Berlusconi Trophy

Football Elite got the Recommended Bets for the new season off to a great start with both selections winning this weekend.

Promoted teams West Bromwich Albion (2.56) beat Sunderland 1-0 and Newcastle United (3.35) thrashed Aston Villa, a strong away team last season, by no less than 6-0. Matt's strategy of backing promoted teams in their first home games of the season continues to bring success. Blackpool play Fulham next weekend in their opening home fixture.

The one Short-List selection, Stoke City, lost to Tottenham Hotspur.

Only two games remain for this weekend so far as the Elo ratings are concerned, one in France later tonight, and the Manchester City v Liverpool game tomorrow night.

The Premier League positions don't change too dramatically, but the Championship is more volatile. Early risers from the start of the season are (no surprises) Cardiff City, Ipswich Town, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall. In League One it is Hartlepool and Oldham Athletic off to good starts and in League Two Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley.

The Conference is always hard to predict, with a lot of former 'big' clubs trying to reclaim their place in the League. Luton Town are clear at the top of the ratings and tempting at 2.0 to win the league, but at this level, things can change in a hurry. Relegated teams often take a while to find their feet at the new level. For example, Grimsby Town lost 1-2 at home yesterday to bottom rated Hayes and Yeading United, who were coming off a 0-5 midweek defeat at Eastbourne Borough.

Big movers in Scotland are Hearts, Raith Rovers, Forfar Athletic and Berwick Rangers.

The Italian and Spanish leagues have only had their Super-Cups so far, although AC Milan go for their sixth Berlusconi Trophy in a row versus Juventus in a few minutes. With AC Milan at -1 on the Elo ratings, I have had a small interest on the Asian Handicap (-.05) at 2.23.

In France, Marseille and Lille take turns at the top, and in Germany after all of one game, the big movers are Bayer Leverkusen and the two new boys Kaiserslautern and St Pauli.