Brescia vs Padova
Free
Today’s featured game is the Italian Serie B encounter between Brescia and Padova. Hosts Brescia have had a somewhat disappointing campaign so far and will no doubt be relieved to still find themselves in the mix after the Christmas period. Visitors Padova enjoyed a good start to life in Serie B but have naturally struggled since then as they battle to stay in the division.
Brescia are one of the division’s better sides but haven’t shown it enough this season. However, they have won their last two games consecutively to grant them some good momentum so they’ll have confidence entering this game. Brescia love to play at home; they’ve already won six out of ten home games this season and have only been beaten twice on their own turf this season. Brescia aren’t exactly prolific but they’re solid defensively, which is generally why they do well at home. Brescia have scored four goals in their last two games so they are starting to look a little more potent in their games, something they’ll be keen to further and are well-placed to do.
Visitors Padova made some big waves following promotion from Serie C but have fallen by the wayside in recent times. Padova have now lost four out of their last five games and are looking desperately short of the quality that is required to stay in this division currently. Padova’s problem is not scoring goals as their defensive record tends to be sturdy. However, Padova look most susceptible when playing away from home, where they’ve won just once in nine games. They’ve lost four away games already this season and are one of the lowest-scoring sides away from home in all of Serie B. Padova have conceded seven goals in their last five games but have worryingly scored just twice, which is a big issue indeed.
Although Brescia haven’t convinced me fully yet this season, they’re certainly a reliable home side. They play good football at home and tend to score goals whilst keeping their goals conceded numbers low, which should work perfectly against a goal-shy Padova side that seem to consistently leak at least one goal per game in recent times.
Verdict: Brescia to win at 4/5.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Birmingham City vs Manchester United – lay Manchester United at 5/4.
Hosts Birmingham City have been very impressive in recent times and are unbeaten in their past eleven Premier League games. Birmingham play a very efficient style of football and although they don’t score enough goals, they certainly know how to keep sides out. No side in the Premier League has conceded as few goals at home as Birmingham have this season so they’re certainly proving a tough nut to crack. Birmingham have only lost two out of ten home games this season, winning five along the way. Birmingham are a very resilient side that will make life very hard indeed for Manchester United in general today.
Visitors Manchester United have not only been unconvincing in recent games (barring the emphatic win against Wigan Athletic) but they’ve been unconvincing for the majority of the season. The cohesion has been lessened since Ronaldo’s departure and the ability to break sides down has lessened too. United haven’t scored in three of their last five games in all competitions and each time this has happened, United are the side to have fallen behind in the game. United can’t break down two solid banks of four if a side takes the lead against them so I’d certainly back Birmingham in play if they take the lead today. Rooney isn’t playing well despite his goalscoring record and I can’t see that changing today, much as though I wish it would! United have already lost four away games this season and look particularly unsteady on the road. United are struggling massively for consistency and form so I really wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop points here today.
As a very loyal Manchester United fan, I’d love to be completely wrong about this selection but I just don’t think I am. Birmingham are hard to beat and United aren’t playing well enough to break through their difficult and reliable defence so laying Manchester United looks to be good value today.
Verdict: Lay Manchester United at 5/4.
Northampton Town vs Chesterfield – home win at 11/8.
Hosts Northampton Town have quietly been re-establishing themselves following a nightmare start to life in League Two since relegation from League One. They’re now unbeaten in their past five games, winning two out of their last three games, their most recent being a highly impressive victory at high-flying Bournemouth. Although Northampton’s home record shows that they’re difficult to beat on their own turf, they don’t tend to be overly reliable when it comes to winning their home games. However, their momentum from their past few games is sufficient for me to think that they’ve got a good chance of winning this game, particularly as the actual quality of their team has been masked for the majority of this season. Northampton’s strength in recent times has been not conceding goals being as they’ve not conceded in their last three games whatsoever! To put it bluntly, Northampton are looking quite the force entering this game today.
Visitors Chesterfield have been horrific lately with five defeats in six games. Chesterfield at least tend to be very good at home but have now lost two out of their last three games, which now leaves them with poor home form as well as atrocious away form. Chesterfield simply aren’t scoring goals and have conceded in all but one of their past six games. Chesterfield have already lost eight out of eleven away games this season, a record that can only be defeated by bottom club Darlington. With such a lack of momentum and a lack of convincing performances, it’s hard to see Chesterfield taking anything from their encounter with a rejuvenated Northampton Town side.
Verdict: Northampton Town to win at 11/8.
Albinoleffe vs Reggina – home win at 7/5.
Hosts Albinoleffe have been on an impressive run of form of late with no defeats in four games, winning their last two games consecutively. I rate Albinoleffe rather highly if I’m honest with you and I’m surprised to see them battling against relegation. Their reasons for struggling are clear with just two home wins in ten home games in Serie B all season. However, I’m hoping that the recent momentum burst of this talented Albinoleffe side will burst them into life by taking three points from this encounter as they have done for their last two consecutive games.
Visitors Reggina have struggled since being relegated from Serie A and now face the very real threat of being relegated from Serie B unless things pick up soon. Reggina have already lost six out of ten away games in Serie B this season and have lost five out of their last seven away trips. Reggina’s biggest problem is conceding goals hence the reason that they’re one of the biggest conceding sides away from home in all of Serie B. Although Reggina have actually started to pick up points of late, the bulk of those points has been at home whereas their away form still needs some work.
Although this game has the potential to be a draw, I think a plucky and resilient Albinoleffe have just too much for a Reggina side that doesn’t travel well today.
Verdict: Albinoleffe to win at 7/5.
Bala Town vs Newtown – home win at evens.
Newly-promoted Bala Town have had a good campaign so far and currently occupy ninth place in the Welsh Premier League. They’ve dropped a little since the dizzying heights that they were scaling at the start of the season because they’re simply not good enough to maintain them. However, one thing that Bala Town have proved without doubt is that sides have to work have to overcome them as they’re one of the lower-conceding sides in the division. Few sides have had an easy ride against Bala Town and I expect the same to be said after this game today. Bala Town have only been beaten twice at home in nine games, winning four times and drawing the other three games. Bala Town’s biggest problem is not scoring enough goals but they tend to maneouvre their way around this issue by being hard to score against. Three wins and just one defeat in their last five games leaves Bala Town in a strong position in regards to momentum and their home advantage should give them a good chance of taking three points from this game today.
Visitors Newtown are on a dismal run of four games without victory, losing their last three games consecutively. Newtown are one of just three sides in the Premier League that are yet to win an away game this season, losing four times in their eight away games already. Newtown don’t tend to have many problems scoring but they have lots of problems when it comes to keeping sides out, which is why they’re one of the biggest conceding sides in the division. Newtown average conceding over two goals per game over their past five games, which will play perfectly into the hands of Bala Town as the hosts don’t tend to score many goals but should have ample opportunity to do so today.
Although I could accept a draw occurring in this game, I find it hard to overlook Bala Town to win against an out-of-form Newtown with no momentum or clean sheets to speak of.
Verdict: Bala Town to win at evens.
Accumulator fodder – Gold Coast United, Apollon Limassol, Omonia Nicosia, Arsenal, Chelsea, Norwich City, Leeds United, AS Roma, Internazionale, Villarreal, Real Sociedad, Rhyl.
Recommended bets:
Hefty stake – Chelsea, Arsenal, Leeds United, and Norwich City in a 4-team accumulator at 3/1.
Medium stake – Northampton Town, Bala Town, AS Roma in a treble at 7/1.
Low stake – Vicenza, Albinoleffe, Brescia in a treble at 8/1.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Australian A-League:
Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar (5) over 2.5 goals
Central Coast Mariners vs North Queensland Fury (6) 1-1
Gold Coast United vs Adelaide United (8) 2-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Lierse SK vs Dender (7)
Brussels vs Oostende (6)
KVSK United vs OH Leuven (7)
Mons vs Red Star Waasland (7)
Tournai vs Eupen (6)
Cypriot Division 1:
APOP/Kinyras vs Ermis (6) 1-0
Apollon Limassol vs Aris Limassol (8) 2-0
Ethnikos Achnas vs Omonia Nicosia (8) 1-2
English Premier League:
Hull City vs Chelsea (8) 1-2
Arsenal vs Everton (8) 2-0
Burnley vs Stoke City (6) 1-1
Fulham vs Portsmouth (7) 1-0
Sunderland vs Bolton Wanderers (6) 1-0
Wigan Athletic vs Aston Villa (6) over 2.5 goals
Birmingham City vs Manchester United (6) 0-0
English Championship:
Cardiff City vs Blackpool (6)
Coventry City vs Barnsley (7)
Crystal Palace vs Bristol City (6)
Derby County vs Scunthorpe United (5)
Middlesbrough vs Swansea City (6)
Queens Park Rangers vs Plymouth Argyle (7)
English League One:
Leeds United vs Wycombe Wanderers (9)
Norwich City vs Exeter City (9)
English League Two:
Northampton Town vs Chesterfield (7)
Greek Super League:
Ergotelis vs Panionios (6) 1-1
Xanthi vs Panathinaikos (7) 1-2
Levadiakos vs PAOK Salonika (6) 0-1
International Friendlies:
Tunisia vs Gambia (7) 2-1
Zambia vs South Korea (6) 0-1
Italian Serie A:
AS Roma vs Chievo Verona (8) 2-1
Internazionale vs Siena (8) 2-1
Italian Serie B:
Albinoleffe vs Reggina (7)
Ascoli vs Crotone (6)
Brescia vs Padova (7)
Cesena vs Piacenza (7)
Cittadella vs Torino (6)
Mantova vs Ancona (7)
Sassuolo vs Lecce (5)
Triestina vs Frosinone (6) over 2.5 goals
Vicenza vs Salernitana (7) under 2.5 goals
Malaysian Premier League:
Negeri Sembilan vs Selangor (6)
Kuala Lumpur vs PBDKT T-Team (5)
PLUS vs Penang (8)
Pahang vs Perak (6)
Terengganu vs Kelantan (6)
Johor vs Kedah (6)
Perlis vs Johor (8)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Maritimo vs Vitoria Guimaraes (6) 1-0
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs Leixoes (7) 1-0
Rio Ave vs SL Benfica (5) 0-0
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Gil Vicente vs Trofense (7)
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Valladolid vs Atletico Madrid (5) 1-1
Sevilla CF vs Racing Santander (7) 2-1
Villarreal vs Almeria (8) over 2.5 goals
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Numancia vs Real Betis Balompie (6)
Recreativo de Huelva vs Albacete (7)
Real Sociedad vs Cadiz (8)
Gimnastia de Tarragona vs Celta de Vigo (6)
Real Murcia vs Elche (6)
Welsh Premier League:
Bala Town vs Newtown (7) 1-0
Caersws vs Porthmadog (6) 1-1
Carmarthen Town vs The New Saints (7) 1-2
Haverfordwest County vs Prestatyn Town (6) 1-0
Neath Athletic vs Bangor City (6) 2-2
Rhyl vs Airbus (8) over 2.5 goals
Enjoy your free betting tips!