Soccer betting tips and predictions

Steaua Bucuresti – Universitatea Craiova 31 July 2010

Steaua last 5 league matches: 

Steaua last 3 home matches:

Craiova last 5 league matches:

Craiova last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Steaua - 4, Craiova - 11

Steaua home table position: -

Craiova  away table position: -

Only the second leg of the Romanian Liga 1 with an interesting fixture between rivals Steaua Bucuresti and Universitatea Craiova.

Steaua Bucuresti has undergone a great transformation in the summer break with no less than 14 new players transfered so far and most of last season’s starting eleven gone.

The team, under a new management has performed impeccably so far winning all friendly matches in the summer as well as their first match of the campaign away to newly promoted U. Cluj. The football played is encouraging for the fans but one down side could be the team’s young players with less experience and time together coped with the high pressure at the club.

Universitatea Craiova has been in a downward spiral the last few years, a team with a long history in the Romanian first league but just above the relegation zone last season.

Tensions are always high between the two team as Craiova failed to win a match on Steaua’s stadium for 20 years now. They will display a young group as well, talented but not showing a great team work. Their first match, although a goalless draw against current champions CFR Cluj will give them confidence.

My pick:  Steaua Bucuresti to win ( over 2.5 goals )

Partizan – Pyunik 14 July 2010

*matches in all competitions

Partizan last 5 matches:  

Partizan last 3 home matches: 

Pyunik last 5 matches:

Pyunik last 3 away matches:

Second qualifying round of the Champions League and bigger manes are entering the competition to secure access to the group stage of this 2010-2011 season.

Partizan Belgrade may be the biggest team in this early stage, the former Champions League winners won the league title last season but the poor performances of Serbian teams lately in European events mean that they are still a long way off for a place in the groups.

They are certainly determined to win against the Armenian team with the manager quoted as saying that they will approach their opponents as if they where Barcelona.

Pyunik Yerevan are widely regarded as outsiders in this double leg fact reflected in the betting odds but this team will certainly put up a good fight.

They have one great advantage over their rivals and it lies in the fact that the Armenian Championship is well under way and their fitness levels may be over Partizan’s.

My tip:  Partizan to win