Dynamo Kiev vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam
FreeI really don’t like today’s card – plenty of upsets possible here and horrible odds so good luck if you wade in today!
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Europa League Qualifier between Dynamo Kiev and AFC Ajax Amsterdam in Ukraine. Both sides have strong tradition in European football so we should see an interesting game here one way or the other!
Gazzaev is a very good manager, to start with. He had a great deal of success with CSKA Moscow and has partially transformed Dynamo Kiev into that side, although Dynamo’s domestic displays occasionally leave people (including myself) doubting Gazzaev’s credentials. However, in European football, he’s generally very good so I expect a fairly astute display from Dynamo Kiev today. They demonstrated against AA Gent their competence in finding the goal and the attack line of Shevchenko, Milevskiy, and Yarmolenko offers a wide range of pace, youth, experience, and clinical finishing, not to mention class. Kiev have a solid enough side to do damage today and at home, you’d have to expect them to take the game to Ajax. Ukrainian football is always on the rise, especially with the constant influx of Brazilians, so don’t underestimate the hosts tonight. However, the hosts have two flaws that Ajax can and will most likely exploit – inexperienced/out-of-form goalkeepers and defending against pace – so I fancy Kiev to score and concede already.
Couple the above information with how bizarrely Ajax have started the season and we have a potential “both sides scoring” game here. Ajax aren’t playing well at all without their atypical confidence and swagger and are leaking goals for fun as a result. They barely scraped into this round against PAOK Salonika last round due to conceding stupid goals and I fancy more of the same against tough hosts Dynamo Kiev. Martin Jol has already admitted that this was the worst draw they could have gotten and whether he’s playing mind games or being serious, he’s not far wrong! Ajax really need to make use of Suarez here but without a big target man to help him out, he’s generally quite ineffectual. However, Kiev’s defence are susceptible against pace so counter-attacks should yield some joy, especially with uncertain goalkeeping, so I fancy Ajax to score at least once here.
I don’t fancy a winner in this game because it can go either way here. I’ve got scorelines in my head of 2-1, 2-2, and 1-2, so the score will no doubt be 0-0! I do like the odds on both sides scoring here, however, as both have the potential to exploit each others’ weaknesses and neither are in a good position to stop the other from playing. Dynamo have to attack and Ajax don’t know how to defend so they’ll attack too so my call here is both sides to score, although I am tempted by over 2.5 goals too.
Verdict: Both sides to score at 10/11.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Aris Salonika vs Austria Vienna – away win at 5/2.
No secret here – I just think Austria Vienna are a lot better than Aris Salonika. Austria Vienna have one of their best sides in years and create plenty of chances whereas their hosts are very defensive and anti-football. I don’t think Vienna will have it all their own way because they’re away from home and defence isn’t their strongpoint but if this comes down to who scores the most goals, which I think it will, then the away win at 5/2 is far too long and is worth a thought.
Verdict: Austria Vienna to win at 5/2.
Universitario de Sucre vs Colo Colo – away win at 6/4.
This is a very dicey game to bet on (like most of today’s games) but there could be value here. The odds are as neutral as they are solely because of the severe altitude in Sucre, which naturally favours the hosts drastically. However, quality-wise, Colo Colo would win this game hands-down so I agree with the bookies’ pricing on this game. However, I’m still siding with the away win because on the off-chance Colo Colo adapt to conditions in Bolivia, they should win this game – they’re a much better side, basically. Bolivian football is the nadir of South American football and altitude is their only advantage, basically, which is why they get whipped on the road so often. It’s a very risky bet, basically, but I fancy Colo Colo to nick a goal and steal this against their poor hosts. Maybe take it with draw no bet, if you feel insecure!
Verdict: Colo Colo to win at 6/4.
Accumulator fodder:
Admira Wacker, Besiktas JK.
Recommended bets:
No multiples appeal to me today, sorry guys!
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below!
UEFA Champions League Qualifiers:
Zenit St.Petersburg vs Auxerre (7) 1-0
Rosenborg BK vs FC Copenhagen (5) 1-1
Sparta Prague vs MSK Zilina (6) 2-1
Young Boys Bern vs Tottenham Hotspur (6) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Dynamo Kiev vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (6) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
UEFA Europa League Qualifiers:
Aris Salonika vs Austria Vienna (4) over 2.5 goals
Besiktas JK vs HJK Helsinki (8) -1.5 handicap
Copa Sudamericana:
Universitario de Sucre vs Colo Colo (6) 0-1
Deportivo Lara vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (5) 1-1
Austrian Liga 1:
St.Polten vs WAC/St.Andra (6) both sides to score
Admira Wacker vs Grodig (8) over 2.5 goals
Hartberg vs First Vienna (5)
Gratkorn vs Austria Lustenau (6)
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Flora Tallinn vs Sillamae Kalev (7) over 2.5 goals
French Ligue 2:
AC Ajaccio vs Le Mans (7)
Boulogne vs Nimes (6)
Chateauroux vs Le Havre (5)
Dijon FCO vs Sedan-Ardennes (6)
Grenoble Foot vs Angers SCO (6)
Nantes vs Evian Thonon Gaillard (6) both sides to score
Reims vs Istres (5) draw no bet
Tours vs Clermont Foot (5)
Vannes OC vs Stade Lavallois (5)
Irish Premier League:
Bohemians vs Bray Wanderers (7) 2-0
Japanese J-League:
Albirex Niigata vs Shimizu S-Pulse (6) 1-1
Gamba Osaka vs Kashima Antlers (6) 2-2, at least one red card in this game
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Vegalta Sendai (5) 0-0
Yokohama F.Marinos vs Montedio Yamagata (6) 1-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!