Sandefjord vs Viking Stavanger
FreeToday’s featured game is the Eliteserien game between Sandefjord and Viking Stavanger. Typically, Sandefjord have struggled already this season and I’d be surprised to see them do anything but that as second season syndrome truly hits home. Visitors Viking Stavanger are looking stronger than they have in recent years, particularly of late, so are always a threat against whoever they face in this division.
Eleven games into this season’s Eliteserien campaign and Sandefjord already look prime candidates to be relegated. They’ve lost nine games so far, three of which they’ve lost during their five home games, so their vulnerability is clear. They don’t concede many goals at home, to their credit, but the fact that only newly-promoted Honefoss have scored less home goals than they have should tell a story by itself. Sandefjord have lost seven consecutive games ahead of this one and don’t look likely to emerge from the slump anytime soon for obvious reasons. They’ve lost their last three home games consecutively, each game resulting in a 0-1 scoreline, even the game at home to newly-promoted Kongsvinger. Call it misfortune or whatever you will but Sandefjord haven’t scored for four consecutive games now and they’ve got real problems staying in the division as a result.
Visitors Viking Stavanger are generally a difficult side to back as in it depends which Viking side turns up. They’re still a bit short of a target man – until the imminent return of prodigal son Erik Nevland in summer – and it shows sometimes. However, they’re playing very well at the moment with no defeats in six games, winning four of them and drawing the other two. They’ve struggled on the road this season from a general perspective. However, one win and one draw from their last two away games isn’t a bad record and they have a good chance to increase that record today, particularly after the morale-boosting 4-1 demolition of Molde FK in their last game.
Overall, Viking have enough momentum and ability to make it count today against a side that can only be described as worthy of being the bottom club in the league. Sandefjord aren’t scoring goals but they look likely to concede as they have in every Eliteserien game this season so they’ve got problems today, basically. Viking don’t have a good record against Sandefjord (which must have played at least a minor role in the gifting of such generous odds on the away win today) but they’ll seldom get a better opportunity to remedy that record than they have today.
Incidentally, luck has been massively against me of late so perhaps it’s worthwhile for you all to stick a low stake on the home win for Sandefjord today as some kind of insurance policy against what can only be described as an inevitable home win in line with the luck I’ve had lately!
Verdict: Viking Stavanger to win at 11/10.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Goias vs Internacional – home win at 5/6.
Goias lost their opening game of the Serie A season but that’s to be expected; no Brazilian side consistently travels well. However, they’re quite the tough customer at home as they showed last year with nine wins and just four defeats in nineteen home games whilst scoring an average of nearly two goals per game. Wheras their squad differs slightly from last year, I don’t expect a great deal of fluctuation in their overall ability, particularly when it comes to home games so I’ll give them their due respect tonight.
Ordinarily, the above wouldn’t be enough but the unwritten ruling of Brazilian betting is not to back the sides that have other committments as few sides in Serie A have the capacity to compete on two fronts at once, if indeed any do. Internacional faced Copa Libertadores reigning champions Estudiantes De La Plata a few days ago at home and won 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Uruguayan Gonzalo Sorondo. They face a trip to Argentina next week for the return leg of the tie – do you really think they’ll field a full-strength squad for the trip to Goias? I find the the prospect of it rather unlikely although we can but wait and see. Internacional’s problem has long been scoring goals, as they indicated when fielding an under-strength side in their opening Serie A game at home to Cruzeiro, eventually losing 2-1. Of all the sides competing for the Serie A title, I have more concerns about Internacional than any other because they don’t have the depth to compete so I don’t forsee them doing much damage to Goias tonight.
Goias haven’t had a great State Championship campaign this time around so I do fear for them a little in terms of how likely they are to score themselves. However, the odds are good enough to take them to win at home to an under-strength Internacional side tonight so I recommend giving it some thought.
Verdict: Goias to win at 5/6.
Hameenlinna vs MP Mikkeli – home win at evens.
Hameenlinna’s problems in the Ykkonen have long been restricted to goalscoring. Their defending is stout and few sides get an easy ride off them as a result. However, they simply don’t score enough goals which is why they’re yet to win an Ykkonen game this season. However, they’re a good home side when it comes to avoiding defeats – they simply need to score the necessary quota of goals or they’ll undoubtedly be drawn into a relegation battle this season. Today’s game is the opportune moment for them to get points on the board against newly-promoted MP Mikkeli with the visitors having already conceded eight goals in three games, losing each game and scoring just once along the way. I’ll be concerned if the visitors score in this game because I don’t forsee it happening against a generally strong Hameenlinna defence today. My concern lies in whether Hameenlinna will score today and at odds of evens, I have to take the chance that they will because whether they score or not – they’re still an awful lot better than MP Mikkeli so I’ll be backing the home win today.
Verdict: Hameenlinna to win at evens.
Nagoya Grampus vs Kashima Antlers – home win at 11/8.
An unthinkable defeat at home to managerless South Koreans Pohang Steelers mid-week in the Asian Champions League leaves Kashima Antlers yet again cursing their luck when facing South Korean sides as well as demoralising the side as they’ve yet again crashed out of the Champions League at what can only be described as early stages for a good side. Antlers will have been hit hard there and should count themselves lucky that this is their last game before the series of Emperor’s Cup games begins or their J-League assault could have suffered repercussions as a result. Antlers have struggled on the road already this season due to mixed form, losing twice in six games with both defeats coming against newly-promoted sides. Antlers today face a strong Nagoya Grampus side that have only lost once at home this season, winning three out of their five home games along the way. Grampus average scoring nearly two goals per home game and concede just once per home game on average so they’re a strong home side. Three wins in their past four games gives Grampus a momentum advantage over their demoralised visitors which should work naturally work in their favour today.
Grampus don’t have a great record at home to their more illustrious opponents and should they win today I don’t expect the feat to be readily achieved on a consistent basis as I believe Antlers are the superior of the two sides. However, Antlers are a little weak at the moment, particularly on the road, and they’re demoralised from their mid-week exit from the Champions League so I think Grampus have a chance to steal three points today as they’re in-form and the odds of 11/8 are generous enough to take too.
Verdict: Nagoya Grampus to win at 11/8.
Grasshoppers Zurich vs Luzern – home win at 4/5.
I can’t understand these odds. The game is redundant as it’s the final day of the Super League season for both sides but Grasshoppers are head and shoulders above minnows Luzern so I’m somewhat surprised that Grasshoppers have been priced so favourably today. Grasshoppers are one of the giants of Swiss football but this is the first season in which they’ve shown it for some time. They’ve been dominant at home, winning fourteen out of seventeen at home this season whilst scoring well over an average of two goals per game. Only fellow giants Basel have conceded less goals than they have at home this season so the Zurich-based hosts are truly a frightening opponent at home whether their motivation is present or not. Grasshoppers have won six out of their last seven games and have won all eight home games since returning from the winter break, which is a phenomenal record. Grasshoppers have scored at least twice in each of those games and have won their last three home games against giants Young Boys Bern, Basel, and bitter rivals FC Zurich respectively whilst scoring ten goals along the way. If that’s not a side to be concerned about then I don’t know what is!
Luzern’s emphatic win over reigning champions Young Boys Bern last match will have boosted their morale and enchanced the momentum that they bring into this game as a result. However, the fact that they’re simply an inferior side to today’s hosts remains factual irrespective of their form so I can’t see why Grasshoppers aren’t 4/6 for this game. Luzern have already lost seven away games this season and concede nearly two goals per away game whilst scoring only just over a goal per away game so it’s hard to see them troubling a potent and composed Grasshoppers Zurich side today.
Luzern are a decent enough side; mid-table each year in my eyes. However, Grasshoppers have long had the roots and the ability to break back into stardom in Swiss football and they’ve finally done that in the latter stages of this campaign so I can’t see them letting up on the final day of the season. I thoroughly expect Grasshoppers to win this game comfortably and I’m just surprised at how generous the odds are.
Verdict: Grasshoppers Zurich to win at 4/5.
Young Boys Bern vs Basel – home win at 13/10.
This one is quite simple for Young Boys Bern; win this game and reclaim the Super League title. Full credit to their opponents today, Basel, who have pushed it right to the wire and they only need a draw here to win the title themselves. This is the kind of game that we all follow football for a it should be an outstanding game between two of the best sides in Switzerland currently, both of which score goals for fun. However, I have to favour Young Boys Bern here despite their capitulation at Luzern last match because they’re a terrifying home side. They’ve already won fifteen out of seventeen at home this season and are unbeaten throughout so they do love their home games. They average scoring over two goals per home game and have a good home record against Basel, winning five out of their last six home games against today’s opponents. Basel have done well this season away from home but just concede too many goals – nearly two goals per away game on average – so I have my doubts over the longevity of their quest to win the title today.
This is a game well worthwhile of being watched as it should have all the features that makes football a classic game. However, with generous odds of 13/10, I can’t help but favour a very strong Young Boys Bern side winning the title this season as I personally believe they’re just a bit better than their strong opponents.
Verdict: Young Boys Bern to win at 13/10.
Bursaspor vs Besiktas JK – home win at 4/5.
Although it’s now out of their hands, Bursaspor still need to win this game to keep the pressure on league leaders Fenerbahce. The leaders have to slip up today, which is unlikely as they’re at home, but whilst there’s a chance Bursaspor need to win. They’ve been outstanding this season and I wouldn’t hesitate on giving them the title if I could given such a momentous achievment for the Bursa-based outfit. They’ve got some superb players and great youngsters coming through so full speed for them – I hope they win it. Today’s game isn’t easy as Besiktas JK love stopping other sides from playing football but the visitors have nothing to play for and have been deceptively lacklustre in recent games. They’ve only lost three away games in the Super Lig this season and two of those were against fellow giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce so today is the opportune moment for Bursaspor to throw their hat into the ring as one of Turkey’s bigger clubs. It’s a big ask but they’ve demonstrated that they’re capable of it this season as their home form of thirteen wins in sixteen games indicates all too clearly. They average scoring over two goals per home game and concede a goal per every two home games on average so they’ve been truly magnificent at home this season – no side has conceded less and only Galatasaray have scored more at home – so why falter now?
Bursaspor owe it to their fans to win this game after a great season, a season which has seen them claim a UEFA Champions League place for the first time in their history. They’ve got a chance of winning the title but must win this game and hope Fenerbahce slip up. Bursaspor have been superb at home this season so I’m confident that they can be yet again today. Besiktas are no mugs but they’re more than capable of playing like mugs in meaningless games as they’ve shown on various occasions in recent times so I think Bursaspor winning a must-win game at 4/5 is worth a flutter today.
Verdict: Bursaspor to win at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder:
Atletico Junior Barranquilla, Fredericia, KR Reykjavik, Fylkir Reykjavik, FH Hafnarfjordur, Internazionale, AS Roma, Rosenborg BK, Bodo Glimt, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce, Caracas.
Recommended bets:
Fredericia, FH Hafnarfjordur, Barcelona, and Real Madrid at 4/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Huracan vs Argentinos Juniors (5) 0-1
Colon de Santa Fe vs Estudiantes De La Plata (7) 0-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Sint-Truiden vs Racing Genk (6) 1-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse Play-Offs:
Eupen vs KVSK United (5) under 2.5 goals
Mons vs Roeselare (6)
Brazilian Serie A:
Sao Paulo vs Botafogo (4) 1-1
Gremio vs Corinthians (5) 1-1
Goias vs Internacional (7) 2-1
Santos vs Ceara (6) over 2.5 goals
Vasco de Gama vs Palmeiras (7) 1-1
Cruzeiro vs Avai (6) 0-0
Atletico Paranaense vs Guarani (6) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Cherno More Varna vs Montana (6) 1-0
Levski Sofia vs Sliven (9) 2-0
Lokomotiv Mezdra vs Minior Pernik (6) 2-1
Sportist Svoge vs Litex Lovech (8) 0-2
Beroe vs Slavia Sofia (4) 1-0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs Lokomotiv Sofia (7) 1-0
Chernomorets Burgas vs CSKA Sofia (4) 1-1
Colombian Primera A:
Deportivo Cali vs La Equidad Bogota (5) 2-2
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Envigado (8) over 2.5 goals
Once Caldas Manizales vs Cortulua (6) 2-0
Cucuta Deportivo vs Real Cartagena (7) 1-1
Boyaca Chico vs America de Cali (7) 2-1
Atletico Huila vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (7) 2-2
Danish Superligaen:
Randers vs Brondby (7) 2-1
Midtylland vs Silkeborg (6) 1-0
Aalborg BK vs HB Koge (7) 2-0
AGF Aarhus vs OB Odense (5) 2-2
FC Copenhagen vs SonderjyskE (4) 0-0
Esbjerg vs Nordsjaelland (7) 1-0
Danish 1st Division:
Roskilde vs Fredericia (7)
Hvidovre vs Lyngby (7)
Vestjaelland vs Fyn (6)
Thisted vs Naestved (5)
Skive vs Frem (7)
Kolding vs Viborg (4) under 2.5 goals
English League Two Play-Off:
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Morecambe (7) over 2.5 goals
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
Suduroy vs Vikingur Gotu (7) over 2.5 goals
B68 vs AB Argir (7) 2-0
B71 vs EB/Streymur (5) 1-1
B36 vs NSI Runavik (6) 1-2
IF Fuglafjordur vs HB Torshavn (7) 1-2
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
AC Oulu vs IFK Mariehamn (5) 2-1
Jaro Pietarsaari vs VPS Vaasa (6) over 2.5 goals
FC Honka Espoo vs HJK Helsinki (6) 2-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
Jippo Joensuu vs TPV Tampere (5)
Hameenlinna vs MP Mikkeli (7)
PS Kemi Kings vs Viikingit Helsinki (6)
PK-35 Helsinki vs KooTeePee Kotka (6)
German Bundesliga Relegation/Promotion Play-Off:
Augsburg vs Nurnberg (6) 0-0
Greek Super League:
Olympiakos Piraeus vs Aris Salonika (6) 2-1
PAOK Salonika vs AEK Athens (6) 1-0
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Szombathelyi Haladas vs Zalaegerszegi TE (6) 2-2
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
KR Reykjavik vs Selfoss (8) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Breidablik Kopavogur vs Fram Reykjavik (6) 1-1
Fylkir Reykjavik vs Stjarnan Gardabaer (8) 3-1
Haukar vs FH Hafnarfjordur (9) over 2.5 goals
International Friendlies:
Mexico vs Chile (5) 1-1
South Africa vs Thailand (6) 2-1
South Korea vs Ecuador (6) 1-1
Italian Serie A:
Cagliari vs Bologna (5) 1-1
Bari vs Fiorentina (6) 0-0
Catania vs Genoa (6) 1-1
Siena vs Internazionale (9) 0-2
Parma vs Livorno (8) 2-0
Sampdoria vs SSC Napoli (6) 1-0
Atalanta Bergamo vs Palermo (6) 1-2
Chievo Verona vs AS Roma (8) 1-2
Japanese J-League:
Jubilo Iwata vs Kawasaki Frontale (6) 1-2, draw no bet
Omiya Ardija vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima (7) 0-1
Nagoya Grampus vs Kashima Antlers (6) 2-1
Shonan Bellmare vs Gamba Osaka (6) 1-1
Dutch Eredivisie Promotion/Relegation Play-Off:
Willem II vs Go Ahead Eagles (6) 2-1
Sparta Rotterdam vs Excelsior (7) 1-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Molde FK vs Haugesund (7) 2-1
Valerenga Oslo vs Aalesunds (6) 2-1
Sandefjord vs Viking Stavanger (7) 0-1
Start Kristiansand vs Kongsvinger (6) 2-1
Stromsgodset vs Stabaek (6) 1-0
Rosenborg BK vs Honefoss (8) 2-0
Odd Grenland Skien vs Tromso (6) 1-1
Brann Bergen vs Lillestrom (7) 0-0
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Mjondalen vs Alta (6)
Fredrikstad vs Lov-Ham Bergen (7) under 2.5 goals
Tromsdalen vs Sarpsborg 08 (5)
Lyn Oslo vs Ranheim (4)
Bodo Glimt vs Follo (8)
Sandnes Ulf vs Bryne (5) over 2.5 goals
Nybergsund vs Moss (6)
Spanish Primera Liga:
Racing Santander vs Sporting Gijon (5) 1-0
Barcelona vs Real Valladolid (9) over 2.5 goals
Valencia CF vs Tenerife (5) 1-1
Osasuna vs Deportivo Xerez (6) 1-0
Malaga vs Real Madrid (8) over 2.5 goals
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Elche vs Celta de Vigo (5) under 2.5 goals
Numancia vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (6)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Kalmar vs Helsingborgs (6) 1-1
Gefle vs IFK Goteborg (6) 0-0
GAIS Goteborg vs Elfsborg Boras (6) 1-1
Swiss Super League:
Bellinzona vs Aarau (6) 2-1
Grasshoppers Zurich vs Luzern (8) over 2.5 goals
Neuchatel Xamax vs FC Zurich (5) 1-1
Sion vs St.Gallen (6) 2-1
Young Boys Bern vs Basel (7) over 2.5 goals
Turkish Super Lig:
Manisaspor vs Kasimpasa (6) 1-1
Bursaspor vs Besiktas JK (7) 1-0
Genclerbirligi vs Galatasaray (6) 1-2
Fenerbahce vs Trabzonspor (8) 2-1
Venezuelan Primera Division:
Monagas SC vs Carabobo (7) 1-0
Trujillanos vs Estudiantes de Merida (6) 1-1
Centro Italo vs Deportivo Tachira (6) 0-1
Caracas vs Deportivo Anzoategui (8) 2-1
Aragua vs Zulia (5) 1-0
Atletico El Vigia vs Zamora (6) 2-1
Llaneros de Guanare vs Yaracuyanos (6) 0-0
Deportivo Lara vs Deportivo Italia (6) 2-1
Mineros de Guayana vs Real Esppor Club (7) 1-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!