Astra Ploiesti vs Otelul Galati
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Romanian Liga game between Astra Ploiesti and Otelul Galati.
Despite not beating Otelul in their previous six attempts, the advantage has to be with Astra today, particularly in the form that they’re in. Rednic has got this side playing with confidence again and the eight point gap between themselves and the drop zone should be enough to stave off the threat of relegation for this season. Although not renowned for playing attractive football in Romania, Astra have been in superb form of late, keeping three consecutive clean sheets and winning their last two games, bagging six goals in the process. This side isn’t without good players; they just lacked confidence and it’s nice to see them turn things around, really. Momentum is good and the players are enjoying their football so I’m happy to side with the hosts today, even with captain Seto missing.
Helpfully, Otelul Galati have done everything that they possibly could prior to this game to ensure that they have little chance of taking anything from it. As if it wasn’t depressing enough to lose at a rather average Steaua Bucharest side despite leading 0-1 at half-time, their boss Munteanu had his authority thrown into question when he demoted Paraschiv, Neagu, and Cojoc to the Otelul “B” team due to poor displays. Munteanu’s decision was overruled by the chairman and subsequently Otelul may end up playing these demoralised and uninterested players. On top of that, we have to bear in mind that Otelul’s best player – Liviu Antal – is missing for today’s game. Although Otelul are never easy to beat, it’s hard to see them recording a positive result here, especially given that they need to win and that’s simply not Otelul’s style.
Otelul prefer to nullify their opposition, scrape a goal, and hold onto it. However, to play UEFA Europa League football next season, they have to push on and attack and they’re simply not very good at it. Players and non-playing staff are reportedly in disarray following the conflict between Munteanu and the chairman so Otelul do look vulnerable at the moment. There’s very little quality difference between these two sides, which marginally favours Otelul, but Astra are playing well enough to get a result here so my call is the generously-priced home win with draw no bet cover at 6/5.
Verdict: Astra Ploiesti to win with draw no bet at 6/5.
Friday’s Picks
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:
Tigre vs Olimpo (6) 1-0
Austrian Liga 1:
Blau-Weiss Linz vs WAC/St.Andra (5) over 2.5 goals
Lustenau vs St.Polten (6)
First Vienna vs Austria Lustenau (5) over 2.5 goals
Grodig vs Hartberg (4) both sides to score
SCR Altach vs LASK Linz (6)
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Naftan Novopolotsk vs FC Minsk (6) 2-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Audax Italiano vs Union San Felipe (7) 2-0
Colombian Primera A:
Atletico Huila vs La Equidad Bogota (6) 2-1
Croatian Prva Liga:
NK Zagreb vs Inter Zapresic (6) 1-1
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Karlovac (5) 1-1
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Dukla Prague vs Banik Ostrava (7) over 2.5 goals
Slovan Liberec vs Viktoria Zizkov (8) 2-0
Danish 1st Division:
Vejle-Kolding vs Viborg (7)
AB Copenhagen vs Vestjaelland (5)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
LDU Loja vs Deportivo Cuenca (6) 1-1
German Bundesliga:
Mainz 05 vs VfL Wolfsburg (7) over 2.5 goals
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Budapest Honved vs Siofok (5) 1-0
Irish Premier League:
Bohemians vs Monaghan United (7) 1-0
Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers (7) 1-2
Cork City vs Sligo Rovers (7) 2-1
Derry City vs Dundalk (7) 1-0
Drogheda United vs Shelbourne (5) 2-1
St.Patrick’s Athletic vs UCD (7) 1-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Morelia vs Atlante (7) 2-0
Dutch Eredivisie:
NAC Breda vs Roda JC Kerkrade (6) 1-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Valerenga Oslo vs Sogndal (7) 2-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Cracovia Krakow vs Widzew Lodz (5) 2-1
Polonia Warsaw vs Ruch Chorzow (4) 0-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Pacos de Ferreira vs Sporting Braga (4) 2-1
Romanian Liga:
Astra Ploiesti vs Otelul Galati (6) 1-0
Steaua Bucharest vs Vaslui (5) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Balestier Khalsa vs Harimau Muda (5) 2-1
Tanjong Pagar vs Young Lions (6) 1-0
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
MSK Zilina vs Spartak Trnava (7) 2-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Nafta Lendava (7) 2-0
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Villarreal II vs Real Valladolid (7)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Mjallby Solvesborg vs Djurgarden (5) 1-1
Swedish Superettan:
Ljungskile vs Halmstad (5)
Ukrainian Premier League:
Illichivets Mariupol vs Oleksandriya (6) 2-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!