Football Bet of the Day: Don't expect goals to alleviate Danish despair

Brondby players haven't had much to celebrate recently

Two of Denmark's most recognisable clubs are having a tough time of it, and Kevin Hatchard believes a scrappy affair between Brondby and Odense could generate some profit.

I'm thinking of approaching some TV executives about reviving classic cartoon Scooby Doo. It would be a one-off special - "Scooby Doo and the Mysterious Market". The lovable canine would take the gang to Peru, to solve the mystery of how Sport Huancayo (a team that had won once in ten games) managed to beat Cienciano (a team that hadn't lost in seven) by three goals to one. In the end, the Sport Huancayo janitor will be revealed as the villain.

So, after a loser in Peru, we look to end the week on a high before I hand you back to my esteemed colleague Tobias Gourlay. It's the Danish Superliga today, and a clash between Brondby and Odense.

When I was a lad, leafing through the gigantic Orbis Football Collection and playing Emlyn Hughes International Soccer on the Commodore 64, Brondby were a big deal. They were regularly involved in European competition, with their iconic yellow and blue kit. Sadly, things have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. Serious financial problems have stymied progress on the field - Brondby haven't won the league since 2005, and haven't lifted a trophy since 2008.

This season, Brondby have started disappointingly. They have lost two of their first three Superliga games, and they were thumped 5-0 on aggregate by Club Brugge in the Europa League qualifiers. A lack of goals has been a feature of their play so far - they have drawn a blank in three of their five games, scoring just three goals in that period.

Odense are another club trying to recreate past glories. OB finished as runners-up in the league three times between 2009 and 2011, but in the last two campaigns they have finished 10th. They have made an even worse start to the season than Brondby, collecting a solitary point from their first three league games. If you include their last two pre-season friendlies, Troels Bech's men haven't scored more than once in any of their last five matches.

Two decent clubs down on their luck, with only memories of the good old days for comfort. Two teams low on confidence and struggling to score goals. Under 2.5 Goals is available at 2.166/5, and that looks too big to me.

Recommended Bet

Back Under 2.5 Goals at 2.166/5

2014 P/L (1 pt per bet)

Points Staked: 6

Points Returned: 6.66

P/L: +0.66 points