Weekend European football predictions: La Liga and Ligue 1 tips and odds
Saturday's European football tips
Mika Biereth to score for Monaco vs Le Havre @ 10/11 with bet365 (Saturday, 6pm BST)
Valencia to beat Real Sociedad @ 8/5 with bet365 (Saturday, 8.30pm BST)
Getafe or draw double chance vs Celta Vigo @ 21/20 with bet365 (Sunday, 4pm BST)
Strasbourg to beat Metz @ 5/4 with bet365 (Sunday, 4.15pm BST)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Already a bet365 member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts.
Monaco vs Le Havre (Saturday, 6pm)
Assuming Paris Saint-Germain again dominate Ligue 1 this season, Monaco are expected to be in the mix to finish best of the rest, having added the likes of Paul Pogba, Ansu Fati, Eric Dier and Lukas Hradecky to their ranks.
But it is a player Monaco signed last season who could make an impact in their opener against Le Havre.
Striker Mika Biereth joined the club from Sturm Graz in January and the 22-year-old adapted quickly to Ligue 1 with 13 goals in 16 league appearances.
Going into his first full season at the club, he is a value bet at 10/11 to score in their opener against Le Havre, having found the net when the sides met in April.
Valencia vs Real Sociedad (Saturday, 8pm)
When Carlos Corberan left West Bromwich Albion to take charge at Valencia in December, he inherited a side who were 19th in the La Liga table.
But under the former Huddersfield boss, Valencia got their act together, going unbeaten in 10 La Liga fixtures towards the end of the campaign to finish 12th.
Corberan has now had a full summer to work with his side, bringing in some talented individuals such as Arnaut Danjuma and Baptiste Santamaria, and his team look overpriced at 8/5 to beat Real Sociedad.
Valencia won just 11 league games last season but nine of those victories came at the Mestalla and Real Sociedad, who sold pivotal midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer, lost 10 times on their travels in La Liga last season.
Celta Vigo vs Getafe (Sunday, 4pm)
The Estadio de Balaidos was not an easy place to go in La Liga last season, so it is no surprise that Celta Vigo are odds-on favourites to win there against Getafe on Sunday.
But at this stage of the season, I'd be cautious about backing them at 8/11, given they have lost star youngster Fer Lopez to Wolves this summer and are overreliant on ageing forwards Borja Iglesias and Iago Aspas, who turned 38 this month.
Getafe finished a respectable 13th in La Liga last term and defensive solidity was at the core of that, with just 39 goals conceded in 38 league matches – the same number as champions Barcelona.
They are worth backing at 21/20 to nick at least a point off of Vigo.
Metz vs Strasbourg (Sunday, 4.15pm)
It could be an exciting season for Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, who are preparing for the Conference League play-offs this month after finishing seventh in the French top flight last season.
They look in a good place under Liam Rosenior and have added some exciting young talent over the summer with the likes of Joaquin Panichelli, Lucas Hogsberg and Mathis Amougou joining and Valentin Barco and Andrew Omobamidele's loan deals made permanent.
The core of the squad looks much the same, with key defender Mamadou Sarr sold to Chelsea but brought back in on loan, Felix Lemarechal a creative midfield threat and Emanuel Emegha leading the line after scoring 14 Ligue 1 goals last term.
At 5/4, they look a decent pick to beat Metz, who came up via the promotion play-offs last term and could be out of their depth after failing to win 16 games in the second tier.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick hits out at players after Marcus Rashford makes debut in opening day win
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has criticised his players despite kicking off the new LaLiga campaign with a 3-0 victory over nine-men Mallorca. The defending champions began their title defence in comfortable fashion as goals from Raphinha and Ferran Torres put them firmly in control before half-time. Lamine Yamal then added a stoppage-time strike to wrap up the three points. On paper, it looked the perfect start for Flick and Barca, but the German manager was left far from impressed by what he saw from the touchline. Flick accused his players of easing off once they had established a two-goal advantage, insisting their performance dipped alarmingly against a side reduced to nine men. He said: 'I didn't like the game. They're three important points, but I didn't like it. After a 2-0 deficit and two red cards, 'I think the team played at 50 percent, and I didn't like it. We can do better.' 'I don't like them to let their guard down. We had to control the ball and the game. We have to score. 'Playing at 50 or 60 percent against nine men isn't possible. We have to play faster. We have to improve some situations.' Despite doubts over whether he would be registered in time for the match, Marcus Rashford was named on the bench. He came on to make his debut in the 69th minute, becoming the first English player to play for Barca in a competitive game since Gary lineker in 1989. The 27-year-old, currently on a season-long loan from Manchester United, featured as a centre-forward but failed to register a scoring opportunity. Flick said: 'It wasn't a good part for Rashford, because there was no space. The players played at 50 percent. And Joan (Garcia) had a great game. He can continue like this.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Atletico floored by Espanyol's late double in Laliga
CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT, Spain, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid started with a 2-1 defeat at Espanyol in LaLiga on Sunday as the hosts overturned Julian Alvarez's opener with late goals from substitutes Miguel Rubio and Pere Milla. Alvarez showed his quality in the 37th minute, curling a superb free kick into the top corner to give Atletico the lead after Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera had pushed Conor Gallagher. The Argentine came close again in the second half when he collected the ball inside the box, skipped past two defenders and fired a low shot against the bar. The hosts levelled in the 73rd when a long set-piece dropped into the box behind the defence, allowing Rubio to race onto the ball and slide it past goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Six minutes from time, Milla scored a spectacular winner, meeting a cross with a diving header that arched over Oblak and nestled inside the far post to complete the turnaround.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Manchester City prepare sensational swoop for Real Madrid star if Savinho joins Tottenham this summer
Manchester City will consider an approach for Real Madrid 's Rodrygo should Savinho leave. Savinho was left out of the matchday squad for City's Premier League opener as Pep Guardiola 's side comfortably defeated Wolves on Saturday. The 21-year-old only arrived in Manchester last summer and contributed eight Premier League assists in his maiden campaign at the Etihad. However, after finding himself falling down the pecking order amid more arrivals this summer Savinho is intent on leaving the club in search of first team football, with Tottenham reported to be interested. Should Savinho leave this summer, City have earmarked his countryman Rodrygo as a potential replacement. The Brazilian has already won two Champions League titles during his six years in the Spanish capital since joining Real from Santos in 2019. Last season however, he was limited to just 22 LaLiga starts, and could look for a move with the World Cup on the horizon. Meanwhile City are awaiting an improved offer from Galatasaray for goalkeeper Ederson. Like Savinho, Ederson was also absent from Saturday's clash with Wolves at Molineux. He had stomach problems yesterday, he vomited and didn't feel good,' said Guardiola. 'The doctors decided he should stay in Manchester.' Earlier this week Daily Mail Sport reported that Galatasaray made an offer of around £8.6million for the 31-year-old who has been considering his future over the past year. His departure would pave the way for City to bid for Gianluigi Donnarumma at Paris St Germain.
