Hi gang! I had eight out of ten correct Match Tips last week. Let’s try to keep the good run going!
Montpellier 1 v 2 Lyon – Tuesday 27 August – Ligue 1 – Both Teams to Score (1.70)
Montpellier have only picked up one point from their first two league games. They haven’t beaten Lyon in the league since 2015 either, so things don’t look good for them right now. In contrast, Lyon have won both of their matches, scoring nine goals and conceding none. I see an Away Win here. I’m also going for Both Teams to Score, which has happened in eight of the last ten meetings between these two sides.
Krasnodar 1 v 0 Olympiakos – Tuesday 27 August – Champions League qualifier – Under 2.5 Goals (1.90)
Olympiakos’ 4-0 win in the first leg means that this tie is all but over. Krasnodar were very impressive in the last round when they beat Porto. They have also been on a good run in their domestic league, but the goals have dried up recently. However, the visitors have not conceded a single goal in any of their five qualification matches so far this season. This side are experts at keeping a tight defence, and I think that they won’t give Krasnodar a chance to scare them.
Newcastle 1 v 2 Leicester – Wednesday 28 August – EFL Cup – Double Chance Leicester (1.35)
Newcastle have looked far weaker this season since the departure of Rafael Benitez, as well as forwards Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez. I expect Steve Bruce to name a strong team so that the new players can get used to being a part of the team. However, Leicester haven’t lost an away game in the EFL Cup in normal time since 2009. In their 12 away matches since then, they have won nine and drawn three. I think that Brendan Rodgers will see this as a great opportunity to win a trophy and will be desperate to get to the next round. I’m backing the Foxes.
Wolves 1 v 0 Torino – Thursday 29 August – Europa League qualifier – Under 2.5 Goals (1.75)
I knew that Wolves would upset the odds in the first leg. They won 3-2 last week in Italy, which puts them in a strong position here. They finished last season unbeaten in their last 11 home games in all competitions. They’ve also proven that they can put on a good display in big games. Torino only scored 19 away goals in all competitions last season. I think that they will struggle against the hosts’ defence here, so I don’t expect many goals here.
Borussia M’Gladbach 0 v 1 RB Leipzig – Friday 30 August – Bundesliga – RB Leipzig Win (2.00)
Monchengladbach are hugely reliant on their away form. They drew at home to Schalke on the opening weekend of the season, which means that they have now failed to win any of their last nine home games in the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, have won eight of their last ten away league games. They have also won four of their last five games against Monchengladbach. New manager Julian Nagelsmann has signed some very exciting young players and I think they will push Bayern a long way this season. I’m going for an Away Win on Friday night.