TFT Issue 198!
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Featured game
Augsburg vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen – away win at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the Bundesliga game between newly-promoted Augsburg and heavyweights Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Neither side has set the league alight so far this season but there’s only one winner for me here.
Augsburg have demonstrated very little ability since being promoted and it’s going to make life very hard for them in the Bundesliga. They’ve bagged one goal in their past three games, losing their last two consecutively. They faced a very under-strength Hoffenheim side in their last home game and somehow lost 0-2, going down with a whimper. I mean, seriously – what have Augsburg done to prepare for life in the Bundesliga? Very little indeed. They picked up HJK Helsinki playmaker/winger Dawda Bah in the last transfer window and he could add some creativity but that’s a big jump in leagues and I doubt it’ll result in an immediate impact. No, we have to face facts here – Augsburg do not have the quality to do well against good sides in this division, effectively. A surprise result is possible in any game of football but quality-wise, they’re not getting anything here.
Leverkusen started slowly with a poor loss at the ever-unexpected Mainz 05 but have regained their composure since then. To think that they’ve kept three consecutive clean sheets since then despite not having number one goalkeeper Adler behind their defence is impressive. They’re looking more “German” than ever, Leverkusen, with their efficient displays. Even potent Bv09 Borussia Dortmund couldn’t break through Leverkusen last match and even the suspension of full-back Kadlec for this game doesn’t concern me. Barnetta’s continued absence concerns me in regards to Leverkusen’s creativity but I’ll pay more attention to it if it’s still a problem when they face a good side. Schurrle, Kiessling, Ballack, Renato Augusto – there’s more than enough firepower for Leverkusen to win this one.
For me, there’s value on the Leverkusen win at 4/5.
Verdict: Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win at 4/5.
Team news
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Sofia – No absentees.
Svetkavitsa – No absentees.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Dukla Prague – No absentees.
Hradec Kralove – Cerny is absent.
Sigma Olomouc – Murin is absent.
Viktoria Plzen – Pavlik is absent. Jiracek is a doubt.
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
KuPS Kuopio – Hopolainen is absent. Williams is a doubt. Bono could debutise.
Inter Turku – Osinachi, Kallio, Lehtonen, Asis, and Parviainen are absent. Diallo and Gnabouyou may debutise.
German Bundesliga:
Augsburg – de Jong, Verhaegh, Thurjk, Ndjeng, and Oehrl are absent.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Adler, Giefer, Oczipka, Barnetta, Ortega, and Kadlec are absent.
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Siofok – No news.
Debreceni VSC – No news.
Italian Serie A:
AC Milan – Flamini, Inzaghi, Robinho, Taiwo, and Mexes are absent. Van Bommel is a doubt.
Lazio – Sculli and Marchetti are absent. Radu and Stankevicius are doubts.
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Atlantas – No news.
Dainava – No news.
Suduva Marijampole – No news.
Mazeikiai – Dovbis has left.
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Stabaek – Hedenstad is absent.
Tromso – Kara and Ciss are absent.
Romanian Liga:
Otelul Galati – Perendija is absent.
CFR Cluj – Nuno Claro is absent. Rumoured to be a fixed away win. Lots of new signings.
Targu Mures – Vagner is absent.
Astra Ploiesti – Kubala, Patrascu, Nogo, and Gregory are absent.
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Senica – Valencia may debutise.
Ruzomberok – Kostelny, Huber, and Skalak return. Sloboda and Bielak are doubts. Vavrik may debutise.
Swedish Allsvenskan:
BK Hacken Goteborg – Chibuike and Ranegie have been sold. Soderberg is absent. Wahlstrom returns. Robin Eriksson may debutise.
Helsingborg – Bouaouzan, Eiswohld, and Ohlander are absent.