European Leagues / James Eastham / 03 May 2009 / Leave a comment

Time for Tigers to roar, Champions League meltdown in the capital and crunch time for beautifully balanced all-Ukranian UEFA tie - yep, it's squeaky bum time across Europe and James Eastham is perfectly placed to make the best picks...

Monday 4 May

There's far more at stake for visitors Hull City than hosts Aston Villa when The Tigers face Martin O'Neill's side in the final matchday 35 game in the Premier League - but a need for points has done nothing to prevent Phil Brown's side losing four of their last five matches. Aston Villa may have nothing to play for, but I'd favour them at [1.55] over Hull at [7.5]. Over 2.5 goals at [1.75] would be a better bet, though, as Villa have kept only five clean sheets in 17 home games this season.

Tuesday 5 May

Manchester United's dominance of Arsenal in the meeting between the sides in last week's Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford was unduly rewarded by a one-goal victory, but it would take a brave man to bet against Sir Alex Ferguson's side scoring the away goal that would leave the Gunners facing a virtually impossible task in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium. At some point in the game, Arsenal will have to take risks in order to score, and the chances of United not exploiting the spaces Arsenal leave at the back are virtually nil. The tournament holders are [1.33] to reach their second consecutive final, and I wouldn't talk anybody out of backing them at [2.02] with a 0-goal Asian handicap start or [2.88] to win in 90 minutes.

Wednesday 6 May

Chelsea became the first team to prevent Barcelona scoring at the Nou Camp this season when they earned a 0-0 draw last week but the chances of the Blues shutting out Josep Guardiola's formidable side at Stamford Bridge appear distinctly odds-against following Barca's astonishing 6-2 destruction of Liga rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu stadium on Saturday night. The accuracy and ferocity of the Catalans' attacking moves will have sent out a warning to Guus Hiddink's side - and if Barcelona do find the net in West London, Chelsea will be required to score at least twice to reach the final. Barcelona are [1.71] favourites to get through, with over 2.5 goals also a tempting bet at [2.1].

Thursday 7 May

We felt Werder Bremen were too short to beat Hamburg in the Uefa Cup semi-finals, and our view proved well-founded when Martin Jol's visitors recorded a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the Weserstadion last Thursday. Hamburg are now [1.37] to reach the final in Istanbul (May 20) - but if that price is too short for you, consider over 2.5 goals at [1.77]. Werder need to score at least once to stand any chance of getting though and rarely keep clean sheets.

The all-Ukrainian tie between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Kiev is beautifully-balanced thanks to Fernandinho's 68th-minute equaliser for Shakhtar at Valeri Lobanovskiy Stadium in Kiev last week. Shakhtar have been installed as [1.54] favourites to qualify and [3.4] second-favourites (behind Hamburg at [2.54]) to win the competition following that potentially decisive away goal.

Friday 8 May

Bielefeld earned a creditable 2-2 draw at home to Stuttgart on Saturday and will look to further their attempts to avoid relegation when they travel to face Bayer Leverkusen, who have nothing to play for, in the first Bundesliga game of the weekend.