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This week end is also dominated by the Intertoto Cup and, judging from the first legs a week ago, I think that I have found a couple of winners. I have to admit, however, that it was difficult to find any attractive prices around. As usual in this neglected Cup, it is so much easier to believe in home wins, the home sides at least field decent sides, but you never know what kind of line up that the away sides will present for you. Even footballers want their holidays.
I pick the Israeli Hapoel Haifa to get their revenge on Sunday (16.30 GMT) vs. Belarus Dynamo Minsk.
Haifa lost the away game, 0-2, and I should think that they have a decent chance to advance to the next round. Israeli teams are by tradition extremely strong on their own soil, and this fact, coupled with the information that many first team regulars in the Haifa side were on vacation in the first game, make me suggest a home win. The Israeli coach has assured that his team will be much stronger on Sunday.
Minsk played a league game yesterday, defeating a bottom side 4-0, and possibly this week will be rather heavy for them. Anyway, I pick Hapoel Haifa to win, and the price is 3/4 (1.75) on the home win.
Another likely winner should be Belgian Lokeren at home to Zagleibe Lubin from Poland. They face each other on Saturday (19.00 GMT), and the price on the Lokeren home win is also 3/4 (1.75).
The first game in Poland ended in a 2-2 draw, where the Belgians came back late in the game, having been 2-0 down. I know for a fact that the Belgians will be a strengthened side on Saturday, welcoming back influential Bangoura and Patrick Zere, as well as their Icelandic players. These reinforcements should do the trick, and I expect Lokeren to defeat this rather mediocre Polish side. Lokeren to win, and the price is 3/4 (1.75).
Swedish AIK have shown improvement all over the field lately, and yesterday they defeated Elfsborg, 3-1, and looked good once again. They face Odense on Saturday (16.00 GMT), and I expect the Swedes to notch up another victory.
The game in Denmark a week ago ended in a 2-2 draw, although AIK were 2-0 up after some 30 minutes. The Swedes had a firm grip on the game in the second half, but a long range shot out, from of the blue, gave Odense the point. The Danes have been on some kind of "adventure exercise" for a couple of days this week. It quite popular, at least here in Scandinavia, to use these adventures for the players to test their stress limits, and also get to know each other. I do not know what kind effect this will have on the Saturday game for the Odense players, but surely AIK should be the stronger sides at the moment.
AIK will most likely rotate their squad, but the their starting line up will be strong, now that almost all of their players are fit. AIK to win, and the price is 7/10 (1.70).
According to match reports, Hungarian Tatabanya were embarrassingly superior to the Moldovians, Tiligul T. in the first game in Moldavia a week ago. They dominated the proceedings, and the 1-1 draw must be considered a veritable gift to the Moldovians. Consequently, I must believe in a win on Saturday (16.00 GMT) for Tatabanya. The price on the home win for the Hungarians is 4/7 (1.57).
Heerenveen missed half of their first choice players in the away game in Latvia vs. Metalurgs, Liepajas, and lost 2-3 in the end. You must say that the final result was a strange one in that game as well. The Dutch were the dominant force throughout the game, but the goalkeeper in the Latvian side was unbelievable. Surely, a strengthened Heerenveen side should defeat Liepajas on Saturday (16.30 GMT), but the price on the Dutch win is perhaps below the decent limit. I have only found 4/11 (1.36) on the home win. It is your choice, of course.
I have three more suggestions, but admittedly they are difficult games, and I might be on the wrong track. On the other hand. the prices are better than the above suggested winners.
Sartid, the Yugoslavs, at home to 1860 Munich are one of the possible contenders. They are a very strong force at their own ground in front of some 16.000 patriotic fans. The Germans won 3-1 in the first leg, and can afford to lose by the odd goal, and I suggest that that is exactly what they will do. Sartid to win, and the price is 6/4 (2.50). (Saturday 16.30 GMT).
Sturm Graz lost at home to Lausanne, 0-1, and I give Sturm a chance of gaining revenge. Lausanne lost yesterday in the Swiss league in a very physical encounter, and possibly they will be somewhat disinterested on Saturday (18.30 GMT). Sturm, on the other hand, played a friendly against a Warszawa side in midweek. They managed an easy win, and come in the right mood for this return leg. Sturm Graz to win, and the price 7/4 (2.75) or probably even better, I do not know for sure.
Georgia Tiblisi lost, 0-6, away to French Troyes. I just wonder what kind of team the French will send to Georgia for this indifferent return leg. It is always easier to believe in a home win under these circumstances, so I pick Tiblisi to win, and the price is 8/5 (2.60). (Sunday 16.00 GMT).
In Norway, I pick Rosenborg to win the heavyweight fight against title competitors, Viking, on Sunday (17.00 GMT).
Both sides have struggled lately, but they still are number one and two in the table. The home side, Rosenborg, welcome back the Norwegian International, Christer Basma, from suspension, and they will possibly also change their goalkeeper. Espen Johnsen is in contention for the job.
Viking have one major headache, and that is the fitness of Bj. Lunde Aarsheim. He has problems with an ankle, and he could not play in a friendly yesterday. He is a key player for Viking. I go for the home win, and the price is 7/10 (1.70).
My second Norwegian suggestion is Sogndal at home to Odd. (Sunday 17.00 GMT)
Both teams are having good spells at the moment. Sogndal had two straight wins, and were on the way to get a third, when Bodř equalised in the final minute last Sunday. Odd, of course, have four straight wins, albeit against bottom sides.
Sogndal have picked up J. Jamtfall from Rosenborg, (a goalkeeper), and it looks as though ex-Wolverhampton striker Havard Flo will make his debut on Sunday. This is good news for Sogndal, and for me the good price is also a deciding factor. Sogndal to give a Odd a defeat, and the price is 13/8 (2.63).
I have seen that many on the forum are convinced that Djurgĺrden will beat Norrköping this weekend in the Swedish Allsvenska. Djurgĺrden are on a terrific run, but I just want to point out what happened in midweek. Norrköping lost to leading side Gothenburg, 1-2, away from home, but the result was a joke. Norrköping were so much better in that game, and the Gothenburg goalie made some incredible saves, one of them possibly the most fantastic I have seen for some twenty years or so. Norrköping may be on the way to better things but, at the same time, I have nothing to say against Djurgĺrden. It is an open game.
I have two suggestions in the Swedish division one.
Enköping at home to Cafe Opera, and the price is 11/10 (2.10), and Kalmar at home to Mjällby in the top fight. The price on Kalmar is even money (2.00).
Enköping are hard to beat when they play at full strength, and they welcome back important players ahead of this game, and that should be enough to defeat Cafe Opera. (Friiday 18.00 GMT).
Kalmar started the season in an outstanding way, but then they experienced a period of mixed fortunes, but still managed to stay in the top. Now they look to be back on all cylinders again, after winning 6-1 & 2-0 in their last two games. This fight is already sold out, and Kalmar will be extremely hard to handle. A home win, and the price is even money (2.00). (Sunday 16.00 GMT).
In a final both parties must have a decent chance of winning. I mean, you do not reach a final by accident, do you? Still, I find it very hard to see Sweden winning against Germany in the final of the European Championships. That is all I have to say about that game
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