Cruzeiro vs Deportes Tolima
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Copa Libertadores game in Brazil between Cruzeiro and Deportes Tolima. The reversal of this fixture ended 0-0 in Ibague but at altitude, that’s not exactly a big surprise.
However, Cruzeiro have been immense at home so far in the Copa Libertadores this season, smashing five goals past Estudiantes De La Plata and four goals past Guarani Asuncion, each without reply. Cruzeiro have an awful lot of options in attack with new signing Ortigoza competing with Ernesto Farias, Wellington Paulista, Thiago Ribeiro, and being supported by the likes of Pedro Ken. Cruzeiro play a really attractive attacking style of football, typical of older Brazilian sides but a style that not many of them play anymore. However, Cuca has them playing the old way and that means one thing; goals!
Deportes Tolima are a strong side in Colombia but you’d have to fancy their game to be out-paced here. Unlike compatriots Once Caldas Manizales, Deportes Tolima play a much slower and more calculating game and against a feisty and potent Brazilian host, I think that’s an approach that will damage them. Colombian sides tend to cause Brazilian sides problems due to their physical nature but again, that’s not really Tolima’s style at all. Don’t get me wrong – a red card still wouldn’t surprise me here – but from a football perspective, there should only be one winner here. Tolima tend to go under 2.5 goals with their games due to their playing style but it depends who they’re facing as to whether they’re successful or not and again, I don’t think Cruzeiro are the right kind of side to employ their usual tactics against which is why I think they’ll struggle here.
Tolima only lost 1-0 at Estudiantes De La Plata in Argentina earlier in the tournament but I would point out that the game was played at a ground that Estudiantes have played at once over the past twelve months and that they’ve not been the same side since Sabella left. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, look very dominant and when they get one, they tend to get a lot more. For me, I think the handicap is generously priced at 5/4 as Cruzeiro have already demonstrated their worth by destroying at least one better side than Deportes Tolima in the current campaign and as their business is scoring goals so my call is Cruzeiro to beat the -1.5 goal handicap in this game at 5/4.
Verdict: Cruzeiro to beat the -1.5 handicap at 5/4.
Wednesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
No other singles appeal to me today, guys – sorry!
Accumulator fodder:
Real Madrid, Chelsea, Cruzeiro, Jeonbuk Motors, Lausanne Sports, Maribor.
Recommended bets:
Cruzeiro, Chelsea, and Real Madrid at 2/1.
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 Champions League:
Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais (8) 2-0
Chelsea vs FC Copenhagen (8) over 2.5 goals
Copa Libertadores:
Colo Colo vs Santos (5) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Jorge Wilstermann vs Internacional (4) 0-1
Cruzeiro vs Deportes Tolima (8) -1.5 handicap, at least one red card in this game
Emelec Guayaquil vs Jaguares (6) under 2.5 goals
Asian Champions League:
Shandong Luneng vs Cerezo Osaka (6) 1-0
Arema Malang vs Jeonbuk Motors (8) over 2.5 goals
Suwon Bluewings vs Shanghai Shenhua (5) 0-0, at least one red card in this game
Bunyodkor vs Al Ittihad (6) 1-0
Persepolis vs Al Wahda (7) 2-0
Al Sadd vs Pakhtakor Tashkent (5) under 2.5 goals
Emirates vs Al Rayyan (6) 1-0
Al Shabab vs Zob Ahan (4) 2-2
International Friendlies:
Botswana vs Namibia (7) 1-0
Argentina vs Venezuela (7) 2-0
Scottish Premier League:
Dundee United vs Hearts (5) 1-1
Serbian Super Liga:
Injija vs Hajduk Kula (5) 0-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Primorje vs Rudar Velenje (4) 1-0
Celje vs Olimpija Ljubljana (5) 2-1
Domzale vs Triglav (7) over 2.5 goals
Maribor vs Nafta Lendava (8) 2-0
Koper vs Gorica (4) 1-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Lausanne Sports vs Stade Nyonnais (8)
Enjoy your free betting tips!