Taichung Futuro vs. Taipei Tatung Odds, Prediction, and Pick – Taiwan Premier League, April 26

This looks like being the game of the weekend in Taiwan as the Japanese-owned Taichung Futuro takes on reigning champions Taipei Tatung.

The title holders haven’t had it all their own way this season, however, so the hosts may feel that this is the perfect time to bolster its own league aspirations and pick up a morale-boosting three points.

This Taichung Futuro vs. Taipei Tatung betting preview provides the details.

Tatung may be the favorites here, but online bookmaker BetOnline has definitely taken into consideration the exodus of star players in the offseason as well as the shaky start to the side has made this year. The Taichung squad has changed a lot since the end of last season, too, but for the better. Adventurous bettors may be tempted by the odds for a home win.

Taichung’s draw with Hang Yuen last weekend was probably a fair result, but the goal that gave Futuro the lead early on deserved more. Meeting a cut back cross on the edge of the area, Taiwan international Li Mao struck the ball sweetly in his stride and gave the opposing keeper no chance. It is a shame that his side could not capitalize on that opening goal.

Ultimately, that was down to a shocking goalkeeping fumble from Tuan Yu in the second period, but his team should have been able to push on from a first-half lead and put the game out of sight by the time that equalizer came. There can be no room for such errors this weekend.

That’s because Tatung will be desperate to get back in the hunt at the top of the table, even with the season still so young. It may be only two games, but this team has already lost as many fixtures as it did on its way to the title last year. Losing top players has really affected Tatung’s chances, and it needs to win games like this to prove it can be a real challenger.

Although Red Lions didn’t put up too much of a fight last weekend, it was the Angel Samuel Kouame show as the Ivorian started off with a peach of a free kick to open the scoring early on and ended up with a first hat-trick of the campaign. He will be the main threat again this week, it would seem.

This should be a fascinating encounter, but I’m going for Tatung to come up with the win that will force the other sides at the top of the table to acknowledge that the champions are not going down without a fight. Taichung has its own collection of talented individuals who should be able to push the visitors all the way, but I think it will be Tatung who is happiest at the end of the day.