Soccer predictions, best bets today: Betting tips, expert picks for games on Wednesday, November 9

The midweek European slate continues in full force as leagues across the globe continue to push ever closer towards the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

There are four La Liga matches, five Bundesliga, and five Serie A games to choose from. Top sides like Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, and AS Roma are all in action.

In England, the EFL Cup continues to push through the third round, with Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool both in play, plus a marquee early matchup between Man City and Chelsea from The Etihad.

Finally, there is a full slate of Brazilian Serie A games as the season nears a close, plus a few pre-World Cup international friendlies between national teams with partial rosters. Check out all our picks below.

MORE: Sporting News soccer betting guide

Sassuolo vs. Roma prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 1 p.m. ET
• Best Bet: Highest-scoring half: 2H
• Odds: +100 (BetMGM)
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Draw

Roma are an analytical nightmare. On expected goals, Roma have the second-best attack in Serie A and the best defense. Yet their finishing has been an utter disaster all season and the defense has conceded over 50 percent more goals than it should based on xGA. They clobbered Hellas Verona on the road in league play and whalloped Ludogorets in the second half of their must-win Europa League match midweek. And then, a duck against Lazio at home. Playing at MAPEI Stadium has been problematic for Roma, without a win since May of 2018. This game could go either way, but it won’t be decided until the second half. — Kyle Bonn

Mallorca vs. Atletico Madrid prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Best Bet: Mallorca to win
• Odds: +275 (BetMGM)
• Best Bet: Vedat Muriqi to score
• Odds: +150 (BetMGM)
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Mallorca to win

Atletico Madrid are in complete disarray as they can’t seem to put defending and attacking together in the same performance. Last time out against Espanyol, they failed to do either, playing a man up for over an hour yet scoring just once and conceding a goal as well. Joao Felix is now suspended for this match, leaving a struggling Alvaro Morata to plod along up front. Mallorca, meanwhile, are unbeaten in three straight as they feed Vedat Muriqui with chances —the Mallorca striker has a goal in four straight games, and his 6.49 xG this season is by far the most on the team. The attack flows through him. If Mallorca are to deepen Atletico Madrid’s woes, it’ll be thanks to service to Muriqui. — Kyle Bonn

Schalke vs. Mainz best bet, prediction

• Best Bet: Both teams to score: No
• Odds: +120 (BetMGM)
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Mainz

Schalke have been utterly putrid this season, and are looking ripe for relegation. They haven’t scored a goal in front of home fans in over 200 minutes, and have lost seven straight overall, failing to put up over 1.0 xG in four of those. Mainz haven’t been good in their last two, but the nine goals conceded are an aberration. Dating back to September of 2013, 11 of 16 matches between these two teams have seen at least one side finish goalless, and that should continue here as Mainz deepen Schalke’s woes. — Kyle Bonn

Yesterday’s picks

An absolutely brutal day of picks. Barcelona, like so many other top European teams with one eye on the World Cup, laid an egg at Osasuna, requiring a late man-down charge to claim victory, but not before the hosts ruined the clean sheet.

Udinese also fell flat on the road, and while Isaac Success was dangerous up front, Gerard Deulofeu was poor. Finally, Borussia Dortmund was flatter than Barcelona, unable to stage any kind of challenge against Nico Kovac’s revived Wolfsburg side. Forget it and move on.

Soccer best bets records

Records below compiled since the first edition of this post on Monday, October 3.