La Liga Betting: Sparks could fly when Real Sociedad host Real Madrid

<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;">Getafe v Barcelona</span><br />Saturday, 15:15<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</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;">Crisis? What crisis? It's only a couple of weeks since reports of Barcelona's demise were circulating, but on the evidence of Tuesday night's win over Juventus, <span style="font-weight: 600;">the Catalans are once again in rude health</span>, on the pitch if not in the board room.</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;">Inspired by an electric Lionel Messi, Barça were borderline unplayable at times, puncturing the Juve backline three times to achieve some <span style="font-weight: 600;">minor revenge for last season's Champions League defeat</span>. Throw in a promising full debut for Ousmane Dembélé and you had a heartening night at the Camp Nou.</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;">Domestically, too, things are looking up: <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ernesto Valverde's men breezed past Espanyol in the derby last weekend</span> and already have a four-point advantage over Real Madrid. They will be confident of keeping up the pressure when they travel to play newly-promoted Getafe on Saturday afternoon.</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 Azulones have made a solid enough start to life back in the big time, holding Athletic Club on opening weekend and grinding out a win against Leganés last time out. <span style="font-weight: 600;">They're not afraid to do the ugly stuff</span> - no team in the division has committed more fouls than their 55 thus far - but are perhaps lacking a little class in attack, which showed in the 1-0 home loss to Sevilla.</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;">Barcelona should be full of confidence and we'll be backing them to break through before the interval, as they have in three of their four successive wins.</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;">Back Barcelona/Barcelona HT/FT 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="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;"> </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-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;">Las Palmas v Athletic Club</span><br />Sunday, 17:30<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</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;">Athletic Club have made an impressive start to life under José Ángel Ziganda, not least at the back: after a helter-skelter Europa League qualifier against Panathinaikos, <span style="font-weight: 600;">they have now kept five consecutive clean sheets in all competitions</span>. At the other end, Iker Muniaín, Iñaki Williams and Aritz Aduriz have all shown sparks of life.</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;">We like Athletic's chances against Las Palmas, who started the season with losses to Valencia and Atlético Madrid. They picked up their first win last weekend, but <span style="font-weight: 600;">that was against a poor Málaga side</span> and there's a good chance the Canary Islanders will be in a relegation battle this term.</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;">Back Athletic Club 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; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative;" title="10/11">1.93</span></span></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;"><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;">Real Sociedad v Real Madrid</span><br />Sunday, 19:45<br />Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video</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;">Real Madrid got their Champions League campaign started with a businesslike win over APOEL in the week, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos seeing them home at the Bernabéu. Yet that result won't entirely steady nerves that have just begun to jangle after <span style="font-weight: 600;">a middling start to the season</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;">Madrid have already dropped points at home to Valencia and Levante, meaning the go into Jornada 4 all the way down in seventh. Then there is the growing list of absentees: <span style="font-weight: 600;">Mateo Kovačić</span> and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Karim Benzema</span> are the latest additions to the injury list, while <span style="font-weight: 600;">Marcelo</span> and <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ronaldo</span> are both suspended this weekend. With Gareth Bale still struggling for form and no Álvaro Morata to spruce up the attack, Los Blancos look surprisingly short of firepower just a few weeks into the 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;">Zinedine Zidane will hope that<span style="font-weight: 600;"> Marco Asensio</span> is fit to return here after his depilation disaster, and can draw solace from Madrid's recent record against Real Sociedad: the side from the capital have won 16 of the last 20 league games against the Basques, including all of the last five.</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;">La Real have made a perfect start to the season, however, racking up ten goals in their three games so far. Eusebio Sacristán rotated a touch for the Europa League game against Roseborg on Thursday, but his side still had more than enough quality to claim a 4-0 win. In <span style="font-weight: 600;">Juanmi</span>,<span style="font-weight: 600;"> Willian José</span>, <span style="font-weight: 600;">Xabi Prieto</span> and new addition <span style="font-weight: 600;">Adnan Januzaj</span>, they have the players to trouble their visitors.</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 teams to score is short 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="1/2"><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;">1.51</span></span>, so instead we'll take a chance on this one being a thriller by backing both teams to score in both halves.</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;">Back both teams to score in both halves at 7/1</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-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;"><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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JEAXPxRylM/WbyxuCqWdUI/AAAAAAAADas/-wUAE8N2uF85gYeCgCEdYqcnps_drCStwCLcBGAs/s1600/Real-Sociedad-de-Futbol-v-Real-Madrid-CF-La-Liga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JEAXPxRylM/WbyxuCqWdUI/AAAAAAAADas/-wUAE8N2uF85gYeCgCEdYqcnps_drCStwCLcBGAs/s640/Real-Sociedad-de-Futbol-v-Real-Madrid-CF-La-Liga.jpg" width="640" /></a><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;"><br /></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-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;"><br /></span></span></span></div>

La Liga Betting: Sparks could fly when Real Sociedad host Real Madrid

Getafe v Barcelona Saturday, 15:15 Live on Betfair Live Video Crisis? What crisis? It's only a couple of weeks since reports of Barce...

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Ligue 1 Betting: Another PSG late show to steal the points

<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;">Troyes v Montpellier</span> (15th v 17th)<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;">The 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;">1.80</span></span> on Under 2.5 Goals is surprising given how these two teams have played so far 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;">Troyes' five matches have averaged 1.8 goals a game, with only two of their five fixtures featuring three goals or more. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Montpellier's five matches have averaged 1.6 goals a game</span>, with only one of their five fixtures featuring three goals or more.</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 are winless since the opening day of the season (W0-D1-L3) and would be happy with a draw here. That suggests they'll look to shut this game down. Manager Michel Der Zakarian is a pragmatist at the best of times and may take an even more cautious approach than usual to secure a point this 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;">There are also doubts over the finishing ability of players on both sides. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Troyes' top striker Adama Niane netted 23 times en route to promotion last season but has yet to adapt to Ligue 1 level</span> and will be a lot less prolific this season. Montpellier's squad lacks a 10-goal-a-season striker, a major flaw in their make-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-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;">Under 2.5 Goals @</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="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;"><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;">Rennes v Nice</span> (14th v 11th)<br />Sun, 16:00 BST<br />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;">This should be an absorbing and entertaining encounter between two sides that head into the game in fantastic form.</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;">Rennes clinched their first win of the season with an impressive performance at Marseille (3-1) last weekend. They comprehensively outplayed their hosts, with debutant Wahbi Khazri scoring a second-minute opener and Rennes dominating the game from that point onwards.</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;">On the back of that win the Bretons will enter this game <span style="font-weight: 600;">full of confidence</span>, and are certain to trouble the Nice back four.</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;">Yet the visitors are the more appealing selection. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Nice are <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="9/4">3.30</span><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;"> </span>underdogs, which makes little sense</span> given how they've performed over the past seven days.</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;">They were spectacular in beating local rivals and defending Ligue 1 champions Monaco 4-0 last weekend, and followed up with a 5-1 win at Belgian side Zulte Waregem in the Europa League on Thursday night.</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;">After a relentlessly <span style="font-weight: 600;">draining transfer window</span> that saw several players come and go and others (e.g. Jean-Michel Seri) involved in distracting transfer sagas, the squad is finally settling down and a revamped but highly effective starting line-up, with the potential to challenge for a second consecutive top-three finish, is beginning to emerge.</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;">Rennes will be dangerous opponents but it would be a surprise to see Nice lose given how they've played over the past week and their strong Ligue 1 pedigree over the past 12 months.</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, 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;">Nice +0&+0.5 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="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;">PSG v Lyon</span> (1st v 3rd)<br />Sun, 20:00 BST<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;">PSG are providing some sensational entertainment in Ligue 1 but the question for bettors is how to make <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 runaway title favourites</span> pay.</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;">Unai Emery's hosts are as short as <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; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="2/11">1.18</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;"> </span>to collect all three points this weekend and those odds are entirely justified given the manner in which PSG have blown away the opposition in all games 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;">PSG have won seven out of seven fixtures in all competitions, scoring 26 times and conceding just four times. All seven of their victories have come by at least a two-goal margin. <span style="font-weight: 600;">A three-goal (or bigger) margin of victory has occurred five times,</span> including twice in the past week or so (5-1 at Metz last weekend, 5-0 at Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday night).</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;">One clear trend in the opening weeks of the season is that PSG are far more prolific in front of goal in the second-halves 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;">Of the 19 Ligue 1 goals they've scored, <span style="font-weight: 600;">15 have come after the interval (79%), with just four (21%) netted in the opening 45 minutes of matches.</span> Four of their five games have had more goals in the first-half than in the second-half.</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 is partly down to the way PSG and their opponents play: while Neymar and co. dominate possession from the start of matches, the opposition focus almost exclusively on putting up resistance, and do so successfully for some time, only to eventually be ground down by PSG's relentlessly superior technical skills.</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;">Given how their games have unfolded to date, backing the 2nd half to have most goals looks the smart play.<br /><span style="font-weight: 600;"><br />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;">2nd Half in Half With Most Goals market @ </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="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;"><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="10/11"><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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qoep12j4qg4/Wbyw9pL17JI/AAAAAAAADag/ktMzLOa1LcccCEr7MYkv8waTlJLbecP2wCLcBGAs/s1600/PSG-Neymar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="852" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qoep12j4qg4/Wbyw9pL17JI/AAAAAAAADag/ktMzLOa1LcccCEr7MYkv8waTlJLbecP2wCLcBGAs/s640/PSG-Neymar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Ligue 1 Betting: Another PSG late show to steal the points

Troyes v Montpellier  (15th v 17th) Sat, 19:00 BST The price of  1.80  on Under 2.5 Goals is surprising given how these two teams have pl...

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Bundesliga Betting: Mainz to feel force of Bayern backlash

<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;">Bayern Munich v Mainz</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday September 16, 14:30<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</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;">No club in Germany sparks debate, gossip and wild overreaction like Bayern Munich. Saturday's limp 2-0 defeat at Hoffenheim has been painted as a <span style="font-weight: 600;">portent of doom,</span> and while there are certainly issues to solve at Sabener Strasse, I still believe Bayern will win the Bundesliga title yet again 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;">The defeat in Sinsheim has to be put into context. Hoffenheim haven't lost at home in the league since May 2016, and they seem to have Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern worked out better than most teams. That's largely down to the genius of coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Julian Nagelsmann,</span> who many observers feel will one day be coach at Bayern. The 30-year-old has linked himself with the job, and that's no surprise, given that he is a Bavarian and a huge fan of the club.</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 certainly true that the current Bayern coach is finding life tough at the Allianz Arena, so much so that he has bemoaned the criticism that has come his way. Ancelotti's avuncular, <span style="font-weight: 600;">hands-off approach</span> has worked well through most of his career, but Bayern's powerbrokers aren't convinced it's the right fit for Bayern. The contrast with Pep Guardiola's intense and demanding style couldn't be more stark.</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;">Ancelotti's failure to whip his troops into shape has led to a few of them going rogue. Star striker <span style="font-weight: 600;">Robert Lewandowski</span> has complained about a lack of summer investment in the squad (a bizarre claim, quite frankly), Thomas Muller feels that Ancelotti doesn't appreciate his qualities (even though he started most Bundesliga games last season), and Franck Ribery threw a hissy fit when he was substituted during the midweek win over Anderlecht in the Champions League.</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;">So, will all this moaning and groaning hamper Bayern's chances against Mainz this weekend? I would answer with a resounding no. Although Mainz have avoided defeat on their last two visits to Munich, I'm not sure about them at all this season. I feel that replacing coach Martin Schmidt with <span style="font-weight: 600;">Sandro Schwarz</span> will prove to be a mistake, and the continual sale of top players is catching up with the Zerofivers. They are very light in attack, and although they had an impressive victory against Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday Three, this is a huge leap in the quality of opposition.</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;">Bayern have won seven of their last 11 Bundesliga home games by three goals or more, and having dismissed Anderlecht by three clear goals on Tuesday, I suspect similar punishment is coming Mainz's way.</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 Bayern Munich -2.5 on the Asian Handicap 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">2.18</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;">RB Leipzig v Borussia Monchengladbach</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday September 16, 16:30</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video</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;">RB Leipzig's <span style="font-weight: 600;">Champions League bow</span> in midweek saw them draw 1-1 with French champions Monaco, and it will hearten Ralph Hasenhuttl's young upstarts that they weren't found wanting in the rarefied air of European football's top competition. The point continued a good run of form that has also seen Die Roten Bullen beat Freiburg and Hamburg.</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;">Regular readers will know what a huge fan of Leipzig and Germany striker <span style="font-weight: 600;">Timo Werner</span> I am, and it's great to see the 21-year-old flourishing on a consistent basis. He has worked hard to improve his game, and it's no surprise to see the speedster linked with clubs like Real Madrid.</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;">Werner has scored <span style="font-weight: 600;">14 goals</span> in his last 14 games for club and country, and he netted in both Bundesliga games against Borussia Monchengladbach last season. Dieter Hecking's Foals have looked a little more shaky than usual defensively - they conceded twice in a 2-2 draw at Augsburg, and were undone at home by Eintracht Frankfurt last week.</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;">At odds-against, I think backing Werner to score is a sensible play.</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 Timo Werner to score 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="21/20">2.06</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;">Borussia Dortmund v FC Koln</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Sunday September 17, 17:00</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video</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 sides are licking their wounds after 3-1 defeats in European competition to sides from north London. Borussia Dortmund were unable to contain Tottenham Hotspur and Harry Kane at Wembley, although they were unlucky to see what could've been a precious equaliser from <span style="font-weight: 600;">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</span>wrongly ruled out for offside. As for Koln, their first European game in <span style="font-weight: 600;">25 years</span>ended in defeat at Arsenal. There have been many column inches dedicated already to the invasion of the Emirates by Billy Goats fans, so like Koln coach <span style="font-weight: 600;">Peter Stoger,</span> I'll plead the fifth and keep quiet.</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;">What the defeat to Arsenal did underline was Koln's continued <span style="font-weight: 600;">defensive decline.</span>They have now leaked three goals in each of their last three matches, and they've conceded 15 times in their last eight outings. Koln's progress has been almost exclusively built in the past two seasons on a solid defence and the goals of <span style="font-weight: 600;">Anthony Modeste.</span> Will Modeste now playing in China, it appears both of those pillars have crumbled.</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;">Dortmund came up against a very good side on form at Wembley, and after comfortably seeing off Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg this season, I think they can get a similar result against a Koln side that needs to quickly rediscover the defensive basics that yielded a fifth-place finish last term. Given that Koln have drawn blanks at Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg, and BVB haven't yet conceded a Bundesliga goal, I'll back the hosts to win to nil.</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 Borussia Dortmund to win to nil 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="1/1">2.00</span></span> (Sportsbook)</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> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBp7H4SguLs/WbyvhhCtD-I/AAAAAAAADaU/tfpkz7-rObMPcwRiBw_xvLyzZ0D9kY_7ACLcBGAs/s1600/Bayern_Munich_vs_Mainz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="600" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBp7H4SguLs/WbyvhhCtD-I/AAAAAAAADaU/tfpkz7-rObMPcwRiBw_xvLyzZ0D9kY_7ACLcBGAs/s640/Bayern_Munich_vs_Mainz.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></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>

Bundesliga Betting: Mainz to feel force of Bayern backlash

Bayern Munich v Mainz Saturday September 16, 14:30 Live on Betfair Live Video No club in Germany sparks debate, gossip and wild overreact...

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Serie A Betting: Another win for Lazio and Milan to stumble against Udinese

<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;">Genoa v Lazio<br />Sunday, 19:45<br />Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video</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;">While it might be a bit soon to rubberstamp Lazio as genuine top four challengers, I'm impressed every time I see them, and they have more than enough to see off Genoa in the late Sunday game.</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 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;">Lazio are trading 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="11/10">2.08</span> for the win</span> and that seems a fair price. Genoa troubled Juventus a couple of weeks ago, as they always seem to do, but they lost in Udine last time, and I anticipate a similar kind of game to Lazio's win at Chievo a couple of weeks ago.</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;">Simone Inzaghi has done a brilliant job at the Olimpico, far outstripping the managerial achievements of his older brother, and his team's slow improvement continues. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ciro Immobile is Serie A's form striker at the moment</span>, and he could torment his old team who have lost more Serie A matches in 2017 than any other side.</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;">Lazio look solid defensively, good enough going forward, and with the Immobile X-Factor <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;">I'm happy to support them at a shade of odds against</span></span> to get the job done. They had a Europa League game on Thursday, but the way that they fought back to beat Vitesse Arnhem will have increased their confidence levels, and makes them an even more solid proposition.</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;">Back Lazio to beat Genoa @</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="11/10">2.08</span></span></span></div> <div style="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-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;">AC Milan v Udinese<br />Sunday, 14:00<br />Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video</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;">Reality bit last week for Vincenzo Montella and AC Milan, and they'll be looking for a big response to their thumping at Lazio last week as they host Udinese at San Siro.</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 was an awful display by Milan, desperate defensively and short of inspiration at the other end, and they face an Udinese team who lost their opening two games of the season, but found form last week with a 1-0 victory at home against Genoa.</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'm not writing Milan off, far from it, but given that they come into this after a Europa League game which has added to their workload, <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;">I think that they're a bit short 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="4/9">1.43</span> to win this.</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;">That clean sheet last week was Udinese's first in nine league games, and given that <span style="font-weight: 600;">they have won four of their last 10 against the Rossoneri in Serie A</span>, they'll fancy keeping another here, and <span style="font-weight: 600;">even emerging with an unlikely win</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 think that Milan will eventually get it right and finish in the top four, but they seem uncertain about their defensive system, Leo Bonucci looks a little lost, and these teething troubles may carry on for a few weeks yet. Udinese have enough going forward to trouble them, and <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;">I feel that the home team are definite lay material 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="4/9">1.45</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-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 Milan against Udinese @</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="4/9">1.45</span></span></span></div> <div style="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-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;">Torino v Sampdoria</span><br />Sunday, 14:00<br />Live on Betfair Live Video</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 was surprising to see <span style="font-weight: 600;">Torino only win 1-0 at Benevento last week</span>, and that Serie A newbie experiment is well and truly shelved for the time being, but Torino are worth a second look as they host Sampdoria.</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 thought there would be goals when Samp took on Roma last weekend, but the rain meant that the game was called off. I think, though, that there could be a similar outcome in Turin this week.</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;">Samp have scored and conceded in their last six away League games</span> and goals look set to be a theme with them this season, and while Toro have got the second best defensive record in Serie A this season so far, they are a team with goals in them, and I don't think that the defensive solidity will last for long.</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;">Sinisa Mihaijlovic has them well organised, but that was the case last season as well, and that sense of control eventually went by the wayside as <span style="font-weight: 600;">Torino became the most reliable team in terms of goals in games</span> in the division. I think that a similar thing is going to happen in this campaign, and that it could well start this weekend.</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-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;">Back Over 3.5 Goals in Torino v Sampdoria @ </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="6/4">2.50</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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_yvoi1Hq4n8/Wbyu7U72NbI/AAAAAAAADaM/GAIJwZIGM24xDVvmorKdN-Q-FHY4n_9OgCLcBGAs/s1600/59b55f742ee40f2eed000007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="912" height="362" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_yvoi1Hq4n8/Wbyu7U72NbI/AAAAAAAADaM/GAIJwZIGM24xDVvmorKdN-Q-FHY4n_9OgCLcBGAs/s640/59b55f742ee40f2eed000007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Serie A Betting: Another win for Lazio and Milan to stumble against Udinese

Genoa v Lazio Sunday, 19:45 Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video While it might be a bit soon to rubberstamp Lazio as genuine top fo...

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MLS Betting: A thriller in Vancouver and Toronto to 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="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;">Vancouver Whitecaps v Columbus Crew<br />Sunday, 00:00<br />Live on Sky Sports Football</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 Vancouver Whitecaps have been on an extraordinary charge that has taken them from outside the play-off places to the top of the Western Conference and they'll be looking to continue that run as they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.</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;">They've won three in a row, have <span style="font-weight: 600;">won seven of their last 11</span>, and have games in hand on those in second and third. The Crew have just five matches remaining, and with other teams in the Eastern Conference with games in hand, Gregg Berhalter knows that his team needs at least two wins from those remaining fixtures to make sure of a place in the post 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;">This game should be well worth watching, with both teams liking to play and both capable of hurting the other. Vancouver have scored eight in their last three games, with the Peruvian Yordy Reyna a real catalyst. He's scored in each of the last two and has the ability to get in between the lines and hurt a shaky Columbus backline.</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 Crew have a similar player in the shape of Federico Higuain, and with <span style="font-weight: 600;">Ola Kamara in blistering form</span>, there seem certain to be goals here. Both will create chances, and <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;">while I find it hard to pick a winner at the prices</span></span>, <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;">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="7/4">2.70</span></span> offers us some value.</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: <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 Vancouver Whitecaps v Columbus Crew @</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="7/4">2.70</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-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;">LA Galaxy v Toronto FC<br />Sunday, 03:30</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;">Toronto FC are the best team in MLS by quite some distance, and despite the long journey, <span style="font-weight: 600;">I'm confident that they'll go to LA and beat the Galaxy.</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;">Toronto have won their last five MLS games and done so by at least two clear goals on each occasion. They are pushing for a series of records and are in no mood to let up as they go for the Supporters Shield/MLS Cup double.</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;">Sebastian Giovinco came off with a tight hamstring last weekend, and yet Toronto still punished San Jose, and the presence of Victor Vazquez in their midfield means that they're a long way from being a one-man team.</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;">LA Galaxy might have improved in the last two weeks, winning at home against Colorado and then getting an impressive draw in Seattle, but they'd lost nine of their previous 10 games and I'm prepared to risk that those green shoots of recovery will be trampled into the turf by <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;">Toronto, who are too big 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="7/5">2.40</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-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet: <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 TFC to beat LA Galaxy @</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="6/4">2.50</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-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;">RSL v Portland Timbers<br />Sunday, 02:30<br />Live on Sky Sports Football</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;">Portland Timbers did wonderfully well to go to NYCFC and win last week, and they've <span style="font-weight: 600;">now won three of their last four</span> to continue a typical late charge. Three of their last four games are at home, and they'll be confident now of a high finish in the Western Conference.</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;">Real Salt Lake have a bit more work to do to reach the post season, and their run of two consecutive wins was brought to an end last time in Vancouver, and Portland look like they're on a roll.</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 brilliance of Diego Valeri underpins most of what they do, and if he plays well, so the whole team performs. That might not make them the most solid betting proposition week by week, but Valeri has played well pretty much every week of this season, scoring 17 times and allowing Portland fans to dream of a second MLS Cup in two years.</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;">RSL did beat the Timbers 4-1 in Portland in July</span>, but that was before Portland found this magical run of form and I think that they're <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;">simply too big to win at a pretty average Real Salt Lake team</span></span>. I can't resist backing them for another big road win.</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-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet: <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 Portland to beat RSL @ </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="3/1">3.90</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-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><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="3/1"><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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XEmCCGbEy0/WbyuYWCwLEI/AAAAAAAADaE/I9b29ZYIqkIU1qqUk4L2lD8vOWYkm5q4ACLcBGAs/s1600/vanclbkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XEmCCGbEy0/WbyuYWCwLEI/AAAAAAAADaE/I9b29ZYIqkIU1qqUk4L2lD8vOWYkm5q4ACLcBGAs/s640/vanclbkeys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

MLS Betting: A thriller in Vancouver and Toronto to win

Vancouver Whitecaps v Columbus Crew Sunday, 00:00 Live on Sky Sports Football The Vancouver Whitecaps have been on an extraordinary charg...

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Watford v Manchester City: Visitors should grind down patched-up Hornets backline

<h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Watford v Manchester City</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Saturday, 15:00</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Hornets flying despite defensive absences</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">These are early days in the Marco Silva era, but the signs so far have been hugely positive. Watford have made an unbeaten start in the Premier League, keeping three clean sheets in four games, and would go top of the table - even if just for 24 hours - with a win over Manchester City on Saturday. It would be just their second stint at the summit of the English football pyramid in 136 years.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Silva has had to work around personnel issues at the back in the last few weeks and this weekend will be no different: Younes Kaboul picked up a knock in the win against Southampton and will need replacing. With Miguel Britos still suspended and both Craig Cathcart and Sebastian Prödl injured, one of Adrian Mariappa and Molla Wagué will have to partner Christian Kabasele.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Thankfully for the Hornets, there is better news elsewhere: Kiko Femenía should be fit to play, while Roberto Pereyra could also make a return to the squad. "He is one more solution for us and an important one," Silva said on Thursday.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">City firing on all cylinders</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">An away trip in the Champions League is never ideal preparation for a Saturday game, but Manchester City are unlikely to be overly tired after their evening stroll against Feyenoord on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola's side didn't need to get out of second gear after taking an early lead, with Sergio Agüero and David Silva both taken off long before the end of the match.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">City have now racked up nine goals in their last two matches, which is testament to the attacking riches at Guardiola's disposal. But perhaps even more heartening is the fact they have managed two clean sheets in a row, using different systems - a back three against Liverpool and a line of four at De Kuip. Even the absence of Vincent Kompany has not derailed them.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">The Belgian is likely to miss out again this weekend, so the side should remain largely untouched. Guardiola's only real dilemma is whether to switch shape, with Danilo the likely beneficiary if he decides to add another defender to the mix. Bernardo Silva would be the man most likely to make way.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Form book favours the visitors</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">City have an impressive record against Watford: they've taken 14 points from the six Premier League meetings between the sides, and last lost to the Hornets way back in 1989. There's a good chance they'll triumph on Saturday, although a price of 1.36 is too skinny for our tastes.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Were Watford at full strength, it would be tempting side with them on the Asian handicap given their unbeaten start. But with the centre of defence severely weakened, it is hard not to see City having some joy eventually, even if Silva will have them drilled to keep things tight for as long as possible.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">The most tempting bet here is Draw/City in the Half Time/Full Time market. This selection would have yielded a profit in both of City's away games so far (2-0 at Brighton, 2-1 at Bournemouth).</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Goal fest not guaranteed</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">With City's firepower, it's no great surprise that the market is predicting goals here: over 2.5 is just 1.56. But Silva is a smart operator, capable of testing the big sides, as he proved with Hull last year: of the big six, only Tottenham beat the Tigers by more than two goals (on the last day of the season), with games against Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal all low-scoring. There may, therefore, be a touch of value in the unders at 2.74.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Agüero the main man for City</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">The best pick in the goalscorer market looks to be Agüero, who is more likely to stay on for 90 minutes than Gabriel Jesus, having only played an hour in midweek. The Argentine also has a superb record against Watford, with six goals in four games in all competitions - 1.74 is the price.</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Recommended Bet</span></span></h3> <h3 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Back Draw/Man City HT/FT at 4.50</span></span></h3> <div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSCk0V2M4pk/WbytgS7j7aI/AAAAAAAADZ8/IQYEB5sUDcADC3_LCF8V7DLZWZcDQYbEgCLcBGAs/s1600/485730284.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSCk0V2M4pk/WbytgS7j7aI/AAAAAAAADZ8/IQYEB5sUDcADC3_LCF8V7DLZWZcDQYbEgCLcBGAs/s640/485730284.0.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>

Watford v Manchester City: Visitors should grind down patched-up Hornets backline

Watford v Manchester City Saturday, 15:00 Hornets flying despite defensive absences These are early days in the Marco Silva era, bu...

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Tottenham v Swansea: Fair price on Fer booking

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tottenham v Swansea </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday September 16 </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on BT Sport 1</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kane making all the difference</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bet sports psychologists up and down the country have spent many an hour trying to work out what it is with Harry Kane and the month of August. Because as soon as it was over he was scoring two against Malta, Everton and Dortmund.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it's not just about Kane for Spurs but, when your star striker and talisman is back scoring goals, everything else seems to fall into place.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In typical Daniel Levy style, he left it late but the signings of Serge Aurier at right back, Davison Sanchez at centre-back and Fernando Llorente up front have given Mauricio Pochettino plenty of options regarding squad rotation and using different systems. If they can master playing at Wembley, they could be challenging for a top three spot.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swans too passive in attack</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I previewed Swansea's game at home to Newcastle last week and whereas I got my tip right when backing under 1.5 goals at 3.30, I didn't expect it to end in a defeat for the Swans.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned it last week as a reason for going so low on goals but I might as well mention the Opta stat again as it's probably the root of Swansea's problems: they have attempted just 26 shots on goal this season, the fewest from any Premier League side.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tammy Abraham is likely to lead the line again with Jordan Ayew playing just behind him as Wilfried Bony may take a while to get fully match fit.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosts a short price to win but value is in both halves market</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swansea fans look away. Opta tells us Tottenham have won 10 of their 12 meetings with Swansea (including all of their last six at home), drawing the other two. Spurs have the highest win rate against any side in the Premier League against this lot and the most goals-per-game average (2.33). So opposing Tottenham at 1.25 looks like the equivalent of challenging Christian Eriksen to play the 'crossbar challenge' with you.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the seemingly obvious route to go would be Tottenham to win to nil at 10/11 on Betfair Sportsbook. But then again, they're yet to keep a clean sheet at Wembley this season in three attempts.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're looking for a selection involving a very likely Spurs win, then Spurs to win both halves at 6/4 is a more attractive option.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back star duo to continue scoring form</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Betfair Sportsbook has endless intriguing options these days and I've found one I really like. I'd guess Spurs will score at least three goals here and we can assume Kane will get at least one. With August now behind him, looking physically very sharp and in excellent goalscoring form as six from his last four proves, you'd almost be surprised if he didn't score.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we don't have to stop there. You can get 11/4 on both Kane and Dele Alli scoring and there are good reasons to think the youngster can get on the scoresheet too.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A return of two goals from four Spurs appearances this season is perfectly respectable and he'll feel he has a bit of a point to prove after missing the midweek game through suspension. He'll also be fresher for sitting that one out and will look forward to a game like this against a suspect defence.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ref Watch</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike Dean takes charge and he's one of the refs that people have mixed feelings about. There's nothing wrong with his decision-making but you can see why he rubs some fans up the wrong way with a few theatrical hand gestures and facial expressions. The last time he was in charge of a Premier League game he was showing 10 yellow cards in Bournemouth v Manchester City and sending off Raheem Sterling for daring to celebrate with the crowd after an injury-time winner.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no particularly good reasons to think things could get messy in this one but if there was one man at a decent price you'd want to be backing to be shown a card it's...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be booked</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leroy Fer will have his work cut out on Saturday afternoon. It's not much fun trying to get the ball off the likes of Eriksen and Moussa Dembele and the Dutchman was booked in all of his last three matches. For good measure, he was also booked in this fixture last season as Tottenham ran out 5-0 winners. 7/2 is pretty generous, all things considered.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1pt Back H Kane & D Alli Score @ 11/4 with Betfair Sportsbook</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1pt Back Leroy Fer to be booked @ 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5DJGupTMQUM/Wbysxq1m4eI/AAAAAAAADZ0/NybczgQjIh83V8CV_S-iMLvJHVIGFIrfQCLcBGAs/s1600/skysports-harry-kane-tottenham-swansea_3845269.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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5DJGupTMQUM/Wbysxq1m4eI/AAAAAAAADZ0/NybczgQjIh83V8CV_S-iMLvJHVIGFIrfQCLcBGAs/s640/skysports-harry-kane-tottenham-swansea_3845269.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Tottenham v Swansea: Fair price on Fer booking

Tottenham v Swansea  Saturday September 16  Live on BT Sport 1 Kane making all the difference I bet sports psychologists up and down t...

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Mike Holden on the Football League: Arry's Blues ready to snap losing streak

<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;">Birmingham v Preston</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday, 15:00</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;">Preston <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;">did us proud in midweek</span> by toppling leaders Cardiff in comprehensive fashion. Predictably, Neil Warnock fell back on <span style="font-weight: 600;">fatigue </span>as the root cause of that defeat, batting away any suggestion that North End had delivered anything beyond what was expected of them, but the market finally appears to be giving Alex Neil's men the respect they've been due for weeks.</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;">Sadly for Neil, circumstances might now be conspiring against him. <span style="font-weight: 600;">"Utter domination" </span>was how Harry Redknapp described Birmingham's second-half performance at Leeds in midweek, an evaluation that wasn't disputed by too many around Elland Road afterwards, and the suspicion is that Preston could be meeting Blues at the worst possible time.</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 hosts have lost five on the spin but it feels like a new beginning after Redknapp's <span style="font-weight: 600;">deadline-day business</span> and their display in midweek can be put into context by the fact that Leeds have been the most dominant team in the division to date.</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;">"That was the first time I really felt I have seen a football team since I have been at Birmingham," concluded Redknapp.</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 Blues aching to crown their new dawn with that landmark first win and the visitors perhaps basking too much in the satisfaction of their last result, the home win looks like a decent play 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="13/8"><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;">2.62</span></span>. Video analysis has been a big part of North End's success this term but they don't have a wealth of worthwhile footage to work with ahead of this clash.</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="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;">1pt Birmingham 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="13/8">2.62</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="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;">Sheffield United v Norwich</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday, 15:00</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;">Sheffield United are riding the crest of a wave after romping to the League One title last season, with <span style="font-weight: 600;">Chris Wilder </span>integrating a handful of new faces to keep everyone on their toes without upsetting the last season's formula. The Blades have won five of their seven games so far and look a decent price at [2.45] to continue that solid form against over-rated Norwich.</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;">Only trips to Middlesbrough and Cardiff have been beyond United at this stage. Wins over Brentford (1-0), Barnsley (1-0), Derby (3-1), Sunderland (2-1) and Bolton (1-0) have mostly been played in the realm of fine margins but their <span style="font-weight: 600;">team spirit</span>, and strong belief in the manager and his decision-making prowess, has been enough to see them home time and time again.</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;">Compare this with the Canaries, who are trying to buy into a new boss who brings an entirely new philosophy, and it's easy to appreciate how this might be another tight game that falls in favour of the team who are more relaxed and applying themselves with greater <span style="font-weight: 600;">conviction</span>. As it stands, Norwich are fifth from bottom in terms of shot ratio under <span style="font-weight: 600;">Daniel Farke</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;">Heavy defeats at Aston Villa (2-4) and Millwall (0-4) put the Canaries on the verge of crisis. The tension was eased with a narrow win over Birmingham (1-0) last weekend but their failure to beat Burton (0-0), testing opposition goalkeeper Stephen Bywater only once across the whole 90 minutes, raises alarm bells once again. Norwich could be nervy.</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="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;">1pt Sheffield United to win at [2.45]</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="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;">Portsmouth v Fleetwood</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday, 15:00</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;">Portsmouth are struggling to live up to their pre-season billing as instant promotion contenders under <span style="font-weight: 600;">Kenny Jackett</span>. The Hampshire club were third favourites for the title at the beginning of the season but have only triumphed once in the last eight matches (all competitions), netting just three goals from open play in the last nine hours of league action.</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;">So it's a mystery why they should be evens to beat a Fleetwood side that reached the play-offs last term and posting superior <span style="font-weight: 600;">shot data </span>this time around. The<span style="font-weight: 600;"> Cod Army </span>won 11 of their 23 matches on the road last season, which included convincing wins at Sheffield United and Scunthorpe, so the trip to Fratton Park will hold no fears. <span style="font-weight: 600;">Back the away win 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; 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;">4.40</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;">Indeed, one assumes that<span style="font-weight: 600;"> Uwe Rosler</span> will be relishing this clash as an opportunity to play the role of underdog and claim one of the biggest managerial scalps in the division. The <span style="font-weight: 600;">astute German </span>is capable of devising a game plan to unhinge most opponents and Pompey lack the variety to believe they will have the upper hand from a tactical perspective in this game.</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;">A lack of energy and<span style="font-weight: 600;"> attacking thrust</span> has been a recurring problem for the hosts. They were 2-0 down after 35 minutes at Northampton in midweek and have now conceded the first goal in five of their last six matches. Fleetwood had the best first-half record in the division last term and should be fancied to manage the game properly if they get their noses in front.</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="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;">1pt Fleetwood 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="7/2">4.40</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="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;">Port Vale v Forest Green</span><br /><span style="font-weight: 600;">Saturday, 15:00</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 make of break for <span style="font-weight: 600;">Michael Brown </span>with rumours abound that Port Vale are set to call time on his nine-month tenure if he fails to win this game. The Valiants are bottom of League Two, having lost six on the spin since the opening day, but things got <span style="font-weight: 600;">a bit tasty</span> at Kenilworth Road in midweek and they could bully newly-promoted Forest Green into submission here.</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;">A lack of creativity is the main problem for the hosts but they couldn't have handpicked better opponents if they wish to end a <span style="font-weight: 600;">miserable run</span> of nine hours without a goal. The Little Club on the Hill have have shipped 19 in their seven outings and their expected goals against average (2.23) is nearly an entire goal bigger than Vale's (1.40).</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 <span style="font-weight: 600;">Chris Morgan </span>stood alongside Brown in the home dugout, everyone was braced for Vale to be one of the most bruising teams in the division this term and it's probably no small thing that six of their seven matches have been against teams with an average age above 26, whereas only Colchester (23) are younger than the side assembled by Mark Cooper (24.4).</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;">Vale have stood up to Notts County (0-1), Coventry (0-1) and Luton (0-2) in their last three outings and matched them all in terms of possession, chances and territory. It shows that the players are still fighting for their manager and their combative style should reap greater rewards against a leaky Rovers defence when it really matters most.</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="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;">1pt Port Vale 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; font-weight: 600; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="5/4">2.30</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;"><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; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 1px; position: relative; transition: color 0.2s;" title="5/4"><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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjTcG7B0QLI/WbysJ9aAiWI/AAAAAAAADZs/aI2H9NERsW0C38EwcVT26gFJlHlUssHswCLcBGAs/s1600/PA-32531608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="750" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjTcG7B0QLI/WbysJ9aAiWI/AAAAAAAADZs/aI2H9NERsW0C38EwcVT26gFJlHlUssHswCLcBGAs/s640/PA-32531608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Mike Holden on the Football League: Arry's Blues ready to snap losing streak

Birmingham v Preston Saturday, 15:00 Preston  did us proud in midweek  by toppling leaders Cardiff in comprehensive fashion. Predictably,...

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