Ilya Sokolov (@Lokosokol):
Bet One: €5 Krylya Sovetov — Krasnodar: Over 3.5 goals @4.00 at Bet365
Krasnodar has won all of their four competitive games this season with an overall score 13-1. Last season they scored seven goals in the two games against Krylya Sovetov. The team from Samara has lost their last two games, both away, and should be keen on showing their fans something different this time at home. Although Krylya often has problems finding the net, I believe in Frank Vercauteren’s boys to contribute to an entertaining and high-scoring game.
Bet Two: €10 Terek – Lokomotiv: Under 1.5 goals @2.25 at Bet365
Lokomotiv are yet to learn how to attack, and scored both their goals last week on penalties. Without head coach Igor Cherevchenko, who left the club earlier this week, they won’t have time to change anything, so they will most likely stick to his counterattacking approach. Lokomotiv will furthermore have to do without winger Aleksandr Samedov, who is doubtful with an injury. Terek’s head coach Rashid Rakhimov is aware of this, meaning his team will also be cautious. We will be lucky if we see any goals in this game.
Bet Three: €5 Terek - Lokomotiv: Ezekiel Henty to score anytime @4,5 at Bet365
Ezekiel Henty was signed as a replacement for Baye Oumar Niasse, but played his only good game as a winger, when he, together with Rifat Zhemaletdinov, smashed Mordovia in the finale of last season. With sports director Kirill Kotov gone, Oleg Pashinin doesn’t have to use Henty up front to prove the correctness of the transfer, meaning he can be moved back to the wing, where he can show his qualities – finishing being one of them.
Thomas Giles (@Thomas_Giles_UK):
Bet one: €10 Krylya Sovetov - Krasnodar: Fyodor Smolov to score anytime @2.4 at Bet365
This match sees arguably the most conservative teams in the Russian Premier League go up against a side who thrive on scoring goals, but also have the perfect dovetail of being good in defence.
I cannot see passed a Krasnodar win here but it is about exploring other markets to find a good return for this match.
Having said that, there is actually half-decent value with a straight Krasnodar win at 1.80 and that could be worth going for, however, I am going for a bet that has bagged decent sized winners on several occassions for the last few months.
It may be incredibly boring and uninventive but it is pretty much a guaranteed profit maker these days. Last season’s top goalscorer Fyodor Smolov just cannot stop scoring again this season and he already has four goals to his name. I would certainly back him to score anytime at 2.40.
Bet two: €5 Terek - Lokomotiv: Under 1.5 goals @2.25 at Bet365
Terek Grozny and Lokomotiv Moscow does not sound like a recipe for goals, however, for punters it is nice and predictable.
The Chechens have been one of the more solid sides of the RFPL in recent years and their 4-0 thrashing by Krasnodar was merely a fluke. Generally they are good at the back but pretty lacklusture going forward.
Lokomotiv are in a complete mess right now with no president and possibly no manager for this fixture. After a decent 0-0 draw away at title-chasing Zenit St. Petersburg , they really should have seen out a 2-0 home win against Tom Tomsk. The Railroaders have conduced no business during this summer window and therefore are still lacking a striker - a problem since Oumar Niasse’s departure last winter.
I am not certain about the result of this match as it could be incredibly competitive and I think one goal will decide it. With this in mind I would advise ‘Under 1.5 goals’ at 2.25
Bet three: €5 Tom - Ufa: Tom victory @2.25 at Bet365
Both of these sides are tipped to be in a relegation battle this season and this is a very early season defining fixture.
Siberian side Tom Tomsk did incredibly well to secure a 2-2 draw away at Lokomotiv after being 2-0 and showed that they can score goals when required. Perhaps their defence, which is generally seen as solid, was called a bit into question but I think that will sort itself out in time for this match, especially with this being their first home fixture of the season.
After losing superstar Oleksandr Zinchenko to Manchester City in the summer, Ufa arguably have one of the worst squads in the league and they lack any sort of player who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Although they did incredibly well to secure a 0-0 draw at home against Zenit last time out, I think all will return to normal here.
I doubt this will be the most exciting game but I would back Tom to win as the value is good for a home win at 2.25.
RFN Total: +€138.04
Vincent Tanguy: +€144.35 (hit rate: 5/12 – 41.66%)
Ben Clark: +€105.5 (hit rate: 10/21 – 47.61%)
David Sansun: +€76.4 (hit rate: 7/27 – 25 %)
Thomas Giles: +€53.95 (hit rate 12/21 – 57.14 %)
Jack Beresford: +€30 (hit rate 1/3 – 33.33 %)
Toke Theilade: +€11.89 (hit rate: 6/12 – 50 %)
Danny Armstrong: -€8 (hit rate: 2/6 – 33.33 %)
Stefano Conforti: -€16 (hit rate: 1/3 – 33.33 %)
Andrew Flint: -€60 (hit rate: 5/27 – 18.51 %)
Ilya Sokolov: -€79,6 (hit rate: 5/22 – 20.83%)
Leave a Reply