Rapid Vienna vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv
FreeToday’s featured games is the UEFA Europa League match between Rapid Vienna and Hapoel Tel-Aviv. After a humbling 5-1 defeat in Israel – Rapid’s biggest European defeat in this campaign – the Austrians are keen to seek revenge and boost their chances of reaching the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League. Since that game, Rapid Vienna have gone on a rampage, winning three games out of three in the Bundesliga, scoring eight goals and conceding just once. Rapid Vienna have only conceded one goal at home in their whole European campaign this year, which was against Cyprus’ APOP/Kinyras. Since then, Rapid Vienna haven’t conceded in home games against Aston Villa and Hamburger SV, winning both games comfortably, which takes their tally of home wins in Europe this year to four wins from four games. Rapid Vienna are an accomplished side that are playing good football and I’ve developed a lot of respect for them this year as they’ve proven time and time again that they’re a force to be reckoned with, potentially even a black horse for the winners of the UEFA Europa League. Despite the slip-up in Israel, I do rate Rapid Vienna as a much better side than Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Hapoel Tel-Aviv have been a difficult side to play against this year too, however, with Celtic and Rapid Vienna both put to the sword in Israel. Hapoel Tel-Aviv were brought down to earth with a hefty bang by Hamburger SV in Germany, however, losing 4-2 and generally looking unconvincing. Although I don’t think either side are afraid to really go for this game, I do think there’s a bit of a class gap in favour of the Austrian hosts, who also have the home advantage, something that has served them very well indeed in this particular European campaign. A win here will put the Austrians in a good position to achieve qualification from the group and they’ll no doubt strive to do so. I think the mixture of quality and motivation will be more than enough for an impressive Rapid Vienna to win this game at 10/11.
Thursday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Rapid Vienna vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv – home win 10/11 – see introduction for full details.
Dinamo Zagreb vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam – away win at evens. A turbulent time of late has seen Dinamo Zagreb start to falter, most notably away to bitter rivals Hajduk Split in the Prva Liga. The loss of Kovac and Mandzukic lately thinned their ranks and now they’re struggling for form, something that surely isn’t welcome as they host Dutch giants AFC Ajax Amsterdam. The visitors are in great form lately and look set to destroy just about any opponent they face. Their style of football is very commendable; score as many goals as possible. They’ve got some very talented players in their squad and they tend to show it more often than not. Although a game against Dinamo Zagreb is never easy, the way they’ve stumbled of late suggests that they won’t be as able to trouble AFC Ajax Amsterdam as we’d generally expect. A win in this game would leave visitors AFC Ajax Amsterdam in a very commanding place in their group so they will be going for the win. As the visitors do boast the better side here, I have to feel that there’s value in the away win at 10/11.
Partizan Belgrade vs Club Brugge – away win at 17/10. I think there’s potentially an awful lot of value here. Serbia is a tough place to go and play football – it’s very intimidating and the sides will make you work very hard for anything. However, Partizan Belgrade are looking out of their depth in this group with three defeats from three games, their most recent of which was ther 2-0 defeat at Club Brugge two weeks ago. They’ve not won a home game in the Europa League this year either, drawing at home to Slovakia’s MSK Zilina in the UEFA Europa League Qualifiers and losing at home to French misfits Toulouse. Partizan Belgrade’s defeat away to Club Brugge two weeks did much to affirm the quality gap between the two sides and the form of Club Brugge of late convinces me that they’re more than capable of winning this game tonight. They’ve won their last five games in all competitions, bringing great momentum to this game. Previous games also mean that Club Brugge can’t really afford to not win this game if they intend on qualifying for the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League. For me, the away win at 17/10 looks good value tonight.
Villarreal vs Lazio – home win with -1.75 handicap at 11/5. An interesting game between these two sides in Rome two weeks ago left Lazio with the points but with a lot of question marks all over the place. For instance, Villarreal played the better football and were generally unlucky to lose the game. Lazio took their chances well but have yet again been inconsistent since that game, much as they were before the game. However, Villarreal have gone on something of a rampage since that game, beating both opponents that they’ve faced in the Primera Liga as they’ve thrown off the shackles on their performances and returned to playing good football. Whereas it’s fair to say that the opponents they overcame were average sides at best, these were sides that Villarreal would not have beaten two weeks ago. An emphatic 5-0 win at home to Tenerife for The Yellow Submarines last match sees their confidence levels go through the roof and their belief returning. A Lazio side that just can’t show any kind of consistency travelling to a rejuvenated Villarreal that have a point to prove could prove very dangerous for the Italians, a danger that I don’t believe Lazio can deal with. For me, the home win with -1.75 goal handicap at 11/5 could prove to be one of the bets of the day today.
Puebla vs Atlas – home win at 3/4. Hosts Puebla have entered a good period lately as they’ve now gone four games unbeaten. They’ve lost less games than anyone else in the Mexican Primera Division of late, which indicates how hard they are to beat. Atypically, Puebla prefer to draw than to win but lately they’ve abandoned that statistic and have won two games in a row. Visitors Atlas, however, are on the descent in terms of form. They’ve not won in three games, losing twice and drawing once. Atlas’ biggest issue is scoring goals, something they’ve only managed to do ten times in fourteen games. Although there’s not much quality difference between the two sides, I’m going to side with momentum and the ability to score goals and back Puebla to win at 3/4.
Hamburger SV vs Celtic – home win with -1.75 handicap at 6/5. Hosts Hamburger SV may have had some patchy domestic form of late but tonight is the perfect opportunity for them to cast aside their demons and return to winning ways. The hosts surprisingly lost at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach last match but gained a credible 3-3 draw away to rivals Schalke 04 the match before that. On Hambuger SV’s visit to Celtic Park two weeks ago, they were occasionally troubled by the Scots but not nearly enough for them to be considered a threat in this game. Hamburger SV won the game 1-0 away from home with a large number of missing players, particularly in attack, but still managed a somewhat comfortable victory. There was a real class difference between the two sides and it’s hard to see that not being applicable for tonight’s game too. Visitors Celtic need to win this game. They’ve gained just one point from three games in a draw at home against Rapid Vienna. They were somewhat embarassingly beaten 2-1 by Hapoel Tel-Aviv in Israel and beaten at home by an under-strength Hamburger SV. The main pattern we’re starting to see is that Scottish football simply cannot compete with the other leagues anymore. Celtic only have their tenacity left and even that is beginning to become less relevant as sides that they’re playing against only have to match their tenacity for the upper hand to be given to the opposing side due to the quality difference. I honestly don’t think I’ve seen Celtic be so little of a threat in a competition as I have this year. They look devoid of ideas and quality, and it’s punished them time and time again. Hamburger SV are the best side in this group and Celtic know they have to attack them, which is beyond dangerous! Generally, I’d stay away from handicaps for games involving the feisty Celtic but I do feel that they’re at the lowest point for some time. For me, the home win with -1.75 goal handicap at 6/5 looks a good bet today.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Europa League:
Anderlecht vs FC Poli Timisoara (7) 2-0
Dinamo Zagreb vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (7) 1-2
Slavia Prague vs Valencia (6) 0-1
Hamburger SV vs Celtic (9) 2-0
Genoa vs LOSC Lille (4) 1-1
Rapid Vienna vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv (8) 2-0
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs FK Ventspils (6) under 2.5 goals
Heerenveen vs Hertha HSC Berlin (6) 1-0
AS Roma vs Fulham (7) 2-1
Basel vs CSKA Sofia (10) -1.75 handicap
Dinamo Bucharest vs Galatasaray (5) 1-1
Sturm Graz vs Panathinaikos (6) 1-1
Levski Sofia vs Salzburg (7) 1-2
Villarreal vs Lazio (8) -1.75 handicap
FC Twente Enschede vs Sheriff Tiraspol (8) -1.75 handicap
Fenerbahce vs Steaua Bucharest (8) 3-1
AEK Athens vs BATE Borisov (5) 1-1
Everton vs SL Benfica (5) 1-1
Toulouse vs Shakhtar Donetsk (6) 1-2
Partizan Belgrade vs Club Brugge (6) 1-2
FC Copenhagen vs PSV Eindhoven (7) 0-0
CFR Cluj vs Sparta Prague (7) 2-0
Werder Bremen vs Austria Vienna (8) over 2.5 goals
CD Nacional vs Athletic Club de Bilbao (6) 1-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Jaguares vs Morelia (6) 1-2
Pachuca vs Cruz Azul (6) 1-0
Estudiantes Tecos vs San Luis (5) 1-1
Queretaro vs Tigres UANL (6) 1-1
Guadalajara vs Indios (7) 2-0
Monterrey vs Santos Laguna (7) 1-1
Atlante vs Toluca (6) 1-1
Puebla vs Atlas (7) 1-0
Pumas UNAM vs America (6) 0-1
Singaporean S-League:
Albirex Niigate vs Balestier Khalsa (7) 2-0
Swedish Superettan Relegation Play-Off:
Qviding Goteborg vs Brage Borlange (7)
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Deportivo Tachira vs Caracas (7) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Enjoy your free betting tips!