Month: March 2024

More Italy Serie A action as the final game of the weekend sees Inter host Empoli in Milan. The home side are top of the league with 76 points from 29 games, 14 points ahead of 2^nd place Milan. Overall, they have 24 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Home form is superb with 12 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. They have not lost since a home defeat to Sassuolo in September. A run of 19 wins and 4 draws! Empoli are in the relegation zone in 18^th. They are level on points with Frosinone in 17th and safety. Overall, they have 6 wins, 7 draws and 17 defeats. Away form sees 4 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats.  Recent form sees 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats.

Team news: Inter are without de Vrij, Arnautovic and Cuadrado here. They have a doubt over GK Sommer also. Empoli are without Alberto Grassi. Adrian Ismajli and Youssef Maleh.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 18 wins Inter, 1 draws and 1 wins Empoli.

Betting selection – Short odds again in Serie A in what is a mismatch. Odds around 1-6 or 1.16 for the home side. Empoli have been goal shy recently with zero goals in last three matches (against Bologna, Milan and Cagliari – all games lost 1-0) so take the Inter win to nil option here at 1.90 or 9-10 Betfair.

Italy Serie A on Easter Monday with surprise packages Bologna hosting bottom dwelling Salernitana. Bologna sits 4^th with 54 points, 5 ahead of Roma in 5^th. Overall, they have 15 wins, 9 draws and 5 losses. Home form sees 11 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats (Only Inter have a better home record) Last 5 games is 4 wins and 1 loss. Salernitana are rock bottom and 11 points from safety. They have 2 wins, 8 draws and 19 losses. Away from is 1 win, 4 draws and 9 losses.

Team news:  A few key men out for Bologna with striker Joshua Zirkzee and Adama Soumaoro out.  The visitors are without Grigoris Kastanos and Niccolo Pierozzi.

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 2 wins Bologna, 4 draws and 1 wins Salernitana.

Betting selection – Odds are very short the home with with 1.25 or 1-4 generally and shortening up. It should be a straightforward win but without top scorer Zirkzee it won’t be a pushover. A -1.5 handicap is a bit high for me. Take Bologna win to nil instead at 1.91 Skybet.

Spain La Liga and Santiago Bernabeu for our latest tipping selection. Real Madrid sit atop the division with 72 points and a 8 point lead over Barcelona. Overall they have 22 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss. At home they are unbeaten with 12 wins and 2 draws. Madrid are unbeaten in the league since September (23 games) with 17 wins and 6 draws. Bilbao are in 4^th and flying high. Overall they are 16 wins, 8 draws and 5 losses. Away form sees 5 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses. Recent form shows 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news: Vinicius Jr is suspended, Camavinga is rated doubtful. Bellingham and Valverde return. Bilbao lose Yuri Berchiche and have doubts over three with Paredes, Ruiz de Galarreta and Herrera all touch and go.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 13 wins Real Madrid, 5 draw and 2 wins Athletic Bilbao.

Betting selection – Shame Vini Jr is out here as that would solidify my home team selection. Madrid superb in La Liga and seem to be coasting to the title. Take Real Madrid -1 1.99 Bet365. We need a 2 goal win for payment, 1 goal Real Madrid win sees a push and stakes returned.

Huge game in EPL as two of the top three meet at the Etihad Stadium. Man City sit 3^rd with 63 points. Overall they have 19 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses. At home they are unbeaten with 10 wins and 4 draws. City are unbeaten in their last 13 league games with 10 wins and 3 draws. Arsenal are top of the pile with 1 point more. Overall they have 20 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses. Away form sees 9 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats. Last 5 games for Arsenal shows 4 wins and 1 loss.

Team news: City miss Kyle Walker and John Stones. They should have a key trio fit with Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish all looking to return. Arsenal have a number of players fit after doubts. Saka, Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and Partey should all return after injuries.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 15 wins Man City, 1 draw and 4 wins Arsenal.

Betting selection – Massive game in Manchester and one that’s sure to go a long way to deciding the outright winner. Two superb attacking sides and that’s the betting angle I am taking. Both to score at 8-11 or 1.72 Betfair.

Last England Premier League game of the day sees Brentford host Man Utd at Community Stadium. Brentford have been struggling this season and sit in 15^th just 5 points above the relegation zone with 26 points in total. Overall form reads 7 wins, 5 draws and 17 losses. Home form shows 4 wins, 4 draws and 6 defeats.  They are winless in 6 matches with 1 draw and 5 losses. Man Utd will be buoyed by their last game – a 4-3 classic win over rivals Liverpool in FA Cup. The league return sees them sit in 6^th with 47 points, they are 6 points behind Spurs in 5^th in what is likely to be a UCL place this year. Overall, they have 15 wins 2 draws and 11 defeats. Away from reads 7 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses. Recent league form of 3 wins and 2 losses

Team news:  Big list of injuries/suspensions for home side with Schade, Mee, Reguilon, Henry. DaSilva and Hickey all out. Doubts too over Norgaard and Pinnock. United Shaw, Martial and Malacia. They have some doubts also with Casemiro, Martinez and Maguire all not fully fit.

Head-to-head statistics: 6 games – 1 wins Brentford, 1 draw and 4 wins Man Utd.

Betting selection – Injuries pile up for Brentford, who are in terrible form. Man Utd simply must win in their efforts to chase down Spurs for UCL place.  I take Man Utd 0,0-0.5 at 1.98 bet365. We get half stake returned here if game ends a draw.

England Premier League returns after a long break for Internationals. Sheffield United are bottom of the EPL with just 14 points from 28 games. Record reads 3 wins, 5 draws and 20 losses. They are 8 points from safety with 10 matches left so wins are essential. Home form shows 2 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses. Last 5 matches in EPL sees 1 win, 1 draw and 3 loss. Fulham are 12^th with 38 points. Overall form sees 11 wins, 4 draws and 13 losses. Away form reads 2 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses. Last 5 matches 3 wins and 2 defeats.

Team news:  Long injury list for the home side with Basham, Jebbison, Brewster, Lowe, Norrington-Davies, and Egan all out. Doubts over key men Cameron Archer and Anis Ben Slimane also.  Fulham have just one injury doubt but its key man Rodrigo Muniz. Forced off after 2 goals in the 3-0 win over Spurs last match.

Head-to-head statistics: 12 games – 4 wins Sheff Utd, 2 draws and 6 wins Fulham.

Betting selection – Injuries cripple an already desperate Sheffield United. They are looking destined for the drop. Fulham have an entire roster available should Muniz be declared fit. They are a much better side and are in decent form. Take them to win at 3-4 or 1.75 10-bet.

Liga Portugal Betclic returns after the international break. Amadora sit in 13^th with 6 wins, 8 draws and 12 defeats. At home they are ok with 5 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats. Recent league form reads 1 win 2 draws and 2 losses. Sporting is top of the pile with 21 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.  A huge +50 goal difference from 25 games. Away they have 8 wins 2 draws and 2 defeats Recent results see them unbeaten in 12 matches (11 wins and 1 draw)

Team news:  Amadora are without Joao Reis, Keliano, Pinho and Henrique. Sporting loses Antonio Adan and Pote while winger Edwards is a huge doubt.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 games – 3 wins Sporting Lisbon.

Betting selection – Odds are prohibitive here with the Sporting win very short at around 1.22-1.25. We must find alternative ways to profit. Take Sporting to start well and win the match. Halftime Sporting win and full time Sporting win at 1.83 or 5-6 betfair.

Spain La Liga returns after a long break for Internationals. We have a relegation dogfight as our first game. Cadiz sit in 18^th with 3 wins, 13 draws and 13 defeats. At home they are decent though with 3 wins, 7 draws and 4 defeats. Recent league form reads 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. Granada are one place below in 19^th but 8 points behind. Overall form is 2 wins, 8 draws and 18 losses. Away they haven’t won this season. Just 2 draws to go with 12 defeats and a -19-goal difference. Recent overall results 2 draw and 3 defeats.

Team news: Cadiz lose Maxi Gomez while Luis Hernandez is a doubt.  Granada have Sergio Ruiz back after a ban. They have doubts over Jesus Vallejo and Lucas Boye but otherwise full side.

Head-to-head statistics: 12 games – 2 wins Cadiz, 6 draws and 4 wins Granada.

Betting selection – Alexander Medina was sacked as Granada coach last week. Away from home they have been appalling. Cadiz need the win as they seek 4^th bottom and safety. Take Asian line of -0.0/-0.5 at 1.83 or 5-6 with bet365. We get half stake back if it’s a draw.

Very little top level football for us so we head to Belfast and some darts with the Premier League. This is week 9 and there are some great match ups today.  The draw is loaded at the top half with Humpries, Littler and these two all in the same section. Game two is where we head for our tip.

Smith sits 4 in the Premier League table, he has one win and 13 points in total. Van Gerwen sits 2^nd with 3 wins so far and 15 points. These games are best of 11 legs, in knockout format of last 8 to semi to final.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 8 wins Michael Smith and 12 wins Michael van Gerwen.

Betting selection – Van Gerwen’s form seems to have dipped slightly and Smith is a good bet to force the upset – we can get 2.38 for Michael Smith to win but I would rather the extra insurance of the handicap and Michael Smith +1.5 legs is the bet at 4-5 or 1.80 with 10bet

Not much football on today with the end of the international break so we head to India for some top class cricket action. The game will be playing in Jaipur. This is the second game for both teams. Rajasthan beat Lucknow Supergiants in their first match. The team gave a good performance with their bowlers especially very economical.  Delhi lost their opener losing to Punjab kings. They struggled to maintain momentum and lost key wickets.

Team news:  Full selection for Rajasthan, Delhi welcome back key bowler Anrich Nortje who missed the last game.

Head-to-head statistics: 17 games – 10 wins Rajasthan and 7 wins Delhi.

Betting selection – Of the 53 games at this ground the chasing team has won 34 of them. Temperature is expected to be around 35C and no rainfall is due. This venue usally has high scoring games so expect fireworks – take Rajasthan at 1.72 or 8-11 Betfair.