UEFA Intertoto Cup
Sturm Graz vs. Vfl Wolgsburg
Pick: Sturm Graz +0.5
Price: 1.82
Bookie: 5dimes
Stake: 6/10
Sturm Graz Analysis:
In the first leg of this Intertoto cup I was already on Sturm Graz and I will do same here. They showed how capable they are to get something against Wolfsburg even in an away game which impressed me a lot. The game was not under the control of any team finally it ended up in a draw of 2-2.
Sturm Graz signed a lot of new players with them in my oppinion the most important signing is the one of Sarac ( offensive mf, **/*** ) from Red Star Belgrade. Following the serbian league, he seemed to be really one of the keys in the midfield or Belgrade and will certainly be a big improvement for Sturm Graz. Their new goalkeeper signing Szamotulski ( gk, ** ) came from Admira during the break and will take a place in this game.
Supposed team:
Szamotulski - Ertl, F. Silvestre, Verlaat, Gercaliu - Neukirchner, J. Säumel, Filipovic, Sarac - Rottensteiner, Mujiri
Vfl Wolfsburg Analysis:
Wolfsburg disappointed a lot of his fans with a homedraw of 2-2 at home against Graz in the first round. Wolfsburg was one more time completely overrtaed ( like the whole last season ) and I cannot understand why they were such big favorites.
At the moment, Wolfsburg's managers are in a big problem as their star Martin Petrov ( off, *** ) is highly supposed to change to Atletico Madrid for the new season, as he said he would stay away from his transfer bonus if the transfer can happen then - think that is a clearly sign.
Wolfsburg in away games was traditionally not what you call a force, and with this problems in the head, I expect them to struggle in this fixture against Sturm Graz.
Supposed team:
Jentzsch - Rytter, Quiroga, Hofland, van der Heyden - Karhan, Thiam, M. Petrov - D'Alessandro - Klimowicz, Topic
Final Analysis:
I cannot understand this offer by 5dimes as even PointBet has set up their lines @ + 1/4 for the home side, but not + 1/2. The price of 1.82 offered is nice value in my oppinion considering the fact Graz already managed to draw away from home in the first leg and would be satisfied with a scoreless or 1-1 score draw, I will go for this pick here.
Cluj focused on Athletic upset
Friday, 8 July 2005Athletic Club Bilbao must overturn a 1-0 deficit against CFR Cluj this weekend to reach the UEFA Intertoto Cup third round, as Spanish rivals Valencia CF along with former European champions Olympique de Marseille and BV Borussia Dortmund, wait to learn their opponents.
Cluj ahead
Romanian side Cluj, in their first European campaign, kept up their winning record by defeating Athletic 1-0 in their second round first-leg tie. On Saturday, Athletic, who have been fielding a young team, will attempt to turn the tide but Cluj player-coach Dorinel Munteanu has made several last-minute signings.
Duo arrive
With midfielders Radu Marginean, Christian Dan and Cristian Turcu out along with striker Sead Bruncevic, Romanian international Munteanu has registered two experienced players over the last four days. Right-back György Balint comes from relegated FC Brasov, while forward Cristian Coroian returns from fellow Intertoto Cup contenders FC Gloria 1922 Bistrita for an undisclosed fee and goalkeeper Sabin Paglisan.
Bullish Munteanu
Munteanu told the media: "You all continue to speak about our 1-0 victory in the first leg, but I am trying to convince my players to forget it. Now there is the second leg and I hope that my team, most of whom have never previously played in Europe, will not be scared by the San Mamés stadium. We are confident." The winners will meet AS Saint-Etienne or Neuchâtel Xamax FC, with those sides level at 1-1 ahead of Sunday's return in Switzerland.
Sturm chance
Another team from one of Europe's major leagues facing a tough task are 2003 finalists VfL Wolfsburg. They were held 2-2 in Germany by Austria's SK Sturm Graz last week, and try again on Saturday. Two-time UEFA Cup winners IFK Göteborg are in pole position to play the victors, as they welcome Hungary's Lombard-Pápa TFC holding a 3-2 lead.
New entries
Eight clubs enter the competition in the third round, among them the 2003/04 UEFA Cup winners Valencia. They will take on FC Zlín or KAA Gent, the Belgian outfit travelling to the Czech Republic on Sunday with a 1-0 advantage.
Hamburg lead
Meanwhile, another Belgian team, KSC Lokeren OV, have a huge task on their hands if they are to play Marseille: they visit Switzerland trailing BSC Young Boys 4-1. Czech side SK Sigma Olomouc take a 1-0 cushion to Poland's MKS Pogon Szczecin, with a tie against Dortmund the prize, while another former European champion, Hamburger SV, are 4-1 up against FK Pobeda as they arrive in F.Y.R. Macedonia - UD Leiria awaiting the winners.
Like the look of that price on Sturm Graz from what I can make out there was nothing between the 2 teams in the first leg and I would fancy Graz to make home advantage count here. Also quite fancy the over 2.5 on this as I would imagine Wolfsburg will have to attack to try to get rid of the advantage that Graz have with those 2 away goals which could see Graz exploit them at the back
Also like the price on N Xamax a Swiss team I believe.
First game also ended in a draw. From what I can gather Swiss teams are always quite solid at home no matter who the opposition are.
Fancy Xamax to take this in a low scoring affair
Sorry, I havent been around so they didnt get out up but presumably as Komp said the bets would stand & they all lost you will lose the stakes I'm afraid....when somebody explains how to do it
UEFA Intertoto Cup - 9/10th July
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