Valencia CF vs Atletico Madrid
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Primera Liga heavyweight encounter between Valencia CF and Atletico Madrid. A decent number of people are siding with Atletico Madrid here but I’m not so sure.
Valencia CF actually did pretty well against Racing Santander, contrary to their bizarre 4-3 scoreline. Their problem is that their defence looks like they’ve never seen each other before and that leads to goals. I think it’s fair to say that Santander scored the few chances that they actually had and did nothing else whereas Valencia had all the ball. However, their spirit at the Mestalla can never be questioned and their tenacity paid off with a late flurry of goals rewarding them with three points. The likes of Soldado and Aduriz are experienced at this level and that aids a fairly youthful Valencia CF side. They may not be European quality but for the Primera Liga, they’re more than useful for tonight’s hosts. With Banega, Pablo Hernandez, and Parejo being the creative forces for Valencia CF, you can still see goals in their game although the magnitude of Mata’s loss is sadly undeniable. However, Valencia always lose players every year and they always recover. Their defence isn’t great but their spirit and attack is good and I fancy them to do well here as a result.
I especially like the above because of how little I rate Atletico Madrid. I mean, speaking of sides that cannot defend, Atletico are one of the few sides worse than Valencia CF at it. Alright, they shifted Manzano on and signed a few local players but they’re still not in great shape. Forlan and Aguero are gone, which removes the vast majority of their goal threat. Falcao is a terrific signing, one of the most naturally gifted finishers on the planet right now, in my view, but who else will help him out? Adrian is hit-and-miss, as are Reyes and Turan, although their talent is unquestionable. Atletico did very little indeed at home against a very weak Osasuna side and although Osasuna are better defensively than Valencia, it was the sheer lack of creativity in the Atletico camp that really concerned me there. I don’t know what to expect from this year, to be honest – if they concede too many goals then they’re mid-table at best.
So yeah – I think Valencia bring something more into this game that Atletico haven’t had for a while now; spirit. Atletico arguably have more depth than Valencia but the hosts have better cohesion and with Emery still at the helm after years now, Valencia also have yet another bonus over Atletico, who are forever changing managers. For me, the home win is worth a punt at evens today.
Verdict: Valencia CF to win at evens.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur – home win with draw no bet at 6/5.
I don’t know what to make of Wolves. On one hand, I really admire their work ethic for the way they stop big sides playing against them but on the other hand, I feel that they’re cheating boss Mick McCarthy by playing poorly against sides like Wigan at home. I’m a Manchester United fan and I can genuinely say that Wolves have outplayed Man Utd in all but one of their meetings since Wolves were promoted because they’re very well-organised and incredibly tenacious. Wolves pull out all the stops for the big games and this one is no exception. Wolves have only lost once to Spurs since promotion, beating them twice along the way. Molineux is a very tough venue for all big sides and with Spurs not in the best condition and Wolves having started brightly, I really have to favour the home side here. Van der Vaart is out for Spurs, Modric’s mind is elsewhere, and Spurs are lacking goals. For me, there’s value on the home win with draw no bet cover today.
Verdict: Wolverhampton Wanderers to win with draw no bet at 6/5.
EB/Streymur vs NSI Runavik – home win at 4/5.
This game is more about men versus boys, in my view. I mean, B36 Torshavn have done terrifically in the Meistaradeildin this season and Vikingur Gotu have done well too but the only side to be consistently at the top of the pile, year after year, is EB/Streymur. Even bitter rivals HB Torshavn have fallen from grace this season but the experience and ability of EB/Streymur continually sees them doing well and I think we’ll see them taking this title race to the wire, which involves them winning today. Eight wins from nine home games tells you how strong the hosts are and only NSI Runavik have managed to avoid defeat here so the home side are good value for the win. I rate NSI Runavik as a good side and they do have plenty of firepower in Jacobsen and Olsen up front. However, their form has tumbled of late with just one win in their past four Meistaradeildin away games. EB/Streymur will have to be good to win here but they always are at home so for me, 4/5 on the home win is a must here.
Verdict: EB/Streymur to win at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder:
FC Copenhagen, Liga de Quito, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Levadia Tallinn, Sillamae Kalev, Trans Narva, AC Oulu, Bayern Munich, Bv09 Borussia Dortmund, Fehervar, Gamba Osaka, Dacia Chisinau, Sheriff Tiraspol, Legia Warsaw, Flota Swinoujscie, SL Benfica, Rapid Bucharest, Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava, Metalist Kharkiv, Llanelli.
Recommended bets:
Valencia CF, Fehervar, and SL Benfica at around 8/5.
EB/Streymur, Slovan Bratislava, and FC Copenhagen at around 8/5.
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!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Godoy Cruz de Mendoza vs All Boys (6) 1-0
Estudiantes de la Plata vs Tigre (7) 1-0
Racing Club Avellaneda vs Olimpo (7) 2-1
Austrian Bundesliga:
Wacker Innsbruck vs SV Ried (6) 1-0
Admira Wacker vs Sturm Graz (6) 1-1
Rapid Vienna vs SV Mattersburg (5) 2-1
SV Kapfenberg vs Salzburg (5) 0-0
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Standard de Liege vs Westerlo (6) 2-1
OH Leuven vs Mons (6) 1-0
Lierse SK vs Lokeren (6) 0-1
Cercle Brugge vs Germinal Beerschot (7) 2-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Santos vs Cruzeiro (6) 2-1
America Mineiro vs Avai (4) 1-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Botev Vratsa vs Montana (6) 1-1
Chernomorets Burgas vs Rakovski (7) 2-0
Kaliakra vs Beroe (5) 0-0
Litex Lovech vs Cherno More Varna (7) 1-0
Chilean Primera Division:
Santiago Morning vs Santiago Wanderers (5) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Universidad de Concepcion vs Union La Calera (6) 1-0
Union San Felipe vs Universidad de Chile (7) 0-1
Colo Colo vs Union Espanola (7) 2-1
Colombian Primera A:
La Equidad Bogota vs Itagui Ditaires (6) 1-0
Deportes Quindio vs Atletico Huila (7) 2-1
Atletico Nacional de Medellin vs Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota (7) 1-0
Real Cartagena vs Once Caldas Manizales (6) 1-1
Deportivo Cali vs Boyaca Chico (5) 1-0
Croatian Prva Liga:
Osijek vs Slaven Koprivnica (6) 1-1
Karlovac vs Inter Zapresic (6) 2-1
Lucko vs Cibalia Vinkovci (5) 0-0
Varteks Varazdin vs Split (7) 0-1
Sibenik vs Istra 1961 (7) 1-0
Hajduk Split vs Dinamo Zagreb (5) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Cypriot Division 1:
Ermis vs Ethnikos Achnas (6) 1-1
AEK Larnaca vs Olympiakos Nicosia (7) 2-1
AEL Limassol vs Enosis Neon Paralimni (7) 2-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Bohemians 1905 vs Slovacko (7) 2-0
Mlada Boleslav vs Slovan Liberec (5) 0-0
Danish Superligaen:
Lyngby vs FC Copenhagen (8) 0-2
Silkeborg vs OB Odense (6) 1-2
Danish 1st Division:
Hobro vs Bronshoj (7)
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Imbabura vs LDU Loja (5) 1-0
Independiente vs Olmedo Riobamba (6) 1-0
Liga de Quito vs Espoli Cayambe (8) 2-0
English Premier League:
Arsenal vs Swansea City (8) 2-0
Everton vs Aston Villa (5) 0-0
Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic (8) -1.5 handicap
Stoke City vs Liverpool (6) 1-1
Sunderland vs Chelsea (7) 0-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur (5) 1-0
Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester United (8) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
English Championship:
Blackpool vs Ipswich Town (7)
Leeds United vs Crystal Palace (7)
Cardiff City vs Doncaster Rovers (6)
Burnley vs Middlesbrough (5)
Bristol City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7)
Reading vs Watford (6) at least one red card in this game
West Ham United vs Portsmouth (7)
Southampton vs Nottingham Forest (7)
Barnsley vs Leicester City (5)
Peterborough United vs Hull City (5) both sides to score
Coventry City vs Derby County (5)
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Nomme Kalju vs Flora Tallinn (5) 0-0
Maag Tammeka Tartu vs Flora Paide (7) 2-1
Levadia Tallinn vs Ajax Lasnamae (10) -1.5 handicap
Sillamae Kalev vs Kuressaare (8) 2-0
Viljandi vs Trans Narva (8) 0-2
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
EB/Streymur vs NSI Runavik (7) 2-1
Finnish Ykkonen:
AC Oulu vs FC Espoo (8)
PS Kemi Kings vs KPV Kokkola (6)
Jippo Joensuu vs HiFK Helsinki (4)
Viikingit Helsinki vs PK-35 Helsinki (5) at least one red card in this game
French Ligue 1:
AC Ajaccio vs Valenciennes (5) 1-0
Girondins de Bordeaux vs Evian Thonon Gaillard (6) 2-1
Stade Malherbe de Caen vs Toulouse (7) 1-1
Dijon FCO vs Olympique Lyonnais (7) 1-2
Saint-Etienne vs LOSC Lille (6) 0-1
Sochaux vs Lorient (5) 0-0
Olympique de Marseille vs Stade Rennais (5) 1-0
German Bundesliga:
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha HSC Berlin (8) 2-0
Bayern Munich vs SC Freiburg (8) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Mainz 05 vs Hoffenheim (7) 1-0
VfB Stuttgart vs Hannover 96 (5) 0-1
Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Kaiserslautern (6) 2-1
Werder Bremen vs Hamburger SV (6) 2-1
Greek Super League:
Panaitolikos vs Panionios (6) 1-0
Ergotelis vs PAOK Salonika (5) 1-1
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Ujpest vs Pecsi MFC (6) 1-1
Fehervar vs Szombathelyi Haladas (8) over 2.5 goals
Kaposvari Rakoczi vs Gyori ETO FC (5) 0-1
Lombard Papa vs Budapest Honved (7) 1-1
Kecskemeti TE vs Vasas Budapest (6) 2-1
Italian Serie A:
Cesena vs SSC Napoli (7) 1-1
Japanese J-League:
Avispa Fukuoka vs Yokohama F.Marinos (7) 1-2
Cerezo Osaka vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima (7) 2-0
Gamba Osaka vs Omiya Ardija (8) over 2.5 goals
Jubilo Iwata vs Shimizu S-Pulse (6) 1-0
Albirex Niigata vs Kashima Antlers (5) 0-1
Kashiwa Reysol vs Nagoya Grampus (6) 0-0
Latvian Virsliga:
RFS/Olimps Riga vs FC Jurmala (4) 1-1
FK Jurmala vs Skonto Riga (6) 0-1
FK Ventspils vs Daugava Daugavpils (5) 0-0
Gulbene 2005 vs Jelgava (6) 1-0
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Klaipeda (7) 1-0
Siauliai vs Banga Gargzdai (5) 1-1
Macedonian First League:
Teteks Tetovo vs Bregalnica Stip (4) 1-1
Vardar Skopje vs Sileks Kratovo (7) 2-0
Metalurg Skopje vs Renova Dzepciste (7) 2-0
Horizont Turnovo vs Napredok (6) 1-0
11 Oktomvri vs Rabotnicki Skopje (7) 0-1
Mexican Primera Division:
Queretaro vs Pumas UNAM (5) 0-1
Cruz Azul vs Morelia (7) 2-1
Tigres UANL vs Pachuca (6) 1-1
Santos Laguna vs Guadalajara (6) 1-1
Atlas vs San Luis (6) 1-0
Moldovan Divizia Nationala:
Milsami Orhei vs Iskra-Stali (7) 1-0
Academia-UTM Chisinau vs Sfintul Gheorghe (5) 1-1
Nistru Otaci vs Zimbru Chisinau (7) 0-1
CSCA-Rapid Chisinau vs FC Tiraspol (6) 0-0
Sheriff Tiraspol vs Costuleni (9) -1.5 handicap
Dacia Chisinau vs Olimpia Balti (8) 2-0
Dutch Eredivisie:
Roda JC Kerkrade vs Twente Enschede (6) 1-2
De Graafschap vs NEC Nijmegen (6) 1-1
ADO Den Haag vs RKC Waalwijk (5) 1-0
AZ Alkmaar vs Vitesse Arnhem (7) 2-0
Heracles Almelo vs AFC Ajax Amsterdam (5) 1-2
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Stromsgodset vs Viking Stavanger (6) 2-1
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Rubio Nu vs Nacional Asuncion (6) 0-1
Independiente FBC vs Tacuary (4) 1-1
Sol de America vs 3 de Febrero (5) 1-0
Peruvian Primera Division:
Inti Gas vs Alianza Atletico (5) 1-0
Universidad Cesar Vallejo vs Sport Boys (7) 2-1
Universitario Lima vs Melgar FBC (7) 2-0
Polish Ekstraklasa:
GKS Belchatow vs Widzew Lodz (5) 1-0
Korona Kielce vs Slask Wroclaw (6) 1-1
Legia Warsaw vs Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala (8) 2-0
Polish Liga 1:
Olimpia Elblag vs Warta Poznan (5)
Olimpia Grudziadz vs Pogon Szczecin (5)
Flota Swinoujscie vs Arka Gdynia (8)
Dolcan Zabki vs Wisla Plock (6)
Bogdanka Leczna vs Katowice (7)
Nieciecza vs Piast Gliwice (6)
Ruch Radzionkow vs Polonia Bytom (5)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
SL Benfica vs Vitoria Guimaraes (8) 2-1
Pacos de Ferreira vs Sporting Clube de Lisboa (5) 1-1
Romanian Liga:
Rapid Bucharest vs Brasov (8) 2-0
Gaz Metan Medias vs Steaua Bucharest (6) 0-0
Russian Premier League:
CSKA Moscow vs Dinamo Moscow (6) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Zenit St.Petersburg (6) 0-1
FK Krasnodar vs Rubin Kazan’ (5) 1-1
Scottish Premier League:
Dundee United vs Rangers (7) 1-2
Celtic vs Motherwell (7) 2-0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Hearts (7) 0-1
Kilmarnock vs Dunfermline Athletic (6) 1-0
St.Mirren vs St.Johnstone (5) 1-1
Serbian Superliga:
Radnicki 1923 vs Smederevo (5) 1-0
Metalac GM vs Javor Ivanjica (6) 1-1
Novi Pazar vs Spartak Subotica (6) 0-0
Sevojno vs Vojvodina Novi Sad (7) 1-1
Jagodina vs Partizan Belgrade (8) 0-2
Red Star Belgrade vs BSK Borca (8) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Home United vs Albirex Niigata (7) 2-1
Slovakian Corgon Liga:
Trencin vs Kosice (6) 1-0
Tatran Presov vs DAC Dunajska Streda (5) 1-1
Slovan Bratislava vs Nitra (8) 2-0
MSK Zilina vs Zlate Moravce (7) 1-0
Spartak Trnava vs Dukla Banska Bystrica (7) 2-1
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Rudar Velenje vs Gorica (6) 2-1
Domzale vs Nafta Lendava (4) 1-1
Maribor vs Celje (7) 2-0
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona (8) 0-2
Villarreal CF vs Sevilla CF (7) 2-0
Real Madrid vs Getafe (8) -1.5 handicap, at least one red card in this game
Valencia CF vs Atletico Madrid (7) 2-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Hercules Alicante vs Recreativo de Huelva (7)
Sabadell vs Cartagena (7)
Alcorcon vs Villarreal II (7)
Guadalajara vs Huesca (6)
Alcoyano vs Deportivo Xerez (5)
Cordoba vs Numancia (6)
Real Murcia vs Almeria (6)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Mjallby Solvesborg vs IFK Norrkoping (7) 2-1
Swiss Super League:
Luzern vs FC Zurich (6) 2-2
Servette vs Basel (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Swiss Challenge League:
Bruhl vs St.Gallen (6)
Aarau vs Wohlen (7)
Wil vs Etoile Carouge (6)
Winterthur vs Lugano (7)
Locarno vs Stade Nyonnais (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Eskisehirspor vs Besiktas JK (6) 0-1
Samsunspor vs Genclerbirligi (6) 2-1
Manisaspor vs Trabzonspor (7) 0-1
Ankaragucu vs Marsin Idmanyurdu (6) 1-0
Ukrainian Premier League:
Vorskla Poltava vs Chernomorets Odessa (7) 1-0
Oleksandria vs Karpaty Lviv (5) 0-1
Metalist Kharkiv vs Arsenal Kiev (8) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Aberystwyth Town vs Port Talbot Town (7) 1-0
Llanelli vs Newtown (8) 2-0
Prestatyn Town vs Bala Town (7) 2-0
Bangor City vs The New Saints (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Enjoy your free betting tips!