time out. if they beat jubilo, and other results go their way, they might even secure the title today. jubilo look to have gone off the boil a little in recent games, and i think the antlers will be too strong at home for jubilo.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on kashima antlers -0.5/1 @ 1.80 = $9.00

KASHIWA REYSOL vs OITA TRINITA (J-LEAGUE)

oita trinita have failed to win in their last 3 games, a shocking fact considering that they had a good shot at winning the title. mathematically, they're still in with a chance, but they face kashiwa reysol, who are rather strong at home. i think oita will want to finish the season on a high, and with ueslei and maeda doing quite well in attack this season, i think they have a good chance of securing at least a draw here.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on oita trinita level ball @ 1.875 = $9.375

MULTIPLIER OF THE WEEK

Valencia (-0.5) @ 1.810
La Coruna (0.5) @ 1.780
Roma (-0.5) @ 1.920
Arsenal (0.5/1) @ 1.830

Roland's Multiplier: $5 pays $56.60

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs EVERTON (EPL)

Ledley King and Woodgate have been rested and will return for this match. Jenas will also come back into the starting lineup. Corluka and Pavlyuchenko will be raring to go as they were cup-tied for the UEFA Cup game on Thursday. For Everton, they have a striker problem with Saha, Anichebe and Vaughan out, and Pienaar is also unavailable. I think Everton's squad will be stretched and they won't be able to compete against the resurgent Spurs.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Tottenham -0.5 @ 1.990 = $9.95

PORTSMOUTH vs BLACKBURN (EPL)

Cool fact, Blackburn have won their last 2 games at Fratton Park. I don't think they have enough quality to do so a 3rd time, especially with Defoe and Kranjcar back in contention. Portsmouth come into this game probably a little more fatigued than Blackburn after their morale boosting 2-2 draw against Milan (argh Inzaghi why did you have to hit the post thrice), but I think that they will be more up for this game than the Blackburn players and Tony Adams will record his second win as manager of Portsmouth.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Portsmouth -0.5 @ 2.110 = $10.55

MIDDLESBROUGH vs NEWCASTLE (EPL)

I tend to stay clear of Middlesbrough matches because they always win/lose when you least expect it. However, I think the chances of Newcastle clinching at least a point here are high as Newcastle continue their revival under Joe Kinnear. They showed great heart to get a draw at Stamford Bridge and have shown that they can defend well. Middlesbrough have been rather disappointing and I think Newcastle will grab a point off them.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Newcastle +0/0.5 @ 2.020 = $10.10

the punters seem to be favouring newcastle for this one, as they played well at stamford bridge and managed to come away with a clean sheet. however, let's not forget that it wasn't unexpected, as chelsea have been shit of late, and in any case, are no great team to start off with themselves. besides, newcastle are gonna miss damien duff and shola ameobi, and middlesbrough will be boosted by the return of mido, who is very useful on big occasions. this being the tyne-tee derby, i expect sparks to fly with the most likely victors being middlesbrough.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on middlesbrough -0/0.5 @ 1.95 = $9.75

WIGAN vs WEST BROM (EPL)

Well, West Brom are on a terrible run of results at the moment, losing to Liverpool, Chelsea, then Stoke. They definitely did not deserve to lose their last game, but that's football. They look to be short on confidence and I think Wigan will edge this one, as West Brom have only scored twice away from home in the EPL all season.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Wigan -0.5 @ 1.775 = $8.875

MULTIPLIER OF THE DAY

MVV Maastricht v RKC Waalwijk (Waalwijk level @ 1.75)
RBC Roosendal v Helmond Sport (Helmond level @ 1.975)
TOP Oss v Den Bosch (Den Bosch -0/0.5 @ 1.925)
Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich (Bayern level @ 1.83)

Eddy's multiplier: $2 pays $24.34

MVV MAASTRICHT vs RKC WAALWIJK (DUTCH EERSTE DIVISIE)

rkc waalwijk are a quality team that have gone 4 games without a win. yep, u know what i'm gonna say. take waalwijk on level ball, as i don't see them losing this one.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on rkc waalwijk level @ 1.75 = $8.75

HAMBURG vs AJAX (UEFA CUP)

Both sides have been doing well in their domestic leagues. Both sides should be evenly matched, so in games like this I always go for the home team. Furthermore, Ajax have lots of injuries like Huntelaar, Stekelenberg and Aissati, and thus I think Hamburg will nick this one.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Hamburg -0.5 @ 1.800 = $9.00

NEC NIJMEGEN vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (UEFA CUP)

Well, Woodgate and King are rested, while Corluka is cup-tied and Hutton is out. Spells trouble for the Spurs back 4. For their attack, Luka Modric and Giovani dos Santos are injured, while Pavlyuchenko is cup-tied. Spells trouble for their attack too, as Luka Modric has been a key player for them with his creativity. The heavy boat will be in NEC grabbing at least a point at home, so I'm backing Spurs as they do have decent strength in depth. Zokora will be an able deputy at the back and Huddlestone + Jenas are capable of running the midfield with Bentley delivering good crosses for Campbell and Bent. Well, that's the ideal situation as I'm backing Spurs to get a crucial win here to keep their UEFA Cup hopes alive.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Spurs -0.5 @ 2.050 = $10.25

SCHALKE vs MAN CITY (UEFA CUP)

Robinho isn't included in the travelling squad as he has an ankle injury, and I hope that he remains injured till the Manchester derby is over. Elano is also left out of the squad, and so is Zabaleta. That's a lot of creative talent gone and I don't see a strike force of Jo and Benjani being able to step up. I think that fatigue will set in for City and Mark Hughes will probably tell them to play a low tempo game so that they can conserve their energy for the Manchester derby over the weekend. I quote ""If we take a point off Schalke and maybe get another win at home next week (against Paris St Germain) then maybe seven points will be enough,'' Hughes said", so it will be Schalke's game as City can't defend well away from home, and Schalke need to win to definitely qualify for the next round.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Schalke -0.5 @ 1.990 = $9.95

PORTSMOUTH vs AC MILAN (UEFA CUP)

Pompey don't have Diarra, Defoe, Kranjcar, and Campbell heading into this match. Milan are top of the table and will probably rest some players, but I think their reserves team will go into this match hungry to prove their worth and will probably beat a toothless Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Tony Adams still hasn't proven that he is capable of managing a top flight club and I think Milan is good to back here.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Milan -0/0.5 @ 1.960 = $9.80

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA vs WERDER BREMEN (UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Anorthosis have been the surprise package in the Champions League, holding Inter to a 3-3 draw at home and only losing 1-0 away. They are strong at home, whereas Bremen have been disappointing all season and sit in 9th in the Bundesliga. I fancy Anorthosis to hold Bremen at bay and secure at least a point this match in a bid to reach the knockout stages.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Anorthosis +0.5 @ 1.860 = $9.30

CFR CLUJ vs ROMA (UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Roma have gotten their season back on track after their convincing win in the Rome derby, then a resounding 3-0 win away against Lecce. They will be smelling blood and will get their revenge against Cluj, who have shown in their loss to Bordeaux that they are just an average side.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Roma -0.5 @ 1.910 = $9.55

BAYERN MUNICH vs STEAUA BUCHAREST (UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Bayern should have too much quality for Steaua, especially at home. A win would secure their place in the knockout stages. Steaua have had a shit run of results and I think a Bayern win here is guaranteed.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Bayern -1.5 @ 1.990 = $9.95

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG vs JUVENTUS (UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Zenit have finished 5th in their domestic league, meaning that they will not qualify for the Champions League next season. They have nothing else to play for other than their last 2 matches, which are against Juve and Real, and they need to win both to qualify. Juve just had their 7 game win streak ended by painfully by Inter in a match where they did NOTHING at all (and I made money from ^^), and Ranieri will probably rest players for this match. I think the home environment will work wonders for Zenit and they will win this one.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Zenit -0.5 @ 1.860 = $9.30

ELCHE vs SALAMANCA (SPANISH LIGA BBVA)

salamanca are flying at the moment, 2nd in the table with a game in hand. on the other hand, elche managed a crucial win over sevilla's B team last weekend, to give them a little breathing space at the bottom. salamanca, though, have far too much quality to lose against elche, and as such, level ball looks like a good tip to me.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on salamanca level @ 2.050 = $10.25

NUMANCIA vs ATLETICO MADRID (LA LIGA)

numancia and atletico both secured morale-boosting wins last weekend, and will look to bring the form to tonight's match. atletico haven't won back-to-back games for a while now, but i feel that numancia will be unable to stop atletico from playing their usual high-tempo attacking game. my tip is for atletico to win this one.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on atletico -0.5 @ 2.050 = $10.25

KYOTO PURPLE SANGA vs NAGOYA GRAMPUS EIGHT (J LEAGUE)

nagoya remain in 3rd place and with a shot at the title still, despite a bad run of 6 games which has seen 5 draws and a loss. however, i think the time is finally right for nagoya to show everyone what they're made of, and for frode johnsen to stop brooding, and start producing. nagoya to win this.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on nagoya grampus eight -0/0.5 @ 1.95 = $9.75