KuPS Kuopio vs HJK Helsinki
FreeToday is yet another horrible card that I just don’t like. There’s maybe two or three games that have any kind value but ultimately I’d recommend coming back at weekend!
Today’s featured game is the opening game of the Veikkausliiga between KuPS Kuopio and HJK Helsinki. These two sides are expected to be at the opposite ends of the table by the end of the season by a large portion of the Finnish media and I agree whole-heartedly as I think HJK will win the title again and KuPS will do well to stay in the division with their goal-shy displays.
Hosts KuPS Kuopio, like most sides, don’t have a good record against HJK. They’ve played HJK a lot in the “valley of a thousand lakes” but have only ever beaten them once here. KuPS had a slow start to their Liiga Cup campaign but I feel they were quite unlucky in front of goal, hence some disappointing results. They showed their true colours towards the end of their participation in this tournament by beating JJK Jyvaskyla and Tampere United at home consecutively whilst scoring five times, which shows how important momentum is to this little side that don’t tend to score too many. Their goalscoring is all that holds them back from a comfortable mid-table place, in my opinion, but the fact is that it does hold them back which is why I doubt them today. They’re capable of playing some decent football and I don’t expect them to go down this year although they should be in the relegation battle. However, KuPS may have some fun with an inexperienced and rather young HJK defence so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them score today – I just feel HJK will score more!
Reigning champions HJK Helsinki were all set for a glorious Liiga Cup campaign before bizarrely crashing out 3-1 at home to Jaro Pietarsaari courtesy of some poor defending. Jaro are a decent side but they’re not capable of scoring three goals at HJK without some help! HJK have shown that their relatively new defence still needs a lot of time to adjust so this could be a weak point of theirs. However, the champions have lost none of their potency with HJK having scored in every game that they’ve played in since returning from the break and I expect them to do so numerous times today against a questionable KuPS defence. Barring a strange defeat at FC Lahti, HJK have already shown their credentials on the road in the Liiga Cup by winning at TPS Turku and coming from behind to claim a high-scoring draw at title challengers FC Honka Espoo. The defence might need some work but the attack of HJK should not be underestimated here!
HJK have only failed to win here twice out of their last eleven visits in all competitions. That should give you some indication of the difference in class, in expectation, and even in potential. There should be goals galore in this game from two sides struggling to defend and I expect KuPS to give HJK a better game than might be expected of them but ultimately HJK should be 8/13 for this game so we’re getting away with murder really!
Verdict: HJK Helsinki to win at 5/6.
Friday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Eindhoven vs De Graafschap – away win at 5/6.
Hosts Eindhoven have well and truly waved farewell to their burst of form with a crushing 4-1 defeat at Excelsior last match. They’ve won just once in their last four games, losing twice along the way. They’ve already lost seven times at home this season and have conceded nine times during their last four games so look set to be heading back towards their vulnerable selves. They’ve won just once in their last four home games, losing twice along the way, so they look set for another hard game tonight with little momentum to bring into the game. The aspect of Eindhoven’s game that I admire most is their ability to play attacking football well and to score goals but they’re not doing that enough at the moment and their weak defence is getting caught out as a result of the ball being at the wrong end of the pitch. I would never underestimate Eindhoven but they’ve not got enough going for them at the moment to take anything from this game, in my opinion.
De Graafschap have walked the Eerste Divisie this season and don’t appear to be stopping. They’re all but guaranteed a swift return to the Eredivisie as they’re ten points clear with only a possible twelve points remaining but they still don’t want to stop winning games. De Graafschap have now won an amazing nine consecutive games and are truly a class above the remainder of the division. You’d expect a side like this to be losing some creativity and drive after such a run but not De Graafschap, who showed how much they want this promotion by flattening Omniworld 5-0 away from home last match! De Graafschap have already won eleven out of seventeen away games this season and average scoring almost two goals per away game so they’re a constant thread on the road, particularly with such a high level of momentum, morale, and potency. De Graafschap have won their last eight away games consecutively and look unstoppable, frankly.
I can’t understand why the odds are only 5/6 on the away win here! De Graafschap have zero problems with motivation despite their comfortable position so they should be at least 1/2 for this game. Eindhoven have ended their fine run of form and look susceptible at home so should struggle tonight. They’re not scoring goals and they can’t defend for shit so the away win really should be a mere formality tonight for a very in-form De Graafschap at superb odds of 5/6!
Verdict: De Graafschap to win at 5/6.
Accumulator fodder:
SCR Altach, Internazionale, Bursaspor,
Recommended bets:
SCR Altach, Internazionale, Bursaspor, and HJK Helsinki at 6/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Austrian Liga 1:
Lustenau vs First Vienna (5)
Hartberg vs Dornbirn (4)
Salzburg II vs Austria Lustenau (5)
Gratkorn vs St.Polten (5) over 2.5 goals
SCR Altach vs Austria Vienna II (8)
English League One:
Huddersfield Town vs Millwall (6)
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
Vikingur Gotu vs EB/Streymur (6) under 2.5 goals
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
KuPS Kuopio vs HJK Helsinki (7) over 2.5 goals
French Ligue 2:
Brest vs Bastia (3)
Strasbourg vs Dijon FCO (5)
Arles vs Guingamp (6) under 2.5 goals
Vannes OC vs Istres (5)
Sedan-Ardennes vs Laval (6)
AC Ajaccio vs Le Havre (5)
Clermont Foot vs Metz (7)
Chateauroux vs Nantes (6)
Angers SCO vs Tours (6)
German Bundesliga:
Koln vs VFL Bochum (6) 2-1
German Bundesliga 2:
Koblenz vs Karlsruher SC (5)
Augsburg vs MSV Duisburg (6)
Greuther Furth vs Paderborn (6)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Ferencvaros vs Debreceni VSC (5) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Irish Premier League:
Bohemians vs Galway United (6) under 2.5 goals
Drogheda United vs Shamrock Rovers (8) 1-1
Sporting Fingal vs Dundalk (5) 1-0
Italian Serie A:
Internazionale vs Juventus (8) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
AGOVV Appeldoorn vs Dordrecht ’90 (6) over 2.5 goals
Excelsior vs Den Bosch (7)
Eindhoven vs De Graafschap (7)
Emmen vs Zwolle (6)
Oss vs Telstar (5)
Volendam vs Omniworld (6)
Fortuna Sittard vs Veendam (6)
Go Ahead Eagles vs RBC Roosendaal (5)
Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Helmond Sport (7)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Olhanense vs Maritimo Funchal (7) 1-1
Romanian Liga:
Unirea Alba Iulia vs Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt (5) 1-0
Astra Ploiesti vs International (7) 1-1
Unirea Urziceni vs Pandurii Targu Jiu (7) 1-0
Singaporean S-League:
Woodlands Wellington vs Gombak United (5) 1-2
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Maribor (4) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Girona vs Levante (7)
Swedish Superettan:
Degerfors vs Orgryte (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Bursaspor vs Gaziantepspor (8) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Bala Town vs Airbus UK (7) 1-1
Cefn Druids vs Prestatyn Town (7) 1-2
Neath Athletic vs Carmarthen Town (7) 1-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!