Lithuania at home is not particularly a bad team at this level, as the results showed. Now with Armandas returning, I believe the picture will change over time in terms of attacking. Georgia plays poorly, even though they have several high-level players, but their game is bad and the results are poor. In the World Cup qualifiers, Peru is the only team in the group that has managed to defeat the worst team, Bulgaria, in their second match. Lithuania should bring some positivity to the table by winning against Peru, which they haven't done in two years, and then try to continue with good results when they return home. These friendly matches will provide motivation for Lithuania.
I would say a good coefficient is obtained for BTS. The Lithuanian national team has often scored at least 2 goals in the last few years at home against teams like Finland and the Netherlands, and a little earlier against both Romania and Kosovo. It is possible to score at least one goal against teams of similar caliber as the Netherlands such as Georgia and Cyprus. This strengthens our national team's attack and I believe we can expect to score at least one goal against opponents who are not very strong defensively. Even against more quality teams, the fact remains that the Georgians should not have any problems scoring here. The good offense is supported by players like Kvicha, who rarely gets to play for Lithuania due to being a goalkeeper. The last clean sheet at home was achieved in March 2024 against Gibraltar, which is a great example of this.
FIFA Series Rwanda. Unexpected Match, as it was expected that Tanzania would win over Liechtenstein and go to the finals, but they faced a very dark day, wasting a heap of good opportunities and ultimately missing their own chance. Recently, Tanzania has been a fairly decent middle-of-the-road team on the continent, even reaching AFCON's knockout stage where they gave a good fight against Morocco, so it's likely that they won't have a repeat of such a game twice in a row, especially when the opponent is much weaker than them. Macau, on the other hand, lost hopelessly 1-4 to the CONCACAF minnows Aruba. And here they are facing an opponent who is also more physical and faster, a class above. Tanzania, with their good intentions and without such mishaps as against Liechtenstein, have all the chances and they are capable of taking full advantage.
If Vitality plays as they have played so far, then they should lose here very quickly. Another thing, the handicap itself is not that small, so it is probably necessary for the game to last very long or for there to be many easy kills for them. I just think that Vitality is well prepared individually at the moment and even for a player like that, such a handicap is difficult to achieve.
This situation is very similar to Burgos. Andorra also has something to offer in offense, but lacks good defense, and the Basques are very aggressive, even after double overtime and an extension. Hapoel had a strong attack, which was well utilized. Andorra struggles in every game, at home they fight against almost all teams, -5 against Real, win against Unicaja, and the majority of games end with either a close victory or a loss in the last moments.
It could be lacking freshness here for the Valencia team, and their form is not really improving, plus they are playing on the road in a double week. It's always difficult to play against teams like Burgos on the road, and after Euroleague games it becomes even more challenging. Burgos is a strong and fast-paced team, and in my opinion, freshness could be a decisive factor. Valencia is very strong on offense, but Burgos definitely has something to offer. They have won 5 out of 6 games at home this season. Every game is do or die, and the handicap seems a bit too high.
AFC Nations Cup. Return match, first P.Sudan won 4-0. The second meeting will take place again at the same stadium. I think the scenery should be similar. The defense of Ghana is hopeless, they still have some class in attack, but they are only saved by the opponents' poor finishing at their own goal. If South Sudan maintains their concentration, as is likely in front of their own fans, and takes advantage of their chances at least half way, they can also score a total, of course it's not ruled out that the guests will organize something.
After 17 unfortunate games, Lithuania has finally reached Peru, while the Georgians have not won in 5 consecutive games. Georgia is the most suitable opponent for Peru to play and reach, while for Lithuania it is morally crucial to play against Moldova, so it should positively affect the team and they should strive to win at home again. Based on the circumstances and forms, goals should be scored by both teams.
Stone-Carving World Championship for Men in the USA... both teams from the tournament, but without Peru. South Korea lost to Canada and the tournament hosts, while Czech Republic suffered two similar scenarios (opponents scoring points in the final minutes), narrowly losing 7-8 and 7-8 to representatives from China and Germany. I believe that the more experienced European players will prevail over Peru today.
Well, Shanghai is obviously a better team in the league, and they have no equals. But sometimes they stumble on the road and I think it's a worse situation to play here. Shanxi plays very well at home, but they recently lost at home to Shanghai and were completely crushed by a 30 point difference. When we play at the same level with the same opponent, the situation often turns completely around and I doubt that the opponent's fortress can crumble so easily for a second time.
A serious battle continues in the ACB league for playoff spots, with currently 4-7 places having an equal 15 wins each, including Barca and Unicaja. In the previous game, they suffered a heavy loss against Tenerife, not scoring at all, and dropped in the rankings, but they are still one of the strongest teams in the ACB. Barca is playing their third game in 5 days after a double week in the Euroleague, where both games were close and the second one went into overtime. Barca's older players are playing over 30 minutes per game, and double overtime will surely take its toll. The supposed leader, Punter, has been performing tragically, with only 10 points in the last 5 games. Unicaja had a rest period of 8 days and is gearing up for today's crucial game, not only because it's against Barca but also in terms of the tournament standings.
A serious battle is ongoing in the ACB league for playoff spots, with 4-7th places currently tied at 15 points each, including Barcelona and Unicaja. In their last game, Barcelona suffered a strong defeat against Tenerife without scoring a single point, dropping in the standings. However, they are still one of the strongest teams in the ACB league. It has been a tough week for Barcelona with two back-to-back Euroleague games, including a double overtime match. This could take a toll on their older players, who often play over 30 minutes per game. Team leader Punter has been in poor form recently, only scoring 10 points in the last 5 games. Unicaja, on the other hand, had 8 days of rest and preparation before today's important game, not only because they are facing Barcelona, but also for their place in the standings.
Navi is very skilled at immersing themselves in the game. Blad3 applies various tactics, analyzes the enemy well and with such changes in each match, it is definitely worth trying to take down this raid boss. They haven't had a meeting with Vita yet this year, but they read other teams perfectly, so we can only hope for precise shots from Makazze and good micro details in the game.
Navi knows how to get involved in the game in a very clever way. Blad3 applies different tactics, analyzes the enemy well, and with such changes in each match, it is definitely worth trying to defeat this raid boss. They haven't had a meeting with Vita yet this year, but they read other teams perfectly, so let's hope for accurate shots from Makazze and good micro-game details.
When I see that even small, but favorite Hapoel club has to face such a coefficient distribution. Although in the table Hapoel is at the same level as Panathinaikos, the former's game is currently slowly descending from the mountain, while the latter's game keeps climbing up the mountain and will likely reach its peak at the right moment. Therefore, the cost of this particular match is very high, as now both teams have 20 points each, but Hapoel will most likely play under. So the cost at the end could be such that this match will determine whether you make it to the sixth round and second place in the playoffs, or miss out on the sixth round and risk playing in the elimination round. Panathinaikos currently looks like a solid team, which will not take such risks and should be able to win such a match. Let's try with the Greeks.
Although we should be proud of every Lithuanian win, the match against Moldova really does not show that Lithuania can now play against weaker national teams. After a successful start to the games, Georgia lost to Israel, but with all their key players, I believe that the Georgians will aim for a win against Peru in Kaunas. Although playing in Kaunas is not easy, the differences in team levels are simply too great for Georgia to prove otherwise.
Barcelona played two games this week against Efes and Zvezda, with Zvezda extending the game. Now, without having time to rest, the team will play against one of the top Spanish clubs, Unicaja, who have had 8 days to rest after losing 70-95 against Tenerife. It has been almost 3 years since Barcelona was able to defeat Unicaja with a difference of more than 6 points. Since then, the two teams have played against each other 8 times, with Unicaja winning 5 of those games.
Jilin performs well at home and has a streak of 4 wins at home against all top 8 teams. Shenzhen also plays well, with a streak of 6 wins in a row. The two teams have met once before and each won a game. Jilin appears to be in good form and certainly capable of playing again and defending their handicap.
Well, yes, Shanghai is obviously a better team in the league and has no equal. But sometimes they struggle away and I think the situation is not good for them to play. Shanxi plays very well at home, but they recently lost to Shanghai at home and were completely crushed by a 30 point difference. When playing at the same level with the same opponent, the situation can often turn completely the other way and I doubt that in the opponents' fortress they can easily get everything right again.
If I had to pick a winner right now, I would probably choose Denmark. There isn't a clear favorite yet. Finland is currently in the lead, but not quite convincingly and personally I don't see them winning at the moment. The contest is still about a month and a half away, so the odds will continue to change.
From what I've heard, Denmark just gives off 'winner vibes'. Their performance is good, engaging, polished, and Eurovision-ready. I don't think there is much to change before the big Eurovision. The performer has a strong, confident vocal. The last minute is more energetic and well-staged, which allows for a more memorable performance at Eurovision.
For three consecutive years, the favorite song of the audience ranked very close to Peru and took 2nd or 3rd place:
2023 - Käärijä
2024 - Baby Lasagna
2025 - Tommy Cash
This year, the most joyful and possibly the audience's favorite song could be Greece. I don't know if this year's Greek song will be as successful as the ones mentioned, but it definitely has potential. The song is truly unique. As a plus, I see that this year there are more countries supporting Greece as usual in Eurovision. Romania and Bulgaria have returned. However, the number of countries from the Balkan region has decreased. This year, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands are not participating.
A little drop was observed in Fenerbahce's stock after their defeat to Olympiacos, but to me it doesn't seem like a tragedy, rather an opportunity. Such losses are very likely and should only strengthen Fenerbahce as the season comes to an end. The team is trained by possibly the best coach in Europe, so I can't imagine the final four without Fenerbahce. Of course, the finals will take place in Greece and it won't be easy, but in the end, everything depends on my assumption that Fenerbahce has over 20% chance of winning the Euroleague.
Bucks leaving the East is a serious possibility, especially with such high odds. Giannis is having another incredible season and it doesn't seem like his form will decline. Ryan Rollins is becoming a great player. Kevin Porter Jr is not yet there, but he will be, and if we don't count his non-basketball related issues, he is a great player. AJ Green is a complete sniper who can make shots in every game. Myles Turner is struggling right now, but he will start making shots soon. The recipe for the Bucks is clear - Giannis is the main man and the shooters are placed around him, and with this team, it's possible to win championships.
The main contenders will most likely be Cleveland, 76ers, and Knicks, maybe even Orlando, but it's disappointing and unclear which of them will rise this season.
Outrights (NBA 2025/26 - To Reach the Playoffs - Golden State Warriors : NO) @6.000 4/10
The West is very competitive. In the past years, it was not clear who would rank in the top 4 - 11.
The Spurs will still be in the mix, and the Rockets look strong. It's too early to count out the Kings.
Curry is 37 years old, Butler is 36, and Draymond is 35, so the core players are getting older and could potentially face the same injuries.
First long-term bet for the new full season. Chelsea's coefficient is still over 2, which means they will finish in the Top 4, and I have no doubts about that. Last season, they finished fourth and strengthened their team impressively at the end of the season. It was clear that this young team is a force to be reckoned with, winning two trophies and beating PSG gave them a lot of confidence going forward. So yes, Chelsea will play Champions League football, but in terms of the main competition for the fourth place, I see Newcastle as the main rival and I don't think they have strengthened enough to challenge for it. As for the other teams, United and Tottenham? United have made too much progress in just one season and Tottenham have a lower level than Chelsea, plus they are also in the Champions League. Aston Villa seems destined for relegation and I don't see any other contenders. Overall, I believe Chelsea is closer to joining the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, rather than fighting for the Top 4 spot, which I don't see them achieving in the upcoming Premier League season.