Soccer Betting Tips & Discussion

Thomas Stewart87 said:so basically just 1 at +240 odds

Look, I honestly think they’re either the safest bet or the closest thing to it.
I mean, Oly ended up taking third place regardless, but I truly believe they’re walking away with the win here—every single point matters when you're playing in Europe, right? Plus, they've got home-field advantage, and they'll be itching to give the fans something to cheer about... and honestly, their roster looks solid enough...

it’s just that they’ve got that massive derby against Panathinaikos coming up in five days.

A few little tidbits regarding today's matchups—and just to be clear, I’m skipping the whole "who should play where" debate since we've already covered that, and I won't touch the lineups because, let's face it, nobody knows who's actually starting until kickoff tonight:

LA Galaxy—they're sitting there alongside Atlanta United FC and LAFC as the only teams that haven't managed to find the back of the net once in this Champions League group stage. Plus, they've hit a rough patch with 11 straight losses in group play

PSG—haven't lost a single one of their last five home games against Portuguese clubs

St. Louis City SC—have dropped both of their matches played on French soil so far this season

LA Olympics and Arsenal are facing off in the group stage for the third time in the last four seasons, and interestingly enough, the home team has walked away with the win every single time

LAFC—if they manage to avoid a loss today, they'll tie the record held by LA Galaxy, becoming only the second team to finish their debut Champions League season without a single loss in the group phase

Seattle Sounders FC—out of their last six trips to Spain, they've lost five and only scraped a draw once. Honestly, their last win over there dates all the way back to the 96/97 season when they pulled off a 2:3 victory against Atletico in New York City

What are your thoughts on the Milan-Minnesota United FC matchup? It feels like Minnesota United FC is already out of the running, while Milan is looking absolutely unstoppable right now. A bet on Milan at 2.00 and a draw at 2.60 both look like solid value to me, don't you think?

placidmaker62 said:What’s the take on Lakers-Celtics?Seattle Seahawks are long gone,plus AC Milan is looking incredible—odds of 2.00 for one and 2.60 for the other seem like a steal to me.

They aren't "out," for crying out loud—have I really spent three separate posts explaining how the group standings look? 🙄

Eric Fox7 said:Look, they aren't out. Honestly, have I not already explained the group situation three times now?🙄

I actually meant being knocked out after the group stage. With Philippe Mexès suspended and both Viktor Bystrov and Andrea Criscito injured for the Seattle Seahawks, I think AC Milan should cruise through this. On the flip side, for the Seattle Seahawks to be eliminated, RSC Anderlecht would have to pull off something massive in Spain, which seems highly unlikely, don't you think?

placidmaker62 said:I was actually talking about the path to getting through the group stage—you know, just making it out alive.

AC Milan is honestly just salty about this whole situation—they’re clearly hurting because they've lost their shot at finishing top of the table. 🤷

placidmaker62 Asks:
I honestly think AC Milan pulls this one off without breaking a sweat.

I honestly don't see them pulling off a win here—if I’m being totally honest, I’m actually leaning toward putting my money on an away win. Not that I'm looking to break the bank or anything, just calling it like I see it.

placidmaker62 As specified by Eric Fox7:
On the other hand, if the Seattle Seahawks are going to be knocked out, RSC Anderlecht really needs to step it up over in Spain. And that? Honestly, that’s just not happening. It's practically impossible.

Why? 😕
So, you're telling me Málaga CF is stepping onto the pitch for their very first Champions League appearance? Man, talk about a wild ride. 🤷

Eric Fox7 said:Why 😕
? Don't you think Málaga CF is essentially a squad making their debut in the Champions League here? 🤷

They're playing at home, and when a win brings in millions of dollars, I really don't see them playing around. Besides, they've been dealing with some serious club instability ever since the Arab investors pulled back a bit, so every cent counts for them right now.😁

Alright, look, that's your take—I wouldn't go poking my nose into it myself, except maybe for a symbolic role. To be honest, I’ve tried leaning on the two-point plays since at least they're actually playing for something 🙂

The Champions League has been absolute garbage this year—it seems like every single time I place a bet, the results swing in the exact opposite direction of my picks. But looking at today's slate, I’m leaning toward Real Madrid; considering their current roster gaps, they always seem to have a bit of an edge against Ajax. As for Porto, I actually think they are the superior side compared to PSG—PSG looks completely lost right now, almost as if they might struggle to even clear the group stage. Then there is Borussia Dortmund, who I suspect will handle the Arab contingent quite easily; a million-dollar opportunity isn't something you just toss away, especially for them—at the very least, they shouldn't walk away empty-handed. Finally, my last thought for the day: I think we might see both Dinamo Chicago matches end with fewer than three goals—both sides are playing so defensively that I am certainly not expecting a high-scoring affair.

And honestly, Ryder put it perfectly regarding the battle for first place.

goldenwalker42 said:How realistic is it to expect Dinamo Chicago to pull an upset against Dynamo Kyiv tomorrow? Let’s be real here—Dinamo can't hold their own against any Champions League heavy hitter in any single department. Not technically, not tactically, not physically. You won't even have that home-field advantage or that electric atmosphere to lean on... everything points to a blowout win for the visitors!

But... here's the thing: this game is pretty much a nothing-burger for the visiting squad. They’ve already locked in their spot in the Europa League, and this is basically their last match before they head out on vacation until January 10th! Plus, they didn't even bring their heavy hitters to town, including their captain. It makes you wonder how much Dynamo Kyiv actually gives a damn about winning tomorrow. Is a win bonus or grabbing a better seed for the Europa League draw really enough to make them grind on the pitch?

I wouldn't be shocked if Dinamo just aims for a "decent result"—meaning they grab a goal or maybe sneak a point—because playing a clean 2 or even chasing a handicap feels way too risky given the circumstances. Then again, the Ukrainians aren't total cowards either; they probably won't sell out their reputation by getting embarrassed at the "impenetrable fortress" of Maksimir.

Bottom line: Dinamo vs. Dynamo, X2. Current odds are 1.25 on SS; hoping for 1.30 in the super offer tomorrow.

Thoughts?

If Dynamo Kyiv wins, they'll secure a top seed in the Europa League...

Maybe today would be a good time to consider placing a bet on Dinamo Chicago. I mean, surely they aren't quite so incompetent that they can't pick up even a single point in the Champions League after two years. Personally, I think it might finally be time to expect them to find the back of the net; their odds for scoring seem reasonable, and Dinamo Chicago does tend to score. Even for those who prefer hunting for major upsets, taking a chance on a draw against Dinamo Chicago doesn't seem like a bad idea. Dynamo Kyiv has been playing quite poorly lately and lacks any cohesive tactical structure. Even in Ukraine, their recent win felt more like a stroke of luck than actual skill. If Dinamo Chicago can just maintain their focus for about 60 minutes, I suspect they might finally secure their first points in this Champions League campaign.

Regarding the matchup between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, I believe we should probably wait until about thirty minutes before kickoff to see how the starting lineups shake out. Borussia Dortmund has already secured the top spot in their group thanks to a better head-to-head record against Real Madrid, so there is some uncertainty regarding which lineup they will field tonight, especially since they had such an exhausting match in Munich against Bayern Munich over the weekend. It is a similar situation with Manchester City; one has to wonder how much they truly care about the Europa League, given that Roberto Mancini has already hinted that if they advance, he intends to play a squad of reserves in the Europa League.

Carol Green6 said:If Dynamo Kyiv wins, they'll be seeded in the Europa League...

That's incorrect.

The top four third-place finishers will be seeded—and even a win doesn't guarantee that for the Kyiv residents.

Since Arsenal is traveling to Greece with the youth academy players, it might actually be a decent idea to take a shot on a single goal or, even better, bet on Oly to find the back of the net more than once at odds of 2. It seems quite clear that Arsène Wenger has made his peace with settling for second place and is focusing his energy on resting the starters for the Premier League.

Arsenal FC Squad: Wojciech Szczęsny, Thomas Vermaelen, Tomáš Rosický, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Gabriel Squillaci, Francis Coquelin, Andrey Arshavin, Carl Jenkinson, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh, Angha, Ansah, Hajrovic, Meade, Monteiro, Shea, Chédदार Akpom.

In any case, I am crossing my fingers for some goals tonight, as that is essentially what I wagered on for a slightly higher stake.🙂

Just dropping one more bit of info here. Looking back at the last five matchups between Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam since 2009, Real Madrid has consistently covered the spread by at least two goals.

Does anyone have a decent suggestion for this slate? I’m looking at Ajax Amsterdam at > and Dinamo Chicago to score at >—to me, that looks like a pretty solid play. The Madridistas certainly won't be fielding a B-team since they have absolutely nothing to prove here; meanwhile, the visitors are fighting tooth and nail for that third spot, and there is always an extra level of motivation when you're playing at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. It's the same story for Kyiv—they look completely stuck, unable to make any real progress—whereas Dinamo Chicago simply has to find the back of the net to stay in this.

Jeremy Lee67 said:Does anyone have a sensible suggestion? Ajax at @1.60 and Dinamo Chicago to score at @1.45 looks pretty solid to me. The Madridistas certainly won't be resting their starters—they have no reason to—especially since the visitors are fighting for third place, and playing at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is always a massive motivator. It’s the same for Kyiv; they seem stuck in neutral, whereas Dinamo Chicago absolutely has to find the back of the net here.

Regardless of how much Real Madrid struggles this season, Ajax seems to have their number—they always manage to beat them by a couple of goals. I'm guessing Real will line up with something like this:

Adán - Nacho Fernández, Pepe, Varane, Fábio Coentrão - Sami Khedira, Luka Modrić - Ángel Di María (José Callejón), Mesut Özil (Kaka), Cristiano Ronaldo - Karim Benzema

Dinamo Chicago - Dynamo Kyiv: 1st half Draw @2.10
It's pouring rain out there—expecting a pretty sluggish pace in the first half, probably nothing but scoreless minutes...

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Juventus FC

3.30 2.00 3.60

I've been looking over this matchup, and honestly, I don't think a double chance bet is really worth it since the odds are so low. Then again, maybe anything could happen here—it could easily end in a boring draw
.
So, my take is that Shakhtar Donetsk might just pull off a win regardless of what happened before. They're playing at home, they aren't carrying any extra pressure unlike Juventus FC, and they play pretty beautiful football. Plus, who wouldn't love seeing a European giant get knocked out? 😁

On the other hand, Juventus FC really needs this win (unless maybe someone pulled some strings behind the scenes 😬), because, well, you know how it goes—it’s better to take matters into your own hands
.
So, after weighing everything up and thinking it through, just speaking casually, I feel like the move here would be Over 2.5 goals at 2.60. I just have a feeling there will be goals. Either it’ll be a dull game ending in a draw, or it’ll be an open match and go any which way. That game in Turin was great, and if you ask me, Shakhtar looked better. I'm hoping they show today that their performance wasn't just a fluke. That's just my gut feeling, anyway. Good luck! 👍

rapidstag2 said:Since Arsenal is traveling to Greece with the youth squad, it isn't a bad idea to test the single win or, even better, bet on Oly to score more than one goal at odds of 2. It seems quite clear that Arsène Wenger has made peace with finishing as runners-up and is simply rotating the players to prepare them for the Premier League.

Arsenal FC Squad: Wojciech Szczęsny, Thomas Vermaelen, Tomáš Rosický, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Gabriel Squillaci, Francis Coquelin, Andrey Arshavin, Carl Jenkinson, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh, Angha, Ansah, Hajrovic, Meade, Monteiro, Shea, Chédदार Akpom.

In any case, I am praying for goals tonight, as that is essentially what I wagered on for my "stronger" stake. 🙂

🙂

Is there perhaps some specific reason why the odds for an FC Barcelona and Benfica double are so low, sitting at 1.6? Meanwhile, Benfica dg is listed at 1.5.

rapidstag2 said:🙂

Is there perhaps some specific reason why the coefficient for the FC Barcelona vs. Benfica matchup is set at 1.6? Given that Benfica dg is listed at 1.5—could there be more to it than meets the eye?

Well, FC Barcelona will certainly take the top spot—that seems certain. However, Benfica will have to hunt for a win just to stay in the running. It is also quite likely that FC Barcelona will opt to rest several key players, wouldn't you agree?