Football Bet of the Day: Queen of the North to be knocked off her throne

We're all Panathinaikos fans tonight

Kevin Hatchard's looking to go out with a bang this week, and he's backing Panathinaikos to come roaring back in the Greek title race.

Veria v Panathinaikos
Sunday March 22, 17:30

I'm not going to lie to you, my friends, it's been a rough week. Our German bet ran aground yesterday, as Hoffenheim could only draw 0-0 at free-falling Paderborn. For the second time in three days, we saw a red card scupper our chances, as Ermin Bicakcic was given his marching orders. When they should have been making their final push for victory, Hoffe were battening down the hatches instead.

We need to bounce back quickly, and so do Panathinaikos in the Greek title race. Having beaten direct rivals Olympiakos and PAOK since the turn of the year, Pana hit a bump in the road last weekend, as they went down 2-0 at Atromitos. They too were on the wrong end of a red card, as Christos Donis was dismissed at the Stadio Peristeriou.

Today the Greens make the trip to relegation-threatened Veria, and although the hosts generally have a decent home record (seven wins from 14 games), their performances against elite teams in the division have been poor.

The Queen of the North (I don't make these up, I swear) hasn't been so regal of late. Veria recently lost 3-1 at home to third-placed PAOK, and 2-0 on home turf ahead the leaders Olympiakos. In six games this season against the current top four, Veria have collected a grand total of three points.

Veria's general form at the moment is also poor. They have lost their last four matches overall, and taken just a solitary point from their last four outings at the Stadio Verias. The team's defending has been highly suspect in recent weeks - they have leaked 23 goals in their last nine league games, losing seven of those matches. It's a run of form that has left them just six points above the dreaded bottom four.

Pana have won ten of their last 12 games (although one was a walkover against Niki Volos), and they are still very much in the title race. They beat Veria 2-1 in the reverse fixture, and won 3-1 on their last visit to the Stadio Verias. They should be too strong for a side that has lost form at the worst possible time.

Veria have the fourth-worst defence in the Greek Super League (50 goals conceded), and when they lose they do it in style. Ten of their 12 league defeats this term have been by a margin of two goals or greater, so that brings the Asian Handicap market into play.

Recommended Bet

Back Panathinaikos -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.186/5

2015 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 40

Points Returned: 35.64

P/L: -4.36 points