Home and Away: Czech out the odds on Bilak's side in Armenia tonight

 

Jonno Turner focuses on international action as he looks for value in his Home and Away tips today

 

We're off to Yerevan for our first pick of the day - as Armenia host Czech Republic at the snappily-named Vazgen Sargsyan Hanrapetakan Stadium, with the hosts looking to improve on a recent record which has seen them lose two of their last three on their own patch.

 

Vardan Minasyan's side currently sit fifth in their World Cup qualifying group - and will be desperate for three points in order to pile the pressure on those sides above them.

 

But just one win from their last eight competitive outings in front of their own fans - a run which stretches back to 2005 - will have knocked confidence in the home camp, and that suggests that they may struggle to cope with the quality of their guests this evening.

 

Alarmingly for Minasyan, his defence has not kept a competitive clean sheet in their own country since 2001, and the boss will have further headaches ahead of this clash - with experienced members of the squad Karlen Mkrtchyan, Artur Yedigaryan, and Hrayr Mkoyan all unavailable for selection due to suspension, and Levon Airapetian and Aras Ozbiliz absent through injury.

 

That has forced the Armenia gaffer to opt for experimental lineups in the build up to this encounter - and a 1-1 draw with Luxembourg in their last outing suggests that the hosts may not be ready to face the might of the Czechs.

 

Michal Bilek's side travel to Yerevan desperate for a win in order to keep their slim qualification dreams alive - and they welcome back Tomas Rosicky and Petr Cech, which will be a huge boost to the away side.

 

The visitors are still unbeaten in Group B, and three clean sheets from their last four outings will give them real hope of securing the points they need here.

 

Four undefeated on the road suggests that Bilek's side are comfortable outside of their own country, and a 2-0 win in Turkey at the beginning of last month is impressive by anyone's standards.

 

The Czechs look a real stable outfit, but with quality attacking threat too - and I can't see them faltering against an Armenia side out of form and down to the bare bones.

 

Bet 1: Czech Republic (AWAY) @ 2.14

 

Over to Tirana now, as Albania welcome Lithuania to the Stadiumi Kombetar Qemal Stafa in a friendly game - looking to build on an impressive win at Norway last time out.

 

Giovanni Di Biasi's side will be full of confidence with that win, and that makes just one loss from four games - including a win and a draw against Slovenia and Cameroon.

 

Three clean sheets in that time underlines just how comfortable the hosts have looked defensively of late, and they will be keen to extend that record against a Lithuania side which has struggled in recent outings.

 

The visitors go into this one having won just a single game since 2011 - and that victory against Leichtenstein was hardly anything to write home about.

 

That dry spell stretches back to 2011, and boss Csaba Laszlo will be desperate for his charges to tighten up defensively, with eight goals conceded in three games pointing to issues with their backline.

 

Eleven losses from 14 on the road suggests that Lithuania have a tendency to suffer from travel sickness, and they may struggle to cope with an Albania side full of momentum here.

 

Bet 2: Albania (HOME) @ 1.8

 

Bet HERE

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