TFT Issue 319!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Manchester City vs Porto – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Europa League game in England between Manchester City and Porto.
Manchester City very impressively recorded a 1-2 win in Portugal in the first leg of this tie. The Estadio do Dragao is a very difficult place to get a result but I thought City did very well. I won’t lie – I don’t rate Porto’s manager and I think they’re somewhat predictable under his stewardship – but City were smart tactically and took their chances well.
However, despite this tie not yet being over, I think City will rest players here. It’s no secret that their priority is the Premier League and who can blame them? There’s more money and more prestige in winning the Premier League and entering the UEFA Champions League next year as a result. City fielded a lot of first-team players in the first leg but I’d be surprised to see Mancini do the same here because as he’s said numerous times himself, this City side does not have much depth. I still think City will progress but they should play a more open game here as I doubt that they’ll name a strong enough squad to just contain Porto.
For Porto, every competition is must win due to their fanatical fans. They’re the current holders of the UEFA Europa League; I doubt they’ll give it up without a fight. I don’t think that they have the tactical prowess to get a positive result here but then again, City have looked vulnerable in defence in all of their European games this season so who knows? I’d not bet on Porto in big games, though – I’m just not convinced that they mix it up well enough. There are some terrific players in this Porto squad but they need a better manager, in my view. Under Villas-Boas, I’d probably be tempted to take a cheeky away win with draw no bet here because the football he made Porto play was breathtaking at times and was always ruthlessly efficient. If he was in charge, Porto wouldn’t have lost the first leg.
Still, they’re all “ifs” and “buts”. The bottom line is that I don’t expect Porto to do enough here to progress but they do have enough attacking talent to trouble City. City should be able break through a high Porto line and ultimately I expect over 2.5 goals, whatever the full-time result. Therefore, taking over 2.5 goals at 4/5 looks very appealing today.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Team news
UEFA Champions League:
Internazionale – Julio Cesar, Samuel, and Alvarez are doubts.
UEFA Europa League:
Porto – Danilo, Mangala, Janko, Rafael, A.Pereira, and Iturbe are absent. Podstawski debutises.
Australian A-League:
Gold Coast United – Moss, Beekmans, MacAllister, Broadfoot, and Porter are absent. Brown, Rozic, and Jungschlager are doubts.
Central Coast Mariners – Bozanic, Ryan, and Amini are absent. Sainsbury and Gallagher return.
Cypriot Division 1:
Enosis Neon Paralimni – Berchelli, Imschoot, Faria, and Zulu are absent.
Ermis – Goumenos is absent. Fossotte is a doubt.
French Ligue 1:
Stade Malherbe de Caen – No absentees.
Auxerre – Coulibaly, Sidibe, Leon, Hengbarg, and Kossoko are absent.
Sochaux – Mikari, Poujol, and Mouyokolo are absent.
LOSC Lille – Basa and De Melo are absent.
Saint-Etienne – Alonso, Andreu, Perrin, Aleksic, and Sinama-Pongolle are absent.
Lorient – Baca, Sunu, Aliadiere, S.Diarra, Doukoure, Bourillon, and Quercia are absent.
Scottish Premier League:
Celtic – Lustig is absent.
Dunfermline Athletic – Phinn, Kerr, Turner, Bell, Barrowman, and Gallagher are absent. McMillan is a doubt.
Motherwell – McHugh, Saunders, Lasley, and Hollis are absent.
Hibernian – Booth, Galbraith, and Murray are absent.