TFT Issue 501!
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Featured game
Internacional vs Fluminense – away win with draw no bet at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the Serie A encounter in Porto-Alegrense between Internacional and Fluminense.
Although Internacional are not an easy side to beat at the best of times, they’re certainly a lot easier to face when they have almost zero attacking options available to them, which is the exact position that they find themselves in today. For me, the heartbeat of their attack is former River Plate youngster Andrés D’Alessandro, of whom I am a particularly big fan. He pulls the strings and makes things happen for Internacional. However, he’s suspended for this game today, which is a pretty huge blow for Internacional. Then you have to consider that Internacional are also missing striker Leandro Damiao on international duty and Uruguayan hitman Diego Forlan too, which makes things even more complicated. After all, it’s hard to imagine Dagoberto stepping up to the plate against a side that isn’t one of his former clubs and Rafael Moura sits this one out so Internacional do look a bit short. Ygor is out, Guinazu is out, Kleber is out – Internacional are really struggling here. They’re going to need inspired displays from Jaja and Datolo (not to mention Dagoberto) to avoid defeat here, in my view.
Visitors Fluminense are the masters of winning without playing well and I anticipate that kind of display being the most suitable option here. They couldn’t have a better manager for the occasion, either, with former Internacional man Abel Braga leading the Rio de Janeiro outfit today. Fluminense have lots of very good players and function extremely well as a unit. Star striker Fred is expected to return today, as is regular defender Leandro Euzebio. The usual casualties are out but the likes of Thiago Neves will be playing and that’s enough for me as it means there’ll always be chances. They beat Santos 3-1 in their last game to take them to the top of Serie A and I very much doubt that Fluminense will want to relinquish that place today. Fluminense have scored in all but one away game in Serie A this season and if they continue that record here then I can’t see them losing as logic doesn’t allow for Internacional scoring twice here. Fluminense are more than good enough to take the lead and ride it out and that’s what I expect them to do.
Interestingly enough, Fluminense have only failed to score in one away game this season, which was on their last trip to this city when they lost 1-0 against Gremio. As long as we don’t see a bad display like that one again then taking Fluminense to win with draw no bet looks a steal at 11/10.
Verdict: Fluminense to win with draw no bet at 11/10.
Additional game
Viborg vs HB Koge – home win at 5/6.
There’s not as much between these two sides as the league table portrays but HB Koge are a victim of circumstance and I think that Viborg can pile further misery upon them today. Viborg’s all-out-attack has seen them conceding stupid goals a-plenty but scoring a lot too. I don’t know what it is betwene them and and bitter rivals Skive but they seem intent on playing the most entertaining football in the league between them! Viborg are scoring goals for fun right now with Dalgaard in top form and former Liverpool youngster Arrieta playing well too. Experienced Pimpong, battling Sarr, and the promise of Jeff Mensah and Gronning lead to a lot of positives for this enthusiastic Viborg side and despite their inability to defend, they’re one of the last sides that anyone wants to face right now. That’s especially the case for HB Koge, who are still missing a number of players. Quality-wise, they’re still a top three side to me but you wouldn’t know it from their general play. The continued absence of playmaker Bo Storm is causing no end of problems with HB Koge without a goal for four consecutive Division 1 games. They were drubbed 0-5 by Lyngby in their last game and you just can’t see where things will change for the better for them. Fabinho is looking old and there are so many kids in the team that they really need someone to learn from and look upto, which they just don’t have. I’m sure HB Koge will turn it around in due course but I’m going to be surprised if it’s in this game. For me, there has to be value in taking potent Viborg to beat HB Koge at 5/6.
Verdict: Viborg to win at 5/6.
Team news
Argentinian Primera Division:
River Plate -No absentees.
Newell’s Old Boys – Maxi Rodriguez is absent.
Argentinos Juniors – Laba, Torren, and Fernandez are absent. Anangono may debutise.
Boca Juniors – Acosta and Caruzzo are absent. Sosa is a doubt.
Belgrano de Cordoba – Turus and E.Gonzalez are absent.
Racing Club Avellaneda – De Oliveira is absent. Saja is a doubt. Hauche returns.
Independiente – Gabbarini is absent. Tula, Tuzzio, Santana, and Vargas are doubts.
Quilmes – No absentees.
Brazilian Serie A:
Botafogo – Lodeiro, Jefferson, Marcio Azevedo, Fabio Ferreira, Antonio Carlos, Vitor Junior, Renato, Lucas Zen, Rafael Marques, and Marcelo Mattos are absent. Andrezinho returns.
Nautico – Martinez, Kieza, Rogerinho, Ramirez, and Marlon are absent. Rogerio and Kim return.
Internacional – D’Alessandro, Forlan, Rafael Moura, Leandro Damiao, Juan, Kleber, Guinazu, Ygor, and Otavinho are absent.
Fluminense – Deco, Anderson, Valencia, and Marcos Junior are absent. Fred and Leandro Euzebio return.
Santos – Neymar, Ganso, Arouca, Henrique, Edu Dracena, Juan, Bruno Rodrigo, Alison, Paulo Henrique, and Fucile are absent. Leo and Miralles are doubts.
Sao Paulo – Maicon, Lucas Moura, and Fabricio are absent.
Atletico Goianiense – Ernandes, Bida, Joilson, Adriano Pimenta, Felipe Brisola, Leonardo, and Rafael Cruz are absent. Pituca, Marcos, and Gilson return.
Portuguesa – Heverton and Leandro Silva are absent. Luis Ricardo and Valdomiro return.
Atletico Mineiro – Bernard, Rever, and Jo are absent. Ronaldinho and Junior Cesar return.
Palmeiras – Barcos, Henrique, Wesley, Marcos Assuncao, and Fernandinho are absent. Roman, Patrik, Daniel Carvalho return.
Sport Recife – Reinaldo, Renan Teixeira are absent. Magno Alves, Moacir, and Diego Ivo are doubts. Rithely, Naldinho, Cicinho, and Edcarlos return.
Cruzeiro – Leandro Guerreiro, Borges, William Magrao, Ceara, Alex Silva, Victorino, and Fabinho are absent. Montillo returns.
Vasco da Gama – Wendel, William Matheus, Dede, Thiago Feltri, Rodolfo, Renato Silva, Auremir, Felipe, and Carlos Alberto are absent. Juninho returns.
Bahia – Gabriel, Avine, and Coelho are absent. Jussandro and Jones Carioca return.
Polish Liga 1:
Flota Swinoujscie – No news.
Brzesko – Smolka, Pawlowicz, Oswiecimka, and Trznadel are absent.
Olimpia Grudziadz – No news.
Warta Poznan – No news.
Kolejarz Stroze – Szufryn is absent.
Stomil Olsztyn – Suchocki, Niewulis, Lysiak, Michalowski, and Koprucki are absent.