Ordabasy – Jagodina 12.07.2012

Online bookmakers clearly made a mistake in quoting the odds for the first leg between the two teams and Ordabasy proved they have been heavily underestimated by beating Jagodina 1-0. The Kazakhs should now have an easy job in the return leg and another victory looks on the cards.

Ordabasy have been investing a lot of cash in the playing squad over the last few years and such a policy has yielded great results. The team qualified for the Europa League by beating Tobol in the Cup final, and the first leg against Jagodina proved they have what it takes to successfully compete in Europe. Having watched the game at first hand, I can tell you that the Kazakhs looked superior to their opponents in every aspect of the game, including fitness, technical skills and tactical discipline, so I was clearly not surprised to see them win the first leg. After playing so well away from home, Ordabasy should have no problems finishing the job in Kazakhstan and I expect them to record a comfortable win.

Match: Ordabasy – Jagodina 16.00h
League: Europa League
Our prediction: Home Win Odds: 2.20
Bookmaker:  Bet365  –> Check all free bets here!

Jagodina did well to achieve a fourth-place finish in last Super League campaign and thus ensured a Europa League qualification, but the game against Ordabasy came at a very bad time for them. Besides staying without key players Marko Simic, Milos Krstic and Sasa Marjanovic, the team had just started their pre-season training and everyone could see the players are running on empty in the first leg.

With their two main creative players gone, Jagodina largely struggled in the build-up play and failed to make a single clear-cut chance despite a vociferous support from the stands. They are now in for even tougher task in Kazakhstan and another defeat looks very likely.