Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs Olympiakos Piraeus
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Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League encounter in Germany between Dortmund and Olympiakos. These two sides are both notorious sides in this competition for varying reasons and we should hopefully see a good game as a result!
First of all, I love going against Dortmund in this competition. I like them as a team – they’ve got a whole host of talented youngsters that can be a real threat when left alone – but that’s just it; they’re predominantly kids. They play some good football and do have some firepower but their defence looks vulnerable and this side doesn’t look ready for European football. That’s fair enough, really – it’s been a long time since Dortmund were in this competition! Cast your minds back to the days of Kohler, Sammer, Chapuisat, Ricken etc. – what a team that was! Well, this is Dortmund’s new team and as much as I like them, I find it hard to take them seriously just yet. The likes of Gotze and Kagawa are frighteningly good prospects and are rightly being keenly watched by most of Europe’s big clubs but Dortmund will be equally as keen to avoid selling them.
Moving onto the statistical side of things, though – Dortmund’s defence has to concern them. Three games played, seven goals conceded – it’s not good. Marseille are experienced in Europe, as are Olympiakos, but if they’re conceding three goals against both of those sides then Dortmund are not doing well enough, to be blunt. The loss of Sahin pre-season has hurt Dortmund’s attacking game a little, despite their offensive prowess, and it’s on a stage like this where it can be seen so to say that I think Dortmund are a tad overrated at the moment would be an understatement.
Olympiakos, on the other hand, are frequently underrated. Ok, they’re not world-beaters themselves but this side has been in the UEFA Champions League for more consecutive Champions Leagues than I care to remember. They’re a vastly experienced side and although that only tends to show on their own ground, they have shown signs on the road this season that they’re getting back to their best and that’s refreshing. It’s not a surprise though, really – not with Valverde back at the helm. Letting him go a couple of years ago was a huge mistake and the red-and-white side of Athens knows it, too. He’s a good manager for this side – sometimes a manager and a club just click and nobody else can do what they do; Valverde and Olympiakos are a superb example of that. This Olympiakos side works hard for him and when they work hard, they’re a deceptively good side.
Let’s talk about experience, though – their midfield is packed full of it! Orbaiz, Fuster, Makoun, Ibagaza – bags and bags of experience in those four alone! I’m not the greatest fan of their strikers as Pantelic isn’t particularly mobile nowadays, Djebbour isn’t really good enough for this level, and Miralles is a bit of a drifter rather than an actual striker. Defensively, Olympiakos can be susceptible, especially when Torosidis isn’t available, but I admire their tenacity under Valverde and I think they’re more than good enough to score a couple of goals here with the proper application.
Yes – this bet is risky, hence the long odds. However, I really like this one as I feel one side is overrated and the other is underrated and that always creates a window of opportunity. Olympiakos gave a good show at Arsenal in their 2-1 loss whereas Dortmund still haven’t convinced me at this level. For me, the away win with draw no bet has to be worth a flutter at 9/2!
Verdict: Olympiakos Piraeus to win with draw no bet at 9/2.
Tuesday’s Picks
Accumulator fodder:
Chelsea, Barcelona, Southampton, West Ham United, Flora Tallinn.
Recommended bets:
I don’t like any multiples today, sorry guys!
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!
UEFA Champions League:
Zenit St.Petersburg vs Shakhtar Donetsk (7) 1-0
BATE Borisov vs AC Milan (5) 1-2
Valencia CF vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7) 1-0
Racing Genk vs Chelsea (8) over 2.5 goals
Arsenal vs Olympique de Marseille (7) 2-1
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs Olympiakos Piraeus (4) 1-2
APOEL Nicosia vs Porto (4) 1-1
Viktoria Plzen vs Barcelona (9) over 2.5 goals
Copa Sudamericana:
Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota vs Velez Sarsfield (5) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Colombian Primera A:
Atletico Huila vs Itagui Ditaires (7) 1-0
Deportes Quindio vs Deportes Tolima (5) 1-1
English Championship:
Millwall vs Coventry City (7)
Watford vs Brighton & Hove Albion (4)
Southampton vs Peterborough United (8) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Nottingham Forest vs Reading (5)
Crystal Palace vs Portsmouth (6)
Barnsley vs Hull City (5)
West Ham United vs Bristol City (8)
Doncaster Rovers vs Middlesbrough (5) both sides to score
Burnley vs Leicester City (4) over 2.5 goals
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Flora Tallinn vs Viljandi (8) 2-0
Singaporean S-League:
Gombak United vs Tampines Rovers (4) 1-1
Hougang United vs Home United (7) 1-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!