HiFK Helsinki vs AC Oulu
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Ykkonen encounter between HiFK Helsinki and AC Oulu.
The hosts have made a living in the Ykkonen by being hard to beat at home due to their notoriously vociferous fans. Quality-wise, though – they really struggle. However, momentum is on their side after a barren run of form was brought to a halt following a 0-1 win at PS Kemi Kings, which has subsequently led to three consecutive wins. That should be enough to keep them in the division, to be honest – KPV Kokkola look too far behind now. Hell, motivation could even be a factor for the hosts today because it’s going to take something monumental for them to be relegated to the Kakkonen now so I don’t expect much from the hosts today, especially with regular defenders Heinanen and Tanner absent, not to mention back-up defender Pyhala.
Visitors AC Oulu are by far the superior of these two sides and it’ll take more than a surprise 0-0 draw at home against a Hameenlinna side (that have consistently surprised away from home this season) to convince me otherwise. AC Oulu’s Stafsula is one of the best hitmen in the Ykkonen and his return has sparked AC Oulu’s promotion aspirations again, especially given FC Lahti’s injury crisis. Oulu have won three out of their last four games and have bagged nine goals along the way so it’s fair to observe that this team does mean business. Let’s be realistic here – they’re good enough to be in the Veikkausliiga again; let’s just hope they’re not relegated due to financial issues again if they do get promoted! Either way, Kauppila, Owusu, Edwini-Bonsu, Nurmela – they’re all too good for this division and against a side barely good enough to be in the Ykkonen, it really should show.
For me, the odds on the away win are rather generous here. There are two sides with polar opposite ideals here and two sides with a couple of classes of difference so the away win appeals to me today.
Verdict: AC Oulu to win at 10/11.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
IF Fuglafjordur vs KI Klaksvik – home win at evens.
I can’t really substantiate this more other than by stating that I rate the hosts far more than I do their opponents. KI Klaksvik only work hard against the big teams, hence their precarious Meistaradeildin placing. IF Fuglafjordur are a decent side but have had a lot of misfortune this year and their lack of a goalscorer has really hurt them. However, their new boss has spurred the hosts on and the visitors have become weaker as the season wears on so the scales are tipping in favour of the hosts, in my view. A win for IF Fuglafjordur today sees them pass their opponents and escape from the relegation zone so the motivation for IF Fulgafjordur is huge today. Although I have my doubts over the firepower of the hosts, I still think that they’ve got more than enough to beat a weak KI Klaksvik side today and evens is a good enough price to take it at.
Verdict: IF Fuglafjordur to win at evens.
FC Utrecht vs Roda JC Kerkrade – lay FC Utrecht at 9/10.
This is a tad risky as the hosts are the better side and the visitors don’t travel too well. However, Utrecht are missing far too many players to overlook this one, really. It was hard enough for the hosts after they parted with star midfielder Strootman pre-season, not to mention leading goalscorer van Wolfswinkel and his strike partner Mertens. However, on top of that, Utrecht face the daunting prospect of entering today’s game without regular attackers Duplan and Demouge, which basically means that the goalscoring burden rests solely with emerging Swedish attacker Gerndt, who hasn’t been in Netherlands more than a few weeks now. I mean, consider that Utrecht scored fifty-five Eredivisie goals last season and that the afore-mentioned players contributed just below forty of those goals and you’ll see exactly what I mean. To make matters worse for the hosts, attacking midfielder Lensky, essential defender Wuytens, and regular defender Nilsson are also absent. Basically, it’s going to take something of a miracle for the hosts to win this one today, in my view. Roda JC Kerkrade have a decent squad this year with experienced and able Danish hitman Junker up front alongside old hand Ramzi. There’s a lot of experience in this Roda side and although they’ve not really started as well as they should have done yet, they’re well-placed to score a result off Utrecht here so laying the hosts at 9/10 appeals to me here.
Verdict: Lay FC Utrecht at 9/10.
Koper vs Rudar Velenje – home win at evens.
This is a dangerous one to get involved in but it’s one I quite like as the odds suggest that the bookies underestimate Koper due to their abysmal start to the season. I can understand their apprehensive approach but Koper are a good side and just need a bit of inspiration to get back on the wagon and perhaps their new boss is the man to do it. They’ve brought in Pucko and Duric to freshen up the squad and the seaside outfit look well-placed to end their terrible run by claiming three points here with the above in mind. Rudar Velenje are a decent side but they’ve long been a notoriously poor away side in the Prva Liga. Additionally, they’ve got big problems ahead of this game with injuries as regular midfielder Mujakovic absent, defender Jelecevic absent and fellow defender Jesenicnik a doubt. Attacker Purisic is also absent whilst important attacker Majcen is a doubt and although neither of the following two players are regulars, both Bizjak and Klinar missing this game makes Rudar’s injury list mount higher and higher so a rejuvenated Koper side might not be their ideal game today! Indeed, with two losses from their last three visits to Koper, the home win at evens with the above in mind does tempt me today.
Verdict: Koper to win at evens.
Accumulator fodder:
Velez Sarsfield, AA Gent, Levski Sofia, Dinamo Zagreb, Chelsea, Flora Tallin, Levadia Tallinn, Trans Narva, Nomme Kalju, Sillamae Kalev, EB/Streymur, Bayern Munich, Zimbru Chisinau, Sheriff Tiraspol, Twente Enschede, Wisla Krakow, Vojvodina Novi Sad, Valencia CF, Bangor City.
Recommended bets:
AC Oulu, Chelsea, and Twente Enschede at below 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!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Atletico Lanus vs Tigre (7) 1-0
Atletico Rafaela vs Olimpo (6) 1-1
Velez Sarsfield vs All Boys (8) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
SV Mattersburg vs Wacker Innsbruck (6) 1-0
Sturm Graz vs Wiener Neustadt (6) 2-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk vs Mechelen (6) 1-0
AA Gent vs Lierse SK (8) over 2.5 goals
Lokeren vs OH Leuven (7) 2-0
Kortrijk vs Sint-Truiden (7) 1-0
Mons vs Zulte-Waregem (6) 1-1
Westerlo vs Cercle Brugge (6) 0-0
Brazilian Serie A:
Fluminense vs Botafogo (5) 1-0
Coritiba vs Atletico Paranaense (6) 2-1
America Mineiro vs Atletico Goianiense (4) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Beroe vs Chernomorets Burgas (7) 1-0
Svetkavitsa vs Ludogorets (6) 0-1
Cherno More Varna vs Minior Pernik (7) 2-0
Levski Sofia vs Botev Vratsa (8) 2-0
Chilean Primera Division:
Palestino vs Cobresal (7) 1-0
Huachipato vs Colo Colo (6) 0-1
Union Espanola vs Union San Felipe (7) 2-1
Colombian Primera A:
Cucuta Deportivo vs Deportivo Cali (6) 1-0
Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota vs Deportes Tolima (5) 2-1
Envigado vs Atletico Nacional de Medellin (6) 1-1
Croatian Prva Liga:
Dinamo Zagreb vs Lucko (9) 2-0
Istra 1961 vs Lokomotiva Zagreb (5) 1-0
Cibalia Vinkovci vs Osijek (6) 2-1
Slaven Koprivnica vs Karlovac (7) 1-0
Cypriot Division 1:
Apollon Limassol vs Ermis (7) 2-0
Ethnikos Achnas vs Anorthosis Famagusta (7) 1-2
Nea Salamis vs AEL Limassol (6) 0-1
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Banik Ostrava vs Bohemians 1905 (4) 1-1
Slovacko vs Dukla Prague (5) 2-1
Slovan Liberec vs Teplice (7) over 2.5 goals
Danish Superligaen:
HB Koge vs Aalborg BK (6) 0-0
Danish 1st Division:
Hobro vs Vejle-Kolding (7)
English Premier League:
Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Wigan Athletic vs Queens Park Rangers (6) 1-0
Blackburn Rovers vs Everton (6) 0-0
Chelsea vs Norwich City (8) 2-0
Swansea City vs Sunderland (5) 1-1
Liverpool vs Bolton Wanderers (7) 2-1
English Championship:
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City (7)
Crystal Palace vs Blackpool (4)
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Peterborough United (5)
Ipswich Town vs Leeds United (5)
Millwall vs Barnsley (6)
Leicester City vs Southampton (5)
Derby County vs Burnley (6)
Hull City vs Reading (6)
Portsmouth vs Cardiff City (6)
Doncaster Rovers vs Bristol City (5)
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Flora Tallinn vs Maag Tammeka Tartu (8) over 2.5 goals
Flora Paide vs Levadia Tallinn (8) 0-2
Trans Narva vs Kuressaare (8) -1.5 handicap
Ajax Lasnamae vs Sillamae Kalev (9) -1.5 handicap
Viljandi vs Nomme Kalju (8) 0-2
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
EB/Streymur vs 07 Vestur Sorvagur (9) -1.5 handicap
HB Torshavn vs B71 Sandur (4) 1-1
IF Fuglafjordur vs KI Klaksvik (7) 2-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
JJK Jyvaskyla vs Inter Turku (6) 2-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
KPV Kokkola vs KooTeePee Kotka (5)
HiFK Helsinki vs AC Oulu (7)
Hameenlinna vs PK-35 Helsinki (7)
French Ligue 1:
Auxerre vs AC Ajaccio (6) 1-0
Evian Thonon Gaillard vs Dijon FCO (7) 2-1
Lorient vs AS Nancy-Lorraine (7) 1-0
OGC Nice vs Stade Brestois (6) 1-0
Valenciennes vs Girondins de Bordeaux (4) 0-0
Olympique Lyonnais vs Montpellier HSC (6) 2-1
German Bundesliga:
Hamburger SV vs Koln (7) 2-1
Nurnberg vs Augsburg (7) 2-0
SC Freiburg vs VfL Wolfsburg (5) 1-1
Kaiserslautern vs Bayern Munich (8) 1-2
Hoffenheim vs Werder Bremen (4) 1-2
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Bv09 Borussia Dortmund (5) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Diosgyori VTK vs Siofok (7) 2-0
Budapest Honved vs Fehervar (7) 1-2
Pecsi MFC vs Lombard Papa (6) 2-1
Kaposvari Rakoczi vs Paksi SE (6) 1-1
Japanese J-League:
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Albirex Niigata (6) 2-1
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Yokohama F.Marinos (6) 0-1
Omiya Ardija vs Jubilo Iwata (6) 2-1
Vegalta Sendai vs Montedio Yamagata (5) 1-0
Latvian Virsliga:
FC Jurmala vs Gulbene 2005 (6) 1-1
Liepajas Metalurgs vs FK Ventspils (5) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Daugava Daugavpils vs Skonto Riga (6) 2-1
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Klaipeda vs Tauras Taurage (5) 1-2
Kruoja Pakruojis vs Siauliai (6) 1-1
Macedonian First League:
Napredok vs Metalurg Skopje (6) 1-2
Ohrid vs Vardar Skopje (7) 0-1
Sileks Kratovo vs Bregalnica Stip (6) 1-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Monterrey vs Santos Laguna (7) 2-1
Pachuca vs America (6) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
Atlas vs Tigres UANL (6) 1-1
San Luis vs Guadalajara (6) 1-2
Atlante vs Estudiantes Tecos (5) 1-0
Moldovan Divizia Nationala:
Costuleni vs CSCA-Rapid Chisinau (4) 1-1
Sfintul Gheorghe vs Milsami Orhei (5) 2-1
Iskra-Stali vs Dacia Chisinau (7) 0-1
Olimpia Balti vs Sheriff Tiraspol (8) 1-2
Tiraspol vs Nistru Otaci (6) 1-0
Zimbru Chisinau vs Academia-UTM Chisinau (8) 2-0
Dutch Eredivisie:
RKC Waalwijk vs NAC Breda (6) 1-1
Twente Enschede vs VVV Venlo (8) -1.5 handicap
NEC Nijmegen vs Heracles Almelo (6) 2-1
FC Utrecht vs Roda JC Kerkrade (5) 1-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Valerenga Oslo vs Haugesund (7) 1-0
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Rubio Nu vs Independiente FBC (6) 2-1
Sportivo Luqueno vs Nacional Asuncion (7) 0-1
Peruvian Primera Division:
Union Comercio vs Sporting Cristal (5) 0-1
Alianza Lima vs Inti Gas (7) 2-0
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala vs Korona Kielce (6) 1-1
Polonia Warsaw vs GKS Belchatow (7) 1-0
Wisla Krakow vs Lechia Gdansk (8) 2-0
Polish Liga 1:
Olimpia Elblag vs Polonia Bytom (5)
Olimpia Grudziadz vs Arka Gdynia (4)
Ruch Radzionkow vs Wisla Plock (6)
Flota Swinoujscie vs Zawisza Bydgoszcz (7)
Dolcan Zabki vs Katowice (6)
Sandecja Nowy Sacz vs Warta Poznan (5)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Gil Vicente vs Academica de Coimbra (7) 1-1
Romanian Liga:
Vointa Sibiu vs Pandurii Targu Jiu (7) 0-0
Astra Ploiesti vs Universitatea Cluj (5) 1-1
Russian Premier League:
Tom’ Tomsk vs Amkar Perm’ (7) 0-1
Volga Nizhnyi Novgorod vs Terek Grozny (7) 2-1
Rostov-na-Donu vs Anzhi Makhachkala (6) 1-2
Scottish Premier League:
Dunfermline Athletic vs Motherwell (6) 0-0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Kilmarnock (5) 2-1
St.Johnstone vs Dundee United (5) 0-1
Serbian Superliga:
Jagodina vs Hajduk Kula (6) 1-0
Spartak Subotica vs Metalac GM (7) 1-0
Javor Ivanjica vs Radnicki 1923 (7) 2-0
BSK Borca vs Borac Cacak (6) 0-0
Vojvodina Novi Sad vs Novi Pazar (8) 2-0
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Dukla Banska Bystrica vs MSK Zilina (5) 1-1
Zlate Moravce vs Senica (6) 1-1
Nitra vs Tatran Presov (6) 1-0
DAC Dunajska Streda vs Kosice (6) 2-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Celje vs Triglav (6) 1-0
Koper vs Rudar Velenje (6) 2-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Sporting Gijon vs Real Sociedad (7) 1-0
Valencia CF vs Racing Santander (8) 2-0
Granada vs Real Betis Balompie (6) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Barcelona II vs Villarreal II (7)
Deportivo La Coruna vs Recreativo de Huelva (7)
Hercules Alicante vs Cartagena (6)
Sabadell vs Huesca (5)
Alcorcon vs Deportivo Xerez (6)
Guadalajara vs Las Palmas (6)
Alcoyano vs Numancia (5)
Cordoba vs Almeria (6)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Trelleborg FF vs Halmstad (4) 1-1
Kalmar FF vs IFK Goteborg (6) 2-1
Swiss Super League:
Grasshopper Zurich vs Luzern (4) 2-2
Neuchatel Xamax vs Launsanne Sports (7) 1-0
Swiss Challenge League:
SC Kriens vs Bruhl (6)
Stade Nyonnais vs Lugano (6)
Wohlen vs Wil (6)
St.Gallen vs Locarno (7)
Etoile Carouge vs Winterthur (5)
Ukrainian Premier League:
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih vs Zorya Lugansk (5) 1-0
Arsenal Kiev vs Tavriya Simferopol (6) 2-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
River Plate Montevideo vs Rentistas (7) 1-0
Cerro vs Club Nacional de Montevideo (5) 1-1
El Tanque Sisley vs Liverpool Montevideo (6) 1-2
Welsh Premier League:
Newtown vs Bala Town (6) 1-0
Bangor City vs Aberystwyth Town (8) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!