Cagliari vs Bari

Today’s featured game is the Serie A game between Cagliari and Bari. Hosts Cagliari are a tough side to play in the native Sardinia and have been reliable at home this season. Visitors Bari have impressed many pundits with their stubborn defence and efficient style throughout the current Serie A season but have started to falter of late and look susceptible against good sides.

Cagliari are without a win in their past three Serie A games but it’s worth noting that two of those games were away from home whereas the home encounter that resulted in a draw was against a good Fiorentina side. Cagliari have won five out of eleven home games this season, losing just three times along the way. Cagliari’s most impressive statistic is that they average scoring over two goals per home game, which tends to leave them participating in exciting encounters with plenty of goals, particularly as Cagliari don’t defend particularly well. Cagliari have only won two out of their last five home games, which on first reflection is a poor ratio. However, when you take into account that Cagliari’s five home games have been against Fiorentina, Juventus, AS Roma, SSC Napoli, and Livorno, you can understand just why that is and perhaps be a little impressed that Cagliari haven’t lost any of those games. In fact, Cagliari have made their opponents in each game work tremendously hard to maintain the good form that the majority of their opponents were in when travelling to Sardinia. Cagliari rose to each occasion perfectly and this is illustrated well by the fact that they’ve scored twelve goals in five games of which four opponents are amongst the best sides in the league. Cagliari’s conceding is a concern but again – they’ve been playing good sides and I personally think they’ve done very well, all things considered. Their momentum is still good from this run and Cagliari should be able to make it count today.

Visitors Bari will have a true test of character today to see if they can match up to the “big boys” of Serie A, who have all failed to take three points away from the trip to Cagliari in recent times. Bari are defensively sound but have looked very stretched lately as the lengthy Serie A season has unwinded with Bari having lost twice in their past five games, winning just once along the way. Bari have now lost five out of their last six away games and this appears to be their Achilles heel as defending can only take you so far; you need goals to be scored to match it. Don’t get me wrong here – Bari are an extremely well-organised unit and to not respect their excellent defence is stupid. However, their legs are getting more weary and they’re beginning to get a little sloppy in their strongest area so I think it’s safe to say that Bari aren’t what they were a few weeks ago. Bari have now lost six out of twelve away games in Serie A this season and I sense they could have yet another defeat today against a very potent Cagliari side because Bari aren’t scoring enough goals to damage their visitors – just ten goals have been scored in twelve away games, in fact.

Bari are going to travel to Sardinia to stop Cagliari from playing but the hosts are amongst the most potent home sides in Serie A so I doubt that the visitors will be able to do so. Cagliari have a tendency to concede goals but Bari aren’t capable of scoring enough goals to match their hosts today, in my opinion, so we should see the home side take the initiative today as usual by setting about their visitors and ultimately claiming three points today.

Verdict: Cagliari to win at 19/20.

Sunday’s Picks

My tips:

As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:

San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Velez Sarsfeld – away win at 9/5.

Hosts San Lorenzo de Almagro are having a miserable Clausura after just three games and it’s all because they simply cannot score goals. San Lorenzo are a good side but just one goal scored in three games simply isn’t good enough. I can accept San Lorenzo losing at Estudiantes last match – most sides in Argentina do, ultimately. But losing at home to Godoy Cruz de Mendoza without even scoring was the ultimate insult to San Lorenzo fans and tonight’s hosts just aren’t showing signs of improvement. Unfortunately for San Lorenzo, they’re hosting a side that is in the top two of Argentinian football at the moment – Velez Sarsfeld. San Lorenzo lost 1-0 at home to Velez last season and I can see a similar scoreline tonight with the hosts continuing to draw blanks.

Visitors Velez Sarsfeld are a very accomplished and efficient side, two things that Argentinian sides don’t tend to have en mass. Velez always seem to have the measure of each opponent they encounter and generally manage to do enough to beat them. Aside from an opening day draw with Colon de Santa Fe, Velez Sarsfeld’s campaign has been immaculate with a crushing win at Arsenal de Sarandi, a fairly straightforward home win against Gimnasia De La Plata, and a win against Brazil’s Cruzeiro in the Copa Libertadores. Velez have gained some good momentum as a result and now take on their first “difficult” game in the Primera Division. Their games with San Lorenzo tend to be low scoring and somewhat random but Velez are frankly better than San Lorenzo and better placed to make something of it too.

This should be a close game but effectively the goal-shy displays of San Lorenzo de Almagro merged with the efficient and goal-filled performances of a very good Velez Sarsfeld has done enough to convince me that there’s value in the away win tonight.

Verdict: Velez Sarsfeld to win at 9/5.

Cortulua vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota – away win at 7/5.

Newly-promoted Cortulua are yet to win a Primera A game and have already committed the ultimate Colombian sin by losing at home. Few sides lose games at home in this league but Cortulua have already managed that against Boyaca Chico, a side that struggled in last season’s campaigns. If that’s going to be a constant characteristic of theirs then they’re going to not enjoy their stay in the Primera A whatsoever. They managed to gain a credible draw at Atletico Huila in their last game but they’re still looking unconvincing and now find themselves at the mercy of one of Colombia’s best sides – Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota.

Visitors Independiente only won three out of nine away games in the previous campaign and that’s despite being one of the better sides in this division, which should hopefully show you how hard it is to win away from home in this league. However, Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota have already claimed a good draw at title rivals Independiente Medellin in their current campaign and have beaten America de Cali so they’ve started their campaign well, particularly as they’re yet to concede a goal. They’ve got no committments on the continent as of yet so their squad is refreshed and looking as capable as ever. They’re taking on a side that they’re easily twice as good as and whilst they’re not conceding goals, it’s hard to see a stuttering Cortulua breaking them down.

I think we’re going to see a real class difference between these two sides tonight. Cortulua have a lot to prove but this is the kind of opponent that they can only hope to draw against, in my opinion. It’s not often I’ll call an away win in Colombia with any level of confidence but Independiente should have too much for Cortulua tonight.

Verdict: Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota to win at 7/5.

Real Cartagena vs Atletico Huila – home win at 10/11.

Real Cartagena have made a great start to the current Primera A campaign with two consecutive wins so their momentum is good. They’ve won an epic home game with Once Caldas Manizales as well as winning at a tricky Boyaca Chico without even conceding a goal so they’re shaping up very well indeed for the current campaign. Real Cartagena were strongest at home in their last campaign – naturally – with five wins in nine games. Real Cartagena were the third highest scoring side at home in the Clausura of the Primera A last season with an average of over two goals scored per game. Real Cartagena’s biggest problem was keeping sides out but they tended to have the upper hand with the majority of the opponents that they faced and this appears to have carried on to the present campaign, leaving Real Cartagena with a good chance of taking three points tonight.

Visitors Atletico Huila had a good campaign last year and finished third in the initial group. They drew their strength from scoring a lot of away goals, which ultimately meant that they only lost three out of nine way games. However, they’ve struggled to get going in their current campaign and have already drawn at America de Cali and at home to newly-promoted Cortulua. Atletico Huila are a capable side but they’re just not doing the business at the moment which makes me think that an able side like Real Cartagena should be able to beat them somewhat comfortably.

Real Cartagena won this game 4-3 last season and whereas I don’t see a similar level of epic display as being likely to occur, I do think that Real Cartagena have a very good chance to win the game again because they’ve got strong momentum and potency whereas their opponents just aren’t doing enough to win games.

Verdict: Real Cartagena to win at 10/11.

Deportivo Pereira vs Once Caldas Manizales – home win at evens.

Much like Real Cartagena above, Deportivo Pereira have started their current campaign brightly with a draw at home to Atletico Junior Barranquilla and an impressive win at Cucuta Deportivo. I’d have expected those results to be reversed, really, but Deportivo Pereira will have taken a lot of momentum from both results. Deportivo Pereira were dynamite at home in the last campaign with six wins in nine games, drawing the remaining three encounters. Deportivo Pereira weren’t notorious for scoring a lot of goals – they averaged scoring nearly two goals per home game however – but were notorious for their immense defence which leaked just two goals in nine home games, far and away the best home record in the Primera A. I doubt they’ll match that record as they’ve already conceded two goals at home in the current campaign but the fact remains that Deportivo Pereira are a very able side and particularly are at home so stand a good chance of winning tonight.

Visitors Once Caldas Manizales do not travel well! They lost eight out of nine away games in their last campaign whilst conceding well over two goals per away game and have lost their only away game of the current campaign too! I cannot doubt that they’re a capable side but that kind of away record is just not good enough. They’ve travelled to Paraguay mid-week in the Copa Libertadores and beaten Nacional Asuncion 2-0 in convincing fashion, which I respect them for. However, they’re going to be at least a little tired from that lengthy trip and they’ve got a very hard game tonight.

Ultimately, I can’t see Once Caldas having enough to trouble Deportivo Pereira tonight so the value should be there on the home win come the final whistle!

Verdict: Deportivo Pereira to win at evens.

Auxerre vs Stade Rennais – away win at 15/8.

Auxerre have been strong at home all season long in Ligue 1 with seven wins in twelve games so immediately this call is put on the “risky” section! However, Auxerre have been somewhat fortunate, you could say, as they’re not a prolific side – they simply rely on being boringly efficient with a tidy defence. They’ve only scored fifteen goals in twelve home games so you get the impression that any side coming here and scoring a couple of goals stands a very good chance of taking points off Auxerre. Now Auxerre aren’t the kind of side that will simply allow that to happen so there needs to be a catalyst. In my opinion, this catalyst was their humiliating 5-0 defeat at bottom club Grenoble Foot in their last Ligue 1 game. This result was shocking on many levels but the most astounding factor of all was that Auxerre conceded more goals in that away game than they had in all of their away games in Ligue 1 combined prior to that game! I don’t care about their mid-week success against lowly Plabennec in the Coupe de la Ligue; the defeat at Grenoble Foot is going to have hit them hard and I think they’re going to resort to the Auxerre we saw at the start of the season, at least temporarily i.e. the Auxerre that was easy to beat, that was goal-shy all the time etc.

In collaboration with the above, however, we need a side that is capable of doing damage to Auxerre and I think we have the perfect silent assassains in Stade Rennais. I rate Stade Rennais very highly indeed but they’ve let themselves down somewhat so far this season. However, they’ve been playing the good football of late whilst making it count so the pieces are finally beginning to fall into place for a very capable Stade Rennais. Barring their somewhat puzzling and embarassing defeat at Quevilly in the Coupe de la Ligue mid-week, Stade Rennais have smashed four goals past Girondins de Bordeaux in a 4-2 victory and smashed four goals past Grenoble Foot in a 4-0 win so their potency is through the roof at the moment. Stade Rennais have long had the ability – it’s just nice to see them finally beginning to act upon it. Stade Rennais don’t have a convincing away record in Ligue 1 this season but do have an interesting record against Auxerre with today’s hosts having failed to win or even register a goal in their last two meetings here, drawing once and losing once, so Stade Rennais know that they’re capable of taking three points today.

Although this is the kind of game where anything could occur between two tempremental sides, I do feel that there’s value on a potent Stade Rennais stealing three points from a dejected Auxerre side today.

Verdict: Stade Rennais to win at 15/8.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs SC Freiburg – home win at 4/5.

Eintracht Frankfurt are a frustrating Bundesliga side that tend to turn up if and when they please. On their day, they’re capable of troubling the best in the Bundesliga but the majority of the time they’re capable of losing to most sides in this division. Their haphazard form chart illustrates my point perfectly as over their past five Bundesliga games, Eintracht Frankfurt have won twice, drawn twice, and lost once. On that run Eintracht Frankfurt have beaten an in-form BV09 Borussia Dortmund away and beaten giants Werder Bremen at home. However, they’ve also managed to lose at home to Koln during that run so where do Frankfurt actually stand? It’s hard to say, really. However, despite the inconclusive home/away form of Frankfurt, the fact remains that they’re a capable side and are potent at the moment with eight goals scored in their past five games. Bluntly – Frankfurt have everything that they need to win this game today so providing that they turn up, I fail to see them not winning this game.

However, I don’t like backing this type of unreliable side without a consistently poor away side – cue the entrance of SC Freiburg. Freiburg have already lost six out of eleven away games this season and average conceding nearly two goals per away game. As if that wasn’t enough already, however – Freiburg three out of their four Bundesliga games since returning from the winter break, drawing the other encounter 0-0. Freiburg have only scored once during those four games whereas they’ve conceded six times so the chances on them getting something here today is looking unlikely. Momentum and confidence is low for Freiburg and with such demoralising statistics before them, it’s hard to see them being inspired to a great performance and result to boot!

Verdict: Eintracht Frankfurt to win at 4/5.

Panionios vs Iraklis – lay Panionios at 5/6.

Panionios’ atrocious run of form continues with no wins in their past eight Super League games. In fact, I say “continues” but what I should say is “worsens” as they’ve now lost their last three Super League games consecutively without even scoring a goal. Panionios simply aren’t scoring any goals and whereas I can accept the defeat against Olympiakos Piraeus, failing to register a goal against Atromitos and Kavala is simply unacceptable for a club of Panionios’ ability. Still, if there’s a flaw to be found then the ravens are circling and there’s profit to be made! If Panionios don’t wish to score goals then that’s ok – there’s plenty of value in laying the under-performing hosts today!

Visitors Iraklis have been superb away from home in the Super League of late. Well, “superb” is probably the wrong word as they’ve lost three out of their last four away games but what I mean is that they’re fighting hard and scoring a hell of a lot of goals for an average side. They’ve notched up nine goals in their last four away games, which is an average of over two goals per game so only their defending is letting them down currently. Iraklis have lost seven out of ten away games in the Super League this season so it’s a risk to back them to avoid defeat here, particularly with such a leaky defence. However, I’ve never seen a Panionios side so goal-shy nor an Iraklis side so potent on the road so I genuinely feel that there’s value in laying the hosts today.

Verdict: Lay Panionios at 5/6.

Catania vs Atalanta Bergamo – home win at evens.

Catania have given themselves a new lease of life of late with an excellent four-match unbeaten run, winning twice and drawing twice. All of their results were credible and/or impressive with wins at home to Parma and away to Lazio and draws at home to Udinese and away to Sampdoria. Catania’s biggest boost at the moment is that they’re just not conceding many goals, which naturally is very useful for a side battling against relegation! Whereas I do not think Catania can maintain this trait for the remainder of the Serie A campaign, the fact remains that they’re in-form at the moment so momentum is strong and belief in their own ability is rising so who am I to go against that? Catania will recognise this game as three points that they need to keep their hopes up and they’ve certainly got enough on their side to see it happen too with just three goals conceded in four Serie A games and six goals scored. Catania have enough to make Atalanta’s trip to Sicily a very tricky one indeed, to be blunt!

Visitors Atalanta Bergamo are not a good travelling side in Serie A. In fact, they’ve lost eight out of twelve away games and average conceding nearly two goals per away game so they should be worried already. I actually rate Atalanta as the better of these two sides but at this stage in the season that kind of observation is somewhat irrelevant. Atalanta broke their run of poor form lately with a narrow win at home to newly-promoted Bari, a result which will have lifted their spirits considerably. However, have lost their last two away games consecutively and have conceded two goals in all three of their last three away games, scoring just twice along the way. Atalanta are a battling side that I respect a lot but if they’re not scoring goals on the road and they’re leaking goals for fun then they’re going to lose far more than they win, which is why they’re in the relegation zone.

I do have a lot of time for Atalanta Bergamo so I’d be lying if I said that I hoped they’d lose this game ’cause I want them to stay up. However, betting has little room for compassion so frankly there’s value in the home win today for an in-form Catania that aren’t conceding goals.

Verdict: Catania to win at evens.

Chievo Verona vs Siena – home win at 3/4.

Chievo Verona have been unconvincing in recent times and risk being dragged into the relegation battle unless they sure up their league placing sooner rather than later. Chievo have only won once in their last five Serie A games but have only lost twice with each defeat being a narrow defeat on the road to sides that are considerably better than they are. At home, Chievo have long been a force as Juventus discovered lately when they were beaten 1-0 here by Chievo. What I like about Chievo is that they rarely concede goals. If they scored more goals then they’d frankly be challenging for a UEFA Europa League spot for next season but they don’t so we have to make do with what is available to us. Chievo have beaten the likes of Palermo, Fiorentina, and Juventus here in recent weeks so I can’t see them struggling against bottom club Siena.

Siena have already lost ten out of eleven away games in Serie A this season and average conceding nearly three goals per away game. They’ve not won in seven games and they’ve lost six of those games so confidence and momentum are virtually non-existant currently. Siena are a battling side but they’re almost relegated already, if only mentally, so it’s becoming harder and harder for them to motivate themselves for games. Siena simply concede far too many goals, so much so that a relatively goal-shy Chievo should even be able to notch up a couple here.

Siena’s form is too bad for me to ignore and frankly the home win is something of a bargain today. Chievo most likely won’t run riot but their sturdy defence and efficient manner should mean that the home win is good value today.

Verdict: Chievo Verona to win at 3/4.

America vs Cruz Azul – home win at 10/11.

Hosts America have had a mixed start to their current campaign with two wins and two defeats in their first four games. However, America have been consistent and reliable at home with both wins coming at home and an average of three goals being scored per game. America are one of the better sides in Mexico and although their dominance has waned in recent times despite continuous financial backing, America remain a very difficult side for teams to play against, particularly away from home, and I believe that their momentum and quality will give them a good chance of taking three points from this game tonight.

Cruz Azul have been poor in the current campaign with just one win in their first four games, losing their last two games consecutively. What has to be worrying Cruz Azul is the fact that they’ve not scored since their opening game against lowly Jaguares in a 1-0 win. They’ve played two home games since then and scored in neither so how they expect to score on the road is frankly beyond me. Cruz Azul have suffered two consecutive 2-0 defeats to Monterrey and Santos Laguna respectively so why that record would change against an America side that they’ve lost their last three meetings with consecutively is beyond me!

America haven’t been superb and Cruz Azul have been poor – that’s the main difference here. There’s not masses of quality difference; it’s just that America are scoring goals and Cruz Azul aren’t. America have head-to-head advantage in recent times and won their last encounter here so there should be value in the home win tonight.

Verdict: America to win at 10/11.

Academica de Coimbra vs Olhanense – home win at 4/5.

Academica de Coimbra are a side I tend to feel rather sorry for. Despite playing good football, their league placing always masks how good they can actually be. A win at Sporting Clube de Lisboa in their last Liga Sagres game should give an insight as to how good they can be although the win itself was a tad fortuitous. Academica have won four out of ten home games in the Liga Sagres so far but are one of the bigger goalscoring sides in the division at home. I don’t personally attribute that to their own ability but to the remainder of the division’s lack of ability but nonetheless – Academica are still a somewhat potent side. Academica have won three out of their last four home games in the Liga Sagres convincingly without even conceding a goal although I’m obviously excluding their defeat to high-flying Sporting Braga from that list! Academica are a very capable side and their home form is beginning to reflect it, happily.

Visitors Olhanense enter this game after a much-needed morale-boosting home win against CD Nacional. However, Olhanense are the kind of side that only takes points at home because they’re predominantly defensively-minded which is why they’re yet to win an away game in the Liga Sagres. To their credit, they’ve only been beaten three times in eight away games in the Liga Sagres but the fact is that they concede more goals than they score so they’re always going to struggle on the road. Olhanense have lost their last two away games consecutively and have conceded nine goals in their last three games, which is an average of three goals conceded per away game. You don’t need me to tell you that this kind of away form is suicidal, particularly against a potent host like Academica de Coimbra so I think Olhanense could struggle today.

We should see a low-scoring game here today but with Academica scoring for fun and Olhanense conceding too many goals, the home win looks straightforward for Academica today.

Verdict: Academica de Coimbra to win at 4/5.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – over 3.5 goals at 5/4.

I don’t think I even need to write a piece about this call! It’s virtually paramount for a Primera Liga season to contain a crazy game between these two sides that sees a game containing over four goals and indeed there has been at least one game per season for the last four seasons where a game between these two sides has boasted four goals or more. Barcelona tend to be on the distributing end because they’re frankly a better side all over the field but Atletico Madrid are a capable side themselves, which usually makes good entertainment overall. This game, however, threatens to be the craziest of all! Atletico Madrid have become worse at defending then I ever thought possible and Barcelona are missing Pique, Marquez, Alves, Chygrynskiy, and Abidal in defence so they’re going to have to attack to take anything from this game! Barcelona are also missing Toure, who is a holding midfielder by nature but has slotted in defence for them before but is unable to do so tonight. Ultimately, we should see an absolute feast of goals between two sides that either cannot or will not defend but love scoring goals so the odds on over 3.5 seem superb to me. It may even be worth sticking your neck out and taking over 4.5 goals at 11/4!

Verdict: Over 3.5 goals at 5/4.

Levante vs Celta de Vigo – home win at 23/20.

Levante have been in terrific form of late and have now won seven out of twelve home games in a bid to return to Primera Liga football. They average scoring 1.5 goals per home game and have now won four out of their last five Segunda Liga games, drawing the other game. Levante only conceded in two of those games and thus have conceded just three goals in their past five games. Levante have won three home games during that run, obtaining rather impressive results against Real Betis Balompie and in-form Villarreal II. Levante’s momentum is very strong at the moment, particularly on the back of a 4-2 win at Cadiz, so they’ve got everything they need to take three points today.

Visitors Celta de Vigo have only lost three out of twelve away games in the Segunda Liga so they’re a tough nut to crack. Their defence tends to be solid which is their only saving grace because they don’t score many goals on the road. However, Celta just don’t win enough games which is why they’re battling against relegation without having a particularly bad away record. Celta have only lost once in five games but they’ve only won once too, hence their problems.

Celta are good enough to keep the majority of the division out but frankly an in-form and potent Levante should have too much for them today and should secure a tight home win.

Verdict: Levante to win at 23/20.

Neuchatel Xamax vs Basel – away win at evens.

Neuchatel Xamax’s first game following their winter break saw them play out a goalless draw at FC Zurich, which is quite a good result despite the lack of form shown by FC Zurich this season. Neuchatel tend to take their points at home as four wins from nine home games indicates. Neuchatel’s most prominent feature, however, is that they score over two goals per home game on average so most sides tend to struggle against them. Neuchatel have played out some great games here with Basel over the years with plenty of goals and mixed outcomes but frankly they’ve always been in the shadow of giants Basel and I expect that to show today.

Basel enter this game with outstanding momentum after their first game back from the winter break saw them crush title rivals Young Boys Bern 4-0. Basel tend to take the vast majority of their points at home but the momentum taken from that game and the potency on show leaves Basel virtually frothing at the lips ahead of their tie with Neuchatel Xamax. Neuchatel Xamax have scored against Basel twice in each of their last four meetings here so Basel will either need to tighten their defence or score more than their opponents today. I suspect a bit of both may be in order but Basel are frankly in the position to do it. Basel annihlated Neuchatel Xamax 4-1 at home earlier this season and have to win this game to keep the pressure on league leaders Young Boys Bern so Basel have all the motivation that they require for this game today.

Although I expect a relatively close game with plenty of goals, the win against Young Boys Bern has produced a new Basel with everything going for them so the away win should prove to be good value today.

Verdict: Basel to win at evens.

Antalyaspor vs Eskisehirspor – home win at 6/5.

Antalyaspor have won five out of nine home games this season in the Super Lig, scoring nearly two goals per game and conceding less than a goal per game. Any side travelling to Antalyaspor knows that they have to be at their best to take anything from the game or the hosts tend to make it count. Antalyaspor’s last home game was a win against Galatasaray in the Turkiye Kupasi, a different tournament admittedly but still a result which shows how good Antalyaspor can be at home. Antalyaspor have since played two away games and put in good performances in each by scoring two goals in each game, drawing once and losing once. Antalyaspor aren’t short of scoring goals but they need to sort their defence out in order for them to claim wins instead of draws/defeats. However, Antalyaspor have proven that they’re an accomplished side at home in both defence and attack so they’ve got a good chance of winning today’s game.

Visitors Eskisehirspor have only lost three away games in nine in the Super Lig this season but have only won once too. They appear to have mastered the ability of keeping sides out but still find goalscoring a puzzling option when playing on the road. However, they were brought back down to earth with a bang lately when Bursaspor drummed three goals past them in the Super Lig just to remind Eskisehirspor that they have to remain on their toes or even their defensive prowess can let them down. Eskisehirspor much prefer their home games as that’s where they take the majority of their points but unfortunately they don’t have the luxury of the choice today. Eskisehirspor lost this fixture against Antalyaspor back in December in the Turkiye Kupasi and I can see a similar 1-0 result emerging from this encounter with Eskisehirspor appearing to be inept when it comes to dealing with good sides away from home.

Eskisehirspor have only taken a point from their last three visits to Antalyaspor so the hosts know how to beat them already. Momentum favours the hosts marginally and although this should be a tight game, there’s enough favouring Antalyaspor for them to win this game today.

Verdict: Antalyaspor to win at 6/5.

Accumulator fodder:

Boca Juniors, Sturm Graz, Omonia Nicosia, IFK Mariehamn, Panathinaikos, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Braga, Beira-Mar, Getafe, Kayserispor, Fenerbahce, Llanelli.

As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!

Argentinian Primera Division:

Independiente vs Estudiantes De La Plata (6) 1-1
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Velez Sarsfeld (6) 0-1
Boca Juniors vs Atletico Tucuman (8) 3-1
Colon de Santa Fe vs River Plate (6) 2-1

Australian A-League:

Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory (6) 2-1

Austrian Bundesliga:

Austria Karnten vs Sturm Graz (8) 0-2

Belgian Eerste Klasse:

Standard de Liege vs Westerlo (5) 1-0
AA Gent vs Club Brugge (6) 1-1

Belgian Tweede Klasse:

Boussu Dour Borinage vs OH Leuven (7)
Tienen vs Red Star Waasland (6)

Colombian Primera A:

Cortulua vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (7) 0-1
Real Cartagena vs Atletico Huila (7) 2-1
Deportivo Pereira vs Once Caldas Manizales (8) 1-0
La Equidad Bogota vs Cucuta Deportivo (6) 1-0
America de Cali vs Independiente Medellin (6) 1-1

Cypriot Division 1:

Ethnikos Achnas vs Anorthosis Famagusta (6) over 2.5 goals
Omonia Nicosia vs Enosis Neon Paralimni (9) -1.75 handicap

Ecadorian Primera A:

Espoli vs Emelec Guayaquil (5) 0-1

English FA Cup:

Bolton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur (7) 1-1
Fulham vs Notts County (7) 2-0
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa (3) 1-0

Finnish Liiga Cup:

IFK Mariehamn vs FC Lahti (8) 2-1

French Ligue 1:

Auxerre vs Stade Rennais (6) 0-1
Lorient vs Toulouse (6) 2-1
Girondins de Bordeaux vs Saint-Etienne (7) 2-0

German Bundesliga: 

Schalke 04 vs Koln (7) 1-0
Eintracht Frankfurt vs SC Freiburg (7) 2-1

German Bundesliga 2:

Greuther Furth vs 1860 Munich (7)
Koblenz vs Hansa Rostock (5)
Augsburg vs Fortuna Dusseldorf (7) under 2.5 goals

Greek Super League:

Levadiakos vs Atromitos (6) 1-1
Panionios vs Iraklis (6) 1-1
Aris Salonika vs Ergotelis (5) 0-0
Panathinaikos vs Kavala (9) under 2.5 goals
Asteras Tripolis vs Olympiakos Piraeus (7) 1-2

Greek B Ethniki:

Ethnikos Piraeus vs Aigaelo Athens (6)
Ionikos Nikaias vs Ilioupoli (6)
Kalamata vs Diagoras Rodos (6)
Olympiakos Volos vs Pierikos Katerini (8)
Panserraikos vs OFI Crete (6)
Rhodos vs Ethnikos Asteras (5)
Thrasivoulos vs Panaitolikos Agrinio (7)

Italian Serie A:

Catania vs Atalanta Bergamo (6) 1-0
Cagliari vs Bari (7) over 2.5 goals
Livorno vs Bologna (6) 0-0
Juventus vs Genoa (4) 1-1
Parma vs Lazio (7) under 2.5 goals
Chievo Verona vs Siena (7) under 2.5 goals
SSC Napoli vs Internazionale (5) 1-0

Mexican Primera Division:

Pumas UNAM vs Estudiantes Tecos (7) 2-1
Puebla vs Pachuca (6) over 2.5 goals
America vs Cruz Azul (7) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Monterrey vs Tigres UANL (6) 1-0

Dutch Eredivisie:

Utrecht vs Feyenoord Rotterdam (6) 0-0
Heracles Almelo vs PSV Eindhoven (8) 0-1
Sparta Rotterdam vs VVV Venlo (5) 1-1
Groningen vs RKC Waalwijk (8) 2-0

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

CD Nacional vs Rio Ave (5) 1-0
Academica de Coimbra vs Olhanense (7) 1-0
Uniao de Leiria vs Vitoria Setubal (7) 1-1
Sporting Braga vs Maritimo Funchal (8) 2-0