The new Rangers era under new manager Paul Le Guen begins with a trip to Motherwell who have their boss Maurice Malpas also making his SPL debut in the dug-out.

Le Guen has arrived from Lyon with a big reputation and will be expected to wrest the title back from rivals Celtic at the first time of asking.

In recent decades, only John Greig failed to win the title in his first season as Gers boss which puts even more pressure on the Frenchman.

Fir Park witnessed a 4-4 draw when Celtic were the visitors on the opening day of last season but we are unlikely to see another such result again this time.

We think the Ibrox side will just have a little too much quality against a side that is likely to field three Rangers rejects.

Bet Direct are offering 10/3 for the draw at half-time with Rangers ending up the victors. We shall gladly take some of that. Vive la Revolution!

League football in Scotland begins weeks ahead of the English season and we will probably again witness the traditional battle for the SPL title between Celtic and Rangers.

The Parkhead club are reigning champions and kick-off their campaign with a home game against Kilmarnock - a side they haven't lost to in Glasgow in 51 years!

Despite the poor form shown by Gordon Strachan's side in pre-season - they lost 3-0 to a second string Manchester United side at home on Wednesday - that kind of historical form is hard to ignore.

However, in the best traditions of the valiant tipster, ignore it we will!

Killie have had an impressive pre-season but more importantly, their wonderfully caustic manager Jim Jefferies retains the settled side which did so well last season.

The stuttering Hoops will be nervous in front of their own supporters who remain far from convinced about the merits of Strachan despite his title triumph last season.

So we will be bold. Bet Direct are offering a healthy 10/1 for the away win which we will snap up albeit in a little fit of pre-season optimism.

Hearts' first ever Champions League game sees them take on Bosnian champions Siroki Brijeg in Edinburgh in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

Interestingly, the match will take place at Murrayfield, home of Scottish Rugby, instead of the more atmospheric Tynecastle to maximise the financial killing the Jambos hope to make in this historic fixture.

Surprisingly, the Scottish Cup holders haven't added to their squad in the close season and for various reasons are without three of their most influential players from last campaign, defender Andy Webster and midfielders Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley.

However, there is still enough talent at coach Valda Ivanauskas's disposal to finish this tie against the unknown Bosnians before the return game next week.

The odds on a straight win for Hearts doesn't excite us so we will take Bet Direct's 11/2 for the correct scoreline of 2-0 with a side bet of 3-0 at 7/1.

Sunday sees some interesting friendly matches, none more so than when Arsenal open their new Emirates Stadium for Denis Bergkamp's testimonial against Ajax.

The stunning 60,000-capacity ground will this weekend play host to its first game when the famous Dutch side provide the opposition in Bergkamp's sold-out benefit game.

The Gunners are sure to be determined to give the veteran striker a good farewell and start off life at their new home with a victory.

Bet Direct will give you 4/6 for a home win which is not great in itself but when doubled up with the 11/4 on offer for Everton to beat Celtic at Parkhead then the double becomes attractive.

Gordon Strachan's side have been less convincing in a traumatic pre-season to date and could find the Merseysiders another source of misery.

We got off to a good start to our European season as we tipped Linfield to get a draw at 4/1 with Bet Direct in their midweek Champions League qualifier away at NK Gorica.

We hope to build on that early boost in the much maligned Intertoto Cup and this time it's Scottish side Hibernian who could make us a few bob.

Tony Mowbray's men are 1-0 down to Danish club Odense going into the second leg at Easter Road but the visitors are in something of a turmoil.

The Danish club's manager Bruce Rioch - yes, the former Arsenal boss - is in conflict with his board with a sense of depression enveloping the players.

Bet Direct offer 10/11 for the home win is to be doubled up with Gent to beat Grasshoppers later in the day at the same price.

There seems to be no break in the football calendar and just days after Italy dramatically won the World Cup against France in Berlin, European club football for season 2006/07 is underway.

The Champions League qualifiers are up and running and there is some early British interest in the first round.

However, Linfield's hopes of progressing in Europe for a second successive season were hit hard by a 3-1 home defeat against Slovenian side NK Gorica at Windsor Park.

But we are confident that the Belfast side, who were a bit unlucky at home, will recover to get a draw in the second leg and Bet Direct's 4-1 is too tempting to miss - so we won't.

It's time for the big one as Italy take on France for the biggest prize in football.

Zinedine Zidane is bidding to bring the curtain down on his glittering career by lifting the World Cup trophy for the second time in eight years.

The 34-year-old France captain will retire from professional football after tonight's final against Italy as will 1998 World Cup winner Liliam Thuram.

Italy will be hoping to spoil the party and gain revenge on France following their Euro 2000 final defeat.

Both teams named unchanged sides for the showcase game in Berlin.

Penalties will decide the outcome if it is a stalemate after 90 minutes and extra time and we feel it may well go that far.

With so much at stake we're not expecting many goals in 90 minutes and will take the 4-1 about it being 0-0 after 90 minutes.

It's perhaps one of the biggest anti-climax events in sport with little more than pride at place in the World Cup playoff tonight which sees hosts Germany take on Portugal.

Germany captain Michael Ballack has been ruled out and Oliver Kahn starts in goal.

Ballack will rest the calf injury which has plagued him throughout the World Cup - and is also suffering from an inflamed left knee, with the German FA saying: "The doctors strongly advise against him playing."

Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann will be without injured defenders Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker, while star striker Miroslav Klose is struggling with a calf problem but should start.

In terms of a bet it should be noted that this fixture often produces a glut of goals unlike some of the recent games. Germany have impressed far more than Portugal and deserve bronze in a World Cup which they can take pride in as hosts.

We expect a German win inside 90 minutes and suggest you snap up the 4-5 generally available.

Italy and Germany provided the match of the tournament so far on Tuesday when penalties looked destined to decide the fate of the first finalist until Italy grabbed two in the dying stages of extra time.

On Wednesday the other finalist will be known - Portugal or France - either way we feel Italy will be the favourites to lift the World Cup on Sunday.

Portugal put out England on Saturday on penalties whilst France have been improving with every match and a goal from Henry was good enough to see them past favourites Brazil in the Quarter Finals.

One thing is becoming increasingly apparent - goals are becoming increasingly scarce as the World Cup draws to its finale as teams fear losing more than wanting to win games.

With this in mind we forecast another scoreless draw after 90 minutes with a good chance of penalties being needed again.

0-0 is trading at around 5-1 which will do us nicely.