Photo: GKSBelchatow.com/Michelmedia.pl
With combined odds of 5.10, editor Ryan Hubbard nailed last week’s treble of wins for both Sląsk Wrocław and Zawisza Bydgoszcz, along with Under 2.5 goals in the game between Górnik and Bełchatów. Now he’s back for his top three picks for the weekend’s games in Polish football’s top two tiers.
Bogdanka Łęczna – Zawisza Bydgoszcz, Saturday 11 May 11:15 (12:15 Local)
With the Pierwsza Liga’s promotion spots still a long way from being decided yet, Zawisza Bydgoszcz’s 3-1 victory over their closest rivals Cracovia last week lifted them into the second place. Whilst they have a seemingly unassailable six point deficit to leaders Nieciecza (who themselves face Cracovia this week), the Niebiesko-Czarne are the second-tier’s form side with 12 points from their last four games.
Now guided by former Sląsk and Pogoń boss Ryszard Tarasiewicz, Zawisza make the 300-mile journey to Eastern Poland to face a Bogdanka Łęczna side who have averaged just a point-per-game since winter, and sit slightly closer to relegation than to promotion. Whilst they were victors in their last home game – 2-1 against Olimpia Grudziądz, just four points from their last five outings, with a goal difference of minus 9, leave them as outsiders this weekend.
A Zawisza victory can be picked up for an eye-wateringly high price of 2.38 at Paddy Power.
Pogoń Szczecin – GKS Bełchatów, Saturday 11 May 12:30 UK (13:30 Local)
Saturday’s early kick-off at Szczecin’s Floriana Krygiera Stadion sees a meeting of two sides with contrasting fortunes in Spring. With just one win since the opening day of December, home side Pogoń have seen a momentous fall down the table – from the heady heights of eighth position going into the mid-season break. A home victory against Korona Kielce a fortnight ago may have just kept the chasing relegation pack at bay, but form suggests it is only a matter of time before Dariusz Wdowczyk’s Portowcy are dragged into the bottom spots.
Pogoń find themselves up against a resurgent GKS Bełchatów side, fresh from a 2-0 victory over European hopefuls Górnik Zabrze. Whilst they may still sit bottom of the Ekstraklasa, fourteen points from their 10 Spring Round games (Pogoń have picked up five) has seen them close the gap to safety to just six points. With a win in this relegation battle, GKS would at least be level with Pogoń on head-to-head, with three points to make up in four remaining games.
Whilst only one of Bełchatów’s Spring games has gone over 2.5 goals (a 3-0 defeat to Ruch Chorzów), Pogoń have only managed more than one goal on just five occasions this season, and so the form book suggests another low-scoring game. But with GKS conceding just five in 2013, and being the on-form team of the two, the Draw No Bet option looks like it could be worth some value.
A GKS Bełchatów win (Draw No Bet) can be found at 2.62 with Coral. However if you want to go Under 2.5, BetVictor, Stan James and Betfair are all offering 1.57.
Warta Poznań – Flota Swinoujście, Saturday 11 May 16:oo UK (17:00 Local)
Following a strong start to the season on the Baltic Coast, Flota’s season took a tumble before the winter break had even kicked in – eventually surrendering a massive lead and dropping to 4th position not long after the restart. However after a seven-game run without a win, they finally picked up three points against Arka Gdynia three weeks ago. Despite back-to-back losses in their following two outings, an away win at the Spring Round’s form side Dolcan Ząbki has still kept them within reach of the promotion places.
On Saturday Flota come up against a Warta Poznań side who have in recent weeks fallen spectacularly into the relegation spots. Without a win in their last twelve outings, and only hitting two goals since winter, Poznań’s second club now look destined for relegation.
Whilst they themselves may not be on the best form, Flota are massive favourites for this game by default of their opponents’ poor showings. And with a game in hand on the teams above them, a win in Poznań could be an important step in their promotion push.
Flota to win can be backed at 1.75 with SportingBet, whilst a treble (Flota, GKS Draw No Bet, Zawisza) will get you odds of around 6.30 depending on the bookmaker.
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