Icelandic Football
2013-05-21 - Breidablik Kopavogur vs FH Hafnarfjordur
A Sports Betting Pick by Cornholio
Icelandic top league - Round 4
Tuesday 21 May 2013, Kickoff 20:00 GMT
Both of these teams are predicted to be in the top three, where FH are yet again likely to grab the title. Therefore, this is an important game, especially for the home team who have already lost one game and are conceding too many goals.
Breidablik Kopavogur
It was a bit of a surprise when Breidablik were crowned champions back in 2010, although they did have a very strong group, with striker Alfred Finnbogason on fire. Then, when he left them, it affected Breidablik quite badly and they were in trouble the following season where they finished in 6th place some 20 points behind winners KR. In fact they were close to the relegation zone long into the tournament.
However, they were much stronger in last season with a much better defense who had barely managed to keep a single clean sheet in 2011. Last year Breidablik finished 2nd but still 13 points behind winners FH who totally dominated the league. This time Breidablik‘s defense hasn‘t got of to a good start conceding 6 goals in the first three games. which have, interestingly enough, resulted in a 4-1 scoreline.
They started by beating Thor Akureyri at home before losing at IBV Vestmannaeyjar but came back home winning IA Akranes in an extreamly strange game where they struggled the whole game and trailed 0-1 at halftime. Then IA held on very strongly until the 80th minute when IA‘s manager decided to make two or three substitutions and with that their gameplay collapsed and Breidablik went on scoring 4 goals in seven minutes. This is probably a record in the Icelandic top league.
With even a stronger group than last year Breidablik certainly need to be tighter in the back if they aren‘t to have similar problems like in 2011. Players like former Valur midfielder Gudjon Petur Lydsson and former FH goalkeeper Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson should be able to make a strong impact and Gudjon has certainly been involved on some of their goals but only time will tell if Breidablik will make a serious challence for the title. Getting something at home against FH would be a big step in that direction.
FH Hafnarfjordur
FH Hafnarfjordur have been dominating Icelandic football in recent years and nothing seems to be going to change that this season. Even though they have looked a little quiet in the first three games that is not the first time they use that strategy.
Hafnarfjordur tend to do just enough to finish their opponents which was quite evident in the 2nd round where they beat Thor 0-3. Just as they did in the 1st round where they beat Keflavik 2-1 at home relaxing a bit too much in the second half after leading 2-0 at halftime. Then they made a 1-1 draw at home against IBV in last round but still FH could‘ve easily lost that game.
FH is strong enough to be able to easily switch to a new strategy inside the games if the current one isn‘t working. This is an important game for FH and Breidablik will be their second strong oppents in a row after meeting the weaker teams of Keflavik and Thor in the first two rounds. This is not the first time FH starts a bit slow and for example they did so in last season where they made a surprise draw in the 1st round against Grindavik. In fact they only scored 3 goals in those three games and now they have scored twice as many.
Beating Breidablik would be very strong for FH since they then have two home games, against IA and their title rivals KR.
Head to head
Breidablik and FH have been together in the top league since 2006 and Breidablik were also there in 2001 and looking back to that year we have 22 meetings between the two. FH have been dominating in those games winning 13 whereas Breidablik have only managed to win 3, the last win coming in 2010 when they won the title.
FH won both games in last year, 0-1 at Breidablik and 3-0 at home. Same scoreline was at Breidablik in 2011 but that time FH won 4-1 at home. 4 of their last 6 meetings have been over 2.5 goals and those 22 games are averaging at 3.1 goals per game.
Betting verdict
I really think FH Hafnarfjordur will get an important away win here. They haven‘t put too much energy in the first games and seem to have a lot more to put into their games. They have a very strong frontline and a solid midfield behind them.
On the other hand, Breidablik‘s defense is having problems and they lost badly against a strong IBV team while having a hard time at home against IA only to go ahead because of IA manager‘s tactical mistakes. I‘m going for FH all the way here.
The Pick :
Breidablik 1-4 FH Hafnarfjordur
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take FH Hafnarfjordur to win @ 2.20
