It was a sigh of relief in midweek as Dortmund got me my first winner of the club season, and a non-runner in Fermin Lopez is as good as a win when you’re down in the doldrums. Added to that was that somehow Jude Bellingham failed to score in Real Madrid’s Champions League tie with Inter, so I’m classing that as a positive and a sign things are moving in the right direction. This weekend I’ve got my Manchester derby tips and three others that I think are well worth a crack. Let’s get into it.
Odds provided by Stake.com.
Chelsea v Hull
Premier League, Stamford Bridge, London, UK, 4pm CET, Saturday 12th September
Prices: 1.22 Chelsea, 6.25 Draw, 13.00 Hull
Chelsea are bonkers and take on newly promoted Hull at home in the first bet of the weekend. Chelsea won 6-3 in midweek, meaning they’ve now scored 16 goals in five games this campaign, but have also conceded nine, which means the unbeaten Tigers will fancy their chances. Sergej Jakirovic has got his side really well organised, but it’s hard to see them keeping out the Blues, who even managed to breach Arsenal’s back line last weekend. The Chelsea attack look so dangerous and I think this will be another entertaining game that Xabi Alonso’s men will come out on top of.
Tip: Chelsea to win & both teams to score @ 2.65. 1 unit.
Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano
La Liga, Santiago Bernebeu, Madrid, Spain, 9pm CET, Saturday 12th September
Prices: 1.10 Real Madrid, 10.50 Draw, 21.00 Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid hit a bump in the road against Betis last time out but bounced back with a solid win over Inter in the Champions League. I had brilliant Jude Bellingham to score or assist in that one and he somehow contrived not to score from not one, but two, gilt-edged chances. Maybe I’m a sucker for punishment, but I just can’t help myself but returning to the well in the hope that he’s raging so much from not getting on the scoresheet in Europe, that he goes on a tear here. Real should score a few against Rayo, and Bellingham at the prices looks the play.
Tip: Jude Bellingham to score anytime @ 2.40. 1 unit.
Manchester United v Manchester City
Premier League, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK, 5.30pm CET, Sunday 13th September
Prices: 3.15 Manchester United, 3.80 Draw, 2.12 Manchester City
The big game of the weekend in Europe takes place in Manchester as old rivals City and United go toe-to-toe in an intriguing match up. City, after losing the Community Shield, have looked pretty solid and won each game since, while United, despite plenty of money spent, still look a mixed bag. In midfield they still somehow look short and have conceded twice in each league game, despite what looked a friendly start to the campaign. Their attack is firing though and they put four past Sabah in their Champions League opener, so this should be an entertaining game.
After moving so many players on in the summer, City pulled it together late in the window with their signings, and look a really well balanced side. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo have started the season in great form and I think they’ll overpower United’s fragile defence in a high scoring encounter on Sunday.
Tip: Manchester City to win & both teams to score @ 3.40. 1 unit.
Brest v PSG
Ligue 1, Stade Francis-Le Ble, Brest, France, Sunday 13th September
Prices: 10.50 Brest, 6.50 Draw, 1.25 PSG
PSG have really stumbled out of the blocks in their domestic title, failing to win a game yet, and face a Brest side that have made a solid start, going their first three matches unbeaten. This is a tricky little game for PSG but finding the net has not been a problem for them and new signing from Barcelona, fresh off the back of his World Cup winning goal, Ferran Torres, has made a lightning start in his new surroundings. He scored a hattrick against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League in the week to make it five goals in four games and he is an eye-catching price to keep up his goalscoring form here.
Tip: Ferran Torres to score anytime @ 1.95. 1 unit
Check out Tommy the Punter’s tipping record here.