Home and Away: GAIS looking to heap misery on Superettan whipping boys Brage

6Jun 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner looks at action in Sweden and Austria in his Home and Away column today...

We're off to Sweden for our first selection of the day - as GAIS travel to Brage, looking to make it four wins from five Superettan outings.

The visitors sit fifth in the second tier following an impressive run of form which has seen them lose just one from four clashes on the road, and they will be desperate to bounce back from aa 4-1 away defeat at Falkenberg last time out.

Thomas Askebrand's side have secured two clean sheets from their last three games, which suggests that the Falkenberg episode was something of an anomaly - and it's worth noting that the Gothenburg side seem to have 'bouncebackability' - having won the game immediately after their last three losses.

The Makrillarna will be keen to eradicate that inconsistency though, as they eye a return to top tier status at the first time of asking following their relegation last campaign.

Hosts Brage line up for this one propping up the rest of the division, and are in the midst of a miserable run - with just five points on the board from their opening 10 games.

Conny Karlsson will be feeling the pressure of that slump, and seven losses from their last eight clashes suggests that the home side could be in for a long hard season unless they can miraculously engineer some sort of turnaround.

Twelve goals shipped in six outings indicates that much of the host's woes lie within the backline, and that is a weakness which the visitors will be keen to take advantage of.

And three losses from four in front of their own fans suggests that the Domnarvsvallen is far from a fortress this year.

Bet 1: GAIS (AWAY) @ 2.3

Focusing on action in Austria now, as LASK Linz welcome FC Liefering to the Linzer Stadion, in the second leg of their Regionalliga play off.

The hosts will be full of confidence ahead of this clash following an impressive run which has seen them win their last 16 consecutive outings in front of their own fans - and without a home loss in the Regionalliga last season, they will be desperate to secure their place in the 1. Liga next campaign.

A 2-0 loss to Liefering in the first leg last week means that Karl Daxbacher's side have it all to do in this clash - but 22 goals scored in their last half a dozen home outings indicates that they are more than capable of overturning that deficit here.

Liefering travel to Linz with the advantage this evening - and Peter Ziedler has to decide whether his side should protect their two goal lead, or look to kill this tie dead.

Any indecision from the visitors could see the home side take advantage - and two without a win from their last five on the road suggests that, although Liefering are in excellent form, they are beatable.

But with nothing to lose, Linz can afford to throw the kitchen sink at their Salzburg guests - and I think that they will secure a win in this tie.

Bet 2: LASK Linz (HOME) @ 1.71