Betfair Live Video: Latvia's Virsliga lights up Saturday's action

14Jun 2013

Betfair

With the majority of Europe's major leagues over, Betfair Live Video offers you a double bill of Latvian Virsliga action - filling the football shaped hole in your summer...

Metta/LU vs Liepajas Metalurgs

Saturday 12:00

After surviving their debut season in the Virsliga last campaign, the hosts have got off to a shambolic start in 2013. Winless so far and with only a point to their name, the visitors Liepajas will be confident ahead of their trip to the Stadions Arkadija.

The hosts over-performed last season. After being promoted from the first division at the end of the 2011 season, little was expected of their first season with the big boys - but they survived.

However, this season has a very different feel to it. With only a point gained from 27 on offer, the Riga based club will need a minor miracle to turn their fortunes around in a similar vain to last season.

Part of the problem seems to lie up front. With ten goals last campaign and the side's star player, Martins Milasevics, was responsible for a majority of Metta's good football last season. Without a goal to his name so far despite playing virtually every minute of the campaign, the twenty-one year old will be looking to find last year's form in the coming weeks.

The visitors have had a solid start, finding themselves in the group of five at the top battling it out for control of the league. Sixteen points gained and only two defeats; Janis Intenbergs will see this trip as a must win opportunity.

Last season's fourth-placed finish would have been put down as a marker for the Liepaja based club. In a tussle for top spot, the top four took it down to the wire at the end of the 2012 season, with Liepajas ending up at the bottom of the four title hopefuls.

This season however, full of confidence as well as fire power upfront, the visitors will look to one, two, or even three places better, claiming their third Virsliga title in eight seasons.

Expect this one to go the way of the visitors by a clear distance. With twenty-one goals already shipped this season by the home team, it will be asking far too much for them to nullify the Liepajas attack.

Recommended Bets:
Back Liepajas to win @ 1.11

Jelgava vs Ventspils
Saturday 14:00

The Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs hosts a Virsliga fixture between two Latvian sides that have experienced very different starts to this year's campaign.

The hosts from Jelgava have struggled in their nine fixtures thus far. With one victory, seven goals scored and only five points to their name, they sit in 8th place already looking up at a climb to get into the top half of the table.

Coach Sergejs Golubevs, as well as his players, know that a vast improvement is going to be needed in the coming months if they are to repeat or better their seventh spot achievement last season, but are agonizingly close to the relegation playoff spot.

With their only victory coming against the leagues whipping boys Metta/LU, points will have to be picked up elsewhere, including taking the scalps of some of the more dominant sides in the league - starting with Saturday's visit of high flying Ventspils.

FK Ventspils have a rich tradition. Being one of the best supported clubs in the country as well as one of the most decorated in recent years brings with it pressure and expectation - something that coach Jurgis Pucinsks will have to manage.

The visitors have started strongly this season. After falling short last season finishing in third spot, six wins from this first eight games this season has got to be seen as a success, and with a chance of topping the table after this weekend's fixtures, the Yellow and Blue will have very little to complain about.

The danger-man for Ventspils has unquestionably been striker Jurijs Zigajevs. With five goals to his name in eight starts, the 27-year-old will be confident of breaking his season tally at the club of fourteen, which he set back in 2010.

With five wins in their last five outings, including a cup victory, expect the visitors to get the majority of the play on Saturday afternoon. A considerable amount of chances will fall to Ventspils, how many they will convert remains to be seen.

Recommended Bet:
Back the draw @ 2.78