It's a busy weekend of football with much of the action taking place on Sunday thanks to the midweek European action. I have picked out 4 games for my previews and I've also included some additional selections at the bottom of the this page to go along with me best bets for today. 17:30 Leicester vs Manchester City Prediction 1.2 Best Bets - BTTS and over 2.5 goals @21/20 Key Facts * Leicester have seen BTTS in their last 6 PL fixtures with each of the last 4 also going over 2.5 goals * In total, 5 of those 6 BTTS games also went over 2.5 goals including their last 3 at home * Leicester have lost just 1 of their last 21 home PL fixtures * Leicester have scored in 14 of their last 16 home PL fixtures * Man City have seen BTTS in 6 of their last 7 PL fixtures including each of the last 4 * Man City have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 7 PL fixtures * Indeed 8 of Cities last 10 away PL fixtures have seen BTTS (6 of those 8 also went over 2.5 goals) * City only kept 1 clean sheet in those 10 fixtures * City have scored 28 goals in their last 12 away PL fixtures (averaging more than 2 a game) * City have only won 3 of their last 8 PL fixtures * Leicester won 3.1 at Man City in February in a match that cemented their title credentials. Much has changed since that day. Final Verdict It truly has been a case of after the lord mayor's show for Leicester in the PL this season but they are still a tough team to beat at home and I expect a decent encounter here with the stats suggesting BTTS and over 2.5 goals has every chance with City still leaking goals and struggling for consistency under Pep Guardiola. Both sides fielded weakened teams in the CL during the week so both should be sufficiently rested for this encounter and that should hopefully give way to some goals and excitement. The hosts desperately need a good win to get their season going but I don't see it coming here, although I do fancy them to score and give their fans something to cheer about but City are undoubtedly the stronger side and they tend to score at least a couple on their travels and I'm backing that outcome here. I'm taking BTTS and over 2.5 goals here with the visitors lthe likelier to claim the spoils. 15:15 Real Sociedad vs Valencia Prediciton - 2.1 Best Bets - Real Sociedad to win @1/1, BTTS @3/4, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @ 6/5 Key Facts * Real Sociedad are in fine form at home in La Liga, winning 4 of their last 5 while being highly unfortuante to only draw with Barcelona in their most recent home fixture * Sociead won both of last season's league meetings with Valencia * Valencia have seen BTTS in 12 of their last 13 fixtures in all competitions! * 10 of those 12 BTTS matches also went over 2.5 goals * Valencia have seen BTTS in 10 of their last 11 away league fixtures! (90% hit rate) * 9 of those 10 BTTS contests also went over 2.5 goals * Valencia have lost 5 of their last 8 away league fixtures * Valencia have failed to win in their last 5 visits to San Sebastian, losing 4 * Valencia are without a win in their last 6 league fixtures while their last 18 fixtures have seen only 3 wins Final Verdict I like the hosts chances of picking up the 3 points here and given the goal stats on offer from the visitors, a home win with BTTS and over 2.5 goals looks quite possible here with Sociedad in excellent form. Valencia tend to score and lose on the road with 4 of their last 8 away league fixtures producing that outcome and given the form of the hosts, the 3 points look likely to remain in the north of Spain. I don't make a big habbit of backing in the WDW market but I do like this Sociedad side and Valencia are a team that really struggle on their travels and it is a long way from Valencia to San Sebastian (bobreaksbookies completed this train journey in 2008) so I fancy another home win for the Basque side but with goals also on the cards. 15.00 Rangers vs Hearts Prediction 2.2 Best Bets - BTTS @7/10, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @21/20, Draw @12/5 Key Facts * Hearts have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 7 away PL fixtures including each of their last 3 * 4 of Hearts last 6 PL fixtures have finished in draws. All 4 say BTTS and over 3.5 goals. *Each of the last 4 meetings between these two sides in Glasgow has seen BTTS * Hearts have won twice and drawn once in their last 4 visits to Ibrox since 2012 * Hearts have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 7 away PL fixtures * Hearts have only lost 1 of their last 10 PL fixtures * Rangers go into this match in 2nd place, 2 points clear of their opponents here * Rangers crashed to a 2.0 defeat to Hearts in Edinburgh just 10 days ago in a match that turned out to be head coach Robbie Nielsens last as boss of the Jambos * Hearts have since appointed the youngest manager in Scottish football history in the shape of former Valencia and Newcastle coach, Ian Cathro, aged just 30 Final Verdict The stats don't make this a nailed on selection but with an intimate knowledge of Scottish football, this is a fixture that stands out as BTTS selection. Always feisty affairs, this one should be no different and with new boss Cathro making his debut at Ibrox, I expect a really entertaining, even conest with goals the order of the day. Both sides like to play football on the ground and with Rangers smarting following their 2.0 loss in Edinburgh just 10 days ago, I expect an improved performance from the hosts who did recover from that defeat in Edinburgh to beat Aberdeen 2.1 at Ibrox last Saturday. Hearts are a good attacking side but evidently leaky at the back and I can see both sides scoring and a potential draw here with only 2 points seperating these two sides in the table. Try BTTS @4/6 and add Over 2.5 goals @20/21 Hertha v Werder Prediction - 2.1 Best Bets - Hertha to win @8/13, BTTS @4/5, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @6/4 Key Facts * Hertha have won all 6 of their home league fixtures so far this season * Hertha have scored at least 2 goals in all 6 of those home wins * Hertha have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals in their last 2 league fixtures. * Werder remain kings of the BTTS and over 2.5 goal market with 12 of 13 Bundesliga fixtures this season seeing that outcome * Each of Werder's last 5 on the road have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals * Each of Werder's last 12 in the league have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals * Werder have lost 7 of their last 10 away league fixtures, winning none and drawing the other 3 * Both of last seasons meetings saw BTTS including a 3.3 draw in their most recent fixture Final Verdict All the stats suggest Hertha will win this 2.1. They've won 3 of their last 7 at home by that scoreline and with Werder so prolific in the BTTS and overs market, that has to be the verdict here and I am sticking by it with all 3 selections looking very solid. Best Bets Leicester v Man City - BTTS and over 2.5 goals @21/20 - NAP Rangers v Hearts - BTTS @7/10 - NB Sociedad v Valencia - BTTS @3/4 Leicester v Man City - BTTS @4/6 Sociedad v Valencia - Sociedad to win @1/1 Hertha v Werder - BTTS @4/5 Hertha v Werder - BTTS and over 2.5 goals @6/4 Other Suggested Bets RB Leipzig to win @4/5 RB Leipzig to win and over 2.5 match goals @9/5 Hull v Palace - BTTS @4/5 Swansea v Sunderland - BTTS @4/6 Draws Rangers v Hearts Comments are closed.
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