International Football Betting: Around the world in 600 words

Champions League / Ben Lyttleton / 22 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

It was business as usual for Barcelona who just can't stop winning and there were further victories for the "Big Three" in Italy comprising Inter, Juventus and AC Milan. Ben Lyttleton talks us through all the action across the major European leagues.

AC Milan responded to the weekend arrival of David Beckham in their No 32 shirt by putting on a performance that might leave the Englishman wondering how he will get in the side. Beckham was in the crowd to see Alexandre Pato and Kaka score twice in a 5-1 rout over unpredictable Udinese. "There will still be a place for him in the side because he's a great player," said coach Carlo Ancelotti after the game, only Milan's third win in seven. Milan, ([8.0]) for Serie A, are still in third, nine points behind leaders Inter, ([1.41]), and three behind Juventus, ([6.4]).

Claudio Ranieri's side won their fourth straight league game, 3-1 against Atalanta, while leaders Inter were reliant on one of this season's big stars, the unlikely figure of full-back Maicon Douglas, whose two goals saw off Siena 2-1. Fiorentina stay fourth after Riccardo Montolivo'sd long-range effort earned a 1-0 win over Sampdoria, though Roma's revival ended with a 3-2
defeat at Catania.

In Spain, Barcelona once again proved their title credentials, following up wins over Real Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla with a 2-1 victory at title contenders Villarreal. Goals from Seydou Keita and Thierry Henry cancelled out Cani's opener and left Europe's most impressive side this season an astonishing ten points clear at the top. Barcelona are ([1.13]) for La Liga, Real Madrid next best-priced at ([21.0]).

Sevilla are second after a disappointing goalless draw with Real Mallorca (coming days after their Uefa Cup exit) while Atletico Madrid, after beating Espanyol for a fourth straight win, are joint-third with Valencia, who lost 1-0 at Real Madrid. Gonzalo Higuain was the Madrid hero, his early goal providing new coach Juande Ramos with a first league win. Madrid go into the winter break out of the Champions League place, in joint-fifth, but with Lassana Diarra set to join new striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar, Ramos can expect them to break into the top three in 2009, though they they have come in to ([1.21]) in that market.

There was no action in Germany this weekend but the drama in France more than made up for it. As Karim Benzema's goal helped Lyon beat Caen 1-0 for their first win in five, it was left to the chasing pack to keep the pressure on: but Marseille capitulated to a 3-0 home defeat to Nancy, PSG had a goal controversially disallowed in a 2-2 draw at home to Valenciennes and when Monaco were 3-0 up against Bordeaux, it looked like Lyon were in the clear.

But two goals from Marouane Chamakh and a late winner from Fernando Cavenaghi sealed an astonishing comeback and a 4-3 win. The chasing clubs' inconsistency when they need to keep the pressure on Lyon could cost them dear this season, and it's why Lyon are ([1.35]), Marseille ([7.0]) and Bordeaux ([10.0]).

Mounir El Hamdaoui, released three years ago by Tottenham Hotspur for nothing, is now a €16m transfer-target after his strike against Utrecht, number 15 of the season, kept AZ top of the Dutch league. Ajax, ([2.24]) remain on their heels, beating De Graafschap 6-0, while PSV Eindhoven, ([8.8]) and desperate to boost their squad in January are nine points back after beating rivals Feyenoord 1-0.

Porto and Leixoes missed the chance to go top in Portugal as both sides drew to move one point behind leaders Benfica, who play their game in hand against Nacional on Monday night.

There was late drama in the Argentina play-off match between Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo, who went into the game having beaten Tigre 2-1 in the first of the three mini-league matches. Juan Roman Riquelme's corner was headed home by Lucas Viatri to put Boca ahead but former Real Madrid star Santiago Solari equalized on the hour. With 15 minutes left, Rodrigo Palacio put Boca 2-1 up and San Lorenzo had Gaston Aguirre and Gonzalo Bergessio sent offbefore Cristian Chavez made it 3-1 and left Boca needing only to draw with Tigre, a ([3.85]) shot, on Tuesday to win the Apertura title.