Betfair Official Blog

The Pacman's Midweek Multiple

13 February 2008

1. Stanislas Wawrinka to beat Andy Murray @ 2.88
2. Atletico Madrid to beat Bolton @ 2.49
3. Spurs to beat Slavia Prague @ 1.9
£10 @ 13.6

Brotherly feuds have been around ever since Cain and Abel squabbled over some sacrifices in the Old Testament. Last week the latest in the series came courtesy of my namesake Jamie (Murray) and older brother Andy. It all revolved around Andy's withdrawl through injury from GB's Davis Cup team, which Jamie felt left them with no chance of winning the tie. What: because GB stood a chance of beating an Argentinian side containing Calleri, Acasuso and David Nalbandian in Buenos Aires on clay in front of a vocal, partisan crowd had it not been for Andy's withdrawl? Murray Jr is back in action again on Wednesday in the Open 13 tournament in Marseille and will meet Switzerland's Number 2 Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round, which I guess is a bit like being Fiji's number 2 golfer or Bolton's second-best comedian. Wawrinka is a big server with a monster forehand and no obvious weaknesses in his game who holds a 2-1 head-to-head record against Andy "I'm Scottish and hate the English for eleven and a half months a year" Murray. I'm going with Wawrinka to cause an upset at [2.88].

Speaking of Bolton, they could quickly find themselves in The Championship having sold their only player with any pace in Anelka and former betting,betfair.com columnist Gary Speed. They'll also be going nowhere fast in the UEFA Cup having drawn Atletico Madrid. Fernando Torres may not be around anymore and Martin Petrov is doing the business at Man City these days but the money gained from their sales has allowed them to bring in the likes of Simao Sabrosa, Luis Garcia and Diego Forlan to join players of the calibre of Motta and Angulo. Atletico Madrid's ability to keep the ball and extra bit of class upfront should be enough to see them take a lead into the second leg and I'm on the "Colchoneros" at [2.49].

I've mentioned two of the sulkiest sportsmen on the planet in Andy Murray and Nicolas Anelka so I thought I'd push the boat out and mention a third: Dimitar Berbatov. But he's also a top-class player on his day and if Juande Ramos is going to lift the UEFA Cup for an incredible third time in a row, you suspect Berbatov is going to be the guy getting the goals. Punish the Keane layers of Spurs and show them you're the Multiples King by getting on Tottenham at [1.9] to win at Slavia Prague.