Europa League
2011-08-25 - Birmingham City vs Nacional
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : European Europa League
Thursday 25 August 2011 - Kickoff 7:45pm (BST)
Preview
Both teams will come into this game with the belief that they will be in the draw for the group stage of the Europa League which takes place on Friday afternoon.
Last week the teams drew 0-0 in Portugal and it was perhaps Birmingham who were the more disappointed as they hit the woodwork a few times, even though they were missing some of their key players. Now Chris Hughton has asked for the support of the home fans to help his side through to the next stage.
Birmingham have reduced ticket prices to ensure there is a full house at St Andrews to help their side through. They will need all the support they can get as they have only won 1 of their 4 competitive games this season, although that came in their only game here when beating Coventry 1-0.
Nacional did not play a League game last weekend, but they will have confidence from getting through 2 Rounds of this competition already this season. However, it has to be said that they have struggled away from home and have yet to win any of their 3 away games.
Nacional lost at Hacken in the last Round of this competition, but they have earned draws at FH and Feirense. Goals could be the biggest problem for this side if last week was any evidence and they have failed to score in 2 in a row.
Birmingham will miss a number of players in this match, including Jordan Mutch, Cameron Jerome, Nikola Zigic, Scott Dann and Marlon King.
Prediction
This could be another close encounter between the sides that will know 1 goal could cost them their chance of getting in with the big boys at the group stage.
I favoured Nacional to have enough about them to come through in the tie, but I was very much expecting them to win the first leg at home and was surprised at how little they threatened Birmingham, with the English side being the stronger in the match.
Now I have shifted my opinion and think Birmingham will be good enough to do enough to win this tie, although it is still on a knife edge with an away goal being perhaps devastating for the Blues.
However, I have moved away from the win-draw-win market and have instead focused my attention on the 'Both Teams to Score' market- I feel the 'no' option could be the way to play this game.
The reason for that is both sides have their issues scoring goals, with Birmingham missing some key forwards, while Nacional have not scored many goals in their League campaign last season or in their last couple of games this year.
At 1.80, I think there is a decent chance on this coming in and it will be my only play in the Europa League.
The Pick :
Birmingham City 1-0 Nacional
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Both Teams NOT to Score @ 1.80
