Landsbankadeild - 07-07-2005 -

KR - IA:

Two disappointing sides so far..

Before the season starded KR were expected to come back to the top of Icelandic soccer, after a year to forget. They collected 2 victories in the first 2 matches, then the black out.. KR are currently at 5th place in the table and have 17 less points than the leader FH Hafnarfjordur so they've no chances at all for the title and the CL. A UEFA spot also looks out of KR's reach: Valur (+11 pts) are firmly at 2nd place and already have given proof they're a very hard opponent. The only task left is Intertoto, but to be honest I don't really know if KR have an interest in it.

IA Akranes ended last season at 3rd place in the table, so they could play in Intertoto this year (although they're already out). If you compare the current table with last season one you'll notice a big difference in the away stats: while in 2004 Akranes had an impressive record on the road with only 1 defeat, this year they're simply awful (0/1/2 and not even a goal scored. Have to remember, on the other hand, they already visited both FH and Valur). This bad away form is leaving them at 5th place in the table, paired with KR Reykjavik themselves.

The first thought of mine is leaving this game alone: a team that is everything but trustable vs a team that cannot collect points away from home.

However there are few other points to be considered:

H2H:

2004 KR - IA 1-0
2003 KR - IA 1-0
2002 KR - IA 3-1
2001 KR - IA 2-1
1999 KR - IA 1-0
1998 KR - IA 2-0
1997 KR - IA 4-0
1996 KR - IA 1-0

KR at home is 2/0/1. They only lost to FH and both the victories were by 1 goal margin.

For the upcoming match KR will miss Laursson and Bjarnason (suspended); IA will play without Martin and Bjornsson who are going to be replaced by the experienced Valgeirsson and the young Akason, at his debut with Akranes.

Looking at this stuff I would say home win and under 2,5 are very possible, but I don't like odds at all (I have 1,80 on homewin and 1,65 on under 2,5).
Since I believe the most probable results are 1-0 and 0-0 I'm going to make my bets out of this thought and try the draw, giving KR - 1 goal (european handicap).

KR (-1) - IA:

Pick: Draw
Odds: 3,90
Bookmaker: Stanleybet
Stake: 1,5/10
Confidence: 5/10

KR - IA:

Pick: Multigoal chance 0/1
Odds: 3,01
Bookmaker: Stanleybet
Stake: 1,5/10
Confidence: 5/10

To make it safer go for the under 2,5 (I'm very confident about a low scoring game, but I'd recommend medium stakes only).

KK_