Latest football odds: weekend preview

After two weeks of trying to separate the Cup chaff from the wheat its back to the more reliable offerings of the English and European leagues this weekend with Serie A resuming to provide us with a nice 11/1 multiple earner with Bet365. Click here for a free Bet365 £100 to bet on football with Bet365 On Saturday managerless Newcastle United brave fortress Old Trafford for Saturday afternoon's live game (17:15 ko), where Stuart Pearson has been charged with attempting to make a silk purse out of the sow's ear that is Sam Allardyce's legacy. Manchester United will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of three easy points against a demoralised Toon outfit, whose only refuge lies in the fact that, in the absence of Big Sam, at least they won't have to resort to hoofing long balls and throw-ins up to Michael Owen. Released of the shackles of the grim Allardyce era the Magpies might actually stand a chance were they playing anyone else. But, although United have slipped up over recent weeks at West Ham and Bolton, they have not dropped any points at home since the 0-0 draw against Reading way back on 12 August - hence the prohibitive 1/4 (general) about a home win, which would be best employed in a multiple bet. With Newcastle having managed just one goal in four matches, and Man Utd boasting the best defence in the country, better value lies in Bet365's 8/11 about Man Utd to win to nil. On Sunday Portsmouth take on Sunderland (13:30 ko Sky Sport One) looking to clinch their tenth away win in eleven. Their only defeats away from the south-coast have come against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea and Roy Keane's side, who have managed just one win in seven, are unlikely to join that exclusive club. Bet 365's 13/8 is simply too good to miss. In Italy, while Juventus and Roma might struggle to get back into the groove in their tricky away trips to Catania and Atalanta respectively and AC Milan are too short at 2/5 to win at home for the first time this season against Napoli, the Inter Milan juggernaut can be trusted to continue its relentless drive towards another title against struggling Siena at 1/2. In Spain, meanwhile, third-placed Espanyol, who hammered Villarreal 3-0 last weekend can keep their fine Champions League quest on course with an away win at Almería (5/4). Verdict: 3pts Manchester United to win to nil against Newcastle Utd @ 8/11 (Bet365); 2pts Portsmouth to bt Sunderland @ 13/8 (Bet 365); 2pts fourfold on Man Utd, Portsmouth, Inter and Espanyol @ 11/1 (Bet365) Click here for a free Bet365 £100 to bet on football with Bet365