TFT Issue 469!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Main advice for today is to not bet heavily, if you’re betting at all. Lots and lots of very dubious games between mismatched sides and in a competition where it’s sometimes veiled as to which sides want to be in it and which sides don’t, it just doesn’t make sense to go heavily in today.
Featured game
Ruch Chorzow vs Viktoria Plzen – away win at 7/5.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League Qualifier in Poland between Ruch Chorzow and Viktoria Plzen. The Czech side haven’t had too far to travel into neighbouring Poland and hopefully they’ll arrive with plenty of determination to do well here.
Although there’s generally not a lot between Polish and Czech sides, I do believe that Viktoria Plzen have a distinct advantage here. They’re littered with internationals and have played a this level for a few years now, claiming some impressive scalps along the way. They attack freely and usually cause a lot of damage so I respect their attack a great deal. I watched them tear Hradec Kralove apart at weekend and it was all too easy for them, basically. They never doubted their ability to score at will, no matter how long it took them, and they won the game with great ease as a result. Ruch Chorzow are an underrated side in the Ekstraklasa but even the re-acquisition of Sadlok at the back doesn’t convince me enough to believe that they’ll get something here. It’s not impossible for them to nullify Viktoria Plzen as the one thing that their Czech opponents do lack is a natural finisher. However, the midfield of Plzen should be more than enough to trouble Ruch Chorzow here. Ruch are consistent but they’re frankly not that good, in my view, at least at this level. I think the visitors really should have the upper hand here, especially with Ruch’s manager allegedly having let it slip that the Ekstraklasa is Ruch’s priority this season.
For me, there has to be some value on Plzen beating a side that they’re simply better than at 7/5.
Verdict: Viktoria Plzen to win at 7/5.
Additional game
Fehervar vs AA Gent – home win with draw no bet at 7/5.
I like this one a lot more than I should, to be honest. Fehervar’s ability to score goals at this level does both me but they’re a patient side that are good at keeping the ball and that kind of composure is rare in Hungarian teams nowadays, especially on the continent. Fehervar are a very capable side and you’ll seldom see them completely outplayed because they’re a smart group. I fancy them to upset Gent today, though. Gent were poor against Differdange last time out and is it any wonder? The core of their team has been ripped out and they’re now a mid-table Eerste Klasse side at the very best. The core of their midfield was Thijs, Jorgensen, and Smolders but the latter two have moved on and old Thijs misses this game anyway! Pacey Slovenian striker Ljubljankic has left and clever attacker El Ghanassy is on loan at West Brom for the upcoming season. Big Coulibaly has gone to play at Germinal Beerschot this season too. Essentially, the absolute nucleus of everything that Gent was has gone with almost all of their attacking talent now gone. Their defence was never much good anyway but with the above in mind, I’m sure you can see why I favour an organised and capable Fehervar side.
With the above in mind, I can’t help but find value in the home win with draw no bet cover at 7/5.
Verdict: Fehervar to win with draw no bet at 7/5.
Team news
UEFA Europa League:
Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv – Hadad is absent. Ezuz returns. Game being played at Ramat Gan.
PAOK Salonika – Chalkias is absent.
Hannover 96 – No absentees.
AIK Solna – No absentees.
Elfsborg Boras – No news.
Lech Poznan – No absentees. Ceesay may debutise.
Legia Warsaw – Wolski and Choto are absent. Vrdoljak and Ljuoboja are doubts.
Ruch Chorzow – Sultes is absent.
Vojvodina Novi Sad – Trajkovic is absent. Greene may debutise.
Red Star Belgrade – No absentees.
Maritimo Funchal – Olberdam is absent. Rafael Miranda is a doubt.
AA Gent – Mboyo, Ilombe, Thijs, Kola, De Smet, and Boere are absent.
Racing Genk – Joneleit, Coulibaly, and Simaeys are absent.
Eskisehirspor – No absentees.
Bursaspor – Lots of new players. No absentees.
Hajduk Split – No absentees.
Slaven Koprivnica – Vugrinec and Gregurina are absent.
Internazionale – Pazzini and Maicon are absent. Handanovic, Silvestre, and Palacio may debutise.
Anzhi Makhachkala – Traore is absent. Roberto Carlos has retired.
Rosenborg BK – Prica, Wangberg, and Iversen are absent. Hoiland, Chibuike, and Ankersen return.
Aalesund FK – Phillips, Honningsvag, S.Olsen, Orry Larsen, Post, and Skiri are absent. Jalasto has left.
Tromso – Ciss and Kara are absent. Prijovic may debutise.
KuPS Kuopio – Holopainen is absent.
Finnish Ykkonen:
OPS Oulu – Autti is a doubt.
HiFK Helsinki – Priha, Koskinen, Heinanen, Karkkainen, Saari, Kibona, and Kastrati are absent.
Viktoria Plzen – Cisovsky, Bakos, Zeman, and Malakjan are absent.
Sparta Prague – Matejovsky and Hybs are absent.
Mlada Boleslav – Rolko, Smejkal, Janicek, Stohanzl, Kulic, Chramosta, and Zahustel are absent.