Midweek Football Betting Tips – 15th, 16th & 17th August 2017

We’ve got a big week of European action to look forward to, as UEFA Champions League & Europa League play-off fixtures take centre stage. The likes of Liverpool, Everton and Celtic are all trying to reach the group stages of Europe’s club competitions.

Meanwhile, Barcelona and Real Madrid do battle in the Spanish Super Cup, with the first leg taking place at the Camp Nou on Sunday. The two Spanish giants then square off in the second fixture in Madrid on Wednesday evening. These matches should give us a great idea of how La Liga might pan out and where the sides are following some big departures from both clubs.

  • Hoffenheim v Liverpool – Draw (5/2 at Sky Bet)
  • Celtic v Astana – Celtic to Win -1 (23/20 at BetVictor)
  • Napoli v Nice – Napoli to Win and Both Teams to Score (21/10 at Bet365)
  • Everton v Hajduk Split – Everton to Win 1-0 (6/1 at Betfair)
  • Barcelona v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Lift the Trophy (Evens at Sky Bet)

Champions League

Finishing fourth in the Premier League is great, but it also means there’s still a tricky play-off game to navigate before reaching the Champions League proper. The Reds have been drawn against Hoffenheim, who finished fourth in the German Bundesliga last term. Meanwhile, Celtic play Astana, with the first leg at Celtic Park on Wednesday. We’ll also be checking out the tasty matchup between Napoli and Nice.

Hoffenheim v Liverpool – 15th August

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool make the journey to Germany on Tuesday, as the Reds face Hoffenheim in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Liverpool would have certainly picked easier opponents if they had the choice, especially as Julian Nagelsmann’s men had such a fine campaign last term. Nevertheless, the Premier League side are the clear favourites to get the job done in the tie.

With the second leg at Anfield, a draw will not be a bad result in Hoffenheim on Tuesday. Therefore, have a punt on this one to end all square, which is available at 5/2 with Sky Bet. The Germans were very strong at home last term and they were draw specialists too so the stalemate looks cracking value here.

Draw – 5/2 at Sky Bet

Celtic v Astana – 16th August

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic have already played two rounds in this year’s Champions League qualifiers, overcoming Linfield and Rosenborg without conceding a single goal. They now face Astana of Kazakhstan in the play-off round.

The Hoops, who won the Scottish Premiership last term without being beaten, have kicked off this season in stunning style. Celtic have played six competitive matches this term, winning five and drawing one. They have scored 16 goaals and shipped just one along the way, too.

With the first leg in Glasgow, Rodgers’ troops will be banking on taking a decent lead to Kazakhstan. Check out BetVictor’s odds of 23/20 for Celtic to win -1 on Wednesday.

Celtic to Win -1 – 23/20 at BetVictor

Napoli v Nice – 16th August

Arguably, the standout tie of the round is Napoli v Nice. Napoli had a strong end to their Serie A season last term, finishing just five points adrift of champions Juventus. Meanwhile, Nice had a season to remember in France, as they finished third in Ligue 1.

Both clubs deserve to be in this year’s Champions League, but one will be exiting the competition before it’s even really begun. With Napoli at home on Wednesday, it’s no surprise to see them favourites. Maurizio Sarri’s men are also fancied to go through outright.

We agree with the men who make the odds and we fancy the team from Naples will edge the first leg, with Bet365’s 21/10 for the hosts to win and both teams to score standing out. This game sees two attacking sides do battle and it would be a major surprise if both didn’t score.

Napoli to Win and Both Teams to Score – 21/10 at Bet365

Europa League

After beating Slovakian outfit Ruzomberok in the third qualifying round, Everton meet Croatian side Hajduk Split in the final play-off round of the Europa League. The Toffees’ last adventure in this competition was in the 2014-15 season, when Roberto Martinez took them to the last 16. Ronald Koeman’s boys are the strong favourites to win at Goodison Park on Thursday, as well as progress to the group stage overall. Indeed the Toffees are third favourites to win the Europa League outright, with just Arsenal and AC Milan ahead of them in the betting.

Everton v Hajduk Split – 17th August

Everton found life tough against little-known Ruzomberok in the previous round, but they got the job done in the end. Two 1-0 wins were solid enough on paper against a side that was fully match fit, having started their season, but the Toffees will want to take things up a notch here. On Thursday, Ronald Koeman’s boys entertain Hajduk Split at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have been tipped for a good run in Europe this season after spending big in the summer. However, they must get there first, and overcoming Hajduk Split won’t be an easy task. The Croatians have seen off Levski Sofia and Brondby to reach the play-off round and are no mugs.

Although Hajduk will be looking to make it an uncomfortable night for their hosts in Merseyside, we’re backing Koeman’s troops to seal another 1-0 win, which is priced at 6/1 with Betfair. They’ll want a bigger margin but not conceding an away goal will be key and we fancy them to get the job done.

Everton to Win 1-0 – 6/1 at Betfair

Spanish Super Cup

Barcelona and Real Madrid square off in the Spanish Super Cup over two legs. The first leg takes place at the Camp Nou on Sunday evening, with the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday. These two last went head-to-head in the Supercopa de Espana back in 2012, which Real won on away goals. We should be in for another cracking tie between these two rivals over the course of the next few days.

Real Madrid v Barcelona – 16th August

It’s always a fascinating encounter whenever these two great rivals lock horns. This two-legged Spanish Super Cup final promises to throw up even more drama and fireworks.

Before Sunday’s first leg in Catalonia, there’s virtually nothing to split these two when it comes to the outright winner. Of course, Barca are the favourites to win at the Camp Nou, whilst Real are fancied to come out on top on their own patch.

As for value before a ball has been kicked in this mouth-watering Spanish Super Cup, we feel Sky Bet’s evens for Zinedine Zidane’s men to lift the trophy are just too good to turn down. A positive result at the Camp Nou will set the Spanish champions up nicely for the second leg in Madrid. Even if they lose in Catalonia we fancy they can overturn their rivals in the capital.

Real Madrid to Lift the Trophy – Evens at Sky Bet