The Betfair Football £10 Bet of the Day
Day 149: We're backing Zenit to lead FC Twente at half-time and full-time at [2.58]
When the Europa League got back underway last month, many fancied Russia's chances of providing the winner with four teams taking up a quarter of the field, but Dutch champions FC Twente appear to have made it their mission to single-handedly halt the challenge from the east.
Firstly, they saw off Rubin Kazan, who like themselves started the season in the Champions League, by doing something Barcelona failed to do and winning in freezing conditions in Russia, and now title holders Zenit St Petersburg look to be their next victims after enduring a 3-0 humbling in Enschede.
FC Twente coach Michel Preud'homme has done a fine job having assumed what replaced the man who led them to their first ever title, Steve McClaren. He has guided them to the Dutch Cup Final, has them on the brink of the Europa League quarters and just a point off the pace domestically.
So why do we expect them to suffer a rare defeat? Well, Zenit will naturally be eager to respond to their first-leg humiliation to gain a measure of revenge and do everything in their power to achieve an unlikely comeback. After beating Rubin 2-0 away, FC Twente could only hold them at home.
Rendering Zenit fiercer opponents than Rubin is their perfect record as hosts in the competition with four victories in four games, and they have led three of those at the interval, in matches where an early goal has been less vital than it is to their hopes of progressing than it is this evening.
Our bet: We're backing Zenit to lead FC Twente at half-time and full-time at [2.56], meaning that - before factoring in commission - we stand to win £15.60. The same punt pays only £12 with Paddy Power. Sign up for a new account now and have your first bet of up to £25 refunded if it loses.
Published: 17 Mar 2011
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