Schalke v Galatasaray: Under 2.5 goals is the way to go

"Two of the Turkish side's last three games in this competition have gone under the 2.5 mark, whereas Schalke's previous three went south of the line."
Best Bet: Back Under 2.5 goals @ 2.3211/8

Christian Crowther previews the Champions League round-of-16 second leg between Schalke and Galatsaray, making a case for a low score...

Schalke v Galatasaray, Tuesday 19:45, Sky Sports 2, Match Odds: Schalke 1.758/11, Galatasaray 5.39/2, The Draw 4.1n/a

While most of the world's eyes will be transfixed on Barcelona's Camp Nou for their glamour tie against AC Milan, Schalke and Galatasaray have some unfinished business to settle in Germany too.

In contrast to matters over in Spain however, this tie has much finer balance to it, on paper at least.

The first leg in Turkey produced an entertaining affair though the scoreline finished 1-1 to leave the hosts with the slight advantage as they head back to the Veltins-Arena.

With no previous history between the two sides other than their recent meeting, the answers to the identity of eventual winner may well be found in their recent form.

When the sides met a fortnight ago, it was the Germans who were scratching around like chickens in the dirt for a win on the domestic front. 

However, they managed to stay as only one of three unbeaten in this year's Champions League by securing the draw in Turkey and that result appears to have applied the defibrillators to a flat-lining domestic campaign.

Spurred on by the goalscoring exploits of Julian Draxler and Klaas Jan-Huntelaar - who will miss this game through injury - Schalke went on to win their last three Bundesliga games. 

Saturday's triumph over second-placed Borussia Dortmund provided the perfect platform for this encounter and closed the gap on Jurgen Klopp's side to just seven points. 

Meanwhile, Galatasaray slumped to a shock home defeat to Genclerbirligi at the weekend, following up a disappointing stalemate the week before.

Under/Over 2.5 goals

Neither side has been prolific in this season's Champions League games and, judging by the first leg, this one doesn't scream 'goalfest' either.

Galatasaray represent the lowest scorers still involved in the competition and rely far too heavily on Burak Yilmaz, who has scored seven of their eight goals.

Two of the Turkish side's last three games in this competition have gone under the 2.5 mark, whereas Schalke's previous three went south of the line. 

Schalke have only scored more than twice on a solitary occasion in their last eight games in all competitions. 

Best Bet: Back Under 2.5 goals @ 2.3211/8

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Irish Champion Stakes Result: Snow Fairy prevails under Dettori

Snow Fairy won the Irish Champion Stakes under Frankie Dettori, registering her seventh Group 1 win in the process...

Always travelling well, Snow Fairy had Nathaniel firmly in her sights as they turned for home and there was a sense of inevitability about the result as they approached the final furlong.

Nathaniel battled well to hold on to second, whilst St Nicholas Abbey finished well to take third.

Dettori had also ridden Snow Fairy 12 months ago when Dunlop's star found only So You Think too good.

Dettori said: "Usually I don't notice these things, but I could hear the crowd really get behind her and the roar when she crossed the line.

"The crowd at Leopardstown are fantastic. I've had some great days here. It's all about the filly, she's so popular. Everyone was delighted to see her win like that in a fighting finish. She got a tremendous cheer. She's as popular as Kauto Star over jumps and for racing we need superstars like that. She's small but she comes with a big punch!

"All the credit goes to Ed and the team for bringing her back after her serious injury, this race has been won by some great champions and she is one of them. It has been an honour to be on her again. Ryan said be patient and she'll quicken when you ask her. Ryan has been a gentleman, a great help."

There was a dramatic conclusion to the Group 1 Matron Stakes as Chachamaidee was awarded the race in the stewards' room.

Duntle, who won the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot, finished first-past-the-post, but the placings were reversed after it was decided that Duntle's rider Wayne Lordan had caused interference. Chachamaidee, who had received a bump, was only narrowly behind Duntle at the line and, after a lenghty inquiry, was eventually awarded the race.

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Weekend Football Round-up: Chelsea resurgent under DiMatteo

Premier League / Ralph Ellis / 19 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can DiMatteo's Chelsea overcome Manchester City?

"Di Matteo will take his side to The Etihad Stadium on Wednesday full of confidence and they could be value at [4.4] to win there."

It's been a traumatic weekend and Ralph Ellis, like everybody else, is thinking about Fabrice Muamba and his family. Here, our man considers results in the FA Cup and Premier League...

I'm sure all the Betfair community will send their thoughts to Fabrice Muamba and his family. Everyone who cares for football has been united by their concern.

Events away from White Hart Lane got me thinking about how the recipe for success at one club can produce failure at another. Just look at Chelsea and Wolves.

Meanwhile, It is four games since Roman Abramovich reacted to a defeat by West Bromwich Albion and sent Andre Villas Boas out the exit door - and the decision to promote his assistant Roberto Di Matteo has transformed the place. Four wins, including the dramatic turnaround in the Champions League against Napoli, have restored morale and confidence. Goodness me, he's even got Fernando Torres scoring goals again.

Wolves owner Steve Morgan must be looking at that and wondering why. He also took action after losing to Albion and ended up promoting the number two. But Terry Connor's four games in charge at Molineux have lurched from one disaster to another. And a 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United yesterday has now dumped them firmly at the bottom of the table.

Wolves are now [1.26] relegation favourites and [2.34] to finish up rock bottom(http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?mi=103375374&ex=1&origin=MRL&rfr=3013). And this week will tell us much about the character of Morgan, who made his money building houses and had planned to build his football club with the same care. Will he hold his nerve and stick by his decision to promote Connor? Or will he let himself be rushed into going back to the short list of potential managers he spoke to just a few weeks ago.

There is a sense around Molineux that the players are a bit too comfortable under Connor's control. They like him, they enjoy his training sessions. But they have let him down, failing to properly defend set pieces - and Ronald Zubar's reckless two tackles to get an early red card yesterday was a symptom of a lack of concentration. It's the sort of thing Steve Bruce would focus on if the owner went back to him - and the former Sunderland manager is now just [4.0] in the next Wolves manager market. Betfair's punters doubt Connor will survive. He was appointed until the end of the season but must still be in charge when they play Manchester City on April 22 for the market to pay out. He is now [2.1] to lay.

The big issue at the bottom will be how many points are needed to avoid relegation. Last year, Birmingham went down with 39, but it looks like a much smaller total will be needed this time. Quite possibly Norwich on 36 points already have enough, despite losing to a single goal at Newcastle yesterday.

Albion manager Roy Hodgson reckoned a couple of weeks ago that his side were already safe with 32, so he would have seen Paul Scharner's equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Wigan as extra insurance. The result still lifted the Latics off the foot of the table and the track record of last season, when Roberto Martinez conjured two wins in their final two games, would make me nervous about backing them at [1.31] to go down.
Swansea are certainly safe after a 3-0 win at Fulham, and those who backed them at anything up to [7.2] to be the top promoted team can safely turn the market green - their price now is [1.25].

The better that Swansea do, the more you wonder whether Abramovich got the wrong former Mourinho aide when he appointed Villas Boas rather than ex-reserve coach and now Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers. But at least the appointment of Di Matteo is working, and that could be good news for Manchester United, now [1.49] favourites in the title race having built a four point lead and brought their goal difference to within three of Manchester City at the same time. Di Matteo will take his side to The Etihad Stadium on Wednesday full of confidence and they could be value at [4.4] to win there.

Despite their upturn Chelsea at [3.6] aren't quite favourites to win the FA Cup. That place belongs to [3.55] Liverpool as the only other side definitely in the semi-finals following a 2-1 win over Stoke in which Stewart Downing scored only his second goal of the season. Sunderland, a side who definitely did benefit from changing manager when Martin O'Neill arrived, still look value at [10] after earning a replay from a difficult tie at Everton.

Five-star United [1.49] for the title after destroying new relegation favourites Wolves...

Carlos Tevez is due to return to Premier League action against Chelsea - something we never thought would happen during the Argentinean's self-imposed strike - and it's a sign that City are getting desperate in the title race, says Richard...

There were just two games in the Premier League today with Wigan held by West Brom and Swansea trouncing Fulham. Joe Dyer has the betting headlines from both matches...

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Normans Grove Chase Result: Blazing on fire under Walsh

News / Timeform / 22 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Mrs S Ricci's Blazing Tempo.

"It was clearly a top performance from the ultra-consistent mare as she had 4 lb to find with last year's Jewson winner going into the race..."

Smart chaser Blazing Tempo landed the most prestigious victory of her career over fences so far when taking the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday afternoon.

With Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh having combined to win the first two races on the card, Blazing Tempo was backed into a Betfair SP of [3.48] and, despite making a minor mistake early on, she was always travelling well at the rear of the five-runner field.

Rank outsider Saludos was allowed to take the field along at his own pace, with Tranquil Sea heading the rest from Noble Prince, leaving Blazing Tempo to bring up the rear. However, Saludos had no answer when pressed four out and it was Tranquil Sea who looked to be going best, with Noble Prince not the quickest over the obstacles.

Despite touching an in-running high of [11.0], Blazing Tempo was not done with though and, having progressed from the rear, arrived travelling ominously well in between the pair going into the last and battled on for a three-quarter-length victory over the staying-on Noble Prince.

It was clearly a top performance from the ultra-consistent mare as she had 4 lb to find with last year's Jewson winner going into the race, and she will clearly warrant plenty of respect for the foreseeable future. She was fifth in the Jewson last year and it could just be that the Ryanair (currently [34.0]) is the race connections will choose at the Festival.

[2.0] favourite Noble Prince shaped as if he's in need of a return to further in second, and as a consequence he's now [7.6] market leader for the the same race at Cheltenham in March.

There were few surprises when the final field was announced for the R2.5-million J&B Met to be run over 2000m at Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January, with South Africa's reigning Horse of the Year Igugu heading a fantastic field of 16......

Somersby (BSP of [5.8]) finally gained the big victory his consistent efforts deserved when wearing down Finian's Rainbow in the 25th Anniversary of the VC Chase at Ascot......

Betting.Betfair columnist Donald McCain fired in a quartet of winners at Haydock on Saturday......

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