Big Cup Quarter Final Preview
The level of excitement among spread bettors is palpable as the last eight remaining teams in Europe's premier club competition commence battle this week and the pick of the games has to be Chelsea's visit to Anfield. Football spread bettors are likely to be up to scratch on previous occurrences of this particular European clash � the teams have played eight times in the competition in the last four years, meeting at the semi-final stage in all but one of those tournaments. Both buyers and sellers of the supremacy spread, at just 0.3-0.5 in favour of Liverpool, will know that all previous matches have been extremely tight with five ending in a draw after 90 minutes. There is however a slight tendency for the result to go with the home team, encouraging for buyers of Liverpool's win index spread at 13.5-15pts (25pts for the win, 10pts for the draw).
There are several other interesting trends for spread punters on this match, particularly those with an interest in the goals and bookings spread markets. Firstly, in normal time over those eight matches there has never been more than a goal apiece and only seven goals scored in total - less than a goal per game. Sellers of total goals, currently at 1.9-2.1, will hope for a similarly tight contest. As a result of few goals and three 0-0 draws, the average goal minutes make-up for these games is a lowly 35.6 which might be of concern to buyers of the goal minutes spread of 98-108. However, the last two European meetings between the Reds and the Blues have seen an increased make-up of 97 and 133 minutes for this notoriously volatile spread. Regarding bookings, spread bettors may expect that closely fought games in such a highly prized competition would cause high-tensions on the pitch and cards to be issued frequently. Not so in this fixture over the last four years, as only once would the bookings spread of 43-47pts (10pts for a yellow, 25pts for a red) for the upcoming game have been satisfied. Sellers of the spread will be pleased to discover that the average make-up in eight Champions League meetings since 2004 is just 25pts.
Manchester United face Porto in the quarter-finals and buyers of United's win index spread at 19-20.5pts will be aware that the Red Devils are unbeaten in Europe since May 2007. In that period United have won 12 from 21 matches, drawing 9. United also have an excellent record against Portuguese opposition, going W13-D2-L4 against such teams in the Champions League, and those spread bettors, along with buyers of United's supremacy spread at 1.3-1.5 will also be pleased that United have never lost at home to a Portuguese club. Sellers of Man Utd's supremacy spread will remember the English side's shock exit to Porto in 2004 but may not be aware of Porto's overall record against English opposition, a hardly convincing W5-D7-L10. Of greater worry to sellers of the spread is Porto's away record in England - an awful 10 losses and no wins from 11 matches. Buyers of United's team goals spread of 1.9-2.1 should approach with caution though as should buyers of total goals at 2.7 - United and Porto have scored the fewest in the competition with 11 goals each.
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