R. Bautista-Agut vs D. Thie

Bautista-Agut vs. Thiem / ATP Marseille – The first quarter-finals pair at the tournament in Marseille are Spaniard R. Bautista-Agut and Austrian D. Thiem. Bautista-Agut qualified for the quarter-finals after he defeated V. Pospisil by 2-0, while Thiem had an easier path toward the quarter-finals after D. Goffin surrendered the match in the first set at the score 5-1 in games. Begins: 20.02.2015 – 12:00 CET

R. Bautista-Agut
Agut is 16th ranked tennis player at the ATP list and he won two titles in his career, both last season at tournaments in s-Hertogenbosch and Stuttgart, where he defeated Becker and Rosola in finals. He started the season in Chennai, where he reached the semi-finals and lost to Bedene by 2-1, while in Auckland, at the Australian Open and in Rotterdam he couldn’t go further from second rounds when he lost to Mannarino, Muller and Monfils, respectivelly. He made one of the better results last season in Madrid where he reached the semi-finals in which he lost to Nadal. The second good result was the fourth round at the US Open whe he lost to Federer.

Regarding the match of the previous round in which Agut defeated Pospisil by 7-6, 6-4 in sets, it is important to say that the Canadian had expectedly served better, having 8 aces and 68% of successful first service, and 80% of points won after the first service. However, what made the decisive difference and brought victory to the Spaniard was number of points won after the second serve. Pospisil won only 6 of 21 points at his second serve, while Agut’s ratio was 19 out of 28.

D. Thiem
Thiem has made a significant progress in the ATP rankings previous year so he occupied 36th place in the middle of last season, which was also the best rating in his career. Somewhat weaker results that he made at the end of last year and beginning of this one downgraded him at his current 48th place, where this quarter-final is his best result this season. He had played in Auckland and at the Australian Open, where he couldn’t go further from first rounds, and was bit more successful in Rotterdam, where he lost a match of the second round to Stakhovsky.

The Austrian reached these quarter-finals quite easily because favoured Goffin has surrendered the match before the end of the first set. However, we must say that Thiem had up to that point an advantage of 5-1, but he had incredibly weak percentage of the first service of only 15%, i.e. just two won points. In contrast, the second service was at 91% or 10 out of 11.

R. Bautista-Agut – D. Thiem PICK
The only match so far between these two players had taken place this season at the Australian Open, and the Spaniard won it by 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 in sets. We will not list all statistics details from that match but we will say that the Spaniard had an advantage of 4% to 5%, which is completely in line with the final result. Young Austrian depends too much on the first serve, while Agut is simply more complete player and this is his main advantage, so we expect that he qualify for the semi-finals.

Pick: Bautista-Aguta wins

Stake: 5/10

Odds: 1.61

Deportivo vs Eibar

Deportivo vs. Eibar / La Liga – Match between two new La Liga teams opens this round. Only one of them expectedly fight to survive and that is the host, Deportivo, despite have two times more expensive team than Eibar, who has the smallest budget in the league but occupies an excellent eighth place. Six points separate them but this match can easily change that. Deportivo’s morale is high after the away victory in the last round and second match in a row that they didn’t lose, while Eibar didn’t win in the last three matches and it seems like they are in a small crisis. It is interesting that Deportivo had defeated Eibar in the first part of the season by 1-0, which was their only away victory until the last round, while last season in the Segunda a match between these two teams played in La Coruna ended as a draw, 1-1. Begins: 06.02.2015 – 20:45 CET

Deportivo
Deportivo plays considerably better in the second half of the season and that is why this team slowly but surely move away from the relegation zone and now have three points more than teams in it, and this match is a good opportunity to win new points. Deportivo lost only once is in five matches of the season continuation, by Barcelona at home, which was of course fully expected. They drew with Levante and Granada, direct competitors in the battle for survival, and had defeated stronger teams; Athletic at home and in the last round Rayo Vallecano away, when they demonstrated a very good game and the victory should have been higher than the final 2-1.

It has been proved that bringing of midfielder Borges during the winter break was the right move, because right this player had sank Rayo Vallecano with two goals, while recovered Lucas plays great. It seems that coach Fernandez has found the winning combination when it comes to the team, although there’s always a problem. Stopper Sydney is questionable and will probably be replaced by Insua, midfielder Rodriguez cannot play because of yellow cards so J. Dominguez will return in the team, while Farina and striker Helder Postiga are still out of action.

Probable lineups Deportivo: Fabri – Juanfran, Insua, Lopo, Luisinho – Alex, J. Dominguez – Borges, Lucas, Cavaleiro – Oriol Riera

Eibar
It can be said that Eibar is easing a bit lately, at least when it comes to the results. This team didn’t lose in the last three rounds but we must be aware against whom they played. Visiting draw with Cordoba, who is very good in the second part of the season, is not a bad result, and after that they were minimally defeated away by much stronger Real Sociedad, 1-0. In the last round they lost at home but to reigning champion Atletico, playing at a very difficult terrain, which didn’t suit them at all, although it was supposed to be their advantage.

Obviously, they started the match with too much respect and by the middle of the first half they were trailing behind for 3-0. In addition to being defeated this match cost them a lot in terms of availability of some players who will not be able to play this away match at Riazor. Excellent midfielder del Moral was injured and he is out of action, which is quite a handicap, while right and left winger, Lillo and Abraham are suspended because of yellow cards. This means at least three changes in the starting line-up which will surely be felt during the match.

Probable lineups Eibar: Irureta – Boveda, Anibarro, Raul Navas, Didac Vila – Errasti, Dani Garcia – Capa, Arruabarrena, Saul – Piovaccari

Deportivo – Eibar PICK
Everyone predict a tough match with few goals but it doesn’t have to be like that. Deportivo is currently very good and they scored four goals in the last two matches. Eibar’s efficiency is a bit squeaky, although this is true only for tough matches, so here we could see at least two goals.

Pick: over 2 goals

Stake: 6/10

Odds: 1.95

FC Augsburg vs 1899 Hoffenhei

FC Augsburg vs. 1899 Hoffenheim / Bundesliga – If we exclude the big derby that was played on Friday this is the most interesting match of the round, as these teams are direct competitors for places that lead to Europe. Currently are neighbours in the standings, Augsburg is sixth and that position leads into the Europa League, while Hoffenheim is one position below and has one point less. Common for both of them is that they are much more solid when playing at home, while as visitors they have the same of scored and conceded goals. Defeat followed by victory are the results that both teams made in the finish of the first part of the season.  Hoffenheim won their match played at the beginning of the season by 2-0 but have lost the last two away matches against Augsburg. Begins: 01.02.2015 – 17:30 CET

FC Augsburg
Augsburg was very good in the first part of the season i.e. their matches can be divided into two groups; good one to which belong matches mostly played at home and a bad one in which go matches played away. There’s no middle ground, as this team didn’t draw even once in the first part of the season, which is very interesting for the team that is in fact average and was expected to frequently draw. Victories and defeats are almost evenly distributed, with one victory more and one more scored goal. Special story is the home pitch and six victories, with two defeats by Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

The rest of visitors were defeated pretty easily, including Borussia M’gladbach at the end of the first part of the season. They made a turnover in that match and stayed in competition for European positions, which now wants to solidify. During the break brought they have brought two valuable reinforcements, midfielders Hojbjerg from Bayern, while striker Ji Dong has returned from Dortmund. Philp and de Jong have left the team, although they were not standard first team players so it can be said that are even stronger. They have problem with absences because of various reasons and goalie Hitz, Baba, Hong, Moravek, Matavz and Molders will not play in this match.

Probable lineups FC Augsburg: Manninger – Verhaegh, Callsen-Bracker, Klavan, Feulner – Baier – Esswein, Hojbjerg, Halil Altintop, To. Werner – Bobadilla

1899 Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim was very good too in the first part of the season, especially at the very beginning, when this team was long undefeated. However, before the break they lost five times but the overall impression is good and the seventh place demonstrates it the best, while they have just three points less than the third-placed team. They had concluded the first part of the season with a brilliant away victory over Hertha in Berlin by 5-0, although it was only the second away win, where they were not very successful. They again play efficient matches, although it was not like that at the beginning.

During the winter break stopper Vestergaard left the team and didn’t bring any new reinforcements, which was logical, because they have anyway a pretty good team. Currently are not much weakened, Kim is absent being at the Asian Cup with the national team of South Korea, while defender Sule is injured. Coach Gisdol has doubts about the position of the left back, where two players are possible Salihovic or Toljan, while it is unclear whether Szalai will be in the attack or somewhat faster Schipplock.

Probable lineups 1899 Hoffenheim: Baumann – Beck, Strobl, Bicakvic, Salihoviv (Toljan) – Polanski, Schwegler – Volland, Roberto Firmino, Elyounoussi – Szalai (Schipplock)

FC Augsburg – 1899 Hoffenheim PICK
If we said that both teams are much more successful as hosts then there is no reason to believe that Augsburg is not a slight favourite here. Indeed, they were good at home and will hardly lose now but it is possible that Hoffenheim pulls a draw.

Pick: Asian handicap 0 Augsburg

Stake: 6/10

Odds: 1.78