IFK Norrkoping vs Helsingborg
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Allsvenskan clash between newly-promoted IFK Norrkoping and giants Helsingborg.
First of all, I don’t rate IFK Norrkoping highly at all. Some newly-promoted sides bring players too good to be in their team and tend to allow those players to carry the team in a hope that it’ll keep them in the division. However, IFK don’t bring anyone into the Allsvenskan that I deem as a particularly good player, which is perhaps harsh but I stand by it nonetheless. What they do have is a lot of hard-working players and that does stand them in good stead against opponents that are demoralised or that don’t show up. However, they’re simply not a very good side and the goals they concede tend to reflect that. I mean, just look at the table – only Trelleborg have conceded more goals than IFK have this season and we all know Trelleborg are more than good enough to stay up so what does that say for the hosts?
There’s no such thing as an easy away win in Scandinavia, however; there’s always risks. That said, if anyone can do it then it’s Helsingborg right now. They’ve had the most productive week of football ever despite drawing 1-1 at home to potent GAIS Goteborg on monday. They’ve since watched rivals IFK Goteborg be drubbed 0-4 at home by Djurgarden, Elfsborg Boras slipping up at Gefle, and have been awarded three points and a 0-3 win from their postponed game at Malmo FF as per the Swedish Football Association due to Malmo FF fans behaving like animals. Those three points amusingly puts Helsingborg top of the league without even playing a game! Helsingborg still don’t score enough goals away from home for me to be 100% confident in them winning games like this but they are the best side in Sweden right now and thus they have a good chance here, hence three wins from five Allsvenskan away games already this season.
Absentee-wise, the only new loss is set piece specialist Ajdarevic for the hosts, which is a sizable blow. If in doubt, IFK can always fall back on their set pieces but without him in their ranks, I’m not sure their delivery will be up to much. Helsingborg are pretty much at full-strength and have more than enough firepower to exploit this dubious IFK defence today. For me, there’s value in the away win at evens.
Team news – IFK Norrkoping miss Ajdarevic, Tamm, Tankovic, Mwafulirwa, Westberg, and Hassan whereas Helsingborg miss Patronen and Berholtz.
Verdict: Helsingborg to win at evens.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Gomel vs Dinamo Minsk – home win with draw no bet at 9/10.
We had some fun going against Dinamo Minsk in the Minsk derby last weekend so let’s see if our luck holds here. As I mentioned at the time, Dinamo Minsk are still a rather new team in terms of all the players in their squad that were signed pre-season to replace the mass exodus of departing players. Subsequently, the only midfielder that still starts every game for them that was here last season is Dragun and he’s away with Belarus U21 in Denmark. Indeed, so is battler Perepovich from midfielder, too, which leaves a big hole in the middle of the park, especially with so many unfamiliar players there. Additionally, their two defensive rocks – Veretilo and Politevich – are away with Belarus U21 too and considering that Kovel and Hleb can’t score for shit right now, I’m more than happy to oppose the disjointed and unconvincing visitors today. Gomel themselves have stopped scoring goals as they attempt to emulate Belshina Bobriusk’s heroics int he Vysshaya Liga last season by frustrating the hell out of everyone that they face but Gomel definitely do have the capability to score against a weak Dinamo Minsk defence today, especially with experienced Zuev leading the line. As long as Strasevich produces the goods on the wing then I think taking Gomel with draw no bet cover is a bargain at 9/10.
Team news – Dinamo Minsk miss Dragun, Veretilo, Politevich, Perepechko, and Yasinski.
Verdict: Gomel to win with draw no bet at 9/10.
Jaro Pietarsaari vs MyPa Anjalankoski – home win at 6/5.
The odds on the home win look a bit generous today, in my view. You can look at Jaro’s recent form and say that three losses and one draw from their past four games is bad form and I’d agree – it obviously is. However, what I’d counter that fact with is that they’ve faced two tough away games – IFK Mariehamn and FC Honka Espoo respectively – and two tough home games – Inter Turku and JJK Jyvaskyla respectively. Eremenko may well be a genius manager but he can’t magic quality players out of thin air and it cannot be ignored that the hosts really are somewhat short on abilty in most areas of the park. They’re fortunate to have a great strike pairing in Zeze and Niang because without them, they’d really struggle. However, Jaro do have those hitmen and they’re bloody good strikers so I’d never write Jaro off from a game with those two available, even with an alarming lack of depth in their squad. Jaro are a capable enough side and they’re still better than MyPa, irrespective of their depth!
MyPa finally won at home to VPS Vaasa a few days ago thanks to a sublime free-kick from Kukka but to be honest, it was the usual MyPa display. They fought hard but produced little due to a severe lack of quality in their team. Their only strength remains defending and to be honest, they’re not particularly good at that. I’ll admit that MyPa will have at least gained some confidence from a frankly essential three points earned during their last match and that does make the under 2.5 goals call at evens very tempting indeed. However, I can never rule out MyPa capitulating at somepoint and Jaro pressurise sides enough to make it happen so I’ll give that one a miss here.
However, I am sticking with the home win. It’s not a banker, obviously – neither side is brilliant and neither side has any great momentum here. However, Jaro are a better team with a better manager and strikers that are easily two or three times better than MyPa’s. I think Jaro will produce enough in what should be a scrappy game in order for them to edge it 1-0 or possibly 2-0. I don’t envision MyPa scoring here unless Okkonen is awarded a penalty or they bury another excellent free-kick because they just don’t have a goal threat. Given that MyPa have already lost three out of their four away games this season and that they’ve lost their last three trips to Pietarsaari in all competitions, the home win does interest me here.
Verdict: Jaro Pietarsaari to win at 6/5.
RoPS Rovaniemi vs VPS Vaasa – under 2.5 goals at 9/10.
There’s no such thing as an easy under 2.5 goals call in the Veikkausliiga but if there ever were to be one, then this would be it.
RoPS are finally showing their true colours as their battling spirit begins to lose a bit of potency and they start to look human again. RoPS are back to not scoring goals, which is precisely how they should have started their season. You wouldn’t believe how many goals the northern Finland side scored from goalmouth scrambles and set pieces! They seriously lack potency in front of goal and even failed to score in their last home game against KuPS Kuopio despite having the lion’s share of the chances. RoPS have now scored twice in four games and one of those was because HJK had scored numerous times against them and allowed a defensive lapse in the last minute, allowing Lahtinen a free header from six yards. RoPS work hard and they’re well-organised but in front of goal, this side is rarely a threat.
VPS Vaasa are the average mid-table side. They’re sort of like what RoPS aspire to be, really – impossible to beat at home and a pain to play against in general. VPS were unlucky to lose at MyPa last match as the game should really have ended in a draw but that’s the way luck goes sometimes. VPS can take heart from their rather consistent displays over the past few weeks, however, as they’re starting to defend solidly again. They still lack a good striker and there’s no surprise in that given that they sold their best two strikers pre-season. However, given the squad available to him, Pikkarainen has done well so far and I expect the same spirited VPS display today.
RoPS’ inability to score and VPS’ ability to go under 2.5 goals (six out of their last seven Veikkausliiga games have gone under 2.5 goals!) makes this look a low-scoring affair to me. Still, this is Finland – nothing is impossible! However, I can only see value when I see under 2.5 goals priced at 9/10 between two low-scoring sides.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 9/10.
PS Kemi Kings vs PoPa Pori – over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
This tip largely follows the others regarding PoPa Pori in the sense that they’re still missing key defenders. They have Viljanen back today, unfortunately, but Aijala and Pihlaisen are still out and that’s half their defence still missing. PoPa are a much better side than the table suggests and hopefully we’ll be able to capitalise on that when their defence does return because PoPa are dangerous in front of goal, hence their 1-2 win at Jippo Joensuu last match. Indeed, Dema and Fofana are midfielders that are of a better quality than the Ykkonen deserves and PoPa will capitalise more on that as the season goes on. PoPa realistically could win this game today if the afore-mentioned duo show up but you won’t find me putting money on that – they’re still too unpredictable from a 1×2 perspective. However, Kemi Kings can contribute to what should hopefully be a bit of a goalscoring frenzy here with midfielders Stevens and Tyystala in good form. Adriano and Huusko need to do more up front but Kemi Kings still have a decent side here. Their games tend to go under 2.5 goals as their defence can usually keep sides out but PoPa are a hard side to keep out – they’ve bagged four goals in their last three games – so I think we’ll see this one going over 2.5 goals today.
Team news – PoPa Pori miss Aijala, Pihlaisen, and Multanen.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Haugesund vs Start Kristiansand – home win at 9/10.
Haugesund are strong at home; Start are crap away – that’s my foundation here! Haugesund have special powers of survival when it comes to not losing at home – I just don’t know how they do it. They don’t have many “stars” as I would call them but they still score a lot of goals at home and play with tremendous spirit and organisation. They’re a good home side, Haugesund, and have been ever since they were promoted – very reliable team on their own turf. Visitors Start are anything but reliable with the ability to score and concede against anyone. They’re not on a good run of form and I’m certainly not going to include their win against Fredrikstad earlier this week as I’m 100% confident they’d have not won that game had Borges been available for the visitors. Start’s inability to defend is costing them a lot of points and against an in-form and potent Haugesund side, I can only see one winner. I expect plenty of goals here but the home win at 9/10 is appealing today.
Verdict: Haugesund to win at 9/10.
Accumulator fodder:
Palmeiras, B36 Torshavn, Daugava Daugavpils, Suduva Marijampole, Ekranas Panevezys, Molde FK.
Recommended bets:
Helsingborg, B36 Torshavn, and Molde FK at just under 2/1.
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!
UEFA European U21 Championship:
England vs Czech Republic (5) 2-1
Ukraine vs Spain (6) 0-1
Argentinian Primera Division:
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Estudiantes de la Plata (5) 1-1
Newells Old Boys vs Colon de Santa Fe (5) 0-1
Banfield vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (6) 1-1
Velez Sarsfield vs Racing Club Avellaneda (7) 2-0
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
FC Minsk vs Dinamo Brest (6) 2-1
Belshina Bobriusk vs Torpedo Zhodino (5) 1-0
Vitebsk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (6) 0-1
BATE Borisov vs Dnepr Mogilev (7) 2-0
Gomel vs Dinamo Minsk (6) 1-0
Neman Grodno vs Naftan Novopolotsk (5) 0-0
Brazilian Serie A:
Palmeiras vs Avai (8) 2-0
Flamengo vs Botafogo (6) 2-1
Gremio vs Vasco da Gama (7) 1-0
Figueirense vs Atletico Paranaense (5) 1-1
Ceara vs Sao Paulo (6) 0-1
Atletico Mineiro vs Atletico Goianiense (5) 0-0
Coritiba vs Internacional (6) 1-1
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Emelec Guayaquil vs Espoli Cayambe (7) 2-0
Imbabura vs Barcelona Guayaquil (5) 1-1
Manta vs Deportivo Quito (6) 1-2
Liga de Quito vs Olmedo Riobamba (7) 2-0
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
07 Vestur Sorvagur vs NSI Runavik (7) 1-2
B68 Toftir vs Vikingur Gotu (6) 1-1
B36 Torshavn vs KI Klaksvik (8) 2-1
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
IFK Mariehamn vs FC Honka Espoo (5) 2-2
Jaro Pietarsaari vs MyPa Anjalankoski (7) 1-0
RoPS Rovaniemi vs VPS Vaasa (6) 0-0
KuPS Kuopio vs TPS Turku (4) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
PS Kemi Kings vs PoPa Pori (4)
OPS Oulu vs Hameenlinna (5)
Jippo Joensuu vs FC Lahti (6)
Latvian Virsliga:
Daugava Daugavpils vs FK Jurmala (8) 2-1
RFS/Olimps Riga vs Gulbene 2005 (6) 1-1
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Kruoja Pakruojis vs Zalgiris Vilnius (5) 0-1
Dainava vs FBK Kaunas (7) 2-0
Ekranas Panevezys vs Mazeikiai (8) 2-0
Suduva Marijampole vs Klaipeda (8) 2-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Haugesund vs Start Kristiansand (7) 2-1
Molde FK vs Sogndal (8) over 2.5 goals
Fredrikstad vs Odd Grenland (5) 1-0
Brann Bergen vs Aalesund (6) 1-1
Lillestrom vs Stromsgodset (6) 2-1
Valerenga Oslo vs Sarpsborg 08 (6) 2-1
Stabaek vs Viking Stavanger (6) 1-0
Rosenborg BK vs Tromso (4) 0-0
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Mjondalen vs Honefoss (5)
Alta vs Bodo Glimt (4) at least one red card in this game
Hodd vs Strommen (5)
Kongsvinger vs Lov-Ham Bergen (7)
Nybergsund vs Bryne (6) over 2.5 goals
Randaberg vs Ranheim (6)
Sandefjord vs Hamarkameratene (5)
Sandnes Ulf vs Asker (6)
Singaporean S-League:
Young Lions vs Tanjong Pagar (6) 2-1
Swedish Allsvenskan:
IFK Norrkoping vs Helsingborg (7) 0-1
GAIS Goteborg vs AIK Solna (6) 1-1
Swedish Superettan:
Assyriska Sodertalje vs Jonkopings Sodra (6)
Enjoy your free betting tips!