Brest vs Vannes OC

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!

OB Odense vs Aalborg BK

What a game yesterday, eh? I presume you all watched Sevilla CF vs Real Madrid, of course? If not, you’re an idiot! It was a tremendous footballing display by Sevilla CF and worked out exactly as I thought it would (minus one goal!). Real Madrid don’t look the same without Ronaldo – they look somewhat toothless when it comes to actual penetration. However, Sevilla CF looked ruthless, incisive, and eternally dangerous. If it hadn’t been for a very impressive Iker Casillas then this game could have been very embarassing for Real Madrid, who were frankly overrun many times in the game by a swift Sevilla CF attack. Real Madrid may have some of the world’s best attacking talents but they still cannot defend for shit, which backs up the point I made at the start of the season and underlies my claim that they won’t win anything this year. Frankly, it was a deserved win for Sevilla CF and if Jesus Navas plays like he did last night in every game then I really cannot fathom why he’s not in the Spanish national team!

Anyway, moving onto OB Odense vs Aalborg BK in Superligaen, which is today’s featured game! I wondered why the odds were so good for a home win here but a quick glance at the head-to-heads revealed just why that is with OB Odense having not recorded a home win against Aalborg BK in the Superligaen since 2005. However, they do enjoy winning at Aalborg BK, something that they’ve achieved for two years running now. Both of these sides are very good sides but I think OB Odense just edge it because of their consistency and efficiency. For instance, Aalborg BK had a very good run a few weeks ago but have currently lost two consecutive games at home to FC Copenhagen (a little surprising but acceptable) and at home to Silkeborg (completely unacceptable) respectively. Aalborg BK are the kind of side that either blow hot or cold – they don’t really have a “middle” form. OB Odense are generally very reliable, something that their form reflects perfectly with six wins in ten games and just one defeat on that run. OB Odense’s home form is the best in the league with four wins and one draw from five games, conceding just two goals on that run. In fact, they’ve conceded less goals at home than anyone else in the Superligaen in the season so far and look incredibly efficient when they have to be. Aalborg BK are amongst the biggest goalscorers away from home but as I said, they blow hot and cold, something that’s backed up by the fact that they’ve scored just one goal in their last two games. Although the quality difference is minimal between these two sides, there’s onlyone consistent side that I’d be happy backing on display and that’s OB Odense due to the above reasons. One side are professional and efficient whereas the other side are unreliable and relatively unpredictable. As they’re entering this game on the back of two straight wins, you have to feel that OB Odense not only have the ability but also the momentum to win this game so odds of 17/20 on the home win look very welcome indeed!

Monday’s Picks

My tips:

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

OB Odense vs Aalborg BK – home win at 17/20 – see introduction for full details.

Adelaide United vs Newcastle Jets – home win at evens. The A-League is a funny league in the sense that it’s just bizarre. Every side has the capability of beating each other and washed-up junkies like Robbie Fowler are once again recognised as good players. However, today sees the first game that I’m happy enough to call from a value perspective with Adelaide United hosting Newcastle Jets. Last season’s runners-up Adelaide United have made a slow start to this season but have now won two of their last three games and are now on the up again. Adelaide United’s game is more efficient than prolific but frankly it shouldn’t matter which style of football they decide to play because they’re hosting a Newcastle Jets team that haven’t won an away game all season and are on the back of three straight defeats. The visitors aren’t big conceders on the road but their big problem is that they don’t score enough goals on the road. For those reasons, I think a narrow home win is well within reach today so taking Adelaide United to win at evens could prove a good bet.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City – away win at 8/5. This is a very risky call but Manchester City’s form has gone some way to convince me that they can beat most sides in the Premier League when they turn up. Aston Villa are a good side on their day but so far this season they’ve been shaky in defence and lacking in goalscoring. Their home record this season reads that they’ve scored four goals and conceded two out of three home games thus far. The conceded section might be acceptable but the goals scored certainly isn’t, not for a sid that boasts the attacking prowess of Agbonlahor, Young and Carew in their ranks. Aston Villa’s lack of transfer activity disappointed me over summer, actually, when you consider that they nearly broke the “big four” last season and also lost key defender Martin Laursen over summer. However, I’m sure Martin O’Neill has something up his sleeve ’cause if he doesn’t, their season is going to be long and difficult, especially with such a small squad. Visitors Manchester City have won four of their last five games and are looking very much like a Mark Hughes prototype in that they’re efficient with winning games, something he perfected at Blackburn Rovers. Manchester City are starting to recuperate their crocked attack force and now actually have an alternative to Tevez and Bellamy. Ultimately, I think these two sides are going to cancel each other out in what I expect to be quite a droll encounter. However, these are the kind of games that Mark Hughes is training his side to win, something they’ve done very well so far this season and something I can see them doing tonight too. It should be a low-scoring affair but the away win at 8/5 could prove good value ultimately.

Tours vs FC Nantes – home win at 8/5. This is another risky call but we all know how good Tours are at home, something that was exemplified last season by them winning fourteen of nineteen home games, a record they’re aiming to emulate this season. Tours are doing a good job of maintaining that home record as they’ve played four home games this season, winning three and drawing once whilst only conceding every other game on average and scoring two goals per game on average. Visitors Nantes boast a very good squad that are capable of being in Ligue 1 and their form this season has indicated their intend to send their squad straight back to Ligue 1 with five wins in eight games. However, Nantes are very much a home side as they’ve won all of their home games this season. Their away form, by contrast, is poor and unreliable. They’ve won just once away from home out of four games, losing once to league leaders Stade Malherbe de Caen and drawing twice with Vannes OC and Bastia respectively, which isn’t really good enough for a side of Nantes’ ability. Although I could accept this game ending as a draw (hint: take at DNB!), I think there’s value in the home win for a very good Tours side at 8/5.

Sirius Uppsala vs Vasalunds - home win at evens. As the Superettan draws to a close, it’s time to stand up and be counted at both Sirius Uppsala and Vasalunds. Both of these sides face a very real chance of being relegated as they currently occupy bottom place and second bottom place respectively with four games to go. This is something of a make-or-break game for both sides so I do expect a tightly contested and passionate affair, perhaps with various cards being thrown around by the referee. Sirius Uppsala are without a win in four games but they’re hosting a Vasalunds side that have the undisputed worst away record in the Superettan with just one away win all season. Make no mistake, this is a risky call as both sides are about as bad as each other. However, I’m expecting the home advantage to play a big part in this tense affair and Sirius Uppsala to make a Vasalunds side (that concede over three goals per game away from home on average) taste defeat for what will be the third time in five games should they achieve it. For those reasons, taking the home win at evens could prove to be a good bet tonight.

Winterthur vs Thun – away win at 9/5. There’s not a lot between these two sides quality-wise so this should be a close game. Why am I backing the away win then? Well, my initial interest was awakened by the impressive form of Thun lately, having won four games in a row. They’re the second-highest goalscorers in the Challenge League and have won six of their nine games so far this season. Effectively, their momentum is strong at the moment and they’re taking on a Winterthur side that not only have zero wins in three games but also tasted defeat last match away to Liechtenstein’s Vaduz. Although I do expect this to be a close game, the fact that Thun won this fixture last year should give them a mental edge over Winterthur as well as their momentum so the away win at 9/5 could prove to be a good bet tonight.

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

Australian A-League:

Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners (6) 2-1
Adelaide United vs Newcastle Jets (7) 1-0

Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:

BATE Borisov vs Naftan Novopolotsk (8) 2-0

Bulgarian A PFG:

Beroe vs Pirin Blagoevgrad (6) under 2.5 goals

Chinese Super League:

Changchun Yatai vs Henan Jianye (5) 2-1
Shaanxi Zhongxin vs Dalian Shide (6) 1-1
Chengdu Blades vs Chongqing Lifan (7) 1-0
Jiangsu Shuntian vs Changsha Ginde (7) 2-1
Shenzhen FC vs Qingdao Jonoon (6) 0-0
Tianjin Teda vs Beijing Guoan (7) 1-1
Shandong Luneng vs Hangzhou Lucheng (7) 2-0
Shanghai Shenhua vs Guangzhou Yiyao (6) 1-0

Cypriot Division 1:

Ermis vs APOEL Nicosia (9) 0-2

Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:

Slavia Prague vs Sparta Prague (8) 1-1

Danish Superligaen:

OB Odense vs Aalborg BK (8) over 2.5 goals

English Premier League:

Aston Villa vs Manchester City (7) 0-1

Finnish Ykkonen:

Klubi 04 Helsinki vs PK 35 Helsinki (6)
KooTeePee Kotka vs Viikingit Helsinki (8)

Finnish Kakkonen:

Lokho B:

Jazz Juniorit vs Sinimustat Turku (7)

French Ligue 2:

Tours vs FC Nantes (7)

German Bundesliga 2:

Karlsruher SC vs Arminia Bielefeld (7)

Greek Super League:

Asteras Tripolis vs Ergotelis (7) under 2.5 goals
Panionios vs Atromitos (6) 1-0
PAOK Salonika vs Iraklis (7) 2-1
Xanthi vs AEK Athens (6) under 2.5 goals
Panathinaikos vs Larissa (9) 2-0

Italian Serie B:

Torino vs Ancona (8)

Norwegian Tippeligaen:

Valerenga Oslo vs Viking Stavanger (6) 1-1

Norwegian 2 Divisjon:

Avdeling 1:

Start Kristiansand II vs Ullensaker Kisa (6)
Valerenga Oslo II vs KFUM Fotball Oslo (5)
Strommen vs Lillestrom II (8)

Avdeling 2:

Ullern vs Rosenborg BK II (6)
Strindheim vs Molde II (7)

Avdeling 3:

Randaberg vs Stromsgodset II (8)
Nest Sotra Agotnes vs Lyn Oslo II (6)
Fredrikstad II vs Drammen (6)

Avdeling 4:

Bodo Glimt II vs Manglerud Star Oslo (6)
Tromso II vs Asker Fotball (5)
Stabaek II vs Kjelsas Oslo (7)

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

CD Nacional vs Vitoria Guimaraes (7) under 2.5 goals
Pacos de Ferreira vs SL Benfica (8) 0-2

Portuguese Liga de Honra:

Desportivo Aves vs Gil Vicente (7)

Romanian Liga:

International vs FC Poli Timisoara (8) 0-1

Swedish Allsvenskan:

IFK Goteborg vs GAIS Goteborg (7) 2-1

Swedish Superettan:

Sirius Uppsala vs Vasalunds (6)
IFK Norrkoping vs Ljungskile (5)
GIF Sundsvall vs Syrianska Sodertalje (6)

Swiss Challenge League:

Winterthur vs Thun (6)

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