We’ve got an action packed weekend of football, with several mouth-watering fixtures to look forward. The Premier League makes a return, whilst the EFL continues.
There’s also the Italian & Spanish Super Cup matches, as Juventus play Lazio in Italy, while Barcelona and Real Madrid do battle in Spain. Football is well and truly back!
- Arsenal v Leicester City – Arsenal to Win 2-0 (8/1 at Bet365)
- Watford v Liverpool – Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 at Betfred)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win to Nil (29/20 at Coral)
- Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur – Draw (23/10 at Ladbrokes)
- Manchester United v West Ham United – Manchester United to Win -1 (10/11 at Betfair)
- Middlesbrough v Sheffield United – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at BetVictor)
- Juventus v Lazio – Juventus to Win 3-0 (14/1 at Sky Bet)
- Barcelona v Real Madrid – 2-2 Draw (11/1 at Bet365)
Premier League
The Premier League season gets underway this Friday evening, as Arsenal entertain Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium. Also at the weekend, Brighton & Hove Albion play their first match in the PL, as they go up against two-time champions Manchester City at the Amex Stadium. On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur travel to newly promoted Newcastle United, while Manchester United host West Ham United.
Arsenal v Leicester City – 11th August
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will be looking to kick their season off with three points when they welcome Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City to the Emirates Stadium this Friday night.
The Gunners are set for a big season, as they look to regain a UEFA Champions League spot. As for the 2015-16 champions, they will have their eyes on a top half finish and perhaps a nice cup run too.
Being on their own patch in their opener, this is a game Arsenal will be looking to win. We can’t see Wenger’s boys having any problems on Friday, so take a look at Bet365’s 8/1 for the home team to win 2-0.
Arsenal to Win 2-0 – 8/1 at Bet365
Watford v Liverpool – 12th August
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool begin their season on the road, as the Reds travel to Vicarage Road to take on Marco Silva’s Watford. As expected, the Merseyside outfit head to Herefordshire as the favourites.
There’s been a lot of change at Watford over the summer, with the club bringing in former Hull City boss Silva. The Reds, meanwhile, have made some shrewd signings, as they look to keep up with the Premier League’s big boys.
This is a tough opener for Liverpool, but they will expect to nick all three points at Vicarage Road. Have a punt on the away side to win and both teams to score on Saturday.
Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 at Betfred
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City – 12th August
Brighton & Hove Albion play their first match in the Premier League this weekend, as they host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening.
Chris Hughton’s Brighton did an outstanding job of finally getting out of the Sky Bet Championship last year, and they will be looking to hold their own in the Premier League. Unfortunately for the Seagulls, they are coming up again two-time champions and favourites, Man City, who have spent well over £200m already this transfer window.
In truth, this is a match the Citizens should be looking to win with ease, especially if they want to be top dogs in England this season. It could be a comfortable evening for Pep’s boys, so we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 29/20 for City to win to nil at the Amex.
Manchester City to Win to Nil – 29/20 at Coral
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur – 13th August
On Sunday, Newcastle United start life back in the Premier League with a difficult home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. After finishing second last term, what lies ahead for Spurs this time around?
Tottenham will be gunning for three points, but they have bad memories of St James’ Park, losing 5-1 in their last visit back in May 2016. The Magpies, meanwhile, are tipped to have a solid season in the top flight, and they could cause Spurs problems in Tyneside.
This game has got draw written all over it. In the grand scheme of things, a point apiece would not be a bad result for either side. Ladbrokes have the stalemate priced at 23/10.
Draw – 23/10 at Ladbrokes
Manchester United v West Ham United – 13th August
Also on Sunday, Manchester United begin their campaign with a match against West Ham United at Old Trafford. Too many draws were Man Utd’s Achilles heel last term, can they address that this season?
The Red Devils have spent big and wisely over the summer, bolstering their squad ready for a real title challenge. Jose Mourinho’s troops also have Champions League football to look forward to. West Ham have also been busy, bringing in former Man Utd favourite Javier Hernandez, among others.
The hosts should be too strong for the Hammers on Sunday, and we like the look of Betfair’s 10/11 for Mourinho’s men to win -1 at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku should score for fun at his new club given how prolific he has been with less talented teammates and we see an easy home win here.
Manchester United to Win -1 – 10/11 at Betfair
Championship
The Sky Bet Championship continues this weekend, with a number of big matches taking place. Cardiff City welcome Aston Villa to Cardiff City Stadium, whilst Derby County entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at Pride Park. The televised match comes from the Riverside Stadium on Saturday evening, where Middlesbrough play Sheffield United.
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United – 12th August
Middlesbrough began life back in the Championship with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Sheffield United beat Brentford 1-0. On Saturday, the two square off at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro, who appointed Garry Monk in the summer, are one of the favourites for the title. As for Chris Wilder’s Sheff Utd, they have been tipped by some to be dark horses for promotion and so this is clearly a big game for both.
They may have been two leagues apart last season, but we can’t see there being much in this one at the Riverside. A standout bet is the draw and both teams to score, which you can get at the tempting price of 4/1 at BetVictor.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at BetVictor
Italian Super Cup
The 2017 Supercoppa Italiana takes place on Sunday, as Serie A winners Juventus play Coppa Italia runners-up Lazio in Rome. Juve are the most successful side in the Italian Super Cup, lifting the trophy seven times. Meanwhile, Lazio have won the Supercoppa Italiana title three times, finishing runners-up on three occasions, too.
Juventus v Lazio – 13th August
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus were once again the top dogs in Italy last year, winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia. They also reached the Champions League final. This Sunday, the Old Lady face off against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Rome.
Juve are once again the clear favourites to lift the title and they are also fancied to win the Supercoppa Italiana for the eighth time on Sunday. Lazio are not tipped to be in the title race this term, but as they proved last year, the side from Rome are certainly capable of causing teams problems along the way.
Allegri’s troops will be hoping to kick off their season with a trophy on Sunday, and we feel they will be too strong for Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. Juventus are available at 14/1 with Sky Bet to win 3-0, a price we believe is worth having a few quid on.
Juventus to Win 3-0 – 14/1 at Sky Bet
Spanish Super Cup
The Spanish Super Cup first leg takes place on Sunday, as Barcelona and Real Madrid play at the Camp Nou. It’s the annual match between the Spanish league champions and the Copa del Rey winners, which both teams will be going all out to win. With the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next week, Zinedine Zidane’s Los Blancos will be looking to stay in the game in Catalonia at the weekend.
Barcelona v Real Madrid – 13th August
The top two in Spain battle it out for the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, as La Liga champions Real Madrid face off against Copa del Rey winners Barcelona in the first leg at the Camp Nou.
We’re guaranteed fireworks whenever these two rivals meet, especially when there’s silverware up for grabs. It may not be the most prestigious of trophies to win, but both teams will be hell-bent on adding another Super Cup to their trophy cabinet and, of course, defeating their rivals.
With a second leg to come in Madrid, neither team will want to give too much away in Catalonia. We’re predicting goals but we can also see the pair cancelling each other out. Back the draw 2-2 stalemate (11/1 at Bet365) in this one
2-2 Draw – 11/1 at Bet365