Football Tips 04/04/2014

5 games into the campaign and already defending champions Zalgiris have re-taken their place at the summit, a game in hand and hosting a fairly average Kruoja side should see them create a 3 point gap at the top. At home they are brilliant, they lost just 2 games on their own turn last season all the while conceding just a measly 9 goals, this form has continued and already this year they have a home record of 3 wins, 15 scored and just 2 conceded! Kruoja are an average mid-table side, they pick up points against most around them but struggle regularly against the top 3, they have not beaten Zalgiris since 2012 and we don’t think this is likely to change today, regardless they are good for goals so we don’t trust a handicap here. Zalgiris scored 2+ goals against these in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head meetings and considering the visitors seem to leak goals on the road it looks to be the safest bet for the match.

There are just 6 games remaining in the 2.Bundesliga and Paderborn know that nothing but solid performances for the rest of the season will get them into that automatic promotion spot they so desperately want. On their own turf they are solid, just 2 defeats all season long and averaging less than a goal per game conceded, they come into this full of confidence with a win streak of 5 at the Benteler-Arena and look very good for the 3 points today. Dusseldorf have not lived up to expectations following their relegation from the Bundesliga last year, they have managed to win just 1 of their most recent 10 fixtures and look to rely on home form to pick up the bulk of their points. The reverse fixture between these two ended in a 6-1 thrashing for hosts Dusseldorf, they have said to be seeking revenge today but if they couldn’t produce at home where they do their best work it seems very unlikely a better result will occur on the road.

Just 7 games remain in the league campaign and a win for Netanya here will see them in a solid position for promotion to the first division, 6,000 fans are expected to show for the game today with a party atmosphere in the air, they know their time has come, the hosts now need to perform for them. Netanya are easily the best team in this division, they have lost just three games all season long including the last three to nil. They beat Ramla both home and away in the past two meetings and should easily have what it takes to beat a side with nothing to play for.

Vaslui are having big problems, players have been without wages for 4 months now with the 31st March deadline seeming gone by without a word players will have their minds on other things, some have not trained this week which will impact their performance today, they will also be without top scorer L.Antal who misses through suspension. Viitorul really have been at the mercy of poor refereeing decisions in recent weeks, even last week’s defeat did not come fairly seeing them give away a penalty and end the game with just 9 men on the field. Vaslui’s inability to score often could be their downfall against a team desperately in need of points today, a low scoring affair is likely and with a +1.5 handicap on the visitors it should be a safe bet.