The home side is sitting at 10th, while the visitors are stuck at the bottom of the table with just 4 points and zero wins. In their last seven outings, Bastia has managed only two measly draws, both of which were at home. On the road, they have managed a single point with a goal differential of 2:13. The upper half of the table is pretty tight, so a win here might help Creteil climb a few spots toward the top. It isn't a guaranteed lock, but the odds look decent enough that it might be worth a shot.
Wednesday, 8:45 PM, Bayern/gsp/ - Viktoria Plzen Bayern Bayern DA 1.50 The Bavarians showed total dominance during their first two group matches. They are creating plenty of chances and completely controlling the pitch. After that performance in Manchester, I doubt they'll want to mess things up by playing poorly or dropping points against an underdog from Plzeň. It seems likely the Bavarians want to mathematically secure first place in the group as soon as possible. Because of that, I expect them to push hard from the opening whistle, potentially scoring at least one or two goals per half against the Czech side. Just as a look at how much Bayern has dominated in the LP so far:
Bayern - CSKA 3:0 shots (on target) 20 (13)
Manchester City - Bayern 1:3 shots (on target) 20 (13)
Daniel Edwards said:Just saying, I wouldn't touch this game at these odds. I put money on Oldham against Carlisle before, and honestly, I’d probably do the same today if they weren't facing Wolves. There isn't much difference in quality here. It should be an unpredictable match that could go either way. MacDonald being out is a significant loss, but they're still a strong side regardless.
I realize it's a tough matchup, but that's mostly due to the current standings, Oldham's poor away form, and the reputation of Wolves.
Sitting 3rd against 18th, Oldham has won their last two matches, though they've been terrible on the road, picking up only 3 points away from home. Wolves drew their last home game against Coventry City, so I suppose it's time for another win to keep them within reach of those top two spots that guarantee direct promotion. The season is long and grueling; you can't afford any slip-ups in games like this if the goal is returning to the Championship. I wouldn't call this a lock, but Wolves are clearly the more talented side. They are more efficient, and everything seems to be in their favor to take all three points today. Might be worth a shot.
Dragovoljac is currently sitting at the bottom of the table alongside Osijek with only 7 points. They’ve managed just one measly win against a crumbling Osijek side, so they are definitely prime candidates for relegation. While away games in the American First Football League can be tough and messy at times, everything seems to be leaning in favor of the Split residents. Plus, yesterday’s loss by GNK in Youth Park should serve as extra motivation; a win today would put them right at the top of the table. I don't expect a spectacular match, but Hajduk is simply much more talented, and this is "that" kind of opportunity they just have to take. Over the last two rounds, Hajduk has played to draws in derbies against Rijeka and Split, so they really can't afford another slip-up today. The odds look solid, and I think it might be worth a shot.
Sixth versus fourth; I expect a tough matchup. Marseille is considered the superior side, but these types of away games often end in draws or low-scoring affairs. In recent years, most of their matchups, particularly in Nice, have ended with two goals or fewer. Marseille hosts Napoli on Tuesday in the LP, so they might just aim to remain undefeated here while staying fresh for that fixture. Given they are sitting at zero points, this is likely their last chance to stay in contention.
Honestly, those odds seem totally unrealistic to me. I’m hesitant to even touch this; it just doesn't make sense. I know if teams like Seattle Sounders, LAFC, or Atlanta United were playing at home against a bottom-tier side, the odds wouldn't exceed 1.50 or 1.60. So, I don't see the logic behind setting them this high for an underdog.
For today:
19h Rosenborg - Haugesund 1 1.45 SS
Rosenborg is fighting for the title. They're currently in first place, with seven games left in the season, and Stromsgodset is only two points behind them. They still have to deal with tough away trips to Molde and Lillestrom, plus a home match against a very solid Viking side. Haugesund sits in fifth and could still be fighting for a European spot, but Rosenborg is quite strong at home, and this game is vital if they want to protect their lead in the standings. Last week, Rosenborg lost 1-0 to Tromsoa, so I guess they can't afford another slip-up, especially given how tense the race at the top of the table is right now.
Denmark vs. Armenia – Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score @ 2.20>
Armenia is starting to look like a much more dangerous squad, and theoretically, they still have a shot at second place and a playoff spot. They have some high-quality players on the roster. However, the reality is that they tend to play much better against favorites when playing away from home, where they are lethal on the counterattack. They pulled off a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic and even beat Denmark 4-0 previously. When they play at home, they tend to open up too much and often end up losing—like that 3-1 match against Italy where they actually played well, the 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, or that embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Malta. Ultimately, Denmark is the stronger side and the clear favorite here. Both teams are sitting at 9 points, so they both need a win if they want to catch up to Bulgaria. Coming off a victory in Copenhagen, the Armenians will be looking to secure all three points at home. They certainly have enough talent to find the back of the net, so I expect them to attack. That said, the Danes are experienced in these types of matchups. I guess this option might be worth a shot.
The Russian market is open. I would request that someone removes the posts that were made between the opening and sets up the poll as instructed. Thanks. 🙂
Since the threads for the 2013/2014 leagues haven't been opened yet, I'll ask here. Does anyone know when the pairings for the new Bundesliga season starting August 9th will be drawn? Thanks.
P.S. When is the European Cup thread expected to open? The leagues are all set... we're waiting eagerly. 🙂
Kate Sanchez said:I’m jumping on the bandwagon here too—count me in with everyone backing the move to include the lower English leagues. 🙂
Honestly, I think the Russian league could easily hold its own alongside the others next season. I mean, looking at this thread, we’ve gone from talking about Red Square in Moscow all the way out to the Siberian wilderness just based on how many people are posting... 🙂
Don't worry, we'll start another thread; there was plenty of interest after all. 🙂 And I expect another fantastic season ahead 🙏:
Otherwise, I think most of the leagues are wrapped up. We could probably start the European Cup threads soon—just waiting on those qualifying draws, doing the math, making predictions, and seeing which exotic clubs everyone might have an affinity for... seeds, unseeded teams, and so on.
Thomas Stewart87 said:I call this betting on the Hajduk name rather than the actual team... just list the starting eleven for Hajduk and their recent experience if you think that's a thing. If you aren't expecting a blowout and are already looking at small odds, I guess it might be smarter to take under 3.5 goals @ 1.40
edit: my mistake, I thought you were betting on an outright win for Hajduk, but regardless, given how cohesive the Hajduk defense looks, it would take a miracle for them not to concede a goal
Why is everyone piling onto Rosenborg today? 🙂
It's precisely because Hajduk inspires zero confidence in me—and I suspect they know it themselves—that I expect them to play extremely cautiously. In that case, a 0-0 finish seems more likely than a 1-1 draw 🙂 As for the starting lineup, I don't know it, nor do I care 😉 And Rosenborg... well, it's just a hunch. They need to return to their former glory, and besides, there isn't much riding on this one, just a suggestion 🙂
Široki - St Pat's 1/1 I believe Široki is the significantly better side here. The Americans might be tough, but that's about it. I expect Široki to press from the opening whistle to try and break them early. Since I’m looking at the handicap, I anticipate they'll have them on the ropes within the first 45 minutes. If the visitors intend to make an impact, teams of this caliber usually need a multi-goal margin, especially considering how much St Pat's struggled against semi-pros in the last round. Hajduk - Skonto skonto ndg I think even if Hajduk looks unconvincing or perhaps a bit weak, they won't allow an upset here. I’m not expecting a masterclass from them, just a cautious, maybe minimal victory with a clean sheet. Regardless of how Hajduk performs on the pitch, I doubt they'll give this opposition any real openings. The only edge Skonto has is being mid-season and in full rhythm, but I suspect Hadjuk is still too much for them to realistically threaten. Naftan - Zvezda cz over 2.5 goals Naftan is sitting at the bottom of the table and struggles to find the net; before the last round, they went five consecutive league matches without scoring. It seems more important for them to secure survival right now than to chase a spot in Europe, where they know they lack any real chance of success. Plus, they are reportedly missing three key players today. Zvezda enters the new season with plenty of confidence and motivation, and Prosinečki is clearly eager to prove himself. This opening match sets the tone, so despite any potential pressure or tension, I believe they can muscle their way through for at least two goals before potentially dominating the return leg.
Rosenborg - Odrabasy f2 Rosenborg won't be taking it easy. They plan to settle this immediately, likely because they learned the hard way after previous home blunders left them struggling in away legs. Odrabasy knocked out Jagodin, but I suspect that was their limit. Rosenborg should probably put at least three past them today, and I don't see them conceding two.
Aarhus - Dila Gori f2 Aarhus is a solid club, and what I like about the Americans is that they don't play conservatively; they go for goals. If they can score six, they won't stop at two. It's a well-organized league with good clubs. Dila Gori is an interesting unknown, but I'm predicting a total collapse for them today.
It’s a decent set of odds when you multiply them together.
So, I had an idea (if I have enough time) to start a thread for the Russian Premier League 2012/2013 season. I expect there will be quite a bit of coverage in the American media this year.☕ I believe the league kicks off next weekend, and this is actually the first time they are playing on a fall/spring calendar like most other major leagues. Since I’m still a bit of an amateur when it comes to some things, it might be a pretty modest intro, but even so, it could serve as a decent way to follow the season and discuss it. What I wanted to ask is if any volunteers would be willing to help me out toward the end by inserting a few images into certain parts of the intro? I’ve never done this here before—just things like stadium shots, logos, flags, etc. Nothing too crazy. If anyone can help, please send me a PM; it would mean a lot, and I think it would result in another interesting topic for the board. Thanks.
P.S. I should probably start working on the intro and gathering data on teams, rosters, and other stats tomorrow, so I hope to have it all put together by Tuesday or Wednesday. P.S.2. Please, no calling me out for a lack of creativity in the intro or for lacking flair or whatever. It’s more important to just get things moving from a standstill; the rest will come with time.😁