Although they call the Championship play-off final the richest game in the world – it isn’t really. The Champions League is it: the biggest and the best club match there is. Still, we get to enjoy both games today – as well as a fascinating Scottish Cup final between those fierce Edinburgh rivals, Hearts and Hibs.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Bayern Munich v Chelsea, 7.45pm
The fact that Munich are playing this game on their own ground has been the matter of some debate, but as well as being a big advantage for the German giants, it may also have its downsides with overwhelming pressure too.

I think that Chelsea will not regard this as a big problem. There will be plenty of fans of their own in the ground and having beaten Barcelona, they will feel nothing is beyond them. And I can see them lifting the trophy when it is all finished.

You can get Chelsea at 15-4 with BetVictor, the 90-minute draw at 16-5 with Skybet and Boylesports, while the Germans are a general 4-5 to win in normal time. I think that the Blues can nick the win here, though I think a little investment on each side to win on penalties is a good safety net. Bayern are 12-1 with several firms, while Chelsea can be had at 14-1 with Ladbrokes and bet365.

As for the first scorer, Didier Drogba at 9-1 with BetVictor is huge in my opinion. The man from the Ivory Coast may have been sent off in his last final in Moscow, but he is a classy operator. Also the 19-20 with Hills about both teams to score looks good. Finally for a correct score bet, I will probably leave it alone, but a 1-1 draw at 8-1 with BetVictor and 2-1 Chelsea at 16-1 with the same firm are good options.

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL
Blackpool v West Ham, 3pm
The Hammers are heavy favourites for this one, just touching odds on with almost all firms, while Blackpool are 16-5 with Boylesports and the 90-minute draw is 29-10 with the same firm. People (me) have been waiting for Sam Allardyce’s team to go into overdrive all season but it hasn’t happened. In contrast Blackpool have improved as the season has gone on and always had the measure of Birmingham in their semi-final. And it is the Seasiders who get my vote.

These games usually produce goals and the ingredients are there to have another goalfest. Over 3.5 goals seems big at 21-10 with sportingbet. In terms of scorers, Stephen Dobbie is the play-off king and he is an enormous 7-2 with Paddy Power. Finally the usual penalties bet that I always do on the big finals, sees both sides 14-1 to win on penalties with bet365.

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
Hearts v Hibs, 3pm
There are lots of interesting stats about this all-Edinburgh final at Hampden Park. One is the fact that it is 110 years since Hibernian have won the cup. It has been even longer since the only Hearts-Hibs final, which the Jam Tarts won in 1896. I think Hibs will finally get their revenge today! At 14-5 with BetVictor I think Pat Fenlon’s men are a great price to end the Hibees’ hoodoo.

Pat Fenlon’s men are on a high from securing safety in the SPL while financial turmoil has dogged Hearts all season and this team is set to break up after the match. For those reasons I can see Hibs coming out on top. Garry O’Connor is the class act on show and he is an enormous 8-1 with Ladbrokes to score the first goal and that is well worth a go.

Of course given what’s at stake, this one could be a model to go to penalties and as such the prices on each side winning on penalties are a little shorter than the norm. Both Skybet and BetVictor go 11-1 for each team to win on penalties and that is well worth backing.

MY BANKER: Both teams to score in Champions League final (19-20)
MY BLUFFER: Hibs win (14-5)
MY DREAMER: Chelsea 2-1 win (16-1)

Category: Soccer

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Ulster have done magnificently to reach the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham, but though they have beaten Munster in Thomond Park already, trying to beat the defending champions Leinster could well prove a step too far.

Leinster are a general 3-10, with Ulster available at 10-3 and I just can’t see past Joe Schmidt’s side for this one. They only scraped past Clermont in the semi-final put I think that this may prove an easier task.

Ruan Pienaar’s boot will keep Ulster competitive but Leinster have runners from everywhere and I think they can beat the handicap at -7 at evens with sportingbet and Ladbrokes. I think there could be points in this one and Over 40 at 11-10 with William Hill is a good bet.

As for a tryscorer, I have gone with Jonathan Sexton throughout the tournament and at 25-1 with Skybet he looks good value and he is bound to have one break for the line during the game.

MY BANKER: Leinster win (3-10)
MY BLUFFER: Over 40 points (11-10)
MY DREAMER: Jonathan Sexton First Tryscorer (25-1)

Category: Rugby

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A good old day with a 5-1 tip coming in as Federer and Ferrero played three sets, while Sharapova’s straight sets win over Ivanovic was a 29-20 winner.

1 Roberto Ferrari to win Stage 13 of Giro d’Italia – 20-1, William Hill
Ferrari is on top form in this Giro and is excellent value each-way for what looks set up for a sprint finish.

2 Total Djokovic games Under 12.5 in Novak Djokovic v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at ATP Rome – 11-10, Boylesports
I don’t get this bet, Djokovic is 8-13 to win in straight sets but 11-10 to do it without being taken beyond 10 games in either set. That discrepancy seems to wide and I am going for the 11-10.

3 Angelique Kerber to beat Petra Kvitova at WTA Rome – 6-5, Stan James, Ladbrokes
Kvitova may be the favourite when Wimbledon comes round, but on clay she is vulnerable.

4 Dominika Cibulkova to beat Li Na at WTA Rome – 3-1, Boylesports
The Chinese girl is a former Grand Slam winner but Cibulkova is just having a really strong week and I fancy her strongly.

5 Maria Sharapova to beat Venus Williams two sets to nil at WTA Rome – 5-4, Stan James
Sharapova did the business for us yesterday and though Williams is in good form, the Russian looks ominously good right now.

Category: Latest News

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Andreas Seppi (7-5) and Julia Goerges (6-5) kept our fine record in tennis betting going so will go heavy on the sport again today.

1 Andy Murray to beat Richard Gasquet two sets to nil at ATP Rome Masters – 41-40, sportingbet
Gasquet is not the performer he was five years ago and after a tough test against David Nalbandian, Murray should be sharp for this one.

2 Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Ferrero to go three sets at ATP Rome Masters – 5-1, William Hill
The Spaniard is in good form and should give Federer a real rattle on courts that suit Ferrero.

3 Maria Sharapova to beat Ana Ivanovic two sets to nil at WTA Rome – 29-20, sportingbet
I thought the Serb would be a big player come Roland Garros but Sharapova has been the form player on clay to date

4 Under 2.5 goals in Torquay v Cheltenham League Two play-off – 4-5, general
This could be a tight affair with Cheltenham sitting on their first-leg advantage.

5 West Indies First Innings Under 179.5 runs – 2-1, bet365
This could prove a steal in traditional early season Lord’s conditions.

Category: Latest News

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We hit the post several times with yesterday’s five so here’s hoping the wind is at our backs today.

1 Mark Cavendish to win Stage 11 of Giro d’Italia – Evens, Betfred
The Manx Missile didn’t even bother riding hard up to yesterday’s finish, he crashed the day before and must be itching to win again.

2 Julia Goerges to beat Marion Bartoli at WTA Rome – 6-5, Boylesports, Betfred
The German is more than capable of winning a very even looking match so is a shade of value here in my opinion.

3 Ekaterina Makarova to beat Venus Williams at WTA Rome – 7-4, Stan James, Betfred
Venus is no longer a major player in women’s tennis and on the clay she is exposed.

4 Andreas Seppi to beat John Isner at ATP Tome Masters – 7-5, Bwin.com
The Italian can bide his time against the big server on the slow surface.

5 Southend to beat Crewe in League Two play-off at -1 on handicap – 13-5, Bluesq, 888sport
Around the 23-10 mark with most firms, Southend can turn this tie around at Roots Hall this evening.

Category: Tennis

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Some soccer, tennis and cycling make up today’s five.

1 Hertha Berlin to beat Fortuna Dusseldorf in Bundesliga play-off – 12-5, bet365, BetVictor
Although the Bundesliga 2 side surprised their higher-ranked opponents in the first leg, Hertha led for a long time and can get it right this time.

2 Huddersfield to beat MK Dons in League One play-off – 6-5, general
The Terriers won the away leg and should finish things off here.

3 Domenico Pozzovivo to win Stage 10 of Giro d’Italia – 14-1, sportingbet, William Hill, Ladbrokes
The tiny Italian has shown great climbing form this season and can make use of a hilly finish to Assisi

4 Galina Voskoboeva to beat Serena Williams at +6.5 games on handicap in Rome – 6-5, Paddy Power
Serena proved she is still a champion in Rome, but that may have taken a lot out of her and on the slower Rome clay, the Kazakh can dig in, though Serena should still win in straight sets.

5 Novak Djokoivc to beat Bernard Tomic at -6.5 games on handicap in Rome – 5-4, bet365
Djokovic was no fan of Madrid’s blue clay, but on a more natural habitat can see off the talented Australian.

Category: Soccer

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There is action in Italy and Spain today, but it is the French title race that holds the interest, with three teams still in with a chance with two games left – and two of them meet today.

FRANCE
What a huge game in the existence of Montpellier. Expected to crumble in the wake of the challenge from moneybags PSG they have stood firm and matched. But their weakness has come when leading, they have played their best football in second. Lille have nothing to lose and they have the best team on paper. I am going with them to win this one and you can get 2-1 with Stan James. Also 2-1 is Eden Hazard in the anytime score market, this time with Powers. PSG host Rennes and I think they might do this handsomely. You can get 4-1 about the Parisiens winning at -2 on the handicap with sportingbet. Elsewhere, a draw between Nancy and St Etienne looks good at 11-5.

ITALY
Juventus have the title won and all that remains is to see whether they can go through the season unbeaten. It is the final bow for Alessandro del Piero and he is a must at evens with Boylesports to score at any time against Atalanta. AC Milan will kick themselves at how they let this title slip and they will take out their frustrations on Novara at the San Siro. Powers go 15-8 about Milan -2 and that looks a good bet. Genoa can secure their safety with a win at home to Palermo at a general evens. Four teams still have a mathematical chance of the third Champions League spot, which counts against the usual expected draws in Italy late in the season. Inter, though, cannot realistically do it so they could succumb at Lazio, who are 15-8 with William Hill.

SPAIN
Cristiano Ronaldo is five goals behind Lionel Messi but you can bet he will be chasing that seriously as they host Mallorca, though the islanders are still in the Champions League hunt. Powers go a more-than-generous 5-1 about the Portugeezer getting a hat-trick and I’ll try that on for size. As for correct scores I’ll try 5-0 at 18-1 with sportingbet and Stan James among others and 5-1 at a general 18s as well, though Bluesq go 22-1. In other games, Zaragoza are fighting for survival, but the 4-1 on Getafe to beat them AT HOME with most firms is too big to ignore.

SCOTLAND
The top half of the SPL finishes today and Celtic should cruise past a Hearts side looking ahead to the Cup final. Celtic -2 is 5-2 with Boylesports, sportingbet and Coral. Rangers look overpriced at evens with Ladbrokes and Bluesq to win at St Johnstone, while Motherwell against Dundee United is not the showdown for a Champions League spot it might have been but it should be a good game and I’ll take Well to win at a general 6-4.

ENGLAND
Cheltenham host Torquay in the play-off first leg in League Two and I can’t call it, but the general 23-10 about a draw could well be the best bet. In the anytime goalscorer market, Cheltenham’s Kaid Mohamed looks overpriced at 12-5 with Paddy Power and Skybet.

Category: Soccer

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A final day of the Premier League season when there is still so much to sort out. The title, third spot and possibly fourth going into the Champions League as well. And then there is the battle at the bottom between Bolton and QPR. Which takes us back to the title.

MANCHESTER CITY v QPR, 3pm, Live on Sky Sports 1
Can City hold their nerve? Can QPR cause an epic upset? This game is tantalisingly poised but while a bit on the draw at 9-1 with Victor Chandler is probably worth a little punt, the City players should not be overawed. The club may have no title in 42 years but this is an experienced group of players, many of whom have been to a World Cup and gone far in it. QPR will battle for their lives, but on the road they have been exposed as a bit of a rabble.
RECOMMENDED BETS: QPR-City Double Result (BetVictor, Ladbrokes), Samir Nasri Anytime Goalscorer (2-1, Ladbrokes)

SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER UNITED, 3pm, Live on Sky Sports 2
Everyone is expecting a United win and rightly so at 4-9 (though BetVictor go 1-2) and especially with Sunderland having lost the initial burst they had with Martin O’Neill. It will probably be in vain but expect a good United show.
RECOMMENDED BETS: United 3-0 win (21-2, BetVictor), United 3-1 win (11-1, general), Wayne Rooney to score two or more goals (7-2, bet365)

STOKE v BOLTON, 3pm
Wigan won at the Britannia on the last day but Bolton have not been able to raise themselves all season, despite a heavy win over the Potters earlier in the season, but I think that Bolton, despite the huge likelihood of QPR losing, may not get the win they need.
RECOMMENDED BET: Draw (13-5, Skybet, BetVictor), Peter Crouch Anytime Goalscorer (9-5, Paddy Power)

WEST BROM v ARSENAL, 3pm
Arsenal are just not to be trusted at 8-13 to seal third spot even against a Baggies side that know they have a new manager coming in.
RECOMMENDED BETS: Half time score 1-1 (7-1, totesport, Stan James, Ladbrokes, BetVictor)

TOTTENHAM v FULHAM, 3pm
Spurs have blundered their way through the second half of the season and are facing one of the form teams of the last few weeks. I think there will be goals here, but I couldn’t make a final call on which way it will go.
RECOMMENDED BETS: Over 3.5 goals (8-5, Coral), Gareth Bale Anytime Scorer (15-8, Stan James)

EVERTON v NEWCASTLE, 3pm
Games between these two are usually entertaining and I think this might be too much for the gallant Toon Army. Everton, as usual, have ended the season strongly and will look to finish above Liverpool with a win.
RECOMMENDED BETS: Nikica Jelavic First Goalscorer (5-1, general), Everton win (5-4, Stan James, Ladbrokes)

SWANSEA v LIVERPOOL, 3pm
The Swans can argue that they have had a better season than Liverpool, though they will thank the Reds for beating Cardiff in the Carling Cup final. I think there may be one more top display from Swansea this season.
RECOMMENDED BET: Swansea (13-5, BetVictor, totesport)

NORWICH v ASTON VILLA, 3pm
The Canaries are another of the promoted sides who can hold their head high and I expect them to beat a woeful Villa side at Carrow Road.
RECOMMENDED BET: Norwich win (5-4, Ladbrokes)

CHELSEA v BLACKBURN, 3pm
Expect a shadow Chelsea side to take the field again against now-doomed Blackburn. Rovers have been talking a good game since they went down so I expect a show of defiance, even in defeat.
RECOMMENDED BET: Blackburn +2 (6-5, bet365), Over 4.5 goals (13-5, sportingbet)

WIGAN v WOLVES, 3pm
I’m not sure even the supporters of these two cares what happens here.
RECOMMENDED BET: Wolves win (5-1, general)

Category: Soccer

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A German cup, the final day of the SPL rejects, some English play-offs and an expected Messi masterclass make up the Saturday action.

GERMANY
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have been the best two teams in the German season and they meet in the DFB Pokal decider today. This will be a fine tune-up before the home Champions League final for Munich, but next week’s game is still their priority. For Dortmund, the game in Berlin can be a crowning glory for them and they are easily a match for Munich on paper. They are a big 15-8 to win the game in 90 minutes and I will have some of that.

ENGLAND
A play-off in League One and another in League Two will both make fascinating viewing and MK Dons – complete with their raft of Irish players – will host Huddersfield knowing that if they can keep the Terriers’ star man Jordan Rhodes quiet, then they have the best chance of success. The Dons are 11-8 to win this one and I think this is not a bad bet. I also think there could be a surprising amount of goals so the 11-4 quote about Over 3.5 goals interests me. In the other game a Crewe side that looked mid-table material host a Southend outfit that looked automatic promotion contenders. At 2-1, Southend look a very good price to me.

SCOTLAND
The relegation issue was settled on Monday as Dunfermline lost their battle to survive after a thumping loss at Hibs. All of which means that the three games in the relegation section of the SPL are exhibition affairs and as such not to be trusted. I think that Inverness are probably worth following at 15-13 to beat a Hibs side with both eyes on their derby cup showdown with Hearts next week.

SPAIN
The league has gone but Lionel Messi is going to win his personal battle with Cristiano Ronaldo to be the top scorer in Spain. For some reason the little wizard is now as big as 12-5 to score the first goal in the game with Betis tonight. Take it. Bite the bookies’ hand off for it in fact. As for correct scores, I’ll go with 4-0 and 4-1 to Barca, both available at 16-1. In the other gam, Valencia are 17-10 to win at Sociedad and that looks too big.

Category: Soccer

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Our three tennis bets in yesterday’s 5-a-Day were all successful at prices of 6-5, 13-8 and 5-4. There’s plenty of tennis in today’s five, too.

1 Hertha Berlin to beat Fortuna Dusseldorf in Bundesliga play-off – 10-11
I am surprised that Hertha are in this position and I expect them to avoid relegation, starting with a win here.

2 Mark Renshaw to win Stage 5 of Giro d’Italia – 25-1
There is a small but of climbing just before the finish and it could sap some of the sprinters but the Aussie (and 50-1 Thor Hushovd) should thrive on it.

3  Stanislas Wawrinka to beat Novak Djokovic at Madrid Masters – 4-1
Wawrinka has played more clay than usual this year, while the world No.1 has looked tentative this week.

4 Marin Cilic to beat Juan Martin del Potro at Madrid Masters – 15-4
Cilic came up trumps and for a big man is unusual in that clay is his easily his best surface.

5 Roger Federer to beat Richard Gasquet at -5,5 games handicap at Madrid Masters – 6-5
Federer had a real battle against Milos Raonic yesterday and that can help him in this one.

Category: Latest News

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