Basel vs Otelul Galati
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Today’s secondary featured game is the UEFA Champions League game between Basel and Otelul Galati in Switzerland.
I don’t understand these odds, really. Basel’s defence is shaky, admittedly – they seem to be able to concede against just about anyone. However, they’re a very experienced side in European football nowadays as they’ve been playing in European competition for longer than I care to remember now. They always put 110% into their games in this competition and although their lax defending does cost them sometimes, it tends to be a staple requirement that you score a few goals against them or you fail to beat them. Basel have only failed to score in two Champions League home games – one against Barcelona, and one against Sporting Clube de Lisboa, both of which were in 2008. In every other Champions League home game – including games against Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, Internazionale, and more recently AS Roma and Bayern Munich – so don’t underestimate them here. They’ve a tremendously experienced strike duo in Swiss internationals Streller and Frei and they always have goals in them. I fancy Basel to win this one quite resoundingly today, to be honest – they look too good for Otelul.
Otelul did really well to win the Romanian Liga last season; take nothing away from them. They’re a very determined and hard-working bunch of youngsters with good cohesion. However, let’s not abandon reason for records; let’s be aware that Otelul won it because nobody else in Romania was dominating right then. Steaua, Dinamo, Rapid, Vaslui, Poli Timisoara – they all had problems last season and it showed. Otelul’s strength is their tenacity and their defence; they’re good at keeping sides out. In front of goal, however, they’re really short and it’s already showing domestically this season so I only expect that to continue on the more illustrious European stage. Make no mistake here – Otelul will come to defend because a point away from home in their first ever Champions League game is a heroic result for them but will they get it? I’d be surprised to see it; it’d take an abect Basel display in front of goal to create it.
Therefore, the Basel -1 Asian Handicap looks generous at 11/10. I expect Basel to at least win the game so that’s the insurance side of it and they should have enough experience and firepower to overcome their Romanian opponents.
Verdict: Basel to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Wednesday’s Picks
Accumulator fodder:
Manchester City, Basel, Real Madrid, Vikingur Gotu, B36 Torshavn, NSI Runavik.
Recommended bets:
Basel -1 AH, Real Madrid, and Manchester City at around 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:
Manchester City vs SSC Napoli (8) 2-0
Villarreal CF vs Bayern Munich (5) 1-1
LOSC Lille vs CSKA Moscow (6) 0-0
Internazionale vs Trabzonspor (6) 2-1
Basel vs Otelul Galati (8) 2-0
SL Benfica vs Manchester United (7) 0-2
Dinamo Zagreb vs Real Madrid (8) over 2.5 goals
AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs Olympique Lyonnais (6) 2-1
Asian Champions League:
Cerezo Osaka vs Jeonbuk Motors (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Suwon Bluewings vs Zob Ahan (5) 1-1
Sepahan vs Al Sadd (7) over 2.5 goals
Al Ittihad vs FC Seoul (7) 2-1
Copa Sudamericana:
Universitario Lima vs Deportivo Anzoategui (7) 1-0
Deportes Iquique vs Universidad Catolica (6) 1-2
Colombian Primera A:
Boyaca Chico vs Millonarios Bogota (4) 1-1
Danish 1st Division:
Vejle-Kolding vs Blokhus (7)
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
KI Klaksvik vs B36 Torshavn (8) 0-2
IF Fuglafjordur vs B71 Sandur (6) 2-1
NSI Runavik vs 07 Vestur Sorvagur (8) over 2.5 goals
Vikingur Gotu vs B68 Toftir (8) 2-1
HB Torshavn vs EB/Streymur (7) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Greek Super League:
Panaitolikos vs Asteras Tripolis (5) 0-0
Latvian Virsliga:
FC Jurmala vs FK Jurmala (5) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Jelgava vs RFS/Olimps Riga (6) 2-1
Skonto Riga vs FK Ventspils (5) 1-1, at least one red card in this game
Lithuanian A Lyga:
FBK Kaunas vs Dainava (6) 2-1
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Kruoja Pakruojis (7) 2-0
Banga Gargzdai vs Tauras Taurage (6) 1-0
Siauliai vs Atlantas (6) 2-1
Mexican Primera Division:
America vs San Luis (7) 2-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Valerenga Oslo vs Odd Grenland Skien (7) 1-0
Polish Liga 1:
Olimpia Elblag vs Piast Gliwice (6)
Pogon Szczecin vs Ruch Radzionkow (7)
Warta Poznan vs Olimpia Grudziadz (6)
Wisla Plock vs Kolejarz Stroze (6)
Katowice vs Gornik Polkowice (6)
Zawisza Bydgoszcz vs Bogdanka Leczna (4)
Arka Gdynia vs Dolcan Zabki (4)
Polonia Bytom vs Flota Swinoujscie (5)
Sandecja Nowy Sacz vs Nieciecza (6)
Singaporean S-League:
Balestier Khalsa vs Armed Forces (7) 1-2
Young Lions vs Albirex Niigata (7) 1-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!