FH Hafnarfjordur vs Breidablik Kopavogur
FreeFor the number of games today, this is a real shocker betting-wise. There’s not much I like at all today so good luck if you do try your hand.
Today’s featured game is the Icelandic Super Cup Final between FH Hafnarfjordur and Breidablik Kopavogur. FH are the biggest and best side in the country and have been for some years. Breidablik are generally a mid-table side but some heavy investment last season and over the winter break has improved their status in Iceland.
FH Hafnarfjordur have won five Landsbankadeild Karla trophies since 2004, making them the most successful side in Iceland. Since then, they’ve also won one Icelandic Cup, five Icelandic League Cups, and three Icelandic Super Cups. Basically, don’t underestimate what is effectively the best side in Icelandic football currently. They’re used to playing at Laugardalsvollur as they’re in the Super Cup virtually every year as it is so this is virtually a second home for them. FH have emphasised their superiority over Breidablik in recent times irrespective of their opponents’ cash flow with three consecutive wins both home and away against today’s opponents so they’re still very much the dominant force in this country. FH are one of the few sides in Iceland that has consistent European experience but that also adds to their overall level of ability as well as enabling them to increase that level ability due to a bigger cashflow. With the above in mind, it’s not difficult to see just why FH are favourites to win this one today.
Breidablik Kopavogur are a side that is likely to compete more for the likes of the Landsbankadeild Karla in future (if their supposed investment continues) so will have to get used to occasions like this. However, aside from in home games against FH, Breidablik tend to be outclassed and outscored for the majority of the occasions that the two sides meet. Breidablik are a tricky side to play against for the majority of the division but FH should be able to win this one quite comfortably. I mean, the only reason Breidablik are here is because they won the VISA Bikar Karla last year after a very easy run and a nervy penalty shootout victory over Valur Reykjavik. They’re on their way to success, but aren’t there yet, to be blunt. I wouldn’t underestimate them this season but I don’t expect them to do anything today.
The predominant reason that the FH victory today is my featured game is because the odds don’t reflect the superiority of FH anywhere near as much as they should. FH are generally about 1/4 or 1/5 to win a home game in this division and this is virtually a second home for them so FH to win this one at 3/5 is a real bargain. I think that the bookies have stuck tentative odds on this outcome as a means of a “feeler” selection; to see how the land lies, basically. However, I think they’ve made a mistake here – FH really should walk this and should be a lot shorter to win this game.
P.S. Thank fuck the Icelandic competitions are back, eh Marz!
Verdict: FH Hafnarfjordur to win at 3/5.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Levadia Tallinn vs Suduva Marijampole – away win at 11/8.
It’s always hard to write previews about the Baltic League because there’s not an awful lot to write. The competition hasn’t been going for too long and none of the sides in it prioritise it, per se. However, I’ve decided to bet on the away win today because of the simple quality difference. Although the Estonian Meistriliiga is improving all the time, they’re still some distance behind the Latvian Virsliga and the Lithuanian A Lyga – that’s just the way it is. As a result, Levadia are the underdogs here despite claiming a useful 0-0 draw in Lithuania in the first leg of this tie. However, what I would say about that game is that it was played with the A Lyga having only just began and Suduva hadn’t really got into their stride whereas Levadia had played considerably more games in the Meistriliiga by that point. Suduva have been playing in the A Lyga for much longer now and look better for it, winning their last two away games in that competition successively without conceding a goal and whilst scoring six times. Levadia Tallinn, however, have looked less potent of late and seem to be ending up with more 0-0 outcomes than you’d expect from them so there’s a bit of a clash of form here. Don’t get me wrong – there really isn’t masses between these two sides but Suduva are definitely the superior of the two sides and I basically expect it to show today, hence the selection. The bookies have been too generous with this outcome, in my opinion, so the away win should be a good value bet today although approach with low stakes due to the ever-closing gap between Lithuanian and Estonian football.
Verdict: Suduva Marijampole to win at 11/8.
Accumulator fodder:
Sao Paulo, Fehervar, Debreceni VSC, Etoile, Barcelona.
Recommended bets:
FH Hafnarfjordur, Barcelona, Fehervar, and Debreceni VSC at 3/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Copa Libertadores:
Sao Paulo vs Universitario Lima (9) 2-0
Velez Sarsfield vs Guadalajara (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Baltic League:
Levadia Tallinn vs Suduva Marijampole (6) under 2.5 goals
Skonto Riga vs Liepajas Metalurgs (6) 1-0
Austrian Bundesliga:
SV Kapfenberg vs Salzburg (7) 1-2
Austrian Liga 1:
Austria Vienna II vs Lustenau (5)
St.Polten vs Admira Wacker (6)
Austria Lustenau vs Wacker Innsbruck (4)
Dornbirn vs SCR Altach (7)
First Vienna vs Gratkorn (5)
Hartberg vs Salzburg II (5) over 2.5 goals
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Sillamae Kalev vs Trans Narva (6) 2-2
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
NSI Runavik vs AB Argir (5) 1-0
French Ligue 2:
Nantes vs AC Ajaccio (6) under 2.5 goals
Laval vs Stade Malherbe de Caen (7)
Dijon FCO vs Sedan-Ardennes (5) over 2.5 goals
Guingamp vs Strasbourg (5)
Istres vs Tours (5)
Bastia vs Vannes OC (6)
Chateauroux vs Arles (7)
Nimes vs Brest (6)
Le Havre vs Clermont Foot (7)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Fehervar vs MTK Budapest (8) 2-1
Debreceni VSC vs Vasas Budapest (8) over 2.5 goals
Gyori ETO FC vs Ferencvaros (6) 1-1
Icelandic Super Cup:
FH Hafnarfjordur vs Breidablik Kopavogur (8) over 2.5 goals
Irish Premier League:
Galway United vs Sligo Rovers (5) 2-1
Sporting Fingal vs Bray Wanderers (7) under 2.5 goals
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Lyn Oslo vs Sogndal (5) both sides to score
Scottish Premier League:
Celtic vs Rangers (6) 1-1
Singaporean S-League:
Etoile vs Beijing Guoan (8) 2-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Maribor vs Celje (6) 2-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Getafe vs Sporting Gijon (7) 2-1
Barcelona vs Tenerife (10) -1.75 handicap
Almeria vs Villarreal (6) 1-1
Valencia CF vs Deportivo Xerez (7) 2-1
Swedish Superettan:
Assyriska Sodertalje vs Hammarby (6) over 2.5 goals
Brage vs Osters (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!