PR Wednesday Picks (La Liga-Coppa Italia-DFB Pokal)

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

AS ROMA +120 (Coppa Italia) - Unit amount decided once lineups are made public but tentative 5 (for cup games this is a must)
No big injuries on either side but Alessandro Florenzi who has been out for months without affecting Roma's performance... of their last 5 games, Roma has won 4 and Lazio 0, 1 draw. Roma has scored 12 goals and Lazio only 4... Depending on lineups might take ROMA -1 +575 for 1 unit or 2... also Dzeko to score. Both teams to score -150 for 2 units.

AS ROMA LAST 5: 4W-0D-1L - 13 Goals/3 against (2.45 goals per match, 0.60 against approx)
SS LAZIO LAST 5: 4W-1D-0L - 12 Goals/5 against (2.40 goals per match, 1 against approx)

Final score: Roma 3 Lazio 1

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

HAMBURGER PK -102 (DFB Pokal) - Unit amount decided once lineups are made public but tentative 3 (for cup games this is a must)
Hamburger might lose Bahoui and Porath, Monchengladbach will not use Hazard, Nicolas, Schulz and Traore... of their last 5 matches against each other Hamburger has won 2 and they have had draws 3 times. Hamburg 7 goals scored and only 3 against.

Might also play Hamburger wins 1H/GAME +333 for 0.5 unit.

HAMBURGER LAST 5: 3W-1D-1L - 8 Goals/10 against (1.75 goals per match, 2 against approx) B MUNICH DEFEATED HAMBURGER 8-0
MONCHENGLADBACH LAST 5: 3W-0D-2L - 9 Goals/5 against (1.20 goals per match, 1 against approx)

Final Score: Hamburg 2 Monchengladbach 1

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

BAYERN MUNICH -1 +124 (DFB Pokal) - Unit amount decided once lineups are made public but tentative 3 (for cup games this is a must)
Munich will not count with Boateng and Sanches, likely to miss Alaba and Xavi Alonso ... Schalke will not use Di Santo, Naldo and Uchida, likely missing the pitch Baba, Embolo and Kolasinac. Of their last 5 matches against each other Munich has won 3 and they have had draws 2 times. Munich 10 goals scored and only 3 against.

MUNICH LAST 5: 4W-1D-0L - 17 Goals/2 against (3.40 goals per match, 0.40 against approx)
SCHALKE LAST 5: 2W-3D-0L - 8 Goals/3 against (1.65 goals per match, 0.60 against approx)

Final Score: Munich 3 Schalke 0

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

BARCELONA -2 +123 (La Liga) - Unit amount decided once lineups are made public but tentative 3 (for cup games this is a must)
Barca will miss Mathieu, Vidal, Mascherano and Turan ... Gijon will not use Mere, Ndi and Babin. Of their last 5 matches against each other Barca has won 5 with 18 goals scored and only 2 against. If Barca comes out with Neymar-Messi-Suarez this might be a 4 unit play.

BARCA LAST 5: 3W-1D-1L - 11 Goals/7 against (2.20 goals per match, 1.40 against approx)
GIJON LAST 5: 1W-1D-3L - 7 Goals/11 against (1.40 goals per match, 2.20 against approx)

Final Score: Barca 4 Gijon 0

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie...ecco-probabili-formazioni-1801042051197.shtml

Lazio (3-5-2): Strakosha; Wallace, De Vrij, Bastos; Basta, Parolo, Biglia, Milinkovic-Savic, Lukaku; Felipe Anderson, Immobile. All. Inzaghi.
Roma (3-4-2-1): Alisson; Manolas, Fazio, Rudiger; Bruno Peres, Paredes, Strootman, Emerson; Perotti, Nainggolan; Dzeko. All. Spalletti.

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

http://www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com/lista-convocados-barcelona-sporting-gijon-liga-197521-2017-03.php

[h=2]Javier Mascherano recibió el alta y entró en una lista de convocados del FC Barcelona con la que Luis Enrique va con todo frente al Sporting de Gijón este miércoles. Eso sí, Arda Turan se cayó de ésta por decisión técnica[/h]Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Piqué, Rakitic, Busquets, Denis Suárez, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar Jr, Rafinha, Mascherano, Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto , André Gomes y Umtiti.

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

While Tuesday night’s clash between Juventus and Napoli was a big semi-final tie, the second semi is going to be an even more fiercely contested game. A Rome derby in the final four of the cup makes this a pretty high stakes encounter, as these two don’t hide their hatred for each other in regular league games. With a place in the Coppa Italia final at stake, just imagine how fiery this clash is going to be. Which side will be able to keep their head in all the madness and take a first leg advantage?
The odd thing about this tie is that both sides share the Stadio Olimpico, so there’s no advantage to being at home in the second leg. There is also just nine points separating these two sides in the table, so expect a tight clash between these bitter rivals. Roma come in as favourites, as they stand more to gain from this tie being played at the Olimpico than Lazio do. The Giallorossi have been fantastic at this ground all season, and that should see them pull ahead in the first leg.
Roma have a 100% league record here so far this season. They’ve won all 12 home matches in Serie A, along with a victory against Lazio. While the Biancocelesti were designated as the home side that day, the Giallorossi showed their class by dominating the game and claiming a 2-0 win. That’s not hugely surprising, as they were facing a team with a mixed record at the Olimpico. Simone Inzaghi’s men have won nine, drawn two and lost three here, following a recent loss to mid-table Chievo. They’re coming up short in the fight for the top three, and that’s due to points dropped at home.
Roma lost their last match at this ground, but they fielded a weakened side in their 1-0 loss to Villarreal. That should leave them well rested to tackle their rivals. Before that loss, they had won 11 straight home matches in all competitions. The Giallorossi showed their quality on Sunday night with a comfortable win at Inter Milan, which has really strengthened their Champions League ambitions. They’re now five points clear of third placed Napoli, so Luciano Spalletti can allow his side to switch focus to the cup. They’re aiming to end a nine year wait for a trophy, so this is a pretty key game.
Roma would have a strong chance of ending that drought against anyone in the final, and we’re backing them to reach the end of season show-piece. History suggests Roma will take the lead in the tie this week, given that they’ve now won four straight matches against Lazio. They’ve also scored two or more goals in eight of their last 10 games away to the Biancocelesti, so we’re backing the Giallorossi to win at 13/10 with bet365, and we’re going for a 2-1 victory at 8/1.

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

This should be a relatively routine outing for Barcelona but they’ve had problems at home to weak opposition this term. With Sporting Gijon looking a bit more competitive of late, an away goal is a real possibility here but the Catalans should still have too much.
Barcelona picked up a massive win on Sunday when they beat Atleti at the Vicente Calderon. That has kept them right on the tails of Real Madrid and for all the talk of crisis they are right in this title race. Luis Enrique’s side are now unbeaten in 17 league games and there should be no danger of that run ending here. Barca have scored 13 goals in their last 4 league games and are the top scorers in La Liga, with 2.71 goals per game on average this term.
Sporting Gijon have conceded 2 goals per game on average this term and will surely struggle to cope with Barca’s attacking threat here. However, there is reason to think they can score. No side in the bottom six has scored more goals than Sporting and they did add to their attacking options with the signing of striker Lacina Traore in January. At 6 foot 8 inches, his aerial prowess could cause problems for a small Barcelona team and that may be Sporting’s main outlet here. Given that, backing Lacina Traore to score anytime at 5/1 looks like it could be worth a flutter.
The Asturian side have lost 67% of their away games this term and are still in the drop-zone but their last three performances have been quite good. They actually had the better of much of their recent games against Atleti and Celta Vigo only to buckle late on and they have scored at least once in 13 of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Both teams have scored in 71% of Sporting Gijon matches this term and in 55% of league games played at Camp Nou. Therefore, backing Barcelona to Win and Both Teams to Score at 5/4 looks like it could be worth a bet here, as realistically the result shouldn’t be in doubt.

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

Bayern Munich turned around their “unconvincing” run in style last weekend. The Bundesliga leaders dominated and humiliated Hamburger SV with a 8-0 win at home, which also saw Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (pictured above) become the Bundesliga’s joint top scorer (19 goals), as he netted his first hat-trick of 2017. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who won the DFB Pokal under Pep Guardiola last season, have one of the trickier draws of the quarter finals ahead of them here.
Schalke held the reigning champions to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena just a few weeks back. However, though the visitors have lost just once since the winter break (W4 D4 L1), the Royal Blues still have a lot of work to do to qualify for Europe again this season – winning the DFB Pokal poses one such opportunity.
Bayern Munich are huge favourites at 1/5 with bet365. While we fancy the reigning champions to progress through to the next round, an outright bet on the Bavarians isn’t too tempting at such a short price. Instead, we feel there’s some decent value in “both teams to score” here for the following reasons: Schalke put up a decent fight at the Allianz Arena just a few weeks back and they’ve been consistent in front of goal since – Schalke have scored at least one goal in 8 of their 9 competitive fixtures in 2017 (89%). While Bayern Munich hold the best defensive record in the Bundesliga (13 goals conceded), the reigning champions are also not without imperfection – Bayern Munich have failed to keep a clean sheet in 45% of their Bundesliga matches at home.
Though both sides are likely to field full strength lineups, cup dynamics alter the way such a match would usually play out: both sides have had just a few days rest so there’s opportunity for mistakes to arise, while an urgency for goals in a one leg knockout format means that Schalke, for example, will have no concern throwing men forward in an effort to progress if they find themselves trailing.
Regarding a correct score bet, Bayern are the stronger side on paper, hold a top track record against Schalke at home (see head-2-head), and have had an extra days rest. We feel that Bayern’s scoring form has changed for the better since the two sides last met (13 goals in last two home matches across all competitions) and should play a crucial role here. As such, Bayern’s 3.18 goals scored per match average at the Allianz Arena, combined with Schalke’s potential to clinch a consolation goal, should make a 3-1 win to Bayern Munich at 10/1 a decent shout.

pocketrockets · Mar 1, 2017

Hamburg have had a much needed change of fortune as of late. Back-to-back Bundesliga wins against Bayer Leverkusen (1-0) and surprise title contenders RB Leipzig (3-0), followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Freiburg saw Markus Gisdol’s side climb from 17th to 15th and two points clear of the automatic relegation spots. However, last weekend’s 8-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich has set the North Germans back a step and a mid-week DFB Pokal match is the last thing the North German’s want on their minds amidst a relegation dogfight.
For Borussia M’gladbach, Dieter Hecking has made an immediate impact since being appointed over the winter break. Under his guidance, Gladbach find themselves back on track in the Bundesliga, though still way off the top 4, and stand behind only league leaders Bayern Munich in the form table for 2017 (W4 D1 L1). With a poor start to the season leaving them stranded in 10th and a way off the European qualification places, a deep cup run could be of up-most importance for potential qualification to the Europa League.
Despite Hamburg’s much improved home form (W4 D2 from the last six at the Volksparkstadion), Borussia M’gladbach are the bookies favourite at 7/5 and we feel backing them “0.0 Asian Handicap” is the best option here for the following reasons: though Gladbach seemed incapable of producing results on the road in 2016, becoming notorious as a “travel-sick” side in the process, much is changed under coach Dieter Hecking. Borussia M’gladbach have won five of their last six competitive away matches (83%) across all competitions (W5 D1), keeping clean sheets in four of these (66%).
Hamburg’s trip away to Bayern Munich last weekend was always going to be a tricky fixture, but the reigning champions humiliated the North Germans, waltzing through their defense as if it was not there. Hamburg are, admittedly, in much better scoring form than when they started the season – the North Germans have scored at least one goal in all but two of their last 13 matches (85%) – but Hamburg now also hold the worst defensive record in the Bundesliga (45 goals conceded) and focus on survival in the league has to be the priority over a deep cup run for the ever-present side.
Regarding a correct score bet, Borussia M’gladbach are much improved on the road. However, Hamburg are vastly improved in front of goal and Gladbach are not immune to mistakes, such as those made by center back Jannik Vestergaard against Fiorentina in the Europa League last week. As such, a consolation goal for the hosts doesn’t seem like an impossibility. As Gladbach themselves have scored at least 2 goals in four of their last five on the road, we feel that Borussia M’gladbach to win 2-1 at 17/2 offers some decent value here.