Romanian League
2010-05-22 - International Arges vs Steaua Bucuresti
A Sports Betting Pick by ROzsolt
Football: Romania: Liga 1
“Nicolae Dobrin” stadium, Pitesti
Saturday 22 May, 2010 Kickoff time: 16:30 GMT+2
International Curtea de Arges (12th) W-10 D-6 L-17 32:47
International were credited before the beginning of the championship with the best chances to relegate but they proved everyone wrong, playing a positive, attacking football that brought them 10 victories this season.
From the 4 teams that promoted last year, 2 of them will be back in the Liga2 next season, after just one year spent in the first league.
International however managed to escape relegation despite losing 17 games this season (only Craiova and Alba-Iulia lost more games).
International will even have a player at the Word Cup, Ivorian Emmanuel Kone (who is on-loan from CFR Cluj), so the fact that the name of their club appears next to teams like Chelsea or Barcelona who provide the most important Ivorian players is quite impressive.
They have a disastrous home record, the worst home record from the league actually, 4 wins, 1 draw and 11 defeats! Also a negative goal difference of 13. It’s important to say that International is playing their home games in Pitesti, because their stadium is being renovated.
International Arges last 5 home results :
09.05.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 32 International Arges 2-0 Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt
26.04.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 29 International Arges 1-2 FC Vaslui
10.04.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 27 International Arges 2-1 Apulum Alba Iulia
03.04.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 25 International Arges 1-2 Rapid Bucuresti
21.03.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 23 International Arges 2-1 Gloria Bistrita
Steaua Bucuresti (5th) W-17 D-8 L-8 47:36
Steaua disappointed again this season, they haven’t won any trophy in Romania since 2006, an unacceptable thing for their fans (and there are at least a few million of them).
This last game against International is considered very important because if they win and finish with the exact same amount of points as Vaslui and Timisoara, they will be awarded the 3rd position because of the best direct game results.
Not having to play qualifications for the Europa League means that they will have more time to prepare for the next season and the 3rd position also provides more money from the television-rights.
Steaua has some squad problems for this game, Kapetanos, their top-scored already left to join Greek national team, Ov. Petre and Karamyan are suspended, while Nicolita, Szekely, Golanski are injured.
The first and only game between these teams so far ended up in a 3-2 victory of Steaua Bucuresti.
Last 5 Steaua Bucuresti away results :
10.05.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 32 FC Vaslui 2-1 Steaua Bucuresti
01.05.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 30 Apulum Alba Iulia 2-1 Steaua Bucuresti
18.04.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 28 Rapid Bucuresti 5-1 Steaua Bucuresti
07.04.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 26 Gloria Bistrita 1-2 Steaua Bucuresti
26.03.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 24 Pandurii Tg. Jiu 0-0 Steaua Bucuresti
The Betting Verdict :
When you take a look at the squads, the difference of value is not as visible as many may think.
Steaua is having a weak squad, one of the possible explanations of why they collected so many points is that their opponents gave them too much respect and were intimidated by their name.
For Steaua this game is very important, on the other hand International has nothing to play for so I am backing the visitors in this game, even if I usually don’t bet on Steaua.
The Pick :
International 1-2 Steaua Bucuresti
BEST BETTING TIP :
Main Bet: Take Steaua Bucuresti to win at 2.05 UnibetSide bet: Consider Over 2.5 goals at 2.11 Centrebet
