* 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.
Wednesday night is the night of champions. It’s official. We’ve got a whole league of champions and a ship full of them for our midweek fix. In the Champions League I’ll be looking at last season’s 2nd and 3rd best teams team in England and Italy, as well as Serie A’s 4th best playing – oh look – the Russian champions.
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Anyway, what I’m saying is we’ve got Manchester United hosting Atalanta and Juventus’ trip to Zenit. Before that it’s all aboard the Championship for Fulham against Cardiff and Swansea v West Brom.
I mean, look, we might only actually have one champion among the eight teams involved but that’s the marketing spiel and I’m running with it. So, strap on your lifejackets as we go search for some champion value on Wednesday night.
* An acca with these bets pays at approximately 42/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7.45pm: Fulham v Cardiff – Fulham and Over 2.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Red Button
Fulham have been a bit hit and miss recently, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their last five in the Championship on the way to their current position of 3rd in the table. Their opponents here, Cardiff, have been incredibly consistent and have lost six on the bounce.
One trend these two share is goals – and lots of them. Cardiff have seen Over 2.5 Goals land in three of their last four. The problem for them is that they’ve scored one and conceded 13 in that run. In The Cottagers’ last four there have been 16 goals, an average of four a game. They’ve scored nine of those, shipping seven. Fulham should win this at a canter and it’s well worth adding Over 2.5 Goals into the mix for some extra value.
7.45pm: Swansea v West Brom – West Brom and Under 2.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Swansea might have got a season-starting win over those Bluebirds in the South Wales Derby last time out, battering Cardiff 3-0 on Sunday lunchtime. However, the team you’d least want to face next if you’re looking to get on a roll in the Championship is probably West Brom.
The Baggies are 2nd in the table, three points behind Bournemouth with 12 played heading into the midweek fixtures, while The Swans are up to 17th after their win at the weekend. The away side here have only lost once all season while Swansea have only won three times.
All things being equal we should see a West Brom win, which is a nice enough price to back by itself, but I think adding Under 2.5 Goals will give us a bit more spice. In their last eight games, West Brom have only witnessed Overs on two occasions while it’s landed in three of the home side’s last seven. For the value, West Brom to Win and Under 2.5 Goals is a great play.
8pm: Man Utd v Atalanta – Over 3.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate
I’ll be honest with you, I’ve got no idea who’s going to win this. This is a meeting of two teams with an appetite for self-destruction and that’s one of the few things they can both rely on at the moment. Another, however, is goals. I have a hunch Atalanta are going to get something and the Atalanta Win/Draw double chance is worth a look if you’re so inclined. But at a slightly bigger price I’m throwing my lot in with Over 3.5 Goals.
Over 3.5 Goals has come in three of the last four times Atalanta have taken to the pitch and they very much see defending as a chore. United are a little bit more sensible but are fresh off the 4-2 loss to Leicester at the weekend. The Italian side seem to bring the action whenever they play and I think we’ll see that trend continue with Over 3.5 Goals in this one.
8pm: Zenit v Juventus – Juventus to Win
TV: BT Sport Extra 2
Now, to the only actual champions here on what I am still laboriously referring to as champions day, Zenit. They’re welcoming Juventus to Russia on Wednesday for an intriguing Group H encounter.
This is a tale of two sides whose fortunes have changed drastically in recent times with Zenit winning five out of six in all competitions before losing their last two- both against very average sides. Juve started very slowly but are well up to speed now and have won five on the bounce in all comps.
If this game had been the first of the group stages I might have been entertaining a home win but Juventus are back to their relentless best under the excellent Max Allegri, winning their last three games 1-0. They might be able to break the shackles here and score a few while extending their winning run to six, but at a decent enough price we need look no further than Juventus to Win.
Wednesday’s acca
7.45pm: Fulham v Cardiff – Fulham and Over 2.5 Goals
7.45pm: Swansea v West Brom – West Brom and Under 2.5 Goals
8pm: Man Utd v Atalanta – Over 3.5 Goals
8pm: Zenit v Juventus – Juventus to Win
* An acca with these bets pays at approximately 42/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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Wednesday football tips
- BET BUILDER: Tap in our 17/1 play for Man United v Atalanta on Wednesday
- THOMMO’S TIPS: Wednesday’s Champions League best bets from Phil and our trader
- 3 BEST BETS: Our pick of the punts for Chelsea v Malmo
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