Month: December 2022

Competition: Scottish League Two

Market: Dumbarton win

Odds: 19/20 @ 888sport

Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the League Two table and pick up a Christmas Eve boost, Dumbarton will host East Fife on Saturday lunchtime.

Starting with the hosts, left disappointed last time out on December 3rd as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw away at relegation scrappers Bonnyrigg Rose, Dumbarton will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, with the mood in their camp likely to still be at a real high, Stephen Farrell’s men find themselves tipped as the leading promotion contender this season. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat holding a four-point buffer at the top of the table, the Sons are also enjoying a hugely impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all formats – a run that stems all the way back to October 8th. With that purple patch underlined by a

Verdict: Rio Ave win

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to mark their return to Primeira Liga duties with a flurry on home soil, Rio Ave will welcome Maritimo to the Estadio dos Arcos on Friday night.

Rio Ave

Starting with the hosts, last seen on December 13th when picking up another League Cup victory thanks to a 2-1 win at home against Farense, Luís Freire’s side should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Relishing their return to action on Friday night with their sights set on trying to make up some ground in the European hunt, the top-flight returners have continued to gain plenty of praise from across Portugal. Heading into the World Cup’s enforced winter break with a gritty 1-0 victory away at Arouca on November 12th, the former Nacional boss will be calling on his side to mark their return to action with

Competition: A-League

Market: Wellington Phoenix double chance

Odds: 8/15 @ 888sport

Looking to make it back-to-back A-League victories on Friday morning, Wellington will make the trip to a struggling Perth when this weekend’s fixtures get underway.

Starting with the hosts, while Perth might have finally managed to pick up a much-needed boost against Western United on December 10th, it appears that was nothing more than a minor positive note for the A-League strugglers. Making an immediate return to losing ways last weekend as they were hit with a toothless 1-0 loss away at Macarthur, Ruben Zadkovich’s men are at the heart of another nightmare domestic campaign. Lifting the wooden spoon last season and once again sat rock-bottom of the A-League standings this time around, the Purples have taken just six points from their opening eight top-flight showdowns. With their extended issues highlighted by a 4-0 drumming at the hands of

Competition: EFL Cup

Market: Brighton win

Odds: 4/11 @ 888sport

Looking to extend on their EFL Cup adventure on Wednesday night, Brighton will make the trip to a struggling Charlton.

Starting with the hosts, suffering another collapse on home soil over the weekend as they were eventually hit with a 2-1 loss at home against Bristol Rovers, Charlton find themselves at the heart of what has become a real nightmare. While the one-time Premier League outfit might have been dreaming of mounting a genuine play-off charge this season, many in their camp are now firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone. Coming under real scrutiny on December 7th as they came crashing out of the FA Cup following a 3-1 drumming away at League Two outfit Stockport, the Addicks are without a win from any of their last seven contests across all formats. With that woeful run of

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City are reportedly the three leading candidates to land prized RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol after his excellent World Cup for Croatia.

Gvardiol, 20, has emerged as one of the top young centre-backs in the world after breaking into Leipzig’s starting XI last season, and with 19 senior caps for Croatia under his belt already, he is well established on the international stage.

Having been signed from Dinamo Zagreb for €16million in 2020, that deal has proven to be a bargain, but it remains to be seen if Leipzig feel it is good business to part ways with their young star with four more years remaining on his contract.

TOP STORY – EUROPE’S TOP CLUBS CIRCLE CROATIA’S ROCK IN DEFENSE

Gvardiol may feel his future does not lie in Leipzig, but with his contract tying him to the club until 2027, he has no leverage