Nerves to jangle at Lens
Bet 1: Back Under 1.5 Goals in Lens v Dijon @ 7/4 – KO 19:45 BST
Lens are looking to make their return to the French top flight following their relegation in 2015, and having beaten Paris and then Troyes in the Ligue Two play-offs, only Dijon stand between them and their destination.
This is the first of two legs and I can see it being quite cagey. The hosts don’t concede many goals at home – six clean sheets in their last nine outings here – and while they are against Ligue One opposition now, a solid defence can be tough to break down by any team.
Scoring goals has been a bit of an issue for them however, and that has led to four of their last five at home seeing this selection land.
Dijon meanwhile have failed to find the net seven of their last eight on their travels, and confidence must be pretty low having finished the regular campaign in 18th place.
More of the same for Cittadella against Verona
Bet 2: Back Cittadella @ 6/5 – KO 20:00 BST
This is an Italian Serie B promotion play-off final first leg, and I am expecting Cittadella to make home advantage tell.
Roberto Venturato’s side finished seventh in the league and they then caused a mild shock by beating Benevento in the semis – even more surprising when you see that they lost the first leg, at home, by a 2-1 scoreline.
That 3-0 away leg win will have them brimming with confidence now and it’s worth noting that they beat today’s opponents, on this ground, at the beginning of the month.
Hellas Verona have won just one of their last five on their travels, and when they did lose here, it was a convincing 3-0 defeat.
Big Green to rack up a big win
Bet 3: Back Over 2,5 Goals in Palmeiras v Sampaio Correa @ 4/7 – KO 00:00 BST (Fri)
We finish in the Copa do Brasil for what should be a comfortable victory for Palmeiras, with a minimum of three goals being scored.
The reigning Serie A champions of Brazil are in red-hot form, as they come into the game having won nine of their last 10 outings – the other being a draw.
Big Phil Scolari’s men haven’t been doing a number on their opponents, but they are against a third tier club here, and even though they only won the away leg 1-0, I would expect them to put on a display for the home fans.
The visitors aren’t also-rans, and they were in Serie B last term, so if Palmeiras do take their eye off the ball, they could surprise them with a goal.
Source: BetFair French
