Schalke visit the Goats (Köln), looking to extend on a four-match winning streak and keep the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga …

What a tie to throw up in round 3 of the FA Cup – Manchester City & Manchester United, the top 2 teams in UK at the moment going head to head …

A home win for Arsenal takes them to within four points of United , but Liverpool still have an chance of a top four position and a return to the Champions League

Forthcoming Derby della Capitale Roma – Lazio (Sunday March 13, 2011 14.00 GMT) has a lot at stake, as both teams are trying to qualify for Europe next season …

It would be a miracle Levante to beat Real Madrid on Saturday evening, after losing 8-0 to them in the Copa del Rey earlier this season, but I think at least they will score …

Australia will take part in the Asian Cup final for the first time, and if Japan win the victory it would make them the most successful team in the history of the competition …

Amsterdam giants Ajax host their domestic rivals Feyenoord in what promises to be an entertaining game in mideweek Eredivisie round .

The luck of the draw has pitted Manchester United and Liverpool against each other in the third round of FA Cup and it promises to be a massive match at Old Trafford on Sunday

VIEW VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF Tottenham – Portsmouth 0-2

VS

FA Cup, fifth-round replay
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 – 20.00 GMT

Tottenham Hotspur

• This replay is a burden to Harry Redknapp’s side, with important fixtures against Everton and Manchester City on the horizon;
• But with so many big teams already out of the competition, Spurs will be looking at least to enter the final of the FA Cup;
• The 3:0 win over Wigan should serve as a big boost for their confidence and the hosts should have an easy job against Bolton’s shaky defence;
• Roman Pavluchenko probably will get the chance to start after the great substitute appearance against Wigan;
• Aaron Lennon has suffered a further setback in his recovery from a groin problem, so David Bentley will have another chance to take his place at the right wing;

Bolton Wanderers

• With Bolton battling against relegation, a replay vs Tottenham is the last thing that Owen Coyle is worried about;
• The Trotters have not won at White Hart Lane since 2004, and he is likely to rest a few players for this midweek match, ;
• Jack Wilshire and Vladamir Weiss are cup-tied having already featured in the FA Cup;
• The Trotters will also be without the injured Gary Cahill, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann , Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien, although Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic is set to return from a injury;
• They failed to score in every one of their last four away games, even if they have numerous clear-cut chances against Blackburn

MY PREDICTION 1/1 HT/FT with possible result 3-1
FINAL SCORE 4-0

23′ [1 - 0] R. Pavlyuchenko
35′ [2 - 0] J. Jääskeläinen (o.g.)
47′ [3 - 0] A. O´Brien (o.g.)
87′ [4 - 0] R. Pavlyuchenko

BEST ODDS for 1/1 HT/FT -1.85 from BET 365

VS

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 – 17:15 GMT

Manchester City

• Roberto Mancini can be expected to field a strong side as City have a real chance of winning this competition, especially now that three of the TOP4 are out;
• The Citizens won five straight home games under the new boss without too much effort and one of those was the 2:0 convincing win over Stoke;
• Midweek win over Bolton left them well placed for Champions League spot and there were encouraging displays from Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira;
• Joleon Lescott could make his first start since he got injury in place of Kolo Toure;
• Craig Bellamy could return to the starting line-up, while Nedum Onuoha, Martin Petrov and Shaun Wright-Phillips are also pushing for starting place;
• If City can win this fixture they will be my favorites to go to the end and a similar result to their Premier League clash in December seems likely to me.

Stoke City

• Stoke will be inspired by their win over Arsenal in the last round and if they can take this game to a replay they will have a great chance at the Britannia Stadium;
• They are unbeaten in 2010 in all seven matches and Stoke have a good run in FA cup so far, scoring six goals in latest two games against York and Arsenal;
• Tony Pulis has no fresh injury worries , but probably he will give a chance to new signing Asmir Begovic and players like Ricardo Fuller, Liam Lawrence,Danny Pugh, James Beattie and Salif Diao;
• He may well rest his top players in preparation for another Premiership clash with City on Tuesday night at the Britannia Stadium;
• Considering the attacking potential of City have, the visitors probably will have to defend in numbers if they are to avoid a heavy defeat.

MY PREDICTION CITY TO WIN WITH -1.5 AH with possible result 4-1

FINAL SCORE 1-1

11′ [1 - 0] S.W. Phillips

57′ [1 - 1] R. Fuller

BEST ODDS for 1 -1.5 AH -2.35 from BET 365

VS

23th January – 15:00 GMT

Everton

• Everton is unbeaten in 7 league games, but they’ve only won 2 of those.
• The Toffees managed to return to the top part of the Premiership table
• The last two meetings between these 2 teams  have ended as 1-1 draws.
• Bunch of injured players are one by one returned  into action, except Anichebe, Arteta and Jagielka
• They are still without Joseph Yobo and Yakubu, who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations
• David Moyes may give a rest to some of his starters and youngsters Seamus Coleman, Jose Baxter and James Vaughan may replace them, but 100%  he will be looking to win the game

Birmingham

• Birmingham City are unbeaten in 14 consecutive matches in all competitions
• Manager Alex McLeish has used the mini-break to take his team to camp to Malta
• He probably will give a rest to most of the first team regulars, as he is using the same starting 11 in almost all games this season
• Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling, who have been sidelined with hamstring injuries, are set to return
• Lee Carsley, Gary O’Connor, Teemu Tainio and David Murphy are injured
• The visitors will do everything they can to continue the unbeaten run

MY PREDICTION UNDER 2.5  with possible result 1-0

FINAL SCORE 1-2

BEST ODD for UNDER 2.5   - 1.85 from BET 365

Steven Pienaar has scored in three of his last four appearances for the Toffees

MORE BETTING PICKS FROM FA CUP – 23 – 24 JANUARY

MATCH	DATE	TIPS	RESULTS	ODDS	BOOKIE
Preston – Chelsea	23 Jan – 12.45 GMT	2 /First Half (1-3)	0-2 (0-1)	1.57	BET 365
Reading – Burnley	23 Jan – 12.45 GMT	1X (2-1)	1-0	1.43	LADBROKES
Aston Villa – Brighton	23 Jan – 15.00 GMT	X2 (1-1)	3-2	4.00	BET 365
Bolton – Sheffield Utd	23 Jan – 15.00 GMT	OVER 2.5 (2-2)	2-0	1.90	BET 365
Tottenham – Leeds	23 Jan – 17.15 GMT	1 -1.5AH (4-1)	2-2	1.90	BET 365
Stoke City – Arsenal	24 Jan – 13.30 GMT	UNDER 2.5 (1-0)	3-1	1.85	BET 365