Soccer betting tips and predictions

*matches in all competitions

Porto last 5 matches:

Porto last 3 away matches:

Braga last 5 matches:

Braga last 3 away matches:

All Portuguese Final in the Europa League 2010-2011 season with FC Porto attempting to grab the trophy for the second time in their history against their counterparts Sporting Braga.

FC Porto start off as clear favorites in the final that will take place in Dublin as they finished top of the Portuguese league with an overwhelming 21 point advantage over second Benfica.

The champions managed to win both their direct matches against Braga this season, in the fall of last year 3-2 on home ground and away this winter 0-2, but an European Final is a totally different story as both teams will take the pitch highly motivated.

Porto’s last results in their domestic league are of no particular relevance as they where already champions, but the team persevered in crushing any opponent they encountered as they gathered victory after victory for a record undefeated season.

Only two defeats for them in the Europa League, both against Spanish teams, first was a 0-1 defeat against Sevilla and the second a 3-2 defeat away to Villarreal in a match that was of no particular importance with the aggregate scoreline favoring them.

Sporting Braga was the surprising team of this season in the Europe. Starting off in the Champions League Group H after they eliminated Celtic in the knock-outs, they finished third in the rankings below Shakhtar and Arsenal, a place that saw them through to the Europa League final stages.

They managed to eliminate more established teams such as giants Liverpool, Dynamo Kyiv and their counterparts Benfica in the semi-final, proving that they place much emphasis on this competition.

My pick:  FC Porto to win ( over 2.5 goals )

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Porto – Villarreal 28 April 2011

*matches in all competitions

Porto last 5 matches:

Porto last 3 away matches:

Villarreal last 5 matches:

Villarreal last 3 away matches:

Europa League semi-finals will be under way on Thursday with the only team outside of Portugal, Villarreal traveling to FC Porto.

FC Porto newly crowned champions in the Portuguese Super Liga with 3 more rounds to go in the competition as they top the table with a total of 77 points no less than 19 over second Benfica.

Superb form for them lately as they managed no less than 12 straight victories in all competitions and a fortress when considering their home pitch statistic.

Villarreal will be a though nut to crack for the mighty FC Porto, 4th in the Primera Division currently and ready for a Champions League challenge next season.

They suffered 2 defeats in the last 4 matches played against Valencia and Sevilla last week with a fairly modest away record this season.

My pick:  FC Porto ( over 2.5 goals )

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Arsenal – FC Porto 9 March 2010

*matches in all competitions

Arsenal last 5 matches:  

Arsenal last 3 home matches:

Porto last 5 matches: 

Porto last 3 away matches: 

Second leg in this phase of the knock outs in the Champions League and Arsenal welcome FC Porto in their attempt to surpass a one goal deficit and make it to the next round.

A very close match in the first leg with FC Porto winning 2-1 in front of the home crowd but now things look very different as Arsenal is winning match after match in the English Premier League and sitting joust 2 points from leaders Manchester Unite and a Porto team that is having real difficulties in it’s domestic league with no chances for a championship title.

Arsenal is showing a superb form and with a total of 51 points their share the second spot of the Premier League with Chelsea ready to make a real surprise and aim for the first spot until the end of the season. The first leg results also favor the English side as the away goal could make a world of a difference but one threat for them comes from the growing list of injured players like Fabregas and Van Persie joust to name the top 2.

As expected FC Porto played a very good match in the first leg and managed the victory, but with joust 2-1 advantage their task is very hard on Arsenal’s pitch.

They are struggling in the Portuguese Liga having lost the derby match against Sporting Lisbon with an embarrassing 3-0 and last week managing only a draw against bottom side Olhanense.

My tip:  Arsenal to win (and qualify)

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Sporting last 5 league matches:

Sporting last 3 home matches: 

Porto last 5 league matches:

Porto last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Sporting -4, Porto -3

Sporting home table position: 8

Porto away table position: 4

Derby match in the Portuguese Superliga as Sporting Lisbon welcome rivals FC Porto in a match that is certain to draw huge crouds to Estadio Jose De Alavalade on Sunday.

Neither of the 2 teams living up to expectations this season and the statement is more true for Sporting Lisbon as the team sits on the 4th spot of the table and with little chance of advancing this year. They have a total of just 29 points in 20 matches played in the competition and the current form does not give much hope for improvement any time soon. Only one reason for joy, their qualification in the next phase of the Europa League as they eliminated Everton this week.

Their home ground statistic is very poor with only 4 victories and 3 draws in 10 matches played and a similar goal ratio of 11 scored and 10 conceded which is totally unacceptable for a team playing in front of the home crowd.

Although FC Porto is joust one step above Sporting Lisbon in the table the gap between the 2 teams is great. Porto has a total of 43 points, no less than 14 above their adversaries in this game and with some hopes for the top spot as they are 6 points from leaders Benfica.

Their run lately has been good with 3 victories in the last4 played and a big plus in morale as they eliminated Arsenal in the Champions League and head on to the next round. They are one of the strongest teams on home ground but the away play is rather modest with a record of 4 victories and 2 draws in 9 played but a good defense as they conceded only 6 goals whilst scoring 15.

My pick:  FC Porto to win

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