Betting Tips for Today

When we look back at the first leg, we must acknowledge that Pafos achieved a huge success by taking a 2-1 victory away from Belgrade. However, the picture of the game was different from what the result itself suggests. Red Star had significantly more of the play, created pressure, but gross defensive mistakes and a penalty turned the match around. Now the return leg will be played in Cyprus, but not at Pafos’s own stadium – and it must be said that the fan support here will not be comparable to what we saw at the Marakana. The Serbian champions have a higher-quality squad with international experience – Rade Krunić, Aleksandar Katai, or Bruno Duarte are players who have played matches like this many times before. Pafos is an ambitious club, but their path so far has led through opponents who do not match Belgrade’s quality. If the visitors manage to avoid individual errors, they should be able to translate their quality and experience into qualification. Therefore, we believe that Red Star will win this time and make up for the slip from the first leg.

In the German Cup we are looking at a confrontation between second-division Braunschweig and Bundesliga side Stuttgart. The hosts started the new 2. Bundesliga season fairly solidly, but their long-term record shows that this is a club which regularly oscillates between the second division and fighting for survival. Stuttgart, on the other hand, represents a stable member of the Bundesliga who has been battling for European places in recent years. It is true that Stuttgart’s start to the new season has not gone well, but precisely this cup match against an opponent from a lower division offers the ideal opportunity to get back on the winning track. Stuttgart also won the domestic cup last year and know very well how important it is to handle these kinds of matches. The difference in squad quality is obvious – the visitors have a deeper bench and higher playing level. Therefore, we expect them to prevail and progress further.

At St. Andrew’s we have a clash of two teams who may share the story of recent promotion, but at the moment operate in entirely different realities. Birmingham, the League One champions of last season, have started their mission in the Championship excellently – unbeaten in four matches and positioned in the upper half of the table. At home their form is almost imposing: they have lost just one competitive match here since February. Port Vale, on the other hand, are enduring a very tough start to life in League One, still winless, and coming into this match frustrated after another league defeat. Yes, they managed to surprise Blackpool in the previous round of the EFL Cup, but Birmingham clearly have higher quality and current form on their side. If they replicate their standard league performance, they should handle this tie comfortably.

Kalmar find themselves in an excellent position – second place in the Superettan table with a chance to move to the top after today. Their success is built on superb defence, as they have conceded only 14 goals in 19 rounds, the best record in the league. Added to this is a consistent home form, where they rarely drop points. Head-to-head results against Helsingborg also speak clearly: Kalmar have won four of the last five home encounters and in the first match this season they recorded a resounding 5-1 victory away. The visitors are mid-table, but they struggle significantly against top sides and regularly lose points. If Kalmar confirm their current momentum, they should win again and reaffirm their status as one of the main contenders for promotion back to Sweden’s top flight.

Cardiff have started the new season very well. After relegation from the Championship, they immediately positioned themselves among the main candidates for promotion and are currently leading League One with a record of five wins and one draw in competitive matches. The team led by Brian Barry-Murphy looks confident, plays compactly, and above all at home they are able to deliver dominant performances. Cheltenham, by contrast, are experiencing the exact opposite: in League Two they sit at the very bottom, having lost all five league matches and scored just a single goal. Their only bright moment came with a win over Exeter in the previous round of the EFL Cup, but this fixture represents a much tougher challenge. Cardiff have the deeper squad, better form, and home advantage, and therefore we believe they will not let qualification for the third round slip away. If they continue in their current vein, they should secure a clear victory against a weakened opponent.