Tours vs Arles
FreeToday’s featured game is the Ligue 2 clash between Tours and Arles. Although being new to the division, Arles have set about making themselves a force to be reckoned with in the early stages of the season. Three wins and just one defeat from their opening six games says that they’ve earned their current fourth spot in the table and are not to be taken lightly. That said, they’ve not won either of their last two games, drawing at home to Angers SCO and losing away to league leaders Stade Malherbe de Caen. They’ve obtained some impressive results so far in the Ligue 2 campaign but today gives them a mighty test as they travel to one of the best home sides in all of France, let alone Ligue 2 – Tours. The hosts’ home record last season showed that they won more home games than everyone else in the division, including eventual Ligue 2 winners Racing Club Lens. Fourteen home wins from nineteen games is an outstanding statistic for a club like Tours and they’re already looking to reproduce their fortress-esque style as they’re still unbeaten at home this season after three games, winning twice and drawing once without even conceding a goal. Will Tours have enough to complete what they failed to finish last season? Probably not, truth be told. However, Tours have more than enough to win this game today and in my opinion, this is Arles’ toughest test yet in Ligue 2 so it’ll be interesting to see how they deal with it, particularly as they enter this game on something of a downer. However, in light of the above information, the home win here has some serious value at evens in my eyes.
Friday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Tours vs Arles – home win at evens – see introduction for full details.
Huracan vs Estudiantes De La Plata – away win at 7/5. Although I’m not a big advocate of Estudiantes De La Plata, you really have to fancy them to win this one. Four games played, three won and one drawn says that Estudiantes De La Plata are intent on reproducing the kind of form they showed last season and are doing a damn good job of it too! They’ve already beaten better sides than Huracan this season so it’s hard to see them stumbling here. Hosts Huracan haven’t gained any points at home this season from two home games so they’re already beginning to look dubious. They’ve collected just one point from a possible twelve and look set to have a frustrating campaign ahead as they’ve only mustered two goals from their four games played. There’s a big difference in quality, form and momentum here today so the away win looks good value at 7/5.
Rosario Central vs Banfield – home win at 6/5. What can I say? Four wins from four games including a victory over River Plate says that Rosario Central are the side to beat in Argentina currently. They’re not prolific but they are efficient. Whereas goalscoring might be their hindrance, I can’t see it being as relevant today against Banfield due to the quality difference between these two outfits and Banfield have conceded in both of their away games thus far in this campaign. I’m not expecting a classic game here, contrary to what the excellent form of both sides currently suggests, but I am expecting a narrow home win. Odds of 6/5 on the home win here looks good value to me!
Medimurje vs Inter Zapresic – home win at 9/10. It’s been banded about the media this week that English Premier League side Chelsea have bought (well, when they’re actually allowed to buy players again!) Inter Zapresic goalkeeping prospect Matej Delac. Inter Zapresic director Branko Laljak said that this transfer will save the club from bankruptcy. Whereas that’s all well and good, they’ve got more immediate problems currently; form. They’ve not won in four games and have lost the last three consecutively as this season begins to look worryingly as bad as last season. Strangely enough, Inter Zapresic are amongst the lowest conceding sides in the Prva Liga currently and you might almost think that was a blessing as they travel to newly-promoted Medimurje, a side that is expected to finish about the same place as Inter Zapresic. However, Medimurje have proven a lot of people wrong with some decent displays and good results. They’re currently mid-table and although their form isn’t consistent on a general basis, their home form most certainly is. They’re unbeaten at home in four games and have won three of them, also giving themselves the reputation of being one of the biggest goalscoring sides at home with ten goals from four games. Whereas I think it’s fair to say that Medimurje haven’t really had a serious challenge at home in the Prva Liga yet, I think it’s also fair to say that they’ve not really got one today either. Medimurje are in for a long season and by the looks of things, they know it. They’re taking as many points off the sides expected to finish around them as possible and Inter Zapresic are no exception. The visitors will have their work cut out today and morale is low as they travel to a difficult Medimurje who have the morale and tenacity to win this game. For those reasons, 9/10 on a home win looks a good call to me.
Bastia vs Nantes – away win at 7/5. Despite losing Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic on loan to English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers on loan to help the club’s financial situation, Nantes still boast a dangerous attack and that showed in their home game with Strasbourg last match. Three consecutive wins and being far and away the biggest goalscorers in the division currently says that Nantes are looking good for the victory here. The question then is how likely are Bastia to lose the game? In my eyes, it’s pretty damn likely. Bastia struggled in Ligue 2 last year and they appear to have continued that trend this year. They’ve lost five games from six and find themselves currently inside the drop zone. To their credit, they score a lot of goals at home so I do expect them to put up a fight here so over 2.5 goals may be a worthwhile punt also. However, three straight defeats says that the advantage mentally is with Nantes, as well as with the actual quality of both sides so the away win at 7/5 looks very tempting.
Koblenz vs Union Berlin – away win at 6/4. I’m often wary about backing newly-promoted sides on the road in their first season in the division in question but Union Berlin have got the form and momentum for me to overlook that caution. Four wins in five games and no defeats say that Union Berlin have really got the bit between their teeth currently. They’ve only conceded one goal away from home in this campaign but have scored four. Today they face a Koblenz side that struggled to stay in the Bundesliga 2 last year and look set to struggle to stay in it again. Four defeats in five games (three of which have been consecutive of late) says that Koblenz are feeling morale drop and look good cannon fodder for a buoyant Union Berlin today. I can’t see this being a walk in the park for the visitors but I can see them winning the game given the above information. 6/4 on the away win could turn out to be quite the interesting bet here!
Drogheda United vs Derry City – away win at 11/10. Despite facing a financial crisis, Derry City have assured their players and fans that none of the players will be leaving before the end of the season and this appears to have united the players even moreso, which is good to see. Four wins in their past five games and one of the best away records in the division says that Derry City are in a good position to win this game comfortably. Drogheda United have had a really poor season this year after a good campaign last year. In fact, they’re having to battle incredibly hard to stay in the Irish Premier League, which is something that not many people would have called before the start of this season, myself included. The hosts can’t seem to get any type of consistency together as they’ve not won in three games, losing twice and drawing once. They’re one of the lowest goalscoring sides in the division and this has proven to be a real issue for them. Derry City are amongst the biggest goalscoring sides in the division so everything here is pointing towards the away win today. You may see a different Derry City next season but I don’t think you will this season due to their admirable loyalty and work-rate. Lastly, the visitors have won this fixture for two seasons running now! Summarised; the statistics like the away win and I do too, especially at 11/10!
Salernitana vs Torino – away win at evens. An atrocious start to their Serie B campaign sees hosts Salernitana sit bottom of the table with four defeats from four games. The only side to have conceded more goals than they have so far is the side sat just a point in front of them in the table – Albinoleffe. The hosts have had the opportunity to take three points with some of their games played already being against supposedly lesser opposition. However, the hosts just can’t get going and today they face a side that nobody wants to face when they’re struggling for form in Serie B; recently-relegated Torino. Despite a disappointing defeat at Brescia, visitors Torino have bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Albinoleffe, making it three wins in four games in Serie B for them. Although it’s not the end of the world for Torino to lose to promotion rivals Brescia, I personally describe it as disappointing because Brescia hadn’t been playing as well as they could due to injuries and Torino had set the division alight. In their last fixture against Albinoleffe, it wasn’t so much the outcome that impressed me but the manner of the victory. They came from behind to win the game 2-1 which shows great mental character which tells me that they’ll be more than ready for this game. Torino face a much easier away game today than they did against Brescia as they face a demoralised and poor Salernitana outfit that really shouldn’t pose a problem to the promotion hopefuls. I’ve been trying really hard to find a reason not to back the away win here because Serie B isn’t the most reliable of leagues for the away win but I just can’t find any! Torino really should win this game and evens on the away is a potential steal! Make no mistake – this was a very close contender for game of the day!
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Huracan vs Estudiantes De La Plata (8) 1-2
Rosario Central vs Banfield (8) under 2.5 goals
Australian A-League:
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory (7) 2-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk vs Charleroi (8) 2-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Sofia vs Montana (9) -1.75 handicap
Croatian Prva Liga:
Medimurje vs Inter Zapresic (7) 1-0
English Championship:
Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday (5) 1-1
Finnish Kakkonen:
Lokho B:
Sinimustat Turku vs SalPa Salo (5)
Ilves vs Pirkkala JK (8)
French Ligue 2:
Angers SCO vs Sedan-Ardennes (7)
Bastia vs Nantes (8)
Clermont Foot vs Strasbourg (6) draw no bet
Istres vs Le Havre (6) under 2.5 goals
Metz vs Dijon FCO (8)
Brest vs Guingamp (7)
Nimes vs Laval (6) draw no bet
Tours vs Arles (7)
Vannes OC vs Chateauroux (6)
German Bundesliga:
Schalke 04 vs VFL Wolfsburg (6) 1-1
German Bundesliga 2:
Karlsruher SC vs FSV Frankfurt (7)
MSV Duisburg vs Arminia Bielefeld (6)
Koblenz vs Union Berlin (8)
Paderborn vs Energie Cottbus (6) draw no bet
Greek B Ethniki:
Panaitolikos Agrinio vs ASK Olympiakos Volos (5)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Gyori ETO FC vs Zalaegerszegi TE (7) 2-1
Irish Premier League:
Drogheda United vs Derry City (7) 0-1
Bohemians vs Dundalk (6) under 2.5 goals
Galway United vs St Patrick’s Athletic (7) 1-1
Italian Serie B:
Ascoli vs Brescia (7)
Salernitana vs Torino (8)
Mexican Primera Division:
Estudiantes Tecos vs Morelia (6) over 2.5 goals
Dutch Eredivisie:
Willem II vs Groningen (6) 1-1
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
BV Veendam vs Volendam (5)
De Graafschap vs Fortuna Sittard (8)
Dordrecht ’90 vs Cambuur Leeuwarden (6)
Omniworld vs AGOVV Appeldoorn (7)
Helmond Sport vs FC Eindhoven (8)
MVV Maastricht vs Excelsior (6) over 2.5 goals
RBC Roosendaal vs Haarlem (7)
Stormvogels Telstar vs BV Emmen (6)
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Zaglebie Lubin vs GKS Belchatow (7) 1-1
Legia Warsaw vs Lechia Gdansk (8) under 2.5 goals
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Leixoes Matosinhos vs Vitoria Guimaraes (6) 1-1
Romanian Liga:
International vs Politehnica Iasi (5) 1-0
Astra Ploiesti vs Unirea Alba Iulia (6) 2-1
Russian Premier League:
FK Khimki vs Spartak Nalchik (5) 1-0
Singaporean S-League:
Woodlands FC vs Gombak United (7) 1-1
Turkish Super Lig:
Trabzonspor vs Antalyaspor (7) 2-0
Welsh Premier League:
Airbus UK vs Welshpool Town (7) 2-1
Bala Town vs Newi Cefn Druids (6) 1-0
Port Talbot Town vs Aberystwyth Town (5) 1-1
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