Home and Away: Back HJK to extend lead at the summit of the Veikkausliiga this evening

17May 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner takes in action in Spain and Finland as he looks to add to his six winners from eight tips this week...

We're off to Spain for our penultimate pick of the week - and an all-Madrid Copa Del Rey final, as Real Madrid line up against their rivals Atletico.

Both clubs wanted this tie to be played in the capital, and the larger capacity of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium saw it chosen ahead of the Vicente Calderon, which could be seen to give the Whites an advantage in this clash.

But all is not well at Real.

It's widely acknowledged that Mourinho is London-bound come the end of the season, and there are reports that he has 'lost' the dressing room in the home camp - as exemplified by the exclusion of Iker Casillas, who has been frozen out of the side due to issues between him and the boss.

And they were systematically dismantled by a Dortmund side in the Champions League a couple of weeks ago which will have knocked confidence in the Spanish capital.

Real have still been chalking up the wins in the league of late - seven from eight outings, with a 1-1 draw at Espanyol last time out the exception - but they still find themselves 10 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Atletico go into this clash sitting third in the table - with their place in next year's Champions League already secured - and you have to credit Diego Simeone with the job he's doing in the red half of the city.

The visitors are unbeaten in their last nine outings away from the Vicente Calderon - and five clean sheets from their last half a dozen on their travels shows just how dominant they have been defensively in that time.

Simeone will be keen for his side to extend that stingy manner this evening, and with the likes of Falcao up top, who has smashed a whopping 28 goals in 33 games this campaign, they are more than capable of hitting their hosts on the break.

Real ran out 2-1 winners in the last meeting between these sides around three weeks ago - but it was a close run game, and for that reason - coupled with the well-publicised splits in the home camp, I think that Atletico are a massive price at 6 to win this game.

The Rojiblancos scored the first goal of the game in that clash - Falcao after four minutes - and a similar event here would see that price crash, presenting the options to Cash Out...or stay in, if you're feeling brave.

Bet 1: Atletico Madrid (AWAY) @ 6

Off to slightly cooler climes now - as we turn our attentions to Finland, where the Veikkausliiga is now back in full swing.

HJK Helsinki top the table after the opening half a dozen games - and are unbeaten in that time, with four wins and two draws giving them a four point advantage on second placed MYPA already.

Sixten Bostrom's side have won the division for the last four seasons, and look set to clinch a fifth if they can continue in the same vein as they've started.

A 1-0 victory in a tricky away trip at Lahti will have boosted confidence in the home camp, and they will be keen to maintain their recent record as they welcome an out of sorts TPS side to the Sonera Stadium.

The visitors travel to the capital without a win in their last two away from the Veritas Stadium, and will be keen to arrest that slump before they fall too far down the table.

Marko Rajamaki's side currently sit fifth in the Veikkausliiga, and just one clean sheet from their last six suggests that they may struggle against the attacking might of the champions here.

The last time these two sides met, HJK ran out 2-1 winners - and I expect them to pick up another three points here.

Bet 2: HJK (HOME) @ 1.6