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betting » Previews » Matchday 2 - Group A - F - Mounting Up The Challenge

Matchday 2 - Group A - F - Mounting Up the Challenge

By Joe, BettingExpert.com | Edited

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Spurs Vaart

Spurs are looking to find a way to qualify for the Europa League in the least possible time and with Shamrock Rovers coming for a visit, Manager Harry Redknapp will be calling on Van Der Vaart to pull out some magic on Thursday night. Elsewhere, Danish champions, FC København will travel to Standard Liege and Stoke City will host Besiktas.

 

 

Tottenham Hotspurs vs. Shamrock Rovers

 

The north London club returns to White Hart Lane in serach for their first three points in the Europa League group stages. They drew two weeks ago against POAK which highlighted the farce over referee awarding penalties and leaving them with the best scenario outcome after manager Harry Redknapp fielding a weak side. This could yet be repeated this midweek against Shamrock Rovers as Spurs is scheduled to play their fierce rival, Arsenal, on the weekend. So thoughts must be on that game. Never the less, Spurs will surely be able to field a strong enough starting eleven that can take on Shamrock rovers, so expect fringe players like Gomes, Kranjcar, Kaboul, Livermore, Sandro and Pavlychenko to play.

The Irish outfit will play for their first time ever against Tottenham and also their first competitive match in England for over 50 years. However, it will be a big task for the Irish team to go across the British isle and get the three points. They were soundly beaten at home against Rubin in the group stage opener and another defeat could spell the end of the European campaign. Their away section has been sold out so there will be 2,300 rovers on the terrace but they will not see Dean Kelly or Ken Oman making their in the squad as both are out injured.

 

Verdict: Easy win for Spurs, no doubt.

 

 

 

 

Standard Liege vs. FC København

The home side will try to improve their form when it comes to their European campaign. Their first game saw a good result, a draw against neighbors, Hannover, and with promising signs of competing for the top two places, Standard Liege is looking to take all three on Thursday. In the Jupiler Pro League, Standard Liege are currently 7th and with a 0-0 home draw against fourth place Cercle Brugge. It is likely that the Belgium outfit will be deploying a 4-4-2 formation with the club’s top scorer Tchite Mohammed and Nong Aloys in the attack.

The reigning Danish champions are on the verge in clinching yet another title after supremely dominating the domestic arena by being undefeated and winning 9 out of 10 games. The weekend saw them beat their local rivals, Brondby, 2-1 with a last minute goal from Cesar Santin and the Lions not particular playing well although their deadly offensive finishing surely prove too much for any opposition in Denmark. In Europe, they started well with a narrow 1-0 win over Vorskla at home when Morten Nordstrand scored his penalty goal to give the Danish capital three points. Both captain Martin Zanka Jorgensen (knee injury) and Lars Jacobsen (cup-tied) will not be travelling to Belgium with the rest of the team. Coach Roland Nilson might prefer a defensive formation leaving only N. Doye upfront on his own.

 

Verdict: A draw should not be underestimated here but Standard Liege are weak favorites.

 

 

 

Stoke City vs. Besiktas

One of the most improved sides in the Premiership, without the same kind of finiancial expanse as the top clubs in the Premier League. They are currently seventh in league and with a 1-1 draw against the defending champions, Manchester United, they deservedly can claim that they are the first side to take points away from them. An achievement that needs to transpire into their European campaign and with an away 0-0 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in the first game, things can only get better home at Stoke City stadium. Manager Tony Pulis is likely to give a few players a rest but unlikely to see Peter Crouch or Jon Walters taking the night off for this.

The 13th time Turkish champions will face Stoke City for the first time in their history and they will be going to Stoke City with the confidence of being league leaders of group E. Besiktas was far more superior in their 5-1 demolishing of Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC in the first game of group stage of the Europa League. Both in Europe and domestically, Besikitas are prospering under Portuguese coach Carvalhal as they yet again came out victorious as they beat 1-0 over Antalyaspor at home. The Black Eagles are on good form with their Portuguese players like Simao and Hugo Almeida as core of the team’s structure. Their clean sheet in the weekend will certainly be a confidence boost for the Black Eagles before taking on the green grass at Stoke.

 

Verdict: Tough battle and a marginal draw is likely to be the outcome.



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betting » Previews » Matchday 2 - Group A - F - Mounting Up The Challenge