AA Gent vs Anderlecht
FreeToday’s featured game is the Eerste Klasse encounter between high-flying AA Gent and juggernauts Anderlecht. Both sides are in fantastic form entering this game and it should prove to be a great game as a result.
Hosts AA Gent have already won six out of eight home games this season, losing just once on that run. They average scoring over two goals per home game but also concede at least one goal per home game on average. Unfortunately for AA Gent, they enter this game in the knowledge that Anderlecht have won their last three trips here in all competitions with each occasion being a close game but usually with plenty of goals. That said, AA Gent enter the game on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions so their confidence and momentum is sky-high!
Visitors Anderlecht have won their last eight Eerste Klasse games, amassing an impressive seventeen goals whilst conceding just two. As if the record of eight straight domestic wins needed improving upon anyway! Anderlecht not only have tremendous momentum but they also boast the better squad between these two outfits. Anderlecht also appear to be gaining immense confidence due to their iconic wonderkid Lukaku who plays like he’s been playing professionally for ten years, already reminding a good deal of pundits of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, sentiments which I can only echo. It’s a joy to see such ability in such a young footballer and teams tend to gain a real boost from that individual’s confidence. Anderlecht have already won seven out of nine away games this season and with an average of two goals scored per away game, it’s hard to see them failing to do so here too.
Ultimately, this should be a really good game of football as it’s proven to be several times in the past too. I don’t doubt that Anderlecht are the better side here but with both sides playing good football, it’s hard to rely upon that factor to see them win the game today. However, Anderlecht do have one weapon that I don’t think AA Gent will be able to cope with and that’s wonderkid Lukaku, who just can’t stop scoring goals. As ridiculous as it may sound, I expect the 16-year old striker to make the difference today in what should be a narrow but entertaining away win for Anderlecht.
Verdict: Anderlecht to win at 13/10.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
North Queensland Fury vs Melbourne Victory – away win at evens.
Bottom-placed North Queensland Fury have lost three of their last four games, taking their tally of defeats to nine in twenty games. North Queensland Fury actually tend to play better away from home than they do at home. Having already notched up four defeats in nine home games this season, winning just three times, it’s hard to see North Queensland Fury mounting a serious threat here. The hosts are somewhat devoid of momentum and appear inept at defending as they average conceding nearly two goals per game. The hosts aren’t particularly bad goalscorers but they’re the biggest conceding side in the division, hence their present situation.
Visitors Melbourne Victory are unfortunately the worst side that North Queensland Fury could have played against today. Why? Well, Melbourne Victory are far and away the best side in the A-League when playing away from home with seven wins from nine games already, tasting defeat just once along the way. They average scoring just under two goals per away game and no side in the A-League has conceded less goals than they have on the road this season. Melbourne Victory are unbeaten in their last five games, winning three times and drawing twice, granting them a sizable momentum boost – as if they needed one though!
Basically, this really should be a straightforward away win with considerable value concealed within it today!
Verdict: Melbourne Victory to win at evens.
Zulte-Waregem vs Westerlo – home win at 4/5.
Hosts Zulte-Waregem are currently fifth in the Eerste Klasse with three wins from their last five games, losing once and drawing once. They’ve been strong at home this year with six wins in ten games, losing just twice along the way. Zulte-Waregem are the joint top goalscorers with AA Gent when playing at home as they average two goals scored per home game. Zulte-Waregem’s problem has long been that they concede a lot of goals. However, if they adopt the old Real Madrid of “We’ll score more goals than you do” then they’ll do well, as they have so far this season. Zulte-Waregem bring considerable momentum into this game too as they’ve won their last three home games consecutively.
Visitors Westerlo are a capable side but are consistent in being inconsistent with it! They’ve lost four times in nine away games and don’t concede excessively but they are the lowest goalscorers in the Eerste Klasse when playing away from home. As Westerlo average scoring less than a goal per game away from home, their goals conceded record does tend to reflect that they’re going to lose more games than they’re going to win as a rule of simple mathematics. Westerlo are without a win in three games so their momentum has taken a bit of a knock too. I don’t doubt Westerlo’s ability; I simply doubt their ability to produce it time after time and they don’t look capable of producing it today.
With the above in mind, you have to favour Zulte-Waregem for this game although there’s not much quality difference between the two sides.
Verdict: Zulte-Waregem to win at 4/5.
Hibs vs Rangers – lay Rangers at 5/6.
Hibs have had a terrific season so far and are currently offering a genuine title challenge to Rangers and Celtic, something which is quite unheard of in Scotland! They’ve already won six out of eight home games this season and have been beaten just once on that run. Hibs don’t tend to score many goals but their strength is in keeping sides out as is evident from the fact that only Celtic have conceded as few goals as Hibs have this season in the Premier League. That said, no side in the Premier League has conceded less than Hibs have at home with just three goals conceded in eight games, an average of nearly a goal scored against them every three games! Hibs are unbeaten in their last twelve Premier League games and carry some very strong momentum into this encounter, particularly with three wins in their last four games. To put it bluntly – Hibs are going to make life very hard indeed for Rangers today.
Visitors Rangers have won their last four games consecutively but will be aware that they’ve slipped up here in the past with just two wins on their last five visits in all competitions. Rangers have only been beaten once on the road in seven games and have won four times, drawing the rest. Rangers are the lowest conceding side in the division when playing away from home so we could see a very compact and tight game here. Rangers do tend to be able to score at least one goal in each away game on average but then again, so do Hibs playing at home.
Although Rangers are the better of these two sides, Scotland is starting a very minor shake up in the Premier League with sides causing more problems to the “big two” nowadays. This will be a very tough game for Rangers and I don’t think they’re going to be able to win it hence the value in laying Rangers today.
Verdict: Lay Rangers at 5/6.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Australian A-League:
Sydney FC vs Adelaide United (8) 1-0
North Queensland Fury vs Melbourne Victory (7) 1-2
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
AA Gent vs Anderlecht (7) 1-2
Zulte-Waregem vs Westerlo (7) 2-0
English Premier League:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa (6) 2-2
Hull City vs Manchester United (8) 0-2
International Friendlies:
Qatar vs Mali (6) 1-1
Iran vs North Korea (6) 0-0
Scottish Premier League:
Hibs vs Rangers (6) 1-1
Welsh Premier League:
Bangor City vs Porthmadog (9) over 2.5 goals
Port Talbot Town vs Neath Athletic (6) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!