UEFA Cup group betting

The Uefa Cup receives plenty of criticism but nobody can argue with the quality of the competition this season following the draw for the group stages on Tuesday and I’m really looking forward to things getting started. Eight Champions League teams will enter, of course, at the final 32 stage but plenty of football is to be played before then and there are a few decent bets to be had already:

Group A

Manchester City only edged their way past three seemingly vastly inferior opponents in the preliminary rounds and I’m surprised just how short they have been put in to emerge as winners of the group. Mark Hughes‘ men face experienced European campaigners in the shape of Schalke and PSG while the likes of Racing and FC Twente will also be no pushovers. The inevitable new arrivals should bolster the squad in January but the group stages of the Uefa Cup end in mid-December and City are a false price. I’m willing to take them on.

Group B

A wide open section comprising of Benfica, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Hertha Berlin and Metalist. Unlikely that any are good enough to lift the trophy although the Greek side are always to be feared on home soil. Anorthosis dumped them out of the Champions League but they have shown they are no mugs in that competition already this term and Olympiakos might just fancy their chances at this lower level.

Group C

Certainly the ‘Group of Death’ and Partizan Belgrade must be cursing their luck having drawn Sevilla, Stuttgart, Sampdoria and Standard Liege. The La Liga outfit are the class act but in such a competitive pool nobody can afford any slips and the pressure will be on right from the start. The Belgian champions have impressed English viewers this season having run Liverpool so close before disposing of Everton and they could be overpriced to finish on top of the standings.

Group D

A fascinating section containing the hapless Tottenham and they have been drawn against sides that previously owned two of their star men. Roman Pavlyuchenko is cup-tied so will not face his former Spartak Moscow team-mates but Luka Modric will come up against his old chums from Dinamo Zagbreb and things don’t look easy for Juande Ramos and his side. Udinese and NEC complete the line up and the Italians have started the season well in Serie A. They look the bet at an attractive looking 3.50.

Group E

Portsmouth’s FA Cup win was thoroughly deserved last season and Harry Redknapp has been rewarded by drawing AC Milan in the Uefa Cup. Kaka, Ronaldinho and Pato et al will never have been to Fratton Park, of course, and I’m sure every Pompey fan has Thursday 27th November, the date the Italain giants visit the South coast club, on their minds already. Milan aside, the Premier League club have a favourable looking draw and I’ll be disappointed if they find Wolfsburg, Heerenveen and Braga too good.

Group F

A high class pool that sees Aston Villa come up against Martin Jol’s Hamburg along with Ajax, Slavia Prague and Zilna. Martin O’Neill, the Villa boss, has plenty of European experience to call upon from his time with Celtic however and I rate them a decent bet to emerge as group winners. Hamburg are likely to be the sternest test but the former European Cup winners have a style that looks ideally suited to the demands of tackling continental opposition and I want to back them. The fixtures have fallen kindly with Hamburg to come on the final day in Germany and I’d be surprised if both hadn’t already secured qualification by then.

Group G

Valencia are the shortest price of any group favourites and quite righty so. I’m actually a bit disappointed they have been handed such a weak looking group (having to tackle Saint Ettiene, Club Bruges, Copenhagen and Rosenborg) however as I really wanted to get stuck into them obliging and will have to make do with siding with them in the outright instead. They are too short to warrant interest at around the 1.65 mark to win Group G.

Group H

Similar to Group B, this looks wide open and any three from CSKA, Nancy, Feyenoord or Deportivo are likely to progress. Polish minnows Lech Poznan make up the numbers but look up against it.