Football Bet of the Day: Back the Lions to maul the Vikings

If Copenhagen aren't winning, Stale Solbakken may resort to mind control

After snow stopped play in yesterday's featured match, Kevin Hatchard's looking to finish the week with a flourish with a trip to Denmark.

FC Copenhagen v Vestsjaelland
Sunday February 22, 16:00

There was snow bet for us yesterday, as a hefty dose of the white stuff put paid to Sion's game against St Gallen in Switzerland. With 67 minutes on the watch it was 0-0, so no harm was really done when it all got a bit too Lapland-esque for the officials. The game will be rescheduled and the whole 90 will be replayed, so our bet was voided.

I'm afraid it's not going to get much warmer for us today, because we're off to Denmark for the resumption of the Superliga season. FC Copenhagen are up against struggling Vestsjaelland, and there's every reason to believe we'll see a routine home win.

After disastrous spells at FC Cologne and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken returned to the Danish capital, where he had previously led The Lions to five Superliga titles. He guided FC Copenhagen to second spot last season, and this time around they are third, eight points off the leaders Midtjylland. Copenhagen have been much stronger at home this term than they have been on their travels - in nine league games at the Telia Parken, they have won six and lost just two.

Vestsjaelland have had some decent results in friendlies during the winter break, but their recent Superliga form leaves plenty to be desired. The Vikings have taken a solitary point from their last five outings, and they have collected just one win in nine. It's also worth noting they are yet to beat Copenhagen in the Superliga in four attempts.

Vestsjaelland also have a chronic case of travel-sickness. Michael Hansen's boys have lost eight of their nine away games, scoring a feeble six goals in the process. Five of those eight defeats have come by a margin of two goals or greater.

I'm convinced that Copenhagen will take all three points, but the burning question is how much the hosts will win by. Given that Vestsjaelland score so few on the road, there's scope to boost the odds for the home win on the Asian Handicap. Solbakken's men don't always cut loose at home, but they thrashed the leaders Midtjylland 3-0 just before the winter interlude, and there's no reason they can't do the same to the team with the division's second-worst away record.

Recommended Bet

Back FC Copenhagen -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.910/11

2015 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 26

Points Returned: 22.64

P/L: -3.36 points