Month: April 2024

Milan and the San Siro for an all Italian affair in this mouth watering Europa Liga quarter-final first leg.

Milan are 2^nd in Serie A with 68 points from their 31 games.  In Europa Liga so far this season they have played 10 games and have 7 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats. Recent overall form for Milan is fantastic with 7 straight wins, unbeaten in 8 with a draw in the other game. Roma are 5^th in Serie A with 55 points. Europa Liga form is 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Overall recent form sees 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.

Team News: Milan are without defender Fikayo Tomori but have attacker Ruben Loftus-Cheek back. Roma miss Sardar Azmoun and Evan Dicka.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 9 wins Milan, 6 draws and 5 wins Roma.

Betting selection – I see this as two home wins over the two legs – with no away goals rule it will be a fascinating double encounter. Take Milan win at 1.83 or 5-6 Betfair.

We head to Maracana in Rio for a one sided Copa Libertadores tie.

Flamengo won the 2024 Carioca with an unbeaten run of 12 games with 9 wins and 3 draws. Brazil Serie A has not started yet though.  They have one Copa Libertadores match so far and that was a 1-1 draw away to Colombia’s Millionarios. Palestino sit 6^th in Chile Primera with 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 defeats. They have played five Libertadores game already having had to navigate the qualifying rounds. They have 3 wins and 2 defeats so far. Only group game was a 4-0 defeat at home to Bolivar.

Head-to-head statistics: 4 games – 3 wins Flamengo and 1 wins Palestino.

Betting selection – Palestino were smashed last game at home to a Bolivian side 4-0. I don’t hold much hope out for them here and take Flamengo -2 at 2.10 or 11-10 bet365 (traditional handicap) we need a 3 goal win for payment here.

UEFA Champions League quarter final stage and an interesting first leg tie at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid.

Atletico are 4^th in La Liga and are battling with Girona and Bilbao for next years UCL place. Overall league form is 18 wins, 4 draws and 8 defeats. In UCL this year they have 5 wins and 2 draws and 1 defeat. Winning all 4 home ties with 13 scored and 3 conceded. Dortmund are 5^th in Bundesliga with 15 wins, 8 draws and 5 defeats. In UCL they have 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat.  Away from sees 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news: Mario Hermoso is out for the home side while only new injury worry is striker Mephis Depay. The visitors have doubts over Donyell Malen .

Head-to-head statistics: 2 games – 1 wins Atletico Madrid and 1 wins Dortmund.

Betting selection – Supreme home for of Atletico this year in UCL means they are likely winners here. Ultra conservative coach Simeone will not take a lot of chances. I expect a low scoring home win take Atletico Madrid win at 1.80 or 4-5 bet365.

CONCACAF Champions Cup 2^nd leg and we see if Lionel Messi still has his magic touch. His team need a win in New Leon as they trail 2-1 from the 1^st leg.

Without Messi in Miami, Inter actually played a good game and were 1-0 up until some red card madness from David Ruiz. His temper ruining the game plan for Tata Martinez. Two late goals were unfair on The Herons. In the league Monterrey lost again as they rested players for this one. That’s two consecutive defeats which drops them to 3^rd in Liga MX. Inter drew 2-2 at home to Colorado but saw Messi enter at halftime and score within 12 minutes.

Team news: Cesar Bustos is still out for home side but Jorge Rodriguez and Gerardo Arteaga are back after suspension. Robert Taylor is a doubt, Yannick Bright and David Ruiz miss this due to injury and suspension respectively.

Head-to-head statistics: 1 games – 1 wins Monterrey

Betting selection – Messi will be hounded here for sure for however long he manages to play for. If he gets the full 90 minutes I am sure Inter Miami will score, however I am almost certain Monterrey will score so Both score Yes at 1.65 or 13-20 bet365 is the bet.

We are on to the “Round of Arsenal” so the Gunners will be hoping for a change of fortunes against their Bavarian foes.

Arsenal is top of the EPL on goal difference, taking 71 points from 31 games. They are unbeaten in 7 with 6 wins and 1 draw in that time. Bayern are unusually not in the driving seat in Bundesliga, sitting a massive 16 points behind Bayer Leverkusen. They have lost their last two games in the league also. Before that they were unbeaten in 5 scoring 20 goals in that time (although they did concede 8 in that run)

Team news:  No new injury or suspension worries for Arsenal. Bayern however have plenty. Neuer, Coman, Sane and Pavlovic will all be given as late as possible to prove fitness.  

Head-to-head statistics: 12 games – 5 wins Arsenal, 1 draws and 6 wins Bayern Munich.

Betting selection – Arsenal have been tight in EPL with a run of clean sheets, but I think Bayern have too much firepower to remain goalless. To me it’s the best betting angle for the match. Arsenal should win but I prefer Both score Yes at 1.72 or 8-11 Betfair.

UCL returns with the tie of the round at Santiago Bernabeu as arguably the two best sides on the planet collide.

Man City are 3^rd in EPL just one point behind Liverpool and Arsenal. They are on a 25-game unbeaten run that goes all the way back to early December. They have 21 wins and 4 draws in that time. Real Madrid is top of La Liga and have only lost once in 30 matches.  They are unbeaten in 13 matches with 9 wins and 4 defeats. They lost to neighbours Atletico in Copa del Rey mid-January.

Team news: Madrid miss just Alaba and Courtois of their long-term problems. Eder Militao is back after long layoff.  City will likely be without RB Kyle Walker and have doubts over Ake and Gvardiol at the back also.

Head-to-head statistics: 12 games – 4 wins Real Madrid, 3 draws and 5 wins Man City.

Betting selection – Will be a tight and tense 1^st leg this and neither will want to cede to much ground to the other. Two master tacticians will go head-to-head. Take Man City draw no bet at 5-6 or 1.83 Unibet.

We have a minor Lisbon derby match as Estoril make the short journey to take on Casa Pia, both sides trying to avoid relegation in this Liga Portugal match.

The home side are in 10^th position but are just 7 points from 3rd bottom. Overall form is 8 wins, 6 draws and 13 defeats. Home form is 2 win, 4 draws and 7 defeats. Recent form reading 2 win, 1 draws and 2 losses. Estoril are 14^th but just 2 points behind the home side and 5 points above the drop zone. Overall form is 8 wins, 4 draws and 15 losses. Away form is 1 wins and 3 draws with 9 defeats. Recent form sees 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses.

Team news: Home side miss Duplexe Tchamba who is suspended. Estoril miss midfielder Jordan Holsgrove and Bernard Vital.  

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 0 wins Casa Pia, 2 draws and 5 wins Estoril.

Betting selection – Estoril defeated Porto last game in a smash and grab raid. They defended like lions and took the game 1-0. Casa Pia have never beaten the visitors and they are more suited to road games. I take Estoril draw no bet at 2.05 or 21/20 with Unibet.

Inter continue their march to the Serie A title and hope to get three points nearer after their visit to relegation threatened Udinese.

The home side are in 14^th position but are just 3 points from 2^nd bottom. Overall form is 4 wins, 16 draws and 10 defeats. Home form is 1 win, 9 draws and 5 defeats. Recent form reading 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. Inter are top of the league with 79 points and hold a 11 point gap over Milan with a game in hand. Overall form is 25 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Away form is 12 wins and 2 draws with no defeats. They have not lost in the league since September – a run that includes 20 wins and 4 draws.

Team news: Top scorer Lorenzo Lucca is suspended for the home side. Inter have top keeper Yann Sommer back, as well as striker Marko Arnautovic with the only missing man wingback Cuadrado.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 3 wins Udinese, 3 draws and 14 wins Inter.

Betting selection – Udinese are playing like a Serie A side from 20 years ago. 16 draws from 30 games, at home just one win all season. Without Lucca they are further handicapped. Take Inter -1 goal at 1.67 or 4-6 bet365 on asian handicap. We get paid on a 2 goal win, a 1 goal win sees stakes returned.

Huge North-West England derby here at Old Trafford. United are 6^th in the league fighting for what will likely be 5^th for UCL qualifictaion with several sides. They have 48 points so far from 30 games. Overalll form reads 15 wins, 3 draws and 12 losses. Home form of 8 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats. Recent form sees 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses. Liverpool sit 1^st but that could change should Arsenal get a result at Brighton. Overall they have 70 points from 30 games with 21 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses. Away form reads 8 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses. Recent league form sees an unbeaten run of 7 games with 6 wins and 1 draw in that run.

Team news: Central defenders Varane and Evans are injured and out.  With Lindelof and Martinez already ruled out United have no experience back up. Casemiro is rated doubtful also. Endo is Liverpool’s only new worry, he missed the last match but could return here. Robertson and Curtis Jones are now fully fit and both could start after cameos last match.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 5 wins Man Utd, 8 draws and 7 wins Liverpool

Betting selection – United beat Liverpool after ET in FA Cup recently and held them to a 0-0 at Anfield in the EPL. Which United will turn up – the one who comically lost 4-3 to Chelsea after leading at 90” or the one who battled for 120 minutes against Liverpool? I think Liverpool are primed for this one and will ignore the Cup loss. Take Liverpool -1 at 1.99 bet365. We get paid on a 2 goal Liverpool win, 1 goal win gets stake returned.

We return to Portugal again for another Derby de Lisboa. These sides only met on Tuesday in Taca de Portugal. This will be the 4^th meeting between them this season, there has been 10 goals so far in the 3 games. Sporting are top of the league with 68 points. They have 22 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Home form is perfection with 13 straight wins and a goal difference of +36. Last 8 in all competitions is 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Benfica are 2^nd just one point behind the home side but have played 1 game more. Away form sees 9 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. Recent form is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Sporting miss midfielder Pedro Goncalves and keeper Adan.No injury issues for the vistors.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 5 wins Sporting, 7 draws  and 8 wins Benfica.

Betting selection – One win each and 1 draw so far for these two in head to heads this season. Sporting have been superb at home and I am taking them to continue this winning streak and put a 4 point gap between the teams. Take Sporting Lisbon win at 1-1 or 2.00 10bet.