UEFA Cup
2005-10-20 - Shakhtar Donetsk vs PAOK Thessaloniki
A Sports Betting Pick by Censor
INTRODUCTION : Censor is our Athens based forum correspondant.The group stage of the Uefa Cup is here, the other teams of the group are Stuttgart, Rapid Bucharest, Rennes.
Shakhtar are the big name of the group along with Stuttgart. PAOK have good chances to be among the three teams that will qualify to next round.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR)
Shakhtar are doing very well so far in the Ukrainian League. They are in first place without a loss so far, and are looking in good form.
In the previous round of the UEFA Cup the Ukrainian's qualified vs Debreceni with impressive wins. Shakhtar are good at home, they have speed in their game, also very good offensive line and don't concede goals easy.
No major absents for them in this game.
PAOK THESSALONIKI (GRE)
PAOK come from an important win in the derby vs Olympiakos away.
The morale is good in the team. PAOK in their fight for qualification will rely on their home ground, and try for some positive results in the away games.
PAOK have a good offensive line, but in this game they will defend and play with counterattacks. PAOK in the European Cups are rather good travellers, there are cases they qualified with positive results in away games.
For this game captain Zagorakis is back, they will miss regulars Futsini (M), Karypidis (D) due to cards.
SITUATION
The weather forecasts for tomorrow at Donetsk predict a cold day but not rain.
Form :
Vorskla - Shachtior 0-2,
Shakhtior - Illichivets 6-0,
Debrecen - Shakhtior 0-2,
Zakarpatya - Shakhtior 0-3.
Olympiakos - PAOK 1-2,
PAOK - Larisa 2-2,
Metallurg Donetsk - PAOK 2-2,
PAOK - Egaleo 2-0.
Past results :
No past results between the teams.
Interesting to see last round games between PAOK and Metallurgh Donetsk, a team from Ukraine, when PAOK passed through on away goals, after drawing 1-1 at home and then 2-2 away.
Shakhtar are the favourites in this game, given their good form and the home ground. They are the better team but still the gap between the teams qualities in not big.
Shakhtar will look for an early goal, if they achieve that they can get a comfortable win, maybe covering the handicap and leading the game to an over.
If PAOK defense resist in the begining of the game then they have posibilities for a good result ... so I will NOT risk for an Asian or an Over pick in this game.
The odds for the home win are low and don't represent much value. It can be a part of a combo, as for a single it can be a medium - high stakes bet.
