Pakhtakor Tashkent vs Al Shabab
FreeWell, the Asian Champions League was disappointing yesterday with Changchun Yatai stealing all the goals from the other sides in their 9-0 win but at least Kashima Antlers won at profitable odds! In brighter news, however, the Meistriliiga returns to us exactly as I’d anticipated so it looks profitable for the forseeable future – keep an eye on it!
Today’s featured game is between Pakhtakor Tashkent and Al Shabab in the Asian Champions League. Uzbek hosts Pakhtakor are the second-biggest side in Uzbekistan and have some good experience in this competition. Al Shabab have good experience in this competition but the Saudi Arabian side aren’t consistent with their performances as an opening day draw at home to Iranians Sepahan emphasised.
Pakhtakor Tashkent are somewhat in the shadow of “Big Phil” Scolari’s FC Bunyodkor but remain a very good side themselves. Uzbekistan is rapidly becoming the place not to go to in search of points with Uzbek football on the rise due to the wealth of their two leading clubs. Previously Uzbekistan had only produced the likes of Maksim Shatskikh and Mirdjalal Kasimov that had been consistently successful in European football but their numbers are gradually increasing. Pakhtakor are unbeaten in their last six home games in this competition, winning four out of those six games. Pakhtakor are in their fifth consecutive year of Asian Champions League football and have matured well since their exposure to different footballing styles, even becoming one of the better sides in this competition. Pakhtakor reached the quarter-finals of last season’s competition so they’ll look to at least emulate that this time around. Pakhtakor tend to struggle more on the road as you’d expect but won their opening Asian Champions League game at Al Ain of United Arab Emirates so today’s hosts are furthering their game even moreso. Few sides have an easy ride here and although Saudi Arabian sides have had more joy here in recent years than other sides have, I still fancy a maturing Pakhtakor Tashkent to do damage today.
Al Shabab have already endured a disappointing draw at home to Sepahan of Iran in this year’s competition so don’t enter this game feeling too pleased! They’ve lost their last two away games consecutively in this competition and have won just one out of their last five away games in this competition. Al Shabab haven’t been involved in high-scoring games in this competition for a little while now with the Saudis playing a more compact style but also a more goal-shy style. Despite their experience in this competition, however, Al Shabab appear to be on the decline and will most likely struggle in what is now one of the toughest away games that a side can play in this competition.
Although I expect a tight game between two capable sides, I feel Pakhtakor Tashkent have developed enough and have enough momentum to overcome a somewhat under-performing Al Shabab today.
Verdict: Pakhtakor Tashkent to win at 9/10.
Wednesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Club Nacional de Montevideo vs Banfield – home win at 9/10.
Uruguayans Club Nacional de Montevideo have a superb record at home in this competition with just one defeat in their last fifteen games, a defeat which came against eventual runners-up Estudiantes De La Plata. Club Nacional have won eleven of those games so I think it’s fairer to say that despite the lack of geographical advantage, this remains one of the more difficult away games to play in this competition. Club Nacional often score two goals or more which makes them a difficult side to contain and they needed those goals in their 3-2 win at home to Ecuador’s Deportivo Cuenca in their opening game of this tournament as the Uruguayans failed to convince consistently. Club Nacional take this competition very seriously, however, as they indicated by taking a draw from a lengthy trip north to face Morelia of Mexico. Club Nacional have won both domestic games since that trip north against rivals Racing Montevideo and Montevideo Wanderers whilst scoring five times so Club Nacional are only just entering their stride, which bodes ominously for their opponents tonight.
Visitors Banfield are yet to strike any kind of consistency following a dominant Apertura campaign. They’ve lost a good number of players since then so that does explain it but it does leave us a tad bemused as to where to look when they play! On one hand, Banfield laboured to a 2-1 home win against Morelia in the Copa Libertadores before travelling to a nightmare tie in Ecuador against Deportivo Cuenca and breezing it 4-1! Yet this Banfield side only managed a 0-0 draw at Atletico Tucuman in their last domestic game so just where are Banfield at? Even the wisest cannot say! What I will say is that they’re not playing well on the road irrespective of their result in Ecuador. Domestically, they’ve lost two out of their four away games, drawing once, and winning once. They’ve lost to some poor sides too i.e. Chacarita Juniors. Banfield don’t concede many but on the road they tend to struggle to score. Banfield will be motivated for this game not only because they want to do well in the competition but also because of the traditional rivalry. However, I don’t think they’ve got the experience in this competition to take on a side like Club Nacional so could struggle tonight.
We should see a very good game but a very heated game between these two sides. Argentina vs Uruguay and their respective club sides always brings a traditionally high rivalry and that’s all the motivation that Club Nacional will need to awaken their dominant home form in this competition. Club Nacional are more experienced than Banfield in this competition and are very potent at home so the home win looks favourable tonight.
Verdict: Club Nacional de Montevideo to win at 9/10.
Pohang Steelers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima – home win at 13/10.
Reigning champions Pohang Steelers lost their opening game at Adelaide United, which wasn’t the best start to defending their crown. However, where the Korean side are strongest is at home where they’ve won their last five home games in the Asian Champions League consecutively, avoiding defeat in all but one of their home games in this competition ever! The only side to win here was Adelaide United, ironically – Pohang Steelers really don’t like this side! Pohang Steelers have gone from strength to strength in this competition and will be looking to further their impressive home record by adding the name of Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a list that already contains millionaires Bunyodkor, Tianjin Teda, and Central Coast Mariners to name a few.
Visitors Sanfrecce Hiroshima compete in their very first Asian Champions League competition and it showed as they were beaten 1-0 at home in their opening game against Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng. This is a real learning curve for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and unfortunately for the Japanese side there aren’t many tougher away games than Pohang Steelers in this competition currently. The defeat will have concerned Sanfrecce Hiroshima but surely not as much as their lack of goals scored in that game? In this competition, you simply must score goals at home to have any chance of progressing because this competition can make you travel approximately 3000 miles if you’re unfortunate to draw a side that far away – not the kind of game you can enter lightly. I think Sancfrecce’s lack of potency and experience in this competition will hit them hard and they’ll most likely succumb to defeat in South Korea today.
Pohang Steelers have developed experience and maturity very rapidly in this competition and should have too much for their opponents today. Sanfrecce Hiroshima not only failed to impress in their opening Asian Champions League game but also drew their opening game of the J-League at home to Shimizu S-Pulse – a poor result by their standards – so I expect a disgruntled and inexperienced Sanfrecce Hiroshima to lose today at what are rather generous odds.
Verdict: Pohang Steelers to win at 13/10.
Teplice vs Viktoria Plzen – home win at 10/11.
Teplice currently lead the Gambrinus Liga after a decent start following their return from the winter break as they drew at Ceske Budejovice and won at home to Bohemians Prague. Although the results themselves may not appear much on paper, what I would say is that a side needs consistency to win titles and the problem with most Czech sides in challenging Slavia Prague & Sparta Prague is a lack of that consistency, something that Teplice are rapidly gaining. Teplice don’t play particularly good football but they’re very efficient with it which is the key to their success. They’ve got good spirit as they showed by coming from behind last match to win and are strong at home as they’ve proven already this season with five wins and three draws from eight games. Teplice don’t score many goals – approximately 1.5 goals per home game – but they boast one of the best defensive records in the division with just four goals conceded in their eight home games – an average of a goal every two games. Teplice should have enough momentum and spirit to make their ability count – particularly at home – so will prove a real force for Viktoria Plzen today.
Viktoria Plzen are a strange side. They don’t play good football but tend to focus all of their tactics around keeping goalscoring and goal-conceding low whilst avoiding defeat at all costs. They’ve only lost two out of their nine home games on the road this season which is largely due to them boasting the best defensive record in the division away from home – a goal conceded for over every two games played. Viktoria Plzen aren’t particularly dominant on the road as they sacrifice their limited potency in favour of defensive prowess. However, their two defeats on the road this season have come against strong home sides with strong defensive ability – Banik Ostrava and Pribram – in narrow home wins so I expect something similar today.
Teplice are better than Viktoria Plzen but there’s not masses in it. However, home advantage favours the hosts and all that supports the visitors is their strong defensive displays. That said, Viktoria Plzen don’t have a good record here with seven defeats in their last eight visits and that might just play on their minds today too. Either way, the odds on the home win are quite generous as Teplice have more than enough to see the job done in this game.
Verdict: Teplice to win at 10/11.
Accumulator fodder:
Shandong Luneng, Gamba Osaka, Suwon Bluewings, Sepahan, Al Hilal, Grasshoppers Zurich, Girondins de Bordeaux, Airbus.
Recommended bets:
Shandong Luneng, Gamba Osaka, and Pohang Steelers at 6/1.
Suwon Bluewings, Pakhtakor Tashkent, Al Hilal, and Sepahan at 6/1.
Teplice, Girondins de Bordeaux, Grasshoppers Zurich, and Airbus 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!
UEFA Champions League:
Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais (5) 2-2
Manchester United vs AC Milan (7) over 2.5 goals
Copa Libertadores:
Once Caldas Manizales vs Monterrey (5) 2-2
Club Nacional de Montevideo vs Banfield (6) over 2.5 goals
Independiente Medellin vs Corinthians (6) under 2.5 goals
Alianza Lima vs Juan Aurich (5) 1-1
Caracas vs Flamengo (6) 1-1
Asian Champions League:
Shandong Luneng vs Adelaide United (7) 1-0
Gamba Osaka vs Henan Jianye (8) over 2.5 goals
Pohang Steelers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima (6) 2-1
Armed Forces vs Suwon Bluewings (8) 1-3
Pakhtakor Tashkent vs Al Shabab (7) 1-0
Sepahan vs Al Ain (8) 2-0
Al Ahli vs Al Sadd (5) over 2.5 goals
Al Hilal vs Mes Keman (8) 2-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Charleroi vs Lokeren (6) 2-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Turnhout vs Boussu Dour Borinage (5)
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Teplice vs Viktoria Plzen (7) 1-0
English Premier League:
Burnley vs Stoke City (6) 1-1
English Championship:
Reading vs Derby County (6) over 2.5 goals
French Ligue 1:
Girondins de Bordeaux vs Auxerre (7) 2-1
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Beira-Mar vs Estoril (6)
Serbian Super Liga:
Napredak vs Hajduk Kula (6) 1-0
Jagodina vs Partizan Belgrade (7) 1-2
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Domzale vs Nafta Lendava (6) 1-1
Drava vs Rudar Velenje (6) 0-1
Interblock Ljubljana vs Gorica (7) 1-1
Koper vs Olimpija Ljubljana (6) 2-1
Celje vs Maribor (7) 1-2
Swiss Super League:
Grasshoppers Zurich vs Aarau (8) 2-0
Bellinzona vs St.Gallen (6) 0-0
Swiss Challenge League:
Biel-Bienne vs Lugano (5)
Kriens vs Servette (6)
Stade Nyonnais vs Locarno (7)
Schaffhausen vs Wohlen (6) over 2.5 goals
Wil vs Vaduz (7)
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Deportivo Anzoategui vs Deportivo Tachira (7) 1-1
Welsh Premier League:
Cefn Druids vs Airbus (8) 2-1
Haverfordwest County vs Prestatyn Town (6) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!