TFT Issue 321!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
A dangerous day looms ahead so take care when betting!
Featured game
Banik Ostrava vs Jablonec – away win at 5/6.
Today’s featured game is the Gambrinus Liga game between Banik Ostrava and Jablonec.
I don’t normally take Jablonec away from home but I’m going to here because Ostrava are in a bad way. Money is ebbing away, defender Neuwith has returned to help Viktoria Plzen’s title challenge, Slovak midfielder Poliacek ruled out through injury, and numbers in general dwindling, Ostrava are struggling! Old Vomacka is left to carry the defence and that speaks volumes by itself.
It’s strange, really – Senkerik and Sverkos have to be amongst the most experienced strikers in the Czech Republic right now and Sverkos has dangerous pace too. However, neither has done anything this season, which is certainly partially due to the lack of support but the rest is just surprising. Ostrava used to be a good side; they’re not nowadays.
I fully expect Jablonec to take advantage of that here. Much as though they’d like it to be different, they’re not playing European football right now and thus their sole focus is on the Gambrinus Liga. They do have big absentees at the back in full-back Loucka and his fellow defender Benes but they’re playing a side that is low on confidence and should be able to turn this game in their favour with their own attacking power.
Look at their midfield – Jarolim, Pitak, Kovalik, Kopic – they should dominate this game! Lafata is the best striker in the country this season and I expect that to continue here today. Jablonec came back from the winter break with an impressive 1-2 win at Bohemians 1905, who are always very hard to face on their own turf. That gives the momentum to bring into this game and with the quality difference favouring them significantly here, the away win appeals to me at 5/6.
Verdict: Jablonec to win at 5/6.
Additional games
Elche vs Recreativo de Huelva – lay Elche at 5/6.
Elche are the superior side here but there’s so much against them here that I can’t help but lay them. A demoralising 0-2 defeat against Celta de Vigo doesn’t leave them in good stead for this game but other factors contribute to Elche’s difficulties today.
Firstly, Elche’s defence is in chaos. Albacar and Flano are both out, which is half their defence. Regular midfielder Palanca joins him on the sidelines, as does attacker Linares and defender Beranger, which doesn’t help Elche’s plight here. They’re short on numbers and short on confidence, ergo this should be a tough game for them.
Recreativo are either very good or very bad; they don’t have an average performance, in my view. This side is relatively incapable of holding a lead but they’re good at taking the initiative if they feel inclined. The absence of old hand Aitor in midfield is a big blow for them here, of course, as he’s basically the heartbeat of the team. However, Pablo Sanchez, Juan Villar, and Sergi can all make things happen and let’s face it – they have the opportunity to do so here with Elche’s defence a complete mess.
It’s far from a banker but for me, laying the hosts at 5/6 looks appealing today.
Verdict: Lay Elche at 5/6.
Slovan Liberec vs Marila Pribram – home win with -1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Yes, I’ve got to fancy Slovan to do the damage here. They’re a much better side than Pribram, for starters. You don’t need me to tell you that, though – the table doesn’t lie in this instance and hasn’t lied for many years either!
However, what you do need me to tell you is that the heartbeat of Pribram’s attack earlier this season – Wagner – is no longer with the club; he left and joined Viktoria Plzen. Now, Pribram boss Vavruska is not the type to lightly abandon his tactics. No, I feel quite strongly that he’ll continue making them attack and create chances, which is very commendable for a frankly average side. However, it doesn’t wash with the bigger clubs like Slovan because Slovan are a lot better than they are.
Pribram’s game depends a lot on counter-attacks, hence young Wagner having scored five out of their thirteen away goals in the Gambrinus Liga this season. Take him out of the equation and Pribram’s counter-attacks look toothless. Slovan are not Gods; they will concede goals from time to time and we all know that Koukal can make things happen for the visitors on the right day. However, Slovan should be too good for them, just as they are for most sides whilst playing at home this season. They stuffed Hradec Kralove 3-1 at home last week and a similar scoreline today wouldn’t surprise me, especially with Breznanik and Rabusic having great seasons!
Slovan have failed to score on just one occasion at home this season; I doubt we’ll see a repeat of that here. I fully expect the hosts to play their dominating attacking game and score two or three goals here. If Pribram find a way through then I don’t expect them to score more than once but either way, the -1.5 handicap for Slovan looks tasty here.
Verdict: Slovan Liberec to beat the -1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Hajduk Split vs Istra 1961 – away win with +1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Looking at the history, the Prva Liga table, and the size of both clubs, I suppose we can appreciate just why Hajduk are so short here. However, not all is as it seems and I’ll explain why I’m opposing Hajduk today below!
Hajduk are a massive club in Croatia but they’ve got financial problems. They’ve brought in a new boss – Krasimir Balakov – who is yet to discover his starting eleven. Due to the financial problems that the club has suffered, they’ve parted with a lot of players. J.Buljat fom their defence has left, as have midfielders Oremus, Brkljaca, and Ticinovic. Inoha has moved on too – all those players were regulars for Hajduk and it leaves them bereft of a good playmaker. Some talented players remain but not many and if Hajduk’s recent friendlies are anything to go by, they’re going to have a horrendous second-half to their campaign.
Visitors Istra 1961 are not a good side but they’re a frustrating side. Boss Pamic will make his side “park the bus” here, just as they did against Dinamo Zagreb in the cup lately and it proved successful there. Dinamo are a lot better than Hajduk right now and they couldn’t break through so why should Hajduk? Istra’s away record this season shows how effective they are at stopping sides from beating them so Hajduk without a proper playmaker should really struggle here, especially with their dubious defence!
I won’t rule out a cheeky point for the visitors here but either way, giving Istra a +1.5 goal head start looks a steal at 10/11.
Verdict: Istra 1961 to win with a +1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Team news
Australian A-League:
Sydney FC – Ryall, Bridge, and Antonis are absent. Petratos returns.
Wellington Phoenix – Pantelis and Daniel are absent. Brown and Durante return.
Gold Coast United – Moss, Broadfoot, Beekmans, MacAllister, and Porter are absent. Jungschlager, Rozic, Minniecon, and Brown are doubts.
Melbourne Victory – Pondeljak is absent. Foschini, Cernak, and Ferreira return.
Perth Glory – Sikora, Coyne, Smeltz, Miller, Neville, Berger, and Mitchell are absent. Taggart returns.
Brisbane Roar – Broich is absent. Visconte and Jurman return.
Croatian Prva Liga:
Cibalia Vinkovci – Rugasevic is absent.
Inter Zapresic – Budimir and Todorvec are absent.
Slaven Koprivnica – Poljak is absent.
Hajduk Split – Vejic, M.Buljac, and Milicevic are not in the manager’s plans and won’t play. Oremus, Ticiniovic, J.Buljat, Inoha, and Brkljaca have left. Neretljak may debutise.
Istra 1961 – No news.
Cypriot Division 1:
Apollon Limassol – Paolo and Benzoukan are absent.
Omonia Nicosia – Efrem and Margasa are absent.
AEK Larnaca – Hofland, Garcia, Dimech, Pavlou, and Fortin are absent.
Aris Limassol – No absentees.
Olympiakos Nicosia – Polykarpou, Mersio, and Genmogne are absent. Andres and Chindi are doubts.
Alki Larnaca – No absentees.
Anagennisi Deryneia – Elia, Gogolos, Giannakou, Soares, and Apostolou are absent.
AEL Limassol – Souza, Parpas, and Ouon are absent.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Banik Ostrava – Poliacek and Ferencik are absent. Zawada and Vomacka are doubts. Magera may debutise.
Jablonec – Loucka, Stochl, Benes, Kocourek, and Vukovic are absent.
Slovacko – Fujerik, Melicharek, and Ondrejka are absent.
Sigma Olomouc – Horava and Petr are absent. Janotka and Rossi are doubts.
Slovan Liberec – Krystan is absent.
Marila Pribram – Koukal, Heja, Tarczal, and Misun are absent.
English Championship:
Watford – Murray and Deeney are doubts.
Southampton – Richardson and Hooiveld are doubts.
Portsmouth – Kitson, Huseklepp, Lawrence, Norris, Etuhu, and Varney are absent. Kanu and Halford are doubts.
Leeds United – Townsend, Delph, and Rodgers are absent.
Doncaster Rovers – Coppinger is absent. Sullivan and Woods are doubts.
Peterborough United – No absentees.
Birmingham City – Carr, Zigic, and N’Daw are absent.
Nottingham Forest – Harewood, Miller, Maloney, and Cohen are absent.
Coventry City – Hreidarsson and Wood are absent.
Barnsley – Dawson, Perkins, and Hassell are absent.
West Ham United – Nolan, Taylor, and Diop are absent.
Crystal Palace – Williams and Wright are absent.
Burnley – McQuid and Stanislas are absent.
Millwall – Racon, Mildenhall, and Mkandawire are absent.
Middlesbrough – Thompson, McDonald, Zemmama, and Coyne are absent. Robson is a doubt.
Reading – Antonio is absent.
Bristol City – Elliott, Skuse, Carey, and Cisse are absent.
Blackpool – Taylor-Fletcher is absent. Bednar is a doubt.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Painter, Elphick, and Dicker are absent.
Ipswich Town – No absentees.
Finnish Liiga Cup:
VPS Vaasa – Bjork, Koskimaa, and Henriksson are absent. Boss Huttunen is absent.
KuPS Kuopio – Hynynen, Nissinen, and Tabe are absent.
MyPa Anjalankoski – Vesala, Anttilainen, and Sesay are absent.
FC Lahti – Kemppinen and Hietanen are absent.
German Bundesliga:
Mainz 05 – Bell, Risse, Gopko, Svensson, Pospech, and Noveski are absent.
Kaiserslautern – Shechter is absent.
VfB Stuttgart – Audel, Gebhart, Molinaro, and Celozzi are absent.
SC Freiburg – Krmas, Mujdza, Schuster, Putsila, Barth, and Brandstetter are absent.
Koln – Chihi, Buichtmann, Uth, Jemal, Brecko, and Pezzoni are absent. Geromel and Sereno are doubts.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Barnetta, Sam, Adler, and Ballack are absent. Derdiyok returns.
VfL Wolfsburg – Polak is absent. Vieirinha returns.
Hoffenheim – Jaissle, Ibertsberger are absent. Vorsah returns.
Augsburg – Bah, Rafael, Moravek, and De Jong are absent.
Hertha BSC Berlin – Franz, Lell, Ottl, and Lustenberger are absent.
Werder Bremen – Naldo, Wesley, Proedl, Borowski, Hunt, Kroos, Boenisch, and Stevanovic are absent.
Nurnberg – Pinola, Klement, Nilsson, Stephan, and Frantz are absent.
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Yeini and Pavicevic are absent.
Hapoel Acre – Capiloto is absent.
Hapoel Ironi Shmona – Njuvo is absent.
Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv – Ezuz is absent.
MS Ashdod – Peti, Tubul, Kola, and Kahlon are absent.
Hapoel Petah Tikva – Duani is absent.
Hapoel Rishon Lezion – Cohen is a doubt.
Maccabi Netanya – No absentees.
Maccabi Petah Tikva – Sansoni, Maimon are absent. Mashiah, Uzan, and Elbaz return.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Gabai and Nassar are absent.
Ironi Ramat Hasharon – Neutral stadium. No absentees.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv – Badier, Kende, Fransman, and Hotba are absent. Tamuz is a doubt. Abutbul returns. Igiebor is a doubt. Oremus returns.
Italian Serie A:
Genoa – Gilardino, Sculli, and Biondini are absent. Antonelli, Bovo, Mesto, and Constant are doubts.
Parma – Paletta, Palladino, Brandao, and Pavarini are doubts.
AC Milan – Cassano, Gattuso, Merkel, Strasser, Seedorf, Ibrahimovic, and Aquilani are absent. Maxi Lopez and Boateng are doubts.
Juventus – Marrone are doubts.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala – Sokolowski, Cienciala, and Sacha are absent.
Zaglebie Lubin – No news.
Cracovia Krakow – Biernat has left. Ntibazonkiza, Gasinski, and Suvorov are absent. Struna, Boljevic, and Szalachowski return.
Jagiellonia Bialystok – Thiago Cionek is absent. Nowotka and Burkhardt are doubts.
Polonia Warsaw – Jez is a doubt.
Widzew Lodz – Bieniuk and Oziebala are absent. Lots of problems, both financially and physically (flu epidemic).
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Academica de Coimbra – Ferreira, Real, and Rui Miguel return. Abdoulaye, Fabio Luis, Eder, Orlando, Nivaldo, Mvom, Reiner, Diogo Gomes, and William Araujo are absent.
SL Benfica – Javi Garcia and Andre Almeidra return. Luisao, Capdevilla, Luis Martins, and Ruben Pinto are absent.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Betis Balompie – Amaya, Vadillo, and Salva are absent. Iriney returns.
Getafe – Lop, Rafa Lopez, Masilela, and Pedro Leon are absent. Valera is a doubt. Alexis Ruano returns from loan spell at Sevilla CF>
Racing Santander – Cisma and Colsa are absent. Stuani is a doubt.
Sporting Gijon – Andre Castro, Lora, and Damian are absent.
Malaga – Camacho, Duda, Juanmi, Portillo, Baptista, Gamez, and Ruben are absent. Demichelis is a doubt.
Real Zaragoza – Lanzaro returns.
Espanyol – Romaric and Thievy are absent. Verdu and Vila return.
Levante – Del Horno is absent. Tomas and Jodra have left. Botelho has been fined by the club for breaking curfew and may not feature.
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Real Murcia – Kike, Cerrajeria, Marin, Jove, Sutil, and Ruben are absent.
Real Valladolid – Guerra, Baraja, Oscar Gonzales, and Lazaro are absent.
Sabadell – Fito and Eneko are absent.
Deportivo La Coruna – Pablo, Bodipo, Nouioui, and Alvarez are absent.
Alcorcon – Miguelez is absent.
Cartagena – Dimas, Kijera, Mariano are absent. Goni, Riau, Boaldo, and Fernandes has left.
Guadalajara – Collado and Harper are absent.
Villarreal II – Bordas, Iriome, and Lejeune are absent.
Alcoyano – Devesa, Fabiani, Remon, Silva, Torro, and Rojas are absent.
Huesca – Josetxo, Helguera, Nunez, L.Sastre, Vazquez, and R.Sastre are absent.
Gimnastic de Tarragona – Powel and Seoane are absent.
Deportivo Xerez – Maldonado, Rueda, Cordero, and Herrero are absent.
Girona – Acciari, Velez, Garcia, Richi, Saizar, Erencia, Rigo, and Juanlu are absent.
Numancia – Jaio, Ripa, Navarro, and Nieto are absent.
Elche – Albacar, Linares, Flano, Generelo, Beranger, Palanca, and Ruper are absent. Solano, Panos, and Alexis have been promoted from the youth academy for this game.
Recreativo de Huelva – Lamas, Aitor, Peinado, and Garcia Flores are absent. Asen, Quillo, Granero, Zamora, Kepa, and Micu have left.
Turkish Super Lig:
Karabukspor – Armand Demui and Mehmet Cakir are absent.
Ankaragucu – Aydin Toscali, Muhammed Turkmen, and Abdullah Keseroglu are absent.
Bursaspor – Wederson and N’Diaye are absent.
Samsunspor – Gekkas returns.
Manisaspor – Mehmet Guven is absent.
Gaziantepspor – Kerim Zengin, Mahmut Bezgin, and Ivelin Popov are absent.
Eskisehirspor – Sezgin is absent.
Fenerbahce – Sezer Ozturk and Stoch are absent.