Messi Finish

Following on nicely from yesterday's post regarding ultra-short big name teams, and today brought us another offering with Barcelona as low as 1.13. Were Barcelona hosting Granada? In fact, they were at home to an unbeaten Sevilla team, who sat in fourth place in the official table, and sixth place in the unofficial Cassini ratings - and by either measure were not too shabby a team. Yes, Barcelona had won every home game to nil so far this season, but they had played no one of any quality. Those crazy enough to back at such a price probably thought they had escaped disaster with a 90' penalty, but Messi missed and the game ended 0-0. The price is slow to move in these types of games, but once it gains some momentum after half-time, it moves fast.

Had the penalty gone in, no doubt Messi would have run around like an idiot, crossing himself, and thanking his god profusely in post match interviews, yet strangely, when he misses, there is no suggestion that god must have had money on Sevilla today. It must be quite upsetting to be a devout follower of such a fickle god.

No XX Draw selections today, but a draw for Griff as Wolves came back from 0-2 down at home to Swansea. Peter Nordsted's 'same number of goals in each half' went down as Bolton lost to Sunderland, a game which was also a loser for Football Elite, who went for Bolton at 2.3.

The World Series resumes in Arlington, Texas tonight, tied at 1-1 after the Rangers rallied with three outs remaining to beat St Louis. The momentum is with Texas.

Tomorrow sees the NFL in London, Chicago Bears v Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and there may be some interest in a couple of other football games in London and Manchester.