European Soccer Betting Analysis
By: Monty Andrews
Covers.com
The busy and exciting world of European soccer can sometimes be difficult to navigate for bettors. Monty Andrews takes a look at some of the most important news stories, odds, key injuries, and betting trends to help with your footy wagers.
Fixture of the Week: Napoli v. Inter Milan
The top two teams in the Serie A table do battle as Napoli welcome Inter Milan to Stadio Sao Paolo. Napoli (-163) have reeled off eight consecutive matches to open the league calendar and will be looking to erase the sting of a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in Champions League group action earlier this week. But they'll meet their match in Inter (+450), who have seven victories and one draw on their resume. With Napoli having won 13 consecutive league matches overall and Inter having prevailed in each of their previous 10 league road tilts, something will have to give Saturday.
Feeling Blue
Chelsea are reeling as they come into this week's English Premier League encounter with visiting Watford. The Blues are coming off consecutive league losses, including a shocking 2-1 defeat to a Crystal Palace side that came into the game having yet to score a goal this season. And things don't get any easier despite Chelsea being listed as a -300 favorite on Bet365; Watford (+700) have recorded points in seven of their eight matches on the season, and are coming off an impressive 2-1 road triumph over Swansea. The Blues sit two points back of fourth-place Watford atop the EPL table.
Struggling Sevilla
Sevilla's dream start to the Primera Liga season has hit a rough patch - and things might get even bumpier after this weekend's showdown with red-hot Valencia. Visiting Sevilla (+275) have dropped two of three league matches since opening the season with four wins and a draw over their first five matches - and if that wasn't bad enough, they were also humbled 5-1 by Spartak Moscow in Champions League play earlier this week. Valencia (-106) has won four consecutive La Liga matches to move into second place in the standings, four points back of Barcelona entering the weekend.
Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will look to bounce back from its first loss of the Bundesliga campaign as they visit Eintracht Frankfurt. Dortmund (-137) saw its four-game league winning streak halted in a 3-2 loss to visiting Leipzig last Saturday, and failed to rebuild momentum in a 1-1 Champions League draw with Greek side APOEL. That doesn't bode well for the visitors as they face a Frankfurt side that has won two straight games to move into a tie for sixth in the table with Schalke. Frankfurt, listed at +400 on Bet365 to prevail this weekend, dropped both matches to Dortmund last season.
News and Notes
Leicester City have sacked head coach Craig Shakespeare after just four months at the helm. The Cinderella champions of the 2015-16 season have just six points through eight league matches and are in the relegation zone entering the weekend.
Atletico Madrid is in tough to reach the Champions League final 16 after settling for a 0-0 draw with a Qarabag side that earned their first points of the competition. Atletico is a -106 favorite on Bet365 to dispatch host Leganes in league play this weekend.
Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng has admitted he considered quitting the club prior to head coach Carlo Ancelotti being sacked last month. Bayern sits second in the Bundesliga table but remains a -350 favorite to repeat as league champions.
Cagliari have parted ways with coach Massimo Rastelli, who led the club to promotion in 2016. Diego Lopez takes over the reins for 14th-place Cagliari, who are installed as a +800 underdog on Bet365 for this weekend's tilt with host Lazio.
Injury Updates
Danny Rose made his first appearance for Tottenham since the end of January in Spurs' 1-1 Champions League draw with Real Madrid. Rose, returning from a knee injury, might appear this weekend as Tottenham (+110) host Liverpool (+230).
Loic Remy continues to recover nicely from a leg injury, scoring as a substitute in Las Palmas' 5-2 loss to Celta Vigo last Monday. Remy has three goals in three substitute appearances for Las Palmas (+600), which visits Villarreal (-200) on Sunday.
FC Augsburg will be without talented striker Sergio Cordova for the next several weeks after he suffered an ankle injury during the international break. It's a major blow for eighth-place Augsburg (+105), who entertain Hannover (+260) on Saturday.
Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic looks recovered from his quadriceps ailment, as his early goal aided a 2-1 triumph over Sporting CP in Champions League play. Juventus a heavy -225 favorite on Bet365 this weekend against host Udinese (+650).
Betting Trends
Few teams in the English Premier League need a home win as badly as Southampton, who have dropped nine of their last 10 league games at St Mary's Stadium. The hosts are -125 to end that slump this weekend against West Brom.
Celta Vigo have been a strong over play, exceeding the 2.5-goal total in 12 of their last 14 La Liga matches. They're a +115 play on Bet365 to extend that run of overs this weekend versus Atletico Madrid.
Hertha Berlin will look to halt a stretch that has seen them lose 11 of their previous 13 league road games. They're an intriguing +170 option against a host Freiburg side (+163) that have slipped into the relegation zone with one win in eight games.
Roma have been on a tear away from Stadio Olimpico, winning 10 consecutive league road matches extending back to the end of last season. Bet365 has them as a slight +105 favorite to extend that streak at Torino (+250).