Europa League
2011-10-20 - Rapid Bucuresti vs Legia Warsaw
A Sports Betting Pick by ROzsolt
Football: Europa League Group C
Venue: "National Arena", Bucuresti
Thursday 20th October – Kickoff time: 22:05 GMT+2
Rapid Bucuresti
Back in Europe after a two-season absence, Rapid started this group with an important away victory in Israel against Hapoel, breaking their 8 games unbeaten run thanks to Ovidiu Herea’s second half header.
It looked like the home game against PSV was heading for a draw and keep the battle open for the first spot in the group, but late goals from Ola Toivonen (88’) and Tim Matavz (90’) earned the Dutch team all three points.
Rapid made a good match against an opponent that was considered way superior and even managed to take the lead in the first half, but Wilfried Bouma’s 42th minute goal gave PSV the chance to get back in the match and the second half found PSV in possession, but without creating too many chances. Rapid failed to remain focused during the entire game and allowed Toivonen to score with a superb header in the 88th minute.
The loss against PSV ended a 17-game unbeaten home run in UEFA games (ten wins and seven draws). Rapid’s five games against Polish sides ended with 3 wins, one draw and one defeat. They eliminated Slask Wroclaw in the play-offs to reach this season’s group stage, wining the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
Striker Romeo Surdu is still suspended after being sent off in the first match against Hapoel, while Pancu and Bozovici are doubtful, but could show up tonight.
Probable Rapid line-up :
Rui Duarte, Marcos Antonio, Burca, Bozovici
Alexa, Grigore
Roman, Herea, Deac
Cassio
Legia Warsaw
Legia were not able to stop PSV’s unbeaten European home run that extended to 15 after a 1-0 victory against the Polish side. A first half goal by Mertens proved the difference between the two teams and PSV are now 3 points up, leaving Legia and Rapid to fight for the second spot.
The loss at PSV ended a four-game unbeaten run on the road in Europe, Legia having registered a draw in Denmark against Brondby and three victories against Olimpi Rustvani, Gaziantepspor and Spartak Moscow.
The Poles than hosted Hapoel Tel-Aviv and after a disappointing first half performance, they managed to claim their first win thanks to Miroslav Radovic’s 89th minute strike.
Legia has the most supporters in Poland and they announced that they will be in a large number at National Arena, according to the press there will be close to 3000 polish fans.
Probable Legia line-up :
Jedrzejczyk, Wawrzyniak, Komorowski, Zewlakow
Radovici, Vrdoljak, Rybus, Borysiuk, Zyro
Ljuboja
The Betting Verdict
As I mentioned before, in the play-offs Rapid were drawn against Slask Wroclaw, a team that finished above Legia in the 2010/11 Polish league. The first match was played in Poland and despite taking the lead, Slask had to accept Rapid’s superiority in a match that ended 3-1 for the Romanians.
The style of Slask and Legia does not differ too much, so in my eyes Rapid are the favorites to win this game, despite Legia registered some impressive results on the road lately. Rapid showed strength when playing at home, they have only conceded two goals in five games in the Romanian Liga 1 and scored eleven. If they manage to maintain the level of determination they showed in the last two games they should win this match.
The Pick :
Rapid Bucuresti 1-0 Legia Warsaw
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Rapid Bucuresti to win at 1.92 PinnacleConfidence: 7/10
