Banik Ostrava vs Marila Pribram
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Gambrinus Liga encounter in the Czech Republic between Banik Ostrava and Marila Pribram. The hosts have been immense lately whereas the visitors have done just enough to prolong their stay in the Gambrinus Liga for at least another season.
Banik Ostrava have generally suffered massively this season from a lack of potency. They’ve never really replaced Varadi or Micola in attack and with Zeher having an off-season, it nearly cost them their place in the division. Senkerik is a decent striker with a lot of experience but he’s not brilliant and Banik need to sign someone new in summer or face struggling again next season. They’ve been incredibly fortunate that Nando has been as immense as he has at the back this year or they’d have gone down for sure, especially after the bizarre sale of integral defender Neuwirth mid-season! They signed Kraut mid-season to help bolster their attack and it seemed to do a job although it’s not a long-term solution, in my view. Either way, Banik have gone on a superb run of late and have only lost once in their last six games, losing 3-1 at champions Viktoria Plzen last match. To see how much Banik Ostrava have improved lately, consider that they’ve bagged nearly a third of their Gambrinus Liga goals from all season in their last four games and you’ll see what I mean. They’ve even scored three at a very strong Jablonec side so I can’t ignore the strong momentum that Banik bring into this game today.
Helpfully, Pribram have been disastrous away from home this season. They’ve lost ten out of fourteen away games whilst averaging conceding nearly two goals per game so they’re generally sitting ducks away from home. I’m not entirely sure how they managed to stay in the division this season other than that Usti nad Labem haven’t managed to play any games “at home” and that Brno appointed a new manager far too late to save their season as well as having crippling financial problems, hence both sides finishing below them. They may not be so lucky next season, however, as we have to expect a strong return to the Gambrinus Liga for Czech footballing giants Dukla Prague. The only two sides that Pribram have beaten away from home in their last fourteen games in all competitions are the two sides that finished below them; they’ve lost eleven of the remaining twelve. They’re just a poor side with very little ability so I can’t take them seriously for this game.
Banik have beaten Pribram twice in their last three home games against them with Pribram failing to score on two occasions out of the three. It takes a good Pribram display and a poor Banik display for this game to end in anything but a home win and I find the chances of that happening today distinctly slim, based on the above information. For me, the home win is too generously priced at 4/5 so that’s my call today.
Verdict: Banik Ostrava to win at 4/5.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Barcelona vs Manchester United
Just a quick word on this game as I know the vast majority of people are going to be betting on this game. I don’t fancy anything from the 1×2 market as we have two sides that can stop each other from scoring goals, depending on the circumstances. What I would say is that I believe the winning side will be the first one to score as the other side can keep them out tactically. I therefore also expect under 2.5 goals although it’s rather accurately priced, unfortunately. However, when a goal inevitably is scored, taking under 2.5 goals in-play should be a good call. The only other interest I’ve had is laying Barcelona at 9/10 as I don’t see how you should be able to lay any side in a game between two world-class sides at such long odds but aside from that, good luck guys!
Verdict: Hopefully a Manchester United win!
Racing Club Avellaneda vs Banfield – home win at 4/5.
Racing still continue to disappoint as they frustratingly show their potential in some games and not in others but if they can’t take advantage of a poor Banfield side today then they should just give up!
Racing have won two out of their last three games, scoring five times along the way and only losing at in-form Quilmes. They’ve won two out of their last three home games, too, beating Independiente in the Avellaneda derby along the way with only River Plate puncturing their run with a 0-1 victory here. Racing do bring some momentum into this game as a result. They’ve got some good players, too, just as you’d expect for a big club like Racing – Hauche, Moreno, Gutierrez, Luguercio, Zuculini, Toranzo, Cahais etc. If these players turn up then I fully expect a good display from Racing tonight.
Similarly, if Banfield turn up tonight the way that they’ve been playing lately then I fully expect them to lose this game. It was always going to be tough after they lost boss Falconi to Boca Juniors but their displays since then have been so poor that it’s unreal. Away from home, they’ve lost three out of their last four games without even scoring in three of those games. Overall, they’ve lost three out of their last four games and it would have been four out of four if hadn’t had Sigali sent off last match, I’m sure. Indeed, that was one of just a number of bad decisions that went against Godoy in that game and Banfield were very, very fortunate not to lose that game as a result. They’ve shipped nine goals in four games and scored just four in response, three of which were against defensively-inept Quilmes so it’s hardly impressive.
Lastly, Banfield have nothing to play for here, realistically speaking, whereas Racing have a Copa Sudamericana place up for grabs so they should be highly-motivated here. For me, Racing are generously priced to win this one at 4/5 today.
Verdict: Racing Club Avellaneda to win at 4/5.
Stromsgodset vs Fredrikstad – home win at 9/10.
I’m really not understanding the odds on the home win here, guys! Better sides than newly-promoted Fredrikstad have been humiliated on the artificial turf of the Marienlyst over the past few years and it’s going to take more than talented duo of Borges and Elyounoussi to convince me that the same fate isn’t awaiting Fredrikstad today!
Drammen is an intimidating place for an away game as it is but this turf suits no side other than Stromsgodset. Other sides do use artificial turf in Norway, of course, but these guys are easily one of the strongest home sides in the Eliteserien due to their pitch and their prolific goalscoring. Stromgodset have already won four out of five home games this season, scoring eleven goals along the way. Berget’s decision to return to Stromsgodset for a second successive loan spell was a big boost for the hosts as Pedersen’s departure had hurt them in attack. Manchester City youngster Abu looks very strong in midfield and with such a potent midfield alongside him, Stromsgodset are genuinely a threat from all over the park with Kamara, Storflor, Nordkvelle, and Konradsen all posing threats, which gives Berget both the support and the space he needs to work his magic. All in all, Deila has a great young side in front of him, especially in emerging striker Keita too, so I fancy them to do what they do best here by scoring and winning.
Visitors Fredrikstad have earned the respect of everyone thanks to some superb displays so far this season. They’ve looked very composed and they have two terrific midfielders in Borges and Elyounoussi, both of which are a constant threat. Piiroja is a good leader in defence too but Fredrikstad’s problem is that aside from the afore-mentioned three players, there are too many average players in their ranks. I think they’ve got enough to survive in the Eliteserien this season but to go to Drammen and get a point looks a bit beyond them, in my view, especially considering that they’ve lost their last two Eliteserien away games against Stabaek and Molde FK respectively.
Expect goals here, as we always should at the Marienlyst, but I can only see one side winning it and it’s the ever-attacking Godset boys of Ronny Deila that should emerge with three points at generous odds.
Verdict: Stromsgodset to win at 9/10.
Accumulator fodder:
Internacional, Sao Paulo, Litex Lovech, CSKA Sofia, Universidad de Chile, Deportes Tolima, Sparta Prague, Mlada Boleslav, Slovan Liberec, Trans Narva, Flora Tallinn, Skonto Riga, Daugava Daugavpils, FK Ventspils.
Recommended bets:
Banik Ostrava, FK Ventspils, and Internacional at nearly 2/1.
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!
UEFA Champions League:
Barcelona vs Manchester United (5) 1-1
International Friendly:
Mexico vs Ecuador (6) 1-0
Argentinian Primera Division:
Colon de Santa Fe vs Argentinos Juniors (6) 1-1
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Arsenal de Sarandi (5) 1-1
All Boys vs Quilmes (6) over 2.5 goals
Racing Club Avellaneda vs Banfield (7) 2-0
Brazilian Serie A:
Botafogo vs Santos (5) 2-1
Internacional vs Ceara (8) 2-0
Avai vs Atletico Mineiro (6) 1-0
Sao Paulo vs Figueirense (8) 1-0
Bulgarian A PFG:
Slavia Sofia vs Lokomotiv Sofia (5) 1-2
Litex Lovech vs Kaliakra (9) -1.5 handicap
Sliven vs Minior Pernik (6) 0-0
Cherno More Varna vs Beroe (7) 1-0
Rakovski vs Pirin Blagoevgrad (5) 0-1
Chernomorets Burgas vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv (6) 0-1
CSKA Sofia vs Akademik Sofia (8) 2-0
Chilean Primera Division:
Palestino vs O’Higgins (4) 1-1
Universidad de Chile vs Union San Felipe (8) 2-0
Colombian Primera A:
Deportes Tolima vs Cucuta Deportivo (8) 2-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Sparta Prague vs Hradec Kralove (8) 2-0
Slavia Prague vs Bohemians 1905 (5) 1-1
Teplice vs Slovacko (5) 1-1
Sigma Olomouc vs Viktoria Plzen (6) 2-2
Slovan Liberec vs Ceske Budejovice (8) 2-0
Mlada Boleslav vs Usti nad Labem (8) over 2.5 goals
Brno vs Jablonec (5) 0-1
Banik Ostrava vs Marila Pribram (7) 2-0
English League Two:
Stevenage vs Torquay United (6)
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Sillamae Kalev vs Nomme Kalju (6) 2-1
Flora Paide vs Trans Narva (8) 0-2
Ajax Lasnamae vs Flora Tallinn (9) over 2.5 goals
Japanese J-League:
Vegalta Sendai vs Yokohama F.Marinos (6) 1-1
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Albirex Niigata (6) 1-0
Kashiwa Reysol vs Vissel Kobe (7) 2-1
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Jubilo Iwata (5) 0-0
Ventforet Kofu vs Montedio Yamagata (6) 1-0
Latvian Virsliga:
Skonto Riga vs RFS/Olimps Riga (8) over 2.5 goals
Daugava Daugavpils vs FC Jurmala (8) 2-0
Gulbene 2005 vs FK Ventspils (9) 0-2
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Mazeikiai vs Tauras Taurage (4) 1-0
Siauliai vs Klaipeda (7) 2-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Sarpsborg 08 vs Lillestrom (6) 2-1
Stromsgodset vs Fredrikstad (7) over 2.5 goals
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Independiente FBC vs Rubio Nu (4) 0-1
Sol de America vs Guarani Asuncion (5) 0-1
Polish Liga 1:
Katowice vs Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski (6)
Odra Wodzislaw vs Flota Swinoujscie (6)
Ruch Radzionkow vs Warta Poznan (5)
Kluczbork vs Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala (5)
Sandecja Nowy Sacz vs LKS Lodz (5)
Gornik Polkowice vs Dolcan Zabki (6)
Singaporean S-League:
Young Lions vs Hougang United (5) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Tenerife vs Ponferradina (6)
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Bella Vista vs Cerro (5) 1-1
Montevideo Wanderers vs Liverpool Montevideo (5) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Club Nacional de Montevideo vs Defensor Sporting (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Enjoy your free betting tips!