Home and Away: Esbjerg looking to clinch final European place as they host struggling OB

16May 2013

Betfair

 

Two more winners yesterday makes it four from six picks this week - and Jonno Turner has his eye on action in the Netherlands and Denmark today...

 

We're off to the Netherlands for our first pick of the day - as Twente travel to the Euroborg Stadium to face Groningen.

 

The visitors sit in sixth place in the Eredivisie - just one ahead of their hosts - but the points margin between the two sides is incredible, and Twente are a  whopping 19 points in front of Groningen.

 

And that leaves these two sides battling it out with Utrecht and Heerenveen in the Europa League play-off - with just one continental place up for grabs.

 

The departure of Steve McLaren in February does not appear to have affected the stability of Twente on the pitch - and the side, which is now managed by Alfred  Schreuder (and Michel Jansen, as Schreuder doesn't yet have the necessary qualifications to sit on the bench), is unbeaten in their last eight outings in the league.

 

Just one loss in eight clashes on the road suggests that the visitors are more than capable of securing victory here and edging ahead in this two legged tie, and 20  goals notched in eight games shows just how capable Twente are in the final third.

 

Hosts Groningen line up for this one without a win in three - and just two wins from five on their own patch indicates that the Green and White army are out of form  ahead of this one.

 

Robert Maaskant's charges have shipped seven goals in their last three games, and will be desperate to shore up their backline in order to keep themselves in this tie.

 

Either way, the home side has placed in a much improved position compared to last campaign, when they ended up 14th in the top tier.

 

The last time these two sides met, Twente ran out comfortable 3-0 winners - and they have won five of their last six meetings with Groningen, drawing the other.

 

Bet 1: Twente (AWAY) @ 2

 

Switching our attentions to action in Denmark now - and in-form Esbjerg host out of sorts OB at the Blue Water Arena.

 

The home side are fifth in the table and line up for this one having won six of their last seven, and that suggests that they have the necessary cutting edge to  dispose of their guests this evening.

 

Jess Thorup's side have kept four clean sheets on the bounce ahead of this one, and will be delighted with their first Superliga campaign since they gained promotion  from the second tier.

 

Just one loss in 10 on their own patch underlines just how dominant the West Jutland side have been in front of their own fans of late, and they will be keen to extend  that form here.

 

Visitors OB travel to the Blue Water Arena in the midst of a miserable run - and have lost their last five on the bounce ahead of this clash.

 

Troels Bech's side sit eighth in the table with the season's end in sight - and though not mathematically safe yet, it would take a major turnaround for them to be  dragged into the mire.

 

Two 4-1 losses in their last two on the road shows the extent of the defensive weaknesses in the Odense backline - and I think that we could see Esbjerg take advantage  of that, as they attempt to leapfrog fourth placed AaB and secure the final Europa League place - with just six points left to play for.

 

Bet 2: Esbjerg (HOME) @ 1.9

 

Bet HERE

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Keywords: Home and Away, Esbjerg, European place, OB

Source: Betfair

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