Beroe vs Levski Sofia
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Today’s secondary featured game is the A PFG encounter between stubborn Beroe and giants Levski Sofia.
Beroe have had a poor start to their campaign this season and it shows in the A PFG table. They’ve had numerous obstacles to overcome, too, changing their manager and essential midfielder Hristov leaving pre-season for their opponents today – Levski Sofia. However, they’ve steadied the ship lately and just one defeat in five games indicates the type of thing I expect to see from Beroe, particularly as they’ve only shipped three goals during those five games. Beroe are notoriously hard to beat on their own turf in the A PFG – all of their opponents know that. Statistics might not show it so far this season but I’m confident that you’ll see it by the end of this season. This Beroe team simply does not know when they’re beaten and although they’re not the most prolific of sides – far from it, in fact – they are a nightmare to beat and against one of the biggest clubs in the country, you have to fancy Beroe to put up a good showing today.
Levski Sofia – well, I’ll be going against them quite a bit this season if their unconvincing displays continue. Although Ars is finally beginning to step up to the plate now that Dembele has left, Levski still don’t look right in attack. Indeed, their turnaround against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at home last match was much more down to the capitulation of their visitors rather than a rallying display from the hosts with that result actually resulting in Lokomotiv Plovdiv sacking their manager. Away from home, Levski Sofia have been even worse than at home this season, already losing four out of their five away games. You could argue that they’ve had hard games but it’s the fact that they’ve only scored three goals during that run that must concern them. Indeed, their sole win during that time came at rivals Minior Pernik and there were a lot of rumours around at the time that the game was fixed for a Levski win although I naturally cannot say how genuine those claims are. Levski have been unconvincing since their number of quality players dwindled and although they still have a lot of experience, I can only see their annual trip to Beroe getting harder and harder unless they bolster their ranks in the near future.
The games between these two sides are usually close when played in the Stara Zagora and I think we’ll see an even closer encounter today with the above in mind. Whether Levski win this game or not, there’s simply no way that they should be as short as they are here so for me, the value is on laying the overrated visitors in this difficult away game.
Verdict: Lay Levski Sofia at 7/5.
Sunday’s Picks
Accumulator fodder:
Brisbane Roar, AB Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Pogon Szczecin.
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!
International Friendlies:
India vs Malaysia (6) 1-1
Uganda vs Sudan (7) 2-0
Morocco vs Cameroon (6) 1-1
Australian A-League:
Brisbane Roar vs Wellington Phoenix (8) 2-0
Brazilian Serie A:
Corinthians vs Atletico Paranaense (7) 2-1
Ceara vs Santos (4) 1-2
Coritiba vs Flamengo (6) 2-1
Gremio vs Palmeiras (6) 0-0
Vasco da Gama vs Botafogo (7) 2-1
Cruzeiro vs Internacional (5) 0-1
Atletico Goianiense vs Bahia (5) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Sofia vs Montana (5) 2-1
Beroe vs Levski Sofia (6) 1-1
Chernomorets Burgas vs Ludogorets (7) 0-0
Danish 1st Division:
Skive vs Bronshoj (5)
Vestjaelland vs Fredericia (7)
Hjorring vs Viborg (4)
Roskilde vs Hobro (5)
AB Copenhagen vs Blokhus (8)
Naestved vs Esbjerg (8)
Polish Liga 1:
Kolejarz Stroze vs Ruch Radzionkow (7)
Pogon Szczecin vs Gornik Polkowice (8)
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Guadalajara vs Alcoyano (6)
Villarreal II vs Almeria (5)
Recreativo de Huelva vs Las Palmas (5)
Deportivo La Coruna vs Celta de Vigo (7) at least one red card in this game
Swiss Challenge League:
Winterthur vs Locarno (5)
Uruguayan Primera Division:
El Tanque Sisley vs Cerro (6) 0-1
Penarol vs Montevideo Wanderers (7) 2-0
Bella Vista vs Racing Club Montevideo (5) 0-1
Rentistas vs Liverpool Montevideo (4) 1-2
Cerro Largo vs Defensor Sporting (6) 1-1
Welsh Premier League:
Airbus UK vs Afan Lido (6) 1-0
The New Saints vs Bangor City (5) 1-1