Football Betting Tips

Real Madrid clinched a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley last season and they look good value to make it 16 in Munich next year.

They have won 15 of their 18 appearances in the final and have won six of the last 11 instalments, with their last defeat in the final of this competition coming back in 1981 against Liverpool.

Los Blancos’ storied history in this competition would have put them among my favourites for the trophy even before their business in the summer, but the transfer window has been kind to them and they head into the 2024/25 campaign with arguably the best squad in the world.

The world-class talents of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior remain instrumental to Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but the arrival of arguably the world’s best player in Kylian Mbappe could send them stratospheric.

As if that wasn’t enough, teenage sensation Endrick has also arrived in the Spanish capital and scored on his home debut against Real Valladolid.

Led by a manager who has won the Champions League a record five times with two separate teams, it would take a brave man to oppose Real Madrid.

Athletic Bilbao have clear motivation for a deep Europa League run – as their San Mames stadium will host the final in May. Spain star Nico Williams has hung around for another season dreaming of European glory with his boyhood club in their home ground.

Athletic won the Copa del Rey last term and they’re seen as the strongest Spanish side in the competition. With eight of the last 11 seasons seeing a Spanish winner of the Europa League, Athletic are standout value at 12/1.

Copenhagen made the Champions League last 16 earlier this year, making it through a group that contained Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray. They finished four points off the Danish title in May and slipped into the Conference League as a result, where the change in format offers them a path to glory. After a decent summer transfer window and a strong domestic start, Copenhagen can make an impact in a competition which has a vulnerable trio of favourites.

Copenhagen made the Champions League last 16 earlier this year, making it through a group that contained Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray. They finished four points off the Danish title in May and slipped into the Conference League as a result, where the change in format offers them a path to glory. After a decent summer transfer window and a strong domestic start, Copenhagen can make an impact in a competition which has a vulnerable trio of favourites.

Athletic Bilbao have clear motivation for a deep Europa League run – as their San Mames stadium will host the final in May. Spain star Nico Williams has hung around for another season dreaming of European glory with his boyhood club in their home ground.

Athletic won the Copa del Rey last term and they’re seen as the strongest Spanish side in the competition. With eight of the last 11 seasons seeing a Spanish winner of the Europa League, Athletic are standout value at 12/1.

FCSB suffered a 4-0 humbling at Rangers in their last European outing but should fare better on home soil against Denmark’s Midtjylland. The Romanian side have four wins and no defeats in their last six at home and they beat a decent LASK side 1-0 during qualifying, while the visitors have lost each of their last three away from home.

Hearts have lost just two of their last eight matches in all competitions and this form should help them see off a Heidenheim side with four defeats from their last six.

Defensa y Justicia are enduring a difficult season but they have been picking up results at home, losing just one of their nine games at this venue in this competition. They can claim a much-needed win against an Argentinos Juniors side who have lost 10 of their last 11 away games.

Deportivo Riestra are among the worst travellers in the division, with six defeats and no wins after nine trips. Back them to fall short again at Platense, who have two wins in their last three at home.

Velez Sarsfield have won seven of their last eight at home and have kept clean sheets in all of those wins. The league leaders have only conceded two goals in nine games at this venue in this competition and they can claim another win and a shut-out against Tigre.

Deportivo Riestra are among the worst travellers in the division, with six defeats and no wins after nine trips. Back them to fall short again at Platense, who have two wins in their last three at home.

Both of these teams look suspect at the back as both have just one clean sheet each in their last 10 respective games. Clermont have scored four goals across their last two and Ajaccio have only failed to score in one home game, so back both teams to score.

Graafschap have scored 33 goals in just 13 league games and their fixtures average over four goals per-game. Struggling Maastricht have scored in six successive home games in all comps – hitting 12 goals in total during that run – so can contribute here and over 3.5 goals stands out.

Union Berlin have 10 points from a possible 12 at home, while Freiburg have lost two of their four away. Freiburg have lost their last two games at Union Berlin and the home side look well placed to bounce back with a victory in front of their own fans after back-to-back away defeats. Only Bayern Munich have denied Freiburg an away goal so far this season, so the visitors can at least strike in defeat.

Lecce have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions and have scored just one goal across their last seven fixtures. Empoli come into the game after a 1-0 win over Como and have eight points to show from five trips so far, so the visitors look well placed to see off Serie A’s bottom club and keep a clean sheet.

Both of these teams look suspect at the back as both have just one clean sheet each in their last 10 respective games. Clermont have scored four goals across their last two and Ajaccio have only failed to score in one home game, so back both teams to score.

Both teams have scored in seven of Dunkerque’s last eight games and they have scored in 11 successive fixtures, while Grenoble have hit 17 goals in 12 games so both of these attacks look capable of scoring.

Both teams have scored in Den Bosch’s last six games and in Oss’ last three at home. The hosts may struggle against their promotion chasing opponents but they can at least get on the scoresheet.

Both teams have scored in eight of Utrecht’s last 10 games and only Feyenoord have kept a clean sheet against them this season, Heracles have scored in six of their last seven and can at least contribute here.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in six of Excelsior’s home games across all competitions this season and they’ve only managed one clean sheet across those fixtures. Eindhoven arrive in poor form but they have shipped at least three goals in three of their last four fixtures so over 2.5 goals appeals here.

Graafschap have scored 33 goals in just 13 league games and their fixtures average over four goals per-game. Struggling Maastricht have scored in six successive home games in all comps – hitting 12 goals in total during that run – so can contribute here and over 3.5 goals stands out.

Both teams have scored in Den Bosch’s last six games and in Oss’ last three at home. The hosts may struggle against their promotion chasing opponents, who sit 12 points above them in the standings, but they can at least get on the scoresheet.

Both teams have scored in eight of Utrecht’s last 10 games and only Feyenoord have kept a clean sheet against them this season, Heracles have scored in six of their last seven and can at least contribute here. Utrecht have four wins in five games at home so back the hosts to win and concede.

Union Berlin have 10 points from a possible 12 at home, while Freiburg have lost two of their four away. Freiburg have lost their last two games at Union Berlin and the home side look well placed to bounce back with a victory in front of their own fans after back-to-back away defeats. Only Bayern Munich have denied Freiburg an away goal so far this season, so the visitors can at least strike in defeat.

Marseille are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Auxerre but OM have kept just two clean sheets in 10 matches this season.

Union Berlin have 10 points from a possible 12 at home, while Freiburg have lost two of their four away. Freiburg have lost their last two games at Union Berlin and the home side look well placed to bounce back with a victory in front of their own fans after back-to-back away defeats.

Lecce have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions and have scored just one goal across their last seven fixtures. Empoli have eight points to show from five games and come into this clash after a 1-0 win over Como, so back the visitors to leave with the spoils.

Rayo Vallecano have been beaten in just one of their last seven La Liga matches and they should have too much for Las Palmas, who have struggled recently on the road.

Watford have been close to perfect at home this season with seven wins and a draw in eight games across all competitions. The Hornets should be able to see off an Oxford side who are winless on their travels (D2, L5).

All three of Union’s home wins have come via one-goal margins and they’ve conceded exactly once in each of their last three at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Only Bayern Munich have denied Freiburg an away goal so far this season, so there is a good chance we’ll see goals at both ends and a 2-1 win for the hosts appeals.

Watford have been close to perfect at home this season with seven wins and a draw in eight games across all competitions. The Hornets should be able to see off an Oxford side who are winless on their travels (D2, L5). Watford have scored exactly twice in four of their last six at Vicarage Road and they were able to keep a clean sheet against Blackburn in their last home game, while Oxford have failed to score in two of their last five trips so take a chance on a 2-0 home win.

Lecce have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions and have scored just one goal across their last seven fixtures. Empoli come into the game after a 1-0 win over Como and have eight points to show from five trips so far, so the visitors look well placed to see off Serie A’s bottom club and keep a clean sheet.

Marseille are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Auxerre but OM have kept just two clean sheets in 10 matches this season.

Watford have been close to perfect at home this season with seven wins and a draw in eight games across all competitions. The Hornets should be able to see off an Oxford side who are winless on their travels (D2, L5).

Lecce have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions and have scored just one goal across their last seven fixtures. Empoli come into the game after a 1-0 win over Como and have eight points to show from five trips so far, so the visitors look well placed to see off Serie A’s bottom club.

Watford’s Edo Kayembe has five goals to his name in the league this term and four of those have come in home games.

Boro should be able to see off a Luton team that have found readjusting to the second tier a tough task and have a poor record on the road this season, taking just four points from six away games.

The Cottagers have won just one of their five away trips, but they looked like the better side in a 3-2 loss at Man City and a 1-1 draw with Ipswich. They were moments away from a 1-0 victory at Everton in their last trip, while they are the only side to win at third-placed Forest so far. The Cottagers should thrive in this short trip across London, with Palace languishing in 17th place.

Charlton have just one win in their last seven League One games and have lost two of their last three trips and are facing an Exeter side who have won six of their eight home games across all comps, so back the hosts to secure maximum points.

After winning just one of their opening four matches in League Two this season, Port Vale are now unbeaten in 10 league games and have won five on the bounce ahead of their trip to a Gillingham side trending in the opposite direction.

County have won two of 11 games since beginning the campaign with three league wins and they could be vulnerable against the Trotters, who have woken from their early-season slumber.

League One leaders Wycombe are the in-form side in the third tier, having won each of their last five league matches, and the Chairboys will be confident in keeping this winning streak alive when they visit Wigan on Saturday.