With European matches concluded for the World Cup break, domestic football is the focus through the middle of November as leagues finish off the first half of the season.
The Friday slate is thin, with most matches scheduled for the coming weekend. There’s just four matches scheduled across the Big 5 European leagues.
In Spain, Athletic Bilbao hope to put the October doldrums behind them as they visit Girona. Athletic slumped through a four-match winless streak through the month, only put to bed with their 1-0 win over Villarreal last time out.
Udinese hosts relegation-threatened Lecce in Serie A, while Borussia Monchengladbach welcomes Stuttgart in Bundesliga action. Gladbach are in the midst of a three-match losing streak, coughing it up late against Union Berlin last time out, dropping all the way to 11th in the German league table.
Troyes, fresh off their shootout against PSG, host Auxerre in French Ligue 1 play to round out today’s major European action. There are two FA Cup games, with the early rounds still finishing up, plus one English Championship match between Reading and Preston. Elsewhere, Genk takes the field at home in Belgian First Division action, the Eredivisie scheduled a game between Cambuur and NEC Nijmegen, and APOEL Nicosia sees the field in Cyprus.
MORE: The Sporting News soccer betting guide
Troyes vs. AJ Auxerre prediction, best bet
- Best Bet: Troyes moneyline
- Odds: -110 (BetMGM)
- Prediction (Win/Draw): Troyes to win
Troyes were struggling through a rough patch of bad form when they suddenly exploded to go toe-to-toe with PSG at Parc des Princes last time out, only downed by an utterly sensational performance by the hosts’ world class attacking trio. Still, it was an encouraging performance that they can bring back home with them to provide a boost forward as they hope to avoid dropping into the expanded Ligue 1 relegation battle. Auxerre took down Ajaccio last time out, but their road form this season has been abysmal, on a run of four straight defeats since the start of September. — Kyle Bonn
Udinese vs. Torino prediction, best bet
- Best Bet: Udinese to win to nil
- Odds: +150 (BetMGM)
- Prediction (Win/Draw): Udinese
Neither of these teams have won a single game in the last month, but the results don’t tell the full story. Udinese haven’t lost a single game by more than a one-goal margin, with three draws as well. They’re close to getting over the hump and returning to challenge for Europe. Lecce, meanwhile, have been battered on the run of play multiple times and have been flattered by taking their few chances and poor opposition finishing. Udinese should bounce back at home here against a relegation-worthy Lecce side that doesn’t generate a lot of goalscoring opportunities. — Kyle Bonn
Yesterday’s picks
A very profitable day saw three of Kyle’s four picks come through. Only Dynamo Kyiv failed to make good, bowing out of European play in meek fashion amidst a very tumultuous season.
Roma fell behind early to Ludogorets Razgrad needing only a victory to move on in the Europa League, and they found it with a furious second-half comeback as expected. Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag started some second-choice players and saw out a sleepy game in Spain, while Anderlecht rode an early man advantage to a drab 1-0 victory.
| ✔️ or ❌ | |
|---|---|
| Real Sociedad vs. Man United — Under 2.5 goals (Bonn, -110) |
✔️ |
| Dynamo Kyiv to win (vs. Fenerbahce) (Bonn, +300) |
❌ |
| Roma vs. Ludogorets: Highest scoring half — 2H (Bonn, -104) |
✔️ |
| Anderlecht to win (at Silkeborg) (Bonn, +165) |
✔️ |
Soccer best bets records
Records below compiled since the first edition of this post on Monday, October 3.
| Kyle Bonn | Simon Borg | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Bets (Won-Lost-Push) |
40.7% (35-51-1) |
32.4% (12-25-1) |
| Total Units (+ Won / – Lost) |
+3.47 | -11.55 |
| Match Predictions (Correct picks) |
50.6% (41 of 81) |
50.0% (19 of 38) |
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