Atletico Madrid vs Osasuna
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Primera Liga game between Atletico Madrid and Osasuna.
Now, you’ll rarely see me handicap Atletico Madrid because their defence is absolutely atrocious so let’s hope this one comes off! The reason I’m getting involved today is because Atletico are an attacking side and have replaced the goals that Aguero brought to the team by signing Colombian hitman Falcao from Porto. He’s one of the best finishers in Europe right now for my money and should help Atletico on their perilous all-out-attack journey. Atletico still have some gifted players at the club ala Merida, Godin, Juanfran etc. Forlan is rumoured to be off to Italy but that’s the Atletico Madrid carousel for you. They’ve brought in excellent Turkish winger Arda Turan, Argentinian playmaker Salvio from SL Benfica, Portuguese attacker Fernandes, and Portuguese defender Pereira as they seek to bolster their squad. There’s plenty of attacking talent in the team and if they galvanise then we should see a good display from them today.
I have to confess that a lot of my confidence comes from Osasuna rather than Atletico today, however. I like Osasuna, unlike the vast majority of Spain, but I fear for them this year. The purpose of a club like Osasuna is to bring in promising youngsters to sell on at a big price to keep afloat. Well, they’re doing the selling bit ok – they’ve parted with a lot of players over the past few years. However, they’re not bringing anyone in and I think they may well be in the Segunda Liga next season as a result. The trip to Pamplona still won’t be easy for any side as there are few sides in the Primera Liga with more cohesion and tenacity than Osasuna and you’d expect nothing less from a Basque side. However, just look at who they’ve lost and failed to replace over the past few seasons – Cesar Azpilicueta, David Lopez, Raul Garcia, Roberto Soldado, Manuel Almunia etc. Now add to that list the names of Ignacio Monreal, Pierre Webo, Juanfran, and Javier Camunas, who have all left pre-season, and we have a very thin Osasuna squad indeed that is particularly bereft of attacking power. Fortuitously, they’ve managed to loan Raul Garcia back from Atletico Madrid, which will help them out although he’ll no doubt be ineligible for this game anyway. To be honest, central midfield isn’t their biggest issue here with Iranian duo Shojaei and Nekounam in the squad. Vadocz and Calleja are capable midfielders too. Their attackers are so weak, though! I like their new signing Balde – I watched him a few times at Numancia last season and he’s got some ability but is he really ready to carry the Osasuna attack? Is Roland Lamah, who they’ve just signed from Le Mans? For me, the answer to both of those questions is “no”. They’ve both got potential but no experience at this level and that’s a huge problem for Osasuna. The Basque side are lucky to still have Miguel Flano as their rock in the middle of defence and they’ll need him more than ever now that left-back Monreal has moved on. Osasuna now look very weak in the full-back areas, which is yet another problem they must overcome.
So yeah – I do fancy Atletico here and I do fancy Osasuna to go down this year. Osasuna have done quite well in pre-season friendlies but Atletico have looked very strong indeed during their UEFA Europa League games against Vitoria Guimaraes lately and they’re the games I’m inclined to read more into as they actually mean something. Although I concede that Atletico’s defence could ruin this bet, I just don’t see the superior hosts not winning this one so I feel that Atletico Madrid winning with a -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5 is a good bet today.
Verdict: Atletico Madrid to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Salzburg vs Rapid Vienna – home win at 9/10.
A number of interesting things have happened in the build-up to this game and all of them favour Salzburg, happily.
The first one to mention is that victory at home against Omonia Nicosia earlier this week means that Salzburg will be playing UEFA Europa League football this season, which will keep the side happy.
The second thing is that Rapid Vienna are missing half their squad for this game, which suits the hosts but not so much the visitors, understandably.
The third is the most interesting one of all, really. I’ve complained that Salzburg haven’t had the necessary firepower to do well in the Bundesliga for some time but they’ve finally actually done something about it. Yes, they’ve signed lanky striker Maierhofer in the past week or so and this guy dominated the Bundesliga a couple of years ago with – yes, you guessed it! – Rapid Vienna! He will most likely make his debut against his former club and this guy is not easy to handle at the best of times. With him in their squad, I’m extremely confidence in Salzburg winning the Bundesliga this year because their defence looks very solid too.
So yeah – Salzburg are looking good, playing well, looking very composed at the back, and very efficient as a whole; that’s something we didn’t see from them at all last season. Suffice to say that I like this Salzburg team now, especially with Finland internationa Petri Pasanen organising their defence.
Rapid Vienna were drubbed 0-3 at home by bitter rivals Austria Vienna in their last league game as they struggle in most areas of the pitch for quality and have big injury problems. There’s too much reliance on pacey Albanian attacker Salihi for goals and with their midfield entirely hinging upon Finnish holding midfielder Heikkinen and German captain Hofmann, it’s easy to see why Rapid Vienna are struggling. They started their campaign off quite well but it’s no coincidence whatsoever that they’ve failed to score since facing any of their title rivals this season. They’ve faced SV Ried, Sturm Graz, and Austria Vienna in their last three Bundesliga games and have lost twice and drawn once, which just isn’t good enough. They’re very short on ability nowadays and with half of their attack out injured today and morale ebbing away, I can only see one winner here.
For me, Salzburg are very generously priced here as Rapid Vienna look a shadow of what they were so the home win appeals to me today.
Team news – Rapid Vienna miss Burgstaller, Prager, Kulovits, Prokopic, Patocka, and Katzer.
Verdict: Salzburg to win at 9/10.
Accumulator fodder:
Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Catolica, Once Caldas Manizales, FC Copenhagen, Manchester United, Ekranas Panevezys, PSV Eindhoven, Libertad Asuncion, Dinamo Moscow, Zenit St.Petersburg, Celtic, Rangers, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club de Bilbao, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Defensor Sporting.
Recommended bets:
Salzburg, Real Madrid, and PSV Eindhoven -1.5 at under 2/1.
Atletico Madrid -1 AH, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Lokomotiv Plovdiv at under 2/1.
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:
Colon de Santa Fe vs Union de Santa Fe (7) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Belgrano de Cordoba vs Newell’s Old Boys (6) 0-0
Boca Juniors vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Argentinos Juniors vs Independiente (5) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Salzburg vs Rapid Vienna (7) 2-0
SV Ried vs SV Kapfenberg (6) 2-1
Austria Vienna vs Admira Wacker (7) 2-0
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Belshina Bobriusk vs Torpedo Zhodino (6) 1-1
FC Minsk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (4) 0-0
Vitebsk vs Dinamo Brest (4) 1-1
Neman Grodno vs Dnepr Mogilev (6) 1-0
BATE Borisov vs Dinamo Minsk (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Club Brugge vs Anderlecht (5) 2-2
Germinal Beerschot vs Standard de Liege (6) 1-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Palmeiras vs Corinthians (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Santos vs Sao Paulo (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Flamengo vs Vasco da Gama (6) 2-1
Gremio vs Internacional (7) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Ceara vs Bahia (6) 1-0
Atletico Mineiro vs Cruzeiro (5) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Figueiense vs Avai (6) 1-0
Bulgarian A PFG:
Montana vs CSKA Sofia (7) 1-2
Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs Kaliakra (8) 2-0
Rakovski vs Lokomotiv Sofia (5) 0-1
Slavia Sofia vs Litex Lovech (7) 0-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Santiago Wanderers vs Universidad Catolica (8) 1-2
Union La Calera vs Cobreloa (7) 1-0
Audax Italiano vs Santiago Morning (7) 2-1
Nublense vs Deportes Iquique (5) 0-0
Universidad de Chile vs Universidad de Concepcion (8) 2-1
Colombian Primera A:
Once Caldas Manizales vs Boyaca Chico (8) 2-1
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Real Cartagena (7) 2-1
Atletico Huila vs Millonarios Bogota (5) 1-1
La Equidad Bogota vs Deportivo Pereira (4) 1-1
Croatian Prva Liga:
Split vs Hajduk Split (7) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Cypriot Division 1:
Olympiakos Nicosia vs Anagennisi Deryneia (7) 2-0
Enosis Neon Paralimni vs Aris Limassol (6) 2-1
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Ceske Budejovice vs Jablonec (7) 0-2
Hradec Kralove vs Marila Pribram (7) 1-0
Viktoria Zizkov vs Sigma Olomouc (6) 1-1
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense vs SonderjyskE (7) 2-1
Nordsjaelland vs Lyngby (6) 2-1
FC Copenhagen vs Silkeborg (8) 2-0
Midtylland vs Brondby (6) 2-1
Danish 1st Division:
Vestjaelland vs Naestved (7)
Blokhus vs Skive (6)
Bronshoj vs Randers (7)
Fredericia vs AB Copenhagen (6)
Viborg vs Roskilde (6)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Deportivo Quito vs Olmedo Riobamba (7) 2-0
Deportivo Cuenca vs Liga de Quito (6) over 2.5 goals
LDU Loja vs Emelec Guayaquil (6) 1-2
El Nacional Quito vs Independiente (7) 2-0
Espoli Cayambe vs Imbabura (5) 1-0
Barcelona Guayaquil vs Manta (6) 1-0
English Premier League:
Newcastle United vs Fulham (6) 0-0
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City (5) 1-2
West Bromwich Albion vs Stoke City (5) 2-1
Manchester United vs Arsenal (8) 2-0
English Championship:
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United (5)
Watford vs Birmingham City (6)
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
NSI Runavik vs B68 Toftir (7) 2-1
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
RoPS Rovaniemi vs VPS Vaasa (6) 0-0
FC Honka Espoo vs IFK Mariehamn (7) 2-1
Finnish Ykkonen:
PoPa Pori vs Jippo Joensuu (6)
FC Espoo vs PS Kemi Kings (5)
French Ligue 1:
Stade Rennais vs Stade Malherbe de Caen (7) 2-1
Sochaux vs Saint-Etienne (5) 1-1
Toulouse vs Paris Saint-Germain (6) 1-1
LOSC Lille vs Olympique de Marseille (5) 1-0
German Bundesliga:
Hannover 96 vs Mainz 05 (6) 2-1
Schalke 04 vs Borussia Moenchengladbach (6) 2-1
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Debreceni VSC vs Ujpest (7) 1-0
Vasas Budapest vs Ferencvaros (5) 2-1
Szombathelyi Haladas vs Kecskemeti TE (3) 1-2
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
Thor Akureyi vs UMF Grindavik (5) 2-1
Breidablik Kopavogur vs Valur Reykjavik (6) 1-1
Japanese J-League:
Kashiwa Reysol vs Kawasaki Frontale (4) 1-2
Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa Red Diamonds (6) 1-0
Vissel Kobe vs Gamba Osaka (7) over 2.5 goals
Kashima Antlers vs Avispa Fukuoka (6) 1-0
Nagoya Grampus vs Ventforet Kofu (7) 2-0
Latvian Virsliga:
RFS/Olimps Riga vs FK Jurmala (5) 1-2
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Mazeikiai vs Zalgiris Vilnius (5) 0-1
FBK Kaunas vs Suduva Marijampole (5) 1-2
Dainava vs Ekranas Panevezys (8) 0-1
Macedonian First League:
Renova Dzepciste vs Shkendija 79 (6) 2-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul (5) 1-1
Tijuana vs Queretaro (6) 1-0
Morelia vs Puebla (7) 2-1
Dutch Eredivisie:
De Graafschap vs ADO Den Haag (6) 1-0
Feyenoord Rotterdam vs Heerenveen (7) over 2.5 goals
Groningen vs AZ Alkmaar (5) 2-2
PSV Eindhoven vs Excelsior Rotterdam (9) -1.5 handicap
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Fredrikstad vs Stromsgodset (6) 2-1
Start Kristiansand vs Sarpsborg 08 (6) 2-1
Lillestrom vs Sogndal (7) over 2.5 goals
Viking Stavanger vs Stabaek (7) 2-0
Aalesund FK vs Molde FK (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Libertad Asuncion vs 3 de Febrero (8) 2-0
General Caballero vs Guarani Asuncion (7) 0-1
Cerro Porteno vs Tacuary (6) 1-0
Sol de America vs Olimpia Asuncion (5) 1-2
Peruvian Primera Division:
Melgar FBC vs Universidad Cesar Vallejo (7) 2-0
Sport Huancayo vs Universitario Lima (6) 1-0
Universidad San Martin vs CNI (7) 2-0
Leon de Huanuco vs Juan Aurich (6) 2-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Slask Wroclaw vs Widzew Lodz (7) 1-0
Ruch Chorzow vs Jagiellonia Bialystok (7) 1-0
Polish Liga 1:
Nieciecza vs Pogon Szczecin (6)
Kolejarz Stroze vs Bogdanka Leczna (6)
Gornik Polkowice vs Piast Gliwice (5)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Rio Ave vs Olhanense (6) 0-0
Feirense vs Pacos de Ferreira (5) 0-1
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Beira-Mar (6) 1-0
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs Maritimo Funchal (6) 2-1
Romanian Liga:
Brasov vs Vaslui (5) 1-0
Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt vs Rapid Bucharest (7) 0-1
Dinamo Bucharest vs Otelul Galati (4) 0-1
Steaua Bucharest vs Targu Mures (4) 1-1
Russian Premier League:
Dinamo Moscow vs Spartak Nal’chik (8) 2-0
Zenit St.Petersburg vs FK Krasnodar (8) 2-1
Rubin Kazan’ vs Krylya Sovetov Samara (7) 1-0
Spartak Moscow vs CSKA Moscow (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Kuban’ Krasnodar vs Lokomotiv Moscow (5) 0-0
Scottish Premier League:
St.Mirren vs Celtic (8) 0-2
Rangers vs Aberdeen (8) 2-1
Hearts vs Hibernian (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Serbian Superliga:
Rad Belgrade vs Sevojno (6) 1-1
Smederevo vs Red Star Belgrade (7) 0-1
Partizan Belgrade vs OFK Belgrade (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Ruzomberok vs Slovan Bratislava (6) 1-2
Spartak Trnava vs Trencin (7) 2-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Mura 05 vs Domzale (6) 0-1
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Maribor (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Gorica vs Nafta Lendava (5) 1-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Atletico Madrid vs Osasuna (8) over 2.5 goals
Athletic Club de Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (8) 2-0
Real Mallorca vs Espanyol (4) 0-0
Getafe vs Levante (6) 2-1
Real Zaragoza vs Real Madrid (8) over 2.5 goals
Sevilla CF vs Malaga (5) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Real Murcia vs Celta de Vigo (5)
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Real Valladolid (6)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Gefle vs BK Hacken Goteborg (5) 1-1
Helsingborg vs Orebro (7) 2-1
AIK Solna vs Syrianska Sodertalje (7) 1-0
Malmo FF vs Elfsborg Boras (6) 2-1
GAIS Goteborg vs Mjallby Solvesborg (4) 1-1
Swedish Superettan:
Vasteras vs Osters (5)
Ljungskile vs Degerfors (7)
Swiss Super League:
Basel vs Thun (7) 2-0
Sion vs Servette (6) 1-0
Young Boys Bern vs FC Zurich (5) 2-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Illichivets Mariupol vs Vorskla Poltava (5) 0-0
Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk vs Dynamo Kiev (4) 1-1
Chernomorets Odessa vs Shakhtar Donetsk (8) 0-2
Karpaty Lviv vs Metalist Kharkiv (6) 1-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Racing Club Montevideo vs Rampla Juniors (7) 2-1
Montevideo Wanderers vs Bella Vista (6) 1-0
Cerro Largo vs Penarol (7) 1-2
Defensor Sporting vs Cerrito (8) 2-0
Danubio vs Fenix (7) 1-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!