Month: May 2024

War of the roses as Lancashire goes head to head with Yorkshire at Univeristy of Bolton stadium in this League one 2^nd leg playoff.  Bolton took a 3-1 win at Barnsley so look nailed on for a final place.

Bolton finished 3^rd in League one with 87 points. Overall they had 25 wins, 12 draws and 9 defeats. Home form was best in division with 15 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses. Recent form is an unbeaten run of 8 games with 4 wins and 4 draws. Barnsley ended season in 6^th with 76 points. Overall form for them was 21 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats. Away form of 12 wins, 6 draws and 5 defeats. Recent form of a winless run of 7 games with 2 draws and 5 losses.

Team news: Bolton have no new injury worries. Barnsley might have Benson and Cundy for this one but it looks like it will be too soon after their long injury absences.

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 7 wins Bolton, 7 draws and 3 wins Barnsley.

Betting selection – These two sides have already met three times this season with 2 draws and the 1^st leg Bolton win. Barnsley are in trouble and sacking the mananger hasn’t helped. They have lost the last 4 away games. Take Bolton win at 3-4 or 1.75 StarSports.

UCL semi final second leg and its all to play for at Parc des Princes. Dortmund hold a lead of 1-0 from their home leg and they will look to shut out their illustrious opponents once more.

PSG are pretty much guarenteed another Ligue 1 title as they hold a 9 point lead over Monaco, who have just three games left but a massively inferior goal difference.  UCL form for PSG is 5 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses. Home form has been 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. All competition recent form has seen 3 wins, 1 draws and 2 losses. Dortmund are in 5^th place in Bundesliga with UCL participation next year in their own hands. In UCL so far this season they have 6 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Away form is 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. Recent overall form is 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses.

Team news: Lucas Hernandez joins the injury list for the home side. Dortmund have a few doubts with Haller, Duranville and Ryerson nursing minor knocks.

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 2 wins PSG, 3 draws and 2 wins Borussia Dortmund.

Betting selection – These two sides have already met three times in this year’s UCL.  One win apiece and one draw show these sides are evenly matched. Odds seem very short on the home side here. Take Dortmund +1.5 at 1.65 bet365.

Selhurst Park for an intriguing EPL tie that only really has bearing at the top of the table.

Palace are in 14^th with 40 points and are safe from the drop. Overall they have 10 wins, 10 draws and 15 losses. Home form is 6 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses. Recent form is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Man Utd are 8^th now and have slipped out of European places. Overall form is 16 wins, 6 draws and 12 losses. Away form of 7 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats. Recent form is 3 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. They are 2 points behind European quilifucation.

Team news: Palace have Eze and Guehii back into the squad. United will miss Maguire, Varane and Rashford here.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 4 wins Crystal Palace, 4 draws and 12 wins Man Utd.

Betting selection – Palace are playing some great football under Oliver Glasner. United have injuries in all key areas and I expect a close game but prefer Palace. Take Crystal Palace win at 13-10 or 2.30 Unibet.

Gresty Road on a Bank Holiday Monday in UK for a League 2 playoff semifinal first leg.

Crewe finished in 6^th place in division with 71 points. Overall they had 19 wins, 14 draws and 13 losses. Home form of 11 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses. Recent form is 1 win, 4 draws and 3 losses. Doncaster ended season in 5^th with same points as home side. Overall they had 21 wins, 8 draws and 17 losses. Away form of 7 wins, 6 draws and 10 losses. Recent form is remarkable with an unbeaten run of 12 games with 10 wins and 2 draws.

Team news: Home side are without Booth, Davies, Powell, Offord and Lunt. They have doubts over a host of players too with Billington, Holicek, Long and Thomas.  Away side will miss Lavery, Faulkner and Close. Keeper Lo-Tutalas red card was overturned so he is avialable here.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 8 wins Crewe, 4 draws and 6 wins Doncaster.

Betting selection – Crewe struggling terribly with injuries while Doncaster are flying. 10 consecutive wins put them into the playoff places and I see them winning here. Doncaster win at 13-8 or 2.62 PaddyPower.

Wembley Stadium for the England National League playoff final. A place in League Two awaits the victor here.

Bromley finished 3 in regular season with 81 points. Overall, they had 22 wins, 15 draws and 9 losses. Recent form of 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Solihull ended the season in 5^th place 5 points below Bromley. Overall, they had 21 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses. Recent form for them shows 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news: Bromley are without Ben Krahaus. Jay Benn is a doubt for Solihull.

Head-to-head statistics: 18 games – 7 wins Bromley, 3 draws and 8 wins Solihull.

Betting selection – Huge game for both sides and a lot at stake. Wembley Stadium will be tough for both sides and the pressure will be immense. Take Draw at 13-5 or 3.60 Betfred.

We head to Northeast Italy for Serie A action on Sunday afternoon.

Verona are 15^th in top league with 31 points but are just 2 ahead of the relegation zone. Overall form is 7 wins, 10 draws and 17 losses. Home form is 5 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats. Recent form of 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. Fiorentina are in 8^th place with 50 points 7 points behind European qualification. Overall form is 14 wins, 8 draws and 11 defeats. Away form of 5 wins, 4 draws and 7 defeats. Recent all competition form of 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Verona has Juan Cabal suspended. Pawel Dawidowicz is back from injury though. Fiorentina lose Riccardo Sottil who is out for the season.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 4 wins Verona, 5 draws and 11 wins Fiorentina.

Betting selection – Fiorentina had a tough 90 minutes on Thursday in their Conference semifinal with Bruges. With the return leg this week they will for sure have one eye on that. Take Verona +0.25 at 1.84 at bet365. We get half win half stakes returned if game is drawn.

Just three games remain in Liga Portugal and Sporting only need 4 points to clinch the title. They host struggling Portimonense at Jose Avalade in what should bring them 3 points.

Sporting top the table with 81 points from 31 games and hold a 5 point lead over Benfica. Overall form of 26 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. At home they have 15 straight wins with a +40 goal difference. Recent all competition form of 6 wins and 2 draws. Portimonense are in 16^th place which is the relegation playoff place, 5 points above Chaves in the relegation zone but just one point off Amadora in safety. Overal they have 7 wins, 7 draws and 17 losses. Away form is 4 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses.

Team news: Marcus Edwards is suspended while defender Matheus Reis is out also. The visitors miss Zinho and Goncalo Costa.

Head-to-head statistics: 19 games – 15 wins Sporting, 2 draws and 2 wins Newcastle

Betting selection – Sporting are unbeaten in 18 Liga Portugal games and I don’t see this run ending here. Take Sporting win to nil at 4-5 or 1.80 Skybet.

EPL Saturday afternoon match and its struggling Burnley hosting a Newcastle side that has actually underperformed this season.

Burnley are in 19^th position with 24 points from 25 games. They are just 2 points from safety with 3 games remaining. Overall form is 5 wins, 9 draws and 21 defeats. Home form is 2 wins, 4 draws and 11 losses. Recent form is 2 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat. Newcastle are in 7^th place and are chasing at best Conference football. Overall they have 16 wins, 5 draws and 13 defeats. Away form is 4 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses. Recent form of 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats.

Team news: Burnley are without Ramsey, Beyer, Redmond and Al Dakhil. No new injury news for Newcastle who could have Almiron and Schar back after injury.

Head-to-head statistics: 14 games – 3 wins Burnley, 4 draws and 7 wins Newcastle

Betting selection – The win price of Newcastle is vastly inflated due to the “need to win” for Burnley.  For me is huge value here on Newcastle win at 21/20 or 2.05 Betfair.

European football is possible for both sides here in this La Liga clash in Madrid. Bilbao are assured qualification of some sort while Getafe need a run of wins to creep into Conference position.

Getafe are 10^th in the league with 43 points, just six points behind Betis in the last European spot. Overall, they have 10 wins, 13 draws and 10 losses. Home form is 8 wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats. Recent form is 2 wins, 3 draw and 3 losses. Bilbao are in 5^th spot and Europa Liga place but are not giving up hope of 4^th. They are 6 points behind Atletico with 5 games left. Overall, they have 16 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses. Away form of 5 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats. Recent form is 3 wins, 3 draw and 2 losses.

Team news: Getafe miss Arambarri, Mayoral, Duarte and Alena.  Bilbao miss Ruiz de Galarreta and Yuri Bechiche but Oscar de Marcos returns from suspension.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 3 wins Getafe, 10 draw and 7 wins Bilbao.

Betting selection – Bilbao are favourites here, but I would be leaning against them. Tough one overall to assess.  Bilbao have both score yes in last 4 games, Getafe 2 of their last 3.  Take Both score yes at 21-20 or 2.05 Betfair.

Both sides in desperate need of points in this relegation clash in EPL.

Luton are 18^th in Premier League with 25 points, just one point behind Nott’m Forest but with far inferior goal difference. Overall, they have 6 wins, 7 draws and 22 losses. Home form is 4 wins, 3 draws and 10 defeats. Recent form is 1 win, 1 draw and 6 losses. Everton are seemingly safe now but do have the threat of another deduction possible (they have already lost 8 points) They are 11 points clear even with this deduction of Luton. Overall, they have 12 wins, 8 draws and 15 losses. Away form of 5 wins, 4 draws and 8 defeats. Recent form is 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. They have won 4 of the last 5 games without conceding also.

Team news: Luton are without Brown, Nkamba, Bell, Ogbene and Kabore and have a doubt over Mads Andersen.  Everton lose Mykolenko, Patterson and Beto.

Head-to-head statistics: 2 games – 2 wins Luton.

Betting selection – Everton are seemingly safe, but they will want to finish the season with a flourish in case any new issues arise with their huge loss reported recently. Apart from the Chelsea hammering they are in great form with 4 wins without conceding from 5 games. Coupled with Luton’s poor form Everton draw no bet 1.91 or 10-11 Bet365 is the selection.