That Time Again...

Last weekend saw a very decent profit after a few weeks of either small losses or small wins keeping us ticking over. Those of you that also follow me on the Twitter, @TopTopTips, will also have seen me post three out of three winners in the midweek Champions League matches. These were advising backing Napoli, backing Marseille and laying Bayern Munich.

Talking of opposing Chelsea, they were very poor again for long spells of their match. The away goal keeps them in the tie, but with Napoli at their best on the counter attack it will take a lot to stop them scoring again at Stamford Bridge. After an early goal from one of their few players to shine this season in Juan Mata, Chelsea again failed to deal with an attack that was not short of movement or pace. In truth, the lack of John Terry would probably have meant very little against an attack such as Napoli's. He would have possibly added slightly more organisation, but his lack of pace would have left them exposed anyway. I will not be calling for Villas Boas head, as it's easy money laying them at the moment, but also because he is trying to correct the error of not looking to lower the age of the side for a number of years. He is also seemingly fighting against the old core of Lampard and Terry not being at all pleased with the fact they are becoming increasingly dispensable to the new manager.

Music comes from Junior Battles with Nostalgic at 23.

Newcastle v Wolves, Saturday 1500

Newcastle host Wolves this Saturday still without a manager. It is becoming very embarrassing for the side from Molineux with a host of managers turning them down and now having to appoint Big Mick's assistant on a full time basis for the remainder of the season. Newcastle, on the other hand, have recovered from a small blip before xmas to again make a surge for European football next season. They may not have a large squad, but the addition of Papiss Cisse gives them cover for their most important player, Demba Ba. The two can also play together, forming a strike partnership that is equal to many a 'bigger' club. You only have to look at Arsenal to see that. The midfield pairing of Yohann Cabaye and Cheik Tiote could also be argued to be the best outside of Man City's first choice pairing. The doubts surrounding Alan Pardew, and to some extent Mike Ashley, have subsided slightly for the Geordie Nation.

As mentioned, Wolves are in a right state. They have now appointed a man with no previous experience to try and guide currently the worse side in the division to safety. The goals have dried up and the defence has looked like they've never met before at times, poor Wayne Hennessey looks lost behind them. I fail to see how they can turn it around, particularly on the back of the 5-1 thrashing handed out by neighbours WBA last weekend in the Black Country Derby. They look headed for another spell in the Championship, and on the back of their performances, it's where they belong.

Back Newcastle United -1.0 Asian Handicap at 2.1 with Paddy Power.

Man City v Blackburn, Saturday 1730

A comfortable victory over Porto in the Europa League sees Man City progress with little needless energy expended. We could also yet see the return of Carlos Tevez to the side if he regains match fitness after he finally apologised for his appallong behaviour against Bayern Munich earlier in the season. City again look to me like they are going to storm off with the Premier League. The return of Vincent Kompany steadies the defence, Yaya Toure returning from the AFCON sees the midfield given extra energy and purpose and Sergio Aguero looks like he's in a good place again. Even Edin Dzeko is notching the odd goal! They have been known to take a while to get going this season and have often added numerous late goals as against Porto in midweek.

Blackburn are not quite as bad as I have occasionally made out. The calls for the head of manager Steve Kean have become less in recent weeks as regardless of anything else, it is clear the players are playing for him. The blame for the catastrophic signings and poor PR is rightly being pushed towards the owners, Venky's, and this leaves a better atmosphere at Ewood Park. The rather big-boned Yakubu has seemingly also rediscovered his scoring touch this season and provides the goal threat many clubs strugging seem to miss. I still think they'll end up in trouble, but they might yet have enough to survive.

Back Second Half Most Goals at 2.1 with Stan James.

Real Betis v Getafe, Saturday 1700

From Spain this weekend we see Getafe travelling to one of the madder clubs in La Liga. Betis have always revelled in their image of being slightly eccentric and the fans take this to extremes in most matches. This does provide a good atmosphere for the home side too. Having re-ascended to the Primera this season Betis have been a bit up and down, which is the same of nearly every other club. At present they are in an 'up' phase with wins in their last two matches. The away win in Bilbao will particularly have given them a boost as it is a very hard place to get a positive result. The striker Castro also looks full of confidence and will fancy himself against Getafe's brittle defence.

Getafe have also had a topsy turvy season with home form being as good as it usually is, but away form letting them down a lot. In twelve away matches they have lost seven and conceded twenty two goals. Their home stadium is a compact bowl and often devoid of noise, it's eerie, and teams don't like the trip there. The chronic lack of investment and cost cutting sees them with a paper thin squad of players, and without that advantage they have at home, they can all too easily be taken apart away. They have also not win in three matches now.

Back Real Betis at 2.1 with Blue Square.

AC Milan v Juventus, Saturday 1945

A huge match in Serie A this weekend sees first place AC hosting second in the table Juve. We all saw what AC are capable of in the hiding they dished out to Arsenal last week in the Champions League. When players like Ibrahimovic and Robinho are fit and in the mood they are quite some prospect. Throw in the likes of the reborn Kevin Prince-Boateng and commanding Thiago Silva at central midfield and centre back respectively and you have a very good side. They have spent the majority of the season at the top of Serie A, and it is their strikeforce that has been the difference. They have scored forty eight goals in twenty four matches, which is very good in the ever stingy Italian leagues. They have only lost one of eleven at home and have also conceded a miserly five in that time.

Juventus were not expected to mount a title challenge this season, but Antonio Conte has fashioned them into a solid side capable of hanging in their in every match. They are still unbeaten in twenty three matches home and away and for them it is their defence that is key to that record. They have only conceded an amazing fourteen in that time, and only six of those away. This probably gives you an idea of Conte's tactics. It's safety first stuff, with the likes of Milos Krasic deemed surplus to requirements due to his lack of defensive nous. They will take a draw in this, and I think they may well get it.

Back the Draw at 3.25 with BetFred.

Napoli v Inter Milan, Sunday 1945

Another big match sees Inter travelling to the South to Naples. Napoli have again showed in Europe that their forward line should be feared by all, as Chelsea discovered this time. The front four of Cavani, Hamsik, Lavezzi and Gargano are amongst the best in world football now, possibly the best beyond Barca and Real in Spain. Their league form has tailed off a bit to leave them to far behind for a proper title push, but they will want to go for Champions League qualification again. Cavani has now scored in each of the last three matches after a short dry spell and will be looking forward to facing an Inter side who are struggling.

Early on after the appointment of Claudio Ranieri it looked like Inter had steadied the ship and could even have pushed for Champions League football again after a disastrous start to their season. However comma that hope has now dissipated completely. They have fallen to seventh after failing to win in five league matches, as well as losing in the Copa Italia and also midweek in the Champions League. Ranieri must be feeling the pressure, and it looks like the problems can be traced to Sneijder's return to the side. The Dutchman is some player, but the thing Inter had found was a work ethic and lack of stars initially under Ranieri, and his reinstatement to the side has disrupted that. I fail to see how to solve this without a huge fall-out.

Back Napoli at 1.9 with Wiliam Hill.

Samsunspor v Bursaspor, Saturday 1400

First up in the Turkish Super Lig is struggling Samsunspor hosting Bursaspor. Samsun started the season horribly and are still suffering for it being perched above only the truly appalling Anakragucu. But, recently there have been signs they may well get on a run and pull clear of danger. This is mainly due to the inspired signing of striker Theofanis Gekas over the winter break. He may well resemble a homeless man, but he has scored goals wherever his career has taken him, and that has continued so far in Turkey. Since his arrival seven matches ago, Samsun have only lost twice. This run has also included the stunning 3-1 win over Fenerbahce and a confidence boosting 3-0 win over Ankara last weekend.

Bursaspor have featured numerous times this season as their fall from the top of the table has played out. They spent a lot of money to reach the summit, and now the investing has slowed they are reverting back to mid-table where they were before. They have now won the last two matches to regain some form, but they do not score enough to ever make me confident of backing them at regularly tight prices. I think their good recent form comes to an end here.

Back Samsunspor at 2.65 with SportingBet.

Galatasaray v Besiktas, Sunday 1700

One of the biggest matches in the calendar takes place this weekend with Istanbul powerhouses Gala and Besiktas clashing. Gala have led the table for the majority of the season and are now looking to hold off a Fenerbahce side who strengthened considerably over winter. Gala themselves have a number of players that were already very good, and this is why they probably were more concerned with holding on to players than bringing anyone in. The goalkeeper Muslera is being watched by numerous sides in more prominent leagues and the likes of Olof Mellberg, Milan Baros and Johan Elmander are all excellent players by Super Lig standards. Personally, I think they will be able to hold off their city rivals and win back the Super Lig crown.

Besiktas have fallen way behind both their city neighbours in recent seasons. This can mainly be put down to a terrible recruitment process that has seen them bringing in players like Guti who have looked more motivated by the attractive pay packets than showcasing their talents. This has only really been bucked by Ricardo Quaresma who seems to have found his level after a few years struggling in Europe's more major leagues. Simao can also still be very good on his day, but those days are becoming ever more infrequent.

Back Galatasaray at 1.95 with SportingBet.