Defoe value to net at anytime against Anzhi

Anzhi Makhachkala and Tottenham meet in the Europa League Thursday night in an early kick-off (17:00,ITV 4). The game features two teams who sold off their best player in the summer, the Russian outfit sold Willian while the English side sold Gareth Bale. Anzhi though kept on selling off their crown jewels as Eto’o, Kokorin, Denisov, Zhrikov, Shatov and Boussoufa all left the club while Tottenham re-invested the Bale money. What could have been a tight contest six months ago is now likely to be an easy Tottenham victory and bookmakers agree making the North London side 1/2 (GENERAL) for the victory while the home side are 13/2 (SPREADEX) and the draw is 7/2 (bet365/sportingbet).

I think the way to play is in the anytime goalscorer market where Jermain Defoe looks value at 11/10 (GENERAL) to net. The Tottenham front man has been banging in the goals in cup competitions netting six in three games so far (four in the Europa League, two in the League Cup). Lewis Holtby and Erik Lamela will give them a real creative threat and Defoe will fancy his chances against a side who have shipped seven goals in their last four at home.

After the big victory at Valencia in their opening game Swansea will fancy their chances at home to St Gallen. The Welsh side are 9/20 (BETVICTOR/WINNER) to defeat their Swiss visitors in a late kick-off Thursday night at the Liberty (20:05, ITV4) St Gallen can take heart from the fact they have only lost just once in six Europa League games (winning three of these) and they have scored at least once in each of their last eight European matches (excluding qualifiers). If you think Gallen can get something then they can be backed at 15/2 (CORAL) while the draw is available at 18/5 (BWIN/BETVICTOR).

I will look to enhance the Swansea win with the 9/4 (william hill) on a Swans win and both teams to score. The Welsh side have kept just one clean sheet in their last six at home while we talked before about the goal threat of Gallen.

Wigan are also in action in the second round of fixtures on Thursday night at the DW Stadium (20:05, BT SPORT) and entertain Maribor. The Slovenian side will be looking to make history as no side from their nation has beaten an English side in European competition (excluding qualifiers). Maribor have lost their last four in this competition (excluding qualifiers) conceding 13 goals in the process including a 5-2 defeat to Rubin Kazan last time out.

The Latics are the 8/13 (paddy Power) favourites though with just one win from their last five though the price looks a little short for me so I will be swerving this game.

Of the other games the bet I like the look of comes in the tie between Elfsborg and Standard Liege in Sweden. The Belgian side have scored 21 goals in their last seven in all competitions which is an average of three per game. They will fancy their chances of netting against Elfsborg who conceded four to Red Bull Salzburg in their opener. One player who looks value in the anytime scorer market is Michy Batshuayi who is a generous 39/19 (888 SPORT/unibet) which looks decent on a player who has scored seven times in his last five games in all competitions.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Jermain Defoe to score anytime v Anzhi, 11/10 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Michy Batshuayi to score anytime v Elfsborg, 39/19 (888 SPORT/unibet)
BRONZE: Swansea to win and both teams to score, 9/4 (william hill)

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03/10/2013     © Frixo 2026