WEEKEND BETTING TIPS

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Over 3.5 goals @ 2.03

What happened the last time Manchester City lost a Premier League game? They were 5-0 up after just 18 minutes in their next match and ended up transferring a lot of aggression to Watford. Of course, Crystal Palace are a different kettle of fish, but you can bet Palace are going to experience a Manchester City side hurting, and rearing to go – as hard as possible – when both sides play on Saturday.

I think the Citizens will push as hard as ever, and so a 2.03 for an over 3.5 goals looks like a decent punt. Already this season, only one of City’s eight Premier League clashes has produced less than four goals. As much as they are ever-reliable in attack, Manchester City still look vulnerable in defence, keeping just two clean sheets so far.

This match-up tends to deliver a few goals too in recent past, with four of their last six meetings seeing at least four goals. Last season, the Eagles and the Citizens went for 3-2 and 3-1 scorelines.

Here’s the thing: No matter what happens at Selhurst Park, you can back City to go for as many goals as possible, as they don’t want to fall any more than eight points behind Liverpool. And we should be taking advantage of that.

Espanyol vs Villarreal: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.90

Considering what has happened in Villarreal games this season, I consider this a huge shock, and even possibly, a steal.

Not only are the Yellow Submarines the second-highest scorers in the league [19 goals], they are also the side with the third leakiest defence [13 goals]. 

Of Villarreal’s eight games in La Liga this season, only one – their 2-0 home win over Real Valladolid – didn’t have at least three goals.

But the bookies are never so generous, and you wonder why they’ve offered so much? It’s Espanyol. They don’t score much [4 in 8 matches] – they have the second-worst offence in La Liga – and only three of their eight games this season have seen three goals. But they do ship in a ‘good’ amount [14 goals in 8 games]; the second most porous defence. 

There’s been precisely four goals in each of their last four meetings. If they keep that up, we’ll be bagging a cool 1.90 for what looks a shrewd call.

Real Mallorca vs Real Madrid: Real Madrid win + over 1.5 @ 1.77

Combo calls haven’t been very kind to me this season. They are often very risky too, generally. Just before the international break, I made a win + over 1.5 call for Schalke in their Bundesliga game against Cologne. Schalke were 1-0 up late into the game after scoring a 71st-minute opener. All we needed was one more goal. It came in the 91st minute, but it wasn’t a Schalke goal, it was Cologne who got the equaliser. 1-0 was good for a Schalke 04 win, and 1-1 was good for an over 1.5, but mash it all up and that combo bet comes to naught.

But punters never give up because of a single setback…or even a million setbacks, so this time, it’s on Real Madrid to do what Schalke 04 couldn’t manage.

Los Blancos have scored four times in their last three meetings with Los Bermellones, winning five of the last six clashes,  two runs Zidane’s men will be hoping to keep up.

Monaco vs Rennes: Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 1.72

Monaco host Rennes on Sunday with the unenviable record of having the worst defence in Ligue 1. They also go into that game having kept just a single clean sheet in their nine league games so far this season. Despite their defensive worries, one thing they do very well is compensate at the other end of the pitch. Their 15 goals this season places them only behind PSG and Angers when it comes to goals scored in Ligue 1 this season.

Though Monaco have improved their season with two wins in their last three games, they still look a side prone to conceding goals – no matter how much they score at the other end.

A Monaco win @1.83 looks a good call too, but because of their inconsistent form, backing the goals looks even better.

If you are a fan of head-to-head, then you have even more reason to go all in for the both teams to score. All of the last six meeting between Monaco and Rennes has had both teams recording at least a goal. The signs are good.

Celtic vs Ross County: Celtic to win both halves @ 2.10

Celtic have a battle on their hands this season as they go head to head for the title against a Rangers side that have started very well, and showed their intent to challenge for the title. But they have nothing to worry about or fear when it comes to their home form, and they remain the side with the best home form in the league, winning all their home games so far. 

After their loss to Livingston before the international window, Neil Lennon’s team will be fired up to get back on track. And there’s hardly a better side to bounce back against than Ross County. Celtic have beaten their guests in five of their last six meetings, while keeping a clean sheet in six of their last seven home matches against Ross County in all competitions.

More importantly, Celtic have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 6 home matches against Ross County in all competitions.

If Celtic stay true to their home form this season, where they’ve won at half time and full time in two of their three wins, then 2.10 may end up a steal.

BONUS: Robert Lewandowski to score at anytime @1.35

Wouldn’t you bet on a guy who’s scored in every single game for Bayern Munich this season? 

11 goals in 7 Bundesliga games, and 3 goals in 2 Champions League games, it’s so hard to bet against Lewandowski keeping his hot streak vs Augsburg.