Rakovski vs Lokomotiv Sofia
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Today’s secondary featured game is the A PFG game in Bulgarian between relegation-threatened Rakovski and giants Lokomotiv Sofia. The hosts have battled well at home lately but so have their more illustrious opponents, somewhat surprisingly, so I expect a decent game here.
Rakovski enter this game after a surprising 1-1 draw at Montana last match. That was their first point obtained away from home since November so their morale has heightened, especially as they now know they’re just a point away from safety currently. There’s nothing else for it, really – Rakovski must attack in this game as they need as many points as possible. However, it looks a bit bleak for them today, irrespective of their recent decent run. They’ve played four good sides at home this season and taken two points from a possible twelve, conceding a minimum of a goal in all of those encounters. Lokomotiv Sofia are yet another tough cookie and I think lowly Rakovski might huff and puff here but I doubt they’ll displace their superior opponents.
I’ve opposed Lokomotiv Sofia a lot this season due to the departure of their lethal attacking threesome but they’ve looked good lately, attacking well and scoring goals, thus winning games. A stupid headbutt from experienced midfielder Karadzhinov last match means that he’ll miss this game, which is a blow. However, Johnson, Dafchev, and Pisarov have all started linking up very well and it’s made Lokomotiv a decent side, irrespective of their lack of a decent striker. They’re on a good run though, Lokomotiv, winning three out of their last five games with only bitter rivals CSKA Sofia having beaten them along the way. They’ve scored five goals in their last three games and have only conceded in two out of their last five games so Lokomotiv are finally getting themselves back into shape again.
Lokomotiv have a lot of work to do in summer as they desperately need a target man. However, they’re playing a side that they’re much better than today and given their strong displays of late and the lack of firepower possessed by their hosts, I’ve no choice but to take the away win at decent odds of 3/4.
Team news – Lokomotiv Sofia miss Karadzhinov.
Verdict: Lokomotiv Sofia to win at 3/4.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Ceske Budejovice vs Slavia Prague – home win at 6/5.
A win today will virtually guarantee Ceske Budejovice a place in the Gambrinus Liga next season and given that they’re only good at home, I expect them to try and produce the display that they need to here. They’ve already beaten Slavia’s more illustrious rivals Sparta at home this season so they are a capable side on their day.
The problem that the hosts have is scoring goals, unfortunately. However, despite that problem, they’ve still impressively won six out of eleven at home so they do need to be taken seriously. Happily, Slavia Prague have already guaranteed their safety this season so their attention is now entirely upon their Pohar CMFS Semi-Final against Sigma Olomouc. They played one leg of the semi-final earlier this week and were leading 2-1 before the game was abandoned due to Slavia’s fans invading the pitch in protest of the mystery backers behind the club. You wouldn’t think they’d care given the crippling debts of the club but they’re absolutely furious as they claim that they don’t know who owns the club and the management refuses to answer their questions about the situation. There’s a meeting of the Czech FC in the forthcoming weeks to discuss whether Slavia can play in the Gambrinus Liga next season due to their debts and overall, the situation at Slavia at the moment is a mire with even star player Karol Kisel pleading with the fans not to take such strong protests and to get behind the team but to no avail. Slavia should struggle here today with the above in mind as it’s clearly affecting everyone and additionally, they have the second semi-final against Sigma Olomouc looming in a few days, which is their only pathway to European football next season so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them rest players. For me, there’s value in the home win at 6/5.
Verdict: Ceske Budejovice to win at 6/5.
Bohemians 1905 vs Sigma Olomouc – home win at 8/5.
Much like Slavia Prague in the above preview, Sigma Olomouc are likely to rest players here for their semi-final next week as it’s a pathway into European football for them. Their manager hasn’t said as much, admittedly, but he’s certainly leaned toward it by stating that they may have attacking problems in that game and thus they’ll probably be defensive. That suits the hosts, who have some of the best support in the Czech Republic – that’s what makes them so hard to beat here, really. The hosts aren’t a great side but they’re well-organised and hard to beat and will cause the youngsters of Sigma Olomouc problems today, especially if they rest forwards, as expected. Bohemians 1905 have won their last three Gambrinus Liga home games consecutively and given that only Jablonec and Sparta Prague have won here this season, it goes some distance to demonstrate what a tough away game this actually is. The hosts are very much in-form currently whereas the visitors are struggling with a congested fixture schedule and more important games elsewhere so the home win appeals to me here at 8/5, especially with Sigma having failed to score here for two seasons, losing their last visit 2-0.
Verdict: Bohemians 1905 to win at 8/5.
Hradec Kralove vs Teplice – home win at 6/5.
I can’t look past a home win here. Hradec Kralove have responded magnificently to the threat of relegation and are riding the crest of a wave following four consecutive wins. However, visitors Teplice are in the doldrums since their cup exit and their reported financial issues aren’t helping. They’ve been atrocious lately, conceding a lot of goals and they look like they just want the season to be over. They only took a point off Sparta Prague last match thanks to Sparta’s stand-in goalkeeper Zitka’s blundering frequently – I doubt they’ll be as lucky here. Hradec Kralove are playing with so much enthusiasm here that I can’t help but favour them to win this one at 6/5.
Verdict: Hradec Kralove to win at 6/5.
Zenit St.Petersburg vs Lokomotiv Moscow – home win at 4/5.
For me, Zenit are simply the better team here. True enough, they’ve not been at their best all of this season and look a little tired from not strengthening their squad sufficiently pre-season but they’re still a really strong side to face at Petrovsky. Zenit have a lot of attacking talent and Lokomotiv are generally one of the worst away sides in the Russian Premier League. The only reasons their away record looked semi-decent last season was due to Semin as boss and Alive’s influential displays from midfield, both of which have since departed Lokomotiv. Lokomotiv were shrewd in their replacement, appointing former Spartk Nal’chik legend Krasnozhan as their boss and they’ve looked better since then. However, it cannot be overlooked that they’ve lost two out of their three away games already this season without scoring in both games, losing at relegation battlers Amkar Perm’ and Krylya Sovetov Samara respectively. They won 1-4 at newly-promoted FK Krasnodar in their last away game but they’re just not convincing on the road and I can’t see anything but defeat for Lokomotiv today against what is the best side in Russia, for me.
Verdict: Zenit St.Petersburg to win at 4/5.
Syrianska Sodertalje vs Malmo FF – away win at 4/5.
There’s simply a big quality gap here. Malmo are still as suspect at the back as ever to the right opponent but Syrianska are susceptible everywhere and are facing a much better side than themselves today. Barring the opening day of the Allsvenskan, Syrianska have lost every game. Well, perhaps that’s unfair – they were in cruise control of the game against AIK Solna before the game was postponed due to AIK’s fans doing their usual stupid shit – but the point remains that Syrianska are a bit out of their depth here. They’ve scored once in their past four games whilst conceding nine times. It’s not a good record to take into a game with one of the best sides in the country, is it? All that helps the hosts is that Malmo have lost back-to-back games ahead of this encounter but consdering those defeats were at Elfsborg Boras (always a hard away game) and at home against bitter rivals IFK Goteborg, it’s at least comprehensible, not acceptable. Malmo still have excellent firepower and a vastly superior squad to their hosts and I cannot see that failing to show in this game. For me, there’s value on the away win at 4/5.
Team news – Malmo FF miss Dahlin.
Verdict: Malmo FF to win at 4/5.
St.Gallen vs FC Zurich – away win at 4/5.
It’s do-or-die in the Super League every game for FC Zurich being a “must win” at the moment as they’re locked in a fierce title battle with Basel. However, they couldn’t be better placed with eight consecutive Super League wins leading them into this encounter, not to mention the two wins they’ve recorded from their last three visits here. Zurich have already won nine out of fifteen away games in the Super League this season whilst averaging scoring nearly two goals per away game so I fancy their chances here. It aids my cause that no side in the Super League has lost as many home games as St.Gallen, however, with ten defeats in fifteen home games. They average conceding nearly two goals per home game and have lost four out of their six Super League home games without scoring since returning from the winter break. Add those two up and the fact that the hosts simply can’t sit back and defend as they need points and we should have a reasonably straightforward away win here.
Team news – FC Zurich miss Chikhaoui.
Verdict: FC Zurich to win at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder:
NSI Runavik, FK Ventspils, Skonto Riga, Suduva Marijampole, Porto, Rubin Kazan’, Metalac GM, Barcelona, Atletico El Vigia, Zamora.
Recommended bets:
Lokomotiv Sofia, Malmo FF, and Porto at 3/1.
FC Zurich, Hradec Kralove, and Rubin Kazan’ at over 3/1.
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!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Atletico Lanus vs Estudiantes De La Plata (6) 1-0
Argentinos Juniors vs Boca Juniors (4) 1-1
River Plate vs All Boys (4) 1-1
Independiente vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (6) 0-0
Austrian Bundesliga:
SV Ried vs Sturm Graz (6) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Sliven vs Slavia Sofia (5) 0-1
Cherno More Varna vs Montana (7) 2-1
Rakovski vs Lokomotiv Sofia (7) 1-2
Akademik Sofia vs Beroe (4) 1-1
Levski Sofia vs Litex Lovech (4) 0-1
Chilean Primera Division:
Santiago Morning vs Palestino (6) 1-1
Nublense vs Audax Italiano (5) 1-2
Union San Felipe vs Universidad de Concepcion (7) 2-1
Colo Colo vs O’Higgins (6) over 2.5 goals
Colombian Primera A:
Boyaca Chico vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (6) 1-1
Deportes Quindio vs Deportivo Pereira (7) 2-0
Once Caldas Manizales vs Atletico Huila (7) 2-1
Millonarios Bogota vs La Equidad Bogota (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Cypriot Division 1:
Anorthosis Famagusta vs Omonia Nicosia (6) 1-1
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Usti nad Labem vs Marila Pribram (4) 1-1
Ceske Budejovice vs Slavia Prague (6) 1-0
Bohemians 1905 vs Sigma Olomouc (5) 1-0
Hradec Kralove vs Teplice (7) 2-0
Jablonec vs Banik Ostrava (7) 1-0
Danish Superligaen:
Randers vs AC Horsens (6) 1-1
Esbjerg vs Nordsjaelland (5) 1-1
OB Odense vs Silkeborg (6) 1-0
Brondby vs FC Copenhagen (7) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Danish 1st Division:
Roskilde vs Bronshoj (6)
Vestjaelland vs Hobro (5)
Skive vs Fyn (7)
Hjorring vs AGF Aarhus (6)
Kolding vs Hvidovre (4) over 2.5 goals
Fredericia vs HB Koge (6)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Liga de Quito vs El Nacional Quito (7) 1-0
English Premier League:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Bromwich Albion (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Stoke City vs Arsenal (6) 1-1
Manchester United vs Chelsea (6) 1-0
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
HB Torshavn vs EB/Streymur (5) 0-1
IF Fuglafjordur vs B71 Sandur (7) 2-1
NSI Runavik vs 07 Vestur Sorvagur (8) 2-0
KI Klaksvik vs B36 Torshavn (6) 1-0
Finnish Ykkonen:
PK-35 Helsinki vs FC Lahti (6) over 2.5 goals
KPV Kokkola vs AC Oulu (6)
French Ligue 1:
Valenciennes vs Stade Rennais (7) under 2.5 goals
Olympique Lyonnais vs Olympique de Marseille (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
German Bundesliga 2:
Osnabruck vs VfL Bochum (6)
Erzebirge Aue vs Hertha BSC Berlin (5)
MSV Duisburg vs Paderborn (7)
Union Berlin vs Energie Cottbus (5)
Arminia Bielefeld vs Karlsruher SC (6)
Rot-Weiss Oberhausen vs Greuther Furth (6)
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Alemannia Aachen (7) over 2.5 goals
Augsburg vs FSV Frankfurt (7)
1860 Munich vs Ingolstadt (6) at least one red card in this game
Greek Super League:
PAOK Salonika vs Panathinaikos (6) 1-1
AEK Athens vs Olympiakos Volos (7) 2-0
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Budapest Honved vs Fehervar (5) 1-1
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
UMF Grindavik vs Valur Reykjavik (6) 2-2
KR Reykjavik vs Keflavik (7) 2-0
FH Hafnarfjordur vs Breidablik Kopavogur (7) 2-1
Italian Serie A:
Brescia vs Catania (5) 0-1
Cagliari vs Cesena (4) 1-1
Udinese vs Lazio (4) 1-1
Bologna vs Parma (7) 1-1
Internazionale vs Fiorentina (7) 2-1
Lecce vs SSC Napoli (5) 1-1
Genoa vs Sampdoria (6) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Italian Serie B:
Reggina vs Varese (6)
Latvian Virsliga:
FK Jurmala vs Skonto Riga (8) 1-2
FK Ventspils vs Daugava Daugavpils (8) 2-0
RFS/Olimps Riga vs FC Jurmala (5) 1-1
Gulbene 2005 vs Jelgava (5) 1-2
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Klaipeda vs Mazeikiai (6)
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Atlantas (8) 2-0
Banga Gargzdai vs Dainava (7) 2-0
Kruoja Pakruojis vs FBK Kaunas (7) 2-0
Siauliai vs Ekranas Panevezys (7) 1-2
Suduva Marijampole vs Tauras Taurage (8) 2-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Pumas UNAM vs Monterrey (5) 1-1
Morelia vs America (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Stromsgodset vs Tromso (6) over 2.5 goals
Haugesund vs Stabaek (5) 1-1
Start Kristiansand vs Aalesund (6) 2-1
Odd Grenland Skien vs Sarpsborg 08 (7) 2-1
Molde FK vs Rosenborg BK (6) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Sandefjord vs Kongsvinger (7)
Asker vs Bodo-Glimt (5)
Hamarkameratene vs Bryne (6)
Hodd vs Nybergsund (5)
Lov-Ham Bergen vs Strommen (4)
Randaberg vs Mjondalen (5)
Ranheim vs Honefoss (6)
Sandnes Ulf vs Alta (6)
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Sportivo Luqueno vs General Caballero (6) 2-1
Rubio Nu vs Libertad Asuncion (5) 1-1
Cerro Porteno vs Independiente FBC (7) 2-0
Guarani Asuncion vs Olimpia Asuncion (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Peruvian Primera Division:
Cobresol vs Union Comercio (7) 2-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Lechia Gdansk vs Wisla Krakow (5) over 2.5 goals
GKS Belchatow vs Arka Gdynia (5) 1-1
Polish Liga 1:
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs Vitoria Setubal (5) 1-1
Portimonense vs Maritimo Funchal (4) 2-1
Academica de Coimbra vs Sporting Braga (6) 1-1
Porto vs Pacos de Ferreira (8) 2-0
Uniao de Leiria vs Naval de Maio (5) 0-1
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Beira-Mar (6) 1-0
CD Nacional de Madeira vs Olhanense (7) 2-0
Rio Ave vs SL Benfica (5) 2-1
Romanian Liga:
Sportul Studentesc vs Brasov (6) 1-1
Pandurii Targu Jiu vs Universitatea Cluj (6) over 2.5 goals
Gaz Metan Medias vs Steaua Bucharest (6) 1-0
Russian Premier League:
Dinamo Moscow vs CSKA Moscow (6) under 2.5 goals
Spartak Moscow vs Amkar Perm’ (7) 2-1
Rubin Kazan’ vs FK Krasnodar (8) 2-0
Zenit St.Petersburg vs Lokomotiv Moscow (7) 2-0
Scottish Premier League:
Kilmarnock vs Celtic (7) 1-2
Serbian Super Liga:
Hajduk Kula vs Jagodina (6) 0-0
Metalac GM vs Cukaricki (8) 2-0
Rad Belgrade vs Smederevo (6) 1-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Triglav vs Domzale (6) 1-2
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Mallorca vs Villarreal CF (5) 1-2
Barcelona vs Espanyol (8) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Real Zaragoza vs Osasuna (7) 2-0
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Cordoba vs Real Betis Balompie (5)
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Granada (5)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Mjallby Solvesborg vs Trelleborg (6) 1-0
Syrianska Sodertalje vs Malmo FF (7) over 2.5 goals
Swedish Superettan:
Qviding Goteborg vs Falkenberg (5)
Vasteras vs Varnamo (5)
Ljungskile vs Osters (7)
Jonkopings Sodra vs Degerfors (7)
Swiss Super League:
Basel vs Bellinzona (8) over 2.5 goals
St.Gallen vs FC Zurich (7) 1-2
Swiss Challenge League:
Servette vs Wohlen (4) both sides to score
Turkish Super Lig:
Genclerbirligi vs Konyaspor (6) 2-1
Karabukspor vs Fenerbahce (7) 1-2
Bucaspor vs Trabzonspor (7) 0-1
Sivasspor vs Ankaragucu (7) 1-0
Ukrainian Premier League:
Sevastopol vs Obolon Kiev (6) 1-0
Illichivets Mariupol vs Tavryia Simferopol (6) 0-1
Volyn Lutsk vs Metalist Kharkiv (7) 0-2
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Miramar Misiones vs Bella Vista (6) 1-0
Penarol vs Club Nacional de Montevideo (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Deportivo Lara vs Monagas SC (7) 1-0
Deportivo Anzoategui vs Carabobo (7) 2-0
Atletico El Vigia vs Caroni (8) 2-0
Deportivo Petare vs Trujillanos (7) 1-0
Real Esppor Club vs Deportivo Tachira (4) 0-0
Aragua vs Yaracuyanos (6) 1-1
Zulia vs Estudiantes de Merida (6) 2-1
Zamora vs Atletico Venezuela (8) 2-0
Mineros de Guayana vs Caracas (5) 0-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!