Today, HJK plays its most important match of the season so far, when it meets Danish Silkeborg in the last qualifying round of the Europa League.
HJK is playing one of its most important matches of the season. Matti Raivio, AOP
The most interesting game of the day
This fall, HJK has a realistic chance to reach the group stage of the Europa League when it meets the Danish Silkeborg in the last qualifying round. The last time HJK managed a similar trick in the 2014 season.
Silkeborg should be considered a slightly stronger team than HJK, but it is not an unbeatable giant. Silkeborg was promoted to the Danish Superliga last season, finishing third in the final series after sixth place in the regular season. Silkeborg last appeared at Eurokent more than 20 years ago in the 2000–2001 season, so the team or club does not have any routine for these games. This match is also their first European game of the season. HJK can be considered to be even ahead of the curve in terms of routine.
The Danish Superliga is a tougher league than the Veikkausliiga, but if you compare the teams with the Transfermarkt statistical website’s key figures that measure the value of the teams, Silkeborg is not much better than HJK. The website calculates the market value of HJK’s players to be around 9 million euros, while Silkeborg’s players are worth 11 million.
Game-wise, the weekend break in the Veikkausliiga came at the right time for HJK, and the Helsinki team will actually come into this match well rested after a long time. I believe this will now be positively reflected in HJK’s playing. When there is good news from the assembly front as well Joona Toivion, Paulus Arajuuren and Miska Ylitolvan regarding, I personally consider HJK’s chances of success in this match higher than the general estimates.
Of course, they are still gone Manuel Martic, Valtteri Moren, Roope Risk mixed Aapo Halme. A special plus for HJK compared to the beginning of the season is to give back to the team from Helsingborg From Lucas Lingman. Based on the matches seen so far, Lingman has adapted to HJK’s midfield immediately. At least Lingman’s game mood is not on the decline.
Silkeborg has started the Superliiga well this season (balance so far 3-1-1 goals 10-6) and last Sunday’s opening match can be at least partially even the preparation for this game. In terms of betting, the market has been very strongly oriented towards the success of the Danes during Thursday. However, I would be happy to counter-attack on behalf of HJK. The best bet is the Asian Handicap +0.25 odds of 1.91 for HJK.
The match starts at Bolt Arena at 19:00.
The best betting tip of the day
The best long-term idea for Thursday is to pull towards the second place in the world ranking Judd Trump in the European Master of snooker. Of course, Trump should be a big favorite after losing his professional card for this season Andrew Higginson against, but still a 3.5 frame handicap in this is the best of nine games in my opinion without helping one frame too much in Higginson’s direction. Odds for Higginson +3.5 are offered at 1.64.
Despite losing his professional status, Higginson is a very competent snooker player. At his best, the Englishman was among the top twenty players in the world ten years ago. Despite the end of his 16-year professional status – or precisely because of it – Higginson has even played brilliantly in this year’s European Masters. He crashed in the qualifiers Joe O’Connor 5–2 and in the first regular round Oliver Lines 5 to 1.
In the summer games, Trump often played a little so and so, typical of top stars, and came into this tournament as a bit of a question mark. However, Trump has rallied to such an extent that he has won I roll Saengkham 5–2 and by Ashley Hugill 5 to 3. However, you can still get the best sharpness of Trump’s playing by searching.
I don’t think that the second in the world ranking will sharpen up in this game either, and I see a good chance for Higginson, who is in good shape, to steal at least the couple of frames that are enough to hit the tiebreaker. Judd Trump–Andrew Higginson is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
Games of the day: –
The total balance of the day’s games for the year: 36/59/114%
Every day Iltalehti chooses the most interesting game of the day and the best game destination of the day. You can always find them in the Betting and Ravit section.