Stoke City look to continue their impressive Europa League campaign when they host Turkish side Besiktas on Thursday night at the Britannia Stadium. It's a measure of how far Tony Pulis's side have come that the bookmakers make the Potters odds on to beat their Turkish opponents, with Bet365 going 4/5 about a home win, with Besiktas 7/2 and the draw 5/2.
This could be Stoke's toughest test to date in this season's Europa League, as Besiktas represent some real quality and sit atop of Group E following their 5-1 Matchday 1 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Stoke fell victim to an injury time equaliser away at Dynamo Kiev but Tony Pulis would have been happy enough with a point prior to the match.
Stoke are in good form following a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the Britannia last Saturday and Pulis will have earmarked three points at home to each of their Europa League Group E opponents. The 4/5 about their chances looks a bit on the skinny side given the form of their opponents, who have added some quality to their squad which should help with their rather frail away form in Europe from past seasons. The Portuguese pair of Ricardo Queresma and Simao will prove a threat in what could be a tight game.
The Turkish side currently sit fourth in their domestic league and have won four games on the bounce including their demolition of the Israeli's on Matchday 1. Besiktas won't have had to contend with the likely aerial bombardment they'll face at the Britannia. Cameron Jerome is likely to get a start for the home side and the former Birmingham striker netted in the 1-1 away draw with Kiev a fortnight ago. Jerome looks a decent bet at 6/1 to open the scoring on Thursday with Bet365.
Providing Besiktas can cope with the physicality of Stoke City's play, they have the quality to cause the hosts some trouble and the Potters are likely to make changes in defence as the rotate their squad. Bookmaker Bet 365 go odds of even money that both teams will score which looks a good bet.
Despite the odds, Stoke will probably surrender plenty of posession to their Turkish rivals and the home side have drawn four of their last five matches, including the penalty shootout win over Spurs in the Carling Cup last weekend which ended 0-0 after extra time. Another draw here looks to be the pick of the bets from a value perspective, at 5/2 with Bet365.
Stoke v Besiktas Tips
Tip #1: The draw @ odds of 5/2 with Bet365.
Tip #2: Cameron Jerome to score first @ odds of 6/1 with Bet365.
Tip #3: Both teams to score @ odds of evens with Bet365.
Match Betting
4/5 Stoke City
5/2 Draw
7/2 Besiktas
Correct Score Odds
5/1 Stoke 1-0
13/2 Stoke 2-0
15/2 Stoke 2-1
8/1 Draw 0-0
11/2 Draw 1-1
18/1 Draw 2-2
9/1 Besiktas 1-0
22/1 Besiktas 2-0
14/1 Besiktas 2-1
First Goalscorer Odds
9/2 Peter Crouch
11/2 Jonathan Walters
11/2 Kenwyne Jones
6/1 Cameron Jerome
15/2 Miguel Hugo Almeida
10/1 Mustafa Pektemek
11/1 Jermaine Pennant
11/1 Matthew Etherington
12/1 Robert Huth
12/1 Ryan Shotton
12/1 Simao Sabrosa
Odds supplied by Bet365.com, plus over 100 other markets on this match and all live Europa League fixtures, including live betting in-running.
Posted: Wednesday, 28th September 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: europa league, stoke city, besiktas, cameron jerome, bet365,
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