UEFA CUP BETTING PICK - FIORENTINA V EVERTON

UEFA Cup

2008-03-06 - Fiorentina vs Everton

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

FIORENTINA V EVERTON
UEFA Cup - Knockout Phase

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Arguably the tie of the round as the 4th placed team in Italy meets the 5th placed team from England with both eyeing a spot in the Champions League next season.

FIORENTINA

Fiorentina sit in 4th spot in Serie A with a 13-8-5 record and are 4 points clear of Milan in 5th as the race for the Champions League spots in Italy hot up. Fiorentina are 7-3-3 at home this season, scoring 23 and conceding 14. Only Inter, Roma and Juventus have won more games at home than Fiorentina. They are unbeaten in all 8 UEFA Cup games this season and have won 3 out of 4 at home. In the last round they beat Rosenborg 3-1 over the 2 legs.

Fiorentina come into the game with some form, only losing 1 of their last 7 games in all competitions. They have also won 5 of their last 6 games. Fiorentina have won their last 3 at home and have also won 7 and lost 2 of their last 9 at home in all competitions. It has been 14 games since Fiorentina last drew a game at home. Fiorentina won their last home game 1-0 but that is their only clean sheet at home in 6 games.

Adrian Mutu misses this game through injury so Pablo Osvaldo will be expected to start after scoring the winner at Juventus this past weekend.

EVERTON

Everton are back in 5th place in the Premier League after Liverpool won their game in hand on Wednesday night but their 16-5-7 record has them level on points with their local rivals, although they have an 8 goal deficit to make up. Everton are 7-3-4 away from Goodison Park this season with 19 goals scored and 12 conceded and only Chelsea, Manchester United and Portsmouth have won more away games this season.

Everton's away defence is only bettered by Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool. Everton have won 7 and drawn 1 of their games in the UEFA Cup this season. They have won all 4 away games and have scored at least twice in each game.

Everton have only lost 1 of their last 10 games in all competitions and have actually won their last 5 games with only 2 goals conceded. Everton have only conceded 2 goals in their last 7 games in all competitions. They have only lost 1 of their last 6 games away from home and have won 3 of their last 4 away. Everton have only conceded 1 goal in their last 4 away from home.

Mikel Arteta is the only doubt for Everton but he has travelled with the squad and faces a late fitness test. Yakubu will continue up front on his own.

PREDICTION :

Fiorentina and Everton will probably have hoped for a kinder draw at this stage of the competition and I feel it is a tough game for both sides. Adrian Mutu will be a big miss for Fiorentina as Everton have proved their power defensively in recent weeks.

Everton have already managed tough away wins in this competition this season and I think their price is one that should be chanced, especially considering Fiorentina struggle for clean sheets and havent drawn at home in some time.

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

BET: EVERTON WIN