TFT Issue 284!
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Featured game
Malaga vs Atletico Madrid – home win at 6/5.
Today’s featured game is the Primera Liga game in southern Spain between Malaga and Atletico Madrid.
Although financially strong, Malaga have yet to consistently impress me this season. Defensively, they have a lot to learn as they often buckle under pressue and concede stupid goals. They’ve got some terrific individuals but that’s all they remain for the present – individuals. However, those individuals are match-winners and if Malaga are clinical enough here then they can put this game to bed rather early. Against some sides Malaga just don’t interest me but against a lazy and ineffectual Atletico Madrid side, you have to favour the hosts to do well here.
Atletico Madrid aren’t having a great season and it’s largely because they’re not a very good team nowadays, in view. They’ve got some talented individuals and a world-class finisher in Falcao but that’s about it, really. They’ve reverted back to swapping their managers every few months, which doesn’t do any side any good at any time. They just don’t have the quality nor the consistency to be considered as a big side nowadays, in my opinion. There’s still pace in their ranks, not to mention some experience, but their defence is weak at the best of times and Atletico just don’t score goals unless Falcao gets the appropriate service, which he doesn’t right now, to be fair. I’d take Atletico’s chances of winning this one a lot more seriously if they were playing at home but to be honest, they’re so inconsistent and inept at breaking sides down that even then I’d be dubious about it.
For me, there’s definitely value on Malaga winning this one. They’ve simply got more match-winners and better players than Atletico Madrid, in my view. Therefore, I cannot overlook the generous odds of 6/5 on the home win today as the hosts should have too much in front of goal for Atletico Madrid to contend with.
Verdict: Malaga to win at 6/5.
Team news
Australian A-League:
Adelaide United – Cassio and Levchenko are absent. McKain and Dilevski are doubts. Susak returns.
Brisbane Roar – Meyer, Broich, and Henrique are doubts.
Melbourne Victory – Velaphi are absent.
Newcastle Jets – Culina and Zadkovich are absent. Jeffers, Gallaway, and Wheelhouse are doubts.
Cypriot Division 1:
Olympiakos Nicosia – Carlos Andres is absent. Gaiado has left the team.
AEK Larnaca – Dimech, Linsen, Pavlou, J.Demetriou, and Mourigio are absent. Mrdakovic, Pindado, and Priso return.
Ethnikos Achnas – Kasio and Filanotis are absent. Serjao and Marangos may debutise.
Ermis – Serjao has left the club. S.Demetriou and Kountouretis may debutise. Pindado has left the club.
Apollon Limassol – Noro is absent.
Anagennisi Deryneia – Panagi, Belic, and Spyrou may debutise. Moyo, Virak, Koroma, and Thoma have left.
Nea Salamis – Rocke and Graims are absent. Nikic has left, as has Alekou. Moustakas, Saaventra, and Pindado may debutise.
Anorthosis Famagusta – Tomasic and Marangos are absent. Leivakambesi has left.
Greek Super League:
Asteras Tripolis – Alvarez, Tsoumaga, and Kostoula are absent. Ruben Pulido, Juanito, Egon, and Bakasetas return.
Panaitolikos – Adi, Charisteas, and Koutroumanos are absent.
Ergotelis – Romano, Xadi, Dadomo, Rentzas, Kandilakis, Bouxoulakis are absent.
Panionios – No absentees.
Levadiakos – Subinio returns.
AEK Athens – Kafes, Liberopoulos, Bougaidis, Gudjohnsen, Tsoukalas, Vargas, and Burns are absent.
Italian Serie A:
Internazionale – Chivu, Viviano, Sneijder, Jonathan Forlan, and Muntari are absent. Stankovic is a doubt.
Parma – Lucarelli is absent.
Siena – Brkic, D’Agostino, Vitiello, and Vergassola are absent. Del Grosso and Larrondo are doubts.
Lazio – Konko, Kozak, Brocchi, Makinwa, Marchetti, Mauri, and Matuzalem are absent. Hernanes is a doubt.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Sporting Clube de Lisboa – Xandao, Ribas, and Pereirinha are absent.
Porto – Varela, Iturbe, and Danilo are absent. Defour, Pereira, Rolando, J.Rodriguez, and Helton return. Djalma’s last game before African Cup of Nations.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Levante – Valdo, Juanlu, Del Horno, Venta, and Nano are absent.
Real Mallorca – Caceres and Lacruz are absent.
Real Sociedad – Martinez and Bergara are absent.
Osasuna – Cejudo, Ruben, Echaide, Shojaei, and Reversio are absent.
Racing Santander – Francis is absent.
Real Zaragoza – Lanzaro, Mateos, Micael, Franco, and Da Silva are absent.
Real Madrid – Pepe and di Maria are absent.
Granada – Jara is absent.
Malaga – Joaquin and Baptista are absent.
Atletico Madrid – Assuncao, Silvio, and Costa are absent.