Football Tips & Predictions – 9/02
The English Premier is having its inaugural Winter Break and as such the fixtures are staggered across the next two weeks which may be the opportune time to look across the English Channel. Two fixtures pop out and are sure to entertain any fan of the sport. Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan lock horns with AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina from the Italian Serie A. At the top of the German Bundesliga a fixture which will definitely bear where the title will head come May, Bayer Munich host challengers Leipzig.
09.02.20 – Inter Milan vs AC Milan – Serie A
The San Siro Stadium will host the 296th Derby on Sunday as Inter Milan try to keep the pressure on Juventus, who will most probably claim a win on Saturday away at Hellas Verona. Milan, on the other hand, have had a good start to 2020, heralded by the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and haven’t lost since the turn of the year fuelling the hopes for a European place this season.
Market: Inter Milan to Win (1.96)
The Nerrazzuri are currently 19 points ahead of their rivals and have had the upper hand in recent years head-to-head. Should they win it would the fourth straight win for Inter against Milan. Conte would be adamant to get his campaign back on track after three consecutive 1-1 draws prior to last week’s win away at Udinese. AC Milan themselves have put the memories of a 5-0 thrashing they were handed by Atalanta before Christmas well away, winning thrice and earning a draw from the four matches after. A draw with Verona last time out however crashed them back to reality further reminding them of the work they still have to restore the team back to its glory days.
Market: Under 2.5 goals (1.96)
Across the last 10 seasons, Inter have claimed victory 9 times from 19 matches and just 37% of the times did the matches end up with more than 2.5 goals scored. The Under 2.5 goals at 1.96 is good value with more of the same expected.
Market: Anytime goalscorer // Christian Eriksen (2.64)
Antonio Conte strengthened significantly in the January transfer window with the highlight definitely being the Dane’s acquisition from Tottenham. Romelu Lukaku has 16 goals to his name so far this season but 12 of those have come away from home. Given that, it might seem that odds of 5.00 for the Belgian to score should be higher. Eriksen had a knack of picking up all-important goals with Tottenham and is good at set-pieces. Is there a better way to introduce oneself to the Nerrazurri faithful with a winner in the derby?
09.02.20 – Bayern Munich vs Leipzig – Bundesliga
The Bavarians have been in outstanding form of late and after a slight wobble in November, which saw Niko Kovac sacked, they have recovered really well and now sit at the top of the Bundesliga. Leipzig are having an exceptional season so far but the last two results did put spokes in their wheels having fell to defeat against Frankfurt and salvaged a draw against Monchengladbach. The fixture has all the ingredients of a goal-bonanza as Lewandowski and Werner have 42 goals combined in the league so far.
Market: Bayern Munich to win -1 (1.95)
It has proven very difficult for Bayern Munich to be dethroned off their Bundesliga and are in a good position to defend the title and win it for the eighth consecutive time. True, they were given a scare by Hoffenheim mid-week in the German Cup turning an easy 4-1 lead to a nervy 4-3 victory. In fact, coach Hansi Flick did declare that as a wake-up call. We believe that the Bavarian squad would have taken that to heart and in turn impose their superiority on Leipzig with a two-goal or more victory.
BetBuilder: Bayern Munich to win & Over 3.5 goals & Both Teams to Score (2.75)
Yes, goals are to be expected in this fixture. Bayern Munich’s total of 58 goals in the league so far translate to a 2.9 goals per match ratio. Leipzig’s isn’t far off at 2.65. Despite scoring that much Bayern have been leaking goals with 65% of the matches ending with Both Teams to Score. Armoured with this knowledge, we can combine that in a Betbuilder bet. The scenario is as follows, Bayern to win but they will concede and 4 goals or more will be scored. That is available at odds of 2.75 from Betbuilder.
Market: Anytime goalscorer: Thomas Mueller (6.50)Market: Anytime goalscorer: Thomas Mueller (6.50)
It’s easy to pile on Lewandowski to be on the scoresheet again and at (3.40) to score anytime that is still a good price. But we can venture to be more adventurous. Lewandowski and Mueller have 44 goals between them for Bayern Munich across all competitions which have strengthened the calls for Joachim Loew to recall the German for the Euro’s despite telling the 30-year old last March that his international career is over. Under Flick’s 14 matches so far, Mueller has been instrumental, even displacing Coutinho and ha seven goals and nine assists. He is the man for the big occasion.
