WhoScored Tipster: Derby Duels Among Weekend Betting Tips
Home comforts and fierce rivalries are the theme of the weekend. Many of the big clubs face favourable opponents ahead of their Champions League commitments, but Madrid, Turin and London host tense derby clashes with real betting value.
LIKELY BETS
MANCHESTER UNITED vs WBA: MANCHESTER UNITED -1.5 @1.95
United's reaction will be key after last weekend's derby defeat, which leaves David Moyes in a position where he needs to win against the Baggies. West Brom have drawn both of their away games this season, with just 1 goal scored and conceded. They are a difficult team to face at home, but by no means impossible.
ALMERIA vs BARCELONA: OVER 2.5 GOALS @1.25
In their last game Barcelona were beaten in terms of ball possession for the first time in 5 years but they still thrashed Rayo 0-4. Martino is working on making Barça's building up more effective, so will be pretty happy to come up against La Liga's second worst defence this weekend. WhoScored.com's match forecast suggests that it is extremely likely that Barcelona 'will score from a wing play situation'.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs FREIBURG: BORUSSIA DORTMUND -1.5 @1.65
Dortmund's unexpected away draw in Nurnberg can't be repeated, won't be repeated. Bundesliga's second-bottom side Freiburg will pay the price for that. As WhoScored.com indicate, Freiburg are very weak at 'aerial duels', which could match with Dortmund's strength when 'attacking set pieces'.
BAYERN MUNICH vs WOLFSBURG: BAYERN MUNICH -1.5 @1.38
The clockwork Bavarians needed just 20 minutes to dispose of Schalke, and Wolfsburg's visit to the Allianz Arena is supposed to be a similar story considering the visitors have lost all three of their away games this season, conceding 7 goals and scoring just once. WhoScored.com's match forecast intimates that it is very likely that Bayern 'will score as a result of a through ball'.
PSG vs TOULOUSE: PSG -1.5 @1.88
It is still possible to plunge PSG into trouble, although that doesn't look to be an easy task for Toulouse. Blanc's side can sail towards a safe result against most mid-table teams at home. The match forecast from WhoScored.com predicts that it is extremely likely that PSG 'will create many scoring chances'.
TEMPTING BETS
TORINO vs JUVENTUS: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 2.00
Torino's manager Ventura has warned that never before have his side been so focused on beating Juve, something they haven't done since 1995. That's 18 years, the longest Torino have ever gone without a victory over their rivals, so they have nothing to lose and will thus go all out for the win. Given the fact that Juventus have already dropped 2 points in the Champions League this season, they will have one eye on the Galatasaray game in midweek and may be distracted. Lately, it has taken conceding a goal to wake Juventus up, so both teams to score looks likely. In fact, WhoScored's Match Forecast that 'Juventus will make a comeback if they go behind' suggests we could be in for a few goals.
FIORENTINA vs PARMA: HOME WIN @ 1.57
Fiorentina will be highly motivated to win this game having conceded two late goals to Inter on Thursday. Furthermore, they face a Parma side who have scored only one goal on the road this season and, due to Amauri's suspension, will also be short in the attacking department.
TOTTENHAM vs CHELSEA: DRAW @ 3.30
The Manchester derby aside, the approach of teams in the Premier League's big clashes has been cautious, and AVB and Mourinho could well set out to avoid defeat rather than go for the win here. Tottenham have the best home defensive record (0 goals conceded), while Chelsea have the second best away from home (1 goal conceded).
AUGSBURG vs BORUSSIA M.GLADBACH: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.66
Never forget a Bundesliga game with both teams scoring in your weekly betting tips. The chosen one this time around is between the team with the fourth-worst home defensive record this season against the side with the third-worst on the road. WhoScored's Match Forecast suggests it is very likely that Augsburg 'will create many scoring chances' and Gladbach 'will score as a result of an opposition error', so chances and goals could be abundant.
EVIAN vs BORDEAUX: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.83
Evian have conceded 13 goals this season, giving them the second worst defence in Ligue 1, while all of Bordeaux's away games this season have seen both teams score. The WhoScored Match Forecast states that Bordeaux are extremely likely to 'score as a result of individual skill' and Evian are very likely to 'make a comeback if they go behind', so both teams could well score.
LONG SHOT BETS
MILAN vs SAMPDORIA: DRAW @ 4.00
Milan are without Mario Balotelli, who is suspended, and with a number of regular first team members sidelined through injury, the Rossoneri are short on confidence heading into the encounter. With their Champions League meeting with Ajax also upcoming, Massimiliano Allegri's side must win in Holland in order to deny keep in touch with Barcelona in Group H, meaning Sampdoria could come up against Milan at the perfect time. The visitors aren't as strong as Saturday's opponents, but have the tactical nous to deny Milan, who will be toothless in the attack without Balotelli. With that, Sampdoria could be the perfect side to hold Milan.
ROMA vs BOLOGNA: TOTTI TO SCORE ANYTIME @ 1.90
Francesco Totti has scored 7 Serie A goals against Bologna in the past and the Italian will be in high spirits after a week that saw him earn a new Roma contract and help the Giallorossi to a win over fierce rivals Lazio. The recently turned 37-year-old has scored just the once this season, but Bologna have conceded 11 goals in Italy's top tier already this term; only Sassuolo (16) have conceded more. When taking into consideration that it's very likely that Roma will score from a direct freekick, according to WhoScored.com's match forecast, there is every possibility that Totti will add to his goal tally on Saturday.
REAL MADRID vs ATLETICO MADRID: DRAW @ 3.75
Atletico Madrid are 1 of only 2 teams in La Liga yet to drop a point this season, although rivals Real Madrid are hot on their heels following a controversial late penalty away at Elche. Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti is yet to figure out his best system at the Bernabeu, unlike counterpart Diego Simeone who boasts one of the most solid squads on the continent. Real have won the last 10 Madrid derbies in La Liga, but lost out to Atletico in the Copa Del Rey final back in May and Los Rojiblancos will look to draw on the confidence of that victory at the Bernabeu when they make the short trip across the Spanish capital on Saturday.
STADE REIMS vs MONACO: AWAY WIN @ 1.61
Claudio Ranieri's side continue to impress upon their return to Ligue 1 and currently top the table after the opening 7 games, winning 5. Many are tipping Monaco to secure all 3 points away at Reims, but the Stade Auguste Delaune isn't an easy place to visit and the hosts will aim to disrupt the rhythm of the visitors on Sunday evening. Monaco are tipped to create many goalscoring opportunities, according to WhoScored.com's match forecast, and with Falcao leading the line; Ranieri's side are more than capable of securing the victory.
HULL vs WEST HAM: UNDER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
West Ham are yet to score or concede away at Upton Park this season, with there being under 2.5 goals registered in 4 of their 5 Premier League games. It's the same story for Hull City, who have been involved in a league game with more than 2.5 goals just the once this season. With that in mind, the most intriguing aspect of the meeting may be the odds available.