Espanyol vs Malaga
Today's featured game is in Barcelona and features Espanyol and Malaga. Hosts Espanyol got off to a slow start after the death of Captain Daniel Jarque pre-season, losing away to Athletic Club de Bilbao and emphatically at home to Real Madrid. However, a morale-boosting victory at the Riazor last match against a difficult Deportivo La Coruna may have been the catalyst they desperately needed to fulfill their potential this season, something I've highlighted in my posts leading up to the start of the season. Espanyol actually have a very strong and capable side and I thoroughly expect them to have a very good season although losing Jarque is a massive loss to them. Today, Espanyol are hosting a Malaga side that seem undecided as to what kind of season they're going to have. I don't rate this Malaga side very highly as they've lost their manager and a whole host of players over summer but you can't argue with the fact that they've already annihlated Atletico Madrid this season, something that needs to be taken into consideration. Since then, Malaga have lost both games, something I had expected from their opening game as opposed to their second game. I can accept their defeat away to Deportivo La Coruna but I cannot accept their defeat at home to Racing Club de Santander if this side intends to become even a shadow of the side they were last year. As the season I develops, I fully expect Malaga to become cannon fodder barring a miracle. They no longer have the quality to compete at this level and I expect Espanyol to thoroughly ram that home today. Frankly, a home win today at evens looks a fantastic bet to me!
Wednesday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Espanyol vs Malaga - home win at evens - see introduction for full details.
Liga de Quito vs Lanus - home win at 10/11. A poor start to their domestic campaign has seen Lanus claim just one win from their opening five games, a fact that will disappoint Lanus after an impressive campaign last time out. They've lost three of their five games so far domestically and appear to be struggling a considerable amount. Despite a slender victory over River Plate last week in the Nissan Sudamericana, Lanus just aren't convincing at the moment and I can't help but feel they're going to get "found out" in the dizzying heights of Quito tonight. They're travelling to an experienced Ecuadorian outfit in Liga de Quito, who boast a good squad and a very impressive home record. A crushing defeat away to bitter rivals Deportivo Quito last match (domestically) will have hurt Liga de Quito, something I expect to inspire them to victory tonight to at least compensate their fans. In my opinion, this venue is one of the hardest away trips in South America due to the massive distance above sea level Quito is and the quality of the home side. I can't quite believe that the bookies are giving 10/11 on a home win and I thoroughly expect that to drop before too long so take it whilst you can!
Tampere United vs HJK Helsinki - home win at 9/4. This is a very interesting call but one I like an awful lot. In fact, I've liked this bet since I looked at HJK Helsinki's final fixtures of the Veikkausliiga season a few weeks ago. Why? Well, HJK Helsinki may be in good form but they're not playing very reliably, which is important to me 'cause it means they're prone to errors. Today they travel to an in-form Tampere United that are currently the best home side in the Veikkausliiga with eight wins from eleven games. In fact, they've only lost at home twice this season so HJK Helsinki have one hell of a task on their hands to come away with a result here. Interestingly enough, HJK Helsinki have lost two of their last three trips here, one of which was this season in the Liiga Cup. I have to confess that I didn't have Tampere United down as a potential Veikkausliiga winner entering the final stretch of the campaign and I still don't really believe it will happen but try telling a confident and in-form Tampere United that! The final point I'll make is that if Tampere United do win this game, the gap between themselves and HJK Helsinki (and potentially TPS Turku if they overcome KuPS Kuopio) will be six points, which is only two games of football. With all this in mind, 9/5 on a home win looks very tempting indeed with both sides needing three points here!
AEK Athens vs Olympiakos Piraeus - away win at 6/4. I really wanted to make this bet when it was initially scheduled a few weeks back when AEK Athens were struggling and Olympiakos Piraeus were flying. However, circumstances dictated that this could not occur so now we have this fixture in more...difficult circumstances, shall we say! Why? Well, Zico is boss of Olympiakos Piraeus now and he's pretty damn shit as a manager, in my humble opinion! The only credit I'll give him is that he tends to guide his side to victories against bigger opponents - it's games against lesser opponents where he struggles. Fortunately, AEK Athens are still struggling to gain any kind of consistency so they do look ripe for defeat here. Olympiakos Piraeus are a far better side than AEK Athens these days and managed to win this fixture last season too. For me, there is value in the odds of 6/4 on the away win although I emphasise caution whilst shitty Zico is in town!
Gorica vs Maribor - home win at 2/1. This is a very dubious call as Gorica are extremely demoralised currently and Maribor are sleeping giants. However, a change in management personnel may just give Gorica the boost that they desperately need. Five straight defeats lead to the dismissal of their previous coach but Maribor are hardly faring much better than Gorica currently with three defeats and a draw in their last four games, which is arguably worse as Maribor are expected to do a lot better. Both sides really need three points and I expect a really close game here because of it. As a final bit of food for thought, Gorica have won this fixture for five seasons running now. 2/1 is starting to look pretty damn good, isn't it?
Nafta Lendava vs Rudar Velenje - away win at 6/5. Three wins in their last four games says Rudar Velenje are gathering momentum and consistency at great speed and look set to pose a legitimate title challenge this year. They're currently second in the Prva Liga, just one point behind league leaders Koper. They've won an impressive seven games from nine so far and average just under two goals per game. They concede the least goals and frankly have everything in their favour at the moment. Hosts Nafta Lendava are in atrocious form and are currently second bottom of the Prva Liga. They've won just once in their last five games, suffering four defeats along the way. To their credit, they're only taking points at home at the moment but they're facing something of a winning machine today so I'm not sure that run will continue. I expect a lot of goals in this game but there's value in the away win at 6/5.
Tenerife vs Athletic Club de Bilbao - away win at 13/8. I'm wondering just when this magical run of my beloved Athletic Club de Bilbao will end with some expectation that it'll be against a powerful Sevilla CF at weekend. However, I can't afford to look beyond this game because Tenerife are nothing if not resilient and compact. Athletic Club de Bilbao, however, have now won three successive domestic games and look extremely potent. Their youthful side mingled with the experience of Fran Yeste and Joseba Etxeberria looks to be one of their best for some time with great variety in all forms of attack, as well as mass potential. As usual, the Basque side cannot be relied upon defensively but their attacking prowess at the present time is compensating for that. Hosts Tenerife have lost two games this season without scoring a goal, placing a great deal of pressure on the side to deliver the goods when playing at home to stay in the Primera Liga. They've beaten a tough Osasuna at home already this season but they face an even more challenging game against in-form Athletic Club de Bilbao, a test I don't think they're capable of winning. I really fancy the away win at 13/8 gievn the above information but I'm aware that Athletic Club de Bilbao's defence is dodgy, as ever, so I may encourage DNB. Either way, I can't see a home win so lay Tenerife if you can find good odds on it.
Young Boys Bern vs FC Zurich - home win at evens. I do love Young Boys Bern! They're a tipster's dream most of the time! They beat all the big sides and are generally very reliable. This clash sees arguably the two best sides in the country compete but it's worth noting that Young Boys Bern won the last clash between these two sides (at FC Zurich) and won this exact fixture last season too. Despite their first domestic defeat being a surprise loss last match at Neuchatel Xamax, Young Boys Bern are still the better of these two sides in my opinion and have more than enough quality to win the game. They average over two goals scored per game and are unbeaten at home this season with three wins from four games. FC Zurich have drawn too many games to be considered on the same level as Young Boys Bern currently which is also why I'm favouring the home win. I don't think the defeat will have hurt the hosts too much and I fully expect a full-blooded game here with some cards and a lot of goals. However, for me, a home win at evens boasts some good value!
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
Asian Champions League:
Kawasaki Frontale vs Nagoya Grampus (6) 2-1
FC Bunyodkur vs Pohang Steelers (5) 1-0
Umm Salal vs FC Seoul (7) 1-2
Baltic League:
FK Jurmala vs Ekranas Panevezys (6) 0-1
Sillamae Kalev vs Skonto Riga (8) 1-2
Taurus Taurage vs Levadia Tallinn (7) 1-2
FK Siauliai vs Flora Tallinn (6) 2-0
Copa Nissan Sudamericana:
River Plate Montevideo vs Vitoria (6) 2-1
Alianza Atletico Sullana vs Fluminense (7) 2-0
Velez Sarsfeld vs Union Espanola (9) 2-0
Internacional vs Universidad de Chile (8) under 2.5 goals
Botafogo vs Emelec Guayaquil (4) 0-0
Liga de Quito vs Lanus (8) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
SV Kapfenberg vs Rapid Vienna (8) 1-3
Salzburg vs Sturm Graz (7) 2-1
LASK Linz vs Austria Karnten (9) -1.75 handicap
Austria Vienna vs SV Ried (8) 2-1
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Torpedo Zhodino vs FC Gomel (7) 2-1
FC Minsk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (6) 0-1
Dinamo Minsk vs Granit Mikashevichi (8) 2-0
FC Smorgon vs Naftan Novopolotsk (8) 0-1
Dnepr Mogilev vs MTZ-RIPO Minsk (7) 1-0
Dinamo Brest vs Neman Grodno (7) 2-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Club Brugge vs Zulte-Waregem (6) 2-1
Standard de Liege vs Cercle Brugge (9) 2-0
Charleroi vs Mechelen (6) over 2.5 goals
AA Gent vs Westerlo (8) 2-1
Roeselare vs Lokeren (5) 0-1, draw no bet
Germinal Beerschot vs Kortrijk (6) 1-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras (7) 1-1
English League Cup:
Chelsea vs Queens Park Rangers (8) 2-1
Hull City vs Everton (7) 0-1
Preston North End vs Tottenham Hotspur (5) 1-1
Aston Villa vs Cardiff City (7) 1-0
Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (7) 2-0
Manchester City vs Fulham (8) 2-1
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
VPS Vaasa vs Inter Turku (7) 0-1
TPS Turku vs KuPS Kuopio (7) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Tampere United vs HJK Helsinki (6) 2-1
Jaro Pietersaari vs FC Honka Espoo (8) 1-2
RoPS Rovaniemi vs MyPa Anjalankoski (7) 1-1
FC Lahti vs JJK Jyvaskyla (6) 1-0
Haka Valkeakoski vs IFK Mariehamn (6) 0-1
Greek Super League:
Panionios vs PAOK Salonika (7) 0-1
AEK Athens vs Olympiakos Piraeus (7) 1-2
Italian Serie A:
Atalanta Bergamo vs Catania (6) 2-1
Bari vs Cagliari (8) 2-0
Bologna vs Livorno (6) 1-1
Fiorentina vs Sampdoria (5) 1-1
Internazionale vs SSC Napoli (8) 3-1
Lazio vs Parma (7) 2-1
Palermo vs AS Roma (6) 1-1
Siena vs Chievo Verona (5) 0-0
Udinese vs AC Milan (5) 1-1
Latvian Virsliga:
Tranzits Ventspils vs FK Ventspils (8) 1-3
Norwegian Tippeligaen:
Rosenborg BK vs Tromso IL (8) over 2.5 goals
Norwegian 2 Divisjon:
Sford Sunnhordland vs Algard (6)
Singaporean S-League:
Armed Forces vs Albirex Niigata (9) 3-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Drava vs Domzale (7) 1-1
Nafta Lendava vs Rudar Velenje (8) 1-2
Interblock Ljubljana vs Olimpija Ljubljana (7) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Gorica vs Maribor (4) 1-0
Celje vs Koper (6) 1-2
Spanish Primera Liga:
Espanyol vs Malaga (8) 2-0
Deportivo Xerez vs Deportivo La Coruna (7) 1-2
Villarreal vs Real Madrid (6) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Real Valladolid vs Osasuna (6) 1-1
Atletico Madrid vs Almeria (7) 2-1
Tenerife vs Athletic Club de Bilbao (7) 1-2
Getafe vs Valencia (5) 1-1
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 1:
Osasuna II vs Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa (7)
Athletic Club de Bilbao II vs Palencia (8)
Barakaldo vs Ponferradina (6)
Sestao River Club vs Mirandes (6)
Eibar vs Montaneros (8)
Lugo vs Celta de Vigo II (5)
Racing Club de Ferrol vs Izarra (6)
Guijuelo vs Deportivo Alaves (8)
Compostela vs Pontevedra (5)
Zamora vs Lemona (7)
Group 2:
Real Madrid II vs Real Sporting de Gijon II (6)
Universidad Las Palmas vs Alcorcon (6)
Real Sociedad Gimnastica Torrelavega vs Cacereno (5)
Real Oviedo vs Real Racing Club Santander II (7)
Alcala Henares vs Cerro Reyes Badajoz (6)
Villanovense vs Conquense (7)
Leganes vs Tenerife II (8)
Vecindario vs Puertollano (5)
Toledo vs Guadalajara (7)
Lanzarote vs Atletico Madrid II (6)
Group 3:
Barcelona II vs Denia (6)
Valencia II vs Logrones (7)
Mallorca II vs Alicante (7)
Benidorm vs Gava (8)
Badalona vs Sant Andreu (7)
Terrassa vs Alcoyano (8)
Lleida vs Sporting Mahones (7)
Ontinyent vs Atletico Gramenet (8)
Villajoyosa vs Espanyol Barcelona II (6)
Orihuela vs Sabadell (6)
Group 4:
Real Betis II vs Ceuta (6)
Moratella vs Union Estepona (5)
Real Murcia II vs Sevilla II (6)
Roquetas vs San Roque (7)
Caravaca vs Real Jaen (6)
Polideportivo Ejido vs Ecija Balompie (7)
Granada vs Lucena (7)
Marbella vs Aguilas (7)
Melilla vs Sangonera Atletico (8)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Hammarby vs GAIS Goteborg (7) draw no bet
BK Hacken vs Kalmar (7)
Orebro vs IFK Goteborg (6)
Swiss Super League:
Grasshoppers Zurich vs Aarau (6) 2-1
Basel vs St.Gallen (6) 1-0
Young Boys Bern vs FC Zurich (8) over 3.5 goals
Swiss Challenge League:
Biel-Bienne vs Winterthur (8)
Gossau vs Stade Nyonnais (6)
Lausanne Sports vs Locarno (8)
Lugano vs Wil (9)
Thun vs Schaffhausen (8)
Vaduz vs Kriens (6)
Yverdon Sport vs Le Mont (8)
Servette vs Wohlen (6)
Ukrainian Premier League:
Metalist Kharkiv vs Shakhtar Donetsk (8) 1-2
Enjoy your free betting tips and feel free to visit our forum!
FC Gomel vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk
As I've mentioned on a poll lately, I'm contemplating dumping some leagues and replacing them with others. Well, I've now decided what I want to do and it will take effect as of tomorrow.
Leagues being removed:
Montenegrin Prva Crnogorska
Bosnia-Herzegovina Premijer Liga
Maltese Premier League
Moldovan Divizia Nationala
Republic of Macedonia Prva Liga
Northern Irish Premier League
Albanian Kategoria Pare
Israeli Ligat Ha'al
Leagues being added instead:
Spanish Segunda B - Groups 1-4
Finnish Kakkonen - Groups 1-3
Norwegian 2 Divisjon - Groups 1-4
Anyway, today's featured game is in the Vysshaya Liga and feautres FC Gomel and rejuvenated giants Shakhtyor Soligorsk. Today's visitors are in fantastic form currently and find themselves third in the table. They've won three from their last four games and are unbeaten in their last nine league games. Despite a surprise victory away to Naftan Novopolotsk last match, hosts FC Gomel have only one that won game in their last five games, losing three of them. FC Gomel are hardly a tremendous force at home with some haphazard form but the visitors are tremendous away from home with five wins from eight away games. Quality and form point to the away win and as the odds are evens, I also point to the away win here! Also, some food for thought - FC Gomel haven't beaten Shakhtyor Soligorsk in their last six attempts and today's visitors won this fixture last season too.
Sunday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
FC Gomel vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk - away win at evens - see introduction for details.
Rapid Vienna vs Salzburg - home win at 5/4. Despite the loss of giant striker Maierhofer, Rapid Vienna are still a very impressive outfit at the current time and will fancy their chances today, particularly after a good draw at bitter rivals Austria Vienna last time out. Rapid Vienna have won both of their home games this season and average just short of five goals per game at home thus far! How about that for a record?! Salzburg have been disappointing performance-wise for me this season. They're still yet to convince me that they can maintain their Bundesliga crown and if I'm honest, the side they face today is their biggest challenger to the throne. Although this is just one game in the early season, I do feel that we'll learn a lot about the potential winner of the Bundesliga by viewing the outcome of this game. Anyway, Salzburg managed to lose this game last season and I think Rapid Vienna are even better this season so a home win does look favourable at 5/4. Obviously caution is emphasised due to these two being rivals!
Club Brugge vs Racing Genk - away win with +1.75 handicap at 10/11. Hosts Club Brugge are yet to convince anyone this season with some nervous wins and nervous performances. Today they host a competent and able Racing Genk side. The visitors aren't playing too well currently as they're drawing more than they win currently. However, one thing that should be noted is that they're unbeaten in their last four games. Most interestingly, however, Racing Genk have beaten Club Brugge here for three seasons running now. Ultimately, I can't see an unconvincing Club Brugge winning this game so taking Racing Genk to win with +1.75 handicap at 11/10 looks a great bet!
Independiente Medellin vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin - home win at 23/20. This is one of the two bloodbath derbies in Colombia tonight so immediately you have to approach with caution. In fact, I'll be surprised if Colombia still exists after the Medellin and Cali derbies tonight! However, what can't be denied is that Independiente Medellin have won three out of three home games in this campaign. That said, visitors Atletico Nacional de Medellin are unbeaten on the road so I expect a very close encounter. However, the hosts won this fixture last season and I think they've got just enough to win what should be a pretty violent encounter at 23/20.
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Real Cartagena - home win at 4/5. Hosts Atletico Junior Barranquilla enter this game unbeaten in their last three outings, winning two. Their home form is untouchable with four wins from four games as they entertain a meager Real Cartagena side that have won just once in their last five games, losing their last game. All in all, a home win looks imminent here at 4/5 with the hosts boasting the better squad and better form.
Kladno vs Brno - away win at evens. Kladno simply have to be favourites for relegation from the Gambrinus Liga with their atrocious form and leaky defence. Visitors Brno have made a rampant start to their campaign and find themselves fourth in the table currently with three wins in six games and just one defeat. Brno are unbeaten on the road but their biggest handicap is that they struggle to score goals. However, against a poor Kladno side, this really shouldn't be an issue. Kladno have claimed just one point all season and have now lost five games consecutively. With all this in mind, a Brno victory at evens looks a good bet.
Slovacko vs Teplice - away win at 13/8. After an impressive win against Brno, Teplice will have some good morale as that win means they're still unbeaten in the league this season and they're the biggest goalscorers away from home so far. Three wins in four games says that Teplice have the momenum to beat a poor Slovacko side here. The hosts won't make it easy and have a pretty good home record but the visitors have too much quality and experience to overcome Slovacko today. An away win at 13/8 could be a very good bet indeed today.
Silkeborg vs SonderjyskE - home win at 5/6. Hosts Silkeborg have made a puzzling start to the season with nobody really knowing what they can or can't do on a consistent basis. However, they're unbeaten in their last two games, they won their last outing and their home record shows that they've won two games from three and score an average of three goals per game at home. What convinced me that this game would be a home win even moreso, however, was the fact that SonderjyskE have lost all three away games this season and really struggle to score on the road. This game should be a tight one but a home win looks fairly imminent at 5/6.
Thisted vs Kolding - home win at 4/5. The momentum taken from last match's victory at Braband will give Thisted a very good shout of beating Kolding, a side in almost identical form to Braband i.e. no form at all! The visitors look destined for the division below and a roused Thisted aren't the kind of side that Kolding should be able to trouble so a home win at 4/5 should be profitable.
KuPS Kuopio vs Haka Valkeakoski - home win with draw no bet odds of 6/5. This is a risky call but one I like the look of. Haka Valkeakoski have overachieved all season, as we're all aware, but they're just not turning up lately. They've drawn three games in a row and haven't won in their last six Veikkausliiga games. Hosts KuPS Kuopio are still firmly rooted to the bottom of the table but have been playing some good football lately. Despite having lost their last game, they'd previously won two and drawn two games so they're not cannon fodder at the moment. Visitors Haka Valkeakoski have pretty much said farewell to any hopes of a Veikkausliiga challenge but KuPS Kuopio still have a very real chance of avoiding relegation. The three points are there for the taking and with the hosts having the extra impetus to win this game against a demoralised and out-of-sorts Haka Valkeakoski, the home win with draw no bet odds of 6/5 looks pretty inviting!
FC Kiisto Vaasa vs PK 35 Helsinki - away win at evens. This is pretty much one of the no-brainers! Kiisto Vaasa have sank like a rock in a stream with five defeats in five games. They have a really tough time scoring goals which is obviously the catalyst to their poor form. Visitors PK 35 Helsinki are a decent side and have enough to win this game, particularly as their away form indicates that they've won four times so a victory against the bottom side should be fairly straightforward. Neither side is big on scoring goals so it should be a fairly low-key affair but an away win looks a good bet at evens.
Viikingit Helsinki vs KPV Kokkola - home win at 3/4. This is quite a risky call between two big sides in the Ykkonen but league leaders Viikingit Helsinki have the edge, in my opinion. They've won seven from ten home games with just one defeat at home this season and almost never concede here. KPV Kokkola, however, are the best away side in the Ykkonen so this should be quite a tense and testing affair. Dominating home form and three consecutive wins says that Viikingit Helsinki have enough to win this game and one win in four games (including two defeats) says that KPV Kokkola have a good chance of losing this game. Football in the Veikkausliiga next season looks a lot more likely for Viikingit Helsinki if they win this this game so a home win at 3/4 looks intriguing!
FSV Frankfurt vs St. Pauli - away win at 11/10. These odds surprise me! Bottom-placed FSV Frankfurt are without a win this season. In fact, they've claimed just one point from a possible twelve and now host a rampant St. Pauli that average scoring over three goals per game currently. They've won three from their opening four games, they're still unbeaten and find themselve second-placed in the table. Frankly, the away win here looks pretty straightforward and 11/10 is some bloody good odds to see it happen at!
Union Berlin vs Paderborn - home win at 4/5. In this battle of two newly-promoted sides, it's Union Berlin who have the upper hand with their form showing that they're still unbeaten in the Bundesliga 2 with three wins and one draw from four games. Impressively, they've conceded just once in their current campaign but their problem is that they don't score enough goals so on the days where they don't show up, they're not going to win. However, those days aren't here yet so I'm prepared to ride the wave as they take on a Paderborn side that have won just once in four games. The visitors don't enjoy scoring or conceding goals so I'm expecting a pretty dour encounter. However, momentum says a low-scoring home win is on the cards and 5/6 is a decent set of odds to see it occur at.
Asteras Tripolis vs PAOK Salonika - away win at 21/20. I'm expecting a good display this season from PAOK Salonika and their opening day demolition of Levadiakos did much to back up my theory. Today they face another side expected to battle against relegation this season - Asteras Tripolis. The hosts are unbeaten in their two games this season but they're facing a very good PAOK Salonika today. I don't expect a whitewash but the away win looks likely at 21/20, particularly with the quality available to them.
Genoa vs SSC Napoli - over 2.5 goals at 10/11, home win at evens. Genoa have already proven to Serie A that they mean business this season as much as they did last season. They've beaten what was an impressive AS Roma side at home 3-2 already and won a difficult away game against Atalanta Bergamo so boast an impressive 100% record thus far. SSC Napoli are one of the sides expected to do well this year and with the players available to them, I'd have to agree. However, they've won one and lost one already this season and they know the trip to Genoa is a tough one. The fundamental playing style of each side is to score goals so over 2.5 goals at 10/11 looks a really good bet and just ousts another quality bet of the home win at evens.
Stabaek vs Rosenborg BK - home win at 7/5. Having won this fixture last season, Stabaek will be licking their lips ahead of this juicy clash with league leaders Rosenborg BK. The visitors are unbeaten in the Tippeligaen this season, which is highly impressive, but Stabaek at home really make their ground a fortress as most sides in the Tippeligaen can testify! The hosts have won three in their last five games and are unbeaten on that run too. Rosenborg BK have won four from their last five games too so we should see a fantastic game of football here tonight. It's a dubious call, but Stabaek are good enough at home to win this game at 7/5 and I can't help but feel that Rosenborg BK may just take their foot off the pedal a little because they've all but won the Tippeligaen already, barring a miracle.
Gaz Metan Medias vs Steaua Bucharest - away win at 4/5. Despite a mixed start to their season, Steaua Bucharest are still head and shoudlers above Gaz Metan Medias and should make it count today. The visitors haven't won at home yet this season in the Romanian Liga but they have won both of their away games, which bodes ominously for little Gaz Metan Medias. The hosts also boast a mixed start to the season but they don't really have the quality to match their more illustrious opponents today so the away win at 4/5 looks a good bet.
Spartak Nalchik vs Lokomotiv Moscow - away win at 11/10. Lokomotiv Moscow have looked a new side under legend Yuri Semin and find themselves fifth in the table with four wins in five games, leaving them unbeaten on that run. They're travelling to relegation-battling Spartak Nalchik who have notched up a couple of wins themselves in their last two games but they're facing a very difficult opponent today that have their eyes firmly set upon a European place. I anticipate a closely-fought game but the visitors have so much more quality available to them and more consistency under their belt that I cannot see beyond an away win at 11/10.
Hamilton Academicals vs Hibernians - away win at 10/11. I don't like betting on away wins in Scotland because their football is pretty damn poor but I couldn't resist this one today given Hamilton Academicals' abysmal run of form that sees them without a win in three games now and sat bottom of the table with zero points. They've managed just one goal so far this season but have conceded a concerning ten goals, which is an average of over three per game. Hibernians tasted defeat for the first time this season last match but had won their previous two games so they're gradually getting into their stride. The visitors have a better side and more form on a general level so should be able to overcome their weaker opponents at 10/11 so the away win looks to be an interesting bet.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Malaga - home win at 5/6. Despite shocking Atletico Madrid by winning 3-0 on the opening day of the season, I'm not convinced. Malaga still have a lot of issues with their goings-on over the summer and now travel to a very organised Deportivo La Coruna and face the daunting task of taking a result away from the Riazor, something most sides don't manage to do. As Deportivo La Coruna indicated in their opening game at the Santiago Bernabeu, they know how to find the net. They were unfortunate to lose that game but I feel very strongly that they'll gain the win today against a weaker Malaga side that are certainly due a reality check after their last performance! I'm surprised the odds on a home win at Riazor are 5/6 but I'll certainly be taking them.
Sporting Gijon vs Almeria - home win at 11/8. This is a relatively dubious call but one I do like. Despite the scoreline at Nou Camp reading Barcelona 3 Sporting Gijon 0, the game itself was a different story. The hosts weren't convincing in their performance but were more clinical in front of goal. Truth be told, Sporting Gijon could and probably should have scored at least once as they had several clear chances in the game. Sporting Gijon are more than capable of carrying their efforts from that game into this game against a weakened Almeria. The visitors didn't manage to score against a weak Real Valladolid in their opening game despite playing against ten men for 77 minutes of the game. The main reason for this, of course, is that they've lost star striker Alvaro Negredo, who was a key member of the side that made Almeria's home games hard games for all. Without him, they look a shadow of their former selves and they were already a poor away side. Sporting Gijon will be battling relegation again this season so they know this is a vital game that they must win as both of these sides will be in the mix at the end of the season. All this considered, a home win at 11/8 could turn out to be a nice little earner.
Real Valladolid vs Valencia CF - away win at 11/10. I do hate backing Valencia CF to do anything but everything points in their favour at the present time. They're facing a weak Real Valladolid side that have made some big losses over summer, the most notable of which being wonderkid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. They're generally a decent home side and I wouldn't expect anything less with them being so close to the Basque country. However, Valencia claimed an impressive 2-0 win over Sevilla CF in their opening game and the momentum from that game should be enough to steer them to victory over Real Valladolid, particularly with their attacking players looking in fine form! 11/10 on the away win could be a valuable bet for this game!
Deportivo Xerez vs Athletic Club de Bilbao - away win at 13/8. I know Athletic Club de Bilbao aren't the most reliable of away sides in the division, but today they're facing a weak, demoralised and poor Deportivo Xerez side that are really short of players in terms of actual numbers. Despite putting up a spirited show away to Real Mallorca, they ultimately lost the game and I'm expecting a similar encounter today as they face the tenacious Athletic Club de Bilbao. The visitors have lots of competitive games already under their belts this season and have looked impressive, particularly with the promising Oscar De Marcos, an acquisition from Deportivo Alaves in summer. They dominated the game at home to Espanyol in their first domestic game of the season and throughly deserved to win by more than the 1-0 scoreline it finished. Frankly, I can't see beyond an away win here so 13/8 looks beyond tempting here! This was a very close second for game of the day, in fact!
Elche vs Salamanca - away win at 2/1. I cannot fathom these odds whatsoever. Elche have done nothing this season other than indicate that they would enjoy being relegated. They've lost two games in a row, one of which was an inexplicable home defeat by Huesca and the other was a relatively expected defeat away to Numancia but Elche just can't get themselves into gear at all. Whereas I don't class Salamanca as one of the better sides in the division, I do think they've got enough to win this game in terms of quality. Form indicates that they're unbeaten and they've won once already so they do have the momentum to win this game too. Their problem is goalscoring currently but with Elche's leaky defence, you can't help but feel an away win is on the cards. 2/1 looks almost too good to be true!
Qviding Goteborg vs Mjallby Solvesborg - away win at 10/11. I used to back Mjallby Solvesborg for fun but lately they've endured a drought of wins. They've not been losing games but prior to their last match, they had drawn four consecutive games. However, their win last match will have give them the morale boost they needed to take those final steps to secure promotion to the Allsvesnkan. I don't think I need to point out how much better Mjallby Solvesborg are then the majority (if not entirety) of the sides in this division as I've harped on about it enough in the past. Today they travel to a very weak Qviding Goteborg side that are without a win in three consecutive games now, losing once in the process. There's a severe quality mismatch today and the away win looks imminent at 10/11.
Vasalunds vs GIF Sundsvall - away win at 5/6. It seems pointless to write this preview as this scenario is virtually identical to the above preview! Feel free to email me if you think that's inaccurate but I'd only be repeating myself, really, unless you wish to be really pedantic!
Neuchatel Xamax vs Young Boys Bern - away win at 4/5. After Young Boys Bern made us a good deal of money by winning at Basel last match, it's hard to see anything other than an away win materialising today. The visitors are simply far too strong for Neuchatel Xamax and are the side I would consider to be the best in Switzerland by some distance. Seven wins in eight games, no defeats, four wins on the road and a whole squad full of quality says that Young Boys Bern will win against Neuchatel Xamax today regardless of the hosts' excellent start to the season. An away win looks beyond imminent at 4/5!!
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
Albanian Kategoria Pare:
Skenderbeu Korce vs Flamurtari Vlore (6)
Gramozi Erseke vs KF Tirana (7)
Besa Kavaje vs Laci (8)
Apolonia Fier vs Shkumbini Peqin (7)
Kastrioti Kruje vs Vllaznia Shkoder (7)
Dinamo Tirana vs Teuta Durres (8)
Argentinian Primera Division:
Lanus vs Banfield (6) 1-0
River Plate vs Colon de Santa Fe (5) 1-1
Estudiantes De La Plata vs Independiente (8) 2-0
Godoy Cruz de Mendoza vs Huracan (7) 2-1
Australian A-League:
Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix (6) 1-0
Perth Glory vs Gold Coast United (7) 1-2
Austrian Bundesliga:
Rapid Vienna vs Salzburg (7) over 2.5 goals
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Dinamo Minsk vs Neman Grodno (7) 2-1
FC Gomel vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (8) 1-2
FC Minsk vs Granit Mikashevichi (7) 1-1
Torpedo Zhodino vs MTZ-RIPO Minsk (6) 0-0
Dnepr Mogilev vs Naftan Novopolotsk (6) 1-1
FC Smorgon vs FC Vitebsk (5) 1-0
Dinamo Brest vs BATE Borisov (7) 1-2
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Germinal Beerschot vs Lokeren (6) over 2.5 goals, draw no bet
Club Brugge vs Racing Genk (6) 1-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Standaard Wetteren vs Brussels (6)
Boussu Dour Borinage vs Turnhout (7)
Brazilian Serie A:
Atletico Mineiro vs Atletico Paranaense (6) 1-0
Internacional vs Cruzeiro (8) over 2.5 goals
Vitoria vs Palmeiras (6) 0-1
Santos vs Santo Andre (8) 2-0
Botafogo vs Fluminense (6) 0-0
Gremio Barueri vs Goias (6) 2-1
Nautico vs Gremio (5) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Beroe vs Cherno More Varna (6) 1-2, draw no bet
Sliven vs Litex Lovech (7) 1-2
Colombian Futbol Profesional:
Independiente Medellin vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
La Equidad Bogota vs Deportivo Pasto (8) 1-1
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Real Cartagena (8) 2-0
Deportes Quindio vs Boyaca Chico (6) 1-0
Envigado vs Cucuta Deportivo (7) 0-0
America de Cali vs Deportivo Cali (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Croatian Prva Liga:
Varteks Varazdin vs Hajduk Split (7) 1-0, draw no bet
Cypriot Division 1:
Doxa vs Omonia Nicosia (8) 0-2
Ethinkos Achnas vs AEL Limassol (7) 1-1
APEP vs Nea Salamis (5) 1-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Bohemians 1905 vs Ceske Budejovice (7) 1-1
Kladno vs Brno (7) under 2.5 goals
Slovacko vs Teplice (8) 1-2
Danish Superligaen:
Silkeborg vs SonderjyskE (7) 2-1
Esbjerg vs HB Koge (8) 2-0
Brondby vs AGF Aarhus (7) over 2.5 goals
Danish 1st Division:
Thisted vs Kolding (7)
Roskilde vs Vestjaelland (6)
Lyngby vs AC Horsens (7)
Hvidovre vs Skive (6)
Frem vs Viborg (8)
AB Copenhagen vs Fyn (9)
Naestved vs Braband (8)
Fredericia vs Vejle (6)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Liga de Quito vs Macara Ambato (7) over 2.5 goals
Olmedoa Riobamba vs Emelec Guayaquil (6) 1-1
English Premier League:
Birmingham City vs Aston Villa (7) 1-1
Fulham vs Everton (6) 0-0
English Championship:
Cardiff City vs Newcastle United (5)
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
AB Argir vs 07 Vestur Sorvagur (7)
NSI Runavik vs B68 Toftir (7) over 2.5 goals
Vikingur Gotu vs EB/Streymur (8) draw no bet
B36 Torshavn vs HB Torshavn (8)
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
TPS Turku vs FC Lahti (8) 2-1
HJK Helsinki vs RoPS Rovaniemi (9) -1.75 handicap
KuPS Kuopio vs Haka Valkeakoski (5) 2-1, draw no bet
Finnish Ykkonen:
FC Kiisto Vaasa vs PK 35 Helsinki (7)
Viikingit Helsinki vs KPV Kokkola (8)
French Ligue 1:
Auxerre vs OGC Nice (7) 1-1
Stade Rennais vs Saint-Etienne (8) 2-0
AS Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain (6) 1-2, draw no bet
German Bundesliga:
Werder Bremen vs Hannover 96 (8) over 2.5 goals
FC Koln vs Schalke 04 (7) 0-1
German Bundesliga 2:
Rot-Weiss Oberhausen vs Alemannia Aachen (7)
FSV Frankfurt vs St. Pauli (8)
Union Berlin vs Paderborn (8)
Greek Super League:
Asteras Tripolis vs PAOK Salonika (8) 1-2
Ergotelis vs Xanthi (5) 1-2, draw no bet
Levadiakos vs Panionios (6) 1-1
Panthrakikos vs Panathinaikos (8) 1-2
AEK Athens vs Iraklis (8) 2-0
Greek B Ethniki:
PMAS Agrotikos Asteras vs PAE Ethnikos Piraeus (7)
Doxa Dramas vs Ilioupoli GS (5)
PAE Ionikos Nikaias vs Ethinkos Achnas (7)
PS PAE Kalamata vs AO Ilsiakos Zografou (7)
Panserraikos vs PAE Anagennisi Karditsas 1904 (9)
Thrasivoulos vs Rhodos AS (8)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Ferencvaros vs MTK Budapest (8) 1-1
Icelandic Landsbankadeild Karla:
Fylkir Reykjavik vs Throttur Reykjavik (9) 2-0
Valur Reykjavik vs Stjarnan Gardabaer (6) 1-0
FH Hafnarfjordur vs IBV Vestmannaeyjar (8) 2-1
Israeli Ligat Ha'al:
Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv (7) 1-2
Italian Serie A:
Atalanta Bergamo vs Sampdoria (6) over 2.5 goals
Bologna vs Chievo Verona (7) 1-0
Fiorentina vs Cagliari (8) 2-0
Internazionale vs Parma (9) 2-0
Palermo vs Bari (9) 3-1
Siena vs AS Roma (7) 0-1
Udinese vs Catania (8) 2-0
Genoa vs SSC Napoli (7) over 2.5 goals
Japanese J-League:
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Montedio Yamagata (5) 0-0
Oita Trinita vs Jubilo Iwata (6) 1-1
Latvian Virsliga:
FK Ventspils vs Dinaburg Daugavpils (8) 3-1
Liepajas Metalurgs vs FK Daugava Riga (9) -1.75 handicap
Olimps Riga vs Skonto Riga (8) 0-2
FK Jurmala vs Tranzits Ventspils (8) 2-0
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Kruoja Pakruojis vs Ekranas Panevezys (8) 0-2
LKKA Teledema Kaunas vs Vetra Vilnius (8) 0-2
Banga Gargzdai vs Suduva Marijampole (7) 1-2
FK Taurus Taurage vs FK Siauliai (6) 1-1
Republic of Macedonia Prva Liga:
Pelister vs Renova Dzepciste (6)
Horizont Turnovo vs Rabotnicki Skopje (7)
Sileks Kratovo vs Milano Kumanovo (7)
Teteks vs Metalurg Skopje (5)
Makedonija Gjoerce Petrov Skopje vs Sloga Jugomagnat (8)
Vardar Skopje vs Pobeda Prilep (7)
Mexican Primera Division:
Pumas UNAM vs Pachuca (6) 1-2, draw no bet
Morelia vs Tigres UANL (7) 1-0
Santos Laguna vs Queretaro (7) 2-0
America vs Estudiantes Tecos (8) 2-1
Moldovan Divizia Nationala:
CSCA-Rapid Chisinau vs Nistru Otaci (6)
Sfintul Gheorghe vs Tiraspol (7)
Iskra-Stali vs Academia UTM-Chisinau (8)
Sheriff Tiraspol vs Viitorul (9) -1.75 handicap
Dutch Eredivisie:
Willem II vs Feyenoord Rotterdam (8) 0-2
Sparta Rotterdam vs RKC Waalwijk (7) 1-0
AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs NAC Breda (8) 2-1
VVV Venlo vs Heracles Almelo (6) 0-0
Vitesse Arnhem vs NEC Nijmegen (7) 1-1
Norwegian Tippeligaen:
Odd Grenland Skien vs Lillestrom (8) 2-1
Lyn Oslo vs Aalesunds (6) 0-0
Sandefjord vs Tromso (7) 1-1
Bodo Glimt vs Start Kristiansand (6) 1-0
Molde vs Stromsgodset (8) over 2.5 goals
Stabaek vs Rosenborg BK (6) 1-0
Norwegian Adeccoligaen:
Skeid Oslo vs Sogndal (8)
Haugesund vs Moss (7) both sides to score
Mjondalen vs Lov Ham Bergen (7)
Tromsdalen vs Nybergsund (7)
Sarpsborg vs Alta (6)
Bryne vs Stavanger (7)
Notodden vs Kongsvinger (6)
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Polonia Warsaw vs Zaglebie Lubin (8) 2-0
Lechia Gdansk vs Wisla Krakow (8) 1-2
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Maritimo vs Sporting Braga (6) 1-1
Olhanense vs Academica de Coimbra (6) 0-0
Vitoria Setubal vs Uniao de Leiria (6) 1-1
Belenenses vs SL Benfica (9) 0-2
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs Pacos de Ferreira (7) 2-1
Romanian Liga:
Rapid Bucharest vs Vaslui (7) 1-1
Gaz Metan Medias vs Steaua Bucharest (8) 1-2
FC Poli Timisoara vs Astra Ploiesti (8) 2-0
Russian Premier League:
Dinamo Moscow vs Spartak Moscow (7) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Spartak Nalchik vs Lokomotiv Moscow (8) 0-2
Zenit St. Petersburg vs Rostov-na-Donu (7) 2-0
Terek Grozny vs Tom Tomsk (5) 1-0
Scottish Premier League:
Hamilton Academicals vs Hibernians (6) 1-2
Serbian Super Liga:
Vojvodina Novi Sad vs Smederevo (9) -1.75 handicap
Hajduk Kula vs BSK Borca (6) 1-0
Cukaricki vs Partizan Belgrade (8) 0-2
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Artmedia Petrzalka vs Kosice (6) 2-1
DAC Dunajska Streda vs Slovan Bratislava (6) 0-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo La Coruna vs Malaga (8) 2-0
Villarreal vs Real Mallorca (8) 2-1
Tenerife vs Osasuna (6) 1-0
Sporting Gijon vs Almeria (7) 2-1
Real Valladolid vs Valencia CF (8) 1-2
Deportivo Xerez vs Athletic Club de Bilbao (8) 1-2
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Girona vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (6) draw no bet
Real Murcia vs Huesca (6)
Elche vs Salamanca (7)
Real Betis Balompie vs Recreativo de Huelva (6)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Gefle vs IFK Goteborg (5) 1-1
Hammarby vs Orebro (6) 1-2
Helsingborgs vs Brommapojkarna (8) 2-0
Swedish Superettan:
Syrianska Sodertalje vs Falkenbergs (6) draw no bet
Ljungskile vs Landskrona BoIS (6) draw no bet
Qviding Goteborg vs Mjallby Solvesborg (8)
Vasalunds vs GIF Sundsvall (7)
Swiss Super League:
Aarau vs Luzern (6) 1-2
Bellinzona vs Basel (6) 1-1
Neuchatel Xamax vs Young Boys Bern (8) 0-2
Turkish Super Lig:
Istanbul BB vs Trabzonspor (6) 1-1
Gaziantepspor vs Kasimpasa (7) 1-0
Genclerbirligi vs Eskisehirspor (7) 2-1
Antalyaspor vs Ankaragucu (6) 0-0
Bursaspor vs Fenerbahce (4) 2-1, draw no bet
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Montevideo Wanderers vs Fenix (7) 1-0
Tacuarembo vs Atenas (6) 2-1
Liverpool Montevideo vs Danubio (5) 1-1
Cerro vs Cerrito (7) 2-1
Defensor Sporting vs Club Nacional de Montevideo (6) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Aragua vs Atletico El Vigia (6) 2-1
Yaracuyanos vs Deportivo Italia (7) 0-1
Llaneros de Guanare vs Monagas SC (6) 1-1
Centro Italo vs Mineros de Guayana (5) 0-0
Caracas vs Deportivo Lara (8) 2-0
Trujillanos vs Carabobo (7) 2-0
Estudiantes de Merida vs Real Esppor Club (8) 1-1
Deportivo Tachira vs Zamora (8) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Neath Athletic vs Bala Town (7) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips and feel free to visit our forum!
Levadia Tallinn vs Galatasaray
Estonia's Levadia Tallinn today hosts Turkish giants Galatasaray in what should be a futile attempt to qualify for the Europa League proper. After a 5-0 drubbing in Istanbul, the Estonian champions will simply try to salvage some pride today. Unfortunately for them, they're facing one of the most potent and efficient Galatasaray sides that I've seen for some years now. They have the right mixture of experience and talent in the squad to take them to the next level. That said, I'd be confident of this selection even if Galatasaray fielded a second-string team with little motivation for the game so basically I'm feeling pretty damn confident about the outcome today! Galatasaray to win this game with -1.75 handicap at 6/4 is an absolute bargain because the Turks are an awful lot better than their hosts tonight and I thoroughly expect it to show by the final whistle.
Thursday's Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Levadia Tallinn vs Galatasaray - away win with -1.75 handicap at 6/4 - see introduction for full details.
Karabakh Agdam vs Twente - away win at 5/6. Despite an early scare in the first leg, Steve McClaren's Twente managed to turn things around and win the game 3-1. Whereas I'm sure they'd have preferred to do it without conceding, it still leaves them in a very promising position in terms of progression to the Europa League proper. Hosts Karabakh Adgam have already stunned half of Scandinavia thus far, managing frankly heroic victories against Rosenborg BK and FC Honka Espoo of Norway and Finland respectively. However, they've finally met their match and I expect it to show again tonight because they'll have to attack the Dutch outfit and McClaren's side are lethal on the counter-attack. An away win at 5/6 has a good deal of value in it!
Amkar Perm vs Fulham - away win with draw no bet odds of 5/6. This could potentially be one of the most boring ties of the round. Still, I'm open to being proven wrong! Fulham are missing main goalscorer Andy Johnson through a horrific challenge in the first leg of this tie, which will somewhat nullify their goal threat, although not entirely. Fulham really need Bobby Zamora to turn up and Clint Dempsey to support him as much as possible to get something here. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Amkar Perm are capable of turning this tie around per se, although they're a decent home side. They're just not as good as they were last season. A draw is probably the most likely outcome but I feel that if Fulham steal a goal, they'll hold on and win the game. Therefore, draw no bet odds of 5/6 look inviting.
Sigma Olomouc vs Everton - away win at 11/10. Despite the result somewhat flattering Everton in the first leg, the fact remains that they are the better outfit here and have more than enough capability when it comes to beating sides like Sigma Olomouc. The loss of Joleon Lescott may be a blessing in disguise as the constant speculation surrounding his future can only be irritating team mates. I expect Sigma Olomouc to give Everton a good game but to ultimately taste defeat for a second time. Odds of 11/10 on an away win look intriguing here.
Slovan Bratislava vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam - away win at 10/11 or with -1.75 handicap at 11/4. These odds are really, really confusing me. Ok, so AFC Ajax Amsterdam drew their last game 0-0 at home to Sparta Rotterdam. Fair enough, they had an unlucky game as all sides do at somepoint. They still absolutely battered Sparta Rotterdam and would have won that game 99 times from 100 attempts. They're still an awful lot better than Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava in whichever light you view it, as well as having a very good and experienced manager whose sides always turn up and play football whether they have to (results-wise) or not. They've got the quality to absolutely dominate this tie, particularly as the hosts have to attack to have any hope here. An away win at 10/11 is an absolute steal, frankly. I even fancy the away win with -1.75 handicap at 11/4, which could be a very nice earner indeed!!
CFR Cluj vs FK Sarajevo - home win with -1.75 handicap at evens. This could well be another boring tie but I think the result is all but decided. Romanians CFR Cluj claimed a valuable 1-1 draw in Sarajevo in the first leg. The fundamental point of beating any Bosnia-Herzegovina side in Europe is gaining a respectable result in Bosnia-Herzegovina. If you do that, chances are that you'll progress. There's no doubt in my mind that CFR Cluj are the better side here and Bosnia-Herzegovina sides just don't travel well at all. I expect a home win at the very least but I also expect the hosts to break the -1.75 handicap at evens too.
Tromso vs Athletic Club de Bilbao - away win at 11/10, both sides to score. I'm a little reluctant with this game having watched Athletic Club de Bilbao's unconvincing win away to Switzerland's Young Boys Bern and their home leg performance against Tromso but I'll ride it nonetheless due to the quality available at Athletic Club de Bilbao's disposal. These two sides have one thing in common; neither side can defend for shit! Athletic Club de Bilbao find it very difficult to close down attacking midfielders through the middle so it's worth taking any of Tromso's central midfielders to score in this game. It's also worthwhile to take both sides to score for the above reason, as was indicated perfectly in the first leg. The Spaniards are definitely the better side but they have a tough job to do on their long trip north to Tromso, a trip that has been the bane of many sides before them. Tromso will make this game hard for Athletic Club de Bilbao but the Norwegians do have to attack to obtain something from the game, something which I feel Athletic Club de Bilbao will exploit very well on the counter-attack. Overall, I expect a narrow away win with plenty of goals so 11/10 on the away win does look somewhat inviting.
Austria Vienna vs Metalurg Donetsk - home win at 6/5. An interesting first leg saw Metalurg Donetsk claim an unlikely result with a last-minute equaliser, leaving the score level at 2-2. The result was harsh on Austria Vienna, who had been the better side. However, I think it's fair to say that Metalurg Donetsk were "found out", as we say in England - as in they're not a very good outfit! They're an average side who will make you work hard to get a result from them but aren't ultimately very threatening. Austria Vienna are a good and capable side that have the away goal advantage and the home game advantage. They're also a better side than Metalurg Donetsk so why on earth they're 6/5 to win this game is frankly beyond me. If the hosts turn up then a home win at 6/5 could well be bargain of the day!
Fenerbahce vs Sion - home win with -2.75 handicap at 7/4. After securing a comfortable 2-0 win in Switzerland, it's unlikely Fenerbahce are going to worry about this leg too much. They know they're the better side and they have the home advantage tonight, as well as a stadium full of passionate but demanding fans. This atmosphere won't be something Sion will have seen before and not something they'll ever see again barring a miracle because they're a pretty damn poor side! Simply put - Fenerbahce have too much ability in their squad to do anything but win here and the Swiss side are incapable of keeping out a feisty home side. Taking the home win with -2.75 handicap at 7/4 could be a real bargain.
Hamburger SV vs Guingamp - home win with -2.75 handicap at 13/10. What do I need to add here? Hamburger SV have already shown they can beat the handicap comfortably by doing so in the away leg of this tie so I'm damn sure they're capable of reproducing that form in the home leg, if not increasing it. Guingamp aren't the best of sides at the best of times. In fact, I'd call them nothing more than an average Ligue 2 side at best. This shouldn't be any kind of obstacle for Hamburger SV so a home win with -2.75 handicap at 13/10 could well be a very good bet tonight.
Heart of Midlothian vs Dinamo Zagreb - away win at 6/4. Scottish football is getting worse and worse in comparison to the rest of Europe. Heart of Midlothian's annihlation in Zagreb in the first leg was a classic example of this. Don't get me wrong, the Croatian side are a good side but they shouldn't be capable of winning that game 4-0. However, they did win that game 4-0 because they're the better side with better players. If you couple that with the ridiculously poor form that Heart of Midlothian currently have and the players they have missing (i.e. Kingston) then an away win at 6/4 starts to look really tempting!
OB Odense vs Genoa - away win at 13/10. Genoa have the potential to be a real dark horse in this tournament. They've impressed me a great deal over the past couple of years with some fantastic attacking football and good goalscoring ability. Despite losing key striker Diego Milito over summer, they have brought in replacements that should be able to cover for him. I was unsure how Genoa would play in this tournament as Italian sides tend to struggle in Europe these days but a commanding display has all but assured them of a place in the Europa League proper. I don't think the Italians will do much other than to counter-attack OB Odense tonight as the Danes have to attack to have any chance. If Rodrigo Palacio starts in attack then God help OB Odense when Genoa counter-attack - this guy is like lightning! An away win at 13/10 looks inviting and rather probable, thus also rather valuable, logically!
Botafogo vs Cruzeiro - away win at 11/5. Cruzeiro's recent form in Serie A shows how they should be playing! They've not lost in their past four games, winning three and drawing the other. They're a very capable side on their day and that day is every matchday, currently. Botafogo are going from bad to worse with no wins in their past five games, their only points coming from two draws they've achieved in those five games. They need the points so they're not going to be sitting back but a Cruzeiro side in this kind of form has to be respected or they will punish you. However, Botafogo are running out of options so Cruzeiro might just fancy their chances here - I know I do! The away win at 11/5 looks a good bet given the above information and the fact that Botafogo aren't a particularly good home side and Cruzeiro aren't bad on the road of late!
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Europa League:
Aktobe Lento vs Werder Bremen (7) both sides to score
Karabakh Agdam vs Twente (7) 0-1
Sigma Olomouc vs Everton (7) 1-2
Amkar Perm vs Fulham (5) 0-1, draw no bet
Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs Teplice (7) 2-1
Dinamo Moscow vs CSKA Sofia (8) 2-0
Hertha BSC Berlin vs Brondby (8) 2-0
Zenit St. Petersburg vs CD Nacional (8) 2-0
Slovan Bratislava vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (8) -1.75 handicap
Heerenveen vs PAOK Salonika (7) 3-1
LOSC Lille vs Racing Genk (7) 2-1
CFR Cluj vs FK Sarajevo (8) -1.75 handicap
Elfsborg Boras vs Lazio (4) 2-1
Tromso vs Athletic Club de Bilbao (7) both sides to score
Austria Vienna vs Metalurg Donetsk (8) 2-1
Metalist Kharkiv vs Sturm Graz (8) 2-0
MSK Zilina vs Partizan Belgrade (6) 1-1
Basel vs Baku (7) -1.75 handicap
Slovan Liberec vs Dinamo Bucharest (8) 2-1
Red Star Belgrade vs Slavia Prague (7) 2-0
Sparta Prague vs Maribor (8) 3-1
Litex Lovech vs BATE Borisov (7) 1-0
Levadia Tallinn vs Galatasaray (9) -1.75 handicap
AEK Athens vs Vaslui (8) 2-1
Villarreal vs NAC Breda (8) -1.75 handicap
Fenerbahce vs Sion (9) -2.75 handicap
Club Brugge vs Lech Poznan (7) both sides to score
OB Odense vs Genoa (7) 1-2
Hamburger SV vs Guingamp (9) -2.75 handicap
Heart of Midlothian vs Dinamo Zagreb (7) 1-2
AS Roma vs MFK Kosice (8) -1.75 handicap
PSV Eindhoven vs Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv (8) -1.75 handicap
St.Patrick's Athletic vs Steaua Bucharest (6) 0-1
Vorskla Poltava vs SL Benfica (5) 0-1, draw no bet
Toulouse vs Trabzonspor (8) 2-1
Aston Villa vs Rapid Vienna (7) 2-1
Valencia CF vs Stabaek (8) -1.75 handicap
Copa Nissan Sudamericana:
River Plate Montevideo vs Blooming Santa Cruz (8) -1.75 handicap
Emelec Guayaquil vs Zamora (8) 2-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Botafogo vs Cruzeiro (7) 1-2
Chinese Super League:
Henan Jianye vs Chongqing Lifan (7) 2-0
English League Cup:
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (8) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
Klubi 04 Helsinki vs TP 47 Tornio (6)
PoPa Pori vs Kiisto Vaasa (8)
Singaporean S-League:
Albirex Niigate vs Home United (6) 2-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!
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