Month: April 2024

Basque country and Alava for the Sunday night game that could go a long way in securing UCL participation for Atletico Madrid.

Alaves are 14^th in La Liga and are 7 points above the relegation zone. Overall, they have 8 wins, 8 draws and 15 losses. Home form reads 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 defeats. Recent form is 1 win, 3 draws and 4 defeats and they have lost the last three game without scoring. Atletico are in 4^th with 61 points, 3 ahead of Bilbao. Overall, they have 19 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses. Away form is 5 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats. Recent league form is 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats.  

Team news: Alaves have no new injury worries. Atletico are without Marcos Llorente who is suspended but Pablo Barrios is back from his own suspension.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 5 wins Alaves, 4 draws and 11 wins Atletico Madrid.

Betting selection – Alaves are safe enough in 14^th and I see Atletico having too much for the home side here. Close game but Atletico Madrid win at 1.95 or 19-20 10bet.

Biggest game on the planet as top two sides meets in Madrid for El Clasico.

Real Madrid are top of La Liga with 76 points from 31 games. Overall form is 24 wins, 6 draws and 1 defeat.  They are unbeaten at home with 13 wins and 2 draws. Recent league form sees them unbeaten in 25 games with 19 wins and 6 draws going all way back to September. Barcelona are 8 points behind the home side. Overall, they have 21 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats. Away form is unbeaten with 9 wins and 6 draws. Recent league form sees an unbeaten run of 10 games with 8 wins and 2 draws.

Team news: Home side have doubts over Carvajal and Vini Jr but they have Tchouameni back from suspension. Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen are back for Barcelona.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 9 wins Real Madrid, 2 draws and 9 wins Barcelona.

Betting selection – Both sides will be a bit leggy after midweek UCL games.  Real win this and they are 11 points ahead with 6 games left. Surely too much for Barcelona to claw back. Take Real Madrid win at 1.85 or 17-20 10bet.

Bottom table clash as both sides look to maximum points to aid a miracle escape.  Bramall Lane should be a great atmosphere for this one.

Sheffield United are bottom of the pile with 16 points in total, they are 10 from safety. Overall, they have 3 wins, 7 draws and 22 defeats. Home form is 2 wins, 4 draws and 10 defeats. Recent form is winless in 8 with 3 draws and 5 defeats. Burnley are on 20 points overall after 4 wins, 8 draws and 21 defeats. Away form is 2 wins, 4 draws and 10 defeats. Recent form is 1 win, 4 draws and 3 defeats.

Team news: Sheffield still low on numbers with 8 guys out still, added to that list is Jayden Bogle and Jack Robinson both doubtful. Burnley are doubtful about Ameed Al Dakhil and Hjalmar Ekdal but have Dara Oshea back.

Head-to-head statistics: 15 games – 4 wins Sheff Utd, 2 draw and 9 wins Burnley.

Betting selection – With more points deductions likely for Everton and possibly Nottm Forest there is all to play for here. Both side need points for sure.  Take Burnley draw no bet at 1.83 or 5-6 Betfair.

League Two in England and a top of the table clash Gresty Road as Crewe host promoted Wrexham.

Crewe are 5^th in League 2 with 60 points and must consolidate their playoff place with just two games left. Overall form for Crewe is 19 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses. Home form is 11 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats. Recent form is 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats. Wrexham achieved back-to-back promotions with a win last game and head to league 1. Overall form is 24 wins, 10 draws and 10 defeats. Away form of 8 wins, 7 draws and 7 defeats. Recent form is 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats.

Team news: Crewe are without their first three goalkeepers! They have called for an emergency loan deal to fill the position.  Out also are Conor Thomas, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Ed Turns.  Wrexham are without Jacob Mendy.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 games – 1 wins Crewe, 1 draw and 1 wins Wrexham.

Betting selection – Top position is gone now but Wrexham will be professional and will want to end season with two wins and for sure striker Paul Mullen will be aiming for that golden boot. Crewe in poor form and a few injuries – take Wrexham win at 13-10 or 2.30 at 888Sport.

Sardinia on Friday night for the visit of Juventus. Claudio Ranieiri will want to take points of his old team.

Cagliari are 14^th in Serie A with 31 points in total. Overall form is 7 wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats. Home form is 6 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Recent form is 3 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat. Juve are 3^rd in the table and should be set for UCL qualification. Overall form for them is 18 wins, 9 draws and 5 defeats. Away form of 8 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats. Recent form is 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: Home side are without Gaetano Oristanio. Juve have doubts over Moise Kean and Nicolo Fagioli.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 1 wins Cagliari, 2 draws and 17 wins Juventus.

Betting selection – Cagliari got results against Atalanta and Inter last few games and both from losing positions. Ranieri will have them fired up here against Juve and I take Cagliari +0.5/+1.0 at 1.88, We get half stakes returned if Cagliari lose by 1 goal.

Friday night football at San Mames in Bilbao and a top versus bottom clash. Bilbao look to have qualified for Europe but if they can push on they can get UCL with 4^th.

Bilbao are in 4^th place with 57 points this season, 4 points behind Atletico Madrid in 4^th. Overall they have 16 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats. Home form is 11 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat. Recent form is 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Granada are looking doomed at the bottom, sitting 2^nd last  and 11 points from safety with 7 games left. Overall form is 3 wins, 8 draws and 20 defeats. Away they have yet to win with 2 draws and 13 defeats. Recent form is 1 win, 2 draws and 5 defeats.

Team news: Ruiz de Galaretta is available again after suspension. Yeray Alvarez is a doubt though. Only issue for Granada is a doubt over Oscar Melendo.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 8 wins Athletic Bilbao, 5 draws and 7 wins Granada.

Betting selection – Bilbao too strong for Granada for sure here. Home odds are very low as you would expect at 1.25 or 1-4 the win. Instead take Athletic Bilbao win to nil at 1.91 or 10-11 Skybet.

A classic in Northern France as we head to Stade Pierre-Mauroy for the 2^nd leg of Europa Conference League. Aston Villa won the 1^st leg 2-1 in a back-and-forth game.

Lille are 4^th in Ligue 1 but are 14 points behind PSG at the top. Recent form for them reads 3 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat. The league cancelled their last league match to give them time fo prepare for this game. Aston Villa are 4^th in EPL and fresh off the back of a 2-0 win at Arsenal. Recent form for them is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: No new injury or suspension news for Lille. Aston Villa have defenders Matty Cash and Clement Lenglet available for this one after layoffs.

Head-to-head statistics: 1 game –1 wins Aston Villa.

Betting selection – Lille are favourites for this one, but the one goal lead will give Villa lots of room to tactically manoeuvre. Take Aston Villa 0.0,+0.5 at 1.83 or 5-6 with bet365. We get half stakes win half returned if it’s a draw.

Bergamo and the Europa Liga as Atalanta look to progress after winning the 1^st leg at Anfield 3-0. Liverpool will need a miracle here to qualify.

Atalanta are 6^th in Serie A with 51 points from 31 games. They are in mixed form coming into this one with 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. Liverpool are 3^rd in EPL but are just 2 points off the top spot. Recent form for them has been patchy with 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.

Team news: No new injury news for Atalanta who have Sead Kolasinac back available. Conor Bradley is missing for Liverpool who will have Alexander-Arnold back for his first start after a lengthy lay off plus Stefan Bajcetic is fit.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 games – 2 wins Atalanta and 1 wins Liverpool

Betting selection – Atalanta just need to contain Liverpool and can hit them at will on the break. Liverpool will go for it and I expect them to win I just cannot see them winning by 3 or more. Take Liverpool win at 4-6 or 1.67 at betfair.

We head to Porto and Estadio do Dragao for 2^nd leg Taca de Portugal. In the 1st leg Porto won 1-0 in Guimaraes in what was a close encounter.

Porto are 3^rd in Liga Portugal, miles behind Sporting and Benfica. This season has been poor overall, but they will take a Portugal cup for sure. Recent form is mixed with 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. Vitoria are only 2 points behind Porto in the league after a solid season.  Recent form is 5 wins, 1 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Porto miss Pepe and Evanilson suspended. Fabio Cardosa is rated doubtful. Vitoria are possibly without Ricardo Mangas but he’s the only new issue.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 17 wins Porto, 1 draws and 2 wins Vitoria.

Betting selection – Porto hold a one goal lead and with both sides closely matched this could be a tight affair. I would be surprised if Porto won this easily as they have not been as fluent as usual. Take Vitoria Guimaraes +1.5 goals at 1.75. We get paid on Vitoria win, draw and even a 1 goal loss!

Manchester and the Etihad for the 2^nd leg of the UCL quarter final. Leg 1 was a classic and a 3-3 with some tremendous goals.

City are unbeaten in 27 matches in all competitions in a run that goes back to an EPL loss early December. The run is 22 wins and 5 defeats. Real Madrid are unbeaten in 15 games with 10 wins and 5 draws. Their last loss in any competition was an extra time defeat to Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey.

Team news: Almost full squad for Man City with John Stones the only injury doubt. Only new issue for Madrid is Aurelien Tchouameni being suspended.

Head-to-head statistics: 13 games – 5 wins Man City, 4 draws and 4 wins Real Madrid.

Betting selection – A real clash of the titans feel to the first leg as both sides went at each other. Madrid held their own at home, but I feel it will be too much this second leg. If they go behind and must chase, they could be in trouble. Man City -0.5/-1.0 at 1.83. If City win by 1 we get half win and half stakes returned.