Home and Away: Benfica eye fifth straight Taca de Liga trophy

27Feb 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner identifies two value picks from the continent to build on his winning 4/1 tip of Real Madrid yesterday, which made it three winners from four picks this week.

We're off to Paris for our first pick of the day, as PSG host Marseille at Parc des Princes, looking to secure their second victory in a week over their rivals.

Carlo Ancelotti's side ran out 2-0 winners on Sunday, as David Beckham made his debut, and will be keen to build on that result with another win here in the Coupe de France.

PSG have lost just one of their last 16 outings - winning 14 of those - and that underlines just how dominant they have been of late.

And the hosts are likely to go with a largely unchanged side for this clash, with Beckham already confirmed to start in place of suspended midfielder Marco Verratti.

PSG sit at the summit of Ligue 1 - three points clear of nearest pretenders Lyon - and they are unbeaten in four meetings with their l'OM rivals, winning three and drawing one.

Visitors Marseille go into this one eyeing silverware - but have not won this competition since 1989.

Elie Baup's side sit in third place in the table, but are eight points behind their hosts, and have failed to win three of their last four in the league.

The away side are likely to be missing Andre Ayew and Jeremy Morel, who both picked up knocks on Sunday, and just one win in their last five on the road suggests that they could struggle here.

PSG have scored nine goals in their last four home games, and that could be telling as they lineup against a Marseille side which has shipped nine in their last five away from home.

Bet 1: PSG (HOME) @ 1.6

Over to Portugal now for our next selection - and Sporting Braga host Benfica in the semi final of the Taca de Liga, with the visitors looking to secure the trophy for the fifth consecutive season.

Braga go into this clash out of sorts, and have failed to win in half a dozen of their last eight outings - a run which will have knocked confidence in the home camp.

Boss José Peseiro will be desperate for his side to arrest that slump here, and take one step closer to winning their first silverware since 1976-77, by booking their place in the final of this competition.

But two losses from their last three on their own patch threatens the formidable reputation of the Arcebispos - and the home side have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight games, all the way back to early January.

Benfica line up for this tie full of confidence - sitting second in the league, on level points with leaders Porto, and unbeaten since October. Yes, October.

That astonishing run consists 26 games, and just four draws in that time show just how consistent Jorge Jesus' charges have been in recent months.

Jesus has already intimated in the media that this encounter is as important to him as the league campaign - and Benfica are unlikely to squander their chances of scooping another title here.

When these two sides met in the league a month ago, and Benfica ran out 2-1 winners at the Estadio AXA - and I fancy the away side to book their place in the final of this trophy this evening.

Bet 2: Benfica (AWAY) @ 2.12