Aalesund vs Lillestrom
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Eliteserien encounter between Aalesund and Lillestrom in Norway. Both sides have produced a few shocks so far this season for varying reasons but I’m hoping for an end to the shocks today!
Aalesund have surprised a lot of people by being really good, something which can only be accredited to outspoken boss Rekdal. I’ve praised him before and I’ll do so again now; he’s a fantastic man-motivator and a good tactician. Considering how many essential players Aalesund lost pre-season, they should absolutely not be third in the table! However, Rekdal has been extremely astute in the transfer market, signing Post to replace Aaroy, Sandqvist and Grytebust to replace Lindegaard etc. etc. I don’t know how he does it but Aalesund produce a good side every year under Rekdal and this year is no exception.
Helpfully, Jamaica’s Gold Cup campaign is over and subsequently, Aalesund welcome back duo Phillips and Morrison, both of whom they’ve missed in June. Their energy and pace will be useful for the hosts today considering that they’re without big Post (no pun intended!) up front due to injury. Okoronkwo has been eased into the team now that he’s fit again and his pace should be a potent threat for the hosts so I’m not too concerned with Post’s absence here, largely because Lillestrom are atrocious in defence anyway!
Lillestrom will struggle to play here, just as most sides do due to Aalesund’s artificial turf. However, matters are made worse today by the fact that they had a draining game at Rosenborg BK just three days ago in the NM Cupen with the game ending up at penalties with the giants of Norwegian football progressing. Therefore, we either have a tired Lillestrom side here or a rotated Lillestrom side and either way, that’s just not good news at all!
Berg’s Lillestrom know they’re bad at the back; that’s why they attack so much in an attempt to counter the goals they’ll concede. That tactical approach partially works but they have to take their chances to make it count and they don’t always do that. I expect that to be particularly evident today as Lillestrom miss two important attacking players; Knudtzon and especially Igiebor. Ujah will still be a potent threat in attack but Lillestrom need to be operating at 100% capacity to have a chance of not losing games whilst defending like idiots as they must take their chances but without those two players, I just don’t rate their chances today.
Aalesund have already won four out of six at home this season with only Rosenborg leaving here without being beaten in Aalesund’s last five home games in the Eliteserien. Aalesund don’t score many but when they do, they tend to hold on to win the game with their solid defence. Lillestrom have to score goals to avoid defeat but I doubt they can do that with important absences today. Only Stabaek, Sarpsborg 08, and Start Kristiansand have conceded more goals than they have on the road and given that Lillestrom have now lost three consecutive away games against Aalesund, I think evens on the home win is a generous price.
Verdict: Aalesund to win at evens.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
No other singles or multiples appeal to me today, guys – sorry!
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!
UEFA European U21 Championship:
Czech Republic vs Belarus (7) 2-0
Switzerland vs Spain (4) 1-1
International Friendly:
Colombia vs Senegal (6) 1-0
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Vitebsk vs Neman Grodno (6) 1-1
Torpedo Zhodino vs FC Minsk (5) 2-1
Dinamo Brest vs Gomel (6) over 2.5 goals
Dnepr Mogilev vs Naftan Novopolotsk (4) 0-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Flamengo vs Atletico Mineiro (6) 1-0
Atletico Paranaense vs Bahia (5) 0-0
Cruzeiro vs Coritiba (7) 1-0
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
Vikingur Gotu vs KI Klaksvik (7) 2-1
NSI Runavik vs B71 Sandur (3) 2-2
Japanese J-League:
Kashima Antlers vs Kawasaki Frontale (4) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Ventforet Kofu vs Kashiwa Reysol (5) 0-0
Albirex Niigata vs Cerezo Osaka (6) 0-0
Nagoya Grampus vs Urawa Red Diamonds (7) 2-1
Avispa Fukuoka vs Jubilo Iwata (5) 1-1
Latvian Virsliga:
FK Jurmala vs RFS/Olimps Riga (6) 2-1
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Klaipeda vs Ekranas Panevezys (8) 0-2
Tauras Taurage vs Siauliai (5) 0-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Aalesund vs Lillestrom (7) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Armed Forces vs Gombak United (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Home United vs Tampines Rovers (5) 2-2
Swedish Superettan:
Degerfors vs Brage (6)
Enjoy your free betting tips!