The UEFA Cup group stage is coming to a finish.

We had yesterday the first series of the last matches. Tonight we have another 8 matches.

There are some interesting matches, but nothing interesting for me to bet on. But as the matches begin, who knows.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

For those of you who already have a bet, good luck!

It’s the second time in a very short period in which the big four ( Man. Utd., Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) fail in getting a win.

Maybe the most disadvantaged team from the four, would have to be Chelsea, as they played at home against a team was is clearly inferior.But that’s way sports are great because at any time, any contender has a chance.

But weather we like ot or not, top teams do have bad and good periods. The main difference between a top team and a mediocre one is the period of those bad periods. For example let’s look at Spurs.Before the start of the season they promised a lot only after a few bad results ( entering the bad period ) they managed only to continue the bad period instead of bouncing back on track right away. Now let’s take a look at the way Manchester Untied started the 07/08 season.Only 2 pct in the first 3 matches. And one of the matches was with Man City, but after the 3 games they managed to get the win that would set them on the right track and win the championship at the end.

If we now take a closer look at the cause of these bad periods, we see some reasons for the results. The most common is the absence of crucial players (due to injury or other reasons).The second most common problem is fatigue.The players are simply to tired and cannot play at 100%.Most of the top teams have to play both in national event and in the international ones  (Champions League and UEFA Cup).

I see it like this. If any of the top teams do not have any crucial players missing and the team is not affected by any sort of fatigue, they do look like a sure winner. That is why most of the times, the boxing day and the matches near the new year’s day, bring important points for the big four.

As a conclusion, i have to say that i am looking forward to the premier league matches of the end of the year in which the big four are included. Especially the one  of Chelsea and Man Utd.

Yesterday we had the last day of group stage matches for this season from the Champions League.
The final standings are as follow.

Group stage

Everton vs Aston Villa was a match in which you learn that the match in not over untill the final wistle. Aston Villa was in front 2-1 untill the 92nd minute, when defender Lescott scored the second equalizer to bring it to a 2-2 score. You would really think that the match is over by now. Think again

Young managed to score the winner with only seconds left and Villa took all 3 points.

This match reminds me of the Turkey - Croatia match from this summers at the Euro.

Here are the betfair graphics for this match. One is the draw graphic and the other the Villa graphic

Manchester played Sunderland yesterday, in the Premier League.Sunderland weren’t in the best of form and with couch Keane deciding to leave the club just before the match, Manchester looked as huge favorites.

Above we have the Manchester United betfair graphic at half time.It clearly shows that United was quite the favorite, with some big bets on a United win.But despite the fact that United was the better team on the pitch they didn’t manage to score any goals and the scoreline was 0-0 at half time.

The second half begun and United continued to dominate, but still no goal.Ronaldo had to be changed and that didn’t help the United “backers” at all.So, the odds kept on going up and up and up.

And then, when you would think United has no chance, and Sunderland managed to get at least one point, Vidic scores.