Altrincham v Stevenage
Altrincham have only two wins in their past thirteen games and currently lie 12th in the table with very little to play for other than pride. Top scorer, Chris Senior, should return after being rested against an out-of-form Oxford last weekend, where they were poor in falling to a 1-0 defeat.
Stevenage continue to edge toward the title and have won 12 of their last 14 games, with the only defeat coming against rivals Luton a few weeks ago. At once stage, it looked as though Stevenage could have the title wrapped up, but Luton’s run of 10 wins in 11 games has kept up the pressure and they are closing in on goal difference as well, having scored 32 in 7 games. This is a must win for Stevenage if they are to stay ahead of Luton and avoid the lottery of the playoffs.
Stevenage are one of the top teams in the division and do not drop points that often. Altrincham are safe in mid-table and play the top two in successive matches and I don’t expect them to get anything out of either.
Bet: Stevenage to win @ 1.57
Paris-SG v Quevilly
Paris-SG haven’t had the greatest season by their standards, languishing mid-table in Ligue 1. The French Cup remains their best hope of European football next season, so they will be taking this semi-final match seriously. They have had a couple of good results recently, drawing at Auxerre and beating Bordeaux at the weekend, so confidence should be high.
Fourth division amateurs, Quevilly, are an unlikely side to find at this stage of the tournament. Only one amateur side has ever reached the final – Calais RUFC in 2000 – and Quevilly will be hoping to repeat this achievement. They have shocked top division sides Rennes and Boulogne on-route to this stage, but this may be a step too far.
Whilst strange results can, and have, happened in the French Cup, the lure of European football next season will be a strong incentive for Paris-SG to go out and dispatch a team four divisions below them and reach the final.
Bet: Paris-SG to win @ 1.40
Rosenborg v Brann
Last year’s champions, Rosenborg, have begun well this season and are unbeaten thus far, with three wins and two draws from their opening five games. They produced an impressive performance away from home to beat Odd Grenland in their previous game and should carry their good form through to this game.
Brann have started poorly and lie in 14th place in the league. There is already pressure building on coach, Steinar Nilsen, as better things were expected from the club this season. They were beaten 4-3 at home at the weekend and the fans are beginning to turn on the team already.
Rosenborg should be strong enough to continue their solid start to the defence of their crown against a Brann side that is struggling for form early on in the season.
Bet: Rosenborg to win @ 1.36
Willem II v Ajax
Willem II are fighting against relegation and are second bottom on a run of four straight defeats. Although they are only four points off safety, they are looking like a team that doubts whether they can save themselves. A 4-0 defeat last time out against a mid-table Groningen side will not have helped their morale. However, they did hold PSV to a narrow 1-0 defeat, going down to a late Balazs Dzsudzsak goal.
Ajax are flying right now on a run of eight straight victories, scoring 33 goals in the process and conceding only 2 – the highlight being a 4-1 victory over their rivals PSV. They currently lie four points behind Steve McClaren’s Twente side, but have a game in hand. Despite scraping a 1-0 win last away game, they had scored 11 in the previous 2 before that, so goals are clearly not an issue.
Ajax will have their eye firmly on the title, and their terrific recent run of form will have given them the confidence to believe they can do it. This should be a comfortable victory for the Amsterdam outfit.
Bet: Ajax -1.5, -2AH @ 1.57
FK Crvena Zvezda v OFK Beograd & Partizan v Vojvodina
Morale is high in the Crvena Zvezda camp after they moved four points clear at the top of the league last weekend. They are on a run of four straight wins and have won 23 of their last 26 games, including a 2-0 win at OFK two weeks ago. They are expecting a bumper crowd for this game to roar the team through to the final. OFK lie 4th in the table, but a huge 24 points behind Crvena Zvezda. They are a decent team as far as Serbian football goes, but they are a long way behind their opponents in terms of quality.
Partizan are 2nd in the table and have 8 wins in their past 11 games. However, pressure is on the coach, who is expected to be sacked if they lose to Vojvodina in this semi-final. Again, they are simply far better than their opponents, having beaten them 2-1 a few weeks ago, and they are unbeaten in 23 league matches this season.
The two teams that top the Serbian league are streets ahead of all the competition and it should be no surprise to find them playing each other in the Serbian Cup final.
Bet: Crvena Zvezda & Partizan to win @ 1.81
Rijeka v Croatia Sesvete
After a poor run of only 1 win in 14, they improved to hold leaders Dinamo Zagreb to a 2-2 draw two weeks ago and smashed Medimurje 5-1 last weekend. Those results lessened the pressure and virtually secured their place in the top division for next season.
Sesvete are the worst team in the division, with 11 defeats in their last 15 games. They won last time out against Inter Zaprešic, but they have been poor away from home, scoring only 7 goals all season. They are 10 points from safety and are doomed to relegation.
Rijeka have finally found some form after a terrible run and their confidence has returned. They should win this comfortably.
Bet: Rijeka -1.75AH @ 1.90
Lokomotiva v Medimurje
Lokomotiva have gone three games without a win or a goal. However, these games have been against 3 of the top 5, and they have got two points from these games. By all accounts, they have been playing well and should get back to winning ways here tonight.
Medimurje are under huge pressure after a crushing 5-1 defeat at home last weekend. Only 1 win in 12 games has seem them slump into the relegation zone and they have only won once away from home all season, losing the other 11 games.
Lokomotiva have been performing well recently, despite results not going their way, and they should get back to winning ways against a poor Medimurje team tonight.
Bet: Lokomotiva -0.75AH @ 1.73
NK Zagreb v Karlovac
Zagreb have only 1 win in 8 games and are 4 points from safety. Simply put, they need to win this game and you would expect them to go out and attack Karlovac. They have struggled to break down defensive-minded teams this season, and this will be a challenge for them.
Karlovac haven’t lost in their previous 9 games, although they dropped out of the Europa League places after dropping points at the weekend. They play a defensive formation and are quick on the counter attack. They have only scored 25 goals in 24 games this season, but have only conceded 14 during that time.
Zagreb need to attack looking for the win, but this could prove to be a dangerous tactic against the solid counter attacking style of Karlovac.
Bet: Karlovac +0.5AH @ 2.05
Zulte-Waregem v Club Brugge
Zulte are in crisis at the moment, with no win in 10 games. Rumours that several of their players tested positive for alcohol following their defeat at the weekend. Their poor run of form coincided with the loss of playmaker Berrier to injury and they are without two further central midfielders tonight.
Club Brugge should have won at the weekend, but missed several chances to settle the game, which eventually cost them. They need a win to strengthen their hold on 2nd place ahead of Gent. They are without defender Ryan Donk, but he was playing out of position and was at fault for the equaliser last weekend, so shouldn’t be a huge loss.
Club Brugge will fancy their chances against a Zulte team that has major problems on and off the pitch at the moment.
Bet: Club Brugge @ 1.72
Tottenham v Arsenal
Tottenham will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of an extra-time defeat to Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Sunday. However, there are likely to be some tired legs after that game, and the loss of Nico Kranjcar to injury, and more importantly, Wilson Palacios to suspension, are major blows. Only three senior midfielders are available, and Ledley King is also a doubt through injury.
Arsenal will be boosted by the return of Robin Van Persie, although he will start on the bench for this game. Alex Song is still injured, so Sol Campbell will play against his former employers. A victory tonight in the derby will see Arsenal move above Manchester United into 2nd place, only three points behind leaders Chelsea, although the satisfaction of victory over their rivals will be a driving force in this match.
Bet: Arsenal -0.25AH @ 1.98
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