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Brest vs Vannes OC

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Today’s featured games is the Ligue 2 encounter between Brest and Vannes OC. The hosts have been very impressive in Ligue 2 this year and currently find themselves in fourth place in the table. They’ve won three of their last five games and are unbeaten on that particular run. The main reason for their success has been their consistent home form which has seen them yield five wins from seven games, drawing once and losing just once. Brest are looking twice the side that they were last year and look one of the harder sides to beat currently. Vannes OC, by contrast, are not having a good season. They’re currently thirteenth in the Ligue 2 table with one win and four defeats from their last five games, which isn’t good enough. Whereas their away record isn’t exactly the worst in the league, it’s still poor with three defeats, two draws, and one defeat from their six away games played this year. Vannes OC basically are not looking good enough to take anything from this game so I’m going to call a home win at bargain odds of 5/6 for a very much in-form and reliable Brest.

Friday’s Picks

My tips:

As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:

Brest vs Vannes OC – home win at 5/6 – see introduction for full details.

Universidad de Chile vs Fluminense – home win at 11/10. I don’t know what it is about Chilean sides playing Brazilian sides but they seem to have more success in stopping their Brazilian counterparts playing football much better than any other South American nation does. Perhaps it’s their dogged style of football that really gets to the Brazilians – I’m not sure. This point was illustrated in the first leg of this game as Universidad de Chile drew 2-2 in Brazil against Fluminense. Universidad de Chile are one of the more experienced continental sides in South America, I think it’s fair to say, and stand a great chance of progressing to the Copa Nissan Sudamericana here tonight against a Fluminense side more focal upon avoiding relegation from Serie A. The hosts have a good enough squad to win this game and the home advantage against a potentially distracted Fluminense makes the home win at 11/10 look a good call tonight.

Liga de Quito vs Velez Sarsfeld – home win at evens. Copa Libertadores reigning champions Liga de Quito tonight host Velez Sarsfeld in the Copa Nissan Sudamericana quarter-final game. An impressive 1-1 draw in Argentina in the first leg leaves the Ecuadorians with the edge as the Argentinians vist their lofty fortress in Quito. Many sides have travelled here and failed so it will take a mighty display from Velez Sarsfeld to avoid falling to a similar fate. What convinces me of this outcome is not only that this is a nightmarish away game for any side and that Velez Sarsfeld have to come here and attack to have a chance of success but also that Velez Sarsfeld’s performances of late have been inconsistent at best. For instance – they’ve beaten lowly Godoy Cruz de Mendoza and newly-promoted Atletico Tucuman but have also lost at home to Newell’s Old Boys. When travelling to a good home side like Liga de Quito, you really need to be at your best. Basically, I don’t think Velez Sarsfeld are currently in a position to get a result here so I think the home win at evens for the Ecuadorians looks a good bet tonight.

Sedan-Ardennes vs Metz – away win at 15/8. I can’t quite fathom why these odds are so long! Visitors Metz are not the best travellers in Ligue 2 – far from it. However, they remain one of the best sides in the division, regardless of that point. Aside from that, Metz have really entered their stride lately with four wins from their last five games. If this statistic isn’t impressive enough for you then consider that all of the sides they have beaten/drawn with in those five games either are a very good side or showed that they can be a very good side last season. Metz have lately won away to Chateauroux and drew away to high-flying Nantes whilst beating Guingamp, Laval, and Strasbourg at home. This list of sides is very impressive, in my humble opinion, and a weak Sedan-Ardennes shouldn’t really pose a great threat here tonight, despite having a decent home record. Sedan-Ardennes have lost three of their last five games, including two embarassing defeats to Nimes and Istres. Therefore, to be frank, the away win at 15/8 could turn out to be a real bargain tonight.

Arles vs Le Havre – away win at 13/8. Although currently unbeaten at home in Ligue 2 this year, hosts Arles will face one of their toughest tests yet as they host a very much in-form Le Havre. The visitors have won three of their last five games, losing just once. Their most recent victory was a monday night 4-0 demolition of promotion rivals Nantes, which will have inspired Le Havre greatly. Arles are doing well with keeping sides out but that record simply has to end soon enough because Arles are punching above their weight. Visitors Le Havre certainly have a classier side and look far more capable of winning this game than the hosts do. For me, the away win at 13/8 could prove to be a great bet tonight, particularly as Le Havre have already won three from seven away games this season, losing just once along the way.

Empoli vs Reggina – home win at evens. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I love my Serie B home wins and Empoli are amongst my favourite sides to back for it, too! Although atrocious away from home, Empoli become a very different side when playing on their own turf as five wins from six home games indicates. Some poor form lately has cast a few doubts in my mind over the reliability of Empoli but they’re hosting a Reggina side tonight that have lost four of their last five games and look destined to fail in this division despite having only joined Serie B from Serie A this year. Comparing Empoli’s superb home record with an average of nearly three goals scored per home game to Reggina’s away record of four defeats from six away games, conceding nearly two goals per away game, you have to feel that there’s potentially a great deal of value in the home win at evens!

Groningen vs Heracles Almelo – away win at 9/5. I never thought I’d see the day that I backed Heracles Almelo to win an away game but here we are! Visitors Heracles Almelo are playing some of the best football that they’ve ever played, in my humble opinion, and have well-earned their current Eredivisie placing of sixth. They’ve won four of their last five games but their most impressive feature is the fact that they’ve won four from six away games this year with only FC Twente Enschede having won more away games this year. Heracles Almelo’s strength isn’t goalscoring; it’s keeping sides out. They’ve conceded just one goal away from home in six games this year, which is pretty damn impressive! Although I formerly rated Groningen as the better of these two sides, statistics for this year show otherwise in a big way. The hosts have lost so many home games that only bottom-placed RKC Waalwijk have lost more home games than they have. Groningen have lost four of their six home games this season and scored a feeble two goals. Considering the lax attack of Groningen and the watertight defence of Heracles Almelo makes me think an away win is very likely here, particularly with the sharp contrast in momentum and ability at the moment, particularly as Groningen are without a win in their past four games and have lost their last two consecutively. For me, there’s potentially some serious value in the away win at 9/5.

Lechia Gdansk vs Korona Kielce – home win at evens. Many people have dubbed Lechia Gdansk’s start to this Ekstraklasa campaign as “fortunate”; maybe they’re right. However, fortune has no place in what will surely be a home win against a weak, newly-promoted Korona Kielce as the visitors have now lost four games in a row. Korona Kielce looked to be playing ok but all of a sudden they’ve completely capitulated and the result is a sharp descent down the Ekstraklasa. The visitors have lost four from five away games in the Ekstraklasa this season and Lechia Gdansk are well-placed to take advantage of that fact. The hosts may have a somewhat impassive home record this year but they’re resilient, experienced in the Ekstraklasa dogfight and won their last game to give them momentum as they enter this game. With all of the above in mind, the home win at evens could be a real bargain today.

As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!

Copa Nissan Sudamericana:

Universidad de Chile vs Fluminense (7) under 2.5 goals
Liga de Quito vs Velez Sarsfeld (7) under 2.5 goals

Argentinian Primera Division:

Argentinos Juniors vs Rosario Central (5) 1-1
Independiente vs Gimnasia De La Plata (7) 2-0

Australian A-League:

Adelaide United vs Brisbane Roar (7) 2-1

Austrian Liga 1:

Austria Vienna II vs Wacker Innsbruck (8)
SCR Altach vs Gratkorn (8)
Hartberg vs Admira Wacker (8)
Lustenau vs Salzburg II (6)
First Vienna vs Dornbirn (5) over 2.5 goals

Belgian Eerste Klasse:

Charleroi vs AA Gent (6) 1-2

Bulgarian A PFG:

Lokomotiv Mezdra vs Montana (7) 1-0

Danish 1st Division:

Viborg vs Skive (8)

English Championship:

Derby County vs Coventry City (4) draw no bet

English FA Cup:

Bristol Rovers vs Southampton (6) 1-1
Notts County vs Bradford City (8) 2-0
Huddersfield Town vs Dagenham & Redbridge (6) 2-1

French Ligue 2:

AC Ajaccio vs Dijon FCO (6)
Angers SCO vs Bastia (6)
Brest vs Vannes OC (8)
Clermont Foot vs Nimes (7)
Sedan-Ardennes vs Metz (6)
Strasbourg vs Istres (6)
Arles vs Le Havre (6)
Stade Malherbe de Caen vs Tours (8)
Chateauroux vs Laval (6)

German Bundesliga:

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt (8) 3-1

German Bundesliga 2:

Kaiserslautern vs Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (7)
St.Pauli vs Fortuna Dusseldorf (7)
Paderborn vs Koblenz (6)

Greek B Ethniki:

Ilioupoli vs Ethnikos Asteras (7)

Hungarian Soproni Liga:

Ujpest vs Fehervar (6) 1-1

Italian Serie B:

Empoli vs Reggina (7)

Dutch Eredivisie:

Groningen vs Heracles Almelo (7) 0-1

Dutch Eerste Divisie:

Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Excelsior (7) over 2.5 goals
AGOVV Appeldoorn vs Volendam (6)
Den Bosch vs Dordrecht ’90 (6)
Eindhoven vs Veendam (7)
Fortuna Sittard vs RBC Roosendaal (7)
Go Ahead Eagles vs Haarlem (8)
Helmond Sport vs Top Oss (6)
MVV Maastricht vs Omniworld (8)
Stormvogels Telstar vs Zwolle (7)

Polish Ekstraklasa:

Odra Wodzislaw vs Zaglebie Lubin (5) 1-1
Lechia Gdansk vs Korona Kielce (8) 1-0
Wisla Krakow vs Legia Warsaw (7) 2-1

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

Belenenses vs Pacos de Ferreira (6) under 2.5 goals

Romanian Liga:

Pandurii Targu Jiu vs Gloria Bistrita (7) 2-0
International vs Universitatea Craiova (8) 1-1

Singaporean S-League:

Sengkang Punggol vs Woodlands (5) 1-1

Turkish Super Lig:

Bursaspor vs Genclerbirligi (8) 2-0

Welsh Premier League:

Aberystwyth Town vs Bala Town (7) 2-1
Airbus vs Connah’s Quay Nomads (6) 1-0
Haverfordwest County vs Neath Athletic (6) 1-1
Prestatyn Town vs Newtown (7) 2-1
The New Saints vs Newi Cefn Druids (8) 2-0

Enjoy your free betting tips!

Ancona vs Piacenza

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Today’s featured game is the Serie B encounter between Ancona and Piacenza. Having just managed to stay in Serie B last year, Ancona have set about making their home ground a fortress once more in an attempt to prolong their life in Serie B yet again. Only four Serie B sides won more home games than Ancona last year and two of those sides were promoted to Serie A! Ancona have also been working on winning away from home, which was their Achilles heel last season. This season, however, they’ve won two away games already, which is impressive when you consider that they only won three away games in the entirety of last season. Nobody lost more away games than Ancona last season so it was more than apparent that they needed to address it instantaneously – and they have. In this campaign, Ancona have actually been one of the more impressive sides thus far, winning six games in ten. They’re unbeaten in their last four games and have won three of those games too. Ancona are one of just two sides in Serie B that have won every home game so far this season, along with Empoli. Ancona average over two goals per game and have conceded just once at home all season. To put it bluntly; Ancona have looked very good this year, almost a changed side from last year. Visitors Piacenza are having a torrid campaign thus far, however. They’ve won just two games from the ten they’ve competed in so far and have lost four in their last three games. Piacenza are without a win in their past five games now so morale is low and they’re severely lacking in momentum. Although Piacenza’s away form isn’t amongst the worst in the league (played five, won one, drawn two, lost two), their recent form suggests that they’re going to play right into in-form Ancona’s hands, particularly as Piacenza are finding goals hard to come by themselves. To be frank, the odds of 5/6 on this game are something of a gift so I had to delve further and assitain just why those odds were available. The only reasoning I’ve managed to locate is that Ancona didn’t manage to score against or even take a point off Piacenza last season. Whereas it’s worth taking note of that statistic, I still feel everything points to a home win tonight so 5/6 on the home win is my undisputed pick of the day!

Tuesday’s Picks

My tips:

As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:

Ancona vs Piacenza – home win at 5/6 – see introduction for full details.

Barnsley vs Manchester United - lay Manchester United at 17/10.  I don’t like betting against my side but this game is competed in the shitty Carling Cup, a trophy that isn’t widely sought after by…well, anyone, really! Manchester United will undoubtedly be fielding their impressive youngsters and a few first-team players needing match fitness i.e. Fletcher, Brown. Manchester United’s kids are very talented, there’s no doubt about that. However, this is a rather large test for them for various reasons. This trip is to Yorkshire on an Autumn night with the hosts boasting tenacious and rejuvenated football under former Manchester United striker Mark Robins. Robins has guided Barnsley to five vicories in all competitions since taking over in September, an impressive amount considering the prediacment the club were in when he took over. Within that list of victories lies wins against Burnley in this competition and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, two very impressive results indeed. Barnsley are a very resilient side, as indeed are most Yorkshire outfits, and this game will not be easy for Manchester United’s youngsters. Barnsley have a history of being a hard side to play against as Chelsea can testify after they exited the FA Cup against Barnsley last season, a game which like tonight’s game was also played at Oakwell. Barnsley also won at Anfield 2-1 in the same competition and were only prevented from reaching the FA Cup final by a plucky Cardiff City. Suffice to say that Barnsley enjoy their cup games! Mark Robins will have a point to prove against his former club, as all former Manchester United players do, such is their desire to win trophies. I’m expecting a close and low-scoring game and although it could go either way, I think a draw is on the cards so laying Manchester United at 17/10 could prove to be good value tonight.

Strasbourg vs Tours – home win at evens. Now unbeaten in four games, Strasbourg are finally beginning to get their season back on track. They’ve only one won of those four games but their general performances are getting better too. I’d argue the case that there’s not many other sides in Ligue 2 that are better to play against at home than Tours at the moment given that they’ve not won in four games and are generally poor travellers, something that has been proven over the past few years rather convincingly. Tours haven’t won any of their five away games yet this season, to further my point, and generally struggle to score goals away from home. Strasbourg boast a better side; it’s simply a matter of time as to when they start winning games consistently. For me, that time could be tonight against a Tours side that are unable to do anything but draw and lose currently. Although I expect a close game, there could well be some good value in the home win at evens.

Empoli vs Triestina – home win at 3/4. Unbeaten in four games now, Empoli are looking very promising ahead of this game with Triestina, particularly as Empoli have won five out of five home games so far this season. Empoli average scoring three goals per game at home and generally tend to blow any opponents away when playing at home. Although Triestina are unbeaten in their last two games, the fact remains that they’ve lost three from five away games and have only managed to score two goals away from home all season. If you’re poor at goalscoring and you’re going away to play against a side that have virtually mastered the art of goalscoring then you have to feel that a home win is looking very likely indeed. Empoli won this game 4-0 last season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that scoreline again, to be honest. Not only is 3/4 great odds on the home win but it may also be worth taking a -1.75 handicap in light of the above information.

Lecce vs Reggina - home win at 5/4. Although having started life in Serie B somewhat slowly, Lecce have since won four from their last five games. They’ve won three from five home games and although they’re not scoring goals in a free-flowing manner, they’re still looking ruthlessly efficient in their bid to regain their Serie A status. Although both of these two sides were in Serie A last season, only Lecce are looking likely to be back in it next season. Indeed, given Reggina’s current problems, it looks more likely that they’ll be in Serie C rather than Serie A if they indeed do leave Serie B. Reggina have lost three consecutive games now, which takes their tally of defeats to five from ten games. They’ve won just two games out of those ten and are looking woeful in front of goal with just seven goals scored along the way. Although there’s not an awful lot of quality difference between these two sides, home advantage and momentum should be key here so I expect Lecce to win this game at surprising odds of 5/4.

Lastly, I don’t often recommend combinations because generally it’s up to yourselves to generate your own luck. However, I do really like the look of a 4-team Serie B accumulator of home wins containing Empoli, Ancona, Lecce, and Brescia at impressive odds of 11/1 – give it some thought!

As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!

Baltic League:

Levadia Tallinn vs FK Taurus Taurage (7) 2-1
Ekranas Panevezys vs FK Jurmala (8) 3-1
Flora Tallinn vs FK Siauliai (5) 1-1

Argentinian Primera Division:

Newell’s Old Boys vs Racing Club Avellaneda (8) 2-0
Atletico Tucuman vs Velez Sarsfeld (6) 0-1

English League One:

Bristol Rovers vs Leeds United (7)

English League Cup:

Barnsley vs Manchester United (4) 1-1
Sunderland vs Aston Villa (6) 0-0
Portsmouth vs Stoke City (5) 1-2
Blackburn Rovers vs Peterborough United (6) 1-1
Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton (7) 2-0

French Ligue 2:

AC Ajaccio vs Nimes (6)
Angers SCO vs Brest (5)
Arles vs Dijon FCO (6)
Chateauroux vs Metz (8)
Clermont Foot vs Istres (7)
Sedan-Ardennes vs Bastia (7)
Stade Malherbe de Caen vs Vannes OC (9)
Nantes vs Laval (8)
Strasbourg vs Tours (6)

Italian Serie B:

Ancona vs Piacenza (8)
Brescia vs Gallipoli (8)
Empoli vs Triestina (8)
Lecce vs Reggina (7)

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

Vitoria Guimaraes vs Sporting Clube de Lisboa (7) under 2.5 goals

Singaporean S-League:

Balestier Khalsa vs Gombak United (7) 1-2
Tampines Rovers vs Albirex Niigate (8) 2-0

Swedish Allsvenskan:

IFK Goteborg vs Halmstads (9) 2-0
Kalmar vs Malmo (6) 2-1

Uruguayan Primera Division:

Cerro Largo vs Racing Club Montevideo (5) 1-1
Danubio vs Atenas (8) 2-0
Tacuarembo vs Defensor Sporting (6) 1-2
Penarol vs Rampla Juniors (8) 2-1

Enjoy your free betting tips!