Grasshopper Zurich vs Lugano
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Today’s free tip is in the Swiss Super League encounter between Grasshopper Zurich and Lugano.
Grasshopper look to be priced too short here, folks. I don’t think I’m pushing the boat out by saying that this contest is basically the team with the least focus hosting the best tactical outfit in the country.
On paper, there’s not much between them, if indeed anything. I’ve backed Grasshopper on a number of occasions since the Bonatini/Sene partnership blossomed as it has too. However, Grasshopper aren’t learning from their mistakes, and that’s what cost them in Geneva against Servette too. This team, no matter how many times they come up against it, cannot deal with a high press early in matches. They either concede or look like conceding every single time it happens. It always takes them at least twenty minutes to get going.
Once they get going, they’re really good, especially when it comes to splitting defences with passes and getting their rapid forwards into dangerous areas. I also really appreciate the mental work that Contini has done with the team; they’ve been bottlers for years now, but they’ve looked really resolute this season, no matter what situation confronts them. They’re not perfect, Grasshopper, but they’re the best version of themselves that they’ve been in quite some years now.
They can’t deal with smart teams though. Contini has often said in press conferences how frustrated he is by his teams momentary lapses in games because it always ends up costing them. The only time that comes to mind where it didn’t was against FC Sion; everybody else has punished them. A demoralised, dejected, and under-strength Servette beat them 3-2 last time out by being smarter, for the most part, and Lugano are cut from a similar enough cloth to Servette.
Do you think that one of the smartest tacticians in the division – Croci-Torti – is going to let Sene and Bonatini run in behind all match? I don’t, especially not with the likes of Ziegler and Maric likely to be in the back four. No, what I envision is a low block back four, three absolute machines in midfield to press Pusic etc. and rapid counters through Celar, Abubakar, and possibly even Lungoyi, who will be expertly fed by returning creator Bottani. Grasshopper are not going to have an answer to that.
Lugano are incredibly good at stifling teams and playing out matches in a manner that suits them. They’re incredibly good at reacting to bad situations, and they’re the most tactically flexible team I’ve seen at this level. They can contain, play on the front foot, counter, rely on set pieces, play aggressively – you name it; they can do it. For once the form guide tells the full story; this is really impressive group. Keep in mind that they’ve actually got the thinnest squad in the division, at least until January, and then it becomes even more impressive.
I mean, Croci-Torti has had it tough. He had to replace a superior, more experienced manager that was doing a good job. During his brief time in charge, he’s been without at least one of his back four in most games, not to mention his two best goalkeepers. Bottani, Custodio – they’ve both missed games – and he’s had to integrate newbies like Celar, Amoura, and Belhadj. Despite that though, Lugano have never panicked. They’re the epitome of composure, and are wonderfully consistent. This is not a team that should be worried about a fast Grasshopper attack, to be frank.
I can’t help it folks, sorry. Odds of 123/100 on the visitors winning with draw no bet is a steal here, whether luck is on our side or not.
Verdict: Lugano to win with draw no bet at 123/100.
Saturday’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.
Copa Libertadores:
Palmeiras vs Flamengo
Australian A-League:
Wellington Phoenix vs Central Coast Mariners
Adelaide United vs Melbourne City
Sydney FC vs Macarthur FC
Austrian Bundesliga:
SCR Altach vs WSG Tirol
Austria Klagenfurt vs Salzburg
Admira Wacker vs Wolfsberger AC
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
RFC Seraing vs Sint-Truiden
Cercle Brugge vs KV Mechelen
AS Eupen vs Kortrijk
Sporting Charleroi vs RSC Anderlecht
Brazilian Serie A:
RB Bragantino vs America Mineiro
Sao Paulo vs Sport Recife
Bulgarian A PFG:
Pirin Blagoevgrad vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Arda vs Levski Sofia
Croatian Prva Liga:
Hrvatski Dragovoljac vs Gorica
Slaven Koprivnica vs Rijeka
Czechia Liga 1:
Ceske Budejovice vs Slovacko
Pardubice vs Sigma Olomouc
Zlin vs Banik Ostrava
Viktoria Plzen vs Bohemians 1905
English Premier League:
Arsenal vs Newcastle United
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa
Liverpool vs Southampton
Norwich City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United
Faroese Logmanssteypid:
NSI Runavik vs HB Torshavn
French Ligue 1:
Lille OSC vs FC Nantes Atlantique
OGC Nice vs Metz
German Bundesliga:
VfL Wolfsburg vs Bv09 Borussia Dortmund
Hertha Berlin vs Augsburg
Koln vs Borussia Moenchengladbach
VfL Bochum vs SC Freiburg
Greuther Furth vs TSG Hoffenheim
Bayern Munich vs Arminia Bielefeld
German Bundesliga 2:
Schalke 04 vs SV Sandhausen
Karlsruher SC vs Hannover 96
Erzgebirge Aue vs Darmstadt 98
Holstein Kiel vs Werder Bremen
Hungarian Liga 1:
Varda SE vs MTK Budapest
Fehervar vs Gyirmot (5) 2-1
Budapest Honved vs Ujpest
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Nof HaGalil vs Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Netanya vs Maccabi Petah Tikva
MS Ashdod vs Hapoel Jerusalem
Beitar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Hadera
Italian Serie A:
Empoli vs ACF Fiorentina
Sampdoria vs Hellas Verona
Juventus vs Atalanta Bergamo
Venezia vs Internazionale
Italian Serie B:
Alessandria vs Cremonese
Ascoli vs Monza
Benevento vs Reggina
Frosinone vs Pordenone
Cosenza vs SPAL
Brescia vs Pisa
Perugia vs Cittadella
Dutch Eredivisie:
Fortuna Sittard vs FC Groningen
PEC Zwolle vs RKC Waalwijk
Willem II vs Go Ahead Eagles
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Lillestrom vs Stromsgodset
Odd vs Valerenga Oslo
Portuguese Liga 1:
Famalicao vs Portimonense
Arouca vs Boavista
Belenenses vs SL Benfica
Portuguese Liga 2:
Chaves vs Mafra
Varzim vs Penafiel
Academico Viseu vs Vilafranquense
Romanian Liga 1:
Sepsi vs Chindia Targoviste
UTA Arad vs Arges
Rapid Bucharest vs CS Mioveni
Russian Premier League:
Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast vs PFC Sochi
Akhmat Grozny vs FK Rostov
FK Khimki vs FK Krasnodar
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo Alaves vs Celta de Vigo
Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid
Real Mallorca vs Getafe
Villarreal vs Barcelona
Swiss Super League:
Grasshopper Zurich vs Lugano
FC Sion vs St. Gallen
Swiss Challenge League:
Vaduz vs Stade Lausanne-Ouchy
FC Wil vs Aarau
Turkish Super Lig:
Antaylaspor vs Alanyaspor
Rizespor vs Kayserispor
Besiktas JK vs Giresunspor
Enjoy your free betting tips!