TFT Issue 210!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
The bin
HJK Helsinki vs VPS Vaasa – away win with +2 goal handicap at 9/10.
Hard to go against HJK at home but now that they’ve sold some important players and are resting players for the Suomen Cup Final at weekend, you’d have to go against them now or it’ll be never. Sadly, they’re entertaining VPS and there aren’t many sides that HJK have a better record against than VPS. I’m still tempted by a cheeky punt but given that VPS are missing everyone that’s ever played for them in their existence in this game, it’s a big “no bet”.
MyPa Anjalankoski vs Inter Turku – lay Inter Turku at evens.
Inter Turku have stuttered and stalled so many times lately that this one looked a gift. However, MyPa have died too due to a lack of depth and injury problems so they’re left with a rather weak line-up and it’s really showed lately. I still fancy MyPa to get something at good odds here but Inter Turku are unquestionably the better side so with the hosts missing players I’ll give this one a miss.
Velez Sarsfield vs San Lorenzo de Almagro – lay Velez Sarsfield at evens.
Odds on Velez look too short for a side struggling to score goals due to some key departures pre-season. However, San Lorenzo are vanishing without a trace and although their defeat last match was undeserved, they’re still not scoring enough goals to have a chance of even drawing if they’re conceding so many goals. San Lorenzo are on a bad run and it may affect their confidence so I’ll give this one a miss, tempting though it is.
Featured game
Jaro Pietarsaari vs KuPS Kuopio – home win with -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Today’s featured game is the Veikkausliiga game between Jaro Pietarsaari and KuPS Kuopio.
Jaro’s form has increased a lot in recent weeks; we can all see that. The signing of Georgian hitman Sirabadze has played a huge part in that form as he’s easily the most in-form striker in Finland right now. With the likes of Niang, Zeze, and even Aalto alongside him, Jaro have a very dangerous attack. They’re a bit short of support in midfield – barring Agyeman – and a bit loose at the back. However, they do score goals and I expect more of the same from them today.
So why -1 AH against a good and often underestimated KuPS side? Simple; priorities. KuPS have the Suomen Cup Final against HJK at weekend to think about and you can stick your life on them not fielding a first string here. Mind you, they don’t have much choice other than to field a weak team here when you consider who they’re missing – just check the list in the team news section! KuPS’ first team is good; their second team is average at best.
With the above in mind, I fancy Jaro quite strongly here. With their usual samba defending, I won’t rule out them conceding here. However, I’ll be surprised to see them not beat a depleted KuPS side here with such a strong offensive power in their arsenal today, which is where the insurance kicks in. For me, taking Jaro -1 AH is worth a shot at 6/5.
Verdict: Jaro Pietarsaari to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Additional games
Chievo Verona vs SSC Napoli – away win at 11/10.
I think it might just be Chievo’s last year in Serie A this year. They’ve done really well since they were initially promoted but are steadily getting worse year by year and this year’s squad is no different. They’re still a pain in the ass to play against and in Paloschi up front they have a dangerous finisher. Vacek is a good winger, Bradley is a rough customer in midfield, and Pellissier inspires the team but this side is scraping the barrel elsewhere. They’re still a hard side to beat with plenty of spirit but with such a lack of quality overall, it’s hard to take them seriously in games like this. Additionally, talismanic attacker Pellissier is a big doubt today – huge blow if he’s missing – so Chievo really need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to have a chance here, in my view.
Visitors Napoli are impressing me domestically. Cavani looks better and better each time I see him and Napoli are gelling as a unit more each day. Lavezzi’s absence is a minor inconvenience but nothing more with Hamsik, Santana, Pandev, and Inler all capable of contributing to the solid threat that is a very hungry Napoli side. They’ve just beaten AC Milan 3-1 so confidence is high and they’ve got the firepower to do well here. Napoli generally don’t travel well but they’ve turned a corner quality-wise and really should make it count today.
For me, there’s value on Napoli winning this one today.
Verdict: SSC Napoli to win at 11/10.
Team news
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
HJK Helsinki – No absentees but are expected to rest players for the final at weekend.
VPS Vaasa – Tanska, Kokko, Koskela, Koskimaa, Funicello, and Boling are absent. Heini is a doubt. Saranpaa returns.
FC Honka Espoo – No absentees.
RoPS Rovaniemi – Tabe, Muinonen, and Turpeenniemi are absent.
Jaro Pietarsaari – Tahvanainen is absent. Grove may return.
KuPS Kuopio – Nwakaeme, Hoivala, Nissinen, Oravainen, Kaivonurmi, and Hynynen are absent. Venelainen is a doubt. KuPS are expected to rest players for the cup final at weekend.
MyPa Anjalankoski – Kukka, Saxman, Votinov, Hietanen, and Dujilo are absent.
Inter Turku – Osinachi, Asis, and Parviainen are absent. Lehtonen and Nyman return.
Finnish Ykkonen:
AC Oulu – No absentees.
OPS Oulu – No absentees.
PoPa Pori – Vihtila and Pirhonen are absent. Viljanen is a doubt.
Viikingit Helsinki – Bjorkstrand is absent. Gonzales and Honkaniemi return.
Greek Super League:
Xanthi – Fliskas and Edimar are absent.
AEK Athens – Konstadopoulos, Kafes, and Georgeas are absent.
Italian Serie A:
Atalanta Bergamo – Doni, Ferreira Pinto, Lucchini, and Minotti are absent. Pettinari is a doubt.
Bologna – Cherubin, Cruz, Garics, Loria, Raggi, and Taider are absent. Gimenez and Rickler are doubts.
Cagliari – El-Kabir and Eriksson are absent.
Catania – Almiron, Izco, Legrottaglie, and Llama are absent.
Cesena – Antonioli and Rennella are absent.
Chievo Verona – Acerbi is absent. Luciano and Pellissier are doubts.
Fiorentina – Gilardino, Gulan, and Kroldrup are absent. Lazzari is a doubt.
Genoa – Bovo, Merkel, Mesto, and Ze Eduardo are absent. Rossi is a doubt.
Juventus – Iaquinta is absent. Chiellini is a doubt.
Lazio – Del Nero, Biava, Mauri, and Radu are absent.
Lecce – Olivera and Carrozzieri are absent. Muriel is a doubt.
AC Milan – Ambrosini, Flamini, and Ibrahimovic are absent. Boateng, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Mexes, and Robinho are doubts.
SSC Napoli – Donadel, Britos, and Lavezzi are absent. Gargano is a doubt.
Palermo – Alvarz, Budan, Simon, and Di Matteo are absent. Cetto and Rubinho are doubts.
Parma – Giovinco, Brandao, and Marques are absent. Palladino, Pelle, Pereira, Valdes, and Valiani are doubts.
AS Roma – Greco, Stekelenburg, and Cicinho are absent. Juan and Lamela are doubts.
Siena – Angella and Reginaldo are absent. Belmonte is a doubt.
Udinese – Coda, Ferronetti, Floro Flores, and Pasquale are absent. Ekstrand and Asamoah are doubts.
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Nafta Lendava – Polareczki and Matjasec are absent.
Triglav – Jelar is absent. Ovcina, Burgar, Brajic, and Sever return.
Gorica – Jogan is absent.
Maribor – No absentees.
Koper – Bagaric is absent.
Mura 05 – No absentees.
Celje – Gobec is absent.
Olimpija Ljubljana – Jovic and Sretenovic are absent. Vrsic returns.