Helsingborgs vs BK Hacken Goteborg
FreeToday’s featured game is the Allsvenskan game between giants Helsingborgs and their bogey side BK Hacken Goteborg. The visitors today won this fixture last week 2-1, which prolonged Helsingborgs’ run without winning at Hacken to seven games, bizarrely enough. Helsingborgs are by far the better side but they rarely show it against Hacken.
However, today is the day for them to do so if they have any intentions of winning the Allsvenskan. They’ve won seven out of seven at home this season whilst averaging scoring nearly two goals per game. They barely concede at home as they tend to enjoy controlling games against Allsvenskan opponents on their own turf and they’d love to do the same today as they absolutely loathe playing BK Hacken Goteborg. Nobody has conceded as few goals this season as Helsingborgs have so they’ve got their best chance yet to do damage to Hacken. They managed to beat Hacken here 2-1 earlier this month in the Svenska Cupen but haven’t impressed me greatly since the mid-season break. Nonetheless, they’re top of the table for a reason at the moment and if they’re serious about winning it then it’s time to win today.
Visitors Hacken love to upset the odds against Helsingborgs. I’m not sure why they do it so consistently against one of the giants of Swedish football but they love to be hard to beat. Not that Hacken aren’t a good side – they are – but they’re nowhere near the level of Helsingborgs currently. Hacken are a tough nut to crack on the road but they don’t tend to score enough goals to be a constant force. Nonetheless, just three defeats in seven away games for Hacken this season makes them a tough side to play against, as does their record of nine goals conceded in just seven away games. I do rate Hacken; they’re a side not to underestimate at the best of times. Are they good enough to win here? Not really and yet they always seem to be able to do so at will. I think it’s fair to label Hacken as a “frustrating” side but one thing should be fairly guaranteed today is that they put up a big fight so I won’t write them off here.
Some statistics that may interest you – Hacken’s last three wins/losses in the Allsvenskan have been by a single goal every time and Helsingborgs’ last seven out of their last eight wins/losses have been by a single goal. Six out of Helsingborgs’ seven home wins this season have been won by a single goal and the last three meetings between these two clubs have ended with a single goal difference. Four out of the last five games played between these two sides in Helsingborgs have resulted in a single goal difference so to be honest, this bet looks too good to be true. I’m not confident who will win this game at all but I really like the idea of either side winning the game at an interesting 7/5.
Verdict: Either side to win by a single goal at 7/5.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
OB Odense vs Randers – home win at 13/20.
I really don’t rate OB Odense as highly as the bookies do but they are efficient, particularly at home, and particularly if Cameroonian midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba is in their side. I actually rate Randers as a better footballing side and think they’d have a great chance to do serious damage to OB today but as Randers are hosting Lausanne Sports in the UEFA Europa League in just two days time, I can only envision Randers resting players here so we’ll have to wait for the reversal of the fixture to see the real Randers. The Superligaen have really pissed all over Randers with their fixture list here. I understand that Randers are at home to Lausanne and to be frank, they shouldn’t have any problems overcoming the Swiss outfit. However, to make them play on a monday night before a game on wednesday is ludicrous – it reminds me of the English FA, who are absolutely tosh! Randers won here during their glory period towards the end of last season and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see it happen again if Randers were able to fully focus on this game but the fact is that they can’t so I’m going to choose to look at OB’s record of three consecutive home wins against Randers prior to that and back the hosts today. As I said above – don’t make the mistake of thinking OB are the better side here because in my eyes – they’re not. However, Randers don’t have the strength in-depth to trouble OB today so the odds on the hosts could be shorter than they actually are at the moment.
Verdict: OB Odense to win at 13/20.
Victoria Branesti vs Gaz Metan Medias – away win at 12/5.
I can’t understand why Branesti are favourites to win this game at all, really. They’re hideously under-prepared for the Romanian Liga following their promotion last season! They won’t have the home advantage as their ground isn’t suitable so their games will be played in Buzau instead. They’ve not brought in good enough players to cope in the division and there’s a generally huge level of inexperience all over the club, both on and off the field. I cannot envision this side doing anything but getting relegated this season because they’re not good enough to be here. I’ll admit Gaz Metan are far from great travellers but they’re at the very least a competent and well-organised side and should be able to grind out a win here with relative ease. A draw is a possibility here but there’s far too much value on the away win for the superior side here for me to ignore.
Verdict: Gaz Metan Medias to win at 12/5.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below!
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Hradec Kralove vs Bohemians 1905 (6) 1-1
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense vs Randers (7) 2-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
JJK Jyvaskyla vs Tampere United (5) 1-1
VPS Vaasa vs IFK Mariehamn (5) 1-2, draw no bet
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
Keflavik vs UMF Grindavik (6) 1-0
Irish Premier League:
Shamrock Rovers vs UCD (5) 1-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Honefoss vs Lillestrom (7) 1-1
Romanian Liga:
Targu Mures vs Brasov (6) 0-0
Victoria Branesti vs Gaz Metan Medias (5) 0-1
Singaporean S-League:
Balestier Khalsa vs Albirex Niigata (5) 1-1
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Helsingborgs vs BK Hacken Goteborg (6) 1-0
Orebro vs Elfsborg Boras (6) 1-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Aarau vs Locarno (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!