Beitar Jerusalem vs PAOK Salonika
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Today’s free tip is in the UEFA Europa Conference League encounter between Beitar Jerusalem and PAOK Salonika in Israel.
A bone-idle PAOK Salonika display in Greece resulted in a 0-0, and they even managed to miss a penalty in the game. Their opponents were too easy for them and thus complacency punished them. I don’t expect a repeat in Israel though. I can’t deny that PAOK Salonika are far stronger at home than on the road but they’re facing a circus team; one that hasn’t been a good or reliable outfit in years; Beitar Jerusalem. For me, failing to beat this team – home or away – is truly embarrassing these days, at least in Europe.
Sure, Beitar Jerusalem remain a big club with some good players. I’m actually quite surprised they’ve managed to cling onto Moldovan hitman Nicolaescu – he’s already proven that the Ligat Ha’al is beneath him. Shua has his moments (although not often enough), and Friday is a handful (when fit). Trazie, Cohen, and Ashkenazi are all good midfielders (although admittedly with their own shortcomings e.g. Cohen’s temperament). It’s not as if Beitar Jerusalem are amateurs; that’s my point here.
However, they don’t play as a team. They don’t work hard for each other. I would like to point fingers but when you recruit a plethora of mercenaries for a club with no direction…well, what do you expect? Therefore, although they’ll win the odd game by virtue of their capable individuals, there’s never any real danger of it actually lasting. Nine times out of ten, Beitar Jerusalem will deliver a typically soulless and ineffectual display, and if that happens here than they should be punished for it by a far superior team.
I can’t promise that PAOK Salonika will give a shit here, but knowing how fanatical their fans are, I can’t imagine the players getting away with another display like the first leg. There is simply too much ability in this squad for that to happen, whether they play well collectively or not. Individually, they should have enough whether via Samatta, Taison, Zivkovic, or any number of other players on their books.
Sometimes I find PAOK Salonika a bit too slow in midfield and that might be an issue here because Beitar Jerusalem are quicker. However, I still can’t see beyond the Greek visitors dominating and ultimately winning this game. There’s nothing to stop them doing just that, and an exit from Europe so early in the season would be unwelcome for a club with loftier aspirations than they used to have.
For me, the away win at 4/5 is worth considering.
Verdict: PAOK Salonika to win at 4/5.
Thursday’s Thoughts
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. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
UEFA Europa Conference League:
Tobol Kostanai vs FC Basel
FC Santa Coloma vs Sutjeska Niksic
Pyunik Yerevan vs Kalmar FF
Urartu vs FCV Farul Constanta
Spartak Trnava vs Auda
FK Panevezys vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Sabah vs Rigas FS
Kauno Zalgiris vs Lech Poznan
Aktobe Lento vs Torpedo Kutaisi
KuPS vs Derry City
Pogon Szczecin vs Linfield
Dinamo Tbilisi vs Hamrun Spartans
Zalaegerszegi TE vs NK Osijek
Dila Gori vs Vorskla Poltava
Neftchi Baku vs Zeljeznicar Sarajevo
Rosenborg BK vs Crusaders
Sepsi vs CSKA Sofia
Petrocub vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Riga vs Kecskemeti TE
Omonia Nicosia vs Qabala
Levski Sofia vs Shkupi
Bohemians 1905 vs Bodo/Glimt
Progres Niederkorn vs FC Midtjylland
Beitar Jerusalem vs PAOK Salonika
Adana Demirspor vs CFR Cluj
Tirana vs Besiktas JK
Vojvodina Novi Sad vs APOEL Nicosia
Hammarby vs FC Twente Enschede
AGF vs Club Brugge
Drita vs Viktoria Plzen
MSK Zilina vs AA Gent
Rijeka vs Dukagjini
Hibernian vs Inter Club d’Escaldes
Aris Limassol vs Ararat-Armenia
FCSB vs CSKA 1948 Sofia
Maribor vs Differdange 03
Borac Banja Luka vs Austria Vienna
Larne vs Ballkani
Luzern vs Djurgarden
Dundalk vs KA
Haverfordwest vs B36 Torshavn
Legia Warsaw vs Ordabasy
Debreceni VSC vs Alashkert
Shamrock Rovers vs Ferencvaros
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Celje
Copa Libertadores:
Atletico Nacional de Medellin vs Racing Club Avellaneda
Flamengo vs Olimpia Asuncion
Copa Sudamericana:
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Sao Paulo
Deportivo Nublense vs LDU Quito
America Mineiro vs RB Bragantino
Enjoy your free betting tips!