Against All Odds: Hapoel Petach Tikva too short in Israel

Celebrate the new year with a winner in Israel

Hapoel Petach Tikva host Maccabi Herzliya in the Israeli Liga Leumit and while the hosts are odds-on, Paul Robinson thinks they should be opposed as the away side have won their last two.

It's the final 'Against All Odds' of the year and with a healthy profit already secured, I hope 2013 will be just as prosperous.

Hapoel Petach Tikva are fifth in the table after picking up 27 points from their opening 16 fixtures. If they win their game in hand this evening then they will go level on points with second place and just two behind leaders, Maccabi Petah Tikva. 

After dropping down to this division this year, Eli Mahpud's side will be hoping to bounce straight back to the top flight, however two defeats in their last three have dented their charge somewhat. The 0-1 home loss last time was their third at HaMoshava Stadium this term and they only have a 50% win record thus far.

Maccabi Herzliya are 10th in the league after collecting 21 points from their opening 16 fixtures. After a run of three without victory, they have turned things around with back to back wins and another one tonight would see them move eighth, into the promotion group.

Ofer Talker's men have to put a pair of away defeats behind them though, however they will be buoyed by the fact that they avoided defeat in four of the previous six on the road, and that they didn't lose too many times away from home last season either.

This looks like a pretty even match on paper and despite Hapoel Petach Tikva having home advantage, I can't have them at around the 1.981/1 mark, which is why I'm making them my lay of the day.  

Recommended Bet
Lay Hapoel Petach Tikva v Maccabi Herzliya @ 1.981/1

2012 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 302 pts
Returned: 312.60 pts
P/L + 10.60 pts (after commission)