All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Derby County vs Sunderland – Match Preview

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Derby County vs Sunderland
Friday 30th March 2018
Sky Bet Championship, Pride Park

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

Derby County vs Sunderland – a tale of two sides desperate for a win by any means.

At opposite ends of the table, something has to got to give between two of the division’s out-of-sorts teams. Derby’s winless run is seven games, but even that is topped by Sunderland’s winless streak of ten matches.

The Rams have suffered their infamous promotion-chasing wobble and have dropped to 5th in the table. Consequentially, Gary Rowett’s side are now 14 points adrift of the equally resurgent Cardiff City in the automatic promotion places.

The spark of play-off contention has completely ignited in recent weeks. Almost unthinkably, there are just four points between Millwall (58) in 10th and Derby (62) in 5th. Sheffield United, Preston North End, Bristol City and Middlesbrough are the teams bridging the gap, all with a real shot.

Reclaiming momentum and consolidating a play-off spot is essential, failure to do so would be catastrophic from Derby’s early-season position. Playing the division’s bottom side, who are in even worse form, is the perfect opportunity to do so.

However, something that is almost unheard of for Sunderland in recent times, they have a wonderful record against Derby County. The Black Cats haven’t lost against The Rams since 2001, an undefeated run stretching 11 matches.

The last of which was the first game of this campaign, a 1-1 draw at The Stadium of Light. Things were vastly different then. Now, the North-East side are teetering on the brink of consecutive relegations and dropping into the third tier.

Chris Coleman’s appointment was meant to inspire a change in fortunes, but instead, despair has just crept nearer. A far cry from the very recent days of beating teams like Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Sunderland will have to defy the odds. Not only get out of this predicament, but to get anything from this game. Coleman’s side have only kept five clean sheets this season, the joint-lowest in the league. Conversely, Derby’s 17 is only bettered by table-toppers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There is hope in the form of The Rams conceding in their last three home fixtures. The fact Derby have scored in their last four at Pride Park too, alongside Sunderland conceding in their previous six away, means both teams to score could be a decent call.

James Linington will be in charge this time out. The Englishman has given 83 yellow cards and one red card in his 24 Championship games this season. He may be busier than usual considering Sunderland’s disciplinary record, The Black Cats have received a league-high six red cards this year.

With the match likely to be tense and both teams desperate not to lose, the best thing to say for either side is that it couldn’t be a better time to play the other one.

Prediction: Derby County 3-1 Sunderland

Suggested tips – Derby County vs Sunderland – (SKYBET):

  • Correct Score – Derby County win 3-1 – 14/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – 80/1 and above – Sunderland to win, Under 13 match corners and Johnson and Kone to be carded – 80/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – up to 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 4/1.
  • Popular RequestABets – Derby to score 3+ goals,  5+ Derby Corners, 20+ Sunderland Booking Points – 13/2.
  • Scorecast Boost – Tom Lawrence to score first and Derby win 3-1 – 66/1.
  • RequestABet Specials – 80/1 and above – Lawrence to score first and Kone to be shown the first card – 100/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 30 March 2018 @17:45 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from this weekends FA Premier League and SkyBet Championship action.

Germany vs Brazil – Match Preview

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Germany vs Brazil
Tuesday 27th March 2018
International Friendly, Olympiastadion, Berlin

Live on BT Sport 2, Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

Germany vs Brazil – The World Champions Germany face Brazil for the first time since the humiliating 7-1 demolishing for the hosts at the semi-finals of that World Cup in 2014.

That was one of, if not the darkest time in Brazilian football history, alongside the Maracanazo. Tite’s Brazil side are a completely different prospect. A repeat of anything similar whatsoever result-wise is surely out of the question.

Selecao blitzed through the South American qualifying campaign for Russia, winning the group by 10 points and only losing once. Those dominant 18 games, including a 3-0 victory over rivals Argentina, now see Brazil 2nd in the FIFA World Rankings.

However, they will up against the World’s best team according to those same standings. Germany have always been a powerhouse in the world game, and in the last decade have improved yet again.
Joachim Low’s World Champions also won the Confederations Cup last summer with a completely second-string team. The strength of depth at die Mannschaft’s disposal is frightening.

This match will see Germany’s preparations to retain their World Cup in full flow. There are undoubtedly still places up for grabs and a showing against Brazil could well stake that claim.

Despite drawing their last three matches, including the 1-1 draw with Spain last time out and a stalemate against England, Germany are now on an astounding 22-match unbeaten run – stretching all the way back to their defeat against France in the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championships.
Brazil too are in imperious form. They have lost only once in their last 18 – 1-0 to Argenina – and won 14 of those fixtures.

This really is the creme de la creme of international friendlies. Some of the world’s finest players on display. Despite no Neymar due to injury, Phillipe Coutinho, Thomas Muller, Marcelo, Tony Kroos, Casemiro, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and many more elite players will take to the field.

The two most fancied sides to claim football’s ultimate prize. The two highest ranked, and justifiably so, teams on the planet. There is a rich history, and a point of vengeance intertwined. A friendly match that doesn’t need to be talked up, but it is very easy to do so. What a match we have in store.

Jonas Eriksson will be the man tasked with controlling this game. Normally found in the Allsvenskan, the Swedish referee has also taken charge of three Champions League fixtures this season. Most notably,  dishing out two red cards in the bizarre Porto 5-2 Monaco game in the group stage.

Eriksson also gave out marching orders in his last international, Scotland’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia that saw the end of their World Cup qualification hopes. More recently, officiating Man City’s 4-0 drubbing of Basel in Switzerland, and Arsenal’s 3-1 home victory to Italian giants AC Milan in the Europa League, giving out four and five yellows in each game respectively.

Germany vs Brazil will be televised in the UK on BT Sport 2 with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Germany 1-1 Brazil

In line with Germany’s recent results, a draw with both forceful attacks finding a breakthrough.

Suggested tips – Germany vs Brazil – (SKYBET):

  • Correct score, 1-1 Draw – 5/1.
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Germany v Brazil – BTTS and 4+ corners each team – 5/2 (NAP).
  • Price Boost – Toni Kroos to score and Germany to win in 90 mins – 10/1.
  • Price Boost – Leroy Sane to score from outside the penalty area – 22/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – BTTS in both halves and 15+ match corners – 80/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Germany vs Brazil – Willian to score, Brazil to win, 7+ Germany corners and 20+ Brazil booking points – 66/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 27 March 2018 @17:50 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from the International break this week. We also have domestic fixtures returning at the end of the week so keep an eye on those previews in the tips and preview area.

Wales vs Uruguay – China Cup Final Preview

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Wales vs Uruguay
Monday 26th March 2018
China Cup Final, Guangxi Sports Center

Live on S4C TV, Kick-Off: 12:35 GMT (19:35 Local) 

Wales v Uruguay – Ryan Giggs’ Wales will face Uruguay in the Final of the China Cup to see who lifts the second iteration of the international trophy.

Wales blitzed through their semi-final against China last time out, demolishing the hosts 6-0. Gareth Bale, as ever, was the star man, scoring a hat-trick to overtake Ian Rush as Wales’ record goal-scorer.

Further strikes from Liverpool’s Harry Wilson, making his full debut, and a brace from Sam Vokes sealed the impressive victory. Ryan Giggs will have been delighted with his team’s display in his first foray into permanent management.

Chile won the first ever China Cup last year, defeating Nordic surprise packages Iceland 1-0 in the Final. Uruguay will be hoping to continue the South American success and claim the title too this time out.

Oscar Tabarez’s side bested Czech Republic in their semi-final, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez. The Barcelona striker reached a half-century of international goals in the process, a wonderful achievement.

This still seems to be somewhat of a golden generation for Uruguay. After winning the Copa America in 2011 and reaching the last four of the World Cup the year before they are still a huge threat to all that face them, spearheaded by an astonishing attack force of world-class talent in Cavani and Suarez. Add to the mix one of the game’s best defenders in captain Diego Godin and fellow Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez and the core to the team is impressive.

In Wales’ case, victory in this tournament does not make up for failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. However, it presents the opportunity to instil a winning culture in his team to take forward for the foreseeable future.

Uruguay will equally want to claim the title to further solidify themselves as a nation with winning pedigree.

Both teams can expect a much more difficult challenge than they experienced in the last round. The game is likely to be tight, as both teams normally build from a solid platform. As often seems to the case in international football, it could well come down to a moment of magic from the star players at the top of the pitch. Cavani, for instance, is having another outstanding season at PSG, already having bagged 33 goals this campaign.

Any opportunity to see El Classico rivals Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale on the same pitch is one that shouldn’t be missed. As international breaks go, this game is as intriguing as it gets. The very least both managers can expect from this is a truer understanding of where their teams are at.

Prediction: Wales 1-2 Uruguay

With the array of attacking talent on show, both teams should score with Uruguay’s firepower ultimately carrying them home.

Suggested tips – Wales vs Uruguay – (SKYBET):

  • Correct score, 1-2 Uruguay – 15/2.
  • Price Boost – Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale both to score – 7/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Cavani to score a header, Bale to score outside the area – 150/1.
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – BTTS and 4+ corners each team – 7/2.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Suarez and Cavani to score, Vokes and Allen to be carded – 200/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 26 March 2018 @11:50 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from the International break this week. We also have domestic fixtures returning at the end of the week so keep an eye on those previews in the tips and preview area.