Dead Rubbers For City And United
Manchester City and Manchester United have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League ahead of tonight’s fixtures on match day six. Both their opponents cannot finish in the top two so in theory the matches at home to Hoffenheim and at Valencia are dead rubbers. Liverpool and Tottenham qualified last night so all four teams from the Premier League will be playing in the knockout stages.
There is nothing to be gained from winning the group rather than finishing second so City and United have very little to play for other than pride. Valencia can only finish third so are already heading for the Europa League and there is only a small chance of Hoffenheim overhauling Shakhtar in third place. The double on two DRAWS pays 22/1 with Ladbrokes.
Last weekend’s Premier League match at Chelsea did not go well for City. They lost for the first time this season and the atmosphere was toxic. Abuse of any type is still prevalent in English football and there is a line between passionately supporting your team and acting like a brat. City have a long injury list and being competitive at home against Everton is the priority. In the meeting with Hoffenheim UNDER 2.5 GOALS is 13/5 with Paddy Power.
In the last 20 Valencia matches in La Liga and the Champions League only three have produced more than two goals. The reverse fixture at Old Trafford was a goalless draw. Jose Mourinho’s squad suggests the match is an inconvenience ahead of the away match with Liverpool in the league on Sunday. Team selection and motivation will be key but the circumstances point to BOTH TEAMS NOT TO SCORE at 11/10 with Betfair.
The racing is more than ordinary with no standout race that is worth three figures to the winner. The nap of the day is running in the maiden hurdle at Leicester (1.30) over just less than two miles. There are only two winners in the 12 runner field and Cardigan Bay has something to find with the favourite. That horse is EBONY GALE who won a bumper last season and is 6/4 with William Hill to win this race today
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