TFT Issue 328!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
OB Odense vs Silkeborg – home win at evens.
Today’s featured game is the Superligaen encounter between sleeping giants OB Odense and battling Silkeborg.
OB have been a bit woeful this season, to be honest. Calamitous defending and inconsistent displays have cost OB dearly. In fact, they now find themselves more likely to be participating in a relegation dogfight rather than a title challenge!
Still, OB do know how to score goals and that’s partially why I’m taking them here. It’s true that they lost star striker Utaka and fellow striker Fall over the winter break, which are concerns for the bigger games. Gislason’s absence today does leave OB Odense short of attacking options, which is a pity. However, Andreasen and Kadrii have both provided plenty of goals from midfield this season and thus we see the ability of OB Odense to produce goals from nowhere. There are some concerns over goalkeepers for OB in this game too with Christiansen out and Toppel a doubt, which could potentially mean the crazy Wessels takes his place between the sticks. Let’s pray to God that that doesn’t happen though! Quality-wise, you still have to favour OB to do well here, especially at home.
Silkeborg have big problems ahead of this game themselves. They sold integral central midfieler Ornskov over the mid-season break, which was a massive blow. In addition to that, Silkeborg miss Faroese attacker Holst for this game, whose continual running and dribbling provides an essential attacking outlet for Silkeborg. Even worse than that is the news that both of Silkeborg’s regular centre-backs are absent miss this game. Silkeborg can be a tough nut to crack but depth is far from a strong point of theirs and the above absentees are too big for them to deal with, in my view.
Silkeborg’s sole strength on the road this season has been keeping sides out. They’re not good goalscorers away from home and despite boasting Estonian hotshot Saag as one of their best strikers, the absence of Christian Holst damages Silkeborg’s creativity and link-up play considerably and thus Silkeborg scoring here is a bit difficult to envision.
With big absentees, especially at the back, I fancy OB Odense to take advantage here despite their own absentees and odds of evens appeal to me as a result.
Verdict: OB Odense to win at evens.
Team news
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense – Utaka and Fall have left. Traore, Gislason, and Christiansen are absent. Toppel is a doubt.
Silkeborg – C. Holst, T.Holst, Mikkelsen, and Svensson are absent. Ornskov has left.
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Tel-Aviv – Badier and Kende are absent. Tamuz returns. Game played at neutral venue.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Pavicevic is a doubt. Yeini returns.
Romanian Liga:
Concordia Chiajna – New coach. Lots of new players.
Otelul Galati – Sajajean, S.Frunza, Didi, Benga, and Punosevac are absent.
Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt – Lucas Garcia is absent.
Sportul Studentesc – No absentees. Varga returns.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Levante – Farinos is absent.
Real Betis Balompie – Pozuelo has been demoted. Salva Sevilla and Ustaritz return.
Turkish Super Lig:
Sivasspor – Hayrettin, Ziya, and Murat Akca are absent.
Galatasaray – Yekta, Caglar, and Engin are absent.