BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Outcome of Bridge battle is a conflict of interests

IT is a peril of betting on the Champions League when one of the teams can progress without winning the second leg.

You just don't know which team is going to turn up and I've read with interest that Napoli just don't know what animal they will be when they get to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Wednesday.

The gaffer Walter Mazzarri claims he wants 11 Lions prowling west London, roaring their way on to a possible date at the Allianz Arena on May 19.

But then I read that 11 goats have been named after the players at Naples Zoo. And they've even named a donkey Pocho, the nickname of Ezequiel Lavezzi, who was dazzling in the first leg.

So, what's it going to be?

I fancy they'll be representative of Africa's largest cats and 3-1
looks a cracking price about the visitors.

Of course, we've had a change of stewardship at the Bridge since
Chelsea's poor showing in the first leg and it's going to take time
for them to find their feet under Roberto di Matteo.

Let's face it, he's unlikely to get much time to get his feet under the table.

But I fear this could be the last of the English teams to depart
the Champions League this season and that's bad news, particularly if United and City get chinned in the Europa League on Thursday.

The difficulty is that I'll have to hand the remote control back to
Mrs B in midweek if there is no British interest and the prospect
fills me with dread.

And The Apprentice is back next week.

This really could not be happening at a worse time.