Ligue 1 Tips: Nice and Marseille to serve up Sunday night thriller at Allianz Riviera

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">Ligue 1 Tips</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">James Eastham looks at the odds and the smart selections on the third matchday of the new season in France's top flight...</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgA4gZPZH7aJHbU31fbBrRb9FQni2xnyTTRdpm-GuB3Io3rUkXvS08vjjBGJWH9QEBZI6AY5CzzoF_NfBYsigEXmCdk0ZVCabgYjuKXtScw-gnRyOfjBc5bgAaY_OMCj9yZAMDklwnVQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgA4gZPZH7aJHbU31fbBrRb9FQni2xnyTTRdpm-GuB3Io3rUkXvS08vjjBGJWH9QEBZI6AY5CzzoF_NfBYsigEXmCdk0ZVCabgYjuKXtScw-gnRyOfjBc5bgAaY_OMCj9yZAMDklwnVQ/w640-h428/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">More misery for beleaguered champions</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">St Etienne vs Lille<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sat, 20:00 BST<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video</strong></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lille's</strong> Ligue 1 title defence has got off to a calamitous start, with last weekend's 4-0 home defeat to Nice a major humiliation.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lille's defending was appalling in that match and the loss was all the more difficult to bear because the Nice manager that instigated their downfall - Christophe Galtier - was the very coach that led Lille to the title last season.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Galtier's decision to quit having led Lille to their first league triumph in a decade was a major blow for the northern club and has essentially ended any hopes Lille had of successfully defending their crown.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">New Lille manager <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jocelyn Gourvennec</strong> has much less pedigree than Galtier, and the Lille players' performance last weekend suggests that either they have no faith in their new boss, or lack motivation having effectively peaked last season, or - most likely - both.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">St Etienne are set to be a mid-table team at best this season but have made a good start in 2021-22 and look capable of capitalising on Lille's major shortcomings when the two sides meet at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday afternoon.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Les Verts</em> showed good spirit to come from 1-0 down to claim a deserved 1-1 draw at home to a decent Lorient side on the opening day of the 2021-22 campaign a fortnight ago.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">They then produced an even better performance last weekend to draw 2-2 away to a Lens side that finished in the top-half of the table last season.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">St Etienne have failed to sign a single new face during this summer's transfer window so they're relying on last season's players to carry them along.</span></p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Striker Wahbi Khazri returned for pre-season in excellent physical condition and has netted twice in two games so far. He'll be confident of adding to that tally this weekend given how poor Lille were defensively last Sunday.</span></blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">At <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.2</span></b>, St Etienne are the underdogs: Lille are <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.5</span></b>, and The Draw <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="12/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.4</span></b>. These prices create a good opportunity to support St Etienne on the Draw No Bet market.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Drama and goals on the cards</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice vs Marseille<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sun, 19:45 BST<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video</strong></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice</strong> and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marseille</strong> promise to be two of Ligue 1's most entertaining sides this season and should serve up a thrilling encounter at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday night.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice manager <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christophe Galtier</strong> - who led Lille to the Ligue 1 title last season - wants his new side to play on the front foot, and that's always the style of his Marseille opposite number <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jorge Sampaoli.</strong></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These two clubs are targeting top-three finishes this season and have embarked on summer spending sprees to match those ambitions.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice have signed Dutch wingers <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Calvin Stengs</strong> and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Justin Kluivert</strong> and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">midfielders Pablo Rosario</strong> and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mario Lemina</strong>. Further new faces may arrive before the window shuts.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marseille's new-look starting line-up includes Arsenal pair <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">William Saliba</strong> and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Matteo Guendouzi,</strong> ex-Barcelona winger <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Konrad de la Fuente</strong> and one-time Leicester City wide man <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cengiz Under,</strong> who's already been on the scoresheet this season.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marseille were involved in two high-scoring encounters across the opening two matchdays: they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Montpellier on the opening weekend a fortnight ago, then drew 2-2 at home to Bordeaux last weekend.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After a goalless draw at home to Reims to start their campaign, Nice put down a marker last weekend with their stunning 4-0 win away to champions Lille. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Denmark international Kasper Dolberg</strong> scored twice, while <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amine Gouiri</strong> was also on the scoresheet and awarded a 9 on 10 in L'Equipe newspaper for the fantastic contributions generally he made in attack.</p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With attackers on both sides having started the season in fine form, the goals markets are the smart place to focus on this match.</blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">'Yes' in the Both teams to Score? market is available at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.8</span></b>. Over 2.5 Goals is available at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/10"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.1</span></b>. Both are worthy of consideration.</p></strong></div>

Ligue 1 Tips: Nice and Marseille to serve up Sunday night thriller at Allianz Riviera

Ligue 1 Tips James Eastham looks at the odds and the smart selections on the third matchday of the new season in France's top flight... ...

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La Liga Tips: Another big win for Real Madrid

<p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-size: 2rem;">La Liga Tips: Another big win for Real Madrid</span></p><p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Dan Fitch previews the weekend La Liga action and he fancies Real Madrid to enjoy a comfortable victory against Levante.</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bilbao can score against Barca</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Athletic Bilbao <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="100/30"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4.3</span></b> v Barcelona <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="20/21"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.95</span></b>; The Draw <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.8</span></b><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 21 August, 21:00</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on La Liga TV</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barcelona</strong> made a winning start to their La Liga campaign last weekend with a 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Compared to their rivals in the title race, Barca were facing tough opposition in the shape of Sociedad last weekend and now they face another team that pose a threat. Last season, Barcelona's poor <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">away form</strong> at the start of their campaign, proved very costly and it's an issue that needs to be eradicated.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Bilbao lost their last home game in La Liga 1-0 to Real Madrid, but were unbeaten in their previous nine (W6 D3). So far there has been no real transfer business done by Athletic this summer, but they will hope to improve upon last season's tenth placed finish, in <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marcelino's</strong> first full season in charge.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">They might have lost Messi, but Barcelona's defence looks like the area that could let them down this season. Barcelona won this fixture 3-2 last season and both teams to score is <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.79</span></b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another narrow win for Atletico</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Atletico Madrid <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/9"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.23</span></b> v Elche <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="17/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18.0</span></b>; The Draw <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6.4</span></b><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday 22 August, 18:30</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on La Liga TV</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The reigning La Liga champions continue the defence of their title at home to <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elche</strong>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Last weekend, Atletico kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo, in which <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Angel Correa</strong> scored both goals. Correa was paired with Yannick Carrasco in attack and with Luis Suarez still rebuilding his fitness after the Copa America, Atletico look short of genuine strikers.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The club are currently trying to sign <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dusan Vlahovic</strong> from Fiorentina, but face competition, with Manchester City and Spurs also linked with the Serbian striker. If Barcelona's defence looks to be their potential weakness this season, it's in attack where Atletico are light. The good news for Diego Simeone, is that his well-run club, have money to spend this summer.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Elche just avoided relegation in 17th place last season, but unlike many of their counterparts in Spain, they have had a relatively busy transfer window, bringing in six new players already. Last weekend they drew 0-0 with Bilbao and this game could be tighter than the odds suggest. An Atletico win and under 2.5 goals is <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.8</span></b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Madrid are generously priced</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Levante <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5.3</span></b> v Real Madrid <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/6"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.66</span></b>; The Draw <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="7/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4.4</span></b><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday 22 August, 21:00</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on La Liga TV</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Madrid</strong> impressed in their opening match last weekend, which exploded into action in the second-half.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Alaves were able to contain Real Madrid in a first-half which ended 0-0, but in the second, Real ran out as 4-1 winners away from home, with Karim Benzema grabbing a brace. Benzema was part of a three-man attack that included Eden Hazard and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gareth Bale</strong>, which served as a reminder at how deep the pool of talent runs at this club.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">That's perhaps why Madrid now seem to have just one transfer target. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kylian Mbappe</strong> only has one year left on his contract at PSG and if he doesn't come to Madrid this summer, then it seems a fair bet that they will sign him on a free transfer in a year.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Levante finished 14th last season and their new campaign began with a 1-1 draw at Cadiz. Real Madrid are available at a relatively big starting price and you can back the visitors win with over 2.5 goals at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.3</span></b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59AJSlzp02rbRc22YFeb0CXLVZDjosOZaQp_q4SlH8SMK7RngEM-pJIwLpkFHvXdBZG2TMYX7D4Y4Aw5QD0fJQ2epbzWRG6Txs9dqlYo2A-s5b1WGRSpCyaSaIaDpTSng9BBMqcIAgAs/" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="956" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59AJSlzp02rbRc22YFeb0CXLVZDjosOZaQp_q4SlH8SMK7RngEM-pJIwLpkFHvXdBZG2TMYX7D4Y4Aw5QD0fJQ2epbzWRG6Txs9dqlYo2A-s5b1WGRSpCyaSaIaDpTSng9BBMqcIAgAs/w640-h360/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><p></p></strong></div></strong></div>

La Liga Tips: Another big win for Real Madrid

La Liga Tips: Another big win for Real Madrid Dan Fitch previews the weekend La Liga action and he fancies Real Madrid to enjoy a comfortabl...

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Liverpool v Burnley: Reds to collect three points in style at Anfield

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">Liverpool v Burnley: Reds to collect three points in style at Anfield</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Fresh off their straightforward 3-0 victory away at Norwich, Liverpool entertain Burnley on Saturday and Steve Rawlings fancies another facile win with plenty of goals...</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fresh Reds ready to win again</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">As Aston Villa and Arsenal fans will testify, playing a promoted team on the opening weekend of the season can be a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tricky assignment</strong>. Villa were beaten 3-2 by Watford last week and Arsenal were gunned down 2-0 by Brentford but Liverpool suffered no such woes.</span></p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Reds comfortably beat last year's Championship winners Norwich City away 3-0 and that was the third season in-a-row that they'd began their campaign with a victory against a Premier League newbie.</span></blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The fast start by Jürgen Klopp's charges wasn't a surprise given the Reds finished last season in fine style. They were unbeaten in their last ten to claim third place when Champions League qualification had looked beyond them in March - and they had a solid pre-season with a largely well-rested squad.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">With the pre-season odds-on favourites, Manchester City, losing 1-0 to Spurs last week, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Liverpool's price to regain the Premier League title has contacted from <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6.8</span></b> to <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5.4</span></b></strong> and it's hard to see Saturday's opponents, Burnley, causing that price to drift.</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fragile Clarets set to struggle</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">In contrast to the hosts, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burnley finished their campaign poorly last season</strong>, going down 4-0 and 3-0 at home to Leeds and Liverpool before losing their final game to bottom club, Sheffield United/ They finished the season in 17th, just above the relegation places, and they haven't started this campaign well either.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Clarets took an early lead at home to potential relegation rivals, Brighton, last weekend, courtesy of a controversial second-minute header by James Tarkowski, who had appeared to have shoved Neil Maupay in the build-up.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The goal being ruled out looked odds-on but it stood and Burnley should have made the most of their break by doubling their advantage at least before the break. Johann Gudmundsson struck the post from the edge of the penalty area before Ben Mee headed on to the crossbar from a set-piece but <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they ended the half just 1-0 up and it wasn't enough</strong>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">With the Clarets failing to register a single shot on target in the second half, Brighton grew into the game and stole the points with goals in the 73rd and 78th minute and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burnley's odds for the drop</strong> have shortened from a high of <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="3/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4.0</span></b> to <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.5</span></b>.</span></p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Burnley boss, Sean Dyche, was in a jovial enough mood in Thursday's press conference, joking about new signings.</span></blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">"We were <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">close to Messi</strong>. We were disappointed we lost that one and he referenced he'd love to have come here. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ronaldo is apparently sniffing</strong> but apart from that we'll see what options come available to us. Lewandowski didn't say he was coming to us, the other two did."</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Sean Dyche close up 1280.jpg" class="mt-image-center" height="720" src="https://betting.cdnppb.net/football/Sean%20Dyche%20close%20up%201280.600x338.jpg" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 20px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1280" /></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Laughing and joking aside though, it's difficult to see Dyche being able to strengthen his squad and the Clarets appear to have <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a long hard season ahead of them</strong>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Reds win with goals offers up value</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Burnley won this fixture 1-0 last season but that was their first win at Anfield since 1974 and they <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">couldn't have played Liverpool at a better time.</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Reds were in disarray at the time, enduring a run that saw them lose eight of 12 Premier League games between the start of the year and the beginning of March but they've been a whole different kettle of fish since.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It's very difficult to see the Clarets getting anything from their trip to Merseyside this time</strong> around and big hitters will be happy enough to take the <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/9"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.22</span></b> available in the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">outright market</strong> but to eke out a bit more value, a Liverpool win and four or more goals in the game at around <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.8</span></b> looks a good way to play.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">In what was a very disappointing title defence, there were four or more goals scored at Anfield in only four of their 19 home games (21%) last season but there were over 3.5 goals scored in 37% of Burnley's away games and a bounce back at Anfield looks likely given <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">47% of games there produced at least four goals</strong> in each of the two previous seasons.</span></p>

Liverpool v Burnley: Reds to collect three points in style at Anfield

Liverpool v Burnley: Reds to collect three points in style at Anfield Fresh off their straightforward 3-0 victory away at Norwich, Liverpool...

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Bundesliga Betting: Lewandowski can light up a cracker

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">Bundesliga Betting: Lewandowski can light up a cracker</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">After starting the season with three winners from three selections, Kevin Hatchard has another set of picks for us ahead of Matchday Two.</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Billy Goats to contribute to a thriller</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bayern Munich v Köln</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday 22 August, 16:30</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on Sky Sports and Betfair Live Video</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Football lost a true icon this week, as <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gerd Müller</strong> passed away at the age of 75. The Bayern Munich legend remains the most prolific goal-scorer in Bundesliga history, and he averaged better than a goal a game at international level with West Germany. He scored winning goals in World Cup and European Championship finals, and found the net in multiple European Cup finals. He was a goalscorer in the biggest games, the smallest games and everything in-between.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's fitting that in the course of equalling Müller's long-held single-season scoring record of 40 goals last term, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert Lewandowski</strong> lifted his jersey to reveal a T-shirt with Müller's image. The Polish phenomenon went on to break that record in the final stages of the final league match of the season, and he has been fulsome in his praise of his poaching predecessor.</span></p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Like Müller, Lewandowski has consistently put up dizzying numbers, and this season appears to be no exception. He netted the equaliser in the opening-night 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and he looked incredibly sharp in Tuesday's 3-1 DFL Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund, a game that saw him net a brace.</span></blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">I suspect Lewandowski will get plenty of chances to score against a Köln team that will play exciting football this term under coach <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Steffen Baumgart.</strong> The former Paderborn boss likes to play on the front foot and take risks, and his side came back from an early blow superbly in last weekend's 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin. It's also worth noting that these two met in a pre-season friendly, and although Köln's 3-2 victory isn't hugely relevant because of the players Bayern were missing, the fact that Baumgart was willing to attack the champions is worth noting. Bayern's chances of keeping a clean sheet will also be diminished by an ankle injury for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Four of the last five Bundesliga meetings between these sides have featured at least four goals, and I think we'll see another eye-catching encounter here. I'll back Over 3.5 Goals and Lewandowski on the Sportsbook's <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bet Builder</strong> (see offer below) at evens.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsguBCxCoJ7dfFWvJUBqQE3ZaCQfIxS_9lpkLBLEEIctJI0CEqOSWPgFv212QdyfRtNoL_Y14ji5EA1tkx-T2Yt2OJCCnRpRcJMOdtCMbRG3ZTSCFhjLUSTPSL6kJEpVoFP2Z6v06Etm4/" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="956" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsguBCxCoJ7dfFWvJUBqQE3ZaCQfIxS_9lpkLBLEEIctJI0CEqOSWPgFv212QdyfRtNoL_Y14ji5EA1tkx-T2Yt2OJCCnRpRcJMOdtCMbRG3ZTSCFhjLUSTPSL6kJEpVoFP2Z6v06Etm4/w640-h360/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mainz can beat the odds again</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bochum v Mainz</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 21 August, 14:30</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on Betfair Live Video</strong></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mainz pulled off one of the most impressive results anywhere in Europe last weekend. With a clutch of players in quarantine after a COVID-19 outbreak, ZeroFivers boss Bo Svensson was forced to call up a number of players from the Under-23s, and yet the patched-up side performed heroically in a 1-0 victory against title hopefuls RB Leipzig.</p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The win over the Red Bulls encapsulated everything that has been good about Mainz since Svensson took charge - the team went into tackles like their lives depended on them, they were well organised and they carried a goal threat.</blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bochum also worked hard at the weekend, but the reigning Bundesliga 2. champions suffered a 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg in their first Bundesliga match for 11 years. Midfielder Robert Tesche was sent off in only the fourth minute for handball (Bochum's earliest ever top-flight red card), and only a stunning series of saves from long-serving keeper <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manuel Riemann</strong> kept the score down.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grim for Greuther again</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Greuther Furth v Arminia Bielefeld</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday 21 August, 14:30</strong><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on Betfair Live Video</strong></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I suggested in both my season preview and MD1 previews that Greuther Furth will struggle in the top flight this term, and they were duly thrashed 5-1 by Stuttgart last weekend. What will alarm coach Stefan Leitl the most is that his team <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gave away some horrible goals</strong> from set plays - it's one thing to be shredded by a quality side, it's entirely another to be gifting goals to the opposition.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The signing of Hamburg's Jeremy Dudziak is a small step in the right direction, but a lot more work is needed, and Furth simply don't have the funds to do it. Winning promotion to the top tier was a pleasant surprise, but this is a club that wisely isn't going to bankrupt themselves to stay in the glare of the bright lights.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arminia Bielefeld drew 0-0 with Freiburg last week, and have now lost just two of their last 11 Bundesliga matches. I had serious doubts about whether coach Frank Kramer could drag them out of trouble last term, but he managed it by grinding out results. It helps that goalkeeper <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stefan Ortega</strong> is one of the best in the league, and while questions remain over where the goals are going to come from this term, I can't understand why Arminia are outsiders here. I'll back them +0 on the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asian Handicap</strong> at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.02</span></b>.</p></strong></div></strong></div>

Bundesliga Betting: Lewandowski can light up a cracker

Bundesliga Betting: Lewandowski can light up a cracker After starting the season with three winners from three selections, Kevin Hatchard ha...

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ATP Cincinnati Quarter-Final Tips

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">ATP Cincinnati Quarter-Final Tips: In-Form Ruud can give Zverev a real test</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">The Cincinnati Masters moves to the quarter-final stage, and with the market thinking that there are four one-sided matches on the schedule, Dan Weston looks to see if there is any upset potential...</span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Four heavy favourites again for today's quarter-finals</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yesterday's four heavy pre-match favourites all made it into the quarter-finals, and they retain that status today with all four expected to progress by the market. Stefanos Tsitsipas, at a current <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.40</span></b>, is the biggest-priced favourite today, with Andrey Rublev <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.21</span></b> the shortest, and while all four are individually expected to win, it's worth noting that market prices imply that all four winning as an accumulated quartet is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">less likely to happen</strong> than it is to actually happen.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rublev should end Paire's journey in Cincinnati</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">In the opener, Rublev faces Benoit Paire, and it's not hugely surprising to see the Russian as the shortest-priced favourite against the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ultra-inconsistent Frenchman</strong>, who has had little in the way of success in the last year. In fact, he probably wouldn't have earned direct entry to this tournament if the rankings were based on a traditional 12-month rolling ranking, and Paire has been a major beneficiary of the longer ranking period brought in following the tour pausing last March.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Paire got the better of John Isner in three sets - they split a tiebreak each in the match also - to earn his third consecutive underdog victory of the week, having defeated Denis Shapovalov and Miomir Kecmanovic, also in three sets. Rublev has played four fewer sets to get to this stage, and given the data discrepancy between the duo, it would be a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">real surprise</strong> if he didn't make the semi-finals.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Medvedev a justified heavy favourite over Carreno-Busta</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Following this, another Russian - Daniil Medvedev - is a strong favourite at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.27</span></b> to get the better of Pablo Carreno-Busta, and again, there looks to be a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">marked ability differential</strong> between the two players, based on hard court data. On hard court in the last 12 months, Medvedev holds around 8% more and breaks around 6% more, so the market line looks pretty justified.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc67Vhyphenhyphen4BbPxDkWASzaQR6iNrz17662_1J3AzlrpNXWdMhmnG3fw-l7euV-Pg2q_FNT0CZSIV5YV7qE9xP8twayVc5ZbLNVWDhOt9GVsWCl3d2ZQjR2zvcmS34P46uw-HMgh3qo8odjc/" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="956" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc67Vhyphenhyphen4BbPxDkWASzaQR6iNrz17662_1J3AzlrpNXWdMhmnG3fw-l7euV-Pg2q_FNT0CZSIV5YV7qE9xP8twayVc5ZbLNVWDhOt9GVsWCl3d2ZQjR2zvcmS34P46uw-HMgh3qo8odjc/w640-h360/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Auger-Aliassime capable of testing Tsitsipas</strong></h2><div><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For those looking at more surprise results, Felix Auger-Aliassime isn't without a chance at 3.45 for his clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas, although the line is broadly similar to the starting prices when they last met on hard court in Acapulco in March. That match went to three sets, and a similar tight match looks fairly likely here with both players being strong servers. Auger-Aliassime will probably need to be <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pretty clinical</strong> on break point chances in order to cause an upset, but it's certainly possible.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></p><h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ruud's breakthrough year could continue against Zverev</strong></h2><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally, a surprise could also be on the cards with Alexander Zverev looking a touch short at <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="30/100"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.30</span></b> for his meeting with Casper Ruud, who has had a fantastic year so far. The Norwegian is at a career-best 12 in the rankings, and is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8th in the Race to Turin</strong> (the 2021 rankings) - just two places below Zverev.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While a large chunk of Ruud's ranking points have been derived from clay, where he won <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">three titles</strong> in events starting in July, and has lost just one of his last 16 - in the quarter-finals of Toronto last week against Stefanos Tsitsipas.</p><blockquote style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0.75rem 1rem; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ruud has got past Reilly Opelka and Diego Schwartzman this week and given his run of form, looks a little undervalued by the market here.</blockquote><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On hard court data this year, Ruud actually has won almost 3% more points on serve but Zverev has won 6% more on return, and of course, Zverev deserves to be favourite - <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">just not this short</strong>. General market pricing has Ruud at around <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.18</span></b> with a 3.5 game head start, and in the run-up to the match, I'm anticipating around the <b class="inline_odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.20</span></b> mark will be available on the Exchange for this game handicap line.</p></strong></div>

ATP Cincinnati Quarter-Final Tips

ATP Cincinnati Quarter-Final Tips: In-Form Ruud can give Zverev a real test The Cincinnati Masters moves to the quarter-final stage, and wit...

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