The Golden Nuggets

By Sports Magician

2009/10-36
PICKS IN PLAY: 36
WINS: 55
LOSSES: 50
VOIDS: 1
STAKED: 354.50
TALLY: +2.63
ROI: 0.74

LAST WEEK RECAP
. DUNDEE v QUEEN OF THE SOUTH - DUNDEE. Dundee were awarded what looked like a chance to take all three points with an injury-time penalty, but the referee bizarrely changed his decision to a corner when the ball had not even gone out of play. The truth is Dundee didn’t deserve to win and were already fortunate enough to have been awarded a soft penalty in the first half, and couldn’t take advantage of a 1-0 lead against ten men for all but 15 minutes of the match. The 1-1 draw meant a 3.00 points loss for the Golden Nuggets.
. GENOA v PALERMO – TOTAL MATCH GOALS OVER 2.5. We predicted an entertaining encounter and that’s what we got, a 2-2 draw resulted in a 2.73 points gain for the Golden Nuggets.
. INTER MILAN v LIVORNO – INTER MILAN (-1). Inter brushed aside Livorno 3-0 without having to move out of second gear. 4.15 points gained for the Golden Nuggets.
. EUROPA LEAGUE – HAMBURG (EACH-WAY). Hamburg host the first leg of their quarter-final with Standard Liege on April 1st.
. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION – BAYERN MUNICH. Bayern host Manchester United in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on March 30th.
. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION – BORDEAUX. Bordeaux visit Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final on March 30th.
. CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATION – CRYSTAL PALACE. The Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff, leaving them four points from safety.
. BUNDESLIGA RELEGATION – HERTHA BERLIN. Hertha picked up a point in a 0-0 home draw with Borussia Dortmund, but they haven’t made any ground in their fight for survival. Hertha remain five points adrift of a spot which would ensure a relegation playoff, rather than automatic demotion.
. LA LIGA RELEGATION – TENERIFE. Tenerife picked up a point in Malaga after a 1-1 draw but had to watch on as Real Zaragoza hammered Valencia 3-0. That victory for Zaragoza means Tenerife are now four points from safety with nine games remaining.
 
THIS WEEK’S NUGGETS

Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow



Wednesday March 31st 19.45 (GMT)
Sky Sports 2 (19:00-21:45), Sky Sports HD2 (19:00-21:45), Setanta Ireland (19:30-22:00)

CSKA Moscow knocked Sevilla out in the last round but will find things much tougher against Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. Mourinho was brought to Inter to bring them success in the Champions League and although they probably won’t win the tournament, progress has been made. Inter took out Chelsea in the last round, comprehensively winning the tie over the 180 minutes with a mixture of tactical acumen, hard fought defending and no lack of creativity and execution going forward. Inter will want to take a commanding lead to Russia and they can cover a one goal handicap at the San Siro on Wednesday night. The selection is a loser if Inter win by one goal.

PICK: 2.5*(MATCH HANDICAP) INTER MILAN (-1) BEAT CSKA MOSCOW @ 2.30 (BET 365)


Hamburg v Standard Liege



Thursday April 1st 20.00 (GMT)

Hamburg are close to reaching the Europa League final, which will be played in their very own stadium, but before then they must first dispose of Standard Liege. Hamburg beat Anderlecht in the last round and their next opponents pose a similar threat and proposition. The Germans almost allowed Anderlecht back into the tie in the second leg in Belgium, and will be conscious of taking a stranglehold on the tie after the first leg in Germany. The Golden Nuggets will back Hamburg on the Asian Handicap, meaning that if Hamburg should win by a solitary goal, the selection will be void.

PICK: 4*(ASIAN HANDICAP) HAMBURG (-1) BEAT STANDARD LIEGE @ 1.98 (BET 365)


Burnley v Manchester City



Saturday April 3rd 17.30 (GMT)
ESPN (16:45-19:45), ESPN HD (16:45-19:45)

Burnley are no longer the tough nut to crack they were at Turf Moor under Owen Coyle. Brian Laws’s introduction has failed to carry on the momentum of the home form that was helping keep Burnley heads above water. Now they are sinking, and sinking fast. Burnley have won just once in their last ten matches at Turf Moor and coupled with atrocious away form, it’s no surprise that Burnley look like leaving the Premier League after the shortest stay possible. They have lost three of their last four home games to Blackburn, Wolves and Portsmouth.

If Manchester City can’t go to Turf Moor and win with their hosts in such a rut, then maybe they don’t deserve the top four spot they are in search of. Under Mark Hughes, City allowed Burnley their only away point of the season in a 3-3 draw at Eastlands, and Roberto Mancini cannot afford to let his side make the same mistake in a match that is a must-win for City’s Champions League aspirations. The need to win shouldn’t prove to be the difference between the sides, but the difference in class certainly should.

PICK: 4*MANCHESTER CITY BEAT BURNLEY @ 1.75 (BWIN)

LONG TERM NUGGETS

SERIE A

Inter’s recent indifferent run has allowed Roma and rivals AC Milan into the title race. Milan failed to enhance their chances on Sunday when they dropped points at home to Lazio, but Roma ensured they are breathing right down Inter’s neck with a 2-1 win against the defending champions in Rome on Saturday. Roma are just one point behind Inter with seven games remaining. Despite the pressure, the Golden Nuggets believe that Inter have the extra gear to move into as the season reaches its climax. With a big squad to play with, Champions League commitments shouldn’t play too big a role for Inter. Roma will be boosted by the return to fitness of Francesco Totti, who captained the Romans the last time they won the title, under the guidance of Fabio Capello. Claudio Ranieri is in charge of Roma these days, having been discarded by Juventus last season. The ‘Tinkerman’ has done a good job putting the ‘Special One’ under pressure, but when the pressure is at its greatest, that’s generally when Mourinho sides produce their best.

PICK: 4*INTER MILAN WIN SERIE A @ 1.65 (SPORTINGBET)

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

This week’s POW is Italian dancer and TV hostess Federica Ridolfi. The 36 year old is engaged to former Lazio and Juventus midfielder Giuliano Giannicheda. The tough tackling midfielder never lit up the pitch while he was on it, but his fiancée has no problems taking the spotlight when the cameras are on.


 
  Sports Magician