WORLD football fanatic James O'Rourke (@JamesOR1) looks to continue his fabulous form with a selection of hand-picked best bets from across the planet on Sunday.
Club Brugge v Anderlecht | Sunday 28th April 2019, 17:00
Club Brugge might be six-points behind league leaders Genk, and there is every chance that could extend to nine with their rivals playing the day before, but they won’t be giving up their league title without a fight.
Brugge won the crown last season, but have been a little inconsistent in comparison this time around. They’re winless in their last two, including an away loss to Genk, and then a 0-0 draw in Antwerp last time out. However, they were both away from home, and one thing I don’t like to do in back against Club Brugge in a home encounter.
Whilst they’re home form is strong this season, it is arguably some of their results here which has contributed to them likely finishing second. Shock defeats to Waregem and Mouscron, plus a draw to Waasland-Beveren has helped open up that gap at the top. They should be beating three wins from those clashes. However, one thing they don’t need much motivation for is to get one over Anderlecht.
Anderlecht are a side who run the risk of their season really petering out. If last weekend’s home draw to Gent was anything to go by, then they’re already ‘on their holidays’. It was a very drab 0-0 home draw, but a clash with Club Brugge is one they should at least be motivated for, if only for the fans. This is the big rivalry of the league and two of the most successful sides in Belgian football history. Anderlecht now have Yannick Bolasie leading the line on loan from Everton, but he has struggled in recent times to really stamp his authority on the role. Anderlecht did end the regular season campaign quite well; going unbeaten in six, winning four. However, the Championship Group has seen them play four, lose three and draw one.
Over the years, this has been a game that normally produces the goods in relation to goals. We had a couple of 0-0s in 2016 and 2017, plus a 1-0 early last year, but both goalkeepers are generally busy in this meeting. The last four has defeated the over 2.50 goal line, and five of the previous six. With Anderlecht not really having anything left to play for, they might as well have a go in this one. Club Brugge needs the points too, plus if Genk slip up the day before this’ll add extra significance.
70% of Brugge’s regular season matches finished O2.5, whilst four of their five in the Championship Group so far as done the same. 57% of Anderlecht’s is obviously not as high, but 73% of their away league games in the regular campaign contained at least three goals. They’re clearly a bit more open on the road, which can leave them vulnerable.
Club Brugge to win and Over 2.5 Goals looks a worthy 21/20 (Betway) selection to keep us interested in this one.
Copenhagen v Odense | Sunday 28th April 2019, 17:00
It would now take a collapse of the very highest order for Copenhagen not to be champions at the end of the season. They’ve continued the winning trend, but nearest rival Midtjylland have hit a bad run of form at the worst possible time. FCK therefore have an 11-point lead at the summit, but they cannot win the title this weekend as Midtjylland don’t play until Monday. However, the two do meet again in a few weeks’ time.
Nevertheless, it might not be official but Copenhagen look to have won the title, and deservedly so. However, Stale Solbakken won’t want his side to rest on their laurels and another win is their aim this weekend. They’ve not lost a league match since September believe it or not, with Bordeaux in the UEFA Europa League before Christmas the last team to beat them in any game.
Odense are in a poor run of form at the moment but they very much still have everything to play for. They are perhaps quite fortunate that those around that are struggling with consistency at present. It is only really Copenhagen in the Championship Group who are doing so, which means there is a nice little battle going on for third spot, which would give that team a shot at qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. Esbjerg currently sit in third, but only a point ahead of Odense. Odense are winless in their past six in league and cup, including a 1-0 home setback to Copenhagen earlier this month. They’ve lost only three times in the league all season, and they don’t travel too strongly, where they’ve won only five times.
Something which cannot be ignored was the last time that Odense made the trip to the Telia Parken as recently as February. Copenhagen 6-1 Odense was the final score. League top scorer Robert Skov helped himself to a hat-trick on that occasion. It was a bit out of the blue for the game to go that way as matches between these two have normally been much tighter affairs. However, there is clearly a gulf in quality and class between the two, and FCK should be celebrating yet another three-point haul on Sunday.
We obviously cannot look beyond Copenhagen this weekend, but as the weeks go by and the wins keep on tallying up, the value on them continues to drain. This is still first against fourth at the end of the day, but the odds don’t necessarily reflect that. This is effectively been a two-team league this season anyway, certainly in relation to the title. There is a way to get Copenhagen on side however, a way which I’ve used for them on more than one occasion.
Copenhagen to score in Both Halves is a brilliant 13/8 (William Hill) chance, it really is.
This has paid out in 73% of their home matches this season, a stadium which they’ve played 15, won 13, drew once and lost once. That solitary defeat came on the first weekend of the season by the way. Copenhagen have won the last seven home meetings with OB in succession, too.
Best Bets
Club Brugge v Anderlecht – Club Brugge to win and Over 2.5 Goals (21/20 Betway)
Copenhagen v Odense – Copenhagen to score in Both Halves (13/8 William Hill)
