Month: June 2024

Arena Pantanal on Thursday for a bottom of the table clash between Cuiaba and Vitoria in Brazil Serie A.

Cuiaba are 20^th in league after 5 straight defeats, no goals scored and 11 conceded. Home form is 3 straight defeats. They are in Copa Sudamericana also so struggling to balance the two. Overall recent all competition form is actually good with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss (they have only played 2 Serie A matches since end of April) Vitoria are 19^th and have 1 point more than home side. One draw and 5 losses from their 6 games. Away form is 2 losses from 2. They have not won in 9 games in all competitions this season.

Team news: Home side are without Filipe Augusto, Lucas Fernandes and Derik Lacerda. Lots of missing men for the visitors with Andrade, Caceres, Vieira and Everaldo injured while Dudu and Calmon suspended.

Head-to-head statistics: 4 games – 1 wins Cuiaba, 1 draws and 2 wins Vitoria.

Betting selection – Both sides are already on 2^nd manager of season after poor starts. The fact Cuiaba are winning in Sudamericana and Copa do Brazil at least gives them hope. Take Cuiaba 0.0/-0.5 at 1.91 or 10-11 – we get half stakes returned if a draw.

Brasileiro action on Wednesday night as we head to Alfredo Jaconi stadium in Rio Grande de Sul.

Juventude are 14^th in Serie A with 6 points from 5 games. Home form is 1 win and 1 loss. With a lot of games postponed recently due to the poor weather in the country. They have only played one game since end of April – a 1-1 draw at Fluminense. Atletico GO are 18^th after just 4 points from 6 games. Away form is 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. Recent form is 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 loss.

Team news:  Weko Popo is suspended, Rodrigo Sam, Gabriel Taliari and Jean Carlos are injured for home side also. Is a slight doubt over Edson Carioca too. Visitors are without Angerlo Araos and will likely miss Gonzalez, Campanharo and Tubarao.

Head-to-head statistics: 10 games – 2 wins Juventude, 4 draws and 4 wins Atletico GO.

Betting selection – Tight match this one and with Juventude not playing much at all recently that could actually go in their favour.  Take Juventude win at 2.05 or 21-20 bet365.

Second to last game in this year’s Copa Libertadores group stages. We head to Talcahuano in Chile for a shootout for qualification.

Huachipato are 10^th in Chile Primera with 18 points from 15 games. In Copa Libertadores they are 2^nd in the group with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. At home they have 2 draws from 2 games. Recent all competition form is 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. Gremio are 12^th in Brasileirao after 5 games with 6 points. In Libertadores they are 3^rd with 6 points after 2 wins and 2 losses.

Team news: Home side have a doubt over striker Cris Martinez but have attacker Gonzalo Montes back from suspension. Cristian Pavon is out for the visitors who also miss Robert, Geromel, Henrique and Mila. Key man Diego Costa is back after his suspension.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 games – 2 wins Huachipato and 1 draw.

Betting selection – This group is convoluted due to Gremio postponing matches due to terrible weather. A home win qualifies them while a Gremio win puts them in pole position. A draw would leave Gremio needing a win at home to Estudiantes at the weekend. Take Huachipato +0.5 at 1.65 or 13-20 bet365. We get paid on home win or draw.

Dublin and the Aviva stadium for a pre Euro 2024 warm up for the Hungarians.

Ireland finished 4^th in their group behind France, Netherlands and Greece. Only ahead of Gibralter. They took 6 points from available 24 with 2 wins over Gibralter – losing every other match home and away. Recent overall form for them is 1 win, 2 draws and 5 losses. Hungary topped their group unbeaten. With 5 wins and 3 draws they are great nick for coach Marco Rossi. They were ahead of Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Recent overall form for them is unbeaten in 14 games with 9 wins and 5 draws.

Team news: Home side are without Collins, Obrien, Ogbene, Egan, Ferguson and Bazanu. Hungary are fully fit.  

Head-to-head statistics: 2 games – 2 draws,

Betting selection – No idea how Ireland are favourites here, only the “friendly” factor maybe. Take Hungary draw no bet at 1.91 or 10-11 Williamhill.

Tuesday night in Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for the 2^nd meeting between France and Women ladies in a week.

France are top of the group with three straight wins, Beating England away, Sweden and Ireland.  Recent overall form is 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. England  are 5 points behind the home side after a win and draw to go with the 2-1 loss last week. Overall form for them is 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses.

Team news: Home side have Vicki Becho back from suspension. England are with GK Earps and Lauren James.

Head-to-head statistics: 14 games – 8 wins France, 4 draws and 2 wins England.

Betting selection – France were worth their win last match and will go into this with one eye on the Sweden Ireland match playing earlier that day. Both score Yes at 13-20 or 1.65 Ladbrokes is the bet.

Germany head to Nurnberg for a friendly against Ukraine in this Euro 2024 prep game.

Germany since 2022 have had 9 wins, 8 draws and 8 losses as they seek to re-invent themselves for their hosting of Euro 2024. Recent form has seen 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. Ukraine had to qualify via the playoffs. Beating Bosnia and Iceland to make Euro 2024. Overall form for them since New years day 2022 is 12 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats.

Team news:  Germany miss Ter Stegen, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Kroos and Fullkrug. Ukraine are without GK Lunin.

Head-to-head statistics: 5 games – 3 wins Germany and 2 draws.

Betting selection – All the UCL final guys out for Germany who still should be very strong here. Take Germany win at 12/25 or 1.48 bet365.

England prepare for their latest crack at a 1^st major trophy since 1966 with a home match against two teams! Bosnia and Herzegovina in Newcastle.

England have two warm up matches to prepare them for their group. This game will give some likeness to their matches with Serbia and Slovenia. Since 2022 England’s overall record is 13 win, 7 draws and 5 losses in all competitions. Recent form is 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss (they have not won in 3) Bosnia never made the Euro 2024 so just a friendly for them. They finished 2^nd bottom of their qualifying group (behind Portugal, Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Iceland) recent form is 2 wins and 6 losses (losing last four scoring 3 but conceding 13!)

Team news: England are without Maguire, Shaw, Saka, Stones, Bellingham, Foden, Mainoo and Walker. Sead Kolasinac and Ermin Bicakcic are injured for Bosnia.

Head-to-head statistics: 4 games – 4 wins England (8-0 on aggregate)

Betting selection – England have beaten Bosnia four from four without conceding. I take this to continue due to Bosnia recent terrible form and England wanting to fine tune before Germany. England win to nil at 4-5 or 1.80 bet365.

France Ligue 1 playoff 2^nd leg and The Greens hold a 2-1 lead thanks to their midweek home win.

Metz finished 16^th with 29 points. Overall form of 8 wins, 5 draws and 21 losses. Home form was 3 wins, 3 draws and 11 losses. Recent form of 2 wins and 7 losses (lost last 5 on run!) St Etienne ended season in 3^rd with 65 points. Overall form of 19 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses. Away form of 9 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses. Recent form is 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Home side are without van den Kerkhof who joins a big injury list. Aimen Mouffek may miss out for the visitors as he went off injured last match.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 6 wins Metz, 4 draws and 10 wins St Etienne.

Betting selection – Metz in terrible form but you would think they should be up for this. St Etienne can damage the home side and both score at 1.72 or 8-11 is bet365 price.

Stadium Gewiss in Bergamo on Sunday for a homecoming party for Atalanta. Two sides who made two European finals but differing results for both.

Atalanta sit in 4^th place in Serie A with 69 points, they can end season in 3^rd above Juventus with a win here. Overall form is 21 wins, 6 draws and 10 losses. Home form of 13 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. Recent all competition form is 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. They last played on 26^th May in Europa final. Fiorentina are in 8^th with 57 points and cannot change position, they have Conference league football next year. They have form of 16 wins, 9 draws and 12 losses. Away form is 6 wins,4 draws and 8 losses. Recent all form of 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. They played on 29^th and went 120 minutes against Olympiacos and lost the Conference final.

Team news: Home side are without De Roon and Hateboer while Kolasinac is a doubt. Visitors miss Sottil injured.

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

Betting selection – Last game of 2024 Italy Serie A and only home side have something to play for. Will have fresher legs also as visitors took 2 hours in Athens to ultimately lose and end season potless. I take Atalanta win and both score at 2.90 or 19-10 Betfair.