Scout report: Marseille’s Chelsea target Gilbert ‘Gianelli’ Imbula
A box-to-box midfielder and irrepressible dribbler more reminiscent of Vieira than Makelele.
Five unlikely title comebacks to hearten eight-points-adrift Man Utd
The Red Devils have been both the capitulators and the indefatigable chasers-down in the past.
Create a customised Premier League table with bwin’s League of Your Own
Arsenal’s set-piece deficiencies, Newcastle’s sharp shooters and the dominant foreign legions of Manchester City and Tottenham are prime examples of the quirky discoveries that can be made with our brand new package.
Olympiakos’ Mitroglou can sneak up the outside in Champions League scoring race
Striker’s hat-trick against Anderlecht puts him among Ronaldo and Messi this season.
Win tickets to Man Utd v Liverpool and Man Utd v West Brom with @bwinManUtd
David Moyes’ men can get revenge for their league defeat at Anfield when they take on Liverpool in a cup match at Old Trafford – and you could be at the game thanks to bwin.
Tasty Championship Treble: Goals expected as Huddersfield welcome QPR
Our Championship tipster advised a 10/1 winning treble last weekend, see who he’s backing today
EXCLUSIVE: Robben has ‘really good feeling’ about Guardiola philosophy
Arjen Robben is relishing the start of a new era at FC Bayern, with the ex-Chelsea star full of praise for boss Pep Guardiola and what he will bring to the club.
It has been suggested in some quarters that the former Barcelona manager has his work cut out after seeing predecessor Jupp Heynckes deliver the treble last term.
However, Robben insists the players are excited about Guardiola’s philosophy – which brought him an incredible 14 trophies in four seasons at the Nou Camp – and are feeling confident about the challenges lying ahead.
“I like [his philosophy] and so does the team,” said the Dutchman in an exclusive interview with bwin, which you can watch by opening the player at the top of the page.
“It’s a new start for me with a new manager and I have a really good feeling about it.
“I have said it a few times already but I think that I can still take a few steps further forwards and I hope it will be a successful season.”
Guardiola has already signed playmaker Thiago Alcantara from his former employers in a £17m deal, while Mario Gotze was lured from Borussia Dortmund and defender Jan Kirchhoff has arrived from Mainz.
With the nucleus of last year’s all-conquering team still in place – only Mario Gomez has departed to Fiorentina – Robben believes Guardiola will be focusing on evolution rather than revolution.
“Although there are quite a few good new ideas, we don’t need to exaggerate as we’re not suddenly going to play completely differently,” he said.
“I think the most important thing is that, with the exception of Gomez, all of the old players are still here and that we have gained three very good new players.”
Robben, of course, penned the final chapter of Bayern’s incredible campaign by scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final as Dortmund were defeated 2-1 at Wembley in May.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were also forced to play second fiddle to Bayern in the Bundesliga and the German Cup, but they drew first blood this season with their recent 4-2 victory in the German Super Cup.
Robben admits he is expecting another strong challenge from their main rivals for domestic silverware.
“I think Dortmund will certainly be up there again and they will possibly be our biggest opponent,” he said.
“But I also believe that there are a number of other very good teams in the Bundesliga. It will be a huge challenge for us and we are all looking forward to getting started again.”
Robben will expect to be involved as Bayern bring the curtain up on the new league season on Friday against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Allianz Arena, with bwin making them strong 13/100 favourites for the win.
But despite witnessing the Bavarians thump Gladbach 5-1 in the recent Telekom Cup pre-season tournament, the 29-year-old is taking nothing for granted.
“It was good to beat them but that was it,” he added.
“Our preparations are continuing and we need to keep up our progress so that we are 100% ready to face Gladbach again.”
Bayern are as short as 1/5 to retain the Bundesliga title, while they are 9/4 favourites to win the Champions League again and a price of 31/4 is on offer for them to repeat their treble-winning exploits.
And if they are to enjoy another successful campaign, one thing is for sure: an increasingly mature Robben is likely to play an integral role.
Odds cut on Ronaldo making sensational return to Man Utd
Fresh reports today have linked the Portuguese star with his old club and bwin punters can still get 11/4 that the Real Madrid ace goes back to Old Trafford.
EXCLUSIVE: Robben determined to banish Chelsea nightmare with ‘perfect’ victory
It’s fair to say that Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben had a nightmare in last year’s Champions League final against Chelsea.
The Dutchman missed a host of presentable chances to put the Bavarians out of sight in front of an expectant home crowd at the Allianz Arena and then watched on in horror as Petr Cech saved his penalty in extra-time.
Of course, Robben’s fluffed effort from 12 yards eventually proved costly as Chelsea went on to lift the trophy after winning a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
However, the painful memory of seeing the likes of Cech, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba – former team-mates from his time at Stamford Bridge – celebrating a landmark success will be the furthest thing from Robben’s mind on Saturday.
Bayern have the perfect opportunity to make up for the Chelsea debacle as they take on Borussia Dortmund in their latest attempt to prevail in European football’s showpiece fixture.
The Bavarians are the strong 67/100 favourites to win inside 90 minutes and having wrapped up the Bundesliga title at a canter and with the German Cup final to come, Robben believes victory at Wembley would cap an incredible campaign.
“It’s the crowning moment,” said the 29-year-old in an exclusive interview with bwin (which you can watch by opening the player at the top of this page).
“If we win the title, we will have had a perfect season. That’s what we’re all working towards. We are completely focused on the final.”
Bayern booked their place at Wembley with a stunning 7-0 aggregate demolition of Barcelona in the last four – a result which sent shockwaves around the continent.
And while Robben dismisses suggestions that the victory automatically installs Bayern as Europe’s best team, he also admits that such a comprehensive triumph over the much-heralded Catalans was particularly special.
“The semi-final was a personal highlight for me,” he said.
“When you play against a team that has dominated Europe for the last five or six years and one that everyone talks about and then go on to beat them in such a dominant fashion, it is naturally sensational.”
Open the player above to see Robben discuss the strengths of Dortmund, the importance of ending Bayern’s 12-year wait for a Champions League crown, whether the Bundesliga is now the best league in Europe, and more.
Arsenal: 2012/13 Season by Numbers
Chris Bryant takes a light-hearted statistical look at a Gunners campaign which appeared to be heading for disaster but finished with yet another top-four finish.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Five key stats you won’t have seen
The two eternal rivals collide at the Bernabeu in a Copa del Rey final that promises fireworks and Dan Billingham has identified some interesting betting angles for punters ahead of the game.
EXCLUSIVE: Higuain tips Real to inflict Copa capital punishment
Gonzalo Higuain is backing Real Madrid to end a troubled season on a high by winning Friday’s mouth-watering Copa del Rey final clash with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.
Los Blancos surrendered their La Liga crown to Barcelona and were bundled out in the Champions League semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund, leaving only the domestic cup as potential silverware.
But far from being underwhelmed by the prospect of lifting the least prestigious of those trophies, Higuain is relishing the Bernabeu showdown and reckons Jose Mourinho’s men will emerge victorious.
“It’s going to be a thrilling battle between two eternal rivals,” said the Argentine striker in an exclusive interview with bwin.
“Of course I’m betting on us winning. I hope that’s the case and that we are all happy.”
The question of Mourinho’s future aside, much of the build-up has focused on the battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao, who have scored 87 goals between them this term in all competitions.
Higuain admitted that both players could play a crucial part in the outcome, but also emphasised that Real must show unity to ensure they prevail in the capital clash.
“Yes, [Ronaldo and Falcao] are going to be important, but the key is that the team is at its best and that’s what we are looking for,” he said.
“If that’s the case then we have a great chance of winning the cup.”
With home advantage to call upon – even if the fans will be split 50-50 – Real are unsurprisingly made 53/100 favourites to win inside 90 minutes and 1/4 to lift the trophy by any means required.
And for all Falcao’s undoubted qualities, if Atletico are to spring a surprise, their solid defence, which has conceded just 30 goals in La Liga, is sure to be the foundation.
Higuain will, of course, be in direct opposition to Diego Simeone’s miserly rearguard at the Bernabeu, but the 25-year-old suggested that they are far from impregnable.
“If they have [conceded] the lowest number of goals in the league, it’s because they are doing well,” he said.
“But our idea is to look for their weak points, which they do have, and I hope that’s reflected on Friday and we win.”
Atletico can be backed at 17/4 to win in normal time and 51/20 to lift the trophy by any means necessary, while we will refund selected losing single bets if both teams score in the first half.
See this offer, and all our other Copa del Rey final markets, by clicking here.
Goals Galore: Start the car for this 4/1 Premier League treble
David Segar sets his sights on the DW Stadium, St James’ Park and the Emirates in search of high-scoring games this weekend.