Before becoming a Sports Journalist for Free Super Tips, Aaron spent three years studying Sports Journalism at the University of Sunderland while taking in the Black Cats' 'glory years' under Martin O'Neill. Now back in Northern Ireland he turns niche stats into predictions for FST, while he's one of the few people on this island who is equally comfortable at Windsor Park and the Aviva.
In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with seven experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
This is the final week of European matches this side of the World Cup, with the UEFA competitions going into hibernation until February.
To mark the final round of European matches in 2022, Alex Wrigley and Aaron Rogan are joined by six other football writers to produce a 206/1 accumulator spanning the midweek action.
206/1 In The Mixer Mega
Double up on Brugge
Rob Eddy
Sports journalist at ICS
I am fully prepared to forgive and forget the 4-0 home defeat to Porto last week as Club Brugge look plenty big enough at 4/1 to get the better of Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena, while the safety net of the double chance is playable at 13/10. The Belgian side are still in pole position in the group and securing top spot remains a motivation for a side that won 4-0 in Porto, held Atletico in Madrid and beat Bayer at home.
Leverkusen have gone five games without a win since Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge and perhaps have other priorities with the club down in 16th in the Bundesliga, while the pressure is off Brugge having achieved a surprise progression already, and they warmed up with a confidence-boosting 4-2 win at the weekend.
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist at FST
Bayer Leverkusen are bottom of Group B and jumping into a Europa League spot isn’t ideal for them as they slide down the Bundesliga standings. The hosts have won once in nine, including five defeats in that run. They lost again at the weekend and they’ve failed to win four of their five group games in Europe.
Meanwhile, Brugge are pushing for top spot after their impressive campaign so far. They’ve lost only once, while they’ve kept a clean sheet in both away trips so far. With Leverkusen struggling, back the visitors to avoid defeat.
Selection: Club Brugge double chance
Champions League best bet picks
Alex Wrigley
Editor and journalist at FST
Liverpool are odds on for the three points against Napoli but the Italian side are in unstoppable form right now, while the Reds fell to their second defeat in three on Saturday as Leeds beat them at Anfield.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have won all five of their Champions League games so far and thrashed Liverpool 4-1 in Naples. They put in another remarkable performance as they hammered Sassuolo on Saturday to extend their unbeaten start to the season, with each of their last 13 games ending in victory and them already sitting five points clear at the top of Serie A. A point would be enough to secure top spot in Group A and they could possibly take three on Tuesday.
Selection: Napoli double chance
Joe Champion
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Porto have won three Champions League matches in a row to seal qualification from Group B and the in-form Dragons have a chance to finish top, so they are unlikely to let up when they host Atletico Madrid.
Atleti left it late to win 2-1 when these teams met in Madrid but Diego Simeone’s men have failed to record a victory in four subsequent European outings and a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen – in which Yannick Carrasco missed a last-minute penalty – saw their qualification hopes come to an end.
Porto tend to be strong at home and can pick themselves up from a couple of moderate domestic results to claim three points.
Selection: Porto to win
Aaron Ashley
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Keep things simple and take Benfica to win at Maccabi Haifa at around the 8-11 mark. The Primeira Liga outfit have already qualified but with Paris St-Germain travelling to Juventus, victory could see them top Group H and, ultimately, be rewarded with an easier knockout tie.
The Portuguese side were comfortable 2-0 winners against Maccabi Haifa in the reverse fixture and they have already shown their capabilities on the road, triumphing 2-1 against Juventus in Turin and claiming a 1-1 draw in Paris. In fact, Benfica, who defeated Juve again in a 4-3 victory on matchday five, are unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions and will be heading to Israel knowing they’ve not yet finished the job.
Selection: Benfica to win
Europa League best bet picks
Henry Hardwicke
Sports journalist at Racing Post
Omonia Nicosia have yet to pick up a single point in this season’s Europa League, they were beaten 3-0 at home by Sheriff in the reverse fixture and they are likely to come up short in Moldova.
The Cypriot side were beaten 2-0 by Real Sociedad at the GSP Stadium in this competition last week and that was a game where Omonia managed just a single shot on target. Anything around even-money looks like a cracking price for the Yellow-Blacks.
Selection: Sheriff to win
Chris Rivers
Sports journalist at Racing Post
It’s extremely tight in Group F of the Europa League with all four teams still in with a shout of reaching the knockout stages. Sturm Graz currently sit in second but the Austrians may struggle to hang on to that position when they travel to Denmark to face Midtjylland.
Sturm’s record away from home this season is patchy and includes a 6-0 thrashing by Feyenoord, while Midtjylland have been more consistent in front of their own supporters of late. The Danes, who need to win to have a chance at qualifying for the next round, have won three of the last five at MCH Arena, dispatching Lazio 5-1in September, and can justify being a shade of odds-on for the win.
Selection: Midtjylland to win
Tom McGarry
Sports journalist at ICS
Bodo/Glimt have not enjoyed the Europa League campaign they were hoping for, but they will be keen to protect their impressive home record in Europe when they host already-qualified PSV Eindhoven on Thursday.
Remarkably the Norwegian champions have won 14 of their last 15 home matches in Europe and they will fancy their chances of beating a PSV side that have lost four of their previous six on the road across all competitions.
PSV assured their place in the knockout stages by beating Arsenal on home soil last time out, and with the hard work complete for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, Bodo/Glimt can capitalise on any complacency at odds of 11/5.
Selection: Bodo/Glimt to win
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