Betfair Live Video: A rivalry renewed as the Klassieker comes to Amsterdam

19Jan 2013

Betfair

Abelson Info preview a selection of mouth watering ties across the globe. From Belgium to Brisbane and Portugal to the Dutch Klassieker, warm your cockles this weekend with the finest that Betfair Live Video has to offer...

Gent vs Standard Liege

Saturday 17:00

The Buffalos of Gent welcome a resurgent Standard side to the Jules Ottenstadion hoping for a crucial three points that will give them much needed breathing space away from the dangers of the bottom two.

Gent are in terrible form. Winless in their last ten league games, there is constant pressure on new manager Victor Fernandez for a turn-round in results. As we all know, football is a results business and comparing Gent's performances to last seasons campaign is tricky reading for the Buffalos faithful. Finishing third last season, only eleven points behind Anderlecht, as well as recording the biggest home and away wins of the season seems a lifetime away with the club currently in twelfth place.

Their Belgian talisman Iiombe Mboyo has once again been finding the net this season with eight goals to his name. The ever-present striker will look to punish a Standard defence that has only leaked 28 goals so far this campaign, the third fewest.

After making a sluggish start to this years' Pro League, Standard Liege's season is gathering momentum going into the second half. Winning five of their last six league games has seen them put pressure on the top end of the table as they look to secure their top six place as soon as possible. Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel has been their stand-out talent of the campaign so far. Scoring twelve in seventeen starts, he will be disappointed that Nigeria haven't called on his services for the upcoming African Nations Cup.

Heavy snow in Belgium has put this game in slight jeopardy. Fans of the club have been offered a free ticket to the match if they help out by clearing the pitch ready for Saturday's clash, a nice touch from the side that require a spirit of togetherness.

Standard are slight favourites for this at 2.38 and in the form they are in, expect them to pile more misery on the Gent faithful.

Recommended Bet

Back Standard Liege @ 2.38

Porto vs Pacos Ferreira

Saturday 20:15

It's second vs fourth at the Estadio do Dragao, as hosts Porto look to continue matching Benfica punch for punch at the top of the table after last weekends Classico ended in a draw. Surprise outfit Pacos Ferreira have made a promising start to this season's campaign and will look to kick on in search of that elusive Champions League qualifying spot, hoping to go all the way in a tussle with Braga.

Porto dug deep last weekend to take a point away from the Estadio da Luz, in a game that saw them leading twice with goals from Eliaquim Mangala and Jackson Martinez. Lucho Gonzalez commented on the game in the week quoting that his side "deserved a little more" from the tie but knowing that coming home with a point was a positive result. The midfielder is also aware of the dangers that Pacos Ferreira possess calling them the "revelation of the year" so far.

Three points off the leaders but with a crucial game in hand, maximum points at home need to become part of Porto's staple diet if they are to go on and successfully defend their title. With all available points being taken at home home so far, Vitor Pereira will be more than happy with his sides displays knowing that this could be one of the tightest title races to date.

Pacos Ferreira have surprised many with the impact they have made on the Primeira Liga. Sitting in fourth place and four clear of fifth, they will no doubt be going into this fixture full on confidence but aware that anything taken will be a bonus. After drawing many of their games earlier on this season, they have managed to find the formulae to turn these draws into victories in recent weeks and are off the back of three wins in a row, one notably away against Sporting Lisbon.

With only one defeat to date (against Benfica) they have been the talk of the division with many neutrals hoping they can challenge for a potential Champions League spot come the end of the season. Without a natural goal scorer in their squad, they have had to rely heavily on stifling the opponents attack banking on slender victories - and by conceding fewer goals than Benfica so far this season who can argue with their philosophy?

Porto won't roll the visitors over as easy as they would like, but still expect a fairly comfortable home win on Saturday night.

Recommended Bet

Back Porto to win 3-0 @ 7.8

Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney

Sunday 6:00

Champions Brisbane (going for their third consecutive title) have no doubt been this year's A-League disappointment. With any sort of form or consistency alluding them, the Roar have been mistaken for the bleat of a heard of deer, showing little fight or confidence in their ability to put away other teams.

With an unsettled defence lacking any weekly structure, the signing of Socceroos legend Jade North may go someway to ease the nerves of the Roar faithful. Having signed last week, North is expected to make his debut this weekend alongside skipper Matt Smith. Speaking earlier this week, North seemed excited about returning to his roots. "Coming back to Brisbane was important to me, it's where I grew up and they are a good footballing side." Languishing in eighth place, manager Mike Mulvey will be hoping this is the marquee signing that could turn around the fortunes of a dismal Brisbane outfit.

In contrast, the Wanderers have been this year's surprise package. The A-League new boys have left many sides scratching their heads this campaign, on the back of solid defensive displays and counter attacks a single goal has been enough for all three points on five occasions so far, notably twice against the Roar.

Wanderers striker Mark Bridger has impressed this season finding the net five times in a side that isn't renowned for their goal scoring ability. His strike partner Dino Kresinger has made headlines this season, but not always for the right reasons. Signing for Western Sydney in the summer, the 6ft 2 Croat was tipped to carry on the form he found playing for Croatian outfit Cibalia, however he has found himself playing the role of the target man on many occasions this season. He has trained all week off the back of a knee injury suffered in round 14 and is expected to be fit come Sunday morning.

No doubt Brisbane have a talented squad, but never has a title been won on paper before and Mike Mulvey will be fully aware of this. Six points clear of the fifth placed Jets, The Wanderers could be forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal this weekend. However being the A-Leagues form team, they will want to carry on their impressive results and mount a challenge on the run away top two.

Recommended Bet

Back the Draw @ 3.5

Ajax vs Feyenoord

Sunday 13:30

The 'artists' of Amsterdam invite the 'workers' of Rotterdam to the Amsterdam Arena for a long awaited Klassieker. This fixture is steeped in history, rivalry and hatred and with both teams locked on 37 points in the Eredivisie, it's sure to be an intense and unforgettable derby.

This rivalry on the pitch started in the 70's when Ajax and Feyenoord were arguably the best two footballing teams in the world. Winning the European cup between them for four consecutive years, players such as Yohan Cruyff and Piet Keizer were the envy of Europe and the sources of joy for on looking fans. Although both teams have fallen from grace in recent years, the passion still burns vigorously and three points for either side will always go down as the moment of their respective season.

With only three points separating the top four teams, everything is very much still in the balance between the top sides in Holland. PSV have no doubt set the pace in terms of goals, but a sudden dip in form before Christmas saw the chasing pack close the gap and re-ignite their title chances as the second half of the season sparks into life.

Ajax have looked solid this season. With only one defeat at the hands of a Bony inspired Vitesse, they have looked comfortable and structured. However with seven draws to their name, turning these points into three is crucial if they are to continue to pressure the top two. Midfielder Siem de Jong has continued his solid scoring form from the previous three seasons scoring seven already, crucial to Ajax's attacking flow his partnership with Christian Eriksen has been responsible for many of the opportunities created by the Amsterdammers this season.

Feyenoord find themselves in a similar position to their rivals. Three points off the pace and unbeaten in seven Eredivisie matches, the visitors will travel to Amsterdam expectant of a performance and not to just make up the numbers. 'The Pride of the South' haven't won the league since 1999 and with four league titles going to Ajax since then, the hunger burns deeper than ever for a return to glory. In Italian striker Graziano Pelle they have defiantly found an answer to the goals they lacked last season. With fourteen goals in fourteen appearances the Ajax defence will know if they keep out Pelle, they most probably keep out Feyenoord.

Recommended Bet

Back the draw @ 4.2

Back 2-2 @ 14.0