Football betting: Weekend previews

Sunday offers the pick of this week's prime Premier League football offerings - with Blackburn Rovers handily priced at 7/2 with Paddy Power to bring rampant Manchester United back to heel at Old Trafford. United are in rude health at the moment, having scored a staggering four goals in five of their last six matches, but will be rocked by the news that Wayne Rooney will miss four weeks with an ankle injury. Only a last-gasp strike by William Gallas prevented them from beating Arsenal last weekend for what would have been their 12th straight win excluding the meaningless Carling Cup defeat to Coventry. So another four-goal hammering at Old Trafford then? Well, no, actually, because, lest we forget, Blackburn are not enduring the shabbiest of Premier League seasons themselves. Their unexpected Uefa Cup exit was arguably their best result of the season, given that Mark Hughes's men have been able to focus on matters closer to home. In fact that Larissa loss was their only away defeat of the season; they have since embarked on a run of seven wins and a draw. That stalemate came at Anfield last week and it is worth pointing out that Rovers have held Arsenal at home and Chelsea away this campaign. They have also forced draws out of United in two of their last three league visits to Old Trafford and with Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy scoring for fun, the 8/1 about an away win with Paddy Power is tempting. However, all the evidence is pointing to a well-priced draw. Across the channel two sides involved in Champions League action on Wednesday lock horns in Ligue 1. Lyon are striding purposefully towards league title No 7 and will have no problem overcoming Marseille, who are floundering in penultimate place. Alain Perrin's side beat Stuttgart for the second time in as many weeks on Wednesday and boast two of France's most promising players in Hatem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema. Perrin, who admits to still "feeling the pain" of his sacking by Marseille three years ago will be quick to put the knife in. In Italy, AC Milan are having their worst start to the league season in 26 years and are without a home win in Serie A since April. Fortunately for the Rossoneri, they are away this Sunday. Atalanta may be unbeaten in Bergamo this term but have yet hosted any of the big guns. Having scored 18 goals in their last three away matches and with Ronaldo ready to return, Milan can make it another enjoyable away day. In Spain, take fifth-placed Atlético Madrid to overcome lowly Almeira. Atlético were unlucky to lose 4-3 to Villarreal last week and after beating Sevilla recently are beginning to mount a title charge. Verdict: 2pts Manchester United to draw with Blackburn at 7/2 (Paddy Power); 2pts treble on Lyon, AC Milan and Atlético Madrid @ 4.43/1 (Paddy Power).