The recent international break was characterised by pretty dull games, with a few exceptions. Thankfully, since the Premier League has returned dull games have very much been the exceptions themselves and we’re promised more drama this weekend with action spread over three days.
Beyond the top flight and the marathon that is the Championship continues as well this weekend. There are just 10 points separating five place Bristol City and 16th placed QPR so just a few good results can take a host of teams into the playoff positions. We’ve also got big games throughout the continent so let’s see if we can find some winning bets from the weekend’s football.
- West Ham v Leicester – Leicester to Win (31/20 with Bet365)
- Crystal Palace v Stoke – Crystal Palace to Win (21/20 with BetVictor)
- Swansea v Bournemouth – Bournemouth to Score Two or More Goals (7/4 with Coral)
- Liverpool v Chelsea – The Draw (13/5 with Betfair)
- Wolves v Bolton – Wolves to Win and Both Teams to Score (13/5 with Bet365)
- Nottingham Forest v Cardiff – The Draw (13/4 with Ladbrokes)
- Valencia v Barcelona – The Draw and Both Teams to Score (18/5 with BetVictor)
- Borussia Dortmund v Schalke – Schalke/Draw Double Chance (6/5 with Bet365)
Premier League
Man City continue to set the pace at the top of the table and they’ve now got an eight point buffer between themselves and Man United in second. Meanwhile, life continues to look bleak for the league’s bottom four clubs while the likes of Everton, Stoke and Southampton are in real danger of being dragged into the mess.
West Ham v Leicester – 24th November
It dawned on David Moyes just how big a job he’s got to save West Ham from the drop during the Irons’ 2-0 defeat against Watford last Sunday. West Ham were poor in defence and wasteful in front of goal while their fans made clear to everybody watching their feelings towards the club’s owners.
The atmosphere at the London Stadium on Friday night is not going to be conducive to a positive West Ham performance and Leicester are more than capable of taking advantage. The Foxes beat West Ham in Stratford last season and should repeat the trick at 31/20 with Bet365.
Leicester to Win – 31/20 with Bet365
Crystal Palace v Stoke – 25th November
Crystal Palace twice took the lead in the first half against Everton last weekend but once again a promising performance did not produce a win. There are clear signs of improvement in the Eagles since Roy Hodgson took over from Frank de Boer but they still remain rooted to the foot of the table with just five points to show for their efforts.
Like Palace, Stoke’s last game was a 2-2 draw. The difference for the Potters is that they were twice pegged back by Brighton. That leaves Mark Hughes’ team only four points clear of the bottom three and Hughes himself with growing pressure on his shoulders. Both teams need a big result but it’s the home side who are best placed to get one. If Crystal Palace get a bit of luck and take their chances they’ll be able to delight the Selhurst Park faithful at 21/20 with BetVictor.
Crystal Palace to Win – 21/20 with BetVictor
Swansea v Bournemouth – 25th November
Tony Pulis became the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season. Paul Clement must be very worried that he’ll become number six if Swansea’s form doesn’t pick up very quickly. The former Derby manager turned things around in record time when he took over at the Liberty Stadium last season but that magic touch appears to have escaped him.
Eddie Howe knows all about the pressure that Clement is currently under. He felt it after Bournemouth lost their first four games scoring one goal in the process. But, he was able to turn things around and the Cherries continued to climb away from trouble with their 4-0 win over Huddersfield last weekend. Bournemouth’s growing confidence and Swansea’s poor defence makes the 7/4 Coral on the away team scoring two or more goals look a very tempting bet.
Bournemouth to Score Two or More Goals – 7/4 with Coral
Liverpool v Chelsea – 25th November
Liverpool had a shocker in the Champions League on Tuesday. Jurgen Klopp was furious that his team threw away a three goal lead against Sevilla and will be demanding much better when they host Chelsea early on Saturday evening.
Antonio Conte had his own reasons to be upset this week as he complained about the lack of turnaround time between Chelsea’s trips to Azerbaijan on Wednesday and Anfield on Saturday. The Blues will have their reserves of stamina thoroughly tested but they’ve won four league games on the trot and should avoid defeat at least even if Liverpool’s unbeaten record at home is also likely to remain standing. Betfair go 13/5 about the draw which is a price well worth taking advantage of.
The Draw – 13/5 with Betfair
Championship
Wolves, Cardiff and Sheffield United are within two points of each other at the top of the Championship while Aston Villa and Bristol City still harbour hopes of automatic promotion. As for poor old Sunderland, it was a case of new manager same problems as Chris Coleman lost his first job in charge on Tuesday night.
Wolves v Bolton – 25th November
Molineux is a good place to be at the moment. After receiving significant money to bolster their transfer kitty, Wolves have lived up to the hype so far this season. They’re aiming for a return to the Premier League but for Bolton this campaign is all about avoiding relegation back to League 1.
After a shocking start to the season in which it took 12 games for them to record a win, Bolton are now unbeaten in seven games as the confidence begins to return to Phil Parkinson’s squad. Wolves are the overwhelming favourites for Saturday’s game but don’t be surprised if Bolton get on the scoresheet which makes a bet on the home team to win and both teams to score looks tempting at 13/5 with Bet365.
Wolves to Win and Both Teams to Score – 13/5 with Bet365
Nottingham Forest v Cardiff – 26th November
Nottingham Forest have secured 15 points from their last eight games Championship while Cardiff’s tally is just one point less. Both teams could be described as ticking along nicely without doing anything particularly spectacular ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
Incredibly, Forest have won nine and lost nine of their 18 league games but the Cardiff game could finally see their first draw. It appears a well matched game and the stalemate is a good bet at 13/4 with Ladbrokes.
The Draw – 13/4 with Ladbrokes
La Liga
Barcelona were expecting another battle right to the end of the Liga season but Real Madrid’s poor start to the season has given the Catalan club a healthy 10 point lead over their rivals at the top of the table. Real Madrid are a general 1/10 to pick up three points at home to Malaga but will that see them close the gap?
Valencia v Barcelona – 26th November
Real Madrid’s inconsistent form means they’re not even second to Barcelona, that position is held by Valencia. As we all know, Valencia are never too far away from a crisis but they’ve won each of their last eight matches and are without a defeat so far. That gives Marcelino’s team huge confidence ahead of the visit of Barcelona on Sunday.
Like Valencia, Barcelona have not yet lost and have actually won all but one of their Liga matches. Barca are the narrow favourites for Sunday’s encounter but they’ll be more than happy to leave Valencia with a point. Both teams will go for the win so they should each grab a goal but a score draw looks the most likely outcome at 18/5 with BetVictor.
The Draw and Both Teams to Score – 18/5 with BetVictor
Bundesliga
Carlo Ancelotti paid the price for Bayern Munich’s slow start to the season. The Italian was replaced by the former Bayern manager, Jupp Heynckes, and the 72-year-old has done a stellar job so far. While Borussia Dortmund falter, the challenge to Bayern is being primarily served up by Schalke and RB Leipzig.
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke – 25th November
Peter Bosz received wide praise for the football his young Ajax team played last season, so much so that he was hired by Dortmund to take over from Thomas Tuchel. Unfortunately for Bosz things have not gone to plan. Just months after being appointed, Bosz is fighting for his job after yet another loss against Tottenham in the Champions League.
Schalke have been able to capitalise on the poor form of Dortmund and will fancy their chances of inflicting yet more damage on Dortmund. Schalke are playing well and should avoid defeat at 6/5 with Bet365.
Schalke/Draw Double Chance – 6/5 with Bet365