Euro review - Milan outclass Inter in derby
AC Milan proved themselves worthy frontrunners to finish first in Italy, Jose Mourinho found himself in trouble in Spain, Mainz again disappointed in Germany, there were two upsets in Holland and things remain incredibly tight in France. We look at the latest prices after another lively weekend...
Italy
Inter ([3.1]) boss Rafael Benitez was again criticised by his president Massimo Moratti after a limp display saw them surrender their long unbeaten home record to AC Milan ([2.3]) in the derby, with former Nerazzurri man Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the only goal from the spot. They trail their local rivals by six points and Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani had said beforehand that if his side won, they would go on to be crowned champions. Elsewhere, Lazio ([22.0]) bounced back from successive losses with a hugely impressive 2-0 win over Napoli to stay within a point of the leaders.
Spain
For the fifth week in a row, Real Madrid and Barcelona (both [2.02]) - who meet in the first Clasico in a fortnight - were both victorious, though they weren't as dominant, with Real winning 1-0 at Sporting Gijon and Barcelona beating Villarreal 3-1. The big story came after the Real Madrid match however, as Sporting boss Manuel Preciado's recent dispute with Jose Mourinho intensified. He allegedly hurled a bottle at Real Madrid's team coach after being riled by a "v" gesture from the Special One that he interpreted as saying that they would go down, only to miss and hit a bystander!
Germany
The Mainz ([55.0]) title challenge can probably officially be written off after a home defeat to Hannover that was their third in three weeks. Borussia Dortmund ([1.76]) are now seven points clear of them and Bayer Leverkusen after negotiating what we considered a tough obstacle in the shape of Hamburg 2-0. As a lot of Bundesliga bettors expected, Bayern Munich ([4.4]) look like emerging as their main challengers after a 3-0 Bavarian derby triumph over Nurnberg pushed them into the top six, but they still have a deficit of a dozen points to make up if they are to overhaul Dortmund.
France
Any punters whose system involves opposing table-toppers and not expecting clubs to win consecutive matches must be having a great time in Ligue 1 at the moment, the league without logic in which staggeringly there are just four points separating first from 12th and eight dividing first and 19th after 13 games. Promoted Brest ([75.0]) remain top despite a home draw with Sochaux because Lille ([7.2]) were the only top-seven team to win, 5-2 at Caen. Lyon ([3.65]) are climbing steadily, defeating Nice 1-0 to make it six without a loss yet favourites Marseille ([2.66]) were held by Lens.
Holland
Ajax ([3.85]) fought hard to keep Martin Jol at the summer amidst interest from Fulham, though on current form he won't be guiding them to a first Eredivisie title since 2003-04. They were losers for the third time in seven outings by AZ Alkmaar, leaving them six points behind new pacesetters PSV ([1.82]), who saw off Excelsior 4-2. The picture could have been even bleaker for Ajax were it not for the last unbeaten record in the division coming to an end. FC Twente ([5.9]) left a league game empty-handed for the first time in seven months after a 2-1 reverse at NAC Breda let PSV past them.
Catch any games? Tell us what you made of the weekend's action below...
Published: 15 Nov 2010
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