We’ve once again selected some friendly fixtures for your enjoyment and investment opportunity!
Much like how these clubs are slowly putting together their foundation from which they hope to achieve success this season – I hope these previews have afforded you an opportunity to add a little extra capital for the upcoming football season!
Friday 22 July
Dortmund vs Villarreal (19:00)
Villarreal are a side who continue to be taken for granted but have shown time and again that ‘systems which compliment players win fixtures’. They haven’t had the greatest pre-season showing but I think they could ask questions of this Dortmund outfit.
Both teams scoring should be the banker we all need to kickstart this weekend!
Saturday 23 July
Juventus vs Guadalajara (05:00)
Juventus ended off their season rather embarrassingly so…just one win from their last five outings makes for uncomfortable reading. They will be a side rejuvenated by the break, having brought in some big-name players (think Paul Pogba and co.) and all packaged together by a truly exquisite jersey – what could possibly go wrong?
I’m not going to even try and find anything else, Juve should give their guests a hiding.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa (11:45)
Well, well, well! Manchester United have beaten Liverpool 4-0 and Melbourne 4-1 – surely Erik ten Hag wins the league, Champions League, Europa, World Cup, and the Audi! Come on then, put that money down! You heard it here first…SBN, it’s all happening.
In truth, United have been playing well. I think they beat Villa here; they have certainly got the better team.
Rangers vs Tottenham (16:00)
This is a nice game for an Antonio Conte sort of side to play just on the cusp of the new season. It might be a friendly, but in Rangers you have an ultra-competitive side, and anything coached by Conte will give nothing away without a fight.
I’m excited to see how the attacking attributes of Spurs mix – but for the interim, I think throwing some coins at them here will give a good return.
PSV vs Real Betis (18:00)
I think this could be a shrewd little bet. PSV have blown hot and cold and Real Betis are one of those gritty little teams who play with a chip on their shoulder. They’ve yet to lose in their preparation campaign (granted they haven’t played the likes of PSV yet) but I think they could get a result here.
Back the Spanish side on the Win/Draw Double Chance.
Lens vs Inter Milan (18:30)
Tricky and largely trappy affair this one. On paper, it’s a landslide, but as has become the old saying here…football isn’t played on paper. Inter Milan will likely win the game, but I feel there is value in the ‘totals’ market.
Lens haven’t conceded more than a single goal in their last four fixtures. Inter, conversely, haven’t scored less than two in their last four…I think under 1.5 in the first half could be a sinker!
Wolves vs Besiktas (19:00)
These two sides meet after each enjoying a positive start to life in their pre-season. Wolves come into the game off the back of a 3-0 victory against Burnley, while Besiktas beat Mainz 1-0. They would have both enjoyed the clean sheet, and so I think under 2.5 goals in this encounter might be the simplest bet we’ve taken in a while.
Get on!
Roma vs Nice (20:00)
So often underestimated, I think the greatest thing to come out of Roma so far is the vibe that is seemingly operating in that camp.
You have players who look happy, they’ve done positive business in the window, and they have a manager who posts pictures of his tattoo’s! I mean, what more could you possibly want?
Nice have struggled to put together any real performance of value and I think they get turned over here.
Sunday 24 July
Bayern Munich vs Manchester City (01:00)
Here’s to hoping that we see this fixture repeated during the season! (Insert crossed fingers and toes here…) Bayern Munich, as though they haven’t already been a titanic player in world football already, will be boosted by the procurement of Sadio Mane and Matthijs de Ligt!
City will unleash Erling Haaland – although I will comment that I don’t think City have done the best work in the window. This will be their first competitive games for the pre-season and hopefully it’s an unstructured goal fest! Get on over 2.5 goals.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (05:00)
A lot has been made about Barcelona and their apparent fall from grace. Are they the club they once were? No. At the risk of sounding biased and these comments being attributed to the back-and-forth deal between the Catalonian club and Manchester United – I’m surprised that there are players who haven’t seen the situation at Barca and wanted out!
Real Madrid steps out for the first time this season and you just know they will once again compete on the biggest stages this year. It is a cop out prediction (I’ll gladly take it on the chin) but given that it is a ‘friendly’ game, I think just going both teams to score and over 2.5 might be all we need.
