Wednesday 29th July
Aalesund v Start (Draw)
The two bottom sides in the league go head to head in Aalesund on Wednesday still searching for their first wins. Will one team finally get off the mark in the win column, or will it be a draw that helps nobody
Aalesund nearly got a point at Odd on Saturday, a late own goal meaning they lost 3-2. They had twice fought back from going behind, despite going down to 10 men at 2-1 down. A stupid double booking within 2 minutes from left back Olafsson, pulling back his opponent twice.
Simen Bolkan Nordli scored his 3rd of the season, the 20 year old is one shining light in their dismal start to Eliteserien life.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Start continued to show a defensive resolve, a 6th straight game with less than 3 goals. Their last 6 games averaging just 1 goal. It was a 0-0 draw with Stabæk this time, and they should have won with several good opportunities and a couple of efforts cleared off the line.
This is a battle of two teams struggling in different ways. Start struggling to score, Aalesund struggling to stop conceding. Start have eight goals, but six of them came in the first three games. So that is just two goals in seven games.
Aalesund on the other hand have scored 13, scoring in every game but one. However they have now conceded an incredible 32 goals at an average of 3.2 per game.
This is a tough one to call, Aalesund beat Start twice last year but both were in good form in the league below. I wouldn't like to call a result on this one, so have to look elsewhere for value.
One thing to look at is both teams to score. Aalesund have not kept any clean sheets this season, and despite Start keeping it tight, they have not kept a clean sheet away from home. Add to that the extra days rest Aalesund have, I can see both teams scoring.
Start average 4.75 corners away from home, so maybe 4+ corners for the away team could work aswell, especially against fellow strugglers Aalesund.
Bet Builder: Both teams to score, under 4.5 goals in the game (2.10)
Goalscorers to add to bet Builder: Nordli(3.40), Ramsland(2.87) or Fridjonsson(2.50)
Kristiansund v Sandefjord (Home win)
Kristiansund continue to be the draw specialists in Eliteserien, that is 6 now after their 1-1 draw with Brann on Saturday night. It was not the most exciting game to watch, two second half goals deciding it, with Dan Peter Ulvestad heading in a late equaliser for KBK.
Pellegrino picked up a knee injury in the game, and he is now a doubt for this one on Wednesday. It is hard to see where the threat is without him in the team.
Sandefjord got their third win of the season with an excellent 1-0 win over Mjøndalen on Sunday. It was a scrappy goal from Erik Brenden that takes them on to 10 points in 10 games.
Despite being draw specialists, this is a game Kristiansund have to be looking to win. Sandefjord have lost 4 in a row away from home, an aggregate score of 9-2.
I'm looking at goals and corners in this one. Kristiansund have been struggling a little for goals recently, but Sandefjord so far there has been 2 or more goals in every away game. Only 1 Kristiansund home game has had less than 2 goals.
KBK also average 6 corners a game at home, and Sandefjord average 4 away from home. An average of over 12 match corners in KBK home games, so definitely going to add that to my bet builder.
Bet Builder: over 1.5 goals and over 9.5 corners(2.03)
Goalscorers to add to bet Builder: Askar(3.60), Kalludra(3.60) or Gussiås(5.00)
Mjøndalen v Odd (Draw)
A fifth straight defeat for Mjøndalen on Sunday leaves them 3rd from bottom with only two wins this season. They had started the season pretty well, but now are starting to look like they will struggle this season, particularly to score enough goals.
Odd on the other hand have found themselves up after winning 3 out of their last 4 games. They eventually saw off Aalesund on Saturday thanks to that late own goal, but the bad news from that game was young striker Tobias Lauritsen has broken his leg in a challenge with the goalkeeper in which he won a penalty. He had previously scored an earlier penalty, and now Odd will be missing him for at the very least 3 months.
His replacement on Saturday was Mushaga Bakenga, but I had to say I wasn't impressed at all, and they will need to find someone else to score the goals.
It is a tough one to pick this again, despite it being 5 defeats in a row, apart from Sandefjord on Sunday it had been a very tough run of fixtures for Mjøndalen. With Odd, their last away game was a 2-0 defeat at Sarpsborg, a team that play a similar style to Mjøndalen. Add to that striker problems, it could be a tough night for them.
Really tough to find anything from a betting angle in this game, so probably best to avoid it, other than maybe under on the goals scored.
Bet Builder: under 3.5 goals, 1 corner for each team in both halves(2.15)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Nakkim(12.00 possible penalties), Olden Larsen(4.00), Rashani(3.10)
Sarpsborg v Haugesund (Home win)
Haugesund got the surprise win of the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Rosenborg on Sunday night. No surprises thought the two involved with the goal, a Sandberg penalty that was won by Kristoffer Velde.
Sarpsborg were well beaten by Viking 3-0, a real step back from them after previous performances. They were really poor against Viking, rarely threatening in attack, comfortably their worst defeat of the season.
This is a game between two teams struggling for goals, Sarpsborg have 10, Haugesund have only 7. So we definitely can't be expecting a high scoring encounter. Last year they drew 1-1 twice, and it is always a tight game between the two of them.
Haugesund have only scored more than once in one game, and that was a 2-2 draw with Kristiansund at home. Sarpsbog haven't scored more than twice at home all season, so less than 3.5 goals looks good here.
In terms of corners, Sarpsborg average over 6.5 corners at home, so I will be looking at that as well.
Neither team comes into this in great form, but if I had to pick a winner it would be Sarpsborg. Haugesund have really struggled to score goals, the penalty in the last game was their first for 5 games, so still no goal from open play since Velde scored against Sandefjord, 7 games ago.
Sarpsborg won their last two home games, 1-0 and 2-0, against Start and Odd, so home form could well win the day again.
Bet Builder: under 3.5 goals total, Sarpsborg to score 1 or more, Sarpsborg to have 5+ corners (2.70)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Velde(5.50), Abdellaoue(2.87) or Jakobsen(5.00)
Strømsgodset v Brann (Draw)
Godset were well beaten by Vålerenga on Sunday, 2-0. They were well outplayed, opened up time and time again down their left hand side.
Brann drew 1-1 with Kristiansund after losing the lead late on in a fairly dull game. Gilbert Koomson scored again, that is 7 now for the season. But worryingly Bamba isn't scoring, he has missed more big chances than anyone else in the league this season. It will be interesting to see if he is given a rest with 3 games in a week.
Godset have only 1 win from their last 7 games, Brann have 2 from their last 8, so it is two teams not in great form, but both in mid table looking to move up. Between the two teams they have only stopped the opposition scoring 3 teams in 20 games. Brann against Viking and Sarpsborg, Godset against Odd.
The last 8 games Godset have conceded at least 1, and Brann have conceded in the last 5 games, so expecting both teams to score here again.
The main threat for Brann has been Koomson, so it could be more trouble down the left hand side for Strømsgodset. Moses Mawa has started to look more of a threat for Godset, his pace could cause trouble in the inside channel for Kolskogen.
An even game expected, and not expecting a goal fest either, and one more thing that can be looked at, is Brann corners. They average well over 5 on the road, so that is something to think about here in a betting sense.
Bet Builder: Both teams to score, under 5 goals in the match(2.00). Can also add 4 or more Brann corners(1.50)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Koomson(3.60), Mawa(3.10) or Taylor(3.40)
Molde v Vålerenga(Home Win)
Molde's unbeaten start to the season was ended up in Bodø on Sunday as they were well beaten 3-1 in the end. Surprisingly Leke James didn't start that one as Omoijuanfo was preferred, so expect James back here and for Molde to bounce back.
Vålerenga were excellent against Strømsgodset, and their right hand side is probably the best partnership in the league just now. Aron Dønnum and Christian Borchgrevink are linking up so regularly, and it was the latter that set up the opening goal on Sunday, overlapping Dønnum as he does often.
This is 2nd at home to 3rd, but with six points between them, I do think Molde will be too strong for them. They have the ability to rotate far more than Vålerenga, and should be fresh to get back to winning ways.
Vålerenga are unbeaten in 7 now, the second longest run in the league, but away from home they have struggled for goals. They have not scored more than 1 in any games away, just four in total in five games.
Molde have scored 12 goals in their 4 home games so far, and it wouldn't be surprise if they get at least two more here. They will be desperate to keep pace with Glimt after Sunday, and like their last two home games when they have led 2-0 at the break, we can expect them to start strong here.
Vålerenga are dangerous down the right as was said, and if Molde have a weakness defensively it is probably on that left hand side, so it should be a nice opportunity for Dønnum to create more chances.
Vålerenga are even money to get 4 or more corners, and they average over 5 away from home, Molde concede an average of over 5.5, so an interesting price.
Vålerenga continue to collect yellow cards, so definitely expecting that in this game too.
Bet Builder: Molde to score in both halves, Vålerenga to have 3 or more corners(2.75)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Leke James(1.72), Stokke(3.60) or Andersen(2.05)
Thursday 30th July
Stabæk v Bodø/Glimt (Away win)
The league leaders Glimt continued their perfect start to the season with a fantastic win over Molde on Sunday. Again it was JP Hauge causing all sorts of trouble, getting on the scoresheet again, along with Kasper Junker, who now has 9 for the season.
Stabæk played out a 0-0 draw at Start, and were in truth quite lucky to come away with a point. They have still only lost twice this season however, against Molde and Rosenborg.
Glimt are an attacking machine, 38 goals in their 10 games so far, and they have scored at least 3 goals in every away game so far. I don't see Stabæk containing them easily here, but they are generally quite good on the counter, so I can see both teams scoring in this one, although Stabæk home games have not being very high scoring this season, only more than 2 goals scored once, in a 3-0 defeat.
Glimt have scored in every half so far this season, except the first half at home to Kristiansund, so to score in both halves will be on here.
At some point somebody will stop Glimt from winning, but I can't see it being Stabæk. They aren't great at defending deep, and give up a lot of chances. No way they will keep a clean sheet here, and there is goals in this one for the lethal front 3 of Glimt.
Junker might not be available, he is carrying a knock, so value in Boniface, who will start if Junker isn't fit.
Bet Builder: Glimt to score in both halves, Both teams to score(2.60)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Zinckernagel(2.00), Hauge(2.10) or Boniface(2.00)
Rosenborg v Viking (draw)
Rosenborg were extremely disappointing in their defeat to Haugesund as they continue to struggle to create opportunities. They have no patterns in attack and Børven is not enjoying playing in this system.
Viking on the other hand appear to have turned things around and the 3-0 win was easily their best performance of the season. The front 3 is really clicking, and despite their third missed penalty(Berisha this time) of the season, they are a real goal threat.
Bytyqi, Ibrahimaj and Berisha are occupying defenders and the two wide men are very good one v one, and with crossing the ball. The real wildcard in the attack though, is left back Adrian Pereira. He scored twice, set up the other and had another two good efforts on goal in this one and he is also a set piece threat.
Rosenborg failed to score for the fourth time this season, but they have scored in their last four home games, so don't expect Viking to keep a clean sheet here. Both teams to score looks likely, and there has been more than 2.5 goals in 60% of each of their games so far.
Another thing to look at here is Viking corners. They average over 7 away from home, Rosenborg concede an average of over 7 at home, but the price is 2.20 for Viking to get 5 corners or more. Good value there.
This is obviously a tough game for Viking, and they haven't won in Trondheim for over 10 years, but they are massively overpriced for the way they have played in the last two games, they are attacking with much more threat than Rosenborg.
Bet Builder: both teams to score, over 2.5 goals(2.00) and add 4 or more Viking corners.
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Bytyqi(5.50!!!), Konradsen(3.50) or Børven(2.00)
Five bets I like this midweek round.
Glimt HT/FT (2.20)
Molde to score in both halves (1.90)
Vålerenga to hit 4 or more corners (2.00) NAP
BTTS in Stabæk/Glimt and Strømsgodset/Brann (2.35)
Friday night divison 1
Sandnes Ulf to beat Strømmen(2.10) NB
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