║➽║ EXCLUSIVE Football News║

[miri-01]

Bologna vs Aston Villa tips, predictions, best bets and Europa League preview
By Jimmy 'The Punt' Cantrill
Football
Wed April 08, 2026 · 13h ago
Football betting tips: Europa League
1.5pts Aston Villa to win at 27/20 (bet365)

0.5pt Aston Villa to win to nil at 3/1 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair


Kick-off: Thursday, 20:00 BST
TV: TNT Sports 2
Live odds, form and stats
Europa League connoisseur Unai Emery will have his eyes firmly set on a fifth continental cup, with his meticulous reputation well renowned across the continent.

He won’t be taking this clash with Bologna lightly.

In last season's Champions League, Emery’s ASTON VILLA side beat Bayern Munich and drew with Juventus before getting knocked out to the eventual winners PSG. But even then, Villa gave PSG a real scare, beating them in the second leg of their quarter-final clash.

The point is, the Villans proved last season they can go toe-to-toe with the biggest and best sides on the continent which is why it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see them priced as 7/4 favourites to win the competition with Sky Bet.

Villa
In 10 Europa League games this season, Villa have won nine, with their only defeat coming at Go Ahead Eagles back in October.

Interestingly, six of those victories have been coupled with a clean sheet which is why backing Villa TO WIN as well as Villa TO WIN TO NIL both appeal.

The latter has also won in three of Villa’s four away wins in this competition as they’ve beaten Feyenoord, Fenerbahce and Lille without conceding.

In the Premier League, the Villans have outperformed the underlying data all season long but it has caught up to them recently.

Unai Emery’s side were in contention for the title at one point but currently sit in fourth, 16 points behind Arsenal but with a five point cushion on fifth.

Obviously, it would have been great to keep title hopes alive until Easter but at least now Villa’s league position allows them to focus solely on this competition.

They'll need to take their A game to Northern Italy because hosts Bologna won’t go quietly.

They had a pretty disastrous spell of 15 games starting just before Christmas where they only won three times in all competitions (D3 L9).

Since getting knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Lazio in mid-February, the Italian side won eight of their last 11 games.

In this competition, they’ve been consistently good, going 11 unbeaten (W7 D4).

The only side they've lost against was Aston Villa in their opening game, they also lost to the Villa in the Champions League last season and on both occasions, Emery’s side beat them without conceding.

[miri-01]

Jake Osgathorpe's Premier League tips and Super 6 predictions: 25/26 Matchday 32
By Jake Osgathorpe
Football
Sun April 12, 2026 · 42 min ago
Jake's Predictions 25/26: Staked 466.25pts | Returned 511.09pts | P/L +44.84pts | ROI 10%

super 6 round 47
Football betting tips: Premier League
Sunday 14:00

2.5pts Malick Thiaw to win 1+ foul in C Palace vs Newcastle at evens (bet365) - min price 7/10

1pt Jorgen Strand Larsen to commit 2+ fouls and Thiaw to win 1+ foul at 21/10 (bet365) - min price 6/5

2pts Under 2.5 goals in N Forest vs Aston Villa at 10/11 (Betfred)

2pts Sunderland to win Draw no Bet vs Spurs at 10/11 (William Hill)

Sunday 16:30 - Chelsea vs Manchester City

1.5pts Antoine Semenyo 2+ fouls committed at 8/5 (Coral, Ladbrokes) - min price evens

1pt Nico O'Reilly 1+ shot on target at 14/5 (betway) - min price 11/8

Monday 20:00 - Man Utd vs Leeds

1pt Bruno Fernandes 1+ assist 5/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes) - min price 6/4

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power |


It's been nearly a month since the last Premier League action, so no need to revisit the last version of this column, but the overall picture is still a good one.

Hopefully we can close the season strongly and with no more international breaks, it's full steam ahead with the final throes of the top flight season.

We have some huge games at the top and bottom of the league this weekend, with all eyes on Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham.

Crystal Palace vs Newcastle
Kick-off: Sunday, 14:00 BST
TV channel: Sky Sports Action
Live odds, form and stats
Crystal Palace have one foot in the Conference League semi-finals after a 3-0 thrashing of Fiorentina in midweek, and given their league position (14th), that European trophy is their sole focus. That should lead to some rotation here, while visiting Newcastle have to finish incredibly strongly to get into Europe next term.

The Magpies are 12th in the league but are only four points behind seventh-place, six behind sixth and seven behind fifth, so if they finish strongly they could sneak a European place and salvage what has been a poor season.

This is must-win for Eddie Howe's side and they will go full strength here which means MALICK THIAW will start, and his price of even money TO WIN 1+ FOUL is a cracking bet.

malick thiaw
The German badly needed a rest after playing nearly every minute this season, and was benched for the derby as a result before not playing in the international break, so he's had plenty of time to get himself ready for this final stretch of the season.

His fouls won numbers don't leap off the page this season, averaging just 0.35 fouls won per 90, but more recently he has been fouled a lot. Across his last nine Premier League outings he has been fouled at least once on six occasions.

That's promising for this bet, as is the likelihood of JORGEN STRAND LARSEN starting here. He was suspended for the Conference League in midweek with Jean-Philippe Mateta replacing him, and the two should switch out again for the weekend with Larsen coming in.

Larsen has been a fouling machine since moving to Palace, averaging 2.75 fouls per 90 across all competitions, with opposing centre-backs feeling the full force of the Norwegian giant. He has committed 2+ FOULS in nine of his 10 Palace appearances so we'll also back him to do so again alongside THIAW TO WIN 1+ FOUL for a 21/10 shot.

Score prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)

Odds correct at 13:00 BST (10/04/26)

Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Kick-off: Sunday, 14:00 BST
TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League
Live odds, form and stats
Both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have plenty to play for on multiple fronts this season, with Forest fighting to survive, Villa fighting for a top five spot and both still in the Europa League.

Forest earned a 1-1 draw at Portuguese champions-elect Porto on Thursday while Villa won 3-1 at Bologna so both are in decent positions to make the semi-finals, but it will be interesting to see how the pair approach this game as neither can really afford to drop the ball on the domestic front.

Vitor Pereira celebrates a Nottingham Forest victory
Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira celebrating victory at Tottenham
This will be a tight game, likely with few goals as I see both sides approaching this in a cagey manner, making UNDER 2.5 GOALS appeal at 10/11.

The City Ground has not been a hub for goals all season, with Forest's home league games averaging just 2.1 goals. All of their last six home league games have gone under 2.5, with Forest really struggling in attack in front of their own fans, scoring just once in that run.

Aston Villa are defensively sound but have also been hit-and-miss in attack this season, and four of their last five away league games have gone under 2.5 goals.

The timing of this game means we will either see two somewhat tired full-strength teams after their midweek exploits which could lead to a bit of lethargy and a lower intensity, or we see changes made which results in less fluidity and familiarity in the teams as well as less quality - either way both have me leaning towards this being a low-scoring game.

[miri-01]

Jake Osgathorpe's Premier League tips and Super 6 predictions: 25/26 Matchday 34
Football
Fri April 24, 2026 · 19 min ago

Jake Osgathorpe
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@JAKEOZZ
Jake is our deputy football editor, involved in the planning and delivery of content across our business. His own column, Jake's Predictions, is a profitable, weekly look at every round of Premier League fixtures.
Jake's Predictions 25/26: Staked 486.25pts | Returned 535.90pts | P/L +39.65pts | ROI 8%

Football betting tips: Monday Night Football
Friday 20:00 - Sunderland vs N Forest

1pt Neco Williams 2+ total shots at 17/10 (Betway) - min price 6/5

Saturday 12:30 - Fulham vs Aston Villa

1pt Jochim Anderson to be carded at 19/5 (Coral, Ladbrokes) - min price 3/1

0.75pt Timothy Castagne to be carded at 5/1 (bet365, Betway) - min price 7/2

Saturday 15:00

1.5pts Mohamed Salah to score anytime in Liverpool vs C Palace at 17/10 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

2pts Jake O'Brien to win 1+ foul in West Ham vs Everton at 13/8 (bet365) - min price 8/11

1pt Wolves to win Draw no Bet vs Tottenham at 5/2 (General)

Saturday 17:30 - Arsenal vs Newcastle

1.5pts Kai Havertz to commit 2+ fouls at 6/4 (Coral, Ladbrokes) - min price evens

Monday 20:00 - Man Utd vs Brentford

1pt Bruno Fernandes 1+ assist at 5/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes) - min price 6/4

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power |

I'm back after a brief holiday, though anyone with children who has visited Disneyland will know that another holiday is needed straight away. Unfortunately I don't have that chance, so it's straight from Mickey Mouse and the gang and back to the drawing board.

That's because the last few gameweeks for us have been tough, losing over 9pts of the profit we'd built. The overall picture is still green but with just five gameweeks remaining, this column will be looking for more winners, playing on the attack rather than parking the bus in true Jose Mourinho style.

This weekend, with three teams in the FA Cup semi-finals, we have a limited Premier League slate that starts on Friday and ends on Monday, but without any Sunday action.

There are some big games amongst the slate though, especially at the bottom where Tottenham have their easiest remaining fixture, but also at the top where a bottling Arsenal have to dig deep to bounce back after a shocking last six.

Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest
Kick-off: Friday, 20:00 BST
TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League
Live odds, form and stats
On paper this game doesn't whet the appetite but there is plenty to play for for both Sunderland and Nottingham Forest as they clash on Friday.

The Black Cats, who were dealt a dagger-blow last weekend in conceding a late loser, are only three points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth (Conference League qualification) and four behind sixth-placed Brighton (Europa League qualification) so a strong finish could see them sneak into Europe.

Forest meanwhile have pulled clear of the drop zone with two wins in the last three but are still only five points above the dotted line so aren't out of the woods yet, while they have a Europa League semi-final six days after this.

I don't really want to back either team here, with the draw a major runner in my mind, but the stalemate is priced accordingly short (generally 11/5). Under 2.5 goals is also short at 8/11, so we'll head to the shots market where Forest full-back NECO WILLIAMS is backed to take 2+ TOTAL SHOTS at 17/10.

neco williams forest
The Welshman is a shot-machine for the Tricky Trees, averaging 1.32 per 90 from left-back as he so often cuts inside onto his favoured right foot and pulls the trigger. He has fired 2+ shots in all of his last four starts and comes up against a Sunderland team who do concede plenty of attempts.

In fact the Black Cats have conceded the third-most shots in the league this season (481 - 14.6 per game), which suggests William should get opportunities to pull the trigger a couple of times.

Score prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)

Odds correct at 14:45 BST (23/04/26)

Fulham vs Aston Villa
Kick-off: Saturday, 12:30 BST
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Live odds, form and stats
Fulham have really hit the skids. It's just one win in six across all competitions, with that sole victory against Burnley the only game the Cottagers have scored in over that time. Marco Silva's side have struggled to create in that span, averaging just 1.15 xG per game.

That suggests it's a good time for a surging Aston Villa side to play them. Unai Emery's men are back in business, winning six of their last eight in all competitions to simultaneously move themselves eight points clear of sixth and into the Europa League semi-finals.

An away win was tempting at 6/4, but with an in-form Michael Oliver at the whistle, we'll venture to the cards market where TIMOTHY CASTAGNE and JOACHIM ANDERSON are both selected at 5/1 and 19/5 respectively.

joachim anderson
That's because of Aston Villa's left-side and their card-drawing ability. Across Villa's last 11 games against Premier League opponents, 10 have seen either the opposing right back or right centre-back get booked, so backing both this weekend in the hope at least one wins again makes plenty of appeal at the prices.

Right backs have been booked six times in 11, right centre-backs the same, with the double landing on two separate occasions. Castagne isn't the most card-heavy player, collecting just three this season so stakes are slightly reduced on the Belgian, with a full point on Anderson, who has seven cards to his name this term.

Michael Oliver started the season slowly but has found his groove since the turn of the year, averaging 4.4 cards per game across all competitions in 2026, so let's hope he continues in the same vain this weekend.

Score prediction: Fulham 1-2 Aston Villa (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Odds correct at 15:15 BST (23/04/26)

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00 BST
Live odds, form and stats
Back-to-back wins have put five points between Liverpool and now-sixth-placed Brighton, with the Reds having a game in hand to put fears of missing out on the Champions League at ease. The performances have been much better too from Arne Slot's side as they look to end the season strongly.

They take on their kryptonite on Saturday though, with Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace having their number of late. In six meetings under Glasner, Palace have won three and lost one, while at Anfield they are unbeaten in four, so they'll fancy their chances once again.

The Eagles do have a looming Conference League semi-final on Thursday which could be a distraction for a team with nothing to play for domestically, which has me hit the pause button on a pro-Palace play, and instead focus on the fact that MOHAMED SALAH is 17/10 TO SCORE ANYTIME.

Mohamed Salah
Yes, the Egyptian has had a huge drop off season by his extremely high standards, but that price is over the top. Not only is he back in some sort of form, but the factor of him being celebrated by Liverpool fans throughout these last few home games in particular should give him an extra boost.

Salah has scored in five of his last seven starts, finding the net in all of his last three league games, and remains on penalty duty for the Reds which is another boost for this bet.

He's averaging 0.35 xG per 90 on the season which sees him lead all available Liverpool players, and with Palace conceding plenty of goals on their travels of late, 1.58 per game across their last 12, Salah's price looks value.

Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)

Odds correct at 10:30 BST (24/04/26)

West Ham vs Everton
Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00 BST
Live odds, form and stats
A big game at the London Stadium in the relegation and European picture, especially as both teams will see this as a very winnable game. West Ham are two points above the drop zone and are unbeaten in eight games at home across all competitions, while Everton are three points off sixth and boast the fifth best away record.

Rather than getting stuck into the traditional markets, with these sides looking evenly matched, and I'm drawn to the huge price about JAKE O'BRIEN TO WIN 1+ FOUL, which is available at 13/8.

The Everton right-back has been winning fouls of late, with this bet landing in seven of his last 13 starts at right-back, including last weekend in the Merseyside derby when he was fouled three times.

That's great for this bet, but it really comes alive thanks to his direct opponent - Crysencio Summerville. The Dutchman has committed 40 fouls in his last 21 starts for West Ham, committing 2.03 per 90, with opposing right-backs facing him drawing at least one foul in 15 of those 21.

It's a hell of a strikerate for a bet priced at 13/8, making it a must bet in what should be a physically contested game. I'd back this all the way down to 8/11, which is available with William Hill.

Score prediction: West Ham 2-2 Everton (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)

Odds correct at 10:30 BST (24/04/26)

Wolves vs Tottenham
Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00 BST
Live odds, form and stats
Tottenham at 3/4 anybody? It's a no from me.

Yes they were better last weekend against Brighton but they still found a way not to win. That draw extended their Premier League winless run to 15 and continues to see pressure piled onto them, and that was an opponent which suits Roberto De Zerbi's style.

Brighton play front-foot football and leave spaces for opponents, which works in favour of De Zerbi-ball. Sunday's opponents Wolves are the opposite, and like the case made a few weeks ago ahead of Tottenham's trip to Sunderland, De Zerbi-ball struggles against a compact low-block.

Roberto De Zerbi
In their trip to the Stadium of Light we took Sunderland draw no bet, and it'll be rinse and repeat for us here with WOLVES DRAW NO BET the selection at 5/2.

Yes, Rob Edwards' side have been miserable in their last two games, losing by an aggregate of 7-0 to Leeds and West Ham, but both of those came on the road. They have been far more competitive in home games since the turn of the year, but we've just forgotten about it as they haven't played a home league game since 3rd March. That's nearly six weeks ago.

Wolves' last home league game saw them beat Liverpool. The game before at Molineux saw them beat Aston Villa. Before that they drew with Arsenal. That's some serious home form.

Across their last seven home league games the Old Gold have won three and lost two, and the fact they have been officially relegated could free them up even more without that hanging over them.

We'll likely see players increasing their levels as they play for moves or to get into World Cup squads, and there is absolutely no pressure on them. It's the exact opposite for Spurs, who have an immense amount of pressure on them in this game in particular as it is, on paper, their easiest remaining fixture and therefore must-win.

This team have shown they don't deal with pressure all that well either.

Score prediction: Wolves 1-0 Tottenham (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)

Odds correct at 10:30 BST (24/04/26)

Arsenal vs Newcastle
Kick-off: Saturday, 17:30 BST
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Live odds, form and stats
We are really going to see what Arsenal are made of in this next week. They have to pick themselves up off the canvas and start swinging after defeat at Manchester City last week handed the title initiative to Pep Guardiola's side.

It's now just one win in six for the Gunners across all competitions, but on paper this weekend's opponents are a good one for them to bounce back.

Newcastle's season is over. It's done. They have nothing to play for, have a number of injuries and will have a lot of their players perhaps saving themselves for the World Cup, making sure they don't suffer injuries that cost them a place in the US.

They have lost three straight league games, including the Tyne-Weir derby, and the pressure is mounting on Eddie Howe. Away from home they have been miserable all season, losing eight of 16, and with no Joelinton or Anthony Gordon here it feels as though the only way they get a result is another Arsenal implosion.

That is a very real possibility given how tense and agitated the Emirates crowd can get, but I suspect we see Arsenal bounce back. KAI HAVERTZ was excellent last week at the Etihad and surely has to keep his place in the starting XI for the Gunners.

havertz
He pressed with intent and aggression from the front, which ultimately led to his goal, and I want to chance him TO COMMIT 2+ FOULS at 6/4.

In his limited minutes across all competitions he has committed 1.48 fouls per 90 and in his last home start against Bournemouth made three fouls in just 53 minutes as the pressure was mounting on the Gunners.

Throw in the fact Newcastle are one of the league's best foul drawers, ranking fourth with 11.4 won per game, especially in the centre of the pitch with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, and Havertz could rack up the fouls once again.

Score prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)

Odds correct at 13:15 BST (24/04/26)

Manchester United vs Brentford
Kick-off: Sunday, 20:00 BST
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Live odds, form and stats
It looks increasingly likely that Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United top a top five finish this season, with a hard-fought win at Chelsea seeing them stay well clear of sixth (eight points) with a game in hand.

Only Manchester City (27) have picked up more points than United (26) since the Ruben Amorim was sacked and Carrick was appointed, while Old Trafford has been a happy hunting ground for the Red Devils who have won five of six, averaging 2.08 xGF and 1.21 xGA per game.

That's an impressive underlying process and another home win looks likely against a Brentford side who's season is still alive but who are struggling to get wins. The Bees have won just three of their last 12, with draws hurting their chances of European qualification.

Keith Andrews' side are ninth and just two points off sixth with a game in hand, so it is still possible, but this is a tough task on Monday. Away from home Brentford have lost eight of 16 and conceded 25 goals in that time so United should find some joy, which brings us nicely to our bet.

BRUNO FERNANDES 1+ ASSIST. Again.

Bruno Fernandes
We simply have to keep backing the United captain in this market while we continue to get prices above 2/1, with this wager landing once again last weekend as he set up the winner at Chelsea.

Fernandes is on 18 assists for the season and needs just three more to break the single-season Premier League record which is certainly something he'll be chasing, so even if he gets into a shooting position he will have half a mind on finding a teammate.

He's delivered at least one assist in five of his last six league games and eight of 12 since Carrick took charge, while across his last 18 starts in all competitions the selection has landed 13 time, with Bruno providing 16 total assists in that time.

He provides an open-play assist threat with his tremendous passing ability, but also a dead-ball threat, and given United are one of the best set-piece teams in the league and welcome back juggernaut Harry Maguire here, there are a number of avenues Fernandes can deliver for us again.

[miri-01]

PSG vs Bayern Munich tips, predictions, best bets and Champions League preview
Football
Tue April 28, 2026 · 1h ago

Jake Osgathorpe
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@JAKEOZZ
Jake is our deputy football editor, involved in the planning and delivery of content across our business. His own column, Jake's Predictions, is a profitable, weekly look at every round of Premier League fixtures.
Football betting tips: Champions League
2pts Bayern Munich to score 2+ goals at 17/20 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

1pt Luis Diaz to be carded at 24/5 (William Hill)

1pt Jonathan Tah to be carded at 18/5 (William Hill)

1pt Joshua Kimmich to be carded at 17/5 (William Hill)

1pt Michael Olise to be carded at 9/2 (William Hill)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair


TV: Amazon Prime Video
Live odds, form and stats
Reigning champions PSG have waltzed into the semi-finals of the Champions League after pummelling Premier League 'giants' Chelsea and Liverpool 12-2 on aggregate over two ties.

We know that both the Blues and the Reds aren't the powerhouses they have been, but the manner of both victories highlights the level of Luis Enrique's side as they aim to become just the second side to retain Ol' Big Ears in the Champions League era.

Luis Enrique
Standing in their way is a Bayern Munich juggernaut who have destroyed every team in their path.

Vincent Kompany's side are a relentless goalscoring machine who create an abundance of chances in every single game, and have already beaten PSG in their own backyard this season during the league phase of this competition.

They beat Real Madrid 6-4 on aggregate in the last round, and Atalanta 10-1 on aggregate before that, with the Bavarian giants scoring 38 goals in 12 UCL games this season at an average of 3.17 per game.

Kompany's side know only one way to play: ATTACK. That means we should expect goals here, likely at both ends, but I quite like the price available for BAYERN MUNICH TO SCORE 2+ GOALS at 17/20.

It's a bet that has landed in 11 of 12 Champions League games and in 46 of 49 games across all competitions this season. That's an insane strike-rate.

Harry Kane
PSG have been far from water-tight defensively, especially at home in Europe where they have kept just two clean sheets in seven and conceded multiple times on four occasions, including in their meeting with Bayern.

That game is worth revisiting, as the Germans were excellent in a 2-1 win. They raced into a 2-0 lead after 32 minutes but had Luis Diaz sent off on the stroke of half-time which was probably the only reason they didn't score in the second half.

A repeat could be on the cards, though with Bayern's high-press I wouldn't be surprised to see PSG net a couple too.

Fouls should be on the menu given how intensely Bayern press and how much transitional football we should witness, and so cards should follow. Referee Sandro Scharer has the whistle and he's brandished 3.67 cards per game in the Champions League this season and has a 3.90 career average.

We have a quartet of Bayern players to focus on, quite simply because PSG are the cleanest team in the competition, collecting an average of just 0.71 cards per game compared to Bayern's 2.17, with the German's pressing the main reason for this.

Jonathan Tah looks a good price for a card
Jonathan Tah looks a good price for a card
JONATHAN TAH is the first man up for us and we're taking him at 18/5 TO BE CARDED in Paris. The German centre-back has been foul-heavy in the Champions League this season, averaging 1.87 per 90 on the continent, while across all competitions he's collected eight cards at an average of 0.25 per 90, with him collecting a yellow at the Bernabeu in the last round.

Ousmane Dembele is more of a false nine than an out-and-out striker with the way he comes to link up the play and Tah will be following him into precarious positions, while also being left isolated in the left channel which spells trouble against either Bradley Barcola or Desire Doue.

We'll also chance LUIS DIAZ TO BE CARDED too at 24/5, the man who was sent off in the last meeting. The Colombian is a tenacious presser of the ball and as well as being tasked with creating in forward areas, he will also take some responsibility of keeping tabs on PSG's attacking right-back Achraf Hakimi.

He has been carded nine times this season at an average of 0.27 per 90 and as the stakes increase, he looks a live candidate to be a bit overzealous in his press.

bayern yellow cards
JOSHUA KIMMICH TO BE CARDED is also making the staking plan. Bayern's midfield maestro has collected seven cards across the Bundesliga and Champions League this season at an average of 0.21 per 90 but this bet comes alive given he'll be up against an excellent card-drawing midfield.

At least one opposing central midfielder has been booked in nine of PSG's 14 Champions League games, and with Aleksandar Pavlovic much shorter at 9/4 despite a much worse card record (just two this season), Kimmich looks worth chancing.

Finally, and yes, it is another Bayern player given how press-happy and card-happy they are, we're backing MICHAEL OLISE TO BE CARDED at 9/2.

The French winger is the joint-most carded Bayern player this season across league and Champions League matches this season, picking up 12 in total at an average of 0.30 per 90.

That alone makes the price on offer here massive, as does the fact he'll be pressing the rapid PSG full-back Nuno Mendes, and like his teammate Luis Diaz, has a job on his hands from a defensive perspective.

The card four-fold is a best price 200/1 with bet365 for those who want to take that big swing.

[miri-01]

Champions League tips: Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal predictions, best bets and preview
Football
Wed April 29, 2026 · 25 min ago

Joe Townsend
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@JoesterT
Joe is our football editor, responsible for Sporting Life's output across multiple platforms, including This Week's Acca. As well as forming part of that team, he writes regular match previews across a variety of competitions.
Football betting tips: Champions League
1.5pts Arsenal clean sheet at 2/1 (bet365)

0.5pt Arsenal to win to nil at 16/5 (bet365)

1pt Viktor Gyokeres to score anytime at 13/5 (Betway)

0.5pt Gyokeres to score first at 6/1 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 BST
TV: TNT Sports 1
Live odds, form and stats
Throughout a difficult six weeks that has seen Arsenal's quadruple ambitions and their lead at the top of the Premier League table vanish, Mikel Arteta has been urged to rip up everything that got the Gunners this far.

Play with gay abandon not discipline. Favour attack over defence. Take risks instead of protecting what you have.

He will not, and has not, altered.

Expect more of the same in the semi-finals of the Champions League, a competition that suits Arteta's approach.

The Gunners are unbeaten this season (W10 D2) and boast an incredible defensive record, with two of the five goals they have conceded coming when a second-string XI won a dead-rubber 3-2 against Kairat.

atletico madrid v arsenal preview
Away from home they have been breached just twice in six matches, keeping four CLEAN SHEETS. They are 2/1 to do so at The Metropolitano on Wednesday night and that should be backed.

Part of the reason the price is so big is because of Atletico Madrid's goalscoring record at home, finding the net in all of their last nine matches there, scoring 26 times in total (2.89 per game).

But Arsenal will pose a very different test to La Liga opposition - which includes their quarter-final opponents Barcelona, whose leaky defence is what currently holds them back.

No goalscorer is a top price of 17/2 and does not look backable considering how unreliable the Atleti defence has been this season, with Diego Simeone's side keeping just two clean sheets in their past 18 matches in all competitions.

During that period they were breached five times over two legs by a Tottenham side not only on the floor in terms of confidence and results, but who against any other opponent had looked completely unable to create anything.

So to a slightly reduced stake I like ARSENAL TO WIN TO NIL at 16/5 as well.

viktor gyokeres stats
I'm also prepared to get an Arsenal player onside TO SCORE ANYTIME given how vulnerable Atleti have been at the back.

With Kai Havertz ruled out through injury it is a virtual certainty that VIKTOR GYOKERES will lead the line, and tight encounters such as this were just why the Sweden striker was signed from Sporting in the summer.

He is a top price of 13/5 to find the net and 6/1 TO SCORE FIRST generally, so both are advised, with the latter a strong runner given we expect Arsenal to make this fine-margin.

His debut campaign at The Emirates has been far from a disaster, with 18 goals in total. Gyokeres has been far more effective this calendar year too, scoring 15 goals in his last 25 games for club and country, which includes seven substitute appearances.

[miri-01]

Tom Carnduff's Bundesliga tips: Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday May 8
Football
Wed May 06, 2026 · 2d ago

Tom Carnduff
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@TomCarnduff
Tom is a football journalist who is also key to our social media and AV content, and host of Sporting Life's This Week's Acca podcast. He produces regular football tips including a Friday Bundesliga column.
Tom Carnduff's Fußball am Freitag: P/L: +13.62pts | ROI: 22% | Staked: 62.5pts | Returned: 76.12pts
Football betting tips: Bundesliga
2pts Can Uzun over 2.5 total shots at 13/10 (Betway)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Another Bundesliga campaign ends with a Bayern Munich title. Borussia Dortmund have to settle for the bridesmaid role again as we head into the last couple of gameweeks.

That means it is likely to be the final edition of this column with the final day fixtures all taking place at the same time of course - that being Saturday at 14:30 (BST).

The scheduling of the relegation play-off may well mean we get another as the first leg of that will take place on either May 21 or 22. For now though, we'll assume that's that.

This Friday sees a game which may have been viewed as a battle between two top four sides when the fixtures were released.

Eintracht Frankfurt haven't been able to secure another Champions League appearance and could well have their fate sealed with no European football whatsoever following this weekend's results.

Dortmund's three defeats from their last four does give Frankfurt some hope though. Yet their own form hasn't been that of a European contender - they're secured just one win from their previous six.

Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Kick-off: Friday, 19:30 BST
TV: BBC iPlayer, Bundesliga YouTube
Live odds, form and stats
Winning both of their games to end the campaign would mark just the third occasion this Bundesliga season where they've secured back-to-back victories. It feels a mile (or kilometre, I suppose) away from the side which finished third in 24/25.

They do score though, it's an attack which is still firing despite inconsistency. Frankfurt have found the net in each of their previous six but have failed to keep their opponents out at the other end.

You'd fancy similar to happen here but like most Bundesliga games BTTS is offered at a short price. After all, it's a league which has seen this land 61% of the time - England and Spain sit at 56%, France is at 51% and Italy much lower on 45%.

CAN UZUN has had a good couple of weeks following his return from injury and the odds-against price across the board for 3+ TOTAL SHOTS is much better value.

Can Uzun shot map
He registered an assist in the draw with Augsburg before scoring their only goal in defeat to Hamburg last time out. That took his total to seven having scored in each of their first five of the season.

Across the last two games, Uzun's returned a huge total of ten shots. Eight of his 13 starts in this injury-disrupted campaign have hit the 3+ marker.

It's interesting that they were his only two starts following Albert Riera's appointment in February due to injury and a high figure was returned in both - even if it was opponents below them in the Bundesliga table.

In what could be an end-to-end game at times, Uzun can play his part.

[miri-01]

The VAR anger goes on but West Ham's equaliser against Arsenal was clearly a foul
Football
Mon May 11, 2026 · 4h ago

Alex Keble
Football Columnist
Every Premier League title race must have a single moment that crystallises all that we’ve seen, not just to decide the destination but to summarise what the winners stand for and why it was their fate to be champions this year.

But the image isn’t usually satire. There was something poetic to the anti-romance that was watching Chris Kavanagh watch a small screen, surrounded by players watching Chris Kavanagh watch a small screen.

Modern football is a million people staring at a VAR replay, forever.

And fitting, of course, that Kavanagh was scrutinising a typical set-piece brawl, a plague that has descended slowly over the Premier League season the last few years.

Fitting too because this is Arsenal, the kings of set-pieces, although the irony here was that Kavanagh’s final call was to deny the very dark arts that have become such a staple of Arsenal’s corner routines.

Thankfully the decision was correct. It took a long time for the referees to disallow Callum Wilson’s equaliser but only because the enormity of the moment demanded it.

Had this been in the 35th minute of a mid-January match the call would have been made in less than 10 seconds.

David Raya tries to catch the ball in two hands but cannot jump properly to claim it because Pablo's arm is across his throat: it is a no-brainer, the correct decision no matter how many other fouls might have occurred in the six-yard vicinity.

The whataboutery from West Ham and Manchester City fans is understandable – we would all cry foul, or rather not foul, in their position – but there is a long-established pattern of focusing on contact that happens near the action.

This one was right in the heart of it - and it was a foul, clear as day.


Nevertheless it leaves us with a few existential questions.

The obvious take is to praise VAR’s existence and forgive its many defects, but that would be to cave in to VAR’s mechanising, mathematising view of the sport.

Fundamentally what has been lost isn’t just the ability to celebrate a goal, nor the uninterrupted flow, but the basic capacity to accept that referees are fallible and the laws of the game impossible to apply consistently; that mistakes are a part of football, not a contravention of its natural state.

Aside from those generational burning injustices – Maradona’s hand of god, Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland – referees missing things never used to be so tortuously scrutinised. Instead it was understood to be just another chaotic, semi-random variable in a sport that dishes out cruelty and joy dispassionately.

If there was no VAR in the Premier League West Ham would have drawn 1-1 with Arsenal and there would be outrage, yes, but once the dust had settled there would also be universal acknowledgement that West Ham bought their own luck with those late chances and that Arsenal should have grabbed the second goal or kept the ball away from their end.

But we do have VAR, it’s here to stay, and it colours everything.


It even made a team like Arsenal possible: obsessed with controlling the variables, reducing football to its most logical and mathematical elements.

Mikel Arteta’s vision is VAR made flesh, a strategy that could only have been devised in an era when millimetre offside calls will be seen, when infringements from corner melees will be pored over.

VAR has created the reality in which a team can rely upon the technology’s pernickety sensibilities and make them a virtue.

Arsenal will surely win the title from here, easily dispatching of Burnley at home and then Crystal Palace’s reserves at Selhurst Park just three days before their Europa Conference League final.

They will be deserving champions: the best team in the country but also the team perfectly sculpted for the age in which we live.

Arsenal’s defining moment was always going to be a corner, the Premier League’s was always going to put VAR in the spotlight.

It isn’t the dazzling end to the title race we wanted. But in a fairly forgettable year once again dominated by the screen experience, it’s the ending Arsenal have earned - and the ending we deserve.

[miri-01]

Bradford vs Bolton tips, predictions, best bets and Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final second leg preview
Football
Thu May 14, 2026 · 1h ago

Joe Townsend
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@JoesterT
Joe is our football editor, responsible for Sporting Life's output across multiple platforms, including This Week's Acca. As well as forming part of that team, he writes regular match previews across a variety of competitions.
Football betting tips: Play-offs
1pt Bolton to win at 15/8 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Agg: 0-1
Live odds, form and stats
Bolton are an excellent team, if a little wasteful, with it no surprise they topped League One's underlying data charts with 82 expected points - five clear of champions Lincoln.

A record of W4 D8 L3 over their final 15 matches ultimately cost Wanderers any chance of automatic promotion as they slipped down to fifth, but in the first leg of this semi-final tie, Steven Schumacher's men found both a performance, and crucially, a result, just when they needed it.

Amario Cozier-Duberry's neat finish on the hour proved to be the difference on Saturday. As has been the story of Bolton's season, though, they ought to have won by a wider margin.

The Trotters' match-winner hit the post within a minute of putting his side ahead, and while there were few clear-cut chances across the rest of the match, Bradford were totally outclassed for the majority of it.

Having been so strong at Valley Parade for two seasons the Bantams will be confident of overturning the deficit, but lately they've struggled.

Graham Alexander's side are on their worst home run for two years, taking just six points from their final five home games of the season (W1 D3 L1) an incredible drop-off from the 2.37 points per game (W31 D6 L4) since the start of 2024/25.

BOLTON, meanwhile, may have only won six games on the road this term, but they lost only seven - and only two of their final 11.

When these sides met in West Yorkshire just three weeks ago, Wanderers were (again) dominant, denied victory by a late equaliser. Although the visitors only need a draw to progress to Wembley, the 15/8 about them TO WIN is enough to get me onside.

Bolton were 6/4 in April with the game similarly poised. The Trotters required a point to clinch a play-off place and Bradford needed to win.

It should suit Schumacher's side. With the onus on the hosts, there will be plenty of space for their pacy forwards to exploit on the break.

Ultimately though, Bolton are simply a far superior team.

[miri-01]

David Raya is the real driving force behind Arsenal's Premier League title bid
Football
Wed May 13, 2026 · 4d ago

Ryan Baldi
If Arsenal do finally drag themselves over the line and win their first Premier League title in 22 years, there will be endless attempts to identify the defining image of the campaign.

Maybe it will be Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick against Tottenham. Maybe it will be Bukayo Saka scoring to see off Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Maybe it will simply be Mikel Arteta collapsing into a small emotional heap somewhere near the Emirates dugout.

But the moment that may actually have won them the title arrived in east London on Sunday afternoon, hidden inside a game Arsenal probably should have controlled and almost catastrophically failed to.

Mateus Fernandes was through. Clean through. The sort of chance that swings championships. The sort of chance where home fans are already halfway out of their seats before the shot is struck.

And then David Raya produced a save that felt less like goalkeeping and more like a small act of political intervention.

The reaction told the story. Gary Neville immediately called it a “title-winning save”. Arteta hugged Raya at full-time like a man who knew exactly what had just happened.

Arsenal eventually escaped with a 1-0 win over West Ham thanks to Leandro Trossard’s late goal and a VAR-assisted disallowed equaliser, but none of it matters without Raya’s intervention earlier in the game.

Which brings us neatly to the strangest individual award decision of the season.

Bruno Fernandes winning the FWA Footballer of the Year award is not outrageous. Manchester United’s captain has been magnificent in an otherwise deeply dysfunctional side and there is something undeniably romantic about a player dragging a malfunctioning superclub toward relevance almost through force of personality alone.

But if there is an Arsenal player who can legitimately feel robbed, it is not Declan Rice. It is Raya.


Rice has been superb, obviously. Arsenal’s midfield still bends to his rhythm, his athleticism remains absurd and he continues to play football with the aura of a man trying to personally repossess every loose ball in England.

But the more interesting question is this: who has actually been Arsenal’s most important player over the course of the entire season?

The answer is the goalkeeper.

Partly because Arsenal’s title challenge has been built on defensive reliability bordering on obsession. Partly because Arteta’s system demands an absurd amount from his goalkeeper in possession.

But mostly because Raya has spent nine months erasing the handful of moments that separate champions from nearly-men.

That distinction matters. Rice dominates games. Raya rescues them.

David Raya - Arsenal
David Raya has been a consistent performer for Arsenal this season
And there is still something oddly stubborn in football discourse when it comes to goalkeepers. We treat them as accessories to great teams rather than the engines of them.

Outfield players are allowed to “win points”. Goalkeepers merely “keep teams in games”, which is essentially the same thing dressed up in language designed to make it sound less glamorous.

But Arsenal are probably not about to win the league because they scored marginally more beautiful goals than Manchester City or Liverpool. They are about to win it because they concede almost nothing and because, when they do finally crack, Raya is there behind them.

Sunday was merely the loudest example.

There have been dozens of quieter ones. The reflex saves. The command of crosses. The increasingly absurd consistency in one-v-one situations. The distribution that allows Arsenal to bypass presses without descending into chaos. He has become one of those goalkeepers whose mere presence changes the emotional temperature of a match.

Opponents know they must create more than one big chance against Arsenal because one probably will not be enough. That psychological advantage is enormous.

The irony is that Raya still feels oddly underappreciated because his excellence has become routine. Just two season ago, Arsenal supporters spent the first half of the campaign litigating the Ramsdale-Raya debate like a civil war. That discussion vanished entirely because Raya has removed all ambiguity.

He is simply one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Arsenal celebrate reaching the Carabao Cup final
Declan Rice (left) has been the focus for many people when it comes to individual awards
And unlike Rice, whose brilliance occasionally comes in spectacular bursts, Raya’s influence has been relentless. Week after week. Error-free performance after error-free performance. The sort of consistency that slowly becomes invisible because people stop noticing the absence of catastrophe.

Until catastrophe nearly arrives. Then suddenly everyone notices again.

The West Ham match was actually a strangely perfect microcosm of Arsenal’s season. Arteta tinkered unnecessarily, the midfield balance briefly collapsed, the game became stressful when it should have been comfortable and Raya ended up preserving order while everyone else flirted with self-destruction.

Even the late VAR drama reinforced the point. The debate centred on whether West Ham’s disallowed equaliser should have stood, but the reason Arsenal were still alive for controversy to matter at all was because Raya had already produced the save of the match earlier.

And perhaps that is the real issue with individual awards in football. Narrative almost always beats value.

Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has David Raya to thank at times this season
Fernandes has the narrative. Rice has the glamour. Bernardo Silva has the prestige. Raya merely has the tiny matter of being the foundational reason Arsenal are likely about to become champions.

Goalkeepers rarely win these awards because their excellence feels preventative rather than expressive. Fans remember the player who scores the winner more vividly than the player who stopped the loser. But title races are often decided less by brilliance than by the refusal to collapse.

Raya has embodied that refusal all season.

Which is why, if Arsenal lift the trophy in a few weeks’ time, the image worth remembering may not be a celebration at all.

It may just be a goalkeeper refusing to be beaten in east London and saving an entire season.

[miri-01]

Manchester City next manager odds: Pep Guardiola out Enzo Maresca in?
Football
Tue May 19, 2026 · 5h ago

Joe Townsend
Image of the letter X with a black colouring.@JoesterT
Joe is our football editor, responsible for Sporting Life's output across multiple platforms, including This Week's Acca. As well as forming part of that team, he writes regular match previews across a variety of competitions.
It is being widely reported that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing to a close his 10-year spell as manager.

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca - who worked under Guardiola at The Etihad before taking charge of Leicester in 2023 - is the 1/4 favourite to replace him with some reports claiming that deal has already been agreed.

News broke on Monday night that Man City are preparing a farewell for their legendary coach after Sunday's home match against Aston Villa.

Before then they face Bournemouth on Tuesday, where only victory will take their Premier League title hopes to the final day, with a failure to do so seeing Arsenal crowned champions for the first time since 2004.

Guardiola, 55, has enjoyed unprecedented success during his decade in Manchester, winning 17 major trophies - six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups and five EFL Cups.

Throughout both this season and last there has been speculation over his future, but he quelled that 18 months ago by signing a new contract until 2027.

But he is now expected to leave a year early having won both domestic cup competitions this season, and with his side still hoping to complete a domestic treble over the next six days.

Enzo Maresca
Focus will quickly turn to Guardiola's successor, with Maresca seemingly the anointed one - the widespread nature of reports has meant most firms have closed the book on the Italian being appointed

Part of the reason for Maresca's sudden departure from Stamford Bridge earlier this season was apparent back channeling taking place between him and City over possibly replacing his former boss this summer.

Should he ultimately do so, Chelsea's suspicions will have been proven right.

The 46-year-old has enjoyed success in a short managerial career, winning the Championship in his only full season with Leicester, then the Conference League and Club World Cup in his only full season with Chelsea.