Betfair Live Video: Sunday Funday as play-off fever hits Belgium

6Apr 2013

Betfair

With the play-offs under way in Belgium and an elimination final in the Australian A-League, Betfair Live Video has more than enough ammo to entertain you this coming Sunday. Lewis Watson takes a closer look...

Adelaide United vs Brisbane Roar

Sunday 08:00

It's time for Finals football in Australia as the A-League comes towards a scintillating climax. This elimination final sees fourth placed finishing Adelaide United host a Brisbane side who clung onto fifth spot after a less than impressive season as defending champions.

With a semi-final spot up for grabs against an awaiting Mariners or Wanderers outfit, who can grab the glory down under?

After only managing five wins last campaign, a lot of credit has to go to former manager John Kosmina who got Adelaide off to a fantastic start to the 12-13 season. However spending seven of the first eight weeks top of the table as well as winning six of their first eight games wasn't enough for him to stay on at the club deeming the club to have a 'lack of trust' in his management. Since then, interim manager Michael Valkanis has stepped in and The Reds form has spiralled ever since.

In winning only two of their last eleven games, Adelaide slid down the table finishing in fourth spot with fans at the Hindmarsh Stadium expecting improvement. Now, in desperate need of form, they face a resurgent Roar looking to turn the table on its head after six points separated these sides in the regular season.

Striker Jeronimo Neumann has shown glimpses of brilliance in his debut season despite only netting a modest seven goals. The former Barnsley employee has scored all of his goals at the Hindmarsh Stadium and will be looking to put one past Theoklitos on Sunday morning.

There is no doubt that the visitors are the form team. The defending champions have lost only two of their last ten matches after making a dismal start to this years campaign and snuck into the Finals Series through the back door after consecutive wins over Sydney and Melbourne Heart.

Like Adelaide, The Roar made a managerial change halfway through the season, but this time to good effect. Mike Mulvey has won more games than he's lost since stepping in late December and many feel he has warranted the two-year contract that he has been offered by the club.

In striker Besart Berisha, the visitors will certainly trouble the Adelaide defence, however last years golden boot winner hasn't quite been able to replicate the stunning form he showed in the 11-12 season. With fourteen goals to his name as well as two in his last two outings, The Roar will know that the Albanian will have to be on top of his game if they are to sneak into the semi-finals.

Recommended Bet

Back Brisbane Roar to win @ 2.46

Genk vs Zulte Waregem

Sunday 17:00

With the play-offs underway, the top six sides in Belgium are battling it out for the Championship title. Anderlecht, Zulte Waregem, Genk, Standard, Lokeren and Club Brugge will face each other twice in the next six weeks to determine if anyone can wrestle Anderlecht's title away from them.

With only two points separating hosts Genk with second placed visitors Zulte Waregem, mouths are already watering at the prospect of this fixture so early on in the play-offs... and surely it won't disappoint?

After finishing third in last season's play-offs, Genk were expecting to push on and challenge for this years Pro League. However, with five draws coming from their first seven league games it was clear that their form had struggled to make the transition from the previous season.

However, their luck did change and performances improved. After spending a majority of the regular season yo-yoing between the top six, they finished the season in third spot and in with a real chance in the play-offs.

With six wins in their last seven games, Genk arguably go into the play-offs as the form side, and with deadly striker Jelle Vossen leading the line, the faithful at the Cristal Arena will be confident of all three points which would see them leapfrog their visitors into second spot. Vossen impressed last weekend away to Anderlecht as he popped up in the last fifteen minutes to steal an unlikely 2-1 away win for Mario Been's men.

Visitors Zulte Waregem have impressed everyone this campaign. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Essevee have had an incredibly consistent season which has seen them placed within the top two for the last eighteen weeks of the season.

Modest goal scoring along with a stubborn defence saw them finish within four points of top placed Anderlecht, not to mention an away win at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock at the back end of February.

Chelsea loanee Thorgan Hazard has been a constant threat making 25 appearances for the club this season scoring on three occasions. Eden's younger brother has settled in well to life at Zulte, and has made the left flank at the Regenboogstadion his own.

A tight game is assured with both sides conscious of how competitive the play-off league is shaping up to be. Losing ground this early on in the mini league could prove disastrous for either side.

Recommended Bet

Back the draw @ 3.55