Kortrijk vs Racing Genk
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Eerste Klasse encounter between Kortrijk and Racing Genk.
Although in possession of a dominant home record in Belgium, Kortrijk have struggled since returning from the winter break with mounting financial problems and it’s clearly affecting the players. Kortrijk are still scoring goals, to their credit, and that is what they do best, to be honest. This side has earned respect in Belgium for their relentless attacking game despite not possessing the players that Anderlecht etc. do. However, their defence looks weaker than ever, conceding in five out of their last six games. Indeed, they were drubbed 2-5 by Lokeren in their last home game and haven’t actually managed a home win since December. They’ve had some tough games, it’s true, but that doesn’t usually faze them, hence me reading a lot into their financial problems because I’ve seldom seen them so uncertain in defence. Kortrijk will still give Genk a tough game here but I can’t see them winning.
Visitors Genk are a bit hit-and-miss but their dominating 3-0 win against Club Bruggelast time out impressed me a lot. There’s not much between those two sides and the manner of their victory impressed me a lot, especially as it followed on from another good win – the 1-2 win at hotshots Mons. If Genk turn it on then we all know how good they can be. However, they’re a confidence side so you have to be careful as to when to back them and when not to. Fortunately, Jelle Vossen has re-acquainted himself with the goal in recent times and fellow attacker Benteke appears to have taken an additional step in his career too. Hyland – well, his quality was more than apparent at Zulte-Waregem so it’s about time he showed it here too. Genk still struggle to keep clean sheets but they tend to outscore their opponents and that’s what I expect here.
So, yeah – this game really should clear 2.5 goals quite easily. However, with Genk’s recent awakening and the chance of them making the play-offs back on, I fully expect Genk to go for the win here. Kortrijk are currently the main challengers to Genk’s play-off push so this is a very important game for both sides. However, Genk are the ones producing the goods right now and they are a better side than Kortrijk when looked at in the cold light of day so the away win with draw no bet appeals to me a lot at 5/6.
Verdict: Racing Genk to win with draw no bet at 5/6.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, please find my value tips listed below in no particular order:
Lokeren vs Westerlo – home win with -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Lokeren took half a season to get going but we’re finally seeing the quality that they’re capable of delivering on a more regular basis. Three points is a must for them here as they’ll want the play-off space that Kortrijk are battling Genk for at the moment and a win here could potentially leave them within three points of that place. With six wins and a draw from their last seven games, a run which includes convincing wins at Genk and Kortrijk respectively, I think it’s prudent to take the underrated Lokeren very seriously here. Westerlo’s displays have improved lately but their mountain of missing players is doing them a lot of the damage so they’re conceding goals for fun. Maybe they’ll poach a goal at Lokeren today; I wouldn’t rule that out. However, Lokeren not winning this game would surprise me an awful lot so the Asian Handicap is definitely the way to approach this game rather than the Europea Handicap. Either way, 4/5 on Lokeren beat the -1 Asian Handicap against a very under-strength Westerlo appeals to me a lot today.
Verdict: Lokeren to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Mons vs Germinal Beerschot – home win at 6/5.
Well, Mons are a one-man side, it has to be said. They’re probably going to get relegated when Perbet inevitably moves on but that’s not a concern for today’s game.
I suppose the odds are as long as they are here because Mons haven’t won for a long time. Indeed, they’ve lost six out of their last eight games in all competitions, drawing the other two games. To most people, that’s pretty condemning and enough to avoid betting on them whilst they’re on the decline. Perhaps those people are right but I have a different viewpoint. If we analyse the fixtures that Mons have had to deal with, I think their failure to win any of those eight games is actually quite acceptable with the possible exception of taking on Kortrijk at home. They’ve had two trips to Kortrijk during this run, not to mention games with Club Brugge, Standard de Liege, AA Gent, Lokeren, and Racing Genk. Those sides are all a lot better than Mons and even Kortrijk are a better side. Those sides are beyond Mons at the best of times so Mons not winning against them wasn’t a great surprise to me. However, Germinal Beerschot are a side that they can beat, in my view, and a side that they absolutely should beat. Germinal have been crap away from home since the start of time but have struggled more than normal since the turn of the year due to the sale of key defender Kagelmacher, without whom they simply cannot cope. The departure of Sidibe has done a vast amount of damage to their attack, too, which doesn’t help. To Germinal’s credit, their ability to function as a unit still enables them to win at home and battle on against the odds but they’re vulnerable when exposed and Mons are more than capable of exposing them here, especially with Germinal heading into this game on the back of five consecutive away losses. Therefore, my call is for Perbet Mons to win at generous odds of 6/5. Well
Verdict: Mons to win at 6/5.
AZ Alkmaar vs Heracles Almelo – away win with +1.5 handicap at 10/11.
I went against AZ when they hosted Heerenveen and we had some joy there. I’m hoping for a similar result today although I’m fully aware that Heerenveen are some distance ahead of Heracles Almelo quality-wise!
Nonetheless, the weakness of the hosts remains and I think it’s becoming more apparent. Inconsistent displays, poor goals conceded, dropping points against lesser opponents – it’s all symptomatic of a side with no depth, which is exactly what AZ are. AZ are unquestionably a better side than Heracles but are they playing like it at the moment? No – they’re absolutely not. I’d never rule out the possibility of AZ springing into life and destoying Heracles because they are good enough to do it. However, based on their recent displays and dropping morale, I’d say that it’s somewhat unlikely that they’ll burst into life here.
Heracles almost never play well on natural turf. They often concede, too. However, I have a lot of respect for them because of their attacking nature and they’re pretty damn good at it, to be honest. I sometimes wonder quite how Douglas was never given a chance at a higher level because he’s absolutely devastating on his day! Heracles have great cohesion and are frightening in the final third when they want to be. Their heads can drop if they fall behind quickly/heavily but they’re a good attacking side and have a relentless approach to games that makes them a nightmare to face for sides like AZ in the current mood they’re in.
We’ll need some luck here to prevent Heracles from conceding too many goals and thus costing us the bet but based on the displays of both sides in recent weeks, I’m happy to give Heracles a +1.5 goal head start at decent odds of 10/11.
Verdict: Heracles Almelo to win with a +1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Dunfermline Athletic vs Motherwell – away win at 5/6.
I can’t add much here that the Premier League table doesn’t already indicate. Dunfermline are the worst side in the Premier League, shipping goals constantly and thus losing most games. They’re horrendous at home and Motherwell have become superb on the road, especially with Estonian attacker Ojamaa in terrific form. For me, the away win at 5/6 should be a winner here with the proviso that both sides play in this game like they have in recent weeks.
Verdict: Motherwell to win at 5/6.
Accumulator fodder:
Lokeren, Litex Lovech, Universidad de Chile, Dinamo Zagreb, APOEL Nicosia, Manchester City, Juventus, Lokomotiv Moscow, Red Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava, Barcelona, Metalist Kharkiv.
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:
All Boys vs Velez Sarsfield (6) 0-1
Independiente vs Argentinos Juniors (7) 1-0
San Martin de San Juan vs Estudiantes De La Plata (6) 1-1
Australian A-League:
Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets (5) 1-0
Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney FC (6) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Rapid Vienna vs SV Ried (5) under 2.5 goals
Admira Wacker vs Wiener Neustadt (5) 1-0
Wacker Innsbruck vs Austria Vienna (6) 1-1
Salzburg vs SV Mattersburg (7) 2-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Mechelen vs AA Gent (5) 1-1
Sint-Truiden vs Zulte-Waregem (4) 0-1
OH Leuven vs Lierse SK (6) 2-1
Lokeren vs Westerlo (8) 2-0
Kortrijk vs Racing Genk (6) 1-2
Mons vs Germinal Beerschot (7) 2-0
Bulgarian A PFG:
Kaliakra vs Montana (4) 1-1
Ludogorets vs Beroe (5) 2-1
Botev Vratsa vs Slavia Sofia (6) 1-1
Litex Lovech vs Vidma-Rakovski (8) 2-0
Chilean Primera Division:
Palestino vs Union Espanola (5) 1-2
Deportes Iquique vs Audax Italiano (6) 1-2
Universidad de Concepcion vs O’Higgins (6) 1-0
Universidad de Chile vs Cobresal (8) over 2.5 goals
Union San Felipe vs Huachipato (6) 1-0
Colombian Primera A:
Boyaca Chico vs Deportivo Cali (6) 1-0
Envigado vs Patriotas (6) 1-0
Millonarios Bogota vs Real Cartagena (7) 2-1
Deportes Tolima vs Once Caldas Manizales (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Croatian Prva Liga:
Cibalia Vinkovci vs Karlovac (6) 2-1
Split vs Lucko (7) 2-0
Istra 1961 vs Varteks Varazdin (6) 1-0
Zadar vs Sibenik (6) 0-0
Dinamo Zagreb vs Osijek (8) 1-0
Cypriot Division 1:
Aris Limassol vs Olympiakos Nicosia (5) 2-2
Enosis Neon Paralimni vs Nea Salamis (7) 1-0
Ermis vs APOEL Nicosia (8) 0-2
Alki Larnaca vs Apollon Limassol (5) 2-1
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Marila Pribram vs Hradec Kralove (6) 1-0
Sparta Prague vs Viktoria Plzen (5) 1-1
Danish Superligaen:
AGF Aarhus vs Nordsjaelland (6) 0-0
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Olmedo Riobamba vs LDU Loja (6) 2-1
English Premier League:
Liverpool vs Arsenal (5) 1-1
Blackburn Rovers vs Aston Villa (5) 2-1
Manchester City vs Bolton Wanderers (9) -1.5 handicap
Queens Park Rangers vs Everton (6) 1-1
Stoke City vs Norwich City (5) 1-1
West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea (5) 2-1
Wigan Athletic vs Swansea City (7) 0-0
English Championship:
Doncaster Rovers vs Brighton & Hove Albion (6)
Millwall vs Reading (5)
Crystal Palace vs Peterborough United (6) over 2.5 goals
Barnsley vs Nottingham Forest (6)
Ipswich Town vs Bristol City (7)
Watford vs Burnley (5) both sides to score
Leicester City vs Coventry City (7)
Birmingham City vs Derby County (7)
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough (5) under 2.5 goals
Leeds United vs Southampton (5) both sides to score
Finnish Liiga Cup:
MyPa Anjalankoski vs HJK Helsinki (7) over 2.5 goals
French Ligue 1:
Dijon FCO vs Montpellier HSC (6) 0-1
LOSC Lille vs Auxerre (6) 2-1
Olympique de Marseille vs Toulouse (6) 1-0
AS Nancy-Lorraine vs Olympique Lyonnais (5) 1-2
Saint-Etienne vs Evian Thonon Gaillard (7) 2-1
Sochaux vs Valenciennes (5) 1-1
Girondins de Bordeaux vs OGC Nice (7) 1-0
German Bundesliga:
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich (6) 1-1
Hamburger SV vs VfB Stuttgart (4) over 2.5 goals
Hannover 96 vs Augsburg (7) 2-0
SC Freiburg vs Schalke 04 (5) 1-1
Kaiserslautern vs VfL Wolfsburg (6) 2-2
Hertha BSC Berlin vs Werder Bremen (6) 0-0
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz 05 (7) 2-1
Greek Super League:
Panionios vs Atromitos (5) 1-1
Xanthi vs Panaitolikos (4) 1-1
Aris Salonika vs AEK Athens (6) 1-0
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Pecsi MFC (4) 1-1
Fehervar vs Kaposvari Rakoczi (6) 1-0
Ujpest vs Siofok (4) 0-0
Lombard Papa vs Paksi SE (5) 1-2
Ferencvaros vs Debreceni VSC (4) 1-2 at least one red card in this game
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Haifa vs Ironi Ramat Hasharon (5) 2-1
Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv vs Maccabi Petah Tikva (7) 2-0
Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs MS Ashdod (5) 0-1
Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Rishon Lezion (6) 2-1
Maccabi Netanya vs Bnei Sakhnin (6) 1-0
Beitar Jerusalem vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona (4) 1-1
Italian Serie A:
Palermo vs AC Milan (5) 2-2
Juventus vs Chievo Verona (8) 1-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Queretaro vs Morelia (5) 0-0
Cruz Azul vs Monterrey (7) 2-1
Tigres UANL vs Atlante (7) 2-0
Santos Laguna vs San Luis (6) 2-1
Atlas vs Pachuca (5) 0-1
Dutch Eredivisie:
ADO Den Haag vs Heerenveen (6) 1-2
VVV Venlo vs NAC Breda (5) 2-1
RKC Waalwijk vs Excelsior Rotterdam (7) 2-0
AZ Alkmaar vs Heracles Almelo (3) 2-2
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Sol de America vs Libertad Asuncion (7) 1-2
Olimpia Asuncion vs Nacional Asuncion (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Peruvian Primera Division:
Real Atletico Garcilaso vs Alianza Lima (5) 1-1
Universidad San Martin vs Sport Huancayo (5) 1-0
Sport Boys vs Sporting Cristal (4) 1-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
GKS Belchatow vs Polonia Warsaw (6) 0-0
Legia Warsaw vs LKS Lodz (7) 2-0
Lechia Gdansk vs Wisla Krakow (6) 0-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
CD Nacional de Madeira vs Sporting Braga (6) 1-1
Vitoria Setubal vs Sporting Clube de Lisboa (5) 0-1
Romanian Liga:
Vointa Sibiu vs Astra Ploiesti (6) 0-0
Rapid Bucharest vs Universitatea Cluj (7) 2-1
Dinamo Bucharest vs Gaz Metan Medias (7) 2-1
Russian Premier League:
Terek Grozny vs Tom’ Tomsk (7) 1-0
CSKA Moscow vs Zenit St.Petersburg (5) 0-1
Volga Nizhnyi Novgorod vs Spartak Nal’chik (6) 1-0
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Kuban’ Krasnodar (8) 2-0
Scottish Premier League:
Aberdeen vs Celtic (7) 1-2
Dunfermline Athletic vs Motherwell (7) over 2.5 goals
Hibernian vs St.Mirren (6) 1-0
Kilmarnock vs St.Johnstone (5) 1-1
Rangers vs Hearts (7) 2-1
Serbian Superliga:
Sevojno vs Jagodina (7) 2-0
Novi Pazar vs Partizan Belgrade (6) 0-1
Borac Cacak vs Javoc Ivanjica (5) 1-0
Red Star Belgrade vs Spartak Subotica (8) 1-0
Singaporean S-League:
Hougang United vs Geylang United (6) 1-1
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Senica vs Nitra (7) 1-0
Slovan Bratislava vs DAC Dunajska Streda (8) 2-0
Tatran Presov vs Kosice (4) 1-1
Spartak Trnava vs Zlate Moravce (7) 2-1
MSK Zilina vs Ruzomberok (7) 2-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Domzale vs Koper (6) 2-1
Nafta Lendava vs Olimpija Ljubljana (6) 0-1
Gorica vs Celje (5) 1-0
Rudar Velenje vs Mura 05 (7) 2-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Mallorca vs Osasuna (5) 0-0
Getafe vs Malaga (6) 2-1
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Racing Santander (6) 1-0
Barcelona vs Sporting Gijon (8) -1.5 handicap
Sevilla CF vs Atletico Madrid (5) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Hercules Alicante vs Sabadell (7)
Cartagena vs Guadalajara (6)
Villarreal II vs Alcoyano (5)
Huesca vs Gimnastic de Tarragona (5)
Deportivo Xerez vs Cordoba (7)
Numancia vs Real Murcia (6) over 2.5 goals
Real Valladolid vs Celta de Vigo (5)
Las Palmas vs Girona (5)
Swiss Super League:
Thun vs Servette (7) 1-0
FC Zurich vs Sion (6) 1-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Stade Nyonnais vs St.Gallen (7) over 2.5 goals
Turkish Super Lig:
Ankaragucu vs Eskisehirspor (7) 0-1
Antalyaspor vs Samsunspor (7) 2-1
Mersin Idmanyurdu vs Orduspor (6) 2-2
Fenerbahce vs Genclerbirligi (7) 1-0
Ukrainian Premier League:
Zorya Lugansk vs Karpaty Lviv (5) 1-1
Oleksandriya vs Volyn Lutsk (6) 1-0
Chernomorets Odessa vs Illichivets Mariupol (5) 1-1
Metalist Kharkiv vs Obolon Kiev (8) 1-0
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Fenix vs Danubio (6) 1-1
Rampla Juniors vs Racing Club Montevideo (5) 1-1
Penarol vs Cerro Largo (7) 1-0
Welsh Premier League:
Prestatyn Town vs Llanelli (5) 2-1
Port Talbot Town vs Newtown (5) 1-0
Bangor City vs Neath Athletic (7) 2-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!