The Pacman's Midweek Multiple / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 27 November 2007 /

A friend of mine once applied for a job as a black cab driver. The requirements were that he didn't have a criminal record, spoke perfect English and had a valid, clean driving licence. This was a guy who had never so much as nicked a lemon sherbet from a pic'n'mix and had actually studied English at University and got an upper second-class degree. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't drive.

Which reminds me of last week's acca. India beat Pakistan in the 1st Test and Spain beat Northern Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers but Portugal failed to beat Finland. In other words, close but no Monte Cristo.

It's a widely accepted theory of sports betting that when teams or players don't need to win a particular match, they have less chance of doing so and at face value that theory has certain merits. Man Utd, who have already qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages, host Sporting Lisbon tonight and despite being a bigger price than they would be at [1.59] if they hadn't already qualified and being likely to field a couple of "reserves", are still...a good price.

Firstly, they will be playing in front of a packed Old Trafford and will therefore be under pressure to perform, not to mention eager to make up for their loss at Bolton at the weekend. Secondly, they will want to wrap up the small matter of winning the group at home rather than face the prospect of having to do it away at Roma on the last day of the group stages. As Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out: "We've also got an important game against Liverpool straight after the Roma game. Beating Sporting would allow us to rest players against Roma." Thirdly, quite simply Man Utd's home record in this competition is exemplary and they will want to keep it that way. Fourthly, Sporting Lisbon aren't the greatest travelers and have top scorer Liedson nursing a bruised right thigh. Enough said.

Republic of Ireland striker and sometime Betfair radio pundit Tony Cascarino once said of Glenn Hoddle: "I he were an ice cream, he would have licked himself". Another player who you suspect has the odd glance at himself in the mirror is Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner who according to reports from the Emirates is happy to tell anyone who will listen that he is a better player than Adebayor, despite having only started a handful of games for the Gunners. It is precisely the rested Adebayor that Bendtner will be replacing in the Arsenal line-up tomorrow night at Sevilla. Last season's UEFA Cup champions are still recovering from the loss of Juande Ramos and were completely outplayed at the Emirates in a 3-0 defeat. I'm not expecting a repeat scoreline but with the "Gas Man" Fabregas back after missing Saturday's match and most virtually all of the other Arsenal thoroughbreds on show, I can't see Sevilla winning and I'm laying them at 2.35.

I've seen a fair few extraordinary things in my time: an inflated condom called Mr Blobby make it to Christmas Number 1, Victoria Beckham smile and I once saw Robert Key run three in a Test Match. But even this couldn't prepare me for the sight of Chelsea being available to lay at just 1.71 away to Rosenborg. This is the same Rosenborg who got a draw at Stamford Bridge that cost Mourinho his job and beat Valencia 2-0 home and away. With a snowstorm expected to cover the pitch, the likes of Ashley Cole and Joe Cole will no doubt have their gloves out and I doubt the likes of Didier Droga will be fancying the conditions either. Rosenborg are a big, strong, physical side who will be more than happy to throw their weight around. Terry and Drogba excluded, Chelsea are not. I'm happily laying the 1.71 about Chelsea all day.

:

:

:

?

: