PSG resumes Ligue 1 play without Pastore
Soccer Betting Lines
01/27/2012 - Brest, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PSG has continued its spending spree with the signings of Brazilian defenders Alex and Maxwell, but will be without its most expensive addition, Javier Pastore, on Saturday at Brest.
Pastore, acquired for approximately $55 million in the summer from Palermo, is out three to four weeks with a muscle tear suffered last Friday in the Coupe de France.
Maxwell was signed earlier this month from Barcelona, and Alex followed him to Paris on Friday from Chelsea. The latest additions push the club's signings to around $125 million under their new Qatari owners.
With a three-point cushion over Montpellier atop Ligue 1, PSG has used its new players to emerge as the dominant team in France. But a tricky trip to Brest - which has not lost at home - awaits this weekend.
"Everywhere we go this year, people are waiting for us," said PSG midfielder Clement Chantome. "They are unbeaten at home so we know what to expect."
PSG was eliminated from the Coupe de la Ligue and the Europa League, leaving a Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France crown as the remaining targets.
With Carlo Ancelotti perfect since taking over with a pair of Coupe de France wins and one Ligue 1 win, the pressure will be on PSG not only to remain atop the standings and advance in the Coupe, but to excel week-to-week.
"What's really new about PSG is that now we're an ambitious club that wants to go all out to win titles," said Chantome. "What has arrived at the club is a very promising potential. I'm ambitious, I know what's expected of me and all I want is to get out there and win titles with this club."
PSG has not lost in its last eight in all competitions, so Brest will have one huge mountain to climb this weekend to remain unbeaten at home.
Montpellier visits Nice on Saturday, when defending champions and third-place Lille hosts St. Etienne. Auxerre hosts Nancy, Lorient hosts Sochaux, Lyon hosts Dijon, and Toulouse hosts Caen in Saturday's other matches.
On Sunday, Evian hosts Bordeaux, Valenciennes hosts Ajaccio, and Rennes hosts Marseille in a battle of top-six clubs.
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers signed free-agent veteran center Francisco Elson on Friday. The signing provides the Sixers depth in the frontcourt as Spencer Hawes and rookie Nikola Vucevic have battled inj
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Nicks missed practice for a second straight day Friday because of a sprained
shoulder.
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<< Trojans' Dedmon out with torn ACL
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remaind
<< Racing legend Foyt forced to skip Rolex 24 at Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Foyt will miss this weekend's Rolex
24 at Daytona after being hospitalized due to complications from recent knee
surgery.
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Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Dolphins new head coach Joe Philbin chose his coaching staff on Friday, naming Mike Sherman as offensive coordinator and Kevin Coyle as defensive coordinator. Sherman has spent the last four years as the
Browns hire Childress as OC >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns named former Minnesota
Vikings head coach Brad Childress offensive coordinator on Friday.
Childress becomes the first offensive coordinator under Browns head coach Pat
Shurmer.
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Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade will make his return
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Cremins taking medical leave of absence >>
Charleston, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - College of Charleston men's basketball coach
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Stanley alone in front at Farmers Insurance Open >>
La Jolla, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Stanley posted a four-under 68 Friday to
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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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