* 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.
For Thursday’s European football we have a tantalising treble to sink our festive teeth into. The big match of the night sees two of Portugal’s best teams, Porto and Benfica, facing off in a Classico in the Last 16 of the Taca de Portugal.
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We’ll also be looking for value in the Vizela vs Braga game in the same competition but first up we have Eredivisie leaders PSV taking on Go Ahead Eagles where they can extend their lead over Ajax with another win.
* A treble with these three bets pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
5.45pm: PSV vs Go Ahead Eagles: PSV Win & BTTS
As league leaders you’d expect PSV to be in robust form, they’re enjoying a run now that has seen them lose just one over their last 10 games in all competitions. In the Eredivisie they share the same record, also losing just one of their last 10 at home, indeed, they even boast the same record. Of their five most recent fixtures they’ve won all five, scoring at least two goals per game and scoring 14 in total while conceding five.
GA Eagles’ overall form is decent enough for a promoted side, winning two of their last five in the league, drawing one and losing two. They’ve proven a very tough side to break down on their league outings of late, drawing three and winning two of their last five on the road, scoring five and conceding just two.
PSV’s record of clean sheets is pretty bad – just one over their last 10 at home – and with the Eagles in good form on the road there’s decent value in backing them to score here. PSV are hands down the better side though and they should at least continue their trend of grabbing at least two per home Eredivisie encounter. We’re backing the home side to win here and both teams to score.
6.45pm: Vizela vs Braga: Both Teams to Score
Vizela have been finding life tough in the top tier of Portuguese football since promotion last season. Indeed they’ve won just two of their 14 league encounters this season, drawing seven and losing five.
However, with this being a cup match we need to look at overall form and their home stats aren’t too bad at all. Over their eight games they’ve only lost twice at the Estadio do Vizela, to Benfica and Porto so we shouldn’t be too harsh on them. Of their six other games they won two and drew four.
Braga have won two of their last five, drawing one and losing two and their recent away form is terrible, winning just one of their last five in all competitions, losing all four of the others. They have, however, scored at least one in eight of their last 10 on the road and with the hosts drawing so many and conceding in all but one of their eight home games this season the best bet here is Both Teams to Score.
8.45pm: Porto vs Benfica: BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
The first O Classico of the season and it could be an absolute belter. Both teams are in great form of late, sharing the same stat of winning four of their last five and losing the other. Porto hold the advantage when it comes to comparing home vs away form though, the home side have also won four of their last five, losing the other while their fiercest of rivals have won just two of their last five on the travels, drawing two and losing one.
It’s a rare enough event not to see both teams scoring when they face each other and of their last eight meetings at both grounds we’ve seen BTTS landing in six. The hosts have scored 10 over their last five at home, conceding five while the visitors have netted 14 over their five most previous fixtures, conceding seven.
With those stats we have to go with BTTS but of those last eight meetings only two have ended level and of their last eight at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao only three have ended in a draw. BTTS and Overs has the value here.
Thursday football tips
5.45pm: PSV vs Go Ahead Eagles: PSV Win & BTTS
6.45pm: Vizela vs Braga: Both Teams to Score
8.45pm: Porto vs Benfica: BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
* A treble with these three bets pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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