AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs De Graafschap
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Anyway, today’s secondary featured game is the Eredivisie game between giants AFC Ajax Amsterdam and relegation battlers De Graafschap.
Ajax have really eased into their groove of late and look the most likely side to win the Eredivisie this season as a result, especially with their contemporaries floundering. A convincing 0-5 win at the Abe Lenstra against Heerenveen affirmed Ajax’s title push beyond any doubts and the return of Boerrigter and Sigthorsson respectively have given Ajax some much-needed firepower too. I’ve said lots of times this season that Ajax have plenty of good players on the ball in midfield and plenty of pace but really lacked a finisher. The reason they lacked a finisher was because Sigthorsson was injured. Now that the former AZ Alkmaar striker is back, I cannot see anything but some glorious Ajax displays heading our way soon. Ajax have won nine consecutive games ahead of this one and have remarkably kept five consecutive clean sheets of late, which isn’t something that they’re famous for. Ajax are playing efficiently and flambuoyantly both at the same time and given the tremendous momentum, belief, and support that they’ve generated, it’s hard to envision anything but a convincing Ajax win today.
I don’t normally get involved on the heavy handicaps because it only takes one slight thing for it to go wrong. However, De Graafschap have encouraged me to take this bet because they love to capitulate against the bigger sides. Most sides tend to up their game against the bigger sides but De Graafschap seem to do the opposite when I’ve watched them. They’ve lost 4-1 at PSV Eindhoven, 4-0 at AZ Alkmaar, 4-0 at Twente Enschede, and 4-0 at Feyenoord Rotterdam this season. You see what I mean? De Graafschap are short on quality – we all know that, hence them propping up the table – but their displays in these games are weak, to say the least. Morale is improved following their 3-0 win against a woeful FC Utrecht last match but they know they’ll be playing Eerste Divisie football next season so it’s impossible for me to imagine them being able to pick themselves up after Ajax score that inevitable first goal.
Ajax drubbed De Graafschap 1-4 at the start of the season and they’re more than capable of bettering that result today. For me, Ajax beating the -3 Asian Handicap at 9/10 is well worth a flutter today.
Verdict: AFC Ajax Amsterdam to beat the -3 Asian Handicap at 9/10.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
Aalesund FK vs Odd Grenland Skien – home win at 9/10.
Although without a win thus far, it’s inevitable that Rekdal’s men will secure three points soon enough and it’s more than likely going to happen at the Color Line. Usually, their artificial turf is a strong advantage although that won’t be the case here as Odd Grenland share their same home advantage. However, Aalesund’s advantage here are quality, consistency, and organisation. Odd Grenland have looked very vulnerable this season and it’s no wonder, really. Old Frode Johnsen leading the line at the tender age(!) of thirty-eight, Lekven carrying the midfield, an alarming lack of depth – it looks concerning for Odd Grenland. They’re fortunate that there are some worse sides than they are in the Eliteserien this time around; let’s put it that way. Aalesund are not a goalscoring side but they’re extremely good at holding leads when they have them so for me, it shouldn’t take more than a goal for Aalesund to win this game. Jamaican midfielder duo Phillips and Morrison are absent for the hosts, which is a blow, but Barrantes should have enough to win this one for Aalesund. Importantly, visitors Odd Grenland miss Lekven, who is the engine of their team in midfield and his absence is never a good thing! Odd Grenland can be a frustrating side to play against from time to time but little attacking threat and no heart to the team, you have to favour Aalesund to secure three points here at 9/10 with the proviso that they take their chances!
Verdict: Aalesund FK to win at 9/10.
Villarreal CF vs Racing Santander – home win with -1.5 handicap at 6/5.
Despite the news that Giuseppe Rossi is set for yet another lengthy lay-off with cruciate ligament damage, I’m still confident in Villarreal here. Marco Ruben is out too, which does leave the goalscoring burden with Brazilian attacker Nilmar. However, what I’ve seen from Villarreal lately is their old spirit returning. They believe in themselves again and it’s just in the nick of time, too, with the jaws of the Segunda Liga snapping close behind them. Villarreal are fighting harder and are getting results because of it. I won’t say that El Submarino Amarillo are where they used to be because that’d simply be a lie. However, they’re playing much better and they’re more than capable of scoring a couple of goals at El Madrigal.
As with my tip on Malaga beating the same handicap against Racing Santander last time out, I would not take this bet if it was earlier in the season because Racing are quite accomplished defensively, much moreso than they’re given credit for. There aren’t many less welcome sides in the Primera Liga for home sides than Racing Santander. However, Racing are no longer in a position where they can afford to defend; they need points, and they need them now. The trouble is that they’re a horrendous side when it comes to attacking. Barring from set pieces, they’re just not a threat any more. Munitis is a bit too old to be producing his old magic and they don’t really have any other options. Realistically speaking, relegation looks very likely and Racing’s displays of late reflect that. Number one goalkeeper Tono misses this game, to make things worse for the visitors, and they should really be out of their depth against fellow relegation battlers Villarreal, in my view.
It may take some time but I feel that the -1.5 handicap is worth a punt at 11/10 because Racing can’t score goals and don’t have the luxury of being able to sit back and defend for a draw any longer.
Verdict: Villarreal CF to beat the -1.5 handicap at 11/10.
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!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Newell’s Old Boys vs Banfield (6) 1-0
Argentinos Juniors vs Belgrano de Cordoba (4) under 2.5 goals
Union de Santa Fe vs Arsenal de Sarandi (6) 1-1
Tigre vs Boca Juniors (6) 0-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Austria Vienna vs Rapid Vienna (5) 0-0, at least one red card in this game
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Club Brugge vs AA Gent (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Kortrijk vs Standard de Liege (5) 2-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Antofagasta vs Cobresal (5) 1-0
Union La Calera vs Universidad de Chile (7) 1-2
Cobreloa vs Deportes Iquique (7) 2-0
Huachipato vs O’Higgins (6) 1-0
Colombian Primera A:
La Equidad Bogota vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (4) 1-1
Once Caldas Manizales vs Envigado (7) 2-0
Real Cartagena vs Deportivo Pasto (7) 2-1
Atletico Nacional de Medellin vs Patriotas (7) 2-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Jablonec vs Dukla Prague (6) 2-1
Bohemians 1905 vs Mlada Boleslav (6) over 2.5 goals
Viktoria Zizkov vs Viktoria Plzen (7) 0-2
Sigma Olomouc vs Marila Pribram (5) 1-1
Danish Superligaen:
Nordsjaelland vs Silkeborg (7) 1-0
Lyngby vs SonderjyskE (7) 2-0
HB Koge vs FC Copenhagen (8) 0-2
AC Horsens vs Brondby (6) 2-1
Danish 1st Division:
Blokhus vs Vejle-Kolding (7)
Vestjaelland vs Hjorring (7)
Hobro vs Randers (7)
Fredericia vs Roskilde (7)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Manta vs Olmedo Riobamba (6) 2-1
Liga de Quito vs Maraca Ambato (7) 2-0
English Premier League:
Manchester United vs Aston Villa (8) 2-0
English FA Cup:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea (5) 1-1
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
TB Tvoroyri vs B36 Torshavn (4) 2-2, at least one red card in this game
HB Torshavn vs Vikingur Gotu (8) 2-0
EB/Streymur vs Suduroy (8) 2-0
IF Fuglafjordur vs KI Klaksvik (5) 1-1
B68 Toftir vs NSI Runavik (4) 2-2
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
TPS Turku vs MyPa Anjalankoski (7) 2-0
FC Honka Espoo vs VPS Vaasa (6) 2-1
FC Lahti vs Haka Valkeakoski (4) 0-1
HJK Helsinki vs IFK Mariehamn (7) over 2.5 goals
KuPS Kuopio vs JJK Jyvaskyla (6) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
French Ligue 1:
LOSC Lille vs AC Ajaccio (7) 2-0
Lorient vs Montpellier HSC (6) 0-0
AS Nancy-Lorraine vs Girondins de Bordeaux (5) 1-1
Saint-Etienne vs Stade Brestois (7) 2-0
Sochaux vs Dijon FCO (6) 2-1
Valenciennes vs Evian Thonon Gaillard (4) 1-1
Auxerre vs Paris Saint-Germain (4) 1-1
German Bundesliga:
Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Koln (7) 2-0
SC Freiburg vs Hoffenheim (6) 1-0
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Fehervar vs Vasas Budapest (8) 2-0
Ujpest vs Budapest Honved (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Beitar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Acre (7) 1-0
Latvian Virsliga:
Daugava Daugavpils vs Skonto Riga (5) 2-1
FK Ventspils vs Gulbene 2005 (7) over 2.5 goals
Metta/LU vs Jelgava (6) 2-1
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Tauras Taurage (8) 2-0
Dainava vs Ekranas Panevezys (8) 0-1
Macedonian First League:
Sileks Kratovo vs Bregalnica Stip (6) 1-0
11 Oktomvri vs Shkendija 79 (6) 1-2
Horizont Turnovo vs Metalurg Skopje (7) 0-1
Ohrid vs Napredok (6) 1-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Toluca vs Cruz Azul (6) 1-1
Dutch Eredivisie:
Groningen vs Roda JC Kerkrade (5) 2-1
Vitesse Arnhem vs ADO Den Haag (7) 2-0
AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs De Graafschap (9) -1.5 handicap
FC Utrecht vs VVV Venlo (6) 2-1
Heracles Almelo vs RKC Waalwijk (5) 1-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Tromso vs Sandnes Ulf (7) 2-0
Brann Bergen vs Stromsgodset (7) over 2.5 goals
Aalesund FK vs Odd Grenland Skien (6) 1-0
Sogndal vs Haugesund (6) 1-1
Lillestrom vs Valerenga Oslo (5) 2-2
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Cerro Porteno vs Olimpia Asuncion (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Deportivo Carapegua vs Sol de America (5) 1-0
Sportivo Luqueno vs Nacional Asuncion (7) 0-2
Peruvian Primera Division:
Union Comercio vs Sporting Cristal (5) 1-1
Sport Huancayo vs Inti Gas (7) 2-0
Real Atletico Garcilaso vs Cobresol (6) 1-0
Melgar FBC vs Cienciano (6) 1-1
Alianza Lima vs Universitario Lima (6) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Lech Poznan vs Lechia Gdansk (6) 2-1
Ruch Chorzow vs Gornik Zabrze (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Romanian Liga:
Vaslui vs Mioveni (8) 2-0
Rapid Bucharest vs Vointa Sibiu (7) 1-0
Russian Premier League:
Spartak Nal’chik vs Volga Nizhnyi Novgorod (6) 1-1
Spartak Moscow vs Rubin Kazan’ (6) 2-1
Anzhi Makhachkala vs Dinamo Moscow (6) 1-0
Singaporean S-League:
Tampines Rovers vs Gombak United (7) 2-1
Harimau Muda vs Woodlands Wellington (5) 1-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Espanyol vs Valencia CF (5) 2-2
Real Zaragoza vs Granada (6) 2-1
Real Betis Balompie vs Osasuna (6) 2-1
Malaga vs Real Sociedad (7) over 2.5 goals
Villarreal CF vs Racing Santander (8) 2-0
Athletic Club de Bilbao vs Real Mallorca (7) 2-0
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (6) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Celta de Vigo vs Deportivo La Coruna (4) at least one red card in this game
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Alcorcon (5)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Syrianska Sodertalje vs AIK Solna (5) 0-1
Mjallby Solvesborg vs Atvidaberg (6) 2-1
IFK Goteborg vs Orebro (7) 2-1
Swedish Superettan:
Brommapojkarna vs Falkenberg (7)
Angelholm vs Varnamo (6)
Swiss Super League:
Servette vs Sion (6) 0-1
FC Zurich vs Luzern (6) 2-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Bruhl vs Stade Nyonnais (5)
Vaduz vs Biel-Bienne (7)
Turkish Super Lig:
Fenerbahce vs Trabzonspor (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Sivasspor vs Bursaspor (6) 2-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Defensor Sporting vs Racing Club Montevideo (6) 2-1
River Plate Montevideo vs Cerro (6) 1-0
Montevideo Wanderers vs Fenix (5) 1-1
Danubio vs El Tanque Sisley (7) 2-1
Club Nacional de Montevideo vs Cerrito (7) 2-0
Welsh Premier League:
Bala Town vs The New Saints (7) 1-2
Neath Athletic vs Bangor City (5) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!