4th February, Daily Double Up
2 winners in a row after landing Wednesday and Thursday’s bets, you can load today’s Daily Double Up straight into your betslip by clicking here.
Here’s the research behind picking it, if you don’t like the look of it, simply don’t place it:
Volendam vs Excelsior
It wouldn’t be a Friday night without a trip to the Eerste Divisie would it?
Two of my favourite sides to bet on over the past couple of years meet in Voldendam with both having slipped off their early pace.
The hosts come in to this one in 7th place, realistically with their eyes on a play off place and no higher. Given that they’re 13 points off 2nd they need to focus on the sides closer to them. Excelsior could mount a charge for the play off places so this is an important game for both.
Volendam produced a terrific display to run out 3-1 winners at Go Ahead Eagles in midweek. A game that fits well with how their season has looked – full of goals, their games have averaged 3.5 goals scored/conceded in each and only the current top 3 have out scored them, they’ve hit 48 goals in 22 games.
As for Excelsior, despite being 11th in the league they are the next top scorers behind Volendam. They’ve bagged 42 times this season and that’s down in no small part to Elias Omarssom. The Icelandic forward has been their absolute talisman this season, he’s found the net 18 times in 21 matches and is adored by the fans.
Excelsior average 3.7 goals per game and only Jong Ajax have had more matches where over 2.5 goals has landed. In a league laden with goals they’re up there with the very best.
Volendam have a talisman of their own, with 9 in 15 Italian striker Samuele Mulattieri has been their go to. He got a brace in the midweek win and will be looking to kick on from that.
Goals in the Eerste are pretty consistent and these two are two of the best in the business, Excelsior drew their last game 4-4 so let’s hope for something similar here.
Maritimo vs Sporting Lisbon
After Braga did the business last night it’s a quick return to Portugal as league leaders Sporting look to continue their exceptional start to the Primeira Liga season.
Ruben Amorim’s men sit top of the pile having won 13 and drawn 3 of their 16 matches so far. They’ve dropped just 2 points on their travels too, winning 7/8 on the road. They’ve also scored 2+ in every single away game so far and have conceded just 4 times.
A 1-0 win against huge rivals Benfica last time out will have buoyed the team even further. There’s a tonne of talent in this squad and they’ll be keen to keep up the momentum as they search for their first title since way back in 2001/2. It’s been a long wait for Sporting in amongst the dominance of Porto and Benfica but there’s a real belief around what this team can achieve.
Worth mentioning 22 year old Pedro Goncalves, he’s netted 12 times in 14 outings for Sporting this season. He’ll be no doubt attracting attention from elsewhere in Europe, he looks set to be the next big transfer out of Portugal and someone who’ll be a part of the national team for years to come.
As for Maritimo they’re meandering in mid table but their position makes them seem more secure than they are. Despite being 10th in the table they’re just 4 points off bottom. As I’ve mentioned before the bottom half of the league is so tight in Portugal it’s absolutely ridiculous. There’s just 9 points between 7th and bottom.
Tonight’s hosts also boast one of the worst home records in the league. They’ve taken just 8 points from 7 games and are the lowest home scorers. In 7 matches at the Estadio dos Barreiros they’ve hit just 5 goals, which is pretty abysmal. They’ll also be missing Brazilian defender Claudio Neto due to suspension.
Two very different sides facing off here and Sporting are locked in to the title race. Still unbeaten in the league and superb on the road I can’t see them tripping up here.
