Obscure Betting Column: Dipping into Romania, Portugal and Serbia

The Joker's Bet Of The Day / Dave Farrar / 31 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Dave Farrar looks into three fixtures across Europe in his search for value bets.

CSKA SOFIA v LEVSKI SOFIA

Only 15,000 fans are expected at the 44,000-capacity Vasil Levski national stadium for the Eternal Derby between Levski and CSKA Sofia as the threat of violence once again overshadows Bulgaria¹s two biggest clubs. Levski are breathing down the necks of champions CSKA, who have shrugged off a summer of upheaval which saw four players follow coach Stoichko Mladenov out of the club. In came legendary Bulgaria boss Dimitar Penev, who guided the country to the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, and new signing Vladimir Manchev, who scored both goals on his debut in last week's 2-1 win over Chernomorets Burgas.

Manchev has come back from a European tour where he played for Lille, Levante, Valladolid and Celta Vigo, and he could prove the difference between the sides. CSKA¹s only defeat of the season was back in mid-August and their scoring record on the road ¬- six in their last three matches -¬ suggests that they will keep their place at the top of the table.

Advice: CSKA Sofia to beat Lrvski Sofia @ [3.05]


RED STAR BELGRADE v RAD BELGRADE

After winning their last two games, Red Star slipped up in a midweek defeat against Borac Cacak to move 11 points behind leaders Partizan Belgrade, who beat Jagodina 2-0 on Wednesday night. But Red Star's home form under their new coach Cedomir Janevski, who replaced the unpopular Zdenek Zeman earlier this season, is improving, as their 5-1 win over OFK in their last home outing proved. Although the fans are pretty gloomy about the prospect of overhauling Partizan¹s lead, there is still room for some optimism: new goalkeeper Sasa Stamenkovic has been impressive, while Serbian Under-21 star Tomovic has a great future ahead of him. Red Star will be without their first-choice centre-back pairing of Nino Pekaric (injured) and Ibrahima Gueye (suspended) but the midfield strength of captain Nenad Milijas, Nikola Lazetic and Ognjen Koroman should be strong enough to see of a Rad side won
their first match of the season in midweek.

Advice: Red Star Belgrade to beat Rad Belgrade @ [1.18]


SPORTING LISBON v RIO AVE

Sporting¹s 100 per cent start to the season after round three has suffered a dip in recent weeks: they have not won their last three matches and travel to Rio Ave this weekend with a squad beset by troubles on and off the pitch Coach Paulo Bento dropped playmaker Simon Vukcevic, who has claimed he wants to leave in the January transfer window, while Miguel Veloso and Yannick Djalo were also dropped amid reports that agent Paulo Barbosa had asked Bento to play them in their preferred positions. The latter two should start at Rio Ave but missing out will be centre-back Tonel, out with a leg injury for a month. Add the fact that Sporting face Shakhtar Donetsk in a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday, and you can see why Sporting might not be at their best. Rio Ave, on the other hand, are the least entertaining side in Portugal this season, with only one of their six games so far producing
more than two goals. Five goals scored in six games is not a record that will worry Sporting's No 1 Rui Patricio, even if three came in their last home match. It could be a turgid encounter, but as long as Sporting get three points, Bento won¹t mind.

Advice: Under 2.5 goals in Sporting Lisbon v Rio Ave @ [1.7]