Month: April 2024

Basque country for a top of the table clash, but expect Real Madrid to rest some of the big guns for the upcoming UCL tussle with Bayern Munich.

Real Sociedad are 6^th in La Liga with 51 points, battling for Europa Liga or Conference football. Overall they have 13 wins, 12 draws and 7 defeats. Home form is 6 wins, 6 draws and 3 defeats. Recently they are unbeaten in 5 with 3 wins and 2 draws. Real Madrid are 11 points clear in 1^st place. Overall they have 25 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss. Away form is 11 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat. Madrid are unbeaten in 29 games with 19 wins and 10 draws going back to late September.

Team news: Sociedad will miss Hamari Traore and Brais Mendez. Returning from suspension will be Zubimendi and Zubeldia. Madrid miss Ferland Mendy but Ancelotti is expected to rest most of his big players with Bayern Munich waiting on Tuesday.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 5 wins Real Sociedad, 3 draws and 12 wins Real Madrid.

Betting selection – Always keenly contested this one and with an expected second string Real Madrid side Real Sociedad will be fighting for a win. Odds could tumble on the home side so take Real Sociedad draw no bet at 2.00 or Evens Unibet.

London calling for Leeds on Friday in a game that will have repurcussions at the top and bottom of the England Championship.

QPR are 18^th in the table and are 4 points above the drop zone with everyone down there having 2 games left. Overall they have 13 wins, 11 draws and 20 defeats. Home form is 6 wins, 6 draws and 10 defeats. Recent form of 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats. Leeds are 2^nd in the table and are just one point above Ipswich in the top 2 automatic promotion places but Ipswich have 1 game in hand. Overall for Leeds this season is 27 wins, 9 draws and 8 defeats. Away form of 11 wins, 4 draws and 7 defeats. Recent form of 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: Home side are unchanged here and no new injury problems. Leeds just miss Dan James and Pascal Struijk.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 8 wins QPR, 3 draws and 9 wins Leeds.

Betting selection – Huge gulf in class between the two teams. QPR are probably safe even if they lose both games but they wont want to chance it. They will struggle against this Leeds team however and I take Leeds -1.0 Asian Handicap with bet365 at 1.75 or 3-4. We get money back if Leeds win by 1 goal.

PSV could be crowned league winners if they take this match and Feyenoord lose at GA Eagles in Deventer.

Heerenveen are in 10^th with 35 points, safe from drop zone but look too far behind European positions. Overall, they have 10 wins, 6 draws and 14 losses. At home 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses. Recent form of 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. PSV have a 9-point lead over Feyenoord with just 4 games left. Overall record of 26 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Away form they are 12 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.  Recent league form is 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news: Denzel Hall is suspended while Osame Sahraoui is a doubt for the home side. Sergio Dest is out for the season for PSV – while Saibari and Pepi are doubts,

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 3 wins Heerenveen, 10 draws and 7 wins PSV

Betting selection – Heerenveen season over pretty much. PSV are miles ahead of them and I take a straightforward win. Take PSV -1.5 at 2.01 bet365.

After Liverpool’s defeat at Everton the EPL has become a 2-horse race and City will need three points here on the South coast.

Brighton are down to 11^th after a poor run. They are 6 points off European places. Overall, they have 11 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats. Home form is 7 wins, 6 draws and 2 defeats. Recent league form of 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses with no win in 4. City are 3^rd in the league 4 points behind Arsenal but with 2 games in hand. Overall, they’re 22 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats.  Away form of 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses.  City are unbeaten in 29 games in all competitions with 23 wins and 6 draws. Last loss was early December.

Team news: Brighton have a long injury list and have added Estupinan to it. Enciso will be a doubt here. Erling Haaland is out but Foden and Stones should be fit.

Head-to-head statistics: 15 games – 2 wins Brighton, 1 draws and 12 wins Juventus.

Betting selection – Brighton have been disappointing of late and their huge injury list lengthens. City are just in the league and FA Cup final now so no need to manage minutes. Take Man City HT-FT at 2.10 or 11-10 bet365.

Lower.com Field in Ohio as we have a 1^st leg tie in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Monterrey travel back to USA to try and eliminate another MLS team in Columbus.

Colombus are 9^th in MLS after 9 games with 3 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat. In Champions Cup so far this season they have 1 win and 3 draws, beating Houston in 2^nd round 2-1 on aggregate and then drawing twice with Mexican’s Tigres 1-1 both times and winning on penalties. Monterrey are 4^th in Liga MX but just three points off top spot. In Champions Cup so far this season they have 5 won all 6 matches. Beating Comunicaciones (Guatemala) and USA teams Cincinnati and Inter Miami home and away. (Scoring 15 and conceding 4)

Team news: Columbus are likely to miss Christian Ramirez and Evan Bush for this one while Phil Quinton has left the team. Luis Romo the only doubt for Monterrey.

Head-to-head statistics: 2 games – 0 wins Columbus, 1 draws and 1 win Monterrey.

Betting selection – Monterrey have been superb so far in CCC and I don’t see them losing in Ohio. I take Monterrey at 0.0 Asian Handicap at 2.00 or Evens Bet365.

We head to Bergamo for a Coppa Italia semifinal second leg.  Fiorentina won the 1^st leg 1-0 in Florence. Likely finalists are Juventus so all to play for here for both sides.

Atalanta are 6^th in Serie A with 54 points overall. Recent form in all competitions for them is 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. Fiorentina are 9^th in Serie A and 7 points behind the home side. Overall form for them in all tournaments is 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: Atalanta have doubts over Emil Holm and Rafael Toloi. No new problems for Fiorentina.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 6 wins Fiorentina, 7 draws and 7 wins Fiorentina.

Betting selection – Fiorentina played well in the first leg but I see them losing here in Bergamo. Gasperini will have a plan for the second leg and Fiorentina dont usually travel well. Atalanta win at 1.82 or 41/50 at Unibet.

JobServe Community Stadium for a bottom v top clash where relegation and promotion chances are on the line in England League 2.

Colchester are 22^nd in division with 44 points, just 3 ahead of Sutton who have just one game left. Goal difference is much better also with +7 in Colchester favour.  Overall they have 11 wins, 11 draws and 22 defeats. Home form is 6 wins, 6 draws and 9 losses. Recent form of 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. Doncaster are in 8^th place and are just outside the playoff places due to inferior goal difference. A win tonight would put them in 5^th with one game to play. Overall they have 20 wins, 7 draws and 17 losses. Away form is 6 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses. Recent form is amazing with 10 games unbeaten and Doncaster winning the last 9 on the run! Scoring 22 and conceding just 4.

Team news: Home side are missing Harry Anderson, Samson Tovide and Tom Dallison. No new injury problems for Doncaster.

Head-to-head statistics: 11 games – 2 wins Colchester , 1 draw and 8 wins Doncaster.

Betting selection – Doncaster in amazing form as they have flew up the table in last few months. They were 2-0 down on Saturday with 30 mins left but still won 4-2. Colchester only need 1 point for safety but with three key injuries they will struggle to get it here. Take Doncaster win at 2.25 or 5-4 PaddyPower.

Rome on Tuesday as two fallen giants meet at Stadio Olympico in this Coppa Italia 2^nd leg. The first leg was a 2-0 win to Juventus so all to play for.

Lazio are in 7^th place in Serie A with 52 points this season. Recent overall form for them is 4 wins and 4 defeats. Juventus are 3^rd position with 64 points from their games so far. Recent form for them is 2 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: Home side are without Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Guendouzi, plus goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. Doubts and late fitness tests for Manual Lazzari and key striker Ciro Immobile.  Juve are still without Moise Kean and Fabio Miretti.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 6 wins Lazio, 2 draws and 12 wins Juventus.

Betting selection – Lazio will have to go for it as 2 goals needed to force extra time. Juventus havent been in top form but here they have the comfort of knowing they are in control. Take Juventus draw no bet at 5-6 or 1.83 Betfair.

Sivas on Monday night as Fenerbahce seek to overhaul Galatasaray in Turkey Super Lig action.

Sivasspor are in 9^th position with 44 points, 7 off European places. Overall, they have 11 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats. Home form is 5 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats. Recent form of 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Fenerbahce are 2^nd just 5 points behind Galatasaray (playing now) who have played 1 more games. Overall, they have 27 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Away form unbeaten in 16 win 15 wins and 1 draw. Recent form of unbeaten run of 21 games with 17 wins and 4 draws, last league defeat early November.

Team news: Sivasspor are without Arslan and Turgunboev, GK Sasal and midfielder Charisas. Fenerbahce have no new injury worries.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 4 wins Sivasspor, 6 draws and 10 wins Fenerbahce

Betting selection – Fenerbahce know only wins are good enough at this stage and goal difference is key also. Take Fenerbahce -1.5 at 21-20 or 2.05 Bet365.

We travel to Rome on Monday night under the lights for a top 5 clash in Italy Serie A.

Roma are 5^th in the league with 55 points in the chase for UCL positions. Overall, they have 16 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats. Home form is 11 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Recent form is 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat. Bologna are 4^th and 4 points ahead of home side. Overall, they 16 wins, 11 draws and 5 defeats. Away form is 4 wins, 8 draws and 3 defeats. Recent form for them of 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.

Team news: Home side are without Lukaku and Evan Ndicka. Bryan Cristante and Dean Huijsen are available again though. Bologna misses key man Lewis Ferguson, but have Alexis Saelemakers back.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 10 wins Roma, 6 draws and 4 wins Bologna.

Betting selection – Two consecutive 0-0 draws for Bologna who have lost their key playmaker Ferguson.  Roma do miss Lukaku which is a blow but I take Roma win 2.40 or 7-5 Betfair