The wait is finally over, as domestic football in England gets back underway this weekend. Sunderland v Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship kicks things off on Friday night. We’ll also be previewing Aston Villa’s home game with Hull City, as well as Sunday’s War of the Roses fixture between Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United.
The French Ligue 1 starts this weekend, too, with champions Monaco beginning their title defence on Friday night at home to Toulouse. Paris Saint-Germain play on Saturday, as they welcome newly promoted Amiens to the Parc des Princes.
We’ll also be taking a look at the FA Community Shield fixture, as Arsenal and Chelsea square off in the annual curtain-raiser at Wembley. Which of these London clubs will lift the season’s first piece of silverware?
- Sunderland v Derby County – Draw (12/5 at Bet365)
- Aston Villa v Hull City – Aston Villa to Win 2-0 (9/1 at Betfair)
- Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United – Leeds United to Win 1-0 (15/2 at Betfair)
- Arsenal v Chelsea – Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score (9/2 at Sky Bet)
- Monaco v Toulouse – Monaco to Win to Nil (13/10 at BetVictor)
- Paris Saint-Germain v Amiens – Paris Saint-Germain to Win -3 (3/1 at Betfair)
Championship
The 2017-18 Championship season gets back underway this weekend. After being relegated from the Premier League in disappointing fashion last year, Sunderland will be looking for a winning start when they host Derby County at the Stadium of Light on Friday night. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, the title favourites, entertain Hull City, who are now managed by Leonid Slutsky.
Sunderland v Derby County – 4th August
Sunderland begin a new era in the Championship with Simon Grayson in charge. This Friday evening, they kick the second tier season off with a tough looking match against Gary Rowett’s Derby County at the Stadium of Light.
Despite dropping down from the Premier League, the bookies don’t fancy the Black Cats to make an instant return to the top flight. As for Derby, they will be looking to break into the top six this term.
This is a difficult fixture for both teams on the opening night of the new season, so we think the pair will cancel each other out in Wearside. Check out Bet365’s tasty price of 12/5 for this to end all square at the Stadium of Light.
Draw – 12/5 at Bet365
Aston Villa v Hull City – 5th August
Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa get their quest to reach the Premier League up and running on Saturday, when they host Leonid Slutsky’s Hull City at Villa Park. The Villans are favourites to open their campaign with maximum points.
After a year of consolidation in the second tier of English football, Villa are expected to have a real go at promotion this season. With John Terry’s leadership and experience, we can’t see them conceding too often this term. If they can score enough goals they will definitely be heading for the Premier League and they are looking good.
As for Hull, despite losing one or two of their better players over the summer, they still have a strong squad on paper, and they will be aiming for a play-off spot at least come next May.
However, we feel the home team will start with three points on Saturday. Betfair are offering 9/1 for a 2-0 Villa triumph, a price we feel is well worth having a punt on.
Aston Villa to Win 2-0 – 9/1 at Betfair
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United – 6th August
On Sunday, Bolton Wanderers start life back in the Championship with a tricky home match against Leeds United. Much has changed at Elland Road once again, which makes Leeds as unpredictable as ever this season.
As for the Trotters, after coming up from League One last term, they will be hoping to avoid a relegation battle this time around. Phil Parkinson did a cracking job guiding Wanderers to promotion last year, and they will certainly cause teams problems back in the Championship.
Thomas Christensen is the new man in charge of the Whites, but it’s difficult to envisage what kind of season lies ahead for them. Nevertheless, we’re backing Leeds to nick the points at the Macron Stadium, so have a punt on Betfair’s 15/2 for a 1-0 away win.
Leeds United to Win 1-0 – 15/2 at Betfair
Community Shield
Both Arsenal and Chelsea will be hoping to claim the first piece of silverware on offer this Sunday. The Community Shield may not be the most prestigious of trophies, but it’s certainly one worth lifting. The Gunners have won this cup 14 times, compared to the Blues’ four titles. After winning the Premier League with ease last year, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are the bookies’ favourites to lift the Community Shield on Sunday.
Arsenal v Chelsea – 6th August
With the new Premier League season kicking off in just over a week’s time, both Arsenal and Chelsea will be gunning for Community Shield glory at Wembley this Sunday. These two are no strangers to this trophy, and we should be in for an entertaining game in the capital.
Chelsea were worthy winners of the league last year, as they won England’s top flight with a superb 93 points. Meanwhile, the Gunners prevented them from doing the double, as Arsene Wenger’s men beat the Blues 2-1 in the Emirates FA Cup final in May.
Chelsea may be the favourites this weekend, but Arsenal have been Community Shield specialists over the years. We’re predicting a tight game at Wembley, but we feel there’s excellent value in Sky Bet’s 9/2 for Arsenal to win and both teams to score.
Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score – 9/2 at Sky Bet
Ligue 1
Monaco surprised French football last term, as they claimed their first Ligue 1 title since the 1999-2000 season. In doing so, they stopped the dominance of big spending Paris Saint-Germain, who had previously won the division four years in a row. With Paris wanting their title back (and looking like spending £200m on Neymar!), and Monaco of course desperate to hang on to it, expect to see even more fireworks in France’s top league this season.
Monaco v Toulouse – 4th August
The champions begin the defence of their crown on Friday night, as Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco entertain Pascal Dupraz’s Toulouse at the Stade Louis II.
In all fairness, this fixture is a kind opening match for the Red and Whites, who should be looking to win with ease. Of course, Toulouse are capable of causing one or two problems, but nothing Monaco can’t cope with.
We fancy Jardim’s men to get up and running with victory and a clean sheet on Friday, so take a look at BetVictor’s 13/10 for Monaco to win to nil on opening night in France.
Monaco to Win to Nil – 13/10 at BetVictor
Paris Saint-Germain v Amiens – 5th August
Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain start their Ligue 1 campaign with a home match against newly promoted Amiens on Saturday. Like Monaco, PSG will be looking to get off to a flying start.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Parisians last year, as they saw Monaco beat them to their title by eight points. For one reason or another, things did not go to plan for PSG last time around. However, Paris mean business this year, bringing in Dani Alves, and being constantly linked with Barcelona’s Neymar. Those rumours are beginning to look more and more serious and we expect the Brazilian to be in PSG colours before the window closes.
Neymar aside, the Paris outfit should have no problems getting off to a winning start on Saturday. In fact, it will be a comfortable afternoon for the six-time French champions. Take a punt on PSG to win -3, which is nicely priced at 3/1 with Betfair.
Paris Saint-Germain to Win -3 – 3/1 at Betfair