* 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.
How lucky are we? It’s a Thursday that’s full to bursting with top footballing action this week.
There’s a load of Covid catch up Premier League matches as well as all the thrills and spills of the Europa League and Conference League knock out stages. In the English top flight we’ll be running the rule over Norwich v Chelsea, Southampton v Newcastle and Wolves v Watford which all start at 7.30pm.
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Over in the Europa League it’s Rangers v Crvena Zvezda while Leicester host French champions Rennes in the Conference League with both games kicking off at 8pm. There’s a lot of ground to cover and, hopefully, even more winning value about. Here’s a fiery five fold for Thursday.
*An acca with these best bets pays at approximately 23/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7.30pm: Norwich v Chelsea – Both Teams to Score
We kick off with a one-sided looking match where rock-bottom Norwich host Chelsea at Carrow Road. Despite already being relegated back in September The Canaries had enjoyed a mini-revival after the arrival of Dean Smith to breathe life back into their survival hopes.
That good form is long gone now, though, and they’ve lost five on the bounce in all competitions. It’s been a bit of a disappointing campaign for Chelsea as well who slipped out of the title race picture pretty quickly and are now cruising to a 3rd-place finish.
Chelsea will win this but Norwich might put up a pretty good fight. Despite their run of defeats they’ve still been scoring regularly. In their last nine in all competitions they’ve scored in seven of them including in two games against Liverpool. Chelsea’s defence is pretty good but they did ship two to Luton so we’ll take a bit of a chance on Both Teams to Score.
7.30pm: Southampton v Newcastle – Newcastle Win/Draw
To a much tighter clash next where Newcastle make the long trip to the south coast to tackle Southampton. The Saints had been quietly going about putting a good run together before that was emphatically ended by Aston Villa’s 4-0 win over them last time out.
Newcastle’s good results of late have been slightly higher profile and there’s been no end of improvement since Eddie Howe was able to splash some of the sports-washed cash in January. They’re now undefeated in seven games in all competitions, winning five of them.
It means they’re 14th heading to Southampton who are 9th after their seven game unbeaten run was ended at the weekend. What do we make of this, then? I think it’s a proper 50/50 game but The Saints are streaky and I wonder how that loss will effect them. We’re getting decent odds covering two of the three outcomes with the Newcastle Win/Draw Double Chance.
7.30pm: Wolves v Watford – Wolves to Win
We sign off in the Premier League with two teams in rank form – Wolves and Watford. Wolves have now lost five of the last seven while Watford have won just once in their last 16 games in all competitions.
Wolves have fallen off a cliff since their good run in December and January and with it has gone their feint dreams of European football next season. They’re still 8th and The Hornets are 19th, three points from safety.
Bruno Lage read the riot act to his players after the weekend’s defeat and they won’t get a better chance to get back on track than against Watford. I think Wolves to Win is your best bet in this one.
8pm: Leicester v Rennes – BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals
TV: BT Sport ESPN
Leicester’s mad season rolls on and it’s Rennes up next in the Europa Conference last 16. The Foxes have now won four of their last five, including home and away wins over Randers in the last round of this competition.
Rennes are also on the improve and have the same record over the same timeframe. It’s hard to know who’s going to win here, given the maddening inconsistency with these two who are 12th and 4th respectively in their leagues.
One thing we should be able to rely on is goals. Leicester’s defence has sharpened up recently but prior to their two clean sheets in their last two, both teams have scored in eight of their nine games. Over 2.5 Goals has landed in seven of their last 11.
Rennes have seen Overs in four of their last seven, scoring 20 over that run – an average of 3.3 goals a match. We should see some entertaining fare and for Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals here.
8pm: Rangers v Crvena Zvezda – Both Teams to Score
TV: BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate
We finish in the Europa League and Rangers v Crvena Zvezda, or Red Star Belgrade in old money. Both of these two are in sparkling form and both sit 2nd in their respective leagues.
It’s another clash that is hard to call, but The Gers are Paddy’s favourites with home advantage. Again we’re looking to goals rather than the outcome for a play in this one.
Rangers have scored in their last nine games while Crvena have only fired a blank once in their last 16 in all competitions. Crvena have averaged 2.4 goals per game over the last five and I think they’ll breach the home sides’ defence as Both Teams Score.
Thursday’s football tips
7.30pm: Norwich v Chelsea – Both Teams to Score
7.30pm: Southampton v Newcastle – Newcastle Win/Draw Double Chance
7.30pm: Wolves v Watford – Wolves to Win
8pm: Leicester v Rennes – Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals
8pm: Rangers v Crvena Zvezda – Both Teams to Score
*An acca with these best bets pays at approximately 23/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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