Feyenoord faces stiff PSV test

Soccer Betting Lines

09/21/2007 - Eindhoven, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After a disappointing campaign last season that saw Feyenoord finish outside of the top five in the Eredivisie standings, the Rotterdam club is off to a perfect start through four games this season, but faces its biggest challenge of the early season on Sunday, a trip to PSV Eindhoven.

While the defending three-time league champions have started well themselves, posting a 3-0-1 mark, it is Feyenoord who has looked like the team to beat through four games this season.

In winning its first two games by a combined 8-0 score against Utrecht and NAC, Feyenoord was dominant. The club then put together a strong 2-0 win against Willem II, before conceding its first goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over Roda.

Former Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay has made quite an impression on his new team, scoring one goal in each of his first four games.

Makaay was pushed out at Bayern following a trio of new signings at striker, but he has found a home with Feyenoord, and will look to make it five straight games with a goal on Sunday.

That task might prove to be difficult against a PSV defense that has yet to allow a goal in its first four games this season.

Despite the loss of Brazilian defender Alex, the anchor of the team's back line last season, PSV has been as stingy as ever so far this year, lead by strong defenders Jan Kromkamp and Carlos Salcido.

The defection of Arouna Kone up top has left a void to be filled, but Danny Koevermans and Danko Lazovic are doing their best to take Kone's spot, and the return to fitness of fellow striker Jefferson Farfan should help with that problem.

PSV's lone blemish through four games, a 0-0 draw with Twente, highlighted its lone potential weakness, but with Farfan returning and the rest of the strike force finding its form, PSV is a team that will remain near the top all season and contend for a fourth consecutive league title.

Feyenoord is the team with something to prove after a poor year last season. The Rotterdam club is eager to put itself back in the league's elite, and three points in Eindhoven on Sunday would go a long way towards getting that goal accomplished.

On Saturday, Roda comes off a 3-1 loss to Feyenoord, but put together a 2-0-1 record prior to that contest. The team will try to get back on track against a Willem II side that is winless in its first four games. Heracles has lost all four of its games to start the season and visits Sparta, while Vitesse, who won its first three games before dropping a 1-0 game to PSV last time out, hosts Graafschap.

Sunday's other contests include, second-place Ajax travel to Alkmaar to meet an AZ team with two wins in its first four games, Groningen invading Excelsior, Heerenveen coming off its first win of the year hosting Utrecht, and Twente, unbeaten in its opening four games, entertaining NEC.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

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Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

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