Футбол. Eredivisie Netherlands
Almere City FC – Excelsior
Прогноз: Total under 3,0
Коэффициент: 1.6
«The Black Sheep» has existed in its current format only since the beginning of this century. In that time, it has already become a regular in the Eredivisie, and in the previous cycle, finishing third in the regular season, the team then emerged victorious in the playoffs. As a result, they earned the debut right to ascend to the top flight. Such teams are generally considered clear underdogs. That’s how they started: four consecutive defeats, one point after six rounds. But then came a successful stretch, winning and drawing with newcomers three times. The swings continued. After three defeats at the end of November — December, they went on to crush Vitesse at home and start 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Volendam. But then there was an exit from the cup against Fortuna, a draw with them in the league, and finally, a 0-2 loss to PSV in the last round.
«The Red and Blacks» are based in Rotterdam, where they also host their rivals Feyenoord and Sparta. It’s not surprising that this is not the most successful or popular club even in their city. Fifteenth place in the previous season was a satisfactory result for them, as they managed to avoid relegation. And now, averaging more than a point per match, there are even chances to rise to the top eight. However, 2024 started with losses to both PSV in the Eredivisie and Groningen in the cup. But they did beat Heerenveen 3-0, and shared points with Utrecht, drawing 1-1.
In the second division from 2020 to 2022, the «Sheep» gathered 10 points in four matches. And even in the Eredivisie, the newcomer held an away match in September to a goalless draw.
Футбол. Bundesliga Germany
FC Heidenheim – Borussia Dortmund
Прогноз: Win Borussia Dortmund
Коэффициент: 1.74
“The Red and Blues” are not just a newcomer for this level. This is a project that has gradually risen from the very bottom of German football for a decade and a half. It was there that Frank Schmidt took over the team in 2007, having previously spent the last of his career here as a player. He is, to be honest, more successful as a coach, because he managed to win the 2. Bundesliga in 2023. Despite the higher mentioned status, no one believed in the team’s potential in the top division. And that was in vain, because it took the point on the second try, having come back from a 0-2 result on the field of the vice-champion. And then the victories began; moreover, 2023 was finished with 3 successes. And the club continued to gain the points, albeit through draws with Koln and Wolfsburg, after the pause. The 1-1 score was repeated with Hoffenheim – that was another 1 point for the asset.
“The Bumblebees” will forever remember the last match of the previous Bundesliga. Then they missed out on the “silver salad bowl” by not winning against the unmotivated opponent – Mainz. This time, the team celebrated Christmas, being outside the quartet of leaders and having already lost to Stuttgart in the cup tournaments (and perhaps the victory in a difficult Champions League group was an “outlet”). It clearly didn’t want to put up with this: Jadon Sancho returned from Manchester United and the local legends, Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin, appeared in the coaching staff. As a result, it started strong after the pause, but against frankly passable opponents – Darmstadt (3-0) and Koln (4-0). Moreover, even Bohus did not become a problem – it beat the rival with a 3-1 score.
There had been only 1 match, in 2014, before the mentioned 2-2 result – a friendly one. Then the grandee won with a 4-3 score.
Футбол. Serie A Italy
Lecce – Fiorentina
Прогноз: Win Fiorentina
Коэффициент: 2.03
“The Giallorossi”, unlike the previous attempt, stayed in the Calcio after another promotion in the previous season. Still, firstly, the club was lucky, because 36 points were enough for this, and, secondly, the coach who had achieved such success, Roberto Baroni, was lured to Verona. It seemed that this even turned out to be a plus, because, being under the leadership of d’Aversa, the club managed to beat almost everyone. Then, already at the beginning of autumn, the momentum was “lost” and, taking into account the next opponents, only Frosinone was beaten. There have been defeats, with the exception of a 1-1 draw in the battle against the fighter for survival, Cagliari, since the end of December. It seemed that receiving Genoa could bring positive emotions. Still, “the Griffin” turned a 0-1 deficit into a strong-willed 2-1 win during 6 minutes of the second half.
“The Violets”, if not rated as a football giant, are, in any case, rightfully considered one of the most popular teams of the country. And although the history was not easy, there were enough glorious pages in it. It is not surprising that the management tried to return to past successes and it was for the current reason that the management invited Vincenzo in 2021. Being under the rule of the higher mentioned mentor, “Squadra Viola” made it to the European tournaments twice; moreover, the previous season was crowned with reaching the finals of the national cup and the Conference League. This time, performing successfully in the same tournaments again, the club had also made it into the top quartet of the Calcio by the end of the first lap… And, as if scared by this, it lost to Sassuolo and hardly achieved a 2-2 equality at the home confrontation with Udinese. Then there came a 0-3 result with Napoli in the Super Cup. As for the struggle with Inter, the club, having conceded only once, lost the game. It goes without saying that it needs to finally improve the performance.
Taking into account 4 previous head-to-head matches, “the Purples” alternated victories and draws. And the opponents finished the game, which took place in August, with a 2-2 draw.
Футбол. Championship England
Bristol City – Leeds
Прогноз: Win Leeds
Коэффициент: 1.67
«The Robins» managed to surprise in the cup. They not only held their own against a formidable opponent like West Ham, drawing 1-1 in London, but also won their home leg in the replay. Then came the encounter with Nottingham Forest, resulting in a goalless draw — again, everything will be decided in the replay. The team could afford to focus all attention on this format, as they have no particular tournament ambitions in the Championship. The club, finishing fourteenth last season, currently finds itself among the mid-table teams once again, even with a change in management not increasing the frequency of victories.
«The Whites,» however, didn’t intend to stay outside the Premier League for too long even last time. Only Marcelo Bielsa managed to bring them back to the Premier League and keep them there. However, they parted ways with the Argentine during the 2021/2022 season when the «Peacocks» indeed lacked stability. But in the end, they still got relegated, just a year later, last spring. The task for the current manager is clear: to return «at once.» Initially, it didn’t all go smoothly, but Ipswich is faltering. Although there’s still at least Southampton, so the fight will continue until the last matchday, and victories are necessary. Lately, they have been achieving them. In the last round, they played against Farke’s former charges — Norwich, and won with a minimal margin. However, Plymouth held them to a draw in the cup, leading to a replay.
All four matches before their promotion to the Premier League from 2018 to 2020 were won by «The Whites.» Nothing has changed now: they secured a 2-1 victory in October.
Футбол. Ligue 1 France
Strasbourg – Paris Saint-Germain
Прогноз: W2(-1)
Коэффициент: 1.85
“Le Racing” was one of the middle peasants, albeit with a difficult but colourful history. Speaking about the previous season, the team got 40 points, finishing in 15th position, with a fairly comfortable lead from the outsider. And “the BlueCo”, the Americans led by Boehly, became the new owner in the summer. As in another asset, Chelsea, the team began to actively change the squad, spending a lot of money on it. Patrick Vieira was invited to be a coach. So far, the results are mediocre. There is progress, but the club cannot even be called a contender for the European competition. Unless the team can still think about something serious in the cup tournament – they beat Clermont Foot on the away arena. And immediately after that it limited itself to only a draw in the Ligue 1.
“The Parisians” have long been fixated on the Champions League. And then the previous draw was won by another project, inflated with Middle Eastern petrodollars, Manchester City. Still, the French failed then, being eliminated long before the final. As for the summer, the management called “their” Catalan, Luis Enrique, who had got the experience in conquering the main European club trophy. At the same time, it is reasonable to mention that Mbappé and the company made it out of the group with difficulty, but the quartet was quite “dead”: Newcastle, Milan and Borussia. As for the inner arena, everything goes according to the plan, without any disruption, again. And the team won the Super Cup, finishing that game with a 2-0 score with Toulouse, and in the Ligue 1, starting with a couple of draws, the club eventually broke away from its pursuers. One way or another, the club shouldn’t expect only victories – the confrontation with Brest, which took place in the previous round, resulted in a 2-2 draw.
Taking into account the expected advantage of the grandee, “Le Racing” took the draws twice in the previous head-to-head matches.
Футбол. LaLiga Spain
Athletic Club – Mallorca
Прогноз: Total under 2.5
Коэффициент: 1.69
“The Basques” are playing again under the leadership of Valverde. Ernesto’s return caused reasonable optimism, but the ambitious team lost twice to Osasuna with this mentor in the previous season, both in the cup semi-finals and in the dispute for 7th place in the Primera. This time, there was a match with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey – a home El Clásico. And the club managed to win it, although only in extra time. Moreover, it was possible to get even into the top 4 in La Liga in January. Then it turned out to be a series of victories, including over Atlético, which was pushed out of the quartet of leaders. Still, a 2-1 result in the struggle with Real Sociedad was followed by a defeat made by Valencia. One could explain the higher mentioned result by the participation in the cup confrontation, but even then the match with Cadiz was limited to a goalless draw.
Aguirre took charge of “the Bermellones” two years ago. The experienced Mexican specialist came to a typical “football elevator” and he was in a difficult situation and was practically doomed to another relegation in the spring of 2022 – nevertheless, he managed to stay. As for the next season, 2022/2023, the team appeared in 9th place. Now the results are much more modest. Still, that is the most important, the points that “the Islanders” have got are enough to keep them at a relatively comfortable distance from the relegation zone. And they managed to beat Tenerife in the Copa del Rey (albeit thanks to Larin’s goal in the 121st minute of the game). Then, on the contrary, the team stunned Girona with 3 goals during just over half an hour, eventually eliminating the opponent. It’s not surprising that the success was followed by the misfire in the battle against Betis – 0-1.
Both matches of the previous season ended in draws. As for the new cycle, which took place at the beginning of September, the clubs played without any goals at all.
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