Some tough matches ahead for soccer punters
The 2017 edition of the African Cup of Nations is well underway in Gabon and this week’s featured Soccer 6 includes two games from that competition.
Let’s take a look: M1 Gabon v Burkina Faso - there seems very little between these teams, although host nation Gabon is the lowest-ranked team at the tournament (34 in Africa and 110 in the world). Their opponent are 7 in Africa and 50 globally.
Home-ground advantage could prove vital - go Gabon win and the draw. M2 Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau - again there should be little to choose between these teams with a depleted Cameroon ranked 13 in Africa (65 globally) and two places ahead of Guinea-Bissau, who are playing in their first AFCON Finals. Cameroon have won this title four times, but they are under strength. M3 Newcastle United v Birmingham City - being cup football,
this is not as clear-cut as it may first seem. This is a replay of the FA Cup game which ended 1-1 at Birmingham. Newcastle have been through a mini slump in recent weeks, but bounced back over the weekend at Brentford. Go Newcastle win and draw. M4 Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool - another unlikely replay as a result of the League Two team holding their Premiership opponents to a 0-0 draw at Anfield. Liverpool did rest a number of key players for that match, but also had to endure a tough 90 minutes away at Manchester United over the past weekend. Don’t take a risk - add the draw to the away win. M5 Southampton v Norwich City - with both teams in poor recent form, it should be homeground advantage that gives the EPL team an edge over their Championship opponents. M6 Zulte-Waregem v AS Eupen - even though this is a cup game between two top-tier teams in Belgium,
I strongly fancy the home team. They are in third place in the league while the visitors are 13th.
Suggested R216 perm for the Soccer 6 Pool on Wednesday 18 January S6 V1 P1 is: M1 =1, 2; M2 =1, 2, 3; M3 =1, 2; M4 =2, 3; M5 = 1, 2; M6 = 1.
The featured Soccer 10 Pool is also tomorrow and all six games in the Soccer 6 are included. Stay with the same selections in those matches. The additional bankers are:
M2 Sassuolo to beat Cesena in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
M5 Nantes to beat visiting Caen, who have only one point out of a possible 27 in away league matches this season.
Suggested R384 perm for the Soccer 10 pool on Wednesday 18 January S10 V3: M1 =1, 2; M2 = 1; M3 =1, 2, 3; M4 =2, 3; M5 = 1; M6 = 1, 2; M7 =1, 2; M8 =2, 3; M9 =1, 2; M10 = 1.
For all TAB’s soccer pools this week go to www.soccer6.co.za