Ligue 1 Tips: In-form Nice among the smart picks as league action resumes

<p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-size: 2rem;">Ligue 1 Tips: In-form Nice among the smart picks as league action resumes</span></p><p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">James Eastham looks at the latest odds and the best plays ahead of the weekend fixtures in France's top flight...</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;">Oppose the overrated hosts</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 Bordeaux<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sat, 20:00 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; 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;">St Etienne</strong> 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="1/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.00</span></b> to win this weekend but there are few reasons to suspect they're so much better than opponents <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;">Bordeaux</strong> as the market suggests.</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;">Neither of these sides has impressed so far this season yet Bordeaux probably stand a better chance of avoiding defeat than the odds imply. The visitors are <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; hyphens: auto; 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> to win, with 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; hyphens: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.5</span></b>.</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;">Currently occupying the bottom two positions in the table, Bordeaux have two points to St Etienne's three, yet St Etienne's performance level has got worse, not better, during the opening weeks of the campaign.</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;">A fortnight ago St Etienne were easily beaten (3-1) at Marseille. Then last weekend they slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat Montpellier. The club's lack of activity during the summer transfer market has left fans feeling demoralised.</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;">Bordeaux have plenty of their own issues to address - a reliable starting XI has yet to take shape under <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;">former Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic,</strong> appointed just a week before the season began - but they have already shown some mettle on the road: they 2-2 away to the same Marseille side that easily saw off St Etienne.</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;">Given there's little to pick between the sides, a lay of St Etienne 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="21/20"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.04</span></b> is the choice.</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;">Nice the choice in derby clash</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 Monaco<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sun, 12:00 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> have been the better of these two sides by some distance in Ligue 1 so far this season yet are rated no better than <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;">Monaco</strong> to win when they host their local rivals at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday lunchtime.</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 game will be played behind closed doors because of the crowd trouble that marred Nice's abandoned home game against Marseille last month, but even shorn of the advantage of home support, Nice will be confident of avoiding defeat at the very least.</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;">Nice have won three and drawn one of their opening four games. They have scored 10 times and are yet to concede. The players have adapted quickly and easily to the 4-4-2 tactics introduced by new manager Christophe Galtier, whose appointment was a major coup after he led Lille to the Ligue 1 title against the odds last season.</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;">Monaco have stumbled and stuttered through the opening weeks of the campaign. Their record in the league 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;">W1-D1-L3,</strong> and the meek manner of their 2-0 home defeat to Marseille last weekend is a cause of concern for 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;">Niko Kovac.</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;">Nice 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="9/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.78</span></b> to win, with Monaco exactly the same price, 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;">3.35</span></b>. At those odds, Nice are a tempting proposition. To apply the safety net of getting your stakes back should the game end all-square, back Nice on the Draw No Bet market (or the Asian Handicap market at 0) at close to evens. For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, click here.</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/AVvXsEjjGCX8BNFPLFY4glkAqVapdRc4awzxM4x9PJOyR9zuW4JsoGZf2-gzI1Uqg9BS5ZL58EMt-Lg2BsQMWwES5M5Tmfc9Usk3Bv44A8zHPOnZXScbmltq_nelgeXu_6ODZlgi4IfBjLQ-Y2Y/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="956" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGCX8BNFPLFY4glkAqVapdRc4awzxM4x9PJOyR9zuW4JsoGZf2-gzI1Uqg9BS5ZL58EMt-Lg2BsQMWwES5M5Tmfc9Usk3Bv44A8zHPOnZXScbmltq_nelgeXu_6ODZlgi4IfBjLQ-Y2Y/w640-h360/image.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><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; 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;">Low goals the pick in Troyes</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;"><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;">Troyes vs Montpellier<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sun, 14:00 BST<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Live on Betfair Live Video</strong><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;">Under 2.5 Goals</strong> is odds-against ahead of this clash between well-matched sides yet there's little evidence that this game will feature three or more goals.</p></strong><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;">Three of <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;">Troyes'</strong> games have featured Under 2.5 Goals, with an average goals count of 2.4. The newly promoted outfit have scored two goals in a game in only one of their five fixtures so far.</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;">On transfer deadline day, Montpellier sold their best two strikers, <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;">Andy Delort</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;">Gaetan Laborde,</strong> to Nice and Rennes respectively for a total fee of £23 million.</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;">Montpellier's goals count is bound to go down following the loss of two players that had scored a combined tally of 36 goals at a rate of one goal every 177 minutes for Montpellier since the start of the 2020-21 campaign.</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;">Replacement striker <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;">Valere Germain</strong> netted on his Montpellier debut (2-0 win vs St Etienne) last weekend but his Ligue 1 stats for former clubs Monaco and Marseille show that he is less prolific. This change in attack should eventually come through in the goals figures.</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 a game that's more likely to be tight than open, Under 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="6/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.2</span></b> is the selection.</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;">Promoted hosts to come unstuck</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;"><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;">Clermont vs Brest<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sun, 14:00 BST<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />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; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;">Promoted <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;">Clermont</strong> have made an impressive start to the season but their odds-on price to collect all three points appears to overrate their chances this weekend.</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;">Manager Pascal Gastien's</strong> side began the campaign with consecutive 2-0 wins vs Bordeaux (a) and Troyes (h) but Clermont have since gone three games without a win: they drew 3-3 at Lyon, then 2-2 at home to Metz and lost 4-0 at PSG last weekend.</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;">After five matchdays visitors Brest are five points below Clermont in the standings, but man for man do not look an inferior outfit. They earned a deserved 1-1 against unbeaten Angers last weekend and, like Clermont, have already claimed a point away to Lyon (1-1).</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;">Clermont 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="10/11"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.9</span></b> to win, with Brest <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="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> 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="3/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.95</span></b>. At those odds, a lay of Clermont is the choice. By laying Clermont, you'll make a profit if Brest win or the game ends in a draw.</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;">Lorient's fine form set to continue</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;"><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 href="https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/football/market/1.187098135" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 184, 12); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #161616; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Reims vs Lorient</a><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Sun, 14:00 BST<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />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; 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;">Lorient's</strong> chances of avoiding defeat at <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;">Reims</strong> appear underrated given the start that <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 Pelissier's</strong> side have made to the new campaign.</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;">Lorient are W2-D2-L1 from their opening five games of the campaign and have already avoided defeat against sides that are the equal of Reims, if not better than them.</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;"><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><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 their last away game Lorient drew (2-2) against a Lens side that secured a top-half finish last season. Lorient have also already won at home to Monaco (1-0) and Lille (2-1) sides that finished in the top five last season but are admittedly struggling at the moment.</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;">Reims sit two places and two points below Lorient in the standings. They earned their first win of the season with a smart performance at Rennes (2-0) last weekend but are a young side that are bound to have ups and downs along the way.</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;">Reims 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="5/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.28</span></b> to win, with Lorient <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="5/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.5</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>. The big price on Lorient opens up opportunities to support the visitors.</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;">Either lay Reims, or back Lorient with a small start on the Asian Handicap.</span></p></div>

Ligue 1 Tips: In-form Nice among the smart picks as league action resumes

Ligue 1 Tips: In-form Nice among the smart picks as league action resumes James Eastham looks at the latest odds and the best plays ahead of...

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Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Reds ready to extend unbeaten streak

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Reds ready to extend unbeaten streak</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Liverpool entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday and yet another home win looks on the cards for Jürgen Klopp's charges...</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;">Reds on a run</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;">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;">Liverpool juggernaut is starting to gather pace.</strong> They squandered chances on Wednesday night against Milan in their opening Champions League fixture, missing a 13th minute penalty when already a goal to the good and the Anfield faithful were stunned into silence when two Italian goals in as many minutes, just before the break, saw Liverpool go in at half time unexpectedly trailing.</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 was <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;">business as usual</strong> in the second half though with Mo Salah equalising before Jordan Henderson fired in a quite brilliant winner in the 69th minute.</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;">Liverpool 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;">lost just one of their last 17 matches in all competitions</strong> now (3-1 away at Real Madrid in the Champions League in April) and having been unbeaten in their last ten in the Premier League last season, they've began this campaign by conceding just once in four matches.</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;">Now unbeaten in their last 14 in the Premier League, the Reds have won three of their first four games without conceding and the only points dropped were against title rivals, Chelsea (1-1 draw).</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 Reds comfortably beat last year's Championship winners Norwich City away 3-0 in the opening fixture of the season and they've sandwiched their 1-1 draw with Chelsea with straightforward victories - 2-0 at home to Burnley and 3-0 away at Leeds last Sunday.</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;">Viera's Eagles starting to soar</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;">Crystal Palace have started nicely enough under their new boss, <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;">Patrick Viera</strong>, and they appear 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;">getting stronger with every game</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 Eagles lost their opening fixture to the Champions League winners, Chelsea, 3-0, before a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Premier League newbies, Brentford, and they appeared to be in trouble away at West Ham in their third fixture. but it's been all gravy since they went in at halftime trailing 2-0 to the Hammers.</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;">A brace of second-half goals from their season-long Chelsea loanee, <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;">Conor Gallagher</strong>, saw them grab a point at the London Stadium and they thumped Spurs 3-0 last week after Japhet Tanganga was deservedly sent off in the 58th minute with the two teams still tied at 0-0.</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="Wilfried Zaha 21-22 1280.jpg" class="mt-image-center" height="720" src="https://betting.cdnppb.net/football/Wilfried%20Zaha%2021-22%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;"><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;">Wilfred Zaha</strong> put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the 78th minute before new signing, <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;">Odsonne Édouard</strong>, debuted from the bench in the 84th minute and scored twice!</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 would be easy to assume that the late goals flattered Palace last Saturday and that the score didn't reflect the balance of the game but it was <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;">almost identical to the xG of 2.88 - 0.10</strong> and the Eagles are starting to soar under their new boss.</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;">Home win likely but don't discount Palace</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;">Given the improvement of the visitors in their last two fixtures, this might not be as straightforward a task as 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>suggests for Liverpool, but they have an outstanding recent record against Palace.</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;">Since losing three consecutive home games to the Eagles between 2014-15 and 2016-17, Liverpool have won their last eight in-a-row in the Premier League by a combined score of 24-5!</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;">The Reds signed off the 2020/21 season at Anfield with 2-0 victories against Southampton and Palace and they beat Burnley by the same score in their last Premier League home game so <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;">that score looks a very logical play again 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="13/2"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7.6</span></b>.</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;">Looking at the side markets, given he's scored at least once 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;">each of his last eight Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace</strong>, <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;">Sadio Mané</strong> to find the net again at odds-against will appeal to plenty in the To Score market but no player has ever scored in nine consecutive games against a single opponent in the competition and there's better sport to be had 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;">Half Time/Full Time market</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;">The return to the defence of <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;">Virgil van Dijk</strong> should help to eliminate the risk of another crazy couple of minutes by the home side, like those witnessed on Wednesday night, but with Liverpool odds-on to be leading at the break, given how well Palace have performed in the second half in each of their last two Premier League encounters, I'm more than happy to have a couple of small speculative plays in the Half Time/Full Time market focusing on the Eagles producing another second half rally. Liverpool/Draw and Liverpool/Crystal Palace are <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;">both trading at huge odds</strong>.</p></strong></div>

Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Reds ready to extend unbeaten streak

Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Reds ready to extend unbeaten streak Liverpool entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday and yet another home win loo...

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Burnley v Arsenal: Aubameyang key in low scoring affair

<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem;">Burnley v Arsenal: Aubameyang key in low scoring affair</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Turf Moor hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal but Ben Steele thinks their captain will give them the edge over Burnley on Saturday...</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;">Arteta looking to rebuild after shaky start</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;">After a nightmare start to the 2021/22 season Arsenal picked up their first points with a win against Norwich 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;">Mikel Arteta</strong> will know that he needs his side to produce another positive performance, particularly with the North London Derby on the horizon. Arsenal's record against Burnley is exceptional, unbeaten in their last nine visits to Turf Moor (W4 D5) but, under Arteta they have struggled against <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;">Sean Dyche's</strong> men.</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;">Since the Spaniard took over at the Emirates in December 2019 he has faced Burnley three times and is yet to pick up a win, with The Clarets' exceptional organisation and robust style often proving difficult for Arsenal to break down.</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;">Last week's victory over Norwich saw The Gunners line up for the first time this season with what is expected to be their first choice defence, <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;">Kieran Tierney, Gabriel</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;">Ben White</strong> looked assured while debutant <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;">Takehiro Tomiyasu</strong> caught the eye from right back with a dynamic display, the new look back four will aim to build on that foundation against a Burnley side who often struggle for goals.</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;">Saturday's hosts are yet to win this term with a draw against Leeds in their last home game the only positive result so far. The main issue for Burnley this season seems to have been second half performances with 88% (7/8) goals conceded this season coming after the break, so a <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="4/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5.0</span></b> price on Draw/Arsenal in the Half time/Full time market could well provide some value.</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;">Auba can continue Burnley hot streak</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;"><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;">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</strong> has scored four goals in all competitions and the Arsenal captain will be delighted by the chance to face one of his favourite opponents again this weekend. In seven games against Burnley the Gabon international has scored eight times, opening the scoring in four of those games.</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;">Arteta's tenure has been built on a reliance on goals from Aubameyang. With a midfield likely to be made up of <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;">Martin Odegaard, Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka</strong>, who are not the most consistent of finishers, it would be fair to say that The Gunners' main threat 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;">Nick Pope's</strong> goal is their 32-year-old forward.</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="Nick Pope 1280.jpg" class="mt-image-center" height="720" src="https://betting.cdnppb.net/football/Nick%20Pope%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;">Burnley have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven Premier League games, scoring just three times themselves in that time, and Aubameyang has only scored more goals against Hamburg in his career (nine) so Arsenal's captain to score first @ 4/1 seems a good price.</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;">Chances at a premium at Turf Moor</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;">The three games that Burnley have played against Arsenal under Arteta have only featured three goals in total (0-0, 0-1 and 1-1) and that trend looks set to continue this weekend. Burnley's goals this season have come from <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;">James Tarkowski, Ben Mee</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;">Chris Wood</strong>, and while the New Zealand striker can usually be relied on to score around 10 goals a season his teammates certainly can not be described as prolific.</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;">Similarly, the main criticism of Arsenal over the last 18 months has been a lack of ability to create chances and against a side who will pack the midfield that problem could well rear its head again.</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;">Josh Brownhill</strong>, booked in his last two outings, 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;">Ashley Westwood</strong> will be tasked with shutting down Odegaard so it may well fall 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;">Thomas Partey</strong> to provide the creative spark for Arsenal. The midfielder made his first appearance last week, coming off the bench and playing a key pass in the build up to Arsenal's goal and will be expected to slot into the starting lineup at Turf Moor.</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 a defensive battle, I don't expect there to be too many chances for either side and Under 2.5 Goals in the game @ <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="10/11"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.9</span></b> or an Arsenal 1-0 win 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="7/1"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8.0</span></b> will be well backed.</span></p>

Burnley v Arsenal: Aubameyang key in low scoring affair

Burnley v Arsenal: Aubameyang key in low scoring affair Turf Moor hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal but ...

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Bundesliga Tips: Goats and Bulls to make a lot of noise

<p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-size: 2rem;">Bundesliga Tips: Goats and Bulls to make a lot of noise</span></p><p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">It's been an excellent start to the season for our Bundesliga tipster Kevin Hatchard, and he's back with another trio of selections.</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;">Cathedral city chaos in store</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;">Köln v RB Leipzig</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 18 September, 17:30</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</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;">In German, a false start is called a fehlstart, and that word has been appearing quite often in articles about RB Leipzig. American 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;">Jesse Marsch</strong> took over a talented squad, and is expected to challenge for the Bundesliga title. However, the Red Bulls are already nine points off the pace, and they have lost three of their first four league matches.</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 last week for Leipzig has been a big concern. They played well in patches against the record champions Bayern, but were ultimately shredded 4-1. To make matters worse, Leipzig's risky style played into the hands of Manchester City in the Champions League, resulting in a 6-3 win for the English champions. There has been lots of talk of learning, with little real evidence that the content of any lessons is actually sinking in.</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;">Leipzig have lost both away games in the Bundesliga, and they have gone down at the Etihad. Now they face a trip to an in-form Köln, whose flat cap-wearing 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;">Stefan Baumgart</strong> has already won over the Billy Goats fans with his swashbuckling style. The Rhineland club has taken seven points from four games, hasn't yet kept a clean sheet, and is averaging two goals per game. After a tough spell which included the death of his father, striker <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;">Anthony Modeste</strong> has rediscovered his scoring touch, and looks far more at peace with himself than he did a year ago. The French forward has scored in three of his four league appearances.</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 both teams playing front-foot football and conceding goals regularly, <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;">Over 3.5 Goals</strong> looks too big to me 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="6/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.54</span></b>, and it's a price I'm happy to take advantage of. It's paid out in four of Leipzig's six competitive games, and half of Köln's four league games.</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;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" border="0" class="placeholder" height="480" id="0f2dfba825a09" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/transparent.gif" style="background-image: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/i/materialiconsextended/insert_photo/v6/grey600-24dp/1x/baseline_insert_photo_grey600_24dp.png'); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; opacity: 0.6;" width="640" /></span></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;">Back-to-back wins for Berlin</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;"><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;">Hertha Berlin v Greuther Furth</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;">Friday 17 September, 19:30</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></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 took them a while to get going, but Hertha Berlin finally clicked into gear last weekend. The capital club made a slow start at Bochum, but a quick-fire brace from Suat Serdar turned the game on its head, and new signing Myziane Maolida found the net to seal a 3-1 win. It was a victory that has eased the pressure on 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;">Pal Dardai,</strong> and now the Hungarian goes in search of back-to-back victories against promoted clubs.</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;">I suggested before the start of the season that Greuther Furth weren't strong enough for this level, and so it has proved. They have collected one point from four games, they have scored just two goals and they already have a goal difference of minus nine. There are weaknesses all over the pitch, and former Hertha 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;">Sascha Burchert</strong> could have a busy evening.</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><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;">Hertha have lost just one of their last seven home games in the league, and despite yet another injury in defence (Jordan Torunarighan has been sidelined again), they should have enough quality to win this comfortably. The hosts 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="4/5"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.77</span></b> <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;">to win</strong> this, and that seems a fair price to me.</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;">Glasner can relish reunion</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;"><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;">Wolfsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt</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 19 September, 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 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;">Austrian 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;">Oliver Glasner</strong> did a terrific job during his two years at Wolfsburg, and had his relationship with Sport CEO Jörg Schmadtke been better, he may well have stayed on. He led the Wolves to a top-four finish last term, securing a golden ticket to the Champions League, and his replacement Mark van Bommel has been loath to tinker too much with what Glasner built.</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;">There's no doubt that Wolfsburg have made an impressive start to the campaign, winning all four games, and conceding just one goal in the process. However, if you scratch below the surface, it's perhaps not quite as eye-catching as you might think. Two of the wins were against newly-promoted Bochum and Greuther Furth, one was against struggling Hertha, and the only truly impressive victory was a narrow success against RB Leipzig.</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;">Glasner's new side Frankfurt haven't won any of their first four league games, but they were desperately close to edging out Stuttgart last Sunday. Colombian striker Rafael Borre hit the crossbar with virtually the last kick of the game, and with star player <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;">Filip Kostic</strong> back in the line-up after a transfer tussle saw him temporarily down tools, the Eagles suddenly look like a more dangerous side.</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;">Wolfsburg are fair favourites, but <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> just seems too short to me, so I'll <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;">lay the hosts.</strong></span></p>

Bundesliga Tips: Goats and Bulls to make a lot of noise

Bundesliga Tips: Goats and Bulls to make a lot of noise It's been an excellent start to the season for our Bundesliga tipster Kevin Hatc...

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Barcelona v Bayern Munich: Germans will win battle of the giants

<p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #161616; font-size: 2rem;">Barcelona v Bayern Munich: Germans will win battle of the giants</span></p><p><span face="Noto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Dan Fitch is expecting goals and a Bayern Munich win when they face crisis club Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Tuesday.</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;">Barca now a big underdog at home</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;">The undoubted highlight of this first round of <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;">Champions League</strong> group games, is this Group E clash between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.</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 will take some getting used to seeing Barcelona ranked as the underdogs at home, but it's a clear sign of their decline. Barca let a lot of players ago this summer, due to the club's financial crisis, with <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;">Lionel Messi</strong> and Antoine Griezmann the most notable departures. The late loan signing of the 31-year old Luuk de Jong, who only scored nine goals in 48 appearances for Sevilla last season, smacked of a desperation to get any player in to boost their forward line, having lost two superstars.</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;">Bayern also saw some big names depart this summer, but David Alaba was the only player that they would have liked to keep. In have come Dayot Upamecano 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;">Marcel Sabitzer</strong> from RB Leipzig, adding further quality to a squad that are aiming to win a 10th consecutive Bundesliga title.</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;">At the weekend Bayern won 4-1 at Leipzig to carry on their unbeaten start to the season in the Bundesliga (P4 W3 D1). Barcelona are also unbeaten (P3 W2 D1) and one of the few advantages they have going into this game is that their scheduled match over the weekend against <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;">Sevilla</strong> was postponed, due to players from both sides being unavailable following their involvement in the South American World Cup qualifiers.</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;">Expect goals at Camp Nou</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;">Bayern Munich are 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="11/10"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.08</span></b> favourites, with Barcelona 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="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> the draw 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="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>.</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;">Barcelona have conceded in all three of their games, which includes three goals from their two at home. As much as Barca are now weaker in attack without Messi and Griezmann, it's still a relatively strong area of their team, especially when compared to their defence.</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;">Bayern's four Bundesliga games have seen them score 13 goals, in addition to the three they scored against Borussia Dortmund when winning the Super Cup. Backing a Bayern win and over 2.5 goals boosts their price 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="13/8"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.63</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;">Under new manager Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern have not yet established defensive solidity. They've conceded in three of their four Bundesliga matches, which makes an away win and both teams to score another option 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="9/4"><span class="inline_odds__decimal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.3</span></b>. Robert Lewandowski has already scored eight goals in five games this season and can be backed 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;">1.78</span></b> to add to his tally.</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;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" border="0" class="placeholder" height="480" id="e0ea08037afc2" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/transparent.gif" style="background-image: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/i/materialiconsextended/insert_photo/v6/grey600-24dp/1x/baseline_insert_photo_grey600_24dp.png'); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; opacity: 0.6;" width="640" /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>

Barcelona v Bayern Munich: Germans will win battle of the giants

Barcelona v Bayern Munich: Germans will win battle of the giants Dan Fitch is expecting goals and a Bayern Munich win when they face crisis ...

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