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Euro double

By Dean Gripton

Last updated: 09:16 Thursday, September 16, 2004

Deportivo La Coruna and Fenerbahce can both get off to flying starts at home in Wednesday`s Champions League fixtures. The men from North-West Spain are now fixtures in this competition despite not being one of their country`s traditionally big clubs. To regularly qualify for this competition via the Spanish League shows their consistency over the seasons. Deportivo won six straight home games without conceding a goal in this competition last season, including that dramatic 4-0 romp over Milan in the quarter-final, before a 1-0 home defeat by eventual winners Porto in the semi. The Greek season is yet to get underway, so Olympiakos lack match practice and may struggle in the intimidating atmosphere of the Riazor Stadium. They have they`ve failed to score in their past six Champions League away games, and even though they can now boast Rivaldo in their ranks, this is not a daunting opening fixture for the hosts. The Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani has scored in both games played by Deportivo in La Liga so far this season, and he also scored six times in 12 Champions League games last season as they reached the semi-final. At BestPrice 4/1 to score the first goal, Pandiani is the man to follow as the Greeks will struggle to quell the flow of Depor attacks. With trips to their main group rivals Monaco and Liverpool to follow this game, it is imperative that the Spanish side win this match, and I fully expect them to take command of the group with a victory at BestPrice 1/2. Turkish champions Fenerbahce may be worth following when they entertain Sparta Prague. Fenerbahce, who have strengthened their squad over the summer, can boast Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk as well as Turkey`s young strike sensation Tuncay in their line-up. They also welcomed back goalkeeper Rüstü, who won two Superleague titles and a Turkish Cup during his previous nine-year stay at the club. Sparta qualified for the knockout stage last season, but lost in Turkey at Besiktas in the group stage. They failed to win away from home in this competition last season, and did not win the Czech league. That poor away form from the Czechs helps point us towards the BestPrice 5/6 about a home win. Recommended bets: 5 pts - Deportivo and Fenerbahce to win (double pays around 7/4)
CLICK HERE FOR BOTH MATCHES`S ODDS
2 pts - Deportivo v Olympiakos - Pandiani to score first (pays around 4/1)