La Liga Betting: Real Madrid should start on the front foot against Deportivo La Coruña

<br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <article class="has-odds underlined-links" style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Athletic Club v Getafe</u></span><br />Sunday, 17:15<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-season form is a fairly shaky foundation for predicting how the opening weeks of the season will pan out, so we must consider other factors where we can. The shadow of European football takes us to Bilbao, where<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Athletic Club might just have divided priorities</strong><span> </span>ahead of their La Liga opener against Getafe.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Basque side come into the game off the back of<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">a trip to Greece for a Europa League qualifier</strong><span> </span>against Panathinaikos, which is likely to have occupied their attentions for much the week. With the second leg to come on Thursday night, there is also a chance coach José Ángel Ziganda will rotate on Sunday.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Athletic have started their last three league campaigns with defeats</strong>, and while they have a fine record at San Mamés and a better squad than Getafe, odds of<span> </span><b class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="8/15"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>1.52</u></span></b><span> </span>are ripe to be taken on. Ziganda will still be getting to grips with his new job - Ernesto Valverde will be a big miss - and the newly-promoted Azulones will be motivated on their return to the big time.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Back Getafe +1.0 at [2.03]</u></span></span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Barcelona v Real Betis</u></span><br />Sunday, 19:15<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rarely can Barcelona have started a season under a cloud. The Catalans, already punch-drunk after a chastening summer in the transfer market, were humbled over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup,<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">turning in a pair of wretched performances</strong><span> </span>that will have new coach Ernesto Valverde working overtime as La Liga begins.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There could be some good news in the pipeline if<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Philippe Coutinho</strong><span> </span>manages to wriggle away from Liverpool, but for now the outlook is fairly grim. Barça are one superstar down on last season, which would be bad enough if there weren't already gaping holes in their set-up. The arrival of<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Paulinho</strong><span> </span>- a better player than he let on at Tottenham but hardly someone who fits the tiki-taka mould - is unlikely to be a silver bullet in midfield, while old defensive failings were in evidence against Madrid.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fixture computer, at least, has been kind: Barcelona haven't lost in 12 league games against Real Betis, winning 10. At the Camp Nou, it's<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">eight consecutive wins against Los Verdiblancos in all competitions</strong>, with 32 goals scored. They haven't lost on the opening day since 2008, either.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet this doesn't feel like the time to be backing the Blaugrana at<span> </span><b class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="1/6"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>1.17</u></span></b>. Instead, we'll be backing Betis to put up some resistance by scoring. Betis lost Rubén Castro in the summer but they have bought smartly, with<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Sergio León</strong>,<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Cristian Tello</strong><span> </span>and<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Ryad Boudebouz</strong>(who isn't fit to play on Sunday) all good additions. They have scored in three of their last four visits to the Camp Nou and can have some joy against a shaky backline.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Back both teams to score at</u></span><span> </span><b class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="1/1">2.00</b></span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Deportivo La Coruña v Real Madrid</u></span><br />Sunday, 21:15<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</strong></span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real Madrid's dismantling of Barcelona in the Supercopa sent the odds on them retaining their league title tumbling: we recommended them at<span> </span><b class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="1/1"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>2.00</u></span></b><span> </span>in our season preview but they're going off at<span> </span><b class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="5/6"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>1.85</u></span></b><span> </span>on the eve of the new season.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's little reason to dispute that favouritism. Madrid are a well-oiled winning machine, with world-class players in every position and visible chemistry. They also have strength in depth:<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Isco</strong><span> </span>has already shaken up the attacking pecking order and<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Marco Asensio</strong>continues to make a fantastic case for himself. With other youngsters like Dani Ceballos, Theo Hernández and Marcos Llorente also ready to make an impact, the future looks very bright indeed.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Merengues should make light of their game against Deportivo La Coruña. The Galicians did well to escape the drop last term and have done some good business this summer, bringing in Fabian Schär, Guilherme and Adrián López. But<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Madrid are their bogey team</strong>: Depor have taken just a single point from the last 13 league meeting between the sides.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The absence of<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Emre Çolak</strong><span> </span>(suspended) will do them no favours this weekend and the away side - even without<span> </span><strong style="font-weight: 600;">Cristiano Ronaldo</strong><span> </span>- should have more than enough firepower to get the job done.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u>Back Real Madrid -1.5 at 9/10</u></span></span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u><br /></u></span></span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfASxOlesoEqq0zKZu_Er5HGT9RCLVHRvweTsAFXBK0VCwVqIFTzohsFUIWpCObQ_1TCnh4hUqu-pVj2Kq9qwHPkuTauGu9P1TQXHJeTUmPLchE_drQCBW52q08HJInAjld1TNGhsEbE/s1600/642b55fd-1016-49d8-8987-8735c42c95c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfASxOlesoEqq0zKZu_Er5HGT9RCLVHRvweTsAFXBK0VCwVqIFTzohsFUIWpCObQ_1TCnh4hUqu-pVj2Kq9qwHPkuTauGu9P1TQXHJeTUmPLchE_drQCBW52q08HJInAjld1TNGhsEbE/s640/642b55fd-1016-49d8-8987-8735c42c95c8.jpg" width="640" /></a><strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u><br /></u></span></span></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <strong style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><u><br /></u></span></span></strong></div> </article>

La Liga Betting: Real Madrid should start on the front foot against Deportivo La Coruña

Athletic Club v Getafe Sunday, 17:15 Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video Pre-season form is a fairly shaky foundation ...

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Serie A Betting: Spalletti's Inter to entertain and wins for Milan and Napoli

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Inter v Fiorentina</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Sunday, 19:45</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Live on BT Sport 2</span></span><br /><br />This is the time of year when Inter fans feel hopeful and the rest of Italy laugh behind their hands, but this season there may be genuine cause for optimism. Inter are in a similar position to Roma, in that they haven't made huge alterations to their squad, but have a new Coach and will try to make best use of what that they already had.<br /><br />The arrival of Luciano Spalletti is obviously a huge boost. I think that he will bring his high energy style to San Siro and we may see the results of that here. Inter became a team to follow in terms of goals towards the end of last season, with <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">8 of their 13 games producing Over 3.5 goal</span>s</span>, and three of the others Over 2.5. Spalletti's teams have always been free scoring and less than watertight defensively, and so I think there's a good chance of goals here.<br /><br />That of course depends on Fiorentina coming to the party as well, and with former Inter Coach Stefano Pioli in charge, there'll be visitors to San Siro with a point to prove. Unfortunately for them, hitman Nikola Kalinic - who has an excellent scoring record against Inter - is on strike as he attempts to force a transfer to Milan. Teenage talent Federico Chiesa is also suspended.<br /><br />Pioli's first instinct is to be expansive, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this fixture went a similar way to last season, when <span style="font-weight: 600;">it finished 4-2 in Inter's favour</span>, not to mention the epic 5-4 Viola victory in Florence.<br /><br />These two have met twice before on Matchday One, and those games produced a total of 11 goals. This one may just fit that trend.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 3.5 Goals in Inter v Fiorentina @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="15/8">2.90</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Atalanta v Roma</span><br />Sunday, 17:00<br />Live on BT Sport 2</span><br /><br />The heart has been ripped out of an Atalanta team that did so well to finish fourth in Serie A last season, and while there has been a lot of talk about them regenerating in this campaign, I find it hard to see how they'll replace what they have lost.<br /><br />Gian Piero Gasperini is a borderline genius, but I'm not sure that even he can cope with the loss of Andrea Conti and Franck Kessie. With Papu Gomez unlikely to enjoy the same stellar season that he did in the last campaign, reality may bite for Atalanta, and it could well start on the opening weekend.<br /><br />Roma may also have taken a backward step, losing Mohamed Salah to Liverpool and Luciano Spalletti to Inter, but it's nowhere near as damaging as the business done in Bergamo this summer. Roma already had a stellar squad, and while Gregoire Defrel is an inadequate replacement for Salah, and Eusebio Di Francesco is unproven at this level, it may not matter. <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Roma won their last seven Serie A away games</span></span> last season, and look set to continue here.<br /><br />The Giallorossi still have the brilliant Radja Nainggolan to drive them from midfeld, they still have Edin Dzeko to score a hatful of goals, and they should have too much for Atalanta. The game will tell us a lot, and I don't believe that Roma will slip up early, and will back them to come away with a win.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Atalanta have lost more opening day Serie A games than any other side</span> in history, and I expect their grand total to rise to 29.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Roma to beat Atalanta @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="5/4">2.30</span></span></span></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"></span></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Verona v Napoli</span><br />Saturday, 19:45<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Crotone v Milan</span><br />Sunday, 19:45<br />Live on BT Sport</span><br /><br />There are slim pickings on this opening matchday, and so I'm going to take a route that I don't travel very often. Milan have recruited very well, and why I don't see them having the staying power to win Serie A, they'll be a much more formidable proposition. Given how keen they are to get off to a winning start, they'll have far too much for Crotone.<br /><br />Crotone performed a miracle last season to save themselves on the final day, and have made one or two interesting signings (watch out for the on loan Juve man Rolando Mandragora), but this is a new Milan, and they're unlikely to make the same mistake as the old one did last season, when they drew 1-1 here. <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">They're</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="8/13">1.61</span> for the win</span>, and I'll take them in a double with Napoli.<br /><br />Napoli head for Verona, who are back in Serie A, and have a horribly difficult first few games. They've added Alessio Cerci to their team, and the Antonio Cassano timebomb has already gone off pre-season with his signing swiftly followed by retirement. Deep down I'm not sure that Verona are really good enough to survive. Napoli are likely to keep up their excellent form from the end of last season, and while <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">it's not a particularly sexy bet at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="2/5">1.42</span></span>, I have no problem at all on a poor weekend in <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">doubling them up with Milan</span></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Milan/Napoli win double @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="5/4">2.30</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="5/4"><br /></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEEgkW1I6XPQylemVPq4w5ZSeUd_xhwXuq9fs5QgMojChQcneLD67v7jZsnaiDfMPERj_UkkFJrNWhmG2TzIyAtPZsFLsyTLzs0tJDQNf3YRcRGJxOm3WY_PBBXmfQRxARucScr9v_Eo/s1600/Napoli_vs_Trento.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="700" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEEgkW1I6XPQylemVPq4w5ZSeUd_xhwXuq9fs5QgMojChQcneLD67v7jZsnaiDfMPERj_UkkFJrNWhmG2TzIyAtPZsFLsyTLzs0tJDQNf3YRcRGJxOm3WY_PBBXmfQRxARucScr9v_Eo/s640/Napoli_vs_Trento.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Serie A Betting: Spalletti's Inter to entertain and wins for Milan and Napoli

Inter v Fiorentina Sunday, 19:45 Live on BT Sport 2 This is the time of year when Inter fans feel hopeful and the rest of Italy laugh behin...

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Stoke v Arsenal: Gunners to struggle against old foe

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Stoke City v Arsenal</span><br />Saturday 19 August, 17:30<br />Live on BT Sport 1</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hughes needs a spark</span></span></h3> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Stoke were <span style="font-weight: 600;">beaten 1-0</span> at Goodison Park on the opening weekend of the season and while that isn't a terrible result on paper, the fact that they didn't score or overly look like scoring is a concern.<br /><br />Their main attacking spark was sold during the summer as <span style="font-weight: 600;">Marko Arnautovic</span> moved to West Ham, but Mark Hughes has now replaced him in the shape of Jese Rodriguez.<br /><br />The Spanish forward was a flop at PSG but if he can recapture the form that he showed at Real Madrid, he could be <span style="font-weight: 600;">worth his weight in gold</span>. Hughes has confirmed that he is available for selection, but I would assume that a role from the bench is the most likely for this game.<br /><br />Hughes may opt to make changes from the team that lost at Everton, with both <span style="font-weight: 600;">Bojan</span> and Berahino's places under threat, but one man who should keep his place is Xherdan Shaqiri.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Wenger we trust</span></span></h3> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The range of emotions that Arsenal fans must have gone through in their game against Leicester doesn't bear thinking about. From an early goal for new-boy, <span style="font-weight: 600;">Alexandre Lacazette</span>, to some terrible defending which saw the Foxes go 2-1 and then 3-2 up, to two late goals from substitutes, which handed them a 4-3 win - it's safe to say that the Wenger hokey-cokey was in full swing.<br /><br />What Wenger will want more than anything from this match is to defend better. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Rob Holding</span> came in for plenty of criticism for his performance against Leicester, and while he will probably lose his place on Saturday, the main issue was the lack of cover that the wing-backs provided.<br /><br />It will also be interesting to see if both <span style="font-weight: 600;">Aaron Ramsey</span> and Olivier Giroud return to the team following their goals. Ramsey is probably a given, but I'm not convinced that Wenger will want to adjust Lacazette's role just yet, so Giroud may have to settle for a place on the bench.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More dropped points on bogey ground</span></span></h3> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The Betfair layers have Arsenal priced up at odds-on for this at the <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="10/11"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">1.89</span></span> mark. A home win is the outsider at <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="7/2"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">4.60</span></span> and <span style="font-weight: 600;">the draw</span> is trading at <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">3.85</span></span>.<br /><br />Until the Gunners won here back in May, they hadn't won on this ground since 2010. We all know the history of the two clubs, dating back to the <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ryan Shawcross</span> tackle on Aaron Ramsey, and it does appear that Stoke tend to raise their game somewhat against Arsenal.<br /><br />Despite feeling quite negative about the Potters' prospects this term, I think that they are <span style="font-weight: 600;">decent value</span> to get a point from this game. They are usually strong at home, and the signing of Jese might just give the fans and players a boost.<br /><br />It's always difficult to know which Arsenal side will turn up, but the likes of Ozil and co. <span style="font-weight: 600;">won't relish a battle</span>, and that is exactly what Stoke will give them.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Goals far from guaranteed</span></span></h3> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />In the <span style="font-weight: 600;">Over/Under 2.5 section</span>, the over is favoured at a price of <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="4/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">1.83</span></span>. If you saw the match at the Emirates last Friday you would steam into those odds, but I'm not keen.<br /><br />I would much rather take the <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="11/10"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">2.14</span></span> for the under, as Wenger's defence will surely be <span style="font-weight: 600;">better protected</span> away at Stoke, and they won't be facing a striker in the form that Jamie Vardy was in.<br /><br />Stoke aren't as tight defensively as they were under the Tony Pulis regime, but they kept Everton to one goal last weekend and <span style="font-weight: 600;">23 of their 38 games</span> last year saw under 2.5 backers collect.<br /><br />You can actually back <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">both teams to score</span> at a very similar price as over 2.5 - it's <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="4/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">1.79</span></span> - and if you are thinking about doing the over, go for BTTS instead as 1-1 is surely more likely than 3-0+ either way.<br /><br />Just going back to the Leicester game, given the way that the wide areas of the back three were exposed, I have to recommend a wager on <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Xherdan Shaqiri</span> to score the first goal at a tasty <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="19/2"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">10.50</span></span>.<br /><br />The Swiss international isn't a prolific scorer, but he will be playing in that position against one of Arsenal's wide centre halves and he could get some joy. He also gets his fair share of <span style="font-weight: 600;">set-pieces</span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Early bath on the cards</span></span></h3> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The man in the middle on Saturday evening is <span style="font-weight: 600;">Andre Marriner</span> and with little love lost between these two teams in the Premier League era, there has to be value in a red card if you can get <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="9/2"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">5.50</span></span> or bigger.<br /><br />Marriner has <span style="font-weight: 600;">already sent off a player this season</span> as he was in charge at St James' Park last Sunday, and he's got other recent form as well - sending off three players in a Europa League tie between Panathinaikos and Ajax last September.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bets</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back The Draw @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="14/5"></span><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="14/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">3.85</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Xherdan Shaqiri to score first @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="19/2"></span><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="19/2"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">10.50</span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="19/2"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi8loa3ByDsxSHuyj-EOUuoXxmPjZEE6M6n_RHNt56nIYyRNXm0enG72vsa1XhUKSYiHmvho0s0rJTp0BAPptcf0V6wolDTXZkRHcEHocCCsvwQStU3_WSrMFwuhm8XI2qeMyYaDsiXw/s1600/Stoke-City-vs-Arsenal-730x410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="730" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi8loa3ByDsxSHuyj-EOUuoXxmPjZEE6M6n_RHNt56nIYyRNXm0enG72vsa1XhUKSYiHmvho0s0rJTp0BAPptcf0V6wolDTXZkRHcEHocCCsvwQStU3_WSrMFwuhm8XI2qeMyYaDsiXw/s640/Stoke-City-vs-Arsenal-730x410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Stoke v Arsenal: Gunners to struggle against old foe

Stoke City v Arsenal Saturday 19 August, 17:30 Live on BT Sport 1 Hughes needs a spark Stoke were  beaten 1-0  at Goodison Park on ...

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MLS Betting: Back goals in Chicago and New York

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Chicago Fire v Toronto FC</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Sunday, 01:00</span></span><br /><br />We were very fortunate to get a winner for this column in the TFC against Portland game last week. The game was goalless heading for the hour mark, and as bad an MLS match as I've seen this season, and then Toronto full back Justin Morrow made sure that it exploded into life, and the game ended with five goals.<br /><br />I was confident of goals in that one, and am confident again here: if anything, free scoring Toronto are more likely to produce goals away from home than in Canada, with <span style="font-weight: 600;">three of the last four on their travels going Over 3.5</span>, and the Chicago Fire have been a team to watch on the goals front, with <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">six of their last eight</span></span> in MLS going Over 3.5.<br /><br />There are solid reasons behind the statistics: both teams are under pressure to entertain, both have bundles of quality of attacking players, both sacrifice in the defensive midfield areas to try and create. It might occasionally look silly, but it's ultimately laudable. I'm a little worried that the Fire had a midweek defeat in Montreal and are out again so soon, but they'll be picked up by being back at home and have a great chance of closing the gap at the top of the East. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Goals, though, are the call. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 3.5 Goals in Chicago Fire v TFC @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="8/5">2.60</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">NYCFC v New England Revolution</span><br />Sunday, 23:00<br />Live on Sky Sports Football</span><br /><br />Another team that is under pressure to entertain every week is NYCFC and Patrick Vieira's team take on the New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium looking to stay right in the mix at the top of the Eastern Conference.<br /><br />The Revs scraped a win last week in a surprisingly dull game, but I don't think that this necessarily hints at a change in philosophy by Jay Heaps, more that Vancouver came to defend, and very nearly got a point.<br /><br />The home team will set the tempo here, and with <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">three of their last four at home going Over 3.5 Goals</span>,</span> that's the mark that we should aim at as well. The two teams have already played out a 2-2 draw here, and I can see the Revs causing NYCFC problems again. Heaps very nearly has a team that could do something in the post season, but is consistently let down by how poor they are defensively.<br /><br />Vieira will feel that 2017 is his time, and the form of David Villa as well as an improving squad around him might just prove that to be true. <span style="font-weight: 600;">I think that NYCFC will win, but it may be harder than expected,</span> and they might once again need multiple goals to get them over the line.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br />Back Over 3.5 Goals in NYCFC v New England Revolution @ <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="6/5"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">2.20</span></span></span></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 600;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: 600;"></span></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Sporting KC v FC Dallas</span><br />Sunday, 01:30</span><br /><br />FC Dallas appear to have lost their mojo completely, and their fans will be hoping that this is a mid-season slump, which will see them heading for the play-offs and looking strong. Dallas were so good for most of last year, but lost players and form at just the wrong time, and faded late, so maybe what's happened in recent weeks is a positive, rather than a worrying sign.<br /><br />Oscar Pareja's team were a lot better last week in their 0-0 draw against Colorado, and were unfortunate to once again have a Maxi Urruti goal ruled out by the VAR. Their luck must change, and while SKC are very strong at home, I've seen enough in <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Dallas to think that they can get something this weeken</span>d</span>.<br /><br />The sides have met on three occasions so far this campaign, drawing 0-0 here in MLS and in the US Open Cup (SKC won 3-0 after extra time) and Dallas scraping a 1-0 win at home. That indicates to me that the teams are well matched, and that Dallas can cope better than most with the attritional style favoured by Peter Vermes.<br /><br />In the end, it comes down to price, and with <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">FC Dallas a little shorter than I had imagined at around</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="13/5">3.60</span></span>, the better value comes from <span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">a bet on Under 2.5 Goals</span></span>, which, given the teams' meetings so far this season, has every chance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Under 2.5 Goals in Sporting KC v FC Dallas @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="4/5">1.80</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="4/5"><br /></span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YATAYmxovKG4nKfdeBR_9YnY3Gm3dsMXurhJ1Gq02H-PFgYsS1q9WTPuxJa0nnGDlH5f3m8URlVNqsdE9IlWvfxGoutuXula7pYzULY6nroiGIjYkxfIbRPXWGkfRMu_hlJm0fOlsJ4/s1600/2017_0805_Kids_AA_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="1065" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YATAYmxovKG4nKfdeBR_9YnY3Gm3dsMXurhJ1Gq02H-PFgYsS1q9WTPuxJa0nnGDlH5f3m8URlVNqsdE9IlWvfxGoutuXula7pYzULY6nroiGIjYkxfIbRPXWGkfRMu_hlJm0fOlsJ4/s640/2017_0805_Kids_AA_007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

MLS Betting: Back goals in Chicago and New York

Chicago Fire v Toronto FC Sunday, 01:00 We were very fortunate to get a winner for this column in the TFC against Portland game last week. ...

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The Daily Acca: Villa to earn first win of the season

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bet 1: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Aston Villa @ 7/5</span> - KO 15:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This selection may lose a few readers but I think Aston Villa are <span style="font-weight: 600;">overpriced</span> to beat Norwich at Villa Park.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Steve Bruce</span> needs a win and as soon as it comes they will likely go on a bit of a run. Confidence is a big thing in football and they have appeared bereft of it in the last couple of games.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beating <span style="font-weight: 600;">Norwich</span> won't be easy but the Canaries had a pretty miserable away record last year and they don't appear to be much stronger this season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 2: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 2.5 Goals in Bristol City v Millwall @ 8/11</span> - KO 15:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's all about goals at <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ashton Gate</span> when Bristol City host Millwall.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Robins have played four times in all competitions this season and their scorelines have been <span style="font-weight: 600;">3-1, 5-0, 2-1 and 2-2</span>. Over 2.5 backers would have collected on each and every occasion and that trend doesn't look like stopping.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millwall were involved in a <span style="font-weight: 600;">seven goal thriller</span> on Tuesday night - one they ultimately lost. Neil Harris' side have one point from a possible nine since their promotion from League One, but their performances have been better than that.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be a game that they will fancy their chances of being able to win and that should mean that they will <span style="font-weight: 600;">take it to the hosts</span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 3: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Coventry @ 20/21</span> - KO 15:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <span style="font-weight: 600;">bet of the weekend</span> can be found at the Ricoh as I'm astounded that Coventry are basically even money to beat Newport County.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sky Blues had a fair enough record at home even when going down last season. They have started life in <span style="font-weight: 600;">League Two</span> very well, winning both of their games - scoring five and conceding none.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Newport</span> have drawn both of their two but the first saw them need two late goals to draw at Stevenage, and the second saw their opponents reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute. They survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last year and I just can't see how they'll get anything against one of the main contenders for the title.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 4: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Under 3.5 Goals in Stoke v Arsenal @ 4/9</span> - KO 17:30 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have covered this game in more detail <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">here</span> so I won't go into too much detail, but I don't think there will be as many goals as expected.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would have this down as a two goal match, three at most. Arsenal will have to <span style="font-weight: 600;">tighten up</span>and protect their centre halves better for an away game and Stoke don't have the kind of threat on the attack that Leicester do.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 5: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Atletico Madrid @ 4/9</span> - KO 19:15 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Diego Simeone's</span> Atletico Madrid begin their La Liga title bid with an away game at the newly promoted, Girona.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't envisage any problems for Atletico and they have looked decent in pre-season - most notably in the Audi Cup where they <span style="font-weight: 600;">beat Napoli</span> and then beat Liverpool on penalties.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The transfer embargo that they are currently under has hindered new arrivals - see Diego Costa - but it also meant that they kept hold of <span style="font-weight: 600;">Antoine Griezmann</span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Girona</span> just aren't in their class and this is their first ever season in La Liga.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 6: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Corinthians @ 4/9</span> - KO 20:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sixth and final selection comes from Brazil as <span style="font-weight: 600;">runaway leaders</span>, Corinthians, look set to extend their advantage at the top of the Campeonato to 11 points.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Fábio Carille's</span> team are undefeated in 19 fixtures this season - winning 14 and drawing five. They are a well organized team who have only been outscored by Gremio, but have by far and away the best defensive record.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opponents, <span style="font-weight: 600;">Vitoria</span>, are second from bottom as they have lost 11 of their 20 fixtures to date. They were beaten at home by relegation rivals, Avai, last time out, and it's almost impossible to impossible to imagine them being able to repeat the victory they had at Flamengo in their previous away game.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Acca</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Aston Villa @ 7/5</span></span></span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 2.5 Goals in Bristol City v Millwall @ 8/11</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Coventry @ 20/21</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Under 3.5 Goals in Stoke v Arsenal @ 4/9</span></div> <div style="line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Atletico Madrid @ 4/9</span></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"></span></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Corinthians @ 4/9</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><br /></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsnbNczvHKRFL3E5CZquFiuSdNOtsr9zDmh_YLcsUcKmxnk-eZfOrCIUrSmzr7QVwMNHbvvuAMKn9o8Aie53SfGoMu6QpM3uApk4yHx47CY9LCVnEXGnYKlx5FviwzXOJbLZ46VcwG68/s1600/180102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="898" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsnbNczvHKRFL3E5CZquFiuSdNOtsr9zDmh_YLcsUcKmxnk-eZfOrCIUrSmzr7QVwMNHbvvuAMKn9o8Aie53SfGoMu6QpM3uApk4yHx47CY9LCVnEXGnYKlx5FviwzXOJbLZ46VcwG68/s640/180102.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><br /></span></span></div>

The Daily Acca: Villa to earn first win of the season

Bet 1:  Back Aston Villa @ 7/5  - KO 15:00 BST This selection may lose a few readers but I think Aston Villa are  overpriced  to beat Nor...

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Premier League Treble: Taming of the Seagulls at the KP

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 1</span>: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Leicester @ 8/11</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The Foxes</span> may have lost their season opener at Arsenal, but the performance they put on during the 4-3 defeat shows that they should be in for a decent campaign.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Craig Shakespeare</span> revived their fortunes when he replaced Claudio Ranieri last year and even though he's not done much business in the transfer market, he still has Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez at the club - for now at least.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than a 6-1 thrashing to Spurs, Shakespeare led the team to six good results at the <span style="font-weight: 600;">King Power</span> - five wins and a final day draw. They have made their home a bit of a fortress and that should continue this year.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Brighton</span> put up a spirited performance in their 2-0 loss against Man City last weekend and Chris Hughton would have been proud of his players. They never really looked like threatening City though and a trip to Leicester isn't the ideal follow-up.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 2</span>: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Liverpool @ 4/11</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am usually loathed to include Liverpool at such a short price but given how bad <span style="font-weight: 600;">Crystal Palace</span> were last week, it's almost impossible to see the Eagles taking anything from Anfield.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only does <span style="font-weight: 600;">Frank de Boer</span> have to deal with the embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield, he also has to cope without star man, Wilfried Zaha.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The team didn't appear to cope with their new 'Ajax' style of play last week and you can only do so much work in <span style="font-weight: 600;">seven days</span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liverpool were involved in midweek action and they handed Hoffenheim their first home defeat in well over a year. They again looked a bit shaky at the back, but it's worth noting that they finished the last campaign with <span style="font-weight: 600;">two home clean sheets</span>, and even if they do concede, they have more than enough firepower to blow Palace away.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Bet 3</span>: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">The Draw in Burnley v West Brom @ 11/5</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third and final leg features two teams who won their opening fixture last week as Burnley pulled off a <span style="font-weight: 600;">shock 3-2 win</span> at Chelsea, while West Brom churned out a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Clarets were incredibly strong at Turf Moor last year and they needed to be given their dismal away record. I know that they won away last week, but that was a crazy game and I do fear for <span style="font-weight: 600;">Sean Dyche's</span> men.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The Baggies</span> were written off a bit last weekend but I quite strongly fancied them and I included them in the treble. I appreciate that they finished the year really poorly last time, but they already had the points in the bag by then.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two met here in May and the score was <span style="font-weight: 600;">2-2</span>. It wouldn't surprise me if we got a repeat today.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Treble</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Leicester @ 8/11</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Liverpool @ 4/11</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;">Back The Draw in Burnley v West Brom @ 11/5</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><br /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xaVOiodj1vNLCePwBbjmn1l5rjqokLntfYUMr88uYypqyBikawo666JUoiMVipaNb5Rkpedf77uyqZM_WR84eiAXAomMDIwqaFp2SMdUyk8shqKj5bucbVgvDkA9RM3_yN6UuvjsvRU/s1600/craig-shakespeare-leicester-premier-league_3435472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xaVOiodj1vNLCePwBbjmn1l5rjqokLntfYUMr88uYypqyBikawo666JUoiMVipaNb5Rkpedf77uyqZM_WR84eiAXAomMDIwqaFp2SMdUyk8shqKj5bucbVgvDkA9RM3_yN6UuvjsvRU/s640/craig-shakespeare-leicester-premier-league_3435472.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"><br /></span></div>

Premier League Treble: Taming of the Seagulls at the KP

Bet 1 :  Leicester @ 8/11 The Foxes  may have lost their season opener at Arsenal, but the performance they put on during the 4-3 defeat ...

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Bundesliga Betting: Hoffe and Werder to give us a show

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday August 19, 14:30</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoffenheim are growing as a club, and they will have learnt so much from Tuesday's painful Champions League defeat to Liverpool. No Bundesliga team managed to beat Hoffe at the Rhein Neckar Arena last season, but Liverpool punished every error to win 2-1 and put one foot in the group stage. Had <span style="font-weight: 600;">Andrej Kramaric</span> converted an early penalty, or had keeper Oliver Baumann actually dived to try and save Trent Alexander-Arnold's first-half free-kick, it could all have been so different.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, this won't be a crippling blow to the Sinsheim club, as they have one of the best young coaches in the business. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Julian Nagelsmann</span> has recently turned 30, and he has carved out a reputation as one of the most innovative bosses around. Video walls at the training ground, glasses with strobe lights for goalkeepers, player tracking apps: you name it, Hoffe have got it.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All these things contributed to Hoffenheim's <span style="font-weight: 600;">best ever season</span> last term, and this weekend they face a Werder Bremen side that is also on a high. The northern giants were rewarded for their faith in coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Alexander Nouri,</span> as he hauled them up from the relegation dogfight, and nearly pushed them into a Europa League spot. The loss of the fleet-footed Serge Gnabry to Hoffenheim via Bayern Munich is a blow, but <span style="font-weight: 600;">Max Kruse,</span> Fin Bartels and Zlatko Junuzovic are all still in the building.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoffenheim are still adjusting to life without defensive man mountain <span style="font-weight: 600;">Niklas Sule,</span>and Ermin Bicakcic really struggled against Liverpool's Sadi Mane on Tuesday. Werder had another poor season in terms of defending (they leaked 64 goals, the league's worst record), and an injury to key centre-back Niklas Moisander will do them few favours. The last meeting between these sides ended 5-3 to Hoffenheim, and I think we're in for another rollercoaster ride.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Over 3.5 Goals at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="11/8">2.34</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Hamburg v Augsburg</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday August 19, 14:30</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of these clubs struggled at the wrong end of the table last season, and both have already tumbled out of the DFB Pokal to lower-league opposition. Augsburg conceded two late goals at Magdeburg, while HSV somehow contrived to lose 3-1 to an Osnabruck side that played most of the match with ten men.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I think ultimately the clubs' work in the transfer market will shape this season. Hamburg have been making <span style="font-weight: 600;">sensible signings</span> for a while now, and are building a decent squad. The biggest issue is getting the right coach to bring the best out of them, and I'm still not sure <span style="font-weight: 600;">Markus Gisdol</span> is the best man for the job.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HSV have at least found some home form. They have won eight of their last 11 BL games at the Volksparkstadion, and I fancy them to make it nine in 12. Augsburg also have an unconvincing coach in Manuel Baum, and they have lost key players with big characters. Skipper <span style="font-weight: 600;">Paul Verhaegh</span> joined Wolfsburg, Dominik Kohr went back to Leverkusen, and Raul Bobadilla returned to Borussia Monchengladbach. I think FCA are in for a <span style="font-weight: 600;">long, hard season,</span> starting on Saturday.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Hamburg to win at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="6/5">2.22</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Schalke v RB Leipzig</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday August 19, 17:30</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Live on BT Sport 3</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another season, another supposed new dawn for Schalke. Markus Weinzierl lasted just one campaign before he was given the elbow, and now bright young thing <span style="font-weight: 600;">Domenico Tedesco</span> has the task of trying to wake one of the league's slumbering giants.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tedesco finished top of his coaching class (above Julian Nagelsmann, no less), and I don't doubt the 31-year-old has some great ideas. However, he inherits a squad that has underachieved, and there is uncertainty over several star names. Max Meyer won't get a new deal next summer, so could soon leave, and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Leon Goretzka</span> is rumoured to have already agreed to move to Bayern in 2018. Club captain Benedikt Howedes is being linked with a switch to England after he was stripped of the captaincy, and I get the sense that although Tedesco may prove to be an inspired appointment in the end, he may have to endure some short-term pain.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RB Leipzig look far more settled, despite a summer of transfer wrangling. Star players <span style="font-weight: 600;">Emil Forsberg</span> and Naby Keita seem to have accepted that they'll be held to their contracts, and the addition of Galatasaray winger Bruma and PSG forward Jean-Kevin Augustin further strengthens an already impressive squad.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ralph Hasenhuttl</span> in one of the best in the business, and I expect RBL to have another strong season, despite their Champions League entanglements. Keita is struggling with a knee injury, but even without him I think Leipzig can get a result.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Recommended Bet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back RB Leipzig Draw No Bet at </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="5/6">1.87</span></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaMoBMuCwl5URTAnm5ICBpbNxReCfDeYaLE_aHqL-zm3qeq5AJndVx-zKe8NCuH9INKJZ8nIcufG2FHfnjGl-FcNP_ipBdftXCpV8wXRD406lp8YwTnyiJrUpsQjj9CKk7YjNGd9g1ZY/s1600/Vogt-vs-Kruse-1600x799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaMoBMuCwl5URTAnm5ICBpbNxReCfDeYaLE_aHqL-zm3qeq5AJndVx-zKe8NCuH9INKJZ8nIcufG2FHfnjGl-FcNP_ipBdftXCpV8wXRD406lp8YwTnyiJrUpsQjj9CKk7YjNGd9g1ZY/s640/Vogt-vs-Kruse-1600x799.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Bundesliga Betting: Hoffe and Werder to give us a show

Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen Saturday August 19, 14:30 Hoffenheim are growing as a club, and they will have learnt so much from Tuesday...

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Ligue 1 Betting: Bielsa's new-look Lille set to entertain and win

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">St Etienne v Amiens</span> (5th v 18th)<br />Sat, 19:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St Etienne have made an excellent start to the season. Under new manager Oscar Garcia they beat Nice (who finished third last season) 1-0 on the opening day and won by the same scoreline at Caen last weekend.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garcia has introduced a high-pressing, high-energy style. <span style="font-weight: 600;">The players have adapted quickly and love it.</span> A large and supportive crowd will turn out at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for this match.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main doubt about St Etienne is whether they'll be prolific scorers. The squad lacks a top-class marksman. This state of affairs partly explains their consecutive 1-0 wins this month. Expect the goals to be spread around the squad this season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they should at least equal the -1 handicap. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Newly promoted Amiens have lost their opening two matches, conceding four goals and scoring none.</span> They've yet to replace star striker Aboubakar Kamara, sold to Fulham earlier this month. Their squad is packed with players that are more Ligue 2 than Ligue 1 quality.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, please click <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: 600; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">here</span>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">St Etienne -1 Asian Handicap @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="20/21">1.96</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Montpellier v Strasbourg</span> (11th v 13th)<br />Sat, 19:00 BST</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's very little to pick between these sides. Both look capable of avoiding relegation this season but are likely to finish no higher than mid-table.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montpellier have rejuvenated their squad over the summer but are no stronger. Their results and performances to date - an acceptable 1-0 win over Caen, a limited 1-0 defeat at Toulouse - sum up their middling ability.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promoted Strasbourg's main asset this season could be manager Thierry Laurey. <span style="font-weight: 600;">A tactically smart pragmatist, Laurey was expert in Ligue 2 at setting-up his sides to be difficult to beat.</span> He could be the difference between Strasbourg staying up and being relegated: they should do reasonably well in front of noisy crowds at Stade de la Meinau, but it's the points they ought to pick up on the road thanks to Laurey's tactical nous that may prove crucial.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Laurey in charge, they should frustrate Montpellier. The hosts deserve to be favourites but their odds-on status overrates their chances of claiming all three points.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Lay Montpellier @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="10/11">1.90</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Lille v Caen</span> (10th v 16th)<br />Sun, 14:00 BST<br />Live on BT Sport 2</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't read too much into Lille's 3-0 defeat at Strasbourg last weekend. The game was finely balanced at 0-0 when Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off. Lille had already made all three substitutions so had to put outfield players in goal. Strasbourg took advantage to run out easy winners.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lille's 3-0 home win against Nantes on the opening day of the season a fortnight ago is a better guide to how this game might pan out. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Lille's win showcased the high-energy, attack-minded football new Lille coach Marcelo Bielsa encourages his players to play.</span> Nantes were overwhelmed.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are few reasons to suspect Caen will put up better resistance than Nantes did. The Normandy outfit have lost two out of two matches and are yet to score. <span style="font-weight: 600;">The mood in the camp is low. Their summer signings are largely uninspiring. </span>Manager Patrice Garande is under immense pressure, with local predictions he may be sacked before the month's out.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lille are a good bet to equal the handicap at least.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet<br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Lille -1 Asian Handicap @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="6/5">2.20</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcbdK2jEqCrKCTNaTaVboZGCVYlPhcIVoGwjPseBCbvIE5_v6dVMDFJ9iUwI1bGQ2VRysu9VM9uBHW2OdoNOlI0hryZ0sr8pBABolDMw5stFeOUAivOiW_PgVqlwvpukt5XEhmcbcLG4/s1600/577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcbdK2jEqCrKCTNaTaVboZGCVYlPhcIVoGwjPseBCbvIE5_v6dVMDFJ9iUwI1bGQ2VRysu9VM9uBHW2OdoNOlI0hryZ0sr8pBABolDMw5stFeOUAivOiW_PgVqlwvpukt5XEhmcbcLG4/s640/577.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Ligue 1 Betting: Bielsa's new-look Lille set to entertain and win

St Etienne v Amiens  (5th v 18th) Sat, 19:00 BST St Etienne have made an excellent start to the season. Under new manager Oscar Garcia th...

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