Dnipro-PSV dnb 1 2,10 - 1 2,90 Dnipro hasn't tasted defeat all season—honestly, they’ve been scoring more and conceding way less than Dynamo Kyiv... With the way they're playing this year, I feel like they could actually make a deep run in Europe because this roster is just stacked. Look at the lineup: Lastuvka, Konoplyanka, Aliyev, Rotan, Giuliano, Seleznyov, Zozulya, Inkoom, Mazuch, Kalinic... seriously, how do you stop that? Meanwhile, PSV is looking totally inconsistent—I mean, they dropped two games last weekend against a weak Waalwijker and a mediocre Utrecht side. Dnipro is definitely coming into this one with way more momentum and better form, so in my book, they're much closer to pulling off the win. Teams from the East always play with more heart in these matchups, plus Dnipro is on a massive roll right now with great vibes in the locker room... On the other side, PSV is going to be missing Pieters and Boume, and Mertens is stuck on the bench because his form has been absolute garbage lately. Van Bommel will probably start since he's suspended and can't suit up this Sunday against Feyenoord. I really think the home side has a golden opportunity here to grab a victory—they don't even have a league match this weekend, just some easy cup game away at Yalta, while PSV has a huge high-stakes match against Feyenoord... plus, you can't underestimate that brutal long-haul trip out east to Ukraine.
Manchester United vs. Galatasaray: Over 3.5 goals @ 2.15 Look, Galatasaray is a powerhouse—honestly, they might even be the best squad out there from the last few seasons... They’ve got that veteran experience, and their quality is pretty much deep across the board with some seriously elite talent. Right now? Their midfield and attack are absolutely cooking. The Turkish Super Lig is a totally different beast compared to European competition, but in a group like this, Galatasaray definitely has a legitimate shot at finishing as runners-up. If Erik ten Hag decides to rotate the squad, then yeah, the visitors have a real opening. But if he rolls out the heavy hitters? Man Utd is almost certainly dropping two or three goals on them. And let's be real, Galatasaray is good enough to find the back of the net at least once. There's plenty of value here for the over and total goals—4+ looks like a solid play at 2.15 odds. United has been absolute machines, scoring more goals in the Premier League through the first four rounds than anyone else. Historically speaking, teams from Turkey always seem to end up getting absolutely shredded when they step foot into Old Trafford.
Oct 20, 1993, UEFA Champions League, Man Utd vs. Galatasaray 3:3 Dec 07, 1994, UEFA Champions League, Man Utd vs. Galatasaray 4:0 Oct 30, 1996, UEFA Champions League, Man Utd vs. Fenerbahce 0:1 Sep 28, 2004, UEFA Champions League, Man Utd vs. Fenerbahce 6:2 Nov 25, 2009, UEFA Champions League, Man Utd vs. Besiktas 0:1
Okan Buruk is telling everyone they're heading out there just to grab a result, though he’s clearly aiming to make history by being the third team from Turkey to actually pull off a win at Old Trafford.
Montpellier-Arsenal X 3,10 Honestly, they’ve always been absolute trash on the road—if you can even call it that—compared to any other team from England... they usually just scrape by with a point here and there. Plus, they're dealing with a massive list of absences: Wojciech Szczęsny, Tomáš Rosický, Jack Wilshere, Emmanuel Frimpong, and Bacary Sagna. And get this—Arsène Wenger already hinted he’s gonna rotate the squad, probably resting about 7 or 8 guys who played this past Saturday.
Mannone Jenkinson (A Santos), Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Gibbs Gibbs-Arteta, Mathieu Diaby, Santi Cazorla (Gervinho) (Theo Walcott) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Olivier Giroud (Marouane Chamakh), Podolski
The home side is gonna be fired up, though... they'll give it everything they've got to pull off a decent result. Actually, most of the Montpellier players are basically making their Champions League debut. I’m putting my money on pure motivation and that insane hunger the home team has when they play at home. They just really lack a killer edge in the Match... Jourdén - Bocaly-Mapou Yanga Mbiwa-Hilton-Bedimo - Saihi-Estrada - Cabella-Belhanda-Camara- Herrera
Arsenal has never lost in France, so I doubt they'll lose tonight either... but then again, facing a gritty, hard-fighting home team? Man, a win is gonna be tough to come by. Both sides would probably settle for a draw, though obviously Montpellier would want it more.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Schalke 04: Both teams to score at 1.75 Look, the Lakers aren't quite what they were last season—they've definitely lost some steam—but man, when they play at home in front of a packed house, they are always dangerous... seriously unpredictable. They actually let Mirallas go from the attack and sold Mellberg from the defense too. And those guys were huge pieces for them. Their backline looks pretty shaky this year—really uncoordinated and just haven't found their rhythm yet. With Manolas, Contreras, Papazoglu, and Holebas lacking actual playing time and the necessary experience at this high level, it’s easily the biggest weakness for the Lakers right now. On the other side, Schalke 04 has had a killer start to the season. They're dealing with some absences since a few key players are out, but they're still pushing through (even without Marica, Metzelder, Chined Obas, and Hildebrand up front or in goal) Their defense isn't exactly a fortress either—especially since they'll be missing their keeper and main defender—so the whole game is really just gonna be about who can outscore the other. Up front, you've got Huntelaar, and he'll have help from Farfan, Barnetta, Holtby, Draxler, and Afellay. But let's be real, Schalke, much like most teams from Germany, tends to give up goals way too often when they're playing away in Europe. I'm calling it: goals for both sides. Also, looking at the intensity, the yellow card count is probably going to be pretty high too.
Malaga vs Zenit St. Petersburg: Both teams to score at 1.80 Both of these squads have loaded attacks, but their defenses? Not so much. Malaga plays a really tight game through the midfield with some solid talent—Isco, Joaquin, dud, and Francisco Portillo Soler—while leading the charge in the attack are Roque Santa Cruz and Saviola... Zenit will likely run a three-man front with Faizulin, Kerzhakov, and Hulk, with Shirokov, Zyryanov, and Denisov supporting them from behind. Honestly, both teams are more than capable of putting on a quality match. I'd give the edge to the visitors, mostly because Malaga is dealing with the nerves of making their debut in a competition like this. My bet? At least one goal per side.
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami 2 dnb 2.50 The home side is a total mess right now, while the visitors are absolutely rolling. Last season, they actually lost this one on their own turf, 3-2. Honestly, you’ve gotta look at these visitors—they’re easily one of the hottest teams in the league at the moment. I caught the Orlando game during their last away match, and man, they were pathetic... zero real threats, zero momentum, just completely toothless against the home defense.
----------------- Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy 1 2.10 Houston is riding a solid winning streak at home, plus they finally get Lincoln back in the lineup. Galaxy are in a complete tailspin after two straight losses, and their roster is a wreck—missing guys like Durval, Felipe Anderson, and Edu Dracena, they just sold Gans to LAFC, and Neymar is basically running on fumes from the heavy schedule and national team duty... There's some serious value on the home win here.
Roger Phillips said:1. USA-Belgium 2 1.90 I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we see a two-goal margin here... easy enough... ------------------- 2. Netherlands-Turkey 4+ 2.50
The second match ends 2:0.
--------------------------------- Coritiba-Los Angeles Flamengo 1 1.85 They've played four seasons—probably going 3 for 3 lately:
06/09/12, 11:30 PM Los Angeles Flamengo - Coritiba 3 : 1
11/13/11, 8:00 PM Coritiba - Los Angeles Flamengo 2 : 0 08/06/11, 11:35 PM Los Angeles Flamengo - Coritiba 1 : 0
09/20/09, 11:30 PM Los Angeles Flamengo - Coritiba 3 : 0 06/14/09, 9:00 PM Coritiba - Los Angeles Flamengo 5 : 0
10/24/08, 12:30 AM Los Angeles Flamengo - Coritiba 5 : 0 07/18/08, 1:30 AM Coritiba - Los Angeles Flamengo 1 : 0
10/31/05, 11:30 PM Los Angeles Flamengo - Coritiba 2 : 1 07/24/05, 9:00 PM Coritiba - Los Angeles Flamengo 3 : 2
It’s high time the home team pulls this one off. Coritiba is desperate for points to stay afloat, and they traditionally play way better at home anyway... Los Angeles Flamengo is pretty pathetic on the road—only managed 9 goals total, and mostly just thanks to Vagner Love...
1. Wales-Belgium 2 1.90 Qualifiers are kicking off, and honestly, if you look at the sheer gap in talent, Belgium should walk away with this one. Right now, Belgium has an absolute powerhouse of a squad—just a massive collection of top-tier players, most of whom are hitting their peak or playing out of their minds lately. We're talking Hazard, Fellaini, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Axel Witsel, Vermaelen, Lukaku, Alderweireld, Stefan Defour, Daniel van Buyten, Dries Mertens, Mirallas, plus having the likes of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland AFC and Thibaut Courtois guarding the net for Atletico Madrid... Look, I get it, they haven't nailed down their definitive starting XI yet—they're still searching for that perfect combination—but against a mediocre side like Wales? They really shouldn't be dropping points here. The group is stacked, which means any slip-up could be a total disaster for them later on. If you look at how Wales played against Canada, their defense looks shaky as hell... they lack quality, cohesion, stability, and just that basic sense of continuity on the pitch. Meanwhile, Belgium looked sharp in their last test, beating the Netherlands 4-2. It seems like Marc Wilmots is doing a killer job working with the guys coming off the bench. Wales, on the other hand, had a rough run in 2012, losing all three of their friendlies. 8/15/2012 Wales-Canada 0-2 5/27/2012 Mexico-Wales 2-0 2/29/2012 Wales-Costa Rica 0-1
I’m expecting a heavy offensive push from the Belgians—they'll hunt for the win while Kieran Coleman tries to squeeze every bit of potential out of his current roster. The backline will likely mirror what we saw against Canada, maybe with a slight tweak bringing in the youngster Ben Davies from Swansea City. I’ve got faith that Belgium starts these qualifiers on the right foot. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull this off by two goals. ------------------- 2. Netherlands-Turkey 4+ 2.50 This one smells like an absolute shootout to me. Robin van Persie is absolutely tearing it up in front of goal lately, and with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar finding his rhythm, adding Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder to that mix makes for a terrifyingly dangerous attack. Turkey has some serious firepower up front and a technically gifted midfield, but man, their defense looks vulnerable and pretty uncoordinated. Volkan Demirel probably won't be in goal for this one. There are also some big question marks surrounding Egemen Korkmaz from Fenerbahçe SK and Semih Kaya from Galatasaray SK in the defensive line. If they have to turn to their bench, those alternatives could seriously expose them. Plus, the Dutch love playing that aggressive 4-3-3 formation, which naturally leaves gaps behind, and let's be real—their backline is full of mid-tier players, youngsters with zero experience, or guys making their international debuts: Heiting, Ron Vlaar, young Jetro Willems, debutant Daryl Janmaat, the 20-year-old Rolando Maximiliano Martins Inda, then you've got Nick Viergever from AZ Alkmaar who's barely played, Ajax Amsterdam's Jeffrey van Rhijn, and the veteran John Mathijsen. Basically, a defense like that is still trying to figure out how to play together, and the qualifiers are already here. They’re going to struggle immensely in the back, but I think their offense is strong enough to just steamroll over those mistakes. Midfield lineup: Sneijder-Robben-Kuyt-Emanuelson-Strootman-Clasie-Fer. Attack: Van Persie-Huntelaar-Luuk de Jong-Narsingh-Lens.
Expect a Turkish lineup looking something like this: Tolga Zengin Gökhan Gönül, Ömer Toprak, Bekir Irtegün, and Hakan Balta. Emre Belözoglu - Hamit Altintop - Selçuk İnan -------------Arda Turan---------------- Umut Bulut and Burak Yılmaz
I’m anticipating a masterclass from the strikers on both sides—expect plenty of goals. To me, this is great value. ------------------------
Later I went solo on Atlanta and somehow, against all odds, scraped a 3:2 win🙂 They were down 0:1 early, managed a quick comeback, and then—just when you think it's over—Jankovic pulls it back to 2:2 with maybe 7 or 8 minutes left on the clock. Man, my heart was racing... I honestly thought we were done for... Then Slobodnjak sets up Lodi to bury the winner, though the visitors did hit the woodwork later on... But damn, that second half was absolute gold!😉
MLS: LAFC–Seattle Sounders 1 1.55 LAFC has been absolutely tearing it up lately—looking at their last 4 or 5 matches, they're basically unstoppable. They’re riding a three-game winning streak where they dropped 11 goals and only let in 2... just clinical. Meanwhile, Seattle can't seem to find a win on the road. They're heading into a brutal away game and honestly, things look messy for them. With their main playmaker gone, the squad feels totally rudderless—just no direction or tactical identity left—plus they're missing two massive pillars in the midfield, Mike Jensen and Frank Semoua. The home side has a huge edge here... they're well-rested, don't have any major injuries to worry about, they've got the better roster, more experience, and they're playing on that fast turf.
Premier League
Aston Villa–Everton 1 2.10 Villa managed to keep their core group together from last season, so they'll likely be fighting for those top spots again. Last round in London, they conceded a late one to end in a 2-2 draw, but they actually played well enough to earn that point. Everton, on the other hand, were barely hanging on for dear life against relegation last year. They might even be a step worse this season compared to the last, though they did manage to scrape a 2-0 home win against Cagliari in the opener. They lost Palacio, Constant, Ze Eduardo, and Mesto... quite a few key pieces gone. On the bright side, Gilardino is finally back in the lineup after his suspension, which helps. I'm expecting a strong showing from the home side since they're clearly the superior team, especially playing at home (they had a solid 9-5-5 record there last season) against a squad that was absolute garbage on the road last year (a pathetic 2-3-14 away record). The value here is definitely worth a look.
Dynamo Moscow-VfB Stuttgart both teams to score at 1.65 Dynamo is coming into this one feeling incredibly motivated—they’re definitely going to hunt for an early goal because, let's be real, trying to claw back from a 2:0 deficit is a massive mountain to climb... Stuttgart knows they need just one goal to basically seal their ticket through, and while they walked away with a nice advantage from the first leg, they can't afford to sit on their hands—they have to go out there and find that equalizer. Dynamo really found their rhythm and regained some much-needed confidence after beating Lokomotiva, so they'll be playing to grab a win today that could potentially keep their progression hopes alive. Which basically means more space for Stuttgart to exploit in front of the Dynamo goal, especially since the visitors look absolutely lethal on the counter...
Sheffield Wed.-Fulham Over 2.5 goals at 1.75 Capital One Cup Sheffield has been playing some seriously high-octane stuff lately—super efficient in front of the net, scoring 8 but coughing up 6 in the process. We're looking at an average of over 4 goals per match here. They’ve got a killer attack, but man, that back line is shaky and honestly pretty unreliable... Fulham showed a lot of flashes of brilliance in the first two rounds—I mean, they absolutely dismantled Norwich 5:0, and even that 3:2 loss over at Old Trafford was one of those games where you could barely look away, even if the result wasn't in their favor. This cup tie is wide open, both sides are playing such aggressive, attacking football that expecting goals isn't just a guess—it's a no-brainer. Back in 2009, they faced off in the FA Cup, and Fulham managed to pull off a 1:2 win.
Hannover96-Schalke 04 3+ 1,65 The home side was absolutely flying last season—seriously impressive stuff—and you’ve gotta expect them to carry that same energy right into this campaign... they aren't slowing down anytime soon. They absolutely tore through St. Patrick's with a 5-0 aggregate in the EL qualifiers, then went over to Wroclaw a few days later and put up a wild 3-5 scoreline. And before all that? They crushed Nottingham in the cup with a massive 1-6 win. Their whole philosophy is pretty much set in stone: total offensive chaos. Especially at home, they just charge at everyone, hunting for the win like it's their job... pure aggression. Even though they lost Raul, Schalke 04 still has plenty of firepower upfront—they've got options for days. Just look at their cup match against Saarbrucken... a clinical 0-5 blowout. Honestly, betting on goals here looks like a killer play given the decent odds.
as Roma-Catania both teams to score 1,65 Rome is always about that attack—especially now that Zeman has taken over. I mean, the guy is legendary for playing the most aggressive, high-octane football in Italy. It's basically his DNA. Catania is just as dangerous in front of the net. They've got that lethal trio of Bergessio, Gomez, and Barrientos who can find the back of the net against literally anyone. When these two face off, things usually get messy—their head-to-head average is consistently over 3 goals per game. In their last four meetings, both sides found the net every single time... I'm fully expecting that trend to keep rolling today.
Aalesund FK-Viking 1 1,90 07.17.11, Viking - Aalesund FK 1 : 0 05.29.11, Aalesund FK - Viking 2 : 0 10.24.10, Viking - Aalesunds FK 1 : 3 04.11.10, Aalesunds FK - Viking 3 : 1 Early June saw Age Hareide get the axe because the results were just straight-up garbage... He was replaced by Kjell Jonevret, who couldn't have asked for a worse debut—losing 1-4 to Rosenborg, and then getting knocked out of the cup at home after extra time. Just a total mess. I seriously doubt they’ll pull anything off today against Aalesund... these guys haven't lost a single home game this season (3-3-0 record), while Viking is stuck in a massive slump and looks completely exhausted after playing three matches in seven days. If there's any luck on their side, it's that they don't have any injury issues and didn't even have to travel outside of Stavanger... honestly though, I like the value here, so I'm putting my money on a home win.
Seattle Sounders-Portland Timbers 1 1,60 The home side is on an absolute tear right now—playing sharp, clinical soccer, and they’re definitely going to be fighting tooth and nail for that top spot in the MLS... As for Portland, things have been falling apart for a while now. They're dealing with serious money issues, the players are miserable, and management is actually trying to slash salaries by 25%... The players are pushing back hard—they want their contracts honored or they want out so they can find teams that actually pay up properly. The home team just absolutely crushed a local rival 4-0 in the cup, while the visitors are showing up in a toxic atmosphere, totally fed up with how everything is being handled. I don't see Seattle having much trouble here, provided they don't get cocky and underestimate them...
Chicago Fire-Columbus Crew 3+ 1,55 08.13.11, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 2 : 0 08.08.10, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 1 : 2 09.27.09, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 3 : 1 09.14.08, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 6 : 0 08.17.08, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 4 : 1 07.01.07, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 3 : 2 05.08.05, Chicago Fire - Columbus Crew 3 : 1 Chicago has nothing left to lose—they're at the bottom, so they have to go all out and attack, especially since the visitors are looking really solid and efficient lately... Double chance 2,48 -------------------------------------------------- New York Red Bulls-Minnesota United 1 2,10 The Red Bulls are playing their third match in about a week, and Minnesota is also dealing with a heavy schedule playing in the Conference playoffs. Both sides are facing opponents coming in from the Pacific Northwest. New York just came off a 0-0 draw, but they were playing a heavily rotated lineup. They've got 5 or 6 key guys returning to the squad today, though they're still missing their captain, Aho. The visitors will be missing: James, Hoivala, Holopainen, and Taipale, but they do get their striker Zahovaiko back in the mix. I'm giving the edge to the home team, even if they're a little banged up from traveling through the Midwest. Minnesota's roster is pretty thin away from home—definitely the weaker side here. New York won the last two matchups 05.05.12, Minnesota United - New York Red Bulls 1 : 2 10.17.11, New York Red Bulls - Minnesota United 1 : 0
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers Under 2.5 goals @ 1.65 09.09.11, Seattle Sounders - Portland Timbers 0 : 0 30.04.11, Seattle Sounders - Portland Timbers 0 : 2 15.05.10, Seattle Sounders - Portland Timbers 0 : 0 18.10.09, Seattle Sounders - Portland Timbers 0 : 1 The home side is missing their top scorer, Yanusha (13 apps / 6 goals). Portland is also down their star player and leading scorer Mozolevskiy (9 apps / 7 goals), plus they're without midfielder Maycon—who isn't exactly a game-changer, but still... On the bright side, they get a crucial midfielder back, Pavlov. Seattle is a powerhouse, especially when playing at home, and honestly, you don't even need to talk about Portland... this is a massive rivalry match. Things are heating up, and I'm expecting a gritty, physical game where there won't be much flow at all... just pure toughness. Traditionally, Portland plays a super tight defensive game and doesn't concede much, and they absolutely cannot afford a loss today since Seattle is sitting only 3 points behind them in the standings.
Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire Under 2.5 @ 2.50 The Houston squad was in a total tailspin recently—and I say "was" because management finally actually paid the players the back wages they owed, which happened right before last week's game against Minneapolis... though they still managed to lose 1-0. Things are looking way better for them today, though, and some of the guys have even decided to stick with the club instead of jumping ship, which is huge news for the organization. The Chicago fans are basically boycotting the team right now, so Houston is going to have massive support from the home crowd. The atmosphere is intense, kind of like how things feel back home for us, with everyone piling onto the bus for the trip... There’s some seriously sweet value on a home win at 2.50 given the actual odds here.
USA vs Greece - First Half Draw @ 2.10 The Greek defense is easily the backbone of this squad—young, physically imposing, and honestly pretty reliable so far (only let in 5 goals) They’ve got Torosidis and Holebas holding down the flanks, while out in the middle, you've got Bundesliga veterans like S. Papastathopoulos and K. Papadopoulos anchoring things. Right in front of them, you have the high-energy duo of Katsouranis and Karagounis, who I expect will be itching to shut everything down—just hunting for fouls to kill any momentum the opponent tries to build against that Greek backline. It's an experienced, gritty group... the kind of team that just wears you down, disrupts the flow, plays annoying, and then waits for that perfect moment to strike from the shadows or catch you on a counter. As for the USA, they aren't exactly known for keeping possession or showing much creative flair, so I'm anticipating some serious struggles for them in the first half. That American defense? Probably one of the weaker units in the tournament, looking pretty shaky with defenders like Wasilewski and Perquis struggling to keep up. Pisczek is actually a solid player—he can really push things forward in the attack, and he's not bad defensively either, but that left-back spot is going to be a massive weak point for them. Specifically Boenisch and Wawrzyniak. I'm not expecting a shootout here. Neither side is likely to find the net early—Both Teams to Score: No @ 1.65, plus I'm eyeing the Half Time Draw. Both sides are rocking a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Lithuania U21 vs. Ukraine U21 2-1, 1.40 The Lithuania squad is absolutely gutted—they’re missing four of their most vital players... Ukraine should be able to feast on that weakness, and honestly, just look at their recent form. They absolutely demolished Sweden 6-0 last Friday, so they're coming in hot. I'm also eyeing the handicap win here, sitting at 1.80... worth a shot.
Landskrona vs. Ljungskile Over 3+ goals, 1.65 Last round was a total snooze fest with zero goals, so I’m betting they overcompensate today and the floodgates open... Their last four home matches have all been high-scoring affairs with 3 or more goals hitting the net. Plus, Ljungskile has managed to find the back of the net in every single one of their four away games so far.
