Today’s secondary featured game is the Primera Liga game between Real Zaragoza and Valencia CF.

Zaragoza should be concerned with their level of quality this season following the departures of Ander Herrera, Gabi, and Uche pre-season. Ok, new signing Juan Carlos looks good right now and Jimenez is a decent player but to say that they’ve not weakened since last season’s struggle is simply a lie. Postiga and Luis Garcia have done alright in front of goal this season and they bring experience to the Zaragoza attack if nothing else. However, they’ve both had their shots at the top level and neither consistently convinces so how they can be relied upon to deliver is beyond me. I like Lafita; he’s a dangerous player when left alone. However, despite, the tenacity and pace in this Zaragoza midfield, they’re lacking in defence and they still need a natural goalscorer, something that they’ve not had since Milito left, in my view. They’ve won twice in eight games this season, which isn’t really good enough, although they can be pleased that they’re at least better than the likes of Racing Santander this season and thus might just avoid the drop.

Valencia CF are the better of the two sides, of course. I have my reservations about them too in some games as their defence is generally littered with schoolboy mistakes and their strikers sometimes don’t show up, which heaps pressure upon their already-burdened midfield. Valencia’s strength is most definitely their midfield, however – Pablo Hernandez and Sergio Canales are very dangerous players. Indeed, so is Banega, although he seems to be a step behind the pace of Valencia sometimes. Soldado is a decent enough target man but nobody else has convinced for Valencia up front this season and thus they do have problems of their own. However, they do travel well in the Primera Liga and have enough attacking power to trouble sides on the counter-attack so I do fancy them to get something here.

Neither side’s form lately has been great, which no doubt explains the odds. However, despite Valencia’s poor record at La Romareda, I still think they’ve got enough to capitalise on a weakened Real Zaragoza side at 6/5.

Verdict: Valencia CF to win at 6/5.


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Wednesday’s Picks

My tips:

As ever, you’ll find my value tips listed below in no particular order:

Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Malaga - away win at 7/5.

Ok, Malaga got done at home by Real Madrid last match but these things happen; Madrid are very good under Mourinho and Malaga are still learning how to be favourites on a regular basis. On paper, though, there’s no way they should be 7/5 here. Rayo aren’t easy to break down but their goalscoring threat is minimal and Malaga really should be able to capitalise on that. I’d have some question marks over their confidence following their drubbing against Real Madrid but at 7/5, I still think it’s well worth a punt on the away win today as the newly-promoted hosts just don’t look up to scratch with the Primera Liga right now, even after their 0-2 win at Real Betis Balompie.

Verdict: Malaga to win at 7/5.

Accumulator fodder:

Deportivo Quito, Manchester City, FC Honka Espoo, Real Madrid.

Recommended bets:

Valencia CF, Real Madrid, and Manchester City at around 2/1.

As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!

Copa Sudamericana:

Universidad de Chile vs Flamengo (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Libertad Asuncion vs Sao Paulo (7) 0-0

Argentinian Primera Division:

Tigre vs Belgrano de Cordoba (6) 1-0
Godoy Cruz de Mendoza vs San Martin de San Juan (7) 2-1
Racing Club Avellaneda vs Atletico Lanus (6) 1-0

Bulgarian A PFG:

Beroe vs Slavia Sofia (6) 1-0

Colombian Primera A:

America de Cali vs La Equidad Bogota (5) 1-0

Ecuadorian Primera A:

Espoli Cayambe vs Emelec Guayaquil (6) 1-2
El Nacional Quito vs Manta (7) 2-1
Deportivo Cuenca vs Imbabura (7) 1-0
LDU Loja vs Olmedo Riobamba (5) 0-0
Deportivo Quito vs Independiente (8) 2-0
Barcelona Guayaquil vs Liga de Quito (5) 0-0

English League Cup:

Wolverhamtpon Wanderers vs Manchester City (8) 0-2
Stoke City vs Liverpool (6) 1-1
Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United (5) 1-0
Everton vs Chelsea (6) 0-1

English Championship:

Birmingham City vs Leeds United (6) over 2.5 goals

Finnish Veikkausliiga:

JJK Jyvaskyla vs IFK Mariehamn (7) 2-0
Haka Valkeakoski vs KuPS Kuopio (5) 1-1
FC Honka Espoo vs Jaro Pietarsaari (8) over 2.5 goals
TPS Turku vs Inter Turku (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
RoPS Rovaniemi vs HJK Helsinki (7) 0-2
MyPa Anjalankoski vs VPS Vaasa (5) 0-0

Italian Serie A:

Atalanta Bergamo vs Internazionale (4) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Cesena vs Cagliari (5) 1-1
Chievo Verona vs Bologna (7) 1-0
Genoa vs AS Roma (6) 1-1
Lazio vs Catania (7) 2-1
AC Milan vs Parma (7) 2-0
SSC Napoli vs Udinese (4) 1-1
Novara vs Siena (6) 2-1

Mexican Primera Division:

Cruz Azul vs Toluca (7) 2-0
Guadalajara vs Tigres UANL (7) 2-1
Puebla vs Estudiantes Tecos (6) 1-0
Monterrey vs Atlas (7) 2-0
San Luis vs Queretaro (5) 0-0
Santos Laguna vs America (6) 1-1
Pumas UNAM vs Atlante (7) 2-1
Tijuana vs Jaguares (4) 0-1

Norwegian Eliteserien:

Rosenborg BK vs Fredrikstad (7) 2-1

Spanish Primera Liga:

Real Zaragoza vs Valencia CF (6) 1-2
Getafe vs Osasuna (6) 1-0
Levante vs Real Sociedad (7) 2-0
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Malaga (6) 0-1
Real Mallorca vs Sporting Gijon (5) 2-1
Real Madrid vs Villarreal CF (8) 2-0

Spanish Segunda Liga:

Almeria vs Gimnastic de Tarragona (7)
Elche vs Cordoba (7)
Huesca vs Barcelona II (6)
Deportivo Xerez vs Sabadell (7)
Numancia vs Guadalajara (5)
Recreativo de Huelva vs Real Murcia (4)
Las Palmas vs Alcorcon (5) over 2.5 goals

Swiss Super League:

Grasshopper Zurich vs Servette (4) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Sion vs Basel (6) 1-1
Thun vs FC Zurich (5) 1-0

Turkish Super Lig:

Samsunspor vs Karabukspor (6) 2-1
Istanbul BB vs Eskisehirspor (6) 1-0
Orduspor vs Bursaspor (5) 1-1
Galatasaray vs Gaziantepspor (5) 2-1
Trabzonspor vs Antalyaspor (7) 1-0

Enjoy your free betting tips!