Football Betting Tips

Enda McElhinney: Though the Blues have lost just three at St Andrew’s all season (W9, D8), a run of six losses in the last eight suggests Chris Davies’ side are running out of steam.

Aaron Rogan: NEC Nijmegen have the chance to leapfrog second-placed Feyenoord on Sunday, and the hosts head into this clash after winning three of their last four Eredivisie matches. The visitors are winless against the Eredivisie’s top six this season, including defeats at PSV, Twente, and Ajax. Robin van Persie’s side are under huge pressure after winning only one of their last five league games, and NEC Nijmegen are well-placed to capitalise.

Joe Casey: Newcastle may have suffered a brutal defeat to rivals Sunderland last time out but they should be fresh after three weeks off. The Magpies have won the last two meetings between this pair by an aggregate score of 7-0 and they are facing an Eagles side who have won just three times at Selhurst Park in the league all season.

James Mason: Spurs have failed to win their last six away games in the Premier League, collecting just three points during this period. The Black Cats completed the league double over fierce rivals Newcastle before the international break, making it two wins from their last three top-flight assignments, and just three home defeats this season is evidence of how strong Regis Le Bris’s men have been on Wearside.

Alex Jack: Both teams come into this game in good form but Luton’s is slightly better, with just one defeat in their last 11 matches in all competitions. Knowing they can overwhelm County if they get it right on the day, Luton are good value to triumph in the battle of the Hatters at Wembley.

Jamie Griffith: Both Chelsea and Manchester City made the FA Cup semi-finals in emphatic fashion last weekend. However, there was a lot more to like about City’s 4-0 demolition of Liverpool. The Blues were thrashed 3-0 by Everton in their last league outing and are still a fair way off the level of City.

This could be a good time to be facing Crystal Palace, who will have more than one eye on the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final with Fiorentina, and Newcastle, whose need for the points is greater, have a strong recent record against the Eagles, losing only one of the last 10 head-to-heads.

Ollie Watkins has a point to prove after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad, and after scoring against West Ham in Aston Villa’s last Premier League fixture, he added a brace in their Europa League win at Bologna. Watkins was also on the scoresheet in Villa’s 3-1 home success over Nottingham Forest in January.

Already safe Sunderland have conceded in six of their last seven, and they should play out an entertaining clash with Tottenham. Roberto Di Zerbi started his Brighton reign with a 3-3 draw at Liverpool, and defensive issues plagued his 18 months with Marseille. Over 2.5 has landed in 67% of Spurs away trips this term, and the change in the dugout does little to make them more conservative.

Pep Guardiola’s side are getting to full health at the right time and their only two defeats in their last 16 matches came home and away to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Recent wins over Arsenal and Liverpool read well and Chelsea are failing to fire, having lost four of their last five matches.

Already safe Sunderland have conceded in six of their last seven, and they should play out an entertaining clash with Tottenham. Roberto Di Zerbi started his Brighton reign with a 3-3 draw at Liverpool, and defensive issues plagued his 18 months with Marseille. Over 2.5 has landed in 67% of Spurs away trips this term, and the change in the dugout does little to make them more conservative.

These two sides are narrowly outside the bottom three heading into this weekend, but that shouldn’t lead to a quiet clash. Cologne have seen both teams score in seven of their last eight, while they’ve drawn 2-2 and 3-3 in their last two league games. Werder have shipped 24 goals in 14 away trips, but they’ve won their last two on the road.

Cadiz have lost four straight games, with over 2.5 landing in each. The hosts have shipped three goals in three of those losses, while they host an Andorra side that is fresh from a 6-2 drubbing over leaders Racing Santander. The visitors have scored 13 goals in their last three matches, so back a high-scoring encounter.

Luton are unbeaten in their last 17 meetings with Stockport with 10 wins. The Hatters have won four of their last five matches with both teams scoring in four of them. Both teams have scored in four of Stockport’s last six too and they will find it tough to overcome an in-form opponent at Wembley.

Hamburg have lost all of their visits to the top eight this season, scoring in all of those games bar their defeat at Bayern Munich. Stuttgart have won 10 of their 14 home matches, with their only defeats coming against the top two. Hamburg head into this clash in scoring form, but they’ve won once in six, so back a home win and both teams to score.

Benfica will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Porto and they can make home advantage tell against Nacional. That said, both teams have scored in five of Benfica’s last six matches, and a clean sheet may evade them as Nacional pack a potent punch in the final third.

Inter should have enough to take three points at Como but shutting out their hosts could prove difficult. The Nerazzurri have managed only two clean sheets in their last five away games and Como, who put five past lowly Pisa in their last home outing, can grab a consolation.

Lorient are a huge price to win on Sunday, but they beat title-chasing Lens last month should not be dismissed easily. The visitors were 1-0 winners in the reverse fixture and with Lyon failing to find the net in three of their last four matches, a repeat scoreline is not out of the question.

Como have enjoyed an excellent season but they have tended to struggle against the teams above them, managing two losses and two draws in their four league games against Inter, AC Milan and Napoli. They were routed 4-0 in the reverse fixture and lack the quality of top-of-the-table Inter.

Despite enjoying a 13-game winning streak earlier in the season, Lyon find themselves on a run of nine matches without a victory and their luckless run may continue on Sunday. Visiting Lorient have lost just two of their last 17 matches and only two of their last ten on the road, so they should be backed to pick up at least a point.

Athletic Bilbao have won three of their last four home La Liga matches while Villarreal have lost five of their last eight away games. The Basque club have won three and drawn two of their last five meetings with the Yellow Submarines at San Mames.

The top two in Spain’s second tier meet on Sunday night, with leaders Racing in a bad spell of form. The hosts were beaten 6-2 by FC Andorra last time out, falling to their third defeat in four. Racing are without a clean sheet in seven, while Almeria have won three of their last four, despite failing to keep a clean sheet in that spell.

Palmeiras top the Brazil Serie A with eight wins from their first ten games. They have won their last five league games and face a Palmeiras side that are winless in seven Serie A games, losing their last two.

Palmeiras top the Brazil Serie A with eight wins from their first ten games. They have won their last five league games and face a Palmeiras side that are winless in seven Serie A games, losing their last two.

Cruzeiro are unbeaten in their last eight home games and should have the beating of Bragantino, who have lost their last two trips to Cruzeiro and have lost four of their last six fixtures.

Racing have lost just one of their last 11 games and are unbeaten in their last four at home. They beat River Plate 3-2 here in November and the visitors have only won two of their last seven on the road.

Universidad De Concepcion have won four of their last six home matches and should give their faltering season a boost against Cobresal, who are winless in nine games and have lost three on the spin away from home.

Ipswich are vying for automatic promotion from the Championship and look good value for another three points against Portsmouth, who have taken only one point from their last five home games. The Tractor Boys are on a nine-game unbeaten run and have won three of their last four away days.

A first-half red card paved the way for a smash-and-grab victory for Atletico Madrid last week, but they have lost four of their last five games and their luck may run out on Tuesday. Barcelona arguably deserved to win the first leg and have five wins from their last six games.

One point from the last 21 available have sent Wimbledon plummeting towards the relegation battle and their misery looks set to compound against promotion-chasing Stockport on Wednesday, who have won three and drawn two of their last five.

Real Betis and Braga proved a match for one another as they played out a 1-1 draw last week, and a similar outcome can be expected back in Spain. Betis have only won one of their last ten games and Braga have avoided defeat in 12 of their last 15 fixtures.

Le Mans are vying for Ligue 2 promotion and head into Friday’s tie unbeaten in seven. They haven’t lost at home since September and face a Clermont outfit that have lost five of their last seven on the road.

Lens’ Ligue 1 title charge has taken a hit after two defeats from their last three games, but they should get back on track against a Toulouse side that have lost four of their last five away games. Les Sang et Or have won all but two of their home games this season and should clinch the points on Friday.

Hoffenheim have only taken two points from the last 12 available and could be the latest to fall victim to Borussia Dortmund. Die Borussen have won four of their last five games and have only dropped two points from their last five Bundesliga trips.

Lille beat title-challengers Lens 3-0 at the weekend to make it three wins from their last four games and, with Champions League qualification at stake, they look a good bet to beat a Nice side that have lost four of their last five league fixtures.

Cremonese are sinking towards the Serie A relegation zone after losing nine of their last 11, and Torino could be the latest side to inflict defeat on La Cremo. The visitors have taken maximum points from three of their last four games and beat Pisa in their last away fixture.

Everton are unbeaten in the last three Merseyside derbies in front of their own fans and they can extend that streak in the first all-Liverpool clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. They have only lost one of their last five and favourites Liverpool face a tough midweek clash with PSG.

Hamburg have seen both teams score in their last four games, while BTTS has landed in seven of their last eight. Stuttgart have conceded twice in three of their last four, but they’re impressive going forward and they can trouble a vulnerable Hamburg defence.

Celta Vigo were thrashed 3-0 at Freiburg on Thursday and they will have to work hard to bounce back from that heavy loss. Basement boys Real Oviedo are desperate for points and that should lead to an open game, with both teams to score set to land for the sixth time in their last eight away games.

Mirandes are rallying against the drop, with a four-game unbeaten run. However, that good form hasn’t brought a defensive improvement, with the hosts shipping a goal in 17 consecutive matches. Castellon beat Granada 3-2 last time out to boost their playoff ambitions, but Mirandes have seen BTTS land in all five of their home meetings with the top six this term.

Benfica will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Porto and they can make home advantage tell against Nacional. That said, both teams have scored in five of Benfica’s last six matches, and a clean sheet may evade them as Nacional pack a potent punch in the final third.

The top two in Spain’s second tier meet on Sunday night, with leaders Racing in a bad spell of form. The hosts were beaten 6-2 by FC Andorra last time out, falling to their third defeat in four. Racing are without a clean sheet in seven, while Almeria have won three of their last four, despite failing to keep a clean sheet in that spell.

Bologna are eighth, 18 points above Lecce, and have won five of their last seven league games. Lecce are struggling, losing five of their last six and eight of their last ten away matches. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in 17 of their last 20 games.

Mirandes are rallying against the drop, with a four-game unbeaten run. However, that good form hasn’t brought a defensive improvement, with the hosts shipping a goal in 17 consecutive matches. Castellon beat Granada 3-2 last time out to boost their playoff ambitions, but Mirandes have seen BTTS land in all five of their home meetings with the top six this term.

Benfica will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Porto and they can make home advantage tell against Nacional. That said, both teams have scored in five of Benfica’s last six matches, and a clean sheet may evade them as Nacional pack a potent punch in the final third.

Mainz are unbeaten in seven home games and have lost just once in their last ten at home. Freiburg have lost four of their last six away matches and failed to score in four of those. Mainz have also scored in 13 of their last 15 games, underlining their stronger recent form.

Como have enjoyed an excellent season but they have tended to struggle against the teams above them, managing two losses and two draws in their four league games against Inter, AC Milan and Napoli. While Inter should have enough to take three points, shutting out their hosts could prove difficult. The Nerazzurri have managed only two clean sheets in their last five away games and Como, who put five past lowly Pisa in their last home outing, can grab a consolation.

Despite enjoying a 13-game winning streak earlier in the season, Lyon find themselves on a run of nine matches without a victory and their luckless run may continue on Sunday. Visiting Lorient have lost just two of their last 17 matches and only two of their last ten on the road, so they should be backed to pick up at least a point.