TFT Issue 214!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Otelul Galati vs SL Benfica – away win with -1 Asian Handicap at 5/6.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League encounter in Romania between Otelul Galati and SL Benfica.
So, yeah – Otelul aren’t good enough to be in this competition. Seriously – this isn’t just a dumb approach from the slack-jawed morons in the street who haven’t heard of them before. I mean it very sincerely – as tenacious and well-organised as Otelul are, they’re too young and devoid of individual ability, which can be two crippling points in this cruel and unforgiving tournament. They were outplayed by Basel and duly lost the game 2-1 and now they’re playing at “home” in Bucharest under huge pressure, I’m just not sure they can handle it. They’re not a well-liked side in Romania, according to my Romanian friends, and although I don’t understand why, I do think it helps the bet. Otelul will take whatever they can get from this game as any point against Benfica is verging on heroic for them. However, I just don’t think they’re good enough to get it.
Benfica are poor travellers, like most Portuguese sides, but denying the amount of creative talent and finesse within this team is just insane. In my opinion, striker Oscar Cardozo is one of the most underrated forwards in Europe – a side like Bayern would transform him into a bigger player and would improve their squad massively but they don’t see it that way, I guess! He’s unplayable on his day – not too quick but has quick feet, a powerful shot, great technique, good aerial ability, and is just a natural-born striker. People are raving about Nolito, who is good but for me, Cardozo is the top dog. The midfield with Witsel, Gaitan, and Aimar – that’s just lethal. Even Brazilian newbie Cesar looks good and with Luisao commanding things at the back, this Benfica side looks more than good enough to at the very least win this game.
I’m not ruling out an Otelul goal; Benfica’s defence can be samba and Portuguese sides have a tendency to be lazy on the road. However, I thoroughly expect Benfica to win the game against a side that they’re light years ahead of so giving them the -1 Asian Handicap at 5/6 appeals to me today.
Verdict: SL Benfica to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 5/6.
Team news
AFC Ajax Amsterdam – Bruno Silva, Aissati, El-Hamdaoui, and Boilesen are absent.
Internazionale – Cordoba, Forlan, Maicon, Thiago Motta, Sneijder, Stankovic, Poli, and Viviano are absent.
SSC Napoli – Britos is absent. Dzemaili, Maggio, and Campagnaro are doubts.
Manchester United – Hernandez, Rooney, Vidic, Rafael da Silva, Evans, Smalling, and Cleverley are absent.
Manchester City – Hargreaves, Balotelli, and Johnson are absent.
Basel – Shaqiri, Huggel, Stocker, and Yapi are absent. Chipperfield returns.
Dinamo Zagreb – Vrsaljko is absent.
CSKA Moscow – Tosic and Cauna are doubts.
Scottish Premier League:
Rangers – Bartley and Naismith are absent.
Kilmarnock – Buijs and O’Leary are absent.