AA Gent vs Anderlecht
Today's featured game is the Eerste Klasse encounter between high-flying AA Gent and juggernauts Anderlecht. Both sides are in fantastic form entering this game and it should prove to be a great game as a result.
Hosts AA Gent have already won six out of eight home games this season, losing just once on that run. They average scoring over two goals per home game but also concede at least one goal per home game on average. Unfortunately for AA Gent, they enter this game in the knowledge that Anderlecht have won their last three trips here in all competitions with each occasion being a close game but usually with plenty of goals. That said, AA Gent enter the game on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions so their confidence and momentum is sky-high!
Visitors Anderlecht have won their last eight Eerste Klasse games, amassing an impressive seventeen goals whilst conceding just two. As if the record of eight straight domestic wins needed improving upon anyway! Anderlecht not only have tremendous momentum but they also boast the better squad between these two outfits. Anderlecht also appear to be gaining immense confidence due to their iconic wonderkid Lukaku who plays like he's been playing professionally for ten years, already reminding a good deal of pundits of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, sentiments which I can only echo. It's a joy to see such ability in such a young footballer and teams tend to gain a real boost from that individual's confidence. Anderlecht have already won seven out of nine away games this season and with an average of two goals scored per away game, it's hard to see them failing to do so here too.
Ultimately, this should be a really good game of football as it's proven to be several times in the past too. I don't doubt that Anderlecht are the better side here but with both sides playing good football, it's hard to rely upon that factor to see them win the game today. However, Anderlecht do have one weapon that I don't think AA Gent will be able to cope with and that's wonderkid Lukaku, who just can't stop scoring goals. As ridiculous as it may sound, I expect the 16-year old striker to make the difference today in what should be a narrow but entertaining away win for Anderlecht.
Verdict: Anderlecht to win at 13/10.
Sunday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
North Queensland Fury vs Melbourne Victory - away win at evens.
Bottom-placed North Queensland Fury have lost three of their last four games, taking their tally of defeats to nine in twenty games. North Queensland Fury actually tend to play better away from home than they do at home. Having already notched up four defeats in nine home games this season, winning just three times, it's hard to see North Queensland Fury mounting a serious threat here. The hosts are somewhat devoid of momentum and appear inept at defending as they average conceding nearly two goals per game. The hosts aren't particularly bad goalscorers but they're the biggest conceding side in the division, hence their present situation.
Visitors Melbourne Victory are unfortunately the worst side that North Queensland Fury could have played against today. Why? Well, Melbourne Victory are far and away the best side in the A-League when playing away from home with seven wins from nine games already, tasting defeat just once along the way. They average scoring just under two goals per away game and no side in the A-League has conceded less goals than they have on the road this season. Melbourne Victory are unbeaten in their last five games, winning three times and drawing twice, granting them a sizable momentum boost - as if they needed one though!
Basically, this really should be a straightforward away win with considerable value concealed within it today!
Verdict: Melbourne Victory to win at evens.
Zulte-Waregem vs Westerlo - home win at 4/5.
Hosts Zulte-Waregem are currently fifth in the Eerste Klasse with three wins from their last five games, losing once and drawing once. They've been strong at home this year with six wins in ten games, losing just twice along the way. Zulte-Waregem are the joint top goalscorers with AA Gent when playing at home as they average two goals scored per home game. Zulte-Waregem's problem has long been that they concede a lot of goals. However, if they adopt the old Real Madrid of "We'll score more goals than you do" then they'll do well, as they have so far this season. Zulte-Waregem bring considerable momentum into this game too as they've won their last three home games consecutively.
Visitors Westerlo are a capable side but are consistent in being inconsistent with it! They've lost four times in nine away games and don't concede excessively but they are the lowest goalscorers in the Eerste Klasse when playing away from home. As Westerlo average scoring less than a goal per game away from home, their goals conceded record does tend to reflect that they're going to lose more games than they're going to win as a rule of simple mathematics. Westerlo are without a win in three games so their momentum has taken a bit of a knock too. I don't doubt Westerlo's ability; I simply doubt their ability to produce it time after time and they don't look capable of producing it today.
With the above in mind, you have to favour Zulte-Waregem for this game although there's not much quality difference between the two sides.
Verdict: Zulte-Waregem to win at 4/5.
Hibs vs Rangers - lay Rangers at 5/6.
Hibs have had a terrific season so far and are currently offering a genuine title challenge to Rangers and Celtic, something which is quite unheard of in Scotland! They've already won six out of eight home games this season and have been beaten just once on that run. Hibs don't tend to score many goals but their strength is in keeping sides out as is evident from the fact that only Celtic have conceded as few goals as Hibs have this season in the Premier League. That said, no side in the Premier League has conceded less than Hibs have at home with just three goals conceded in eight games, an average of nearly a goal scored against them every three games! Hibs are unbeaten in their last twelve Premier League games and carry some very strong momentum into this encounter, particularly with three wins in their last four games. To put it bluntly - Hibs are going to make life very hard indeed for Rangers today.
Visitors Rangers have won their last four games consecutively but will be aware that they've slipped up here in the past with just two wins on their last five visits in all competitions. Rangers have only been beaten once on the road in seven games and have won four times, drawing the rest. Rangers are the lowest conceding side in the division when playing away from home so we could see a very compact and tight game here. Rangers do tend to be able to score at least one goal in each away game on average but then again, so do Hibs playing at home.
Although Rangers are the better of these two sides, Scotland is starting a very minor shake up in the Premier League with sides causing more problems to the "big two" nowadays. This will be a very tough game for Rangers and I don't think they're going to be able to win it hence the value in laying Rangers today.
Verdict: Lay Rangers at 5/6.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Australian A-League:
Sydney FC vs Adelaide United (8) 1-0
North Queensland Fury vs Melbourne Victory (7) 1-2
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
AA Gent vs Anderlecht (7) 1-2
Zulte-Waregem vs Westerlo (7) 2-0
English Premier League:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa (6) 2-2
Hull City vs Manchester United (8) 0-2
International Friendlies:
Qatar vs Mali (6) 1-1
Iran vs North Korea (6) 0-0
Scottish Premier League:
Hibs vs Rangers (6) 1-1
Welsh Premier League:
Bangor City vs Porthmadog (9) over 2.5 goals
Port Talbot Town vs Neath Athletic (6) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!
Anderlecht vs Club Brugge
Today's featured game is the clash between Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht and Club Brugge in the Eerste Klasse. Hosts Anderlecht have been in terrific form this season and currently deservedly top the Eerste Klasse table. Visitors Club Brugge have also been very impressive this season and although they've gone off the boil a little lately, they're still second in the Eerste Klasse table.
Anderlecht enter this game on the back of a superb vicory at AFC Ajax Amsterasm mid-week in the UEFA Europa League, a result which saw them qualify for the latter stages of the competition. Anderlecht have won their last eight Eerste Klasse games consecutively and are on a tremendous run of momentum. Ironically, the last side to beat Anderlecht was Club Brugge in the reversal of this fixture, a game which ended 4-2 and a game that Anderlecht will be keen to atone for. Anderlecht have already won seven out of nine home games this season, averaging just under two goals scored per game. However, the fact that they're the lowest conceding side in the Eerste Klasse does tend to leave Anderlecht with wins whether they score a lot of goals or not. Fortunately, Anderlecht are equally as adept at putting the ball in the net when they wish with only Standard de Liege having scored more goals than they in their current campaign.
Visitors Club Brugge have had their excellent start to the season ended somewhat premaurely in recent times as they've won just two of their last five games, tasting defeat twice along the way. Much like today's hosts Anderlecht, Club Brugge also claimed a valuable mid-week victory in the UEFA Europa League to secure a place in the latter stages of the competition. However, today Club Brugge have an even harder opponent than French side Toulouse as they take on an on-fire Anderlecht side on their own turf. Club Brugge have a good away record with five wins in eight games but they've lost twice along the way, results which will have undoubtedly damaged their momentum and confidence. Club Brugge aren't producing the kind of performances that we saw earlier this season so as a result they're not getting the results that they require to stay in the title race. Unfortunately for Club Brugge, their luck is about to get worse as they become the latest side to attempt to contain wonderkid striker Romelo Lukaku. The sixteen year old has already scored nine goals in fourteen appearances for Anderlecht this season and he's looking more potent in every game that he plays in.
With the above in mind, you really have to feel that Anderlecht are very well-placed indeed to do what they've done for four seasons running and beat Club Brugge at home!
Verdict: Anderlecht to win at 4/5.
Sunday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Newcastle Jets vs North Queensland Fury - home win at evens.
Hosts Newcastle Jets are fifth in the A-League with four wins from their past five games. Their momentum is strong and aids them in glossing over the fact that a side in their league placing shouldn't have a record whereby they concede more goals than they score. However, Newcastle Jets have been playing very well of late and average scoring two goals per game in their last five games. Newcastle Jets will be seeking to make this their sixth win in ten home games in the current campaign and appear well placed to do so.
Visitors North Queensland Fury are currently bottom of the A-League with three defeats in their last five games. They've won just twice in ten away games this season and have lost four along the way. North Queensland Fury aren't shy when it comes to goalscoring but they have a big problem in the sense that they concede nearly two goals per game on average away from home. They've lost their last three away games consecutively, conceding eight goals and scoring just once. Although Newcastle Jets aren't light years ahead of them, this kind of record is not one to take with you on a trip to a very in-form opponent and I suspect that this will prove to be pivotal with the outcome of the encounter.
Verdict: Newcastle Jets to win at evens.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Burnley - home win at 11/10.
Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy took a lot of abuse from Wolves fans mid-week when he chose to rest the majority of his team for the trip to Manchester United ahead of this crunch game today. However, I personally think he has done the right thing because this is the kind of game that could result in them avoiding relegation; Manchester United are a side that they'll lose to ninety-nine times out of a hundred on average. Wolves have won two of their last three games and are fast becoming famed for their resilient footballing style and ability to score goals when required. Like most sides in the relegation battle, Wolves don't have a great home record with just two wins in eight games. However, this is an extremely key game for them and they won't face a side more likely to lose than Burnley with their dismal away form so Wolves will be extremely highly motivated for this game.
Visitors Burnley are an odd side in the sense that they're two very different sides concealed within the stigma of one side. At Turf Moor they're a fighting side that will take points off the majority of the sides in their division but away from home they play like they don't belong in the division. Burnley have already lost seven out of eight away games this season, drawing the other game. No side has conceded as many goals on the road as Burnley have with the Lancashire-based outfit conceding over three goals per away game on average. Burnley haven't won in any of their last six games and are beginning to look a very weary and stretched squad as they enter this game. If it weren't for Owen Coyle's motivational skills then I honestly believe Burnley would already be relegated. Whilst he remains there, Burnley play well.
However, despite the managerial ability of Owen Coyle, Burnley still fail to register themselves as a force on the road and concede heavily, a fact which will be welcomed by a goal-shy Wolves side. Wolves have more momentum entering this game and should have enough in their favour to take three points today.
Verdict: Wolverhampton Wanderers to win at 11/10.
Aris Salonika vs Olympiakos Piraeus - away win at 21/20.
Hosts Aris Salonika are very much a home side but they'll have their reputation severely tested today by an Olympiakos Piraeus winning machine! Aris have won just once in their last five games and have won three out of their seven home games this season, drawing three and losing just once. Aris like to play compact, defensive football which is why they rarely score or concede goals at home. Few sides take three points from this trip but Aris are no longer the side that they were a few years ago with the quality to contain a side like Olympiakos, in my opinion. Aris may be able to contain most sides in the Super League but I don't count Olympiakos as one of them so Aris could have real problems today.
Visitors Olympiakos Piraeus are quite simply one of the two best sides in the Super League, as we're all very much aware of. No side in the Super League can match their terrific away form which shows they've won six out of seven away games, drawing the other encounter. Olympiakos average scoring just less than two goals per away game and rarely concede goals on the road too. With three wins from their last three games, Olympiakos have tremendous momentum at the present time and will look to maintain their assault on the Super League title by taking three points from their trip to Salonika today.
Ultimately, it's beyond hard for me to see this game ending without Olympiakos scoring but I can see it ending without Aris scoring so logic dictates that an away win boasts considerable value today!
Verdict: Olympiakos Piraeus to win at 21/20.
CD Nacional vs Academica de Coimbra - home win at 4/5.
Hosts CD Nacional have won three out of their last five games and are playing some good football this season. Despite a somewhat surprising defeat at Pacos de Ferreira in their last Liga Sagres match, CD Nacional have still notched up ten goals in their last five games and are looking a force at the moment. CD Nacional are unbeaten at home this season and have won three out of their six home games. CD Nacional managed to crush Austria Vienna 5-1 in a mid-week UEFA Europa League encounter and although the game in itself meant nothing, the result will have boosted morale and confidence ahead of their match today.
Visitors Academica de Coimbra have already lost four out of six away games this season, drawing the other two. They average conceding just under two goals per away game and are one of the lowest goalscorers in the division on the road, scoring just four goals all season. Academica's home form of late has been superb but their away form has naturally been poor, losing two out of their last three away games. Academica do play some good football themselves but far too rarely and almost never away from home so it's hard to see that trend changing for their trip to Madeira today.
Verdict: CD Nacional to win at 4/5.
Vitoria Setubal vs Maritimo - away win at 4/5.
Hosts Vitoria Setubal are playing like they've already been relegated and this type of form does tend to bring around...relegation! They've lost four out of their last five games, drawing the other encounter, and boasting a record of just two wins in fourteen games in the Liga Sagres this season. Vitoria's problems predominantly stem from the fact that they've scored just four goals all season but concede just under two goals per game on average. As you'd expect from them, Vitoria tend to take the few points they do get at home. They've lost just three out of their six home games and don't tend to concede many goals at home either. Their big problem, as I mentioned earlier, is scoring goals, something they've achieved just once at home in this campaign.
Visitors Maritimo aren't the best travellers in the division - far from it, in fact. They've claimed just one win in six away games in this campaign, although they've only lost once too. Maritimo's efficient approach to each game tends to suit them better on their own turf than it does on the road where they tend to end up drawing with most sides through not scoring enough goals in each individual game. Maritimo won't have a better chance this season to claim a valuable away win, however, given Vitoria Setubal's atrocious form and goal-shy displays, and there's no doubt in my mind that Maritimo are capable of doing it too. Maritimo have won two out of their last four games so they have some momentum to utilise in this game and it should be enough to see them claim three points.
Although I think that this is going to be a very tight game with few goals, I do think that Maritimo will be the side that leaves the happier today.
Verdict: Maritimo to win at 4/5.
Real Sociedad vs Real Betis Balompie - home win at 5/4.
Second-placed Real Sociedad enter this game with an impressive three wins from their last four games, thus bringing considerable momentum into this game. They've been a consistently reliable force at home this season with seven wins in eight games, drawing the other encounter. Real Sociedad's strength isn't the atypical Segunda Liga strength as it's the ability to keep other sides out. Real Sociedad have only conceded three goals in this campaign whilst playing at home and leaves sides fearing to make the tough trip to the Basque country.
Visitors Real Betis Balompie are another side vying for promotion to the Primera Liga following their relegation last season and they appear to be finally ready to make their challenge a legitimate one. After a slow start, the south coast club have now won three out of their last four games and are beginning to play good football again. Fourth in the table now, Betis are just six points behind league leaders Hercules Alicante and have a game in hand so they're well placed as we close the footballing season for the winter break. However, Betis do tend to struggle an awful lot away from home as they've already lost four out of eight away games this season, winning just twice. Few sides concede as many goals on the road as Betis and I can't see that changing today on their lengthy trip north to a hostile San Sebastian stadium.
Although these two sides are quite well matched, you have to feel that Real Sociedad have more in their favour for this game and really should make it count today.
Verdict: Real Sociedad to win at 5/4.
Huesca vs Castellon - home win at evens.
Hosts Huesca are having a poor season and linger just outside of the relegation zone currently. They've been playing ok lately with two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five games. Huesca's problem tends to be scoring goals as keeping other sides out is something that they do rather well. Huesca have only been beaten once at home this season despite their poor league placing but their four draws in eight home games does illustrate my point earlier about them not scoring goals rather well indeed! That said, Huesca have managed to win three home games this season and are capable of doing the damage if given the opportunity and who better to give them that opportunity than bottom-placed Castellon currently?
Castellon have taken about fifteen steps back from their amazing season last year and now find themselves bottom of the Segunda Liga table after sixteen games have yielded just three wins. They've lost eleven times this season already and average conceding just under two goals per game. They've lost three of their last five games and have the worst away form in the division with seven defeats in eight games, drawing the other game. Castellon concede over two goals per game on the road and don't appear to have the quality or belief that they had last season which nearly saw them obtain promotion.
With Castellon playing as badly as they are and Huesca remaining solid at home, it's hard to look beyond the home win here as goal-shy Huesca are sure to get chances against a leaky Castellon defence.
Verdict: Huesca to win at evens.
Accumulator fodder - APOEL Nicosia, Apollon Limassol, LOSC Lille, Juventus, Internazionale, PSV Eindhoven.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Australian A-League:
Newcastle Jets vs North Queensland Fury (7) 2-1
Gold Coast United vs Perth Glory (6) 1-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Charleroi vs Standard de Liege (6) 1-1
Anderlecht vs Club Brugge (8) over 2.5 goals
Cypriot Division 1:
Apollon Limassol vs Enosis Neon Paralimni (8) 2-0
APOEL Nicosia vs APOP/Kinyras (8) 2-1
English Premier League:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Burnley (6) 2-1
Everton vs Birmingham City (6) 0-0
West Ham United vs Chelsea (8) 0-2
English Championship:
Newcastle United vs Middlesbrough (8)
French Ligue 1:
Auxerre vs Toulouse (5) under 2.5 goals
LOSC Lille vs Le Mans (9) -1.75 handicap
AS Monaco vs Olympique Lyonnais (6) 1-2
German Bundesliga:
Hamburger SV vs Werder Bremen (6) 1-1
Koln vs Nurnberg (7) 0-0
German Bundesliga 2:
Rot-Weiss Oberhausen vs Arminia Bielefeld (4)
Union Berlin vs 1860 Munich (5) draw no bet
Paderborn vs St.Pauli (6)
Greek Super League:
Panionios vs Kavala (8) 1-0
Panthrakikos vs Atromitos (7) 0-0
Asteras Tripolis vs AEK Athens (6) 2-1
Aris Salonika vs Olympiakos Piraeus (7) 0-1
Xanthi vs Iraklis (6) 1-0
Greek B Ethniki:
Ethnikos Piraeus vs Panaitolikos Agrinio (7)
Aigaleo Athens vs Ethnikos Asteras (8)
Ionikos Nikaias vs Agrotikos Asteras (6)
Kerkyra vs Doxa Dramas (8)
Panserraikos vs Pierikos Katerini (6)
Rhodos vs Ilioupoli (7)
Italian Serie A:
Genoa vs Bari (7) 2-1
Juventus vs Catania (8) 2-0
Livorno vs Sampdoria (5) 0-0
SSC Napoli vs Chievo Verona (6) 1-1
Palermo vs Siena (7) 2-0
AS Roma vs Parma (7) 1-0
Udinese vs Cagliari (6) 1-1
Internazionale vs Lazio (8) under 2.5 goals
Dutch Eredivisie:
NEC Nijmegen vs Vitesse Arnhem (6) 1-1
Utrecht vs Twente Enschede (7) 1-1
Groningen vs Heerenveen (7) over 2.5 goals
NAC Breda vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (6) 1-2
Roda JC Kerkrade vs PSV Eindhoven (8) 0-2
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
Volendam vs Stormvogels Telstar (7)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
CD Nacional vs Academica de Coimbra (8) 2-1
Uniao de Leiria vs Belenenses (8) 1-1
Vitoria Setubal vs Maritimo (7) 0-1
SL Benfica vs Porto (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Oliveirense vs Feirense (6)
Beiar-Mar vs Desportivo Aves (7)
Freamunde vs Carregado (5)
Desportivo Chaves vs Sporting Covilha (6)
Trofense vs Penafiel (7)
Santa Clara vs Gil Vicente (7)
Scottish Premier League:
Hearts vs Celtic (7) 1-2
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Valladolid vs Sporting Gijon (7) 1-1
Villarreal vs Racing Santander (7) 2-1
Espanyol vs Almeria (5) 1-0
Malaga vs Real Mallorca (6) 1-2
Tenerife vs Atletico Madrid (6) 2-2
Deportivo La Coruna vs Valencia (6) 0-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Real Sociedad vs Real Betis Balompie (7)
Huesca vs Castellon (7)
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Villarreal II (6)
Real Murcia vs Cadiz (7)
Girona vs Elche (5)
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 1:
Lemona vs Pontevedra (6)
Guijuelo vs Ponferradina (7)
Zamora vs Palencia (5)
Compostela vs Sestao River Club (4)
Eibar vs Barakaldo (6)
Group 2:
Vecindario vs Real Sporting de Gijon II (6)
Tenerife II vs Cacareno (6)
Cerro Reyes Badajoz vs Conquense (5)
Leganes vs Alcorcon (7)
Real Madrid II vs Guadalajara (6)
Villanovense vs Universidad Las Palmas (5)
Alcala Henares vs Atletico Madrid II (6)
Real Sociedad Gimnastica Torrelavega vs Toledo (8)
Real Oviedo vs Lanzarote (8)
Group 3:
Atletico Gramenet vs Alcoyano (6)
Alicante vs Sabadell (6)
Villajoyosa vs Sant Andreu (7)
Ontinyent vs Denia (7)
Orihuela vs Badalona (8)
Group 4:
Sangonera Atletico vs San Roque (7)
Jerez Industrial vs Sevilla II (7)
Granada vs Caravaca (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce (6) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!
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