TFT Issue 308!
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Featured game
Union Espanola vs Atletico Junior Barranquilla – home win at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the Copa Libertadores game in Chile between Union Espanola and Atletico Junior Barranquilla.
As ever, there have been a reasonable amount of changes over the summer for Union Espanola – there often is for South American clubs. Their most notable departure is arguably Uruguayan playmaker Liguera, who has departed for Atletico Paranaense in Brazil. Nonetheless, you have to admire this club – they do very well in keeping their core players together and subsequently pose a greater threat to the bigger sides in Chile as each year goes by. Union Espanola have plenty of depth and a great desire to play attacking football. This side fears nobody and worryingly can actually defend from time to time. I really rate Union Espanola highly right now and I feel that had Universidad de Chile not been so dominant in the past year or so then perhaps we’d have been more impressed with what was already impressive displays. Bluntly, I like this side and they’ve already shown a lot of determination to get to this round by beating Mexico’s Tigres UANL so I favour them here.
Helpfully, the Colombian sides are generally the worst when it comes to travelling for continental competitions. They’re generally a lot more physical and hot-headed than most South American sides but they’re also fairly ineffectual in front of goal and tend to suffer as a result. They’ll battle hard and will rarely be annihlated but they don’t seem to have the same flair as sides like Union Espanola or Boca Juniors or Santos do, for example. Atletico Junior Barranquilla are a prime example of that for my money and I’ll be surprised to see them get a result here.
I don’t expect the visitors to score here, which is perhaps a dangerous stance to take given that this is in South America. However, I do expect the hosts to ultimately score, one way or another, as not many sides manage to keep them out. For me, there’s plenty of value on the home win for a side that could easily be a dark horse in this year’s Copa Libertadores tussle.
Verdict: Union Espanola to win at 4/5.
Additional games
Zambia vs Ghana – Ghana to win at 10/11.
I said pre-tournament that I thought Zambia might be dark horses and I’m happy that they have been – I genuinely feel that their form and displays in the qualifiers more than merited their semi-final place in the African Nations. I won’t write them off from winning this game because that would be crazy as there’s plenty of attacking power in their side and they’re not short on determination. However, they’re finally facing a side that is considerably better than they are and a side that will expose their weak defending. Ghana can counter-attack really well and Zambia may struggle to break through a stiff Ghana defence. Ghana aren’t dominating in their games as much as they’d like and that’s no surprise when you consider that they’re still without Essien. However, there are match-winners out there and I think they’ve got the experience and tactical ability to grind this one out. I expect a 0-1 or a 1-2 here but ultimately Ghana should win the game in ninety minutes and secure a place in the final.
Verdict: Ghana to win at 10/11.
Ivory Coast vs Mali – Ivory Coast to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
I predicted pre-tournament that the Ivorians would win this tournament and I stand by it. Not exactly the hardest tip of my life, I have to admit, but I liked this Ivorian team and didn’t like their potential opponents. They’re the best side in the African Nations, though, and it really shows. They’re the only side in the tournament yet to concede and with Toure etc. at the back it’s no great surprise, really. Drogba is the best striker on this continent so it’s no surprise that he’s running riot here. Unlike most sides in this tournament, the Ivorians have the capacity to score from distance, close range, or set pieces and if we’re brutally honest, there isn’t another side in this competition that can stop them if they show up. They’re ruthlessly efficient and nearly impossible to stop so will Mali manage it here? I’d be both surprised and impressed if they managed it. Mali four-six years ago, maybe, but not the current crop. They’ve ridden their luck so many times already in this tournament to get here and I think this is the time where their luck runs out. They’re facing a side that’s a lot better than they are and that has a lot more experience than they do. For me, the Ivorians should dominate this game and win it with ease. Therefore, the -1 Asian Handicap for The White Elephants at 4/5 appeals to me a lot.
Verdict: Ivory Coast to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Team news
Scottish Premier League:
Hearts – Still bad times for Hearts. Sutton is leaving, Kello is rumoured to be leaving, bad atmosphere.
Celtic – No news.