FC Poli Timisoara vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam
FreeToday’s featured game is the UEFA Europa League game in Romania between FC Poli Timisoara and AFC Ajax Amsterdam of Holland. Romania has been the graveyard of many big sides lately and Ajax are the latest side to try their hand at taking on this compact side.
Poli Timisoara are a tough side for any opponent, either in European football or Romanian football. They play a compact style of football that basically involves them scoring on the counter-attack more often than not and preventing other sides from scoring goals. This exact set of tactics were the reason that Poli Timisoara earned a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam a couple of months ago and they’ll no doubt employ the same tactics tonight as they attempt to salvage a little pride as they’ve already “unofficially” crashed out of the UEFA Europa League.
Ajax know that they’re all but through barring a couple of miraculous displays from Croatians Dinamo Zagreb so they’re not exactly going to be bursting blood vessels to win this encounter. Ajax’s free-flowing, easy-on-the-eye football hasn’t really worked in Europe yet this year with the Dutch side having scored five goals in just four games. A draw here would be something they’d take, in my opinion, because it’s a tough away game and they don’t have any particular motivation to win it either.
Basically, I’m expecting a committed performance from Poli Timisoara and a half-arsed performance from Ajax. Poli Timisoara always work hard in their games and emerging unbeaten from two games with Ajax would be a fine feather in their caps whereas Ajax won’t be overly concerned by this game.
Verdict: Lay AFC Ajax Amsterdam at evens.
Wednesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
BATE Borisov vs SL Benfica – lay SL Benfica at 10/11.
Belarus is a tough place to go, particularly when facing reigning champions BATE Borisov, as every side that’s ever gone there has found out in recent years. Everton came here and were fortunate to win 2-1 whereas AEK Athens came here and lost. BATE Borisov have caused big problems for Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg in recent times so a game with Portuguese giants SL Benfica won’t exactly daunt them.
SL Benfica are a fantastic attacking side and boast their best squad for years, in my opinion. However, they do suffer from horrendous away form in Europe. They managed to somehow lose to a very poor AEK Athens side and defensive and average Vorskla Poltava in European competition this year. True, they won at Everton lately but Everton were massively under-strength due to injuries. It seems to me that SL Benfica struggle to cope in intimidating atmospheres, which is odd considering their own league has its fair share of those, but particularly trips to Eastern Europe seem to damage them mentally.
BATE Borisov have to win this game to have any hope of qualification so they’ll be trying even harder than normal, if indeed possible! SL Benfica don’t need anything from this game as they’ll easily overcome AEK Athens in their final game at home so I can’ t see them turning up with all guns blazing tonight.
Verdict: Lay SL Benfica at 10/11.
Celtic vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv – lay Celtic at 10/11.
Although Celtic drew at Hamburger SV in their last UEFA Europa League, a result I take my hat off too, they were facing a depleted side and were playing their favourite defensive football which leads to their counter-attacks. Celtic cannot attack a European side and succeed because they’re just not good enough at it! They don’t have the players to do it which is why they’ve not won any of their home games in Europe this season! To make matters worse for the Scots, Celtic simply have to win this game which puts additional pressure on a side that isn’t good enough to handle it already.
Parkhead used to be a feared ground but I honestly can’t see Hapoel Tel-Aviv approaching this game with any kind of fear. Indeed, they’ve surprised me greatly with two tremendous wins against Rapid Vienna of Austria in this group, as well as putting up a very spirited display in Germany against Hamburger SV and overcoming Celtic 2-1 in Israel despite trailing. I don’t rate Hapoel Tel-Aviv greatly but their fearless attacking football and ruthlessness is really going to cause goal-shy and nervy Celtic a lot of problems, in my opinion. A draw here would see Hapoel Tel-Aviv through as I can’t see Rapid Vienna winning at Hamburger SV so they’re not going to be attacking Celtic but they will be exposing them on the counter-attack.
Overall, I just don’t believe Celtic are capable of doing the necessary damage to their Israeli opponents tonight and I feel that the visitors have a very genuine chance of taking all three points against a side that I can’t honestly say are good enough to face them anymore.
Verdict: Lay Celtic at 10/11.
Hamburger SV vs Rapid Vienna – lay Hamburger SV at 6/4.
Hamburger SV’s injury-ravaged squad strikes again as they have now played six games without a win in all competitions. Hamburger’s confidence and momentum has taken a hefty blow because of their injured players and it appears to have started the rot in the German club. Hamburger will no doubt recall the 3-0 thrashing they suffered in Austria a couple of months ago against tonight’s opponents and I think they’re going to be just a tad afraid of what is really a very good opponent. A win would see Hamburger SV qualify for the latter stages of this competition but I’m not convinced that they have the firepower to do the damage, frankly.
Rapid Vienna have been playing well lately with two wins against title rivals Austria Vienna and Sturm Graz whilst drawing with reigning champions Salzburg, so they do enter this game with considerable momentum. Back-to-back defeats against Hapoel Tel-Aviv will have hurt them mentally and now leaves them needing a win in this game – a draw most likely won’t be enough for them. However, they’ve already proven that they’re capable of beating Hamburger SV and should be able to do so tonight given that their opponents have issues with their injuries at the moment. This will certainly not be an easy game for Rapid Vienna but they’ve got everything that they need to really make a stand here tonight.
Although I’d love to see Rapid Vienna win this game, I can’t see them doing so. However, I do feel that they’ll get a draw because Hamburger SV are missing so many players and are well out of form so the opportunity is certainly there for the Austrian visitors tonight.
Verdict: Lay Hamburger SV at 6/4.
Deportivo Xerez vs Barcelona – Deportivo Xerez +2.75 goal handicap at evens.
Deportivo Xerez may be bottom of the Primera Liga but is it just me who thinks that they’re starting to play better football? I mean, consider the fact that only Deportivo La Coruna have beaten them on their own turf by more than two goals. Atypically, that record wouldn’t be an impressive record but Xerez entered this season with thirteen players and no manager so I think they deserve some respect here. If you take away their heavy defeat at Getafe last match, Xerez have only conceded one goal in three games, which is very good indeed. Xerez have even started scoring the odd goal and usually at awkward times too!
Barcelona are a phenomenal side, no questions asked. However, they’re not playing quite like they could or should be currently as we see them uncharacteristically grinding out home wins or drawing away from home. Barcelona have now drawn their last four away games in all competitions against Athletic Club de Bilbao, Osasuna, Rubin Kazan, and Valencia, only one of which I can accept from such a talented side. Barcelona aren’t scoring many away from home, basically, and that’s really starting to handicap them. Xerez are up against it to score a rare goal but they may not need to for my bet to come in if Barcelona continue their trait of scoring one or zero goals on the road.
Although I thoroughly expect Barcelona to win this game and wouldn’t be surprised if they did break goalscoring records doing so, I’m not seeing anything in their recent play to suggest that they’ll walk this game or win it convincingly. With that in mind, giving Xerez a +2.75 goal head start could prove to be a good call tonigh.
Verdict: Deportivo Xerez to win with a +2.75 goal handicap at evens.
Lastly, if none of the above bets take your fancy then why not try your hand at a 5-team accumulator of home wins in Slovenia today? The odds are 10/1 so give it some thought!
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Europa League:
Salzburg vs Lazio (7) 1-1
Levski Sofia vs Villarreal (8) 0-2
Sheriff Tiraspol vs Steaua Bucharest (5) 1-1
Twente Enschede vs Fenerbahce (6) 1-1
BATE Borisov vs SL Benfica (4) 2-1, draw no bet
AEK Athens vs Everton (7) 0-1
FC Poli Timisoara vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (8) 0-0
Anderlecht vs Dinamo Zagreb (6) 1-1
Valencia CF vs LOSC Lille (7) 1-0
Slavia Prague vs Genoa (6) 1-2
Celtic vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv (4) 1-2
Hamburger SV vs Rapid Vienna (6) 1-1
Copa Nissan Sudamericana:
Fluminense vs Liga de Quito (8) 2-1
English League Two:
Chesterfield vs Crewe Alexandra (8)
English League Cup:
Manchester City vs Arsenal (5) 1-1
Blackburn Rovers vs Chelsea (7) 0-1
French Ligue 1
Boulogne vs Paris Saint-Germain (7) 0-1
Greek Super League:
Ergotelis vs Larissa (6) 1-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Koper vs Interblock Ljubljana (8) 2-1
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Rudar Velenje (7) 1-0
Maribor vs Nafta Lendava (8) 2-0
Domzale vs Gorica (7) 2-1
Celje vs Drava (8) 1-0
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo Xerez vs Barcelona (8) 1-2
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Real Betis Balompie vs Villarreal II (7)
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 3:
Barcelona II vs Alicante (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!