Ventspils vs BATE Borisov
FreeI could not believe my eyes when I saw the odds on BATE Borisov to overcome FK Ventspils in Latvia for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Qualifier. They’re at an amazing 6/5! We’re talking about a side from Belarus that is more than capable of being good enough to compete in the Russian Premier League. They’re travelling to play a side that would struggle to cope in the Russian Division One. BATE Borisov can now be considered an experienced European opponent and not only do they possess that but also grit and talent. I mean, FK Ventspils aren’t going to make this game easy for their opponents; of course they won’t. However, they’re about par with Makedonija Gjorce Petrov Skopje, the side that BATE Borisov comfortably disposed of last round in both legs. I honestly expect the exact same thing to occur again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see BATE Borisov break down the handicap barrier today – 6/5 is an absolute steal!
Wednesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Ventspils vs BATE Borisov – away win at 6/5 – see introduction for full details.
Levadia Tallinn vs Debreceni VSC – away win at 8/5. I must emphasise that people take advantage of these odds because they won’t appear again if what I think is going to happen does happen. Levadia Tallinn claimed a heroic victory over Wisla Krakow of Poland last round, a side they by all rights shouldn’t have even been able to score against. However, the Poles had their own issues both on and off the pitch and were abysmal in both legs. Debreceni VSC, however, played well enough to overcome Sweden’s Kalmar with some good football. I’ve been impressed with the Hungarians these last couple of years as they’re starting to become a bit of a force again. However, I just can’t fathom why the bookies rate an away win as such an unlikely prospect. The Hungarian Soproni Liga is ten times better than the Estonian Meistriliiga, I assure you! I cannot grasp any other result occurring today than an away win – Debreceni VSC should absolutely walk this and should in the return leg too!
Palmeiras vs Fluminense – home win with -1.75 goal handicap. After an emphatic win at the fortress of Corinthians last match, Palmeiras are more than well equipped to annihlate a Fluminense side that is rapidly in freefall. The hosts average scoring just under two goals per game and the visitors echo that record with goals conceded. Fluminense have lost four out of six away games this season and have lost four from their last five games. The hosts have won four games from five of their last games. The hosts have the incentive, the goalscoring, the form, the momentum and the opportunity to lay waste to Fluminense and I’ll be surprised if they don’t break the -1.75 goal handicap barrier.
Slovan Bratislava vs Olympiakos Piraeus – away win at 10/11. These odds emphasise the caution of the bookies for this game. On paper, Olympiakos Piraeus will walk this and I’ll be surprised if that doesn’t occur. They’ve not played a competitive game yet this campaign, however, so I’d stay away from handicaps. I’ve been impressed with Slovan Bratislava over the past year or two as they’ve become a real force in Slovakia again. However, the Greeks should have too much class and experience for the Slovaks to get a foot in. The only way I can see this not being an away win is if the Greeks fail to score (which is a rarity in itself) or via a poor refereeing decision.
FC Copenhagen vs Stabaek – home win with -1.75 handicap at 7/5. The Danes have been absolutely impeccable so far this season in my opinion. For example, take their encounter with Mogren Budva in the previous round. The Montenegrins are new to Europe, fair enough – that can account for their 6-0 defeat in Denmark for the first leg. After that, however, the Danes travelled to a hostile ground with little motivation as the tie was over and won 6-0 again! Their general performances and ability to score goals has increased dramatically these past couple of years and I rather like the look of them beating the handicap here. Stabaek are a funny side – most Norwegian sides are in Europe – as they can be good when it’s least expected. However, their big weakness is their away games and strength is their home games. I can’t see them getting anything here and I expect a relatively comfortable home win.
Atlantis FC Helsinki vs PK 35 Helsinki – away win at 4/5. These odds are too good to pass up on. Eternally relegation-battling Atlantis FC Helsinki entertain in-form PK 35 Helsinki. The hosts appear to finally be destined for the division below as they’re currently bottom of the table with a demoralising ten defeats from thirteen games. In that time span, they’ve managed just one victory. They’ve lost countless games on the bounce and as they entertain a side that have won two on the bounce and have a good away record, you can only expect an away win here.
Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast vs Sibir Novosibirsk – home win at 10/11. This is one of my risky bets of the day being as there’s little between these two sides in terms of ability and form. However, Yekaterinburg isn’t an easy place to go and play football. Sibir Novosibirsk know that – they’ve not won here the last three times they’ve been here. In fact, they’ve lost two and drawn once in their past three trips. In addition to that, they’ve not even scored on their last two trips here. For that reason, I do fancy a cheeky punt on a home win, particularly with inviting odds like 11/10.
Anzhi Makhachkala vs Alaniya Vladikavkaz – home win at 10/11. These are yet more generous odds on the Russian Division One. Again, however, this is another risky call. Anzhi Makhachkala and Alaniya Vladikavkaz don’t have much between them in terms of quality but both sides are impeccable home sides. Anzhi Makhachkala boast an impressive record of eight wins and one draw from their nine home games this season. Their visitors may be the best away side in the division but the amount of games they’ve won away from home is just four from nine. The most daunting fact that faces Alaniya Vladikavkaz is that Anzhi Makhachkala have only conceded two goals at home this season. That’s an average of just over one goal every four games. The visitors will most likely be afraid of falling behind and rightfully so. I’m feeling the vibes for a home win here and I’d jump on a home win if the home side take the lead if you can find good odds on it!
FK Krasnodor vs Baltika Kaliningrad – away win at 2/1. This has to be riskiest call of the day. Again, there’s not a lot between these two sides but there’s one very interesting fact here – FK Krasnodor are much better away from home than they are at home. The hosts have only won a meager two games from their opening nine home games, losing a shameful five of those games. Baltika Kaliningrad have a good away record with four wins from nine games and enter the game on the back of three straight wins. The hosts were on a good run but have lost and drawn their last two games. I think the bookies are giving very generous odds on an away win here and I’m certainly tempted to take them – it’s very much a possible away win here.
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Champions League Qualifiers:
Ventspils vs BATE Borisov (8) 0-2
Levadia Tallinn vs Debreceni VSC (7) 1-3
Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Poli Timisoara (8) 3-1
APOEL Nicosia vs Partizan Belgrade (4) 1-1
Sheriff Tiraspol vs Slavia Prague (5) 0-0
Slovan Bratislava vs Olympiakos Piraeus (7) 1-2
FC Zurich vs Maribor (8) 2-0
FC Copenhagen vs Stabaek (8) 2-0
Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb (7) 2-1
Celtic vs Dinamo Moscow (6) 1-0
Sporting Clube de Lisbon vs Twente (6) 2-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Coritiba vs Botafogo (7) over 2.5 goals
Nautico vs Santos (4) 1-1
Goias vs Atletico Paranaense (8) 2-0
Internacional vs Gremio Barueri (7) 2-1
Santo Andre vs Corinthians (6) under 2.5 goals
Palmeiras vs Fluminense (9) -1.75 handicap
Cruzeiro vs Sport Recife (8) 2-0
Finnish Ykkonen:
Atlantis FC Helsinki vs PK 35 Helsinki (8)
Moldovan Divizia Nationala:
Viitorul vs Dacia Chisinau (8) 0-2
Zimbru Chisinau vs Iskra-Stal (7) 2-1
Norwegian Adeccoligaen:
Alta vs Lov-Ham Bergen (6) under 2.5 goals
Russian Division One:
FK Chita vs Luch-Energiya Vladivostok (7)
NoSta Novotroitsk vs Vityaz Podolsk (6)
Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast vs Sibir Novosibirsk (6)
Anzhi Makhachkala vs Alaniya Vladikavkaz (7)
KamAZ Nab Chelny vs Salyut Belgorod (6)
Volga Nyzhnyi Novgorod vs Metallurg Lipetsk (6)
Volgar Gazprom Astrakhan vs FK Nizhnyi Novgorod (6)
Cherno Novorosisk vs Shinnik Yaroslavl’ (8)
FK Krasnodor vs Baltika Kaliningrad (5)
Singaporean S-League:
Home United vs Super Reds (6) 1-1
Armed Forces vs DPMM (9) 3-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!