MORE International friendlies on Tuesday night. Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) picked out two bets he fancied.
Luxembourg v Moldova | Tuesday 18:00
There are a clutch of positives with regard to both these sides and I’d be looking to support them at big prices in competitive matches against the bigger nations when the right opportunity arises.
The home side managed a draw against Belarus in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier and followed that up with a narrow defeat to Macedonia. Since then they’ve lost heavily to Spain, Ukraine and Slovakia but on their day they can be awkward opponents.
For Moldova it’s a bit more positive. They’ve also accrued one point from the qualifiers so far and that came against Russia, in Russia! As well as that superb draw in October last year they’ve also gave Austria (2-1 defeat) and Sweden (2-0 loss) a tough game but surprisingly lost to Liechtenstein.
The home side haven’t had a good time in friendlies of late. Yes, a 1-1 draw in Italy last summer was one of their all-time great results but that’s been supplemented by heavy defeats to Belgium (1-5), Montenegro (1-4) and Finland (0-3).
Moldova on the other hand have been fairly consistent in friendly matches, in their last five matches they’ve either drawn or lost by one goal. Narrow away defeats to in Romania and Ukraine are nothing to be ashamed of. They haven’t lost a friendly by more than one goal since February 2013 in fact.
I’ll have a small interest in Moldova here at 29/20 with BetVictor. I think the Unders look pretty solid but the prices are way too short. I think there’s definitely a case to suggest that Moldova are at least half a level above Luxembourg and I’ll take a chance on them.
Ukraine v Georgia | Tuesday 19:00
This match is actually being played at a neutral venue. Do you think the bookmakers know that? The odds look suspiciously like a home tie for Ukraine. 4/9? Do me a quaver!
So how can we find reasons to side with Georgia? Well they’re a very awkward side to beat, and as a Scot I know from personal experience. Our match over there later in the Euro 2016 qualifiers should be a very tough assignment.
Germany could only score twice against them in March in Tbilisi, Ireland needed a last minute winner to take the three points over there and Scotland edged past them 1-0 at Hampden last October. They’re a tough outfit.
On top of this they’ve won three of their last four friendlies, and although they haven’t been against strong sides it shows they’re in the winning habit in these kind of games.
Ukraine are a better side, there’s no doubt about that. They’ve lost twice in their five Euro 2016 qualifiers though with defeats to Slovakia and Spain and have failed to get past Latvia and Lithuania in their last two friendlies.
Odds of 4/9 are far too short when you consider this game is being played in neutral Austria. I’ll have a small stake on Georgia +1 with Bet365. Avoid defeat and I get paid out.
TOPICS Football International Football TipsBest Bets
Luxembourg v Moldova – Moldova to win (29/20 BetVictor)
Ukraine v Georgia – Georgia +1 (9/5 Bet365)
