Italy 0-0 Serbia

Five-time European Under-21 champions Italy had to settle for a point from their Group A curtain-raiser against Serbia in Helsingborg.

Close contest
Italy's first-half ascendancy gave way to a much-improved Serbian showing after the break as a crowd of 7,158 was treated to an always engaging tussle between two ambitious sides. Gojko Kačar's scissor-kick against the upright was the closest either team came to a breakthrough.

Three up front
The game had begun openly and the first corner, won by Italy captain Marco Motta, produced a free header wasted by Paolo De Ceglie. However, the first notable chance fell to Serbia as Nemanja Matić matched his persistence down the left with a penetrative cross that Zoran Tošić met inside the Italy area, sending his first-time strike narrowly off target. The Azzurrini's response was a curling effort from outside the box from the diminutive Sebastian Giovinco – forming a front three alongside Robert Acquafresca and Mario Balotelli – which Željko Brkić tipped over. More sighs or relief followed from the sizeable Serbian contingent inside Helsinborgs IF's Olympia as Acquafresca headed wide.

Ebb and flow
Serbia coach Slobodan Krcmarević chose a tactical template similar to Casiraghi insofar as three men shared the attacking duties. Tošić and Miralem Sulejmani – both wide players by trade – were supported by the versatile Kačar, a willing runner and raider. After half an hour Sulejmani scooped through a ball which Tošić was just beaten to by Italy keeper Andrea Consigli. His opposite number, Brkić, was similarly stretched by a firm Balotelli free-kick.

Revenge mission
The pre-match talk had been of an Italian revenge mission after Serbia's opening-day victory over the Azzurrini in the 2007 finals. Increasingly, as half-time approached, that goal looked within reach. Giovinco's cross-cum-shot had Brkić back-pedalling. Salvatore Bocchetti spurned a shooting opportunity; Balotelli did not, rifling the ball against Brkić's body. Yet the interval clean sheet appeared to vindicate Krcmarević's decision to give Jagoš Vuković his competitive debut at centre-back.

Clean through
With Tošić sparking, Serbia began the second half as if trying to restore balance to a shot count heavily favouring the Italians. Soon another notch for Casiraghi's men, though, as Acquafresca nodded a Giovinco set-piece into Brkić's arms. There seemed little between the teams, although a gap did emerge in the Serbia defence when Giovinco sprang the offside trap from Luca Cigarini's pass. Perhaps unaware of time and space, the Juventus talent lifted the ball tamely at Brkić.

Off the woodwork
At the other end the clever passing exchanges between Serbia's attacking triumvirate – often prompted by the elegant left-footed midfielder Matić – were gaining in fluidity and frequency. Towards the 75-minute mark, Nenad Tomović forced a desperate save from Consigli after Nemanja Pejčinović had touched on a Tošić corner. Still more pressure ensued: Kačar's acrobatic strike rattling Italy's right post, before a Tošić free-kick whistled past the other. The resulting deadlock left both countries two points behind the day's winners, hosts Sweden, who beat Belarus 5-1.
www.uefa.com

Helsingborg 1-0 Hammarby

Goalkeeper Kristoffer Björklund was near to rescue a point at its Hammarby. But in the end won the Helsingborg allsvenska meeting by Christoffer Andersson, who proposed a corner straight at goal.Helsingborg had major problems with Hammarby in the first half. Then the guests were the better team. Hammarby ran high and the stress of HIF-players to simple mistakes. Christoffer Andersson found in rest of Helsingborg was ball save. 
The same thought probably coach Bo Nilsson. For the second half came the home team as a new team. Maybe after a-calling. René Makondele, Rasmus Jönsson and Henke Larsson came in attack after attack. But time and again stood in the way Kristoffer Björklund. He made two stunning rescue of Makondeles shots and Henke nick. 
But in the end was "Poppen" see the network clatter behind him. This after a very questionable situation. Christoffer Andersson proposed a corner straight at goal. Replays showed that Bjorklund was firmly closed by Markus Holgersson. There should Hammarby goalkeeper received free kick. 
Away team moved up their pieces the last fifteen minutes, but Helsingborgs young backlinje was clean. Much thanks to mittback pair Marcus Nilsson and Joel Ekstrand.
www.svenskafans.com

Helsingborg - Hammarby

It's very big effort to find some info about Sweden league. 'Cause the lack of English, mostly. I found some basic info on some sites and forums and it will be enough for a gamble bet. The third round in Allsvenskan. Helsingborg started with a 1-0 home win against solid IFK Goteborg, then destroyed on the road GAIS 4-1, by counter-attacks. Despite some rumours, Henrik Larsson will play (I guess over is a nice bet.:) 888 offers 1.80). Helsingborg won the last five games at home against today's opponent (four times with two goal difference), with over every time. The hosts are contenders for a top of the table.

Hammarby started the season with plenty of problems. Lack of quality (especially in defence line) in combination with worse performance on the pitch, make from their boss Tony Gustavsson a serious contender to be sacked. In the first round they played undecided 1-1 against Elfsborg. Hammarby managed just one attack and that was enough to took a lead. Despite Elfsborg's 13 shots on target, match ended with a draw. In the second round, defeat at home, against Gefle 1-2.  The same line-ups on both sides.

Home win and over are very possible, but it wouldn't be a first time to burn my fingers on Sweden league. So my decision is a gamble bet on home handicap win. Expekt offers sweet 2.45, and that's fine for me.