This week I’m looking at the Champions League qualifiers, before the Premier League and Ligue 1 return on Friday. Click here to bet. Remember, only bet what you can afford to lose!
PAOK 1 v 1 Ajax – Tuesday 6 August – Champions League qualifier – Both Teams to Score (1.80)
PAOK won the Super League last season without losing a single game. They’ve also won five of their seven friendlies over the summer, scoring 22 goals. Ajax won their domestic league too, and made it to the Champions League semi-finals. They’ve lost some big players though and they could only manage a 2-2 draw against Vitesse on Saturday. I’m going for a Draw.
Krasnodar 0 v 1 Porto – Wednesday 7 August – Champions League qualifier – Under 2.5 Goals (1.70)
This is Krasnodar’s first time in the Champions League qualifiers and they’ve drawn a big team. Porto were quarter finalists last season, where they lost to eventual winners Liverpool. The Portuguese side have also won three of their five summer friendlies. Krasnodar’s results have been inconsistent so far in their league campaign and I think they will lose here.
Istanbul Basaksehir 1 v 1 Olympiakos – Wednesday 7 August – Champions League qualifier – Both Teams to Score (1.95)
This could be a tasty game! Basaksehir are in the qualification phase for the only the second time. Three of their four previous qualifiers saw both teams score, which I think is a good bet here. Olympiakos beat Viktoria Plzen in the last round. They’ve only lost one of their last five away qualifiers though, and the hosts haven’t won any of their last four friendlies. I’m going for a Draw.
AS Monaco 1 v 1 Lyon – Friday 9 August – Ligue 1 – Both Teams to Score (1.75)
Last season was one to forget for Monaco. They finished fourth from bottom and need to recapture their form from previous years. They have won four of their eight pre-season friendlies, while Lyon have lost four of their five friendlies. However, they had the second best away record in Ligue 1 in 2018/19 and ended the season with seven wins in their last ten league games. I see a Draw.
Liverpool 3 v 0 Norwich – Friday 9 August – Premier League – Liverpool Win and Over 2.5 Goals (1.50)
The Premier League is back! Liverpool came close to the title last year and they couldn’t have asked for a better fixture to start this campaign. Norwich are newly promoted and have lost four of their last five games against the Reds (all four defeats saw Over 2.5 Goals). Liverpool are also unbeaten in their last 21 games at Anfield in all competitions and scored 55 goals there in the Premier League last season. I can only see a win for Liverpool, putting them top of the table.