*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
It’s a real mixed bag in the European football scene this Thursday. It’s a rare week off for the effervescent Europa League but there’s still plenty of decent games to sink our teeth into.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
We’ve got two matches from La Liga, Cadiz v Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad v Barcelona, as well as Burnley’s big match in their fight for Premier League survival against Southampton and a mouth-watering Portuguese Cup semi final between old friends Porto and Sporting.
There’s plenty to play for as the finish line edges closer and closer into view with silverware, European places and survival up for grabs. Here’s a four-fold acca across Europe to see you through on Thursday.
*An accumulator with these four bets pays at approximately 30/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7pm: Cadiz v Athletic Bilbao – Cadiz to Score The First Goal
Cadiz’s battle against relegation from La Liga gets another stern test on Thursday as Athletic Bilbao roll into town. The side from Andalusia sit just outside of the drop zone and are two points clear of Granada in 18th with a better goal difference and six to play coming into this one.
Bilbao’s season is realistically over. They’re 8th but have a 10 point gap to make up on Real Sociedad in the final European spot with six to go. You’d expect this to be fairly routine for Bilbao, but the thing is, Cadiz actually beat Barcelona 1-0 last time out.
That’s thrown the cat among the pigeons, certainly from my perspective, but actually it’s provided an interesting angle which is Cadiz to Score First. Under 2.5 Goals is the play here but Paddy knows that and it’s way too short to back.
Instead I’ll take a punt on the selection on the basis that both keep it tight and Cadiz could well get something from this if their last outing is anything to go buy. Cadiz to Score The First Goal has clicked in four of their last six with only a 0-0 draw and Atletico Madrid striking first in a 2-1 win during that run.
7.45pm: Burnley v Southampton – Under 2.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
Burnley in 18th badly need to beat Southampton if they’re to remain in the Premier League next season. The Clarets come into the midweek fixtures three points behind Everton in 17th and having played a game more.
Southampton are pottering along and look set for mid-table obscurity once again, only popping up to pique the interest of neutrals when taking a battering or beating one of the bigger sides from nowhere. They’ve achieved both these feats in their last two games losing 6-0 to Chelsea and beating Arsenal 1-0 last time out. Bingo!
The thing here is that The Saints haven’t scored more than one goal in any match for seven games and Burnley have mustered four goals across their last seven with three of those coming inside a single 90 minutes, the 3-2 win over Everton. Under 2.5 Goals has clicked in 11 of their last 14 games and there’s nothing to suggest it won’t do so again here as two low-scoring teams meet.
- LIKE PADDY POWER NEWS? OR MAYBE YOU JUST LIKE TO WHINGE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN OUR READER SURVEY
8.15pm: Porto v Sporting – Porto to Win and BTTS
The Primeira Liga’s two best teams meet here for the second leg of their Portuguese Cup semi final. Porto take a 2-1 lead back to The Dragao but Sporting have had the best part of two months to dwell on the first leg which took place back on the 2nd of March.
These two have now met three times this season with both league matches ending in a score draw and that aforementioned 2-1 away win for Porto in the cup. I think there’s great value in backing Porto to Win and Both Teams to Score.
Porto have home advantage and they’re still in the blistering form that’s seen them go nine points clear at the top. Sporting lost to Benfica last time out and, added to that defeat in the first leg, might have gone off the boil against the better sides in Portugal.
8.30pm: Real Sociedad v Barcelona – BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
TV: Premier Sports 1 and LaLigaTV
We finish off in Spain where Barcelona head to Real Sociedad smarting from that aforementioned shock loss to Cadiz last time out. They’re still 2nd in the league and will be looking to secure their status as best of the rest and wrap up a top four finish as the season comes to a close.
Sociedad will have ambitions of surpassing their opponents here as well as the two other clubs tied on 60 points with Barca in 3rd and 4th, Sevilla and Atleti, but they’re five points back in 6th. Back to Barca, and you have to wonder if the wheels have fallen off after their sensational run. They’ve now lost two in a row after going 23 without defeat.
What to make of this match, then? Barcelona won this 4-2 on the opening day but we’ve had a lot of water under the bridge since then. The Catalans’ losses to Frankfurt and Cadiz at home have put the willies up me and Sociedad are in good form themselves so I’ll look away from the W-D-W market for a punt in this one.
I think Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals has a good chance. Sociedad normally keep it pretty tight at the back while scoring with regularity. Barcelona are normally free flowing and somewhat leaky in defence. The hosts have netted in seven of their last nine while Barcelona’s failure to score on Monday was the first time that’s happened for seven matches.
Thursday football acca tips
7pm: Cadiz v Athletic Bilbao – Cadiz to Score The first Goal
7.45pm: Burnley v Southampton – Under 2.5 Goals
8.15pm: Porto v Sporting – Porto to Win and Both Teams to Score
8.30pm: Real Sociedad v Barcelona – Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals
*An accumulator with these four bets pays at approximately 30/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
FREE BET IF 1 LEG LETS YOU DOWN
If one leg of your 4+ fold Accumulator fails to land, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Acca Free Bet If 1 Leg Lets You Down 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
READ MORE
- Head over to Paddy Power News for all the latest Football Tips
- Jamie Redknapp investigates football fans who have two teams
- Jamie Redknapp investigates the murky world of football NFTs