Home and Away: Time to celebrate Lech Poznan style

 

Christian Crowther looks to the Danish top-flight and Poland's Ekstraklasa to get the week started in a winning way...

 

FC Nordsjaelland v FC Copenhagen

 

Watchers of this season's Champions League would have familiarised themselves with the name FC Nordsjaelland for possibly the first time.

 

Well, they are the current Danish champions, having arrested a three-year period of domination in edging tonight's opponents FC Copenhagen to a maiden title last  season.

 

As it stands, the away side come into this game on course to prise the Superliga back away from Nordsjaelland - seven points ahead with seven games remaining -  however, a glance at the form book suggests the race is far from over and would be fully reignited by a home win here.

 

Indeed, since exiting the Champions League, Nordsjaelland have been able to completely refocus their efforts on title retention, winning five of their last six games  while drawing the other.

 

And smell blood they may, as Copenhagen have stumbled to three games without a win, sandwiching a shock defeat to bottom side Silkeborg between two draws with mid- table opposition.

 

Kasper Hjulmand's team need no more incentive than closing the gap to their rivals to four points by securing their fifth straight league win either.

 

Nordsjaelland are unbeaten in their 13 home league games too, winning nine of those.

 

Bet 1: Nordsjaelland (HOME) @ 3.3

 

 

Piast Gliwice v Lech Poznan

 

Off to the seldom explored reaches of the Poland's leading division now, where perhaps their most famous export of recent seasons, Lech Poznan, are chasing a second  title in four seasons.

 

Of course, in adopting their unique brand of backward-facing jump-up-and-down-with-your-arms-linked celebration, fans of Manchester City have since given Poznan  worldwide recognition.

 

Like the aforementioned Nordsjaelland, Poznan can close the gap on current Ekstraklasa leaders Legia Warsaw to four points if they gain maximum points in this vital  game in hand against sixth place Piast Gliwice.

 

A victory should be infinitely achievable for the visitors. Poznan's form is really strong having won five of their last seven games and only losing once in that  period.

 

However, the real clincher in the deal is their incredible away form, by far and away the best in the league. They've won ten of their 11 road trips, including the  last eight in a row.

 

Furthermore, their head-to-head record with Piast is heavily weighted in the away side's favour.

 

The 4-0 licking they handed 't out earlier in the season was the fifth win over these opponents in the last six meetings, with the other ending in a draw.

 

Bet 2: Back Lech Poznan (AWAY) @ 2.2

 

Bet HERE

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