*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’re up to our necks in the business end of the season now and I could not be any more excited. This Wednesday will have massive ramifications in the Champions League, the Championship and Serie A and we’ve got all the action covered here.
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We’re talking Liverpool v Villarreal in the big league, Middlesbrough v Cardiff in the English second tier and Atalanta v Torino and Bologna v Inter in Serie A.
Inter can go top while Atalanta are still in the European hunt, Liverpool will be looking to put one foot in the Champions League final while Boro are desperate for the points in their badly-stuttering playoff push. There’s plenty on the line so let’s get stuck into a four fold for hump day.
*An accumulator with these four bets pays at approximately 20/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7:15pm: Atalanta v Torino – Both Teams to Score
TV: BT Sport Extra 1
Atalanta in 8th will be hoping Fiorentina slip up earlier in the day against Udinese so they can leapfrog them into 6th place, the Serie A Europa Conference spot, with four to play. Top four is probably beyond them so it’s looking like the Conference or Europa League is the height of their remaining ambitions.
Torino have absolutely nothing to play for, however, and all that’s left for them to worry about is whether they finish in the top or bottom half of the table. For the record they’re 11th, three points behind Sassuolo in 10th. Told you there was lots on these games.
Neither are in particularly good form, though Torino are actually on a better run. They’ve picked up two wins, two draws and a loss in their last five while Atalanta lost four and drew one before finally winning last time out against Venezia.
The general rule when Atalanta play is back Both Teams to Score and I’ll be going along with that here. Both Teams to Score has clicked in five of their last six games. Torino have scored in seven of their last 10 and you’d fancy them to breach their hosts’ leaky backline here.
7:15pm: Bologna v Inter – Inter (-1)
TV: BT Sport 3
To the main event in Italy on Wednesday night, Inter’s trip to Bologna. I Nerazzurri can take top spot from their old friends AC Milan with a win here that would put them a point clear with four to play.
Can this lot handle the pressure? Well if recent results are anything to go by then it’s an emphatic ‘yes’ as they hunt their 5th straight Serie A win against the side placed 13th in the division. Bologna have won one, lost one and drawn three in their last five.
We have to be with Inter here, they’re unbeaten in their last 11 in all competitions, but are too short in the W-D-W market. Instead we can bet on them racking up a few and making light work of their beach-bound hosts with the Inter (-1) handicap, a benchmark which they’ve passed in four successive games now.
7:45pm: Middlesbrough v Cardiff – Under 1.5 Goals
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
To The Championship next where Middlesbrough have work to do if they’re to secure a playoff spot. Chris Wilder’s crew are 9th heading into this with five points to make up to Sheffield United in 6th, but they do have this absolutely vital game in hand.
They’re in poor form, though, and haven’t won for five games, losing three of those – all at The Riverside. Cardiff might not get a better chance to win again this season but they’ve been disappointing and sit 19th. The Bluebirds have won one and lost four of their last five.
The thing here is that neither of these two have been scoring with any regularity. Boro have scored just once in their last five and Cardiff are prolific by comparison with three over the same timeframe. You can’t back either to do anything other than lose here so I’ll side with Under 1.5 Goals.
This has landed in three of Boro’s last five and two of Cardiff’s, their two most recent games. With these two averaging 0.4 goals per game over their last 10 combined Championship matches this looks a good play. The worry would be Cardiff’s defence but with this landing in their last two I think it’s worth a shot.
8pm: Liverpool v Villarreal – Liverpool Win & Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate
We finish in the Champions League with a fascinating clash between the free-flowing Liverpool and counter-attack kings Villarreal. Liverpool are tearing it up every time they take to the field in whatever competition they come across while the Spanish side have been saving their best form for the biggest stage.
They’re 7th in La Liga and have little hope of qualifying for next year’s competition through their league placing. Liverpool are gunning for the Premier League title and have very real treble ambitions this year.
Villarreal have stunned Juventus and Bayern Munich on route to this match so cannot be simply overlooked, but Liverpool have been sensational and the only teams to even score one against them in their last 10 games are Benfica and Manchester City (both twice).
This is incredibly tricky, given Liverpool’s overall form and Villarreal’s herculean efforts in this competition. I have a sneaky suspicion The Yellow Submarine will net but that The Reds will win so Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals could be the play and covers us for a number of likely eventualities.
Wednesday football tips
7:15pm: Atalanta v Torino – Both Teams to Score
7:15pm: Bologna v Inter – Inter (-1)
7:45pm: Middlesbrough v Cardiff – Under 1.5 Goals
8pm: Liverpool v Villarreal – Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals
*An accumulator with these four bets pays at approximately 20/1 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
WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL TIPS
- THOMMO v TRADER: Phil Thompson and our odds-maker debate their Liverpool v Villarreal best bets
- Jota the key in this 22/1 Liverpool v Villarreal Bet Builder