* 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.
Here we go then, it’s time for some sumptuous Saturday night selections taking in the best that Europe can muster. In this edition I’ll be pouring over the bright lights of the German second tier, Serie A, France’s Ligue 1 and a right regal clash over in La Liga.
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There’s some tight games on offer and that means the potential for plenty of value. So, without taking up anymore of your precious weekend, let’s see what’s about.
* An accumulator on these four best bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7.30pm: St Pauli v Schalke – BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
Craft beer loving fans of European football in checked shirts and carefully-curated beards will be toasting the form of St Pauli. The hipsters’ choice sit at the pinnacle of Bundesliga 2 and take on Schalke on Saturday evening with realistic hopes of keeping their position until Christmas and beyond.
There’s three games to go until the winter break and St Pauli are 1st, three points clear of Darmstadt in 2nd. Schalke are 6th, six points off top, and will be targeting an immediate return to the Bundesliga after their pathetic demotion last season.
This should be an entertaining game. Goals have been flying around like no-one’s business when these two take to the field and that looks our best route. I’m going for Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals here.
Fans of the home side have witnessed 20 goals in their last five (4 a game on average) with both teams netting in four. Schalke’s numbers read 17 in their last five with BTTS in their last three. Expect plenty of action in this one.
7.45pm: Napoli v Atalanta – BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 2
Napoli are still sitting at the top of Serie A but their incredible form has slowed a little of late. They welcome Atalanta to the Diego Armando Maradona who are unbeaten in eight domestic games with six wins in that run and four on the bounce coming into this.
Paddy’s traders are keeping their power dry for this game and the home, draw and away results are all pretty similarly-priced with Napoli slight favourites. It’s a fair assessment and I’ll be swerving predicting who’s taking the spoils as well.
Instead, again, it’s goals I’m interested in. Both have scored 32 goals in their 15 games this season, a combined total of 64 in 30 matches. Napoli have conceded just nine goals this season but six of them have come in their last four matches.
Atalanta are famously open and are shipping over a goal a game in Serie A this season (17 goals conceded in 15) so I think the best value again is in backing Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals. It’s hard to see Atalanta keeping it to Nil and with Napoli’s defence becoming increasingly leaky I think they’ll struggle to prevent the Bergamo-based side from notching as well in a high-scoring affair.
8pm: Lens v Paris St-Germain – PSG Win & Over 3.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 3
Next up is anther league-leading side in the shape of Paris St-Germain. PSG have a 12-point advantage over Marseille in 2nd, though OM have a game in hand. That won’t matter, of course, and it looks like the Parisians have the league tied up again already.
Next up on the chopping block is 5th-placed Lens who are having a good season and occupy the final European spot in the French top tier. They’ve been exciting to watch with a whopping 51 goals across their 16 games, an average of 3.2 per match.
For PSG it’s 50 goals in 16 matches, an average of 3.1. While PSG will rightly be expected to win here it’s eminently possible that Lens give them a bit of a scare with at least one goal.
PSG are conceding a shade under a goal a game and Lens are averaging just under two scored. The away side are scoring over two goals a game so, with the potential for barn burner, I’ll add a lot of value to a PSG Win by bolting on Over 3.5 Goals in the game.
8pm: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win
TV: LaLigaTV
We finish with a match that will go a long way to deciding who is crowned the kings of Spain this season as one-time table toppers Real Sociedad face Real Madrid at Anoeta Stadium. This is a tussle between two sides very much moving in opposite directions.
Sociedad did occupy top spot a few games back but they’ve been unable to maintain it and have drawn too many games, reaching stalemate in four of their last eight, losing last time and winning the other three.
Madrid, on the other hand, are very much on the charge and have been swatting La Liga peasants aside with a run of six wins in their last seven and five on the bounce. It all means they’re now seven points clear at the top on the table with Sociedad down in 3rd behind Atletico Madrid on goal difference.
Everything is pointing towards a Real Madrid Win and I’ll keep it nice and simple to round us off here. It’s rare you’ll find Carlo Ancelotti’s side at this kind of price and it’s one not to miss given their imperious form and Sociedad’s recent decline.
Saturday football tips
7.30pm: St Pauli v Schalke – BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
7.45pm: Napoli v Atalanta – BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
8pm: Lens v Paris St-Germain – PSG to Win and Over 3.5 Goals
8pm: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win
* An accumulator on these four best bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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* 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.
Saturday football tips
- Thommo: Phil’s Watford v Man City Tips with 6/1 selection
- Thommo Turbo Treble: Phil Thompson’s 8/1 Saturday 3pm Premier League tips
- West Ham v Chelsea Tips: 7/1 punt among Thommo’s 4 best
- West Ham v Chelsea Tips: Goals galore in our 23/1 Bet Builder
Sunday football tips
Premier League Tips: Tasty 11/1 treble for Sunday’s 2pm games
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now