Icelandic Football
2012-08-20 - Valur Reykjavik vs Fylkir Reykjavik
A Sports Betting Pick by Cornholio
Football - Icelandic top league - Round 16
Monday 20 August 2012, Kickoff 18:00
More than two thirds have now been played of the Icelandic championship and things are getting more clear in the table.
After very few goals in rounds 12 and 13 we got a goals galore in the next two rounds with an amazing average of 4.58 goals per game. 10 of the 12 games were over 2.5 goals and nine went all the way over 3.5 goals. Pretty weird stuff there.
Both Valur and Fylkir are safe from relegation and even if they are in the lower part of the table one win can easily move them into the European battle, since the table is so tight with only four points separating the 9th and 4th places.
Valur Reykjavik
The season for Valur has been up and down with a win here and a loss there. Being way too unstable they haven‘t made a single draw which is quite amazing after 15 rounds. They have beaten the likes of FH Hafnarfjordur 3-1 at home and KR Reykjavik 2-3 away but then go on losing against teams like Grindavik and Fram. You never seem to know what Valur will do in their games.
After their good win against KR in last round Valur currently sit in 8th place with 21 points with an overall of 7 0 8, 23:23. Even though in 9th place they are only three points behind the 4th place and five from the 3rd so a win against Fylkir will move them closer to the European place.
Valur have won four games at home and lost three. Since their great win over FH there they have lost both home games after that. They lost 0-2 against Fram Reykjavik before losing 3-4 against Breidablik in an amazing game where Valur were 3-1 up when 15 minutes were left to play. Even though Breidablik were a man down they went on scoring three goals in the last minutes and Valur‘s manager was absolutely furious after the game.
This will be a great chance for Valur to jump up the table since Fylkir have been bad in last games and lost some players recently.
Fylkir Reykjavik
Only two or three rounds ago Fylkir were in 4th place but now they sit in the 9th after losing last two games. This shows just how tight the table is. Fylkir have been bad in last two games losing 2-1 at Akranes and 0-4 at home against IBV where all four goals came in the first half.
Fylkir have lost some key players who have moved abroad for education and this really seems to be affecting them a little too much. This has meant they have dropped down the table and they now have 20 points and an overall of 5 5 5, 20:28, conceding nine goals in last three games. Their away record is 2 2 3.
Like Valur Fylkir can jump up the table by winning here but then they need to get their act together since a similar performance as in last two games won‘t get them far. It‘s important for Fylkir to get something from this game since their next game will be very tough when they host champions canidates in FH Hafnarfjordur.
Head to head
Looking back to 2001 it‘s pretty even. 23 games with Valur winning 11 and Fylkir 9. Only 3 draws . Average goals per games is 3.22. Fylkir won their home game this season 3-1. Valur won at home last season with the same scoreline. Last five have been over 2.5 goals with four going over 3.5.
Betting verdict
This game might be risky to bet on but it‘s still interesting. Valur have lost last two home games and been very unstable while Fylkir have been bad in last two and terrible in last one. Fylkir have lost some players and it seems to be affecting them.
Neither team is scoring too many goals but Fylkir have conceded much more than Valur but that‘s pretty much only because they lost 8-0 against FH. A win here moves either team into the European battle so I expect them to press hard for the victory, at least Valur Reykjavik.
The Pick :
Valur Reykjavik 2-0 Fylkir Reykjavik
