TFT Issue 212!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Belshina Bobriusk vs BATE Borisov – Belshina Bobriusk to score = no at 21/20.
Today’s featured game is the Belarusian Vysshaya Liga encounter between Belshina Bobriusk and reigning champions BATE Borisov.
Belshina are one of a number of sides that play ultra-defensive football in Belarus and they do it very effectively. In Zubovich and Kovb they have very effective counter-attacking weapons but the vast majority of their ability comes from experience and organisation. Just look at the names in this Belshina Bobriusk defence – Shagojko, Branfilau, Kozak, Eremchuk, Melnik etc. – they’ve all been there and done that. Belshina are a horrible side to have to try and beat which is why I’ll never take short odds on a fellow Vysshaya Liga side overcoming them, even today.
Sure, BATE Borisov are light years ahead of Belshina and for what it’s worth, I do think that BATE will win here but they won’t destroy their newly-promoted hosts; they’re just too well-organised. However, let’s bear in mind the huge game that BATE have with Barcelona in a few days time and then consider leaving the price of 8/15 on a BATE Borisov win well alone! They have the depth to win this game but like all successfuly Belarusian teams, BATE’s success stems from a solid defence, not a potent attack. They do have strong attacking options in Rodinov and Renan but the heartbeat of the team is in defence where Bordachenko, Simic, Yurevich, and Filipenko patrol. BATE’s defence is far, far too good for most sides in this division, hence their continued success. BATE’s composure is second-to-none, too, which aids them greatly.
Statistically speaking, BATE have a terrifying away record this season. They’ve won seven out of twelve on the road, which is good, but the most amazing statistic to support them is the fact that they average conceding a goal per every three away games. Indeed, the only two sides to score against BATE this season when playing the reigning champions at home were two of last season’s bottom four – FC Minsk and Dinamo Minsk respectively – and Dinamo Minsk required a Simic red card for that! This BATE defence is rock solid and the fact that they’ve travelled to supposed title challengers Shakhtyor Soligorsk this season and won without conceding indicates just how strong their backline is. They’re very experienced, good on the ball, and have a very astute coach in old Goncharenko.
For me, BATE conceding in this game would be a big surprise. BATE can match Belshina’s danger from set pieces and can match their experience. BATE won here 0-2 earlier this season and a similar scoreline today would not surprise me. However, my advise is to avoid the 1×2 market on the basis that BATE will most likely rest some of their attacking stars so 0-0 is not impossible. Either way, taking Belshina not to score at 21/20 really appeals to me today.
Verdict: Belshina Bobriusk to score = no at 21/20.
Team news
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Plovdiv – Rodriguez is absent. De Carvalho is a doubt.
Beroe – Zafirov is absent. Zhekov returns.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Dukla Prague – Preucil and Jirous are absent.
Marila Pribram – Divisek and Pilik are absent.
Ceske Budejovice – Rydel, Riegel, and Simic are absent.
Viktoria Plzen – Signed Brezinsky from Ceske Budejovice and loaned him back to today’s hosts.
German Bundesliga:
VfB Stuttgart – Bicakic, Delpierre, Niedermeier, Audel, Schieber, and Bah are absent.
Hamburger SV – Ilicevic, Mancienne, Diekmeier, Stepanek, Kacar, and Guerrero are absent.
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Fehervar – No absentees.
Zalaegerszegi TE – Meye and Gabor Kovacs are absent. Gergo Kovacs and Varga are doubts.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala – Kolodziej and Rogalski are absent.
Lechia Gdansk – Andriuskevicius, Traore, Nowak, and Sazankou are absent.
Slask Wroclaw – Kazmierczak, Fojut, and Gikiewicz are absent. Diaz returns.
Lech Poznan – Kikut, Arboleda, and Djurdjevic are absent.
Polish Liga 1:
Polonia Bytom – No news.
Kolejarz Stroze – Niane returns. Paknys may debutise.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Porto – J.Rodriguez, Mangala, Sapunaru, and Djalma are absent.
SL Benfica – Capdevilla, Enzo Perez, and Nelson Oliveira are absent.
Romanian Liga:
Otelul Galati – Cojoc and Ilie are absent. Bus is a doubt.
Mioveni – Management Ilie Stan and Gabi Margarit have left.
Concordia Chiajna – Nae and Iordache are absent.
FC Brasov – No absentees.
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Dukla Banska Bystrica – Boros and Pindroch are absent.
Zlate Moravce – Kuracka and Kovac are absent.
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Elche – Generelo, Mantecon, and Ruper are absent. Verdes, Acciari, and Linares return.
Almeria – Ulloa may feature.
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Djurgarden – Igboannike is absent. Toivio and Hamalainen are doubts.
Kalmar FF – Leci, Dragusha, Sacramento, Rydstrom, Mendes, Sobralense, and Ohman are absent.