European Leagues / James Eastham / 22 March 2009 / Leave a comment

In a quiet week for football, James Eastham crosses continents to bring you the best bets.

Monday 23rd March

It's a relatively quiet week as most of the world's best footballers will be locked away in international training camps preparing for the next batch of World Cup qualifiers taking place next weekend and then the following midweek - but there are still games on the agenda.

AaB, fresh from their outstanding late rally before losing on penalties to Manchester City in the Uefa Cup last 16 last week, host FC Midtjylland (another team that City defeated in their European campaign this season) in the Danish SAS ligaen. The sides are fifth and fourth respectively and out of the title race - but there are still Uefa Cup places to play for. AaB are [2.28] favourites, with the visitors [3.5].

Arguably Europe's biggest game of the night takes place in Russia, where CSKA Moscow host Tomsk in the Premier Division. This game is part of only the second round of fixtures of the 2009 season, but CSKA have already captured headlines with their outstanding 3-0 win away to Saturn on the opening day and will be looking to build on that triumph.

Norway's Tippeligaen is also slowing emerging from winter hibernation, and Tromso v Rosenborg rounds off the second matchday of the new campaign. Rosenborg - who last won the league in 2006 - travel to Tromso as [2.64] favourites, with the hosts the outsiders at [2.92].

Tuesday 24th March

There are four games in the Brazilian Campeonato Paulista, including holders and leaders Palmeiras at home to Bragantino. In England, Roberto Di Matteo's MK Dons attempt to keep their League One promotion challenge on track with a home game against Crewe. The hosts are [1.6] to win against the 18th-placed visitors [7], who are only three points above the relegation zone.

Wednesday 25th March

There are six more Brazilian Campeonato Paulista games on the agenda. Second-placed Corinthians host Ponte Preta, third-placed Sao Paulo travel to struggling Noroeste, although probably the most attractive fixture of the night is Santos (fourth) at home to Santo Andre (sixth). In the other major regional division, the Campeonato Carioca, holders Flamengo travel to Madureira in one of eight games.

In Japan, the Nabisco Cup - the country's national cup competition - takes centre stage. The event is still at the group stage, so there are plenty of points to play for. J-League leaders Niigata travel to Omiya while Hiroshima v Urawa, Kashiwa v FC Tokyo and Kobe v Chiba are also scheduled for the night.

Friday 27th March

The international action gets under way with two Under-21 fixtures involving British Isles sides. Stuart Pearce's England travel to Norway for a friendly game, and the former Nottingham Forest and England left-back has named a strong squad for this match and the fixture against France on March 31. Micah Richards, James Milner, Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott are all included as England look to warm up for the European U21 Championship in Sweden this summer in fine style. The Republic of Ireland take on Spain in the night's other big U21 game.