The Big Wednesday Multiple: Messi to break record at the Nou Camp

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Paul Robinson is due a winning multiple as he's been knocking on the door for several weeks now. Every Wednesday he selects a home win, an away win, a match to go over 2.5 goals and a match to go under 2.5 goals. Here are today's selections:

Bet 1: Man United (HOME) @ 1.53 (8/15)

Manchester United complete their domination of Group H this evening after qualifying with two games to spare. They face CFR Cluj at Old Trafford and despite the fact they will play a marginally weakened side, they should still have enough to get the job done.

Sir Alex Ferguson will want to go into Sunday's Manchester derby on a high and he's already stated that Wayne Rooney will play as he wants to build up the striker's fitness. He also noted that he will still play a relatively strong team as CFR Cluj are in a battle with Galatasaray for second.

This fixture finished 2-1 to United in Romania and despite Cluj winning at Braga and drawing in Turkey, this will be a much sterner test, one that I'm pretty confident that they'll fail.

Bet 2: Galatasaray (AWAY) @ 2.62 (13/8)

There isn't a stand out away victory this week so I'm going to take a chance on Galatasaray getting a win at Braga. 

The Turks are second in Group H and all they have to do tonight is match Cluj's result to qualify. It is unlikely that they'll need to win to progress, however they have good form away from Turkey this year; narrowly losing to Man United in a game where they had plenty of chances, and then convincingly winning in Romania.

Braga have been the disappointment of the group, with their sole victory actually coming against Galatasaray in Turkey. They have been dreadful at home though; losing both matches to date and scoring just a single goal. They have nothing to play for this evening and it wouldn't surprise me if they put out a weakened team to save their players for the clash with Academica next Monday.

Bet 3: Barcelona v Benfica (Over 2.5 goals) @  1.5 (1/2)

Barcelona take on Benfica in what I hope will be our goal fest of the week. Tito Vilanova has included Lionel Messi in his squad despite giving a few other players the night off and that's enough to convince me that we will get at least three goals in this match.

Benfica are currently in second position in the group but they are level on points with Celtic and they will have to match the Scots result to progress through to the knockout phase. As Celtic are at home to Spartak, the Portuguese side are likely to have to grab an unexpected victory tonight, which again, points to goals.

Back to Lionel Messi though and he's just two goals away from beating Gerd Muller's 40yr old scoring record. The Argentine will likely want to do it at the Nou Camp, so with two away games coming up for Barcelona, he will be all out for a brace at least this evening.
 
Bet 4: Lille v Valencia (Under 2.5 goals) @ 1.85 (17/20)  

Lille host Valencia in what is pretty much a dead rubber as neither team can improve their position, unless Bayern Munich somehow slip up at home to BATE.

Lille have been dreadful in this competition thus far and they didn't get off the mark until matchday five when they secured a surprise victory at BATE. Before that, they'd managed to score just two goals, and eight of their 11 games in all competitions this term have gone under 2.5.

Valencia have already qualified for the knockout phase and they've been quite impressive, losing just once to Bayern. They are without star striker, Roberto Soldado, tonight though and he is their only consistent scorer. Seven of their 12 trips away from home this year have had three goals or less, and with not much to play for in this one, I can see it petering out with not many goals.

Recommended Multiple
Back Man United @ 1.53 (8/15); Back Galatasaray @ 2.62 (13/8); Back Over 2.5 Goals in Barcelona v Benfica @ 1.5 (1/2); Back Under 2.5 Goals in Lille v Valencia @ 1.85 (17/20); The Multiple pays approximately 11.12 (10/1)

Multiple prices are based on our Fixed Odds product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.

2012 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 28 pts
Returned: 27.69 pts
P/L -0.31 pts