Middlesbrough vs West Brom
Friday 24th August 2018
The Championship, The Riverside Stadium
Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT
Middlesbrough vs West Brom – Tony Pulis takes on his old employers as his Middlesbrough side host West Brom in a heavyweight Championship clash.
Both sides are in impressive form and victory will help maintain momentum and help further establish a respective favourites tag. Pulis’ has pedigree at this level and the squad has talent in players like Britt Assombalonga and Marcus Braithwaite. (The attacking duo have netted five league goals even at this stage.) Consequentially Boro were strongly fancied pre-season to have a big campaign.
The Wearsiders’ unbeaten start has done nothing to dispel those beliefs. Middlesbrough are second, level on points with 1st place Leeds and have victories over Birmingham, Sheffield United and Bristol City. The opening day 2-2 draw with Millwall was also positive, coming from 2-0 down in the 87th minute to tie.
A similar story with of early optimism with West Brom. After a long and often stable period in the Premier League, last season proved one too many. A positive did come in that after the end was nigh, now manager Darren Moore had a massive impact on the team and the club’s atmosphere.
The positivity is flowing too as The Baggies seek a third consecutive win and a fifth unbeaten in all competitions. Keeping hold of players such as Matt Phillips and Jay Rodriguez could be so beneficial at this level. The pairing already have seven league goals between them, helped massively by the 7-1 battering of struggling QPR.
As is the way in the Championship, this game starts a difficult run of league fixtures for both teams. The Baggies have pre-season favourites Stoke City next before an away trip to Midlands rivals Birmingham City. Middlesbrough’s challenge comes in the form of leaders Leeds and then Norwich away before facing fellow top 6 sides Bolton and Swansea at The Riverside.
Tricky runs elevates the importance of this fixture, to continue the push up the league and lay out early intentions. Come the end of the season one would expect both these teams to be in the mix promotion. Knowing how tight the Championship can be, this game could perhaps make all the difference.
This will be referee John Brooks’ third Championship match of the season. Despite being in early stages, Brooks holds the highest cards and points average per game. This is due to the eight yellows dished out in Bolton vs Bristol City and the six yellows and a red in Stoke’s 3-0 loss to Wigan. Cards are to be expected here.
Middlesbrough vs West Brom will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick off at 19:45.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2 – 1 West Brom.
Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs West Brom – (BET365):
- Correct score: Middlesbrough to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs West Brom – (SKYBET):
- RequestABet up to 10/1 – BTTS, 4 Corners each team and 20 bookings points each team – 8/1.
- Both Players to score – Britt Assombalonga and Jay Rodriguez both to score – 7/1.
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Player Shots on Target Multiples – Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gayle 2+ shots on target each – 6/1.
Odds and markets last updated on Thursday 23rd August 2018 @17:10 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.
Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weeks other Premier League and Championship games.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – Match Preview
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Wednesday 15th August 2018
UEFA Super Cup Final, Lillekula Stadium, EstoniaLive on BT Sports 2 – Kick-Off: 20:00
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – The city of Madrid showcases its footballing superiority as local rivals Atletico Madrid and Real face off in the UEFA Super Cup Final at the Lillekula Stadium in Estonia.
Obviously, both sides have the opportunity to compete for the season’s first trophy due to successes last season. A Gareth Bale inspired Real Madrid saw off Liverpool to claim a third Champions League title in succession. Exerting complete dominance over the contemporary game whilst doing so.
Atleti put their poor Champions League group stage to bed by comfortably winning the Europa League. Arsenal were bested in the semi-finals before a crushing 3-0 victory over Marseille in the final.
With Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Real Madrid now enter a new era under former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui. Sending a message and beating your rivals in the first competitive game of the campaign would be the ideal start.
Synonymous with the club, Diego Simeone wants to take every possible chance to get one over on Atleti’s fierce rivals. With previous shortcomings in Europe in this very fixture, (two Champions League Final defeats in 2014 and 2016) there will always be a lust for revenge.
The UEFA Super Cup undoubtedly isn’t a competition of the same prestige. However, the Madrid Derby is always an incredibly feisty affair with two clubs constantly desperate to win everything possible.
Both clubs were involved in substantial transfer business this summer, for differing reasons. Atleti manged to hold on to prized star and World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann. Los Blancos signed Thibaut Courtois on deadline day, amongst slight controversy, but as mentioned above lost star Ronaldo.
In the 195th Madrid derby, two of the best teams on the planet will compete for a European trophy. What’s not to love? Football is back.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 2 with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid
Suggested Tips – Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – (BET365):
- Correct Score – 1-1 – 9/2.
- Method of Victory – Real Madrid to win After Extra Time – 10/1.
- RequestABet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Real Madrid to win, BTTS, 12+ match corners and 70+ match booking points – 33/1.
- RequestABet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Over 3.5 goals, 7+ corners each team – 50/1.
- A goal in each half and 4+ corners in each half – 5/2.
- Correct Score Group Betting Real Madrid to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.
- First Goalscorer – Isco – 9/1.
- RequestABet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Griezmann to score, Draw 1-1 and 5+ corners each team – 50/1.
Odds and markets last updated on Tuesday 14th August 2018 @22:15 GMT. Markets maybe updated prior to kick off so keep checking back – we will update the time for when the tips were last updated when doing so.
Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weekends other Premier League and Championship games.
Belgium vs England – Match Preview
Belgium vs England
Saturday 14th July 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Third-Place Play Off, Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. PetersburgLive on ITV 1 – Kick-Off: 15:00
Belgium vs England – After falling agonisingly short of glory in the semi-finals, Belgium and England will contest the World Cup Third Place Play-Off.
In arguably the most important game in football that neither side wants to play, memories of the defeat just one step away from the World Cup Final will inevitably plague both sides. The deflation of being eliminated in the semi-finals makes it hard to re-motivate for a match that pales in comparison of significance.
Whilst sharing the disappointment, the two nations will reflect on the tournament much differently. Gareth Southgate’s young England team far surpassed all expectations and enchanted the hearts of a nation. A favourable run-in yes, but this was an outrageously unpredictable tournament.
Teams like Germany and Spain were unable to string wins together against ‘smaller’ nations. England should be proud of their achievements, the team has undoubtedly progressed throughout the tournament. Croatia just proved one step too far, losing 2-1 in extra time.
That feels like a large contrast for Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’. A hefty tag to live up to always, but with that crop of talent it seemed this was the opportunity. World-class talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku saw the Red Devils as a pre-tournament favourite.
Beating England, a comeback victory against Japan and then besting Brazil all portrayed positive signs. However, a resilient French display saw the golden generation crash out 1-0, dreams of meeting expectations flittered away. Roberto Martinez may have a lot to answer for upon returning home.
So the small matter of the Third Place Play-Off is where it currently stands. To say you are the third best team in the world is a huge accomplishment. It’s just a shame it will be the second ‘meaningless’ game these two sides have played just in this tournament. Third place will be Belgium’s best-ever finish at the World Cup, or England’s best after the 1966 win. Claiming third will allow the victors to leave on somewhat of a high.
The golden boot is still also in contention. Barring something miraculous, it will go to either Harry Kane or Romelu Lukaku. The Spurs hitman has six strikes so far, but Lukaku has four and one more assist (one) so a brace could see him take the title. A stellar World Cup for both, who have proven their status among elite strikers.
With the pure exhaustion experienced last time out, expect wholesale changes to be made for this one. Especially in England’s case after their gruelling extra-time laden semi-final. Nonetheless, this match at the World Cup tends to produce goals as both sides open themselves up more. Hopefully the same will happen, dependant on whether the high-quality forwards on both teams turn up.
England and Belgium can both look back on the 2018 World Cup with a lot of pride. But for the next four years there will always be that lingering question, what if?
Prediction: Belgium 2-0 England
Suggested Tips – Belgium vs England – (BET365):
- Belgium win 2-0 – (link no longer available).
Suggested Tips – Belgium vs England – (SKYBET):
- Price Boost – Harry Maguire to score a header – 22/1.
- To Score And Win – Romelu Lukaku and Belgium to win – 9/4.
- Scorecast Boost: Romelu Lukaku to score first and Belgium win 2-0 – 45/1.
- RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Maguire to score a header and De Bruyne to score outside the area – 200/1.
- Man of the Match – Kevin De Bruyne – 8/1.
- Both Teams to Score – Yes and Belgium win – 5/2. (NAP).
Keep visiting Tips and Previews ahead of games to get our suggested tips and correct score picks for the remainders final on Sunday. Tips updated at 17:08 GMT on 13th July 2018.
FIFA World Cup 2018 – Promotional Offer by BET365