Soccer betting

Arsenal have been plunged back into a defensive injury crisis ahead of the visit of Chelsea after injuries to Kieran Gibbs and William Gallas.
Gibbs, with a fractured metatarsal, and Gallas both hobbled out of Tuesday nights 2-0 Champions League win over Standard Liege at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners responded from their lacklustre defeat to Sunderland with a comfortable victory which secured safe passage into the last 16 at the top of Group H ahead of the final match in Olympiacos after first-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson.

However, it came at a cost as centre-back Gallas went off at the break with a combination of an ankle problem and a lump above his eye following a clash of heads with Andrey Arshavin, which also left the Russian needing staples to close a bloody gash.

Gibbs, meanwhile, limped out during the closing stages following a hefty challenge from Eliaquim Mangala.

The England Under-21 full-back had only just returned to fitness from a injury to his right foot suffered while away on international duty, and Arsenal confirmed Gibbs had suffered a fracture to the first metatarsal on his left foot, and would undergo surgery on Wednesday which is set to rule him out for at least two months.

Gallas has an ankle problem and a swollen eye. I think he will recover from the eye, and from the ankle we hope so in time for Chelsea, said Wenger, speaking immediately after the match.

Gibbs is much more serious.

It was a very bad challenge, and it was not the players first try.

We have to X-ray him and I think he has gone to hospital to check because he has a big hole in his leg.

He doesnt look too good, and that is unfortunate.

Barcelona revived its chances of holding onto the Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday while Fiorentina and Arsenal advanced to the last 16 and five-time winner Liverpool was eliminated.

In danger of going out of the competition if the results had gone badly, Barcelona raised its game to comfortably beat the Italian champion with goals by Gerard Pique and Pedro Rodriguez at Camp Nou and climb to the top of the Group F standings.

A victory like this helps us … to finish first, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. We played a good game, which is fantastic for us.

The victory lifted Barcelona from third to first and all but ensured qualification while Inter is now in danger of going out. Jose Mourinhos team is level on six points with newly crowned Russian champion Rubin Kazan which was held 0-0 at home by Dynamo Kiev.

Only Barca played and they played well, said Inter coach Jose Mourinho. Inter just didnt have the level to match.

To make it even more exciting going to the final round of games on Dec. 9, last place Kiev could still qualify. It has five points and, if it beats Barcelona at home and Inter and Rubin draw in Milan, then Barca and Kiev will go through.

Fiorentina made it to the second round with a 1-0 victory over Lyon, which had already qualified from Group E, and that result put Liverpool out despite a 1-0 victory at Hungarys Debrecen.

Juan Vargas 29th minute penalty was enough for Fiorentinas fourth victory in five group games and sent the Italian side through with 12 points. Lyon dropped to second and, although David Ngogs goal in Budapest gave Liverpool victory and seven points, it cant catch either of the teams above and will drop into the Europa League as consolation for finishing third.

You get what you deserve in this competition, said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. Its gone now. Its in the past and youve got to move on.

The main prize has gone. To be playing for the Europa League is disappointing but weve got to accept that and move on and try and win it.

Arsenal qualified for the last 16 with a 2-0 home victory over Standard Liege with goals by Sami Nasri and Denilson and guaranteed finishing as group winner. Second place Olympiakos was held 0-0 by AZ Alkmaar and holds a three-point lead over Standard Liege going into the final round of games.

In this group, we were favorites, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team reached the 2006 final and has repeatedly made it to the last eight. We did the job. If you put the 10 years together, we have been consistent.

Romanian champion Unirea beat already-qualified Sevilla 1-0 at home to move closer to a place in the last 16 on its debut in the competition.

Sevilla defender Ivica Dragutinovic headed the ball into his own net in the final minute of the first half and Unirea now has eight points, two fewer than the Spanish team.

Despite languishing In the Bundesliga relegation zone, Stuttgart shrugged off its dismal domestic form by winning 2-0 away to Rangers to stay in contention for the knockout round but still two points behind Unirea, which it hosts next.

The team played very well, we were the better team and we created many chances and I am very happy, said Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel. We played with heart and aggression and did a very good job.

Now we have a big chance at home against (Unirea) Urziceni and, if we win this game, we are qualified for the Champions League and we will try everything.

Teenager Sebastian Rudy scored on his first Champions League start and his cross set up a headed second by Zdravko Kuzmanovic in the second half.

The loss was Rangers third in a row at home and it is guaranteed to finish last with no chance of a Europa League spot.

We dont deserve it. If we play three games at home and we dont take a points then we dont deserve to progress.

Of the 16 teams in action on Wednesday, Manchester United, Chelsea, Porto and Bordeaux have already made it to the knockout phase but multiple former champions Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Juventus still have work to do to join them.

Barcelonas reign as Champions Cup holder could be over as early as Tuesday if the Spanish club loses at home to Inter Milan and group rival Rubin Kazan beats Dynamo Kiev.

What may have seemed unthinkable when the draw was made in August is now a reality for coach Pep Guardiola and his talented side. And the fact that Lionel Messi was one of six players who missed training on Sunday added to Guardiolas woes as he faces up to a tough game against the Italian champion.

An attack of swine flu has already ruled out defender Eric Abidal and midfielder Yaya Toure, and Rafael Marquez is awaiting tests to see if he has become the third victim.

Strikers Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have leg injuries and defender Gerard Pique could only do light training in the gym.

We have no other option than winning. And we hope the fans respond, midfielder Sergio Busquets said. The players will be giving it 200 percent, and know that with the fans behind them, they will be stronger still.

Whoever is available to play will be looking to get through this with all the enthusiasm we have.

Inters 3-1 victory at Bologna on Saturday strengthened its healthy lead atop the Serie A standings, making Jose Mourinhos team more confident about capturing a place in the last 16 in the European competition with a victory at Camp Nou.

Barcelona goes into the game in third place in the group with five points, one behind Inter. Rubin, which captured its second consecutive Russian league title Saturday, also has five points and can make it eight when it hosts last place Kiev.

Even if Barca finishes level on points with Rubin after the last round of qualifying, the head-to-head record - Rubin won in Barcelona and played a scoreless draw in Kazan - would give the Russian club the edge.

Barcelona is not the only European heavyweight in danger of going out this week.

Five-time winner Liverpool is on the verge of elimination with five points to make up on second place Fiorentina. Lyon is already out of reach.

Rafa Benitez team goes to Hungary to face Debrecen and even a victory wont be enough if Fiorentina beats Lyon at home.

Liverpools own form - one win in 10 games in all competitions - doesnt suggest a recovery, especially with top striker Fernando Torres out of the lineup because of a lingering groin problem and two more players picking up injuries in Saturdays 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City in the Premier League.

AC Milan and Real Madrid, who have a combined 16 title triumphs in European footballs biggest competition, are level on on seven points ahead of Wednesdays Group C games.

Milan hosts Marseille, which is third with six points. Spanish league leader Madrid, which has won the European title nine times but not since 2002, should be confident of beating last place FC Zurich at home.

Six teams, including two from England and two from France, already have secured spots in the last 16 with two games to spare. They are Manchester United, Chelsea, Bordeaux, Lyon, FC Porto and Sevilla and their aim now is to try and finish group winners, which would mean facing a runner-up in the knockout round.

With Bordeaux already through, two more former European champions are vying for the other spot from Group A, with Bayern Munich needing to make up four points on second place Juventus.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaals job is already in danger ahead of a home match against Maccabi Haifa, while Juventus can qualify with a victory at Bordeaux.

Arsenal needs only a point at home to third place Standard Liege on Tuesday to reach the last 16 and a victory at the Emirates Stadium will guarantee the Gunners finish top of Group H.

Four points behind, Olympiakos holds second place and travels to last place AZ Alkmaar.

In Group G, second-place Unirea hosts group leading Sevilla, while third place Stuttgart visits Rangers.

With Man. United already guaranteed a place in the last 16, CSKA Moscow and German champion Wolfsburg are fighting over the other place from Group B and meet in Russia on Wednesday.

A Wolfsburg victory will guarantee a place in the second round.

Inter Milan striker Samuel Etoo returns to the Camp Nou for the first time since leaving Barcelona with the defending champions in real danger of being eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League.

A defeat on Tuesday coupled with a Rubin Kazan victory over Dynamo Kiev in the next-to-last round in Group F would put Barcelona out of the competition and provide the Serie A leaders with a passage to the knockout stage.

Etoo helped Barcelona win eight major trophies, including a historic treble last season of Spanish league, Champions League and Copa del Rey titles. The Cameroon striker vowed never to rejoice scoring at a place where he experienced such success.

Ill never celebrate a goal in the Camp Nou, Etoo said. Its a house where I experienced so many more beautiful moments than bad ones.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho only played Etoo in the second half of the teams 3-1 win over Bologna on Saturday that gives it a five-point lead in the Serie A.

Etoo will be a starter in Barcelona, so I made this choice to let Samuel rest a bit because his foot still isnt 100 percent, Mourinho said.

Barcelona drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, allowing Real Madrid to take a one-point lead in the Spanish league. To make matters worse, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi were among six players to miss training Sunday due to injury or illness.

Ibrahimovic, part of the offseason deal that took Etoo to Inter, has a hamstring injury and Messi a thigh problem. Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal are out due to swine flu, but Rafael Marquez should recover from flulike symptoms and Gerard Pique is expected to play.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will also need to keep an eye on Sundays clasico match against Madrid before deciding whether to select Ibrahimovic and Messi.

What worries me is that our players recover, Guardiola said. We need people to be available.

However, Mourinho expects his former striker to play.

Ibrahimovic is 99.9999 percent sure to play, he said.

Barcelona lost its last match at the Camp Nou - 2-1 to Rubin Kazan last month - but has never been beaten in two successive European home games. The Spanish club and Rubin are on five points, one behind Inter and one in front of Dynamo Kiev.

Tuesday, we have a final, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. Its a duel between two of the best teams in Europe.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal thinks his job is on the line in Sundays game against Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen.

If we win - and we have to - well have everything again in our hands, van Gaal said Friday. The club needs success, but the coach too.

If I dont produce, I will be fired, van Gaal said. We are in eighth place, thats not normal, it cant be.

Bayern is six points behind Leverkusen with one third of the season gone and another defeat would likely rule out any hopes of winning the title. Bayern is also all but out of the Champions Leagues next stage.

Leverkusen, however, has not won in Munich in 20 years.

Bayern winger Arjen Robben is unlikely to be in the starting lineup after a knee operation and the teams other star, Franck Ribery, is out with knee tendinitis.

Striker Miroslav Klose, who had to spend several days in quarantine after his twin sons contracted the swine flu, also could miss the game.

Van Gaals future appeared shakier than ever after senior figures at the club slammed him Thursday.

In a joint interview published in the mass-circulation newspaper Bild, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer and general manager Uli Hoeness both gave the Dutch coach some blunt advice.

Louis van Gaal thinks he can take care of everything himself, Hoeness said. But one single person cant solve everything.

Beckenbauer said he has to learn to delegate responsibility.

Hoeness, who is slated to replace Beckenbauer as team president on Nov. 27, has said before that Bayern will wait until the Christmas break to assess the situation. But he has recently become more critical in his comments about van Gaal.

The board and van Gaal deal with each other in a critical and honest manner. I cannot keep saying things are great when we are in eighth place, Hoeness said.

Defender Gabriel Heinze scored against his former teammates to give Marseille a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Friday in a French league match which was postponed from last month.

An outbreak of swine flu in PSG had forced the match to be postponed, which set off rioting between the fans in downtown Marseille. Security was stepped up on Friday and police arrested 15 fans before the rivals clashed at Stade Velodrome; 11 Marseille fans for throwing objects at buses carrying PSG fans and verbally assaulting police, two more for failing to comply with police orders, and two PSG fans when they arrived in town.

They missed seeing Heinze, who played three seasons at PSG, scored his first league goal of the season in the 25th minute, heading home Fabrice Abriels free kick past goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

Marseille moved up to fourth place in the standings, within three points of leader Bordeaux.

We had to win to reduce the gap, Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said. We sticked to the basics tonight.

Paris Saint-Germain, which was handed its third loss in four games, stood in 13th, six points behind Marseille.

Defending champion Bordeaux will host Valenciennes on Saturday hoping to bounce back after a surprising 2-0 loss at Lille in the previous round, while second-place Lyon travels to last-place Grenoble.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc will be without playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who picked up a groin injury during Frances 1-1 draw against Ireland on Wednesday that qualified the team for next years World Cup.

Midfielder Gregory Sertic and defenders Henrique and Franck Jurietti will also miss the match.

On Saturday, its also: Lens vs. Nancy; Rennes vs. Le Mans and Auxerre vs. Monaco.

Following a strong start to the season, promoted Montpellier failed to build on the momentum and will try to secure its first win in four matches when it hosts Lille. Toulouse travels at Nice and struggling Saint-Etienne hosts Lorient in Sundays other games.

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has won South Africas player of the year award for 2009.

Pienaar was voted the national teams best player in a text message vote by fans.

Mamelodi Sundowns Siboniso Gaxa and Macbeth Sibaya of Russian team Rubin Kazan finished second and third.

Results Saturday in English football (home teams listed first).

League One

Brentford 2, Millwall 2

Bristol Rovers 3, Carlisle 2

Charlton 5, Milton Keynes Dons 1

Colchester 2, Exeter 2

Gillingham 1, Oldham 0

Hartlepool 1, Leyton Orient 0

Huddersfield 6, Wycombe 0

Norwich 2, Tranmere 0

Walsall 2, Stockport 0

Yeovil 1, Southend 0

League Two

Accrington 0, Dagenham Redbridge 1

Aldershot 0, Macclesfield 0

Barnet 0, Hereford 0

Bradford 1, Bournemouth 1

Bury 3, Notts County 3

Crewe 1, Morecambe 2

Darlington 1, Burton Albion 0

Lincoln 1, Cheltenham 1

Northampton 0, Grimsby 0

Port Vale 1, Rotherham 2

Rochdale 2, Chesterfield 3

Shrewsbury 1, Torquay 1

Home teams listed first
World Cup Qualifying.

European Playoffs

First Leg

Greece 0, Ukraine 0

Ireland 0, France 1

Portugal 1, Bosnia-Herzegovina 0

Russia 2, Slovenia 1

CONCACAF-South America Playoff

First Leg

Costa Rica 0, Uruguay 1

Asia-Oceania Playoff

Second Leg

New Zealand 1, Bahrain 0 (New Zealand advanced 1-0 on aggregate)

Africa

Group A

Morocco 0, Cameroon 2

Togo 1, Gabon 0

Group B

Kenya 2, Nigeria 3

Mozambique 1, Tunisia 0

Group C

Egypt 2, Algeria 0

Rwanda 0, Zambia 0

Group D

Sudan 1, Benin 2

Group E

Burkina Faso 1, Malawi 0

Ivory Coast 3, Guinea 0

Asia Cup Qualifying

Group B

Kuwait 2, Indonesia 1

Oman 1, Australia 2

Group C

Uzbekistan 3, Malaysia 1

Group D

Lebanon 0, China 2

Vietnam 0, Syria 1

Group E

Iran 1, Jordan 0

Singapore 1, Thailand 3

Friendlies

Angola 1, Republic of Congo 1

Belgium 3, Hungary 0

Croatia 5, Liechtenstein 0

Denmark 0, South Korea 0

Estonia 0, Albania 0

Honduras 2, Latvia 1

Italy 0, Netherlands 0

Luxembourg 1, Iceland 1

Macedonia 3, Canada 0

Northern Ireland 0, Serbia 1

Poland 0, Romania 1

Saudi Arabia 1, Belarus 1

Slovakia 1, United States 0

South Africa 0, Japan 0

Spain 2, Argentina 1

Switzerland 0, Norway 1

Wales 3, Scotland 0

At Doha, Qatar

Brazil 1, England 0

Results Saturday in Scottish football (home teams listed first).

Division One

Ayr 1, Ross County 1

Dundee 0, Queen of the South 0

Dunfermline 2, Partick Thistle 1

Inverness 2, Airdrie 0

Morton 5, Raith 0

Division Two

Alloa 1, Stenhousemuir 4

Brechin 2, Clyde 2

Cowdenbeath 2, Dumbarton 1

East Fife 1, Stirling 2

Peterhead 1, Arbroath 2

Division Three

Annan 0, Elgin 2

Berwick 1, Queens Park 1

East Stirling 2, Forfar 1

Montrose 1, Stranraer 1