Lays of the Weekend: San Siro curse to haunt Inter

19Apr 2013

Betfair

Christian Crowther puts forward the case for three more chokers ahead of the weekend's action...

Lay Sheffield Wednesday to beat Ipswich @ 2.3

Mick McCarthy's Tractor Boys have ploughed a steady furrow away from the Championship danger zone since the 'Irishman' took charge back in November. Back in those dark days of autumn, Ipswich were propping up the second tier but, ahead of this trip to Yorkshire, they've reached the heady heights of 13th. This is due to a brilliant run of form in which the Portman Road outfit have won four of their last six games including a huge scalp on Tuesday night, when they comprehensively beat promotion-seeking Crystal Palace 3-0. Next up they face a Sheffield Wednesday side still in serious danger of the drop and often uncomfortable playing at Hillsborough - highlighted by a joint-divisional high of 10 home league losses.

Lay Mallorca to beat Rayo Vallecano @ 2.28

Apart from struggling for any real form in the latter stages of the season, these sides also share something else in common. The only side that they have beaten in their last four games is bottom-placed Celta Vigo. Still, it's the islanders who are in grave trouble of the drop whereas visiting Rayo still have lingering hopes of a European place, currently in ninth ahead of proceedings. And, to be fair to the visitors, their own patchy form can be attributed to playing three of the current top five in their last four matches. Rayo won the reverse fixture 2-0 and, ahead of this trip to the largest of the Balearic Islands, have a man in great goalscoring nick. Top scorer Piti has scored three in his last five games.

Lay Inter to beat Parma @ 2.02

Fans of Inter will be starting to wish this season had stopped in mid-November. Back then, they were second in the Serie A table, propelled there by a phenomenal run of seven straight victories before things started to turn a little sour for the Nerazzurri (although some may say things went to the dogs as soon as Jose Mourinho left). Now, even their European dreams are sliding into the abyss as a return of just three points from a possible 15 have left them floundering in seventh place, while they exited the Coppa Italia at the semi-final stage to Roma in midweek. Many of their woes have stemmed from appalling home form. The San Siro has been a barren place for Inter of late, where they've lost the last four domestic fixtures and haven't recorded a league win since February 10.