Can Benin build on a brilliant 2-2 draw with Ghana from their opening game? They started off the group with a surprise point, which could push them towards the last 16. If they can pull off a victory in this clash, then the Squirrels could take up a spot in the second round. However, they will need to be at their best to edge out Guinea-Bissau this week. Can Benin make a step towards a knockout place, or will the outsiders end their poor run of form?
Benin are getting a major boost going into this clash, as they will welcome back midfielder Stéphane Sessègnon for this meeting with Guinea-Bissau. The former West Brom and Sunderland man is a key player for the Squirrels, while he should make an impact as he slots back into a side who have made a bright start in Egypt. They went toe to toe with Ghana – a side who have made the last six semi-finals of this competition. They weren’t overwhelmed, as they picked up an important point. Can they add to it with a result on Saturday?
In 2018 Niederkorn once again made it through the first round, as they beat Azerbaijani side Qabala (2-1 on aggregate). Not only did the team from Luxembourg get through one round, but they also beat Hungarian side Honved (2-1 on aggregate) before eventually being eliminated by Ufa, though they did draw with the Russians at this venue. Such form bodes very well ahead of a game against a Cardiff Met side that has never previously featured in the UEL qualifying.
The fact that Cardiff Metropolitan, who finished sixth in the Welsh Premier League last season and who’re set to become the first ever British University team to play in the Europa League, have never played on the continent before does mean that they’re at a disadvantage here.
Will defending champions Cameroon take the trophy again at this summer’s African Nations Cup? They were supposed to be the side hosting the tournament, but a reshuffle in the hosting schedule has seen their tournament moved to 2021. Now the champions are aiming to make a mark in Egypt, as they look to top Group F. They are going up against Ghana and Benin in this pool, but first, they take on Guinea-Bissau this week.
Cameroon come into this tournament coached by Clarence Seedorf, who will be aiming to improve a mixed record as a manager following his short reign at AC Milan. He’s taken an attack-heavy side to Egypt, naming eight forwards in his squad, as they look to live up to their success in 2017. Chief among those forwards are wingers Christian Bassogog and Clinton N’Jie. Both have enough talent to light up this tournament, while they’re hitting their mid-twenties so should be expected to make their mark in Egypt.
If we consider Albacete’s recent away numbers with the fact that Mallorca averaged 1.66 expected goals for and 1.7 goals for at home during the regular campaign, alongside the fact that the pair shared four goals and 3.18 expected goals when they last met at this venue, then ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ looks like the bet to be on.
They’re facing a Latvia side who lost seven in 10 in their last qualifying campaign. The hosts were beaten 3-0 by Israel and Georgia in their last two games here, while they’ve lost eight of their last 12 home games, which includes facing sides at their own level in the Nations League and friendlies. That points to home issues for Lativa, so we’re siding with the visitors in this clash.
Luxembourg sit second in Group B after picking up three points from their opening two matches, beating Lithuania 2-1 in their only qualifying match so far. It’s going to be a tough ask for either of these countries to finish outside of the bottom two in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, as Ukraine, Portugal, and Serbia make up the rest of the five teams in Group B.
Lithuania were held to a goalless draw away at another of the improving nations Azerbaijan in their last match back in March, where despite the game being a friendly, a clean sheet on the road will have been a major positive for the Lithuanians. Luxembourg also drew their March friendly at home to Madagascar, playing a mixed starting eleven of experience and youth. The hosts needed two stoppage time goals to rescue a draw after Thill had given Luxembourg the lead only to see the visitors move 3-1 in front shortly after the hour mark. Selimovic scored on his Luxembourg debut to make it 3-2 in the ninety-first minute and under sixty-seconds later captain Jans equalised to spare the home sides blushes.
The head to head record between these two countries and their performances since the latter stages of 2018, all point towards both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals being produced, with the most likely result being a draw. The last two meetings between these two countries saw both teams score and over 2.5 goals, with Luxembourg wining two of those three three, but this is the time the pair have clashed in Lithuania. Lithuania have lost five and drawn one of their last six matches, while Luxembourg have won two, drawn two, and lost two of their last six. Both teams scored and over 2.5 goals were produced in four of Lithuania’s last six and each of Luxembourg’s last three matches, which is why we’re backing Friday’s game to end in a 2-2 draw.
Nikolić top scores for the hosts with five MLS goals this season, while Heber and Tajouri have both netted three goals apiece for New York City. We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be scored in Saturday’s game, and have predicted a final scoreline of 0-0. New York City are in good form, but have drawn a lot of matches of late, while Chicago Fire will have been working on their defending after that heavy defeat at the weekend and have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home games.
Amiens have a much better record at home, as this is where they have picked up 23 of their 35 points. Amiens are also unbeaten in their last seven games at the Stade de la Licorne which, for us, tips this match in their favour. The motivation of a place in next year’s Ligue 1 should be enough to get Amiens going and following another disheartening result last week, we don’t see Guingamp getting a result. Amiens have kept five clean sheets in their last seven home games and with Guingamp failing to score in four of their last six away trips, we’re backing a 1-0 win for the Unicorns.
Ultimately, this looks a tie that’s hard to call over two legs and will be separated by whoever best uses their home advantage. When looking at this first leg as a standalone fixture, Deportivo Cali are clear and obvious favourites and know they really need to establish a lead to take with them to the return fixture.
All things considered, backing a home win on the full time line looks the best way to play as far as the betting is concerned and is exactly where our money is going at a more than reasonable price. Deportivo Cali are pretty strong on their own patch and with Penarol so consistently poor on the road in continental competition, a 1-0 margin of home victory could well be on the cards.
There’s a considerable gap between these two sides, while recent clashes between them haven’t gone in Cork’s favour. Dundalk have won their last five clashes between these two, including a win back in March. They are heading to a Cork side who have won only twice in eight home clashes, so we expect Dundalk to pull off a result in this trip. They’ve been made firm favourites to land a sixth straight win when they head to Cork, so the away win looks likely.
Dundalk are firing themselves towards the title with a great scoring run, having scored twice or more in their last six matches. They’ve hit two goals in their last two visits to Cork, while we expect them to add another couple of goals here. We’re backing over 1.5 Dundalk goals on Friday night, given that the champions have hit eight goals in their last three away trips.
With both sides coming into this match in such good form, they will both fancy their chances of earning the three points. Although the hosts build from the back, the attacking threat of their visitors means that they will likely have to find the back of the net more than once in order to claim the points. With this in mind, we think backing there to be over 2.5 goals scored represents the best chance of a decent return.
We are not done there though, as Molde have been excellent on the road so far and top the division’s away record. When you also factor in the way they have started the season as a whole, then backing an away win and combining it with our initial tip of there to be over 2.5 goals looks to represent an excellent way to boost the return on offer.
The recent head to head record and the form of both of these sides heading into Wednesday’s match suggests that Den Haag are best placed to win the game and that the hosts have a good chance of keeping a clean sheet in the process. Den Haag have won their last six matches against Willem II, and three of those last six wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet. Den Haag have won four of their last six matches in the Eredivisie, while Willem II have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions. Den Haag have kept three clean sheets in their last six attempts, and Willem II have failed to score in two of their last three matches, which is why we are backing a final score of 1-0 to the hosts on Wednesday.
El Khayati top scores for the hosts this season with fifteen goals, but hasn’t been as impressive in the second half of the season as the Moroccan was in the first. Isak moved level on league goals for the season with former Willem II striker Sol, and will be hoping to add to his tally of thirteen on Wednesday. We’re confident that Den Haag will win on the final day of the season and have predicted a final scoreline of 1-0. Den Haag have a great recent record against Willem II and head into Wednesday’s match as the clear form favourites, as their guests have failed to win any of their last four matches in league or cup.
Unai Emery will be particularly relieved that his side have reached the Europa League final considering their worrying collapse in the league, which has seen them concede three goals to Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester before drawing 1-1 with a goal-shy Brighton.
This defensive fragility is sure to be tested by the Clarets, who have only failed to score in 22 home games in all competitions this season.
Stadio Artemio Franchi will host Saturday’s football game between Fiorentina and Milan. The Viola are having a season to forget and they are sitting in the 13th position in the standings ahead of Matchday 36. Fiorentina are on a three-game losing run in the Italian top flight and seeing that Milan are eyeing a place in the Champions League, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the visitors.
The Rossoneri face a must-win situation against the Viola and seeing that the hosts head into the clash with the lack of motivation, away win should be considered. A man to watch in the away team will be Poland international Piatek, who has already started paying off. In their last meeting in the Serie A Fiorentina defeated Milan 1-0 at Stadio San Siro, meaning that the visitors are hungry for revenge.
Morocco have started well, with their 1-0 win over the Ivory Coast showing that they’re serious contenders in Egypt this summer. That’s set up Morocco to push for the trophy, but it takes the pressure off them in this game. They head into this clash already through, while there’s now room for them rotate their side in this clash to leave them fresh for the next round.
That should play into South Africa’s hands, as this is now a chance for them to claim a result against a weakened side. Bafana Bafana have picked up solid results so far, as they lost narrowly against Ivory Coast in a clash they could have taken something from. South Africa are solid at the back, while they will be confident against this much-changed Morocco side. The Atlas Lions have scored once and benefitted from one own goal, so they aren’t likely to pack much of a scoring threat.
We see South Africa getting something here, especially given how a point suits both sides. A draw would guide them both into the last 16, while Bafana Bafana are out to protect a good record against Morocco. With three draws and a win from four meetings, we are going for South Africa to get a result. We see a low-scoring clash between two squads who have scored a goal apiece, so we’re backing South Africa to avoid defeat against a weakened Morocco side along with a goalless draw.