Betting preview- Benfica v Napoli - Twente Enschede v Rennes

FOOTBALL

UEFA CUP

Thursday 2^nd October

Benfica v Napoli

BENFICA win @ 2.00

Twente v Rennes

TWENTE win @ 2.40

Wednesday night was another perfect night for out tipsters as we correctly predicted all three of our featured games including Anorthosis’s win at mammoth 3.50 odds. Thursday night gives us a more difficult proposition as we try to find some decent bets in the UEFA Cup.

The UEFA Cup is notoriously difficult to make money from for a number of reasons. Firstly unlike the Champions League some teams do not take the competition seriously which can result in important players being rested while the odds on favourites are usually extremely low and therefore there isn’t much point in having a punt on them. Also after a big away win in the 1^st leg, favourites can take their foot off the pedal in the return leg giving us very unpredictable scores. Nevertheless despite saying all that we’ve picked out two games with good odds where we can try and earn some more money.

First off we travel to Portugal and Benfica’s game with Napoli. Benfica have not had the greatest of starts to this season however, they’ve been improving in recent weeks and with a 3-2 deficit to overcome they are very much in this tie. Portuguese teams are always a threat at home in Europe and having managed to bag two in the away leg they should be more than capable of overcoming their Italian opponents.

Many Benfica fans will be pleased with the fine performances of summer signings in former Arsenal and Real Madrid winger Jose Antonio Reyes and ex-Valencia play maker Pablo Aimar, who combined for the first goal against Sporting Lisbon (2-0 victory) on the weekend Unfortunately, Aimar is a doubt for this clash due to a niggling injury, however, he should at least make the bench.

Napoli are unbeaten in the Italian league but they’ve not faced any of the big guns yet and this isn’t the talented team that Diego Maradona led to 2 scudettos back in the 20^th century. Benfica should be backed at EVENS (2.00).

Highlights from the 1^st leg

RECENT FORM TABLE

Twente v Rennes

TWENTE win @ 2.40

Our second tip of the day involves Stevie Mac’s Twente against French outfit Rennes. Rennes and their former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord will take a 2-1 lead to Holland however, we think they’ll be going home empty handed. Twente qualified for the Champions League qualifying stages this year but were unfortunate to come up against a slick Arsenal team who were simply too good for them. Even though they lost both games they gave Arsenal a good run for their money at home. They’ve also picked up their form in recent weeks and have won 3 on the trot.

Rennes are no mugs although their team is made up of experienced journeymen rather than really talented individuals. Although Rennes won the home tie we believe McClaren’s boys will use the home crowd to gain a valuable victory at cracking odds of 2.40.

If anyone is missing Steve McClaren they’ll be interested to hear that the England flop has managed to blend into Dutch life so well that he’s even speaking like one of the natives!

RECENT FORM TABLE