Tag Archives: Groningen

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!

Tours vs Arles

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Today’s featured game is the Ligue 2 clash between Tours and Arles. Although being new to the division, Arles have set about making themselves a force to be reckoned with in the early stages of the season. Three wins and just one defeat from their opening six games says that they’ve earned their current fourth spot in the table and are not to be taken lightly. That said, they’ve not won either of their last two games, drawing at home to Angers SCO and losing away to league leaders Stade Malherbe de Caen. They’ve obtained some impressive results so far in the Ligue 2 campaign but today gives them a mighty test as they travel to one of the best home sides in all of France, let alone Ligue 2 – Tours. The hosts’ home record last season showed that they won more home games than everyone else in the division, including eventual Ligue 2 winners Racing Club Lens. Fourteen home wins from nineteen games is an outstanding statistic for a club like Tours and they’re already looking to reproduce their fortress-esque style as they’re still unbeaten at home this season after three games, winning twice and drawing once without even conceding a goal. Will Tours have enough to complete what they failed to finish last season? Probably not, truth be told. However, Tours have more than enough to win this game today and in my opinion, this is Arles’ toughest test yet in Ligue 2 so it’ll be interesting to see how they deal with it, particularly as they enter this game on something of a downer. However, in light of the above information, the home win here has some serious value at evens in my eyes.

Friday’s Picks

My tips:

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

Tours vs Arles – home win at evens – see introduction for full details.

Huracan vs Estudiantes De La Plata – away win at 7/5. Although I’m not a big advocate of Estudiantes De La Plata, you really have to fancy them to win this one. Four games played, three won and one drawn says that Estudiantes De La Plata are intent on reproducing the kind of form they showed last season and are doing a damn good job of it too! They’ve already beaten better sides than Huracan this season so it’s hard to see them stumbling here. Hosts Huracan haven’t gained any points at home this season from two home games so they’re already beginning to look dubious. They’ve collected just one point from a possible twelve and look set to have a frustrating campaign ahead as they’ve only mustered two goals from their four games played. There’s a big difference in quality, form and momentum here today so the away win looks good value at 7/5.

Rosario Central vs Banfield – home win at 6/5. What can I say? Four wins from four games including a victory over River Plate says that Rosario Central are the side to beat in Argentina currently. They’re not prolific but they are efficient. Whereas goalscoring might be their hindrance, I can’t see it being as relevant today against Banfield due to the quality difference between these two outfits and Banfield have conceded in both of their away games thus far in this campaign. I’m not expecting a classic game here, contrary to what the excellent form of both sides currently suggests, but I am expecting a narrow home win. Odds of 6/5 on the home win here looks good value to me!

Medimurje vs Inter Zapresic – home win at 9/10. It’s been banded about the media this week that English Premier League side Chelsea have bought (well, when they’re actually allowed to buy players again!) Inter Zapresic goalkeeping prospect Matej Delac. Inter Zapresic director Branko Laljak said that this transfer will save the club from bankruptcy. Whereas that’s all well and good, they’ve got more immediate problems currently; form. They’ve not won in four games and have lost the last three consecutively as this season begins to look worryingly as bad as last season. Strangely enough, Inter Zapresic are amongst the lowest conceding sides in the Prva Liga currently and you might almost think that was a blessing as they travel to newly-promoted Medimurje, a side that is expected to finish about the same place as Inter Zapresic. However, Medimurje have proven a lot of people wrong with some decent displays and good results. They’re currently mid-table and although their form isn’t consistent on a general basis, their home form most certainly is. They’re unbeaten at home in four games and have won three of them, also giving themselves the reputation of being one of the biggest goalscoring sides at home with ten goals from four games. Whereas I think it’s fair to say that Medimurje haven’t really had a serious challenge at home in the Prva Liga yet, I think it’s also fair to say that they’ve not really got one today either. Medimurje are in for a long season and by the looks of things, they know it. They’re taking as many points off the sides expected to finish around them as possible and Inter Zapresic are no exception. The visitors will have their work cut out today and morale is low as they travel to a difficult Medimurje who have the morale and tenacity to win this game. For those reasons, 9/10 on a home win looks a good call to me.

Bastia vs Nantes - away win at 7/5. Despite losing Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic on loan to English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers on loan to help the club’s financial situation, Nantes still boast a dangerous attack and that showed in their home game with Strasbourg last match. Three consecutive wins and being far and away the biggest goalscorers in the division currently says that Nantes are looking good for the victory here. The question then is how likely are Bastia to lose the game? In my eyes, it’s pretty damn likely. Bastia struggled in Ligue 2 last year and they appear to have continued that trend this year. They’ve lost five games from six and find themselves currently inside the drop zone. To their credit, they score a lot of goals at home so I do expect them to put up a fight here so over 2.5 goals may be a worthwhile punt also. However, three straight defeats says that the advantage mentally is with Nantes, as well as with the actual quality of both sides so the away win at 7/5 looks very tempting.

Koblenz vs Union Berlin – away win at 6/4. I’m often wary about backing newly-promoted sides on the road in their first season in the division in question but Union Berlin have got the form and momentum for me to overlook that caution. Four wins in five games and no defeats say that Union Berlin have really got the bit between their teeth currently. They’ve only conceded one goal away from home in this campaign but have scored four. Today they face a Koblenz side that struggled to stay in the Bundesliga 2 last year and look set to struggle to stay in it again. Four defeats in five games (three of which have been consecutive of late) says that Koblenz are feeling morale drop and look good cannon fodder for a buoyant Union Berlin today. I can’t see this being a walk in the park for the visitors but I can see them winning the game given the above information. 6/4 on the away win could turn out to be quite the interesting bet here!

Drogheda United vs Derry City - away win at 11/10. Despite facing a financial crisis, Derry City have assured their players and fans that none of the players will be leaving before the end of the season and this appears to have united the players even moreso, which is good to see. Four wins in their past five games and one of the best away records in the division says that Derry City are in a good position to win this game comfortably. Drogheda United have had a really poor season this year after a good campaign last year. In fact, they’re having to battle incredibly hard to stay in the Irish Premier League, which is something that not many people would have called before the start of this season, myself included. The hosts can’t seem to get any type of consistency together as they’ve not won in three games, losing twice and drawing once. They’re one of the lowest goalscoring sides in the division and this has proven to be a real issue for them. Derry City are amongst the biggest goalscoring sides in the division so everything here is pointing towards the away win today. You may see a different Derry City next season but I don’t think you will this season due to their admirable loyalty and work-rate. Lastly, the visitors have won this fixture for two seasons running now! Summarised; the statistics like the away win and I do too, especially at 11/10!

Salernitana vs Torino – away win at evens. An atrocious start to their Serie B campaign sees hosts Salernitana sit bottom of the table with four defeats from four games. The only side to have conceded more goals than they have so far is the side sat just a point in front of them in the table – Albinoleffe. The hosts have had the opportunity to take three points with some of their games played already being against supposedly lesser opposition. However, the hosts just can’t get going and today they face a side that nobody wants to face when they’re struggling for form in Serie B; recently-relegated Torino. Despite a disappointing defeat at Brescia, visitors Torino have bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Albinoleffe, making it three wins in four games in Serie B for them. Although it’s not the end of the world for Torino to lose to promotion rivals Brescia, I personally describe it as disappointing because Brescia hadn’t been playing as well as they could due to injuries and Torino had set the division alight. In their last fixture against Albinoleffe, it wasn’t so much the outcome that impressed me but the manner of the victory. They came from behind to win the game 2-1 which shows great mental character which tells me that they’ll be more than ready for this game. Torino face a much easier away game today than they did against Brescia as they face a demoralised and poor Salernitana outfit that really shouldn’t pose a problem to the promotion hopefuls. I’ve been trying really hard to find a reason not to back the away win here because Serie B isn’t the most reliable of leagues for the away win but I just can’t find any! Torino really should win this game and evens on the away is a potential steal! Make no mistake – this was a very close contender for game of the day! 

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

Argentinian Primera Division:

Huracan vs Estudiantes De La Plata (8) 1-2
Rosario Central vs Banfield (8) under 2.5 goals

Australian A-League:

Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory (7) 2-0

Belgian Eerste Klasse:

Racing Genk vs Charleroi (8) 2-1

Bulgarian A PFG:

Lokomotiv Sofia vs Montana (9) -1.75 handicap

Croatian Prva Liga:

Medimurje vs Inter Zapresic (7) 1-0

English Championship:

Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday (5) 1-1

Finnish Kakkonen:

Lokho B:

Sinimustat Turku vs SalPa Salo (5)
Ilves vs Pirkkala JK (8)

French Ligue 2:

Angers SCO vs Sedan-Ardennes (7)
Bastia vs Nantes (8)
Clermont Foot vs Strasbourg (6) draw no bet
Istres vs Le Havre (6) under 2.5 goals
Metz vs Dijon FCO (8)
Brest vs Guingamp (7)
Nimes vs Laval (6) draw no bet
Tours vs Arles (7)
Vannes OC vs Chateauroux (6)

German Bundesliga:

Schalke 04 vs VFL Wolfsburg (6) 1-1

German Bundesliga 2:

Karlsruher SC vs FSV Frankfurt (7)
MSV Duisburg vs Arminia Bielefeld (6)
Koblenz vs Union Berlin (8)
Paderborn vs Energie Cottbus (6) draw no bet

Greek B Ethniki:

Panaitolikos Agrinio vs ASK Olympiakos Volos (5)

Hungarian Soproni Liga:

Gyori ETO FC vs Zalaegerszegi TE (7) 2-1

Irish Premier League:

Drogheda United vs Derry City (7) 0-1
Bohemians vs Dundalk (6) under 2.5 goals
Galway United vs St Patrick’s Athletic (7) 1-1

Italian Serie B:

Ascoli vs Brescia (7)
Salernitana vs Torino (8)

Mexican Primera Division:

Estudiantes Tecos vs Morelia (6) over 2.5 goals

Dutch Eredivisie:

Willem II vs Groningen (6) 1-1

Dutch Eerste Divisie:

BV Veendam vs Volendam (5)
De Graafschap vs Fortuna Sittard (8)
Dordrecht ’90 vs Cambuur Leeuwarden (6)
Omniworld vs AGOVV Appeldoorn (7)
Helmond Sport vs FC Eindhoven (8)
MVV Maastricht vs Excelsior (6) over 2.5 goals
RBC Roosendaal vs Haarlem (7)
Stormvogels Telstar vs BV Emmen (6)

Polish Ekstraklasa:

Zaglebie Lubin vs GKS Belchatow (7) 1-1
Legia Warsaw vs Lechia Gdansk (8) under 2.5 goals

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

Leixoes Matosinhos vs Vitoria Guimaraes (6) 1-1

Romanian Liga:

International vs Politehnica Iasi (5) 1-0
Astra Ploiesti vs Unirea Alba Iulia (6) 2-1

Russian Premier League:

FK Khimki vs Spartak Nalchik (5) 1-0

Singaporean S-League:

Woodlands FC vs Gombak United (7) 1-1

Turkish Super Lig:

Trabzonspor vs Antalyaspor (7) 2-0

Welsh Premier League:

Airbus UK vs Welshpool Town (7) 2-1
Bala Town vs Newi Cefn Druids (6) 1-0
Port Talbot Town vs Aberystwyth Town (5) 1-1

Enjoy your free betting tips and feel free to visit our forum!