It was almost a clean sweep for this column last time out, with Frankfurt’s failure to net at Schalke the only blip on an otherwise perfect week.
The 10/11 winner on the Tranmere vs Boreham Wood National League play-off final was a lovely return, and Barcelona’s struggles at Levante would not have surprised anyone who read our preview.
If Frankfurt had of found the net, we’d have walked away with a 12/1 acca triumph….
Never mind, we go again with this week’s both teams to score betting tips:
| Match | Both Teams to Score Yes/No | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Napoli vs Crotone | Yes | 4/7 |
| Sevilla vs Alaves | Yes | 8/13 |
| Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls | Yes | 1/2 |
| Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC | Yes | 1/2 |
| Chicago Fire vs Houston Dynamos | Yes | 8/13 |
| All Five Results as an Accumulator | 7.97/1 | |
Napoli vs Crotone – Yes (4/7)
There is a fascinating scenario in Serie A, where with one round of fixtures to go five teams could all be relegated.
The current occupiers of the third and final relegation spot are Crotone, but they have looked failure in the eye and decided they did not liked what they saw. In their last five games they have drawn with Juventus and Lazio and hammered mid-table Sassuolo, and they know that realistically a point will be enough to keep them afloat.
As for Napoli, well, you may have seen their wild celebrations after beating Juve 1-0 a few weeks ago and thought ‘those are rather premature, lads’. And so it proved: the Naples outfit have taken four points from a possible nine since and watched the Old Lady secure what feels like their 2018th consecutive Serie A title.
Sevilla vs Alaves – Yes (8/13)
It has been a strange old season for Sevilla, whose successes in the Champions League have overshadowed a rather tawdry campaign in La Liga.
They’ve shipped 58 goals – only three teams have conceded more – and their usual assured style has been notable by its absence.
Alaves are no great shakes, of course, but they have won five of their last seven and will enter the summer period full of confidence. They’ve bludgeoned ten goals in their last four outings, and quite frankly that’s good enough for us against a Sevilla side who have lost their defensive solidity.
Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls – Yes (1/2)
The MLS’ two top scoring teams meet on Monday, and it is fair to expect more goals to follow here.
Atlanta are a fun side to watch. They play a 3-4-3 system that sees players bombing forward with gay abandon, and in Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron they possess one of the best attacking partnerships in the division. Ably supported by the likes of Julian Gressel, Darlington Nagbe and young Ezequiel Barco, they are a sight to behold in full flow.
But the Red Bulls take some stopping, too. They’ve notched a remarkable eight goals in their last three away games, and they possess an abundance of attacking options in the shape of the ever-prolific Bradley Wright-Phillips, Florian Valot and Alejandro Gamarra.
Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC – Yes (1/2)
There is an artistry to the attacking play of Sebastian Blanco and Diego Valeri that ensures Portland can be very optimistic about their chances in the MLS this term.
They’ve notched nine between them in as many games this term, and the Timbers find themselves on a four-match winning run.
They’ve kept three straight clean sheets too, so perhaps they are ‘due’ to concede….Los Angeles are a likely outfit to end that run.
They possess the considerable talents of Carlos Vela, Marco Urena and Diego Rossi, and in six away outings have blasted an outstanding 16 goals.
But for all their attacking prowess they do struggle defensively – 13 shipped in half-a-dozen away dates, and this contest looks ripe for a BTTS verdict.
Chicago Fire vs Houston Dynamos – Yes (8/13)
With BTTS landing in seven of Houston’s last eight, we have to take them very seriously in this market.
Their nine games have witnessed an incredible 32 goals this term, and while they are ropey defensively – shipping two or more in five of their last six – in attack they possess a lethal combination in Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas, who have notched nine in nine between them.
Chicago have their own predatory frontman in Nemanja Nikolic, and his link-up play with Brandon Vincent is particularly encouraging for the Fire.