Euro 2016 qualifier: Austria to resist Russia and Capello
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Austria embark on an adventure to Moscow as table toppers in Euro 2016 qualifying Group G, and will be aiming to extend their four-point pool lead with a win against rickety Russia (odds-on at 19/20 with Coral to triumph on home turf).
Ex-England coach Fabio Capello’s team currently sit in an underwhelming third place, with one of their two qualifying victories having been awarded following crowd trouble against Montenegro.
Now the Russians must rally if they are to overhaul second spot Sweden and do boast a strong case for splitting the spoils, having incredibly not been beaten at home since a 2010 loss to Slovakia, so are 21/10 to eke out a draw.
Capello’s men have been struggling for goals since smashing Liechtenstein 4-0 in their opening Group G encounter, though gave neighbours Belarus a 4-2 drubbing last time out in a friendly.
Dynamo Moscow dangerman Aleksandr Kokorin (2/1 in the anytime market) and Zenit St Petersburg-owned predator Artem Dzyuba (11/2 to open the scoring), who has hit 20 in 43 across all competitions since joining Rostov on loan, are Russia’s main forward threats. Meanwhile, highly-rated attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev is 7/1 to strike last if given the nod, and the 24-year-old’s late bursts into the box could trouble the visitors.
Austria, affectionately known as ‘Das Team’, will understandably be feeling bullish, however, as Marcel Koller’s men remain undefeated in qualifying, having notched up four fantastic wins and one draw in their five outings so far.
A place in the France finals awaits, and the in-form Alpine nation will not want to slip up now, having already proven they can defeat Russia after a 1-0 victory in Vienna in November, a scoreline they are 17/2 to repeat in the reverse.
With their top scorer in qualifying, Bayern Munich utility man David Alaba, injured, Austria will instead look to skipper Marc Janko and Stoke City star Marko Arnautovic to provide goals and guile, and the pair are excellent respective shouts of 14/5 and 7/2 in the anytime market.
Defeated just once in their past seven duels, and even then only narrowly by South American giants Brazil, Austria are incredible value at 10/3 to snatch all three points and ruin wobbly Russia’s home record.
Betting tip: Austria are really tasty at 10/3 to beat Russia
