* 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.
Another Thursday night without the Europa League means there’s still a bigger void in my soul than the Grand Canyon but we’ll manfully struggle on until the 17th of February. Just 34 sleeps to go, but who’s counting? Never mind, we’ll plough on with what the football Gods throw at us and this Thursday sees an absolute jamboree of cup football from across Europe – and Saudi Arabia.
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The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right nowSaudi Arabia is the new home of the Spanish Super Cup, naturally, and Atletico Madrid take on Athletic Bilbao in the second semi final to kick us off. Then it’s Liverpool v Arsenal in the Carabao Cup before AC Milan v Genoa in the Italian Cup. Not forgetting the Portuguese Cup where we finish with a top tier vs second flight clash in the shape of Portimonense v Mafra. It all adds up to a fine four-fold so let’s get stuck in.
* A four fold acca with these bets pays at approximately 21/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7pm: Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao – Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 1
Starting in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao where Diego Simeone’s dogs of war are Paddy’s favourites. They had been in shocking form, losing three on the bounce, before two wins and a draw before in their last three.
Bilbao have also won two and drawn one in their last three, ending a run of five draws in seven games. With the wins the goals have also flowed. In their last five Over 2.5 Goals has landed on three occasions.
For Atleti, Overs has clicked in seven of their last nine. In terms of a result this one could go either way but the numbers are pointing towards Over 2.5 Goals.
7.45pm: Liverpool v Arsenal – Over 3.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Both Liverpool and Arsenal had been in red-hot form until recent blips. They meet here in a delayed Carabao Cup semi-final first leg after last week’s scheduled game was called off.
In normal times you’d expect Liverpool to win this game fairly easily and set themselves up to seal a Wembley place in the second leg. But with a number of their star names away at AFCON and some positive Covid cases at the club it’s a little unclear who’s going to be available.
Instead I’ll side with goals and Over 3.5 of them. Over 3.5 Goals has landed in five of The Reds’ last six and Arsenal’s three games prior to their loss to Manchester City and their shock FA Cup exit at the weekend.
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8pm: AC Milan v Genoa – Milan to Win to Nil
TV: Premier Sports 1
AC Milan welcome Genoa to San Siro on Thursday fully expecting to progress in the Italian Cup. The home side are 2nd in Serie A while their visitors are 2nd bottom and have won one of their last 19 games.
Milan have won their last three with goals flying in all over the shop. They’re too short to back to win so we’ll have to turn our attention to another of Paddy’s markets. Milan pumped Genoa 3-0 in away in the league at the Luigi Ferraris and I think we can reasonably expect something similar again here. AC Milan to Win to Nil is the pick in this one.
8.45pm: Portimonense v Mafra – Under 2.5 Goals
Finally to the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals where Portimonense of the Primeira Liga take on Mafra from Segunda Liga. Portimonense are going well in the top flight and are 7th after 17 games. Their opponents are 10th in the league below.
We should expect another routine home win then, but probably not a lot of goals. The hosts have scored and conceded one more (18 each) than they’ve played so goals are likely to be at a premium for them.
Mafra have only scored three more than they’ve played in the league with 19 in 16, conceding 16. It all boils down to just over two goals a game each and, with the disparity in quality meaning Mafra should set up to limit the damage, we may see even fewer than that so Under 2.5 Goals rounds us off.
Thursday football acca
7pm: Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao – Over 2.5 Goals
7.45pm: Liverpool v Arsenal – Over 3.5 Goals
8pm: AC Milan v Genoa – AC Milan to Win to Nil
8.45pm: Portimonense v Mafra – Under 2.5 Goals
* A four fold acca with these bets pays at approximately 21/1 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.
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