* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
We’ve got a wide range of fixtures to take in on Saturday with everything from international friendlies to non-league English football and second division action in Spain. Russia take on Bulgaria in preparation for Euro 2020 this summer while Sweden host Armenia.
It’s Notts County v Chesterfield in their one-off National League playoff and there’s more knockout action in La Liga 2 with Girona defending a big first-leg lead against Almeria. We’ve found some nice value and here’s a four-fold acca for Saturday’s games.
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4pm: Russia v Bulgaria – Under 2.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Premier League
Russia head into Euro 2020 with realistic hopes of progressing from Group B which also contains Belgium, Denmark and Finland. Bulgaria failed to make the finals, amassing just six points from their eight games in a qualification group that included England.
Russia are clearly the superior side in this contest and sit 38th in the FIFA World Rankings, 33 places higher than their opponents. Neither are tearing it up at the moment though and in 2021 they’ve won just two games from their combined eight with 100% of those going to the hosts here.
The hosts have a lot to work on and I’m expecting them to win this contest narrowly. They’ll be looking to shore up their defence and with Bulgaria struggling in front of goal (two goals in their last five games), Under 2.5 Goals is the play in this one.
4pm: Notts County v Chesterfield – Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 1
Notts County in 5th play Chesterfield who finished 6th in the National League’s playoffs which take a different format to those of the EFL. Both of these are former Football League stalwarts and will be desperate to make it back to League Two, but they’ll have to do it the hard way in this playoff system where the teams who finished lower have to fight through to play the higher-ranked teams in the latter stages.
But whatever the challenges that lie ahead, the equation is simple for these two, lose this one-legged playoff game and they’re in non-league for another year. These two shared the spoils in the regular season, with each side’s win coming by a single goal with both scoring three each in the two games.
County and The Spireites are both in decent form and both have been finding the net with ease recently. County have witnessed 13 goals over the last five games while Chesterfield have been involved in 16, giving us the combined aggregate of 2.9 goals per game. In this do-or-die contest, Over 2.5 Goals is your best bet.
7.45pm: Sweden v Armenia – Both Teams To Score
TV: Sky Sports Football
This is Sweden’s final warm-up game before Euro 2020 and they’ll be expecting to give minnows Armenia a good kicking before embarking on a tricky-looking Group E campaign. The Scandinavian side are ranked 18 in the world while Armenia are way down in 90th, but the visitors here are definitely improving.
Sweden are in good shape and have won five of their last six, with only France beating them in that run. Armenia are in surprisingly good form, though there are some League C Nations League games boosting that. They’ve lost just once in 2020/21, but they haven’t come up against much, however, they did manage a score draw with Croatia last time out and won their five games before that.
This might be trickier than Sweden are expecting and Armenia have scored in all 10 of their games this season, including that one against Croatia. Sweden haven’t fired a blank for seven games and I think Both Teams To Score is the way to go here.
8pm: Almeria v Girona – Over 2.5 Goals
TV: LaLigaTV
Girona pumped Almeria 3-0 in the first leg of their La Liga 2 playoff semi-final on Wednesday night to firmly plant one foot in the final. They meet in the second leg on Saturday and I think the one thing we’re guaranteed here is goals.
Almeria finished two places and two points above Girona in the regular season, but the first leg went firmly on form with the Gironistes absolutely flying at the moment. They’ve won eight of their last nine, drawing the other one. Over the same period Almeria have won just three, drawing four and losing the other two.
But in terms of a bet for this game, I’m going to side with Over 2.5 Goals. It’s landed in 60% of the hosts’ last five but just one of Girona’s. However, with Almeria having no choice but to go for it from the off we can expect fireworks in this Liga Segunda Division playoff battle.
Saturday’s football acca
4pm: Russia v Bulgaria – Under 2.5 Goals
4pm: Notts County v Chesterfield – Over 2.5 Goals
7.45pm: Sweden v Armenia – Both Teams To Score
8pm: Almeria v Girona – Over 2.5 Goals
These selections in an acca-insured four fold will give you odds of around 14/1 with Paddy Power.
ACCA INSURANCE
If one leg of your 4+ fold Acca lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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