Iskra-Stali vs Varteks Varazdin
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Today’s secondary featured game is the UEFA Europa League game in Moldova between Iskra-Stali and Varteks Varazdin.
Iskra-Stali parted with four key players in the summer and it really showed against Dacia Chisinau in the Supercupa Final. Dacia control games anyway but Iskra-Stali like to get under the skin of their opponents by scoring goals, something that they look incapable of doing now that star striker Popovici and his Ukrainian accomplice Suchu have both moved on. They were responsible for twenty-five of Iskra-Stali’s goals last season and God knows how many they created. Iskra-Stali are a bit of a shell at the moment – I just don’t fancy them here.
That said, Varteks aren’t much to look at themselves. They’re young and hard-working but pretty short in the talent department. Varteks never travel well anyway but their financial issues tend to mean that any good players they have leave. I think Varteks will do the usual trick of sitting deep and keeping the hosts out here and I think they’ve got the right opponent for it to work against, to be honest.
I don’t see the hosts scoring without their departed strikers and I’m not confident Varteks have it in them to score as I expect them to play defensively. A 0-1 is possible here – it’s marginally more likely than 0-0 in my view – but under 2.5 goals really appeals to me today.
Thursday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Orebro vs FK Sarajevo – over 2.5 goals at 3/4.
Artificial turf? Welcome to Sweden, FK Sarajevo!Artificial turf always benefits the side that is used to playing on it for obvious reasons. Ergo, Orebro have a big advantage here. However, the sale of defender Almeback is not helping their defensive situation at all. Defending was Orebro’s strength; it doesn’t look that way any longer. Additionally, injuries are not helping so Orebro are forced to play a more attacking game, which is why they conceded two goals in the second-half at Elfsborg at weekend – they have to abandon their defensive shape. Orebro made some mistakes and were punished – their morale actually looks a bit low. Still, Gerzic and Bedoya make things happen and now that Haddad is back, I fancy Orebro to unleash in this game. Visitors FK Sarajevo won’t want an open game but I’m pretty confident that they’ll score against this leaky and error-prone Orebro defence tonight. For me, over 2.5 goals is very appealing here.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 3/4.
Ferencvaros vs Aalesund – under 2.5 goals at evens.
Aalesund boss Rekdal has already displayed his lack of interest in this tournament by resting players in both of Aalesund’s previous UEFA Europa League games and I expect the same here, although any Norwegians can correct me if I am wrong! Aalesund generally sit deep and counter-attack and they do it very well. However, they’re on natural turf tonight and that will go against them so I expect an even more cautious approach than normal. Generally, I’d look at backing Ferencvaros with their vociferous support but the sale of star Schembri has really made me question their ability to score goals and create chances this season. It looks like it’s Heinz or nothing and that’s a huge problem for the Hungarians. I think they’re going to struggle to break through here and thus under 2.5 goals is appealing as Rekdal’s defensive line-up is always effective.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at evens.
EB/Streymur vs Qarabagh – under 2.5 goals at evens.
This is risky but I like it. A lot will nail Qarabagh to win this one because of well they did in Lithuania against Banga Gargzdai but this is a very different game. Unlike the Lithuanians, this Faroese side has been together for some time and they are one of the top dogs in the Faroe Islands. They play on artificial turf, which suits the hosts, just as it did for NSI Runavik against Fulham in their 0-0 draw lately. EB/Streymur are experienced in Europe and although I don’t think they’ll win the game, I do think they’ll be hard to play against. Qarabagh have never played anywhere like this before – Azerbaijan is a fairly arid area with a lot of high temperatures more often than not so this is a strange trip for them. I do like them and their football a lot – they’re an underrated force in European football – but I don’t see them winning heavily here. For me, under 2.5 goals is likely here, especially given how strong Qarabagh are at the back.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at evens.
Kecskemeti TE vs Aktobe Lento – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Two goal-machines with weak defences; what more can I say?! I daresay the odds are there due to KTE being inexperienced in Europe and failing to convert any of their chances against Fehervar in the Super Cup at weekend despite creating lots of them. However, I think that was a one-off – they’re still a dangerous attacking side. For me, over 2.5 goals should be a clear winner here although in the UEFA Europa League, who knows?!
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder:
Rabotnicki Skopje, ADO Den Haag, Bnei Yehuda.
Recommended bets:
No multiples appeal to me today, sorry guys!
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
UEFA Europa League:
Juvenes/Dogana vs Rabotnicki Skopje (8) 0-2
Shakhter Karagandy vs St.Patrick’s Athletic (6) 1-0
Metalurg Rustavi vs Irtysh Pavlodar (7) 1-0
Slask Wroclaw vs Dundee United (6) 1-0
Rad Belgrade vs Olympiakos Volos (5) 0-0
KuPS Kuopio vs Gaz Metan Medias (6) 1-2
Flamurtari Vlore vs Jablonec (5) 1-1
Iskra-Stali vs Varteks Varazdin (4) 0-1
Tauras Taurage vs ADO Den Haag (8) 1-2
Rudar Pljevlja vs Austria Vienna (5) 1-2
TPS Turku vs Westerlo (6) 0-0
Sant Julia vs Bnei Yehuda (8) 0-2
FC Minsk vs Gaziantepspor (4) 0-1
Orebro vs FK Sarajevo (6) 2-1
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs FK Ventspils (6) 1-0
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Bohemians (6) 2-1
Ferencvaros vs Aalesund (6) 0-0
BK Hacken Goteborg vs FC Honka Espoo (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Valerenga Oslo vs Mika Yerevan (6) 1-0
Anorthosis Famagusta vs Gagra (7) 2-0
Floriana vs AEK Larnaca (7) 1-2
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Khazar Lankaran (4) 1-1
Llanelli vs Dinamo Tbilisi (7) 0-2
Suduva Marijampole vs Elfsborg Boras (5) 1-1
Differdange 03 vs Levadia Tallinn (5) 2-1
KF Tirana vs Spartak Trnava (5) 1-0
The New Saints vs Midtylland (7) 0-1
Vaduz vs Vojvodina Novi Sad (5) 2-1
EB/Streymur vs Qarabagh (7) 0-1
Paksi SE vs Tromso (5) 2-1
Kecskemeti TE vs Aktobe Lento (5) 2-2
Zeljeznicar vs Sheriff Tiraspol (6) 0-0
Liepajas Metalurgs vs Salzburg (7) 0-2
Vllaznia Shkoder vs Thun (5) 1-0
Metalurg Skopje vs Lokomotiv Sofia (5) 0-0
Glentoran vs Vorskla Poltava (7) 0-0
Crusaders vs Fulham (7) 0-1
Domzale vs Split (6) 1-0
KR Reykjavik vs MSK Zilina (5) 2-1
FH Hafnarfjordur vs CD Nacional de Madeira (6) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
PS Kemi Kings vs AC Oulu (6)
Singaporean S-League:
Etoile vs Balestier Khalsa (7) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!