Club Brugge vs Lokeren
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Belgian Eerste Klasse game between heavyweights Club Brugge and under-achieving Lokeren.
Club Brugge started life under German boss Daum rather well, grinding out 1-0 wins and lending a lit of clarity and composure to a side that usually has none. However, the honeymoon was soon over on a tough trip to Brussels to take on Anderlecht as their bitter rivals ripped them apart in a 3-0 win. Club Brugge heads dropped, as we’ve seen so many times before, and subsequently they lost at home to Mechelen last match in typical Club Brugge fashion. Put a side that defends with eleven men against Club Brugge and the blue-and-blacks will rarely break them down, as good as they are. Mechelen were opportunists; they took their chance and held onto it but hey, that’s what works against Club Brugge so why not? Mechelen are notoriously bad away from home in Belgium but they won at Club Brugge because they’re predictable hosts; they don’t have a “Plan B”. Although boasting some very good players, Club Brugge have a lot of work to do and new boss Daum knows it, especially with midfield options running a little low now that powerhouse Odjidja is joining long-term casualty Blondel on the sidelines for this game. People keep telling me how good these two new signings are for Club Brugge – that’s great, but they won’t resolve the issues that Club Brugge have mentally or tactically so until I see them improve with my own eyes, I can’t take them seriously in difficult home games like this.
Lokeren have played far better on the road than they have at home this season, which I suppose we could attribute to their fans being more forgiving if they don’t score on the road than they would be seeing their side failing to score at home. It’s a strange one, though – it’s not as though Lokeren don’t have the firepower because they absolutely do. Something just hasn’t been clicking in the Lokeren camp this season – until now. Maes’ team claimed 1-1 draw at OH Leuven during their first game back from the winter break. They promptly followed that with a heroic 3-3 draw at Racing Genk in the Belgian Cup to progress to the next round and then followed that with a 2-0 win against relegation battlers Lierse SK. I’m not too concerned about the fact that Genk were poor in their game or that Lierse are injury-struck/not a good side anyway. What interests me the most is that Lokeren are improving as they seek to find the level that they’ve been at for the past couple of years and those results give them tremendous momentum to take into this game. Give these strikers confidence and they all can score goals so why not here? Club Brugge look a little fragile right now and Lokeren tend to give them a good game at the Jan Breydelstadion so I fancy them to do well here.
It’s obviously not a banker but I do like the odds on Lokeren here. I think they’re more than capable of springing a shock and if they do somehow lose this game then it should be a 1-0 in typical Daum fashion, which would result in your stake being returned. With that in mind, giving Lokeren a +1 Asian Handicap looks very appealing at 10/11, especially with only regular goalkeeper Barry absent.
Verdict: Lokeren to win with a +1 Asian Handicap at 10/11.
Wednesday’s Picks
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!
African Nations:
Libya vs Zambia (7) 0-1
Equatorial Guinea vs Senegal (4) 1-1
International Friendlies:
Panama vs USA (4) 1-1
Mexico vs Venezuela (7) 2-1
Copa Libertadores:
Union Espanola vs Tigres UANL (7) 2-1
Real Potosi vs Flamengo (5) 1-0
Internacional vs Once Caldas Manizales (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Australian A-League:
Adelaide United vs Newcastle Jets (7) 2-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Club Brugge vs Lokeren (4) 1-1
Sint-Truiden vs Westerlo (5) 1-0
Zulte-Waregem vs Germinal Beerschot (7) 2-0
OH Leuven vs Kortrijk (5) 1-1
Mechelen vs Racing Genk (6) 1-1
Lierse SK vs Cercle Brugge (5) 0-0
English League Cup:
Liverpool vs Manchester City (6) 1-1
Greek Super League:
Doxa Dramas vs Asteras Tripolis (4) 2-1
Panathinaikos vs Levadiakos (6) 1-0
Turkish Super Lig:
Genclerbirligi vs Bursaspor (6) 0-0
Istanbul BB vs Fenerbahce (4) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Orduspor vs Karabukspor (6) 2-1
Trabzonspor vs Eskisehirspor (6) 1-0
Galatasaray vs Ankaragucu (9) -1.5 handicap
Enjoy your free betting tips!