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Fight Forecast for the Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Juan Francisco Estrada Rematch

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Friday night sees the return of one of the sport’s special stories. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (aka Wisaksil Wangek) makes his return to the ring in a mouth-watering rematch of his 2018 fight with Juan Francisco Estrada, with the WBC super-flyweight title on the line in Los Angeles on a Matchroom Boxing promoted show.

Sor Rungvisai catapulted into the limelight in 2017 as the Thai superfly edged out former pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez over a mesmerizing twelve rounds of action. This win, coupled with the capturing of the green and gold WBC strap gave the 32-year-old the recognition in boxing that he had been fighting for since turning pro in 2009; his story is one of humble beginnings and a long struggle to the pinnacle of the sport.

With just one win in his first five fight in the paid ranks, Sor Rungvisai’s potential looked limited in his early outings. Fighting to eat having been raised in one of the poorest parts of Thailand, Sor Rungvisai would often walk miles to the gym, going through bins on the way home just to secure himself a meal.

After stringing together an impressive run of victories a shot at the world title came in 2014 where he would lose a contentious TD to Carlos Cuadras, following a clash of heads resulting in a cut to the eye of the champion. The cards read 73-78, 74-77, 75-77 at the time of the stoppage, with the challenger left with nowhere to go. Fast-forward four years and a shot at “Chocolatito” comes the way of Sor Rungvisai, one that he grabs with both hands. Back-to-back wins over the famed Nicaraguan cemented his position as one of the best superflys on the planet, with a highlight-reel fourth round KO the cherry on the iced cake in the second fight.

Defenses against Estrada, Gil Bae and Iran Diaz followed, before the call for the Estrada rematch was made. Scores of 115-113, 114-114, 117-111 separated these two warriors in their first bout last year, with an all-action rematch expected on Friday night.

Rungvisai is a volume-puncher with terrific in and out movement. His swarming nature as well as tough chin allows the Thai fighter to pressure his opponents into making mistakes inside the ring, with Estrada failing to get on the front foot throughout the fight. The champion’s southpaw stance is expected to make life hard once again for Estrada on Friday, with Sor Rungvisai focusing strongly on planting his lead foot to the outside of his opponents, allowing work on the inside to flow.

Sor Rungvisai is a very technical fighter, but is he lets his left hand go, he can cause huge damage. His right hand holds huge power as well at the superfly limit, and was enough to lay Gonzalez out in their infamous rematch.

Sor Rungvisai is expected to have Estrada’s number on Friday, with a unification with Ancajas or Kal Yafai expected later this year.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Wisaksil Wangek) to beat Juan Francisco Estrada @ 4/7 (BetVictor)

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Premier League Darts Betting Forecast for the 13th Night of the Season

Premier League Darts Birmingham

With just four weeks to go of league stage action, we are beginning to get a better feel who may grace the oche at the O2 Arena on May 23.

MVG and Cross are still setting the pace at the top of the standings, with four players slugging it out for the remaining two spots. Smith and Wright’s failure to notch up a victory in Cardiff all but eliminates them from the conversation regarding a playoff spot. Both can claim to being one of the best PDC players in the world on their day, but have struggled with the intense competition on a weekly basis in this year’s Premier League.

Wade, Price and Suljovic are all tied on fourteen points, with Gurney slightly off the pace with twelve; neither of these four play each other in Birmingham, with each of them eyeing up an opportunity to edge ahead before next week’s trip to Manchester.

It’s all to play for at the Arena Birmingham. Let’s take a look at Thursday’s action:

Mensur Suljovic vs Michael Smith

Smith is looking down and out in his quest for a playoff spot. Bully Boy sits six points off of fourth place; six points off of Suljovic. Gentle’s slow style makes him a nightmare opponent for Smith, with the Austrian taking full advantage in Birmingham. 8-5 or 8-6 to Suljovic.

Suljovic 8-6 Smith @ 9/1 (BetVictor)

Rob Cross vs Gerwyn Price

A big test for Price as he looks to take the scalp of Voltage. Apart from his loss to MVG last Thursday, Cross is at the top of his game. He has three points worth of breathing space with four weeks to go, so a point would do him just fine in Birmingham. Price has the bottle to push him the distance. 7-7 at great value.

Cross 7-7 Price @ 7/2 (BetVictor)

Daryl Gurney vs Peter Wright

Neither player has a win in their last three outings, with Wright bagging just two victories all season. Wright’s race for a playoff spot looks all but run, with Gurney still in the hunt. SuperChin is capable of huge performances when needed, with a plethora of 180s the key to unlocking a win against Snakebite. Back Gurney in the 180 race, coupled with an outright win.

Gurney most 180s @ 1/1 (BetVictor)

James Wade vs Michael van Gerwen

Wade’s got the game and composure to beat MVG. He showed that earlier in the season in taken two points off the feared Dutchman, and with his playoff spot in jeopardy in Birmingham, The Machine needs to be functioning. Backing all 14 legs to be thrown here shows value, with a last leg decider likely.

Over 12.5 legs @ 8/11 (BetVictor)

Find the Latest Betting Odds for Professional Darts here at BigBetBookmakers.com featured at the BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY& BIG LIVE BETS NOW Pages 

 

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Big Sporting Events: Football League Play Off Finals

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The Football League Play-Offs take place following the conclusion of the regular season. They are typically held at the end of May, with all three divisions holding crucial matches across a two-week period. 

Promotion to the higher level is the ultimate goal of many Football League sides, and the play-offs provide an opportunity for each of the four sides who have just missed out on automatic promotion.

Each division will stage two-legged semi-final games, with each team getting the opportunity to stage a match at their home stadium. The aggregate winner will then progress to the Play-Off final, which will be staged at Wembley Stadium in West London.

If the scores are tied at the end of the second semi-final game, extra time will be played. If the two sides can still not be separated, penalty kicks will follow. It is an extremely cruel way to end the season, but many of the sides in the play-offs are closely matched, and there is often very little between them. Away goals DO NOT COUNT in the Football League play-offs. They were abolished at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign.

The play-off format does have its critics, but it is a terrific way to end the season, and has been in existence since 1987. Blackpool are the most successful club in the history of the play-offs, and were last victorious in 2017. Their Lancashire neighbours Preston have featured ten times in the play-offs, but have lost on each occasion.

In the Championship and League One, the side who finishes third will face the team in sixth place, whilst fourth and fifth will also meet in the play-off semi-final. With three sides automatically promoted from League Two, fourth place will play seventh, whilst fifth and sixth will be paired together.

All of the play-off matches are televised in the UK, and they tend to attract football fans who wouldn’t ordinarily choose to watch lower-league football. It is often described as an “end-of-season lottery”, and it can evoke heartbreak and jubilation in equal measure.

When and Where?

The play-offs tend to be staged in the middle of May. The regular campaign tends to end on the first weekend of the  month, with the semi-finals typically getting underway seven days later. All three of the play-off finals are played across the May Bank Holiday at the end of the month.

Why are the Play-Offs so Popular?

The play-offs are a very emotional experience for fans of the clubs involved, but they are a sensational way to end the season for neutrals. With promotion to the Premier League at stake, there is plenty to play for. £90m awaits the winner of the Championship play-off, whilst a chance to play in a higher division awaits the winner of the League One and League Two game.

The games are always played at a frenetic pace, and the play-offs provide plenty of entertainment throughout.

With the regular season all wrapped up, it is a chance to enjoy the last of the domestic football, and that helps with its popularity.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

Loads. The Football League is extremely popular with bettors, and many punters enjoy having a bet ahead of the play-offs.

There are markets throughout the season involving promotion, but a separate market will appear once the four competitors have been confirmed. There is also the opportunity to wager on a match-by-match basis throughout the competition.

Key Betting Markets

Promotion (Season Long) – Ahead of the big kick-off in August, many punters will formulate their ante-post bets. One of the most popular markets is ‘to be promoted’, and this includes the option of going up via the play-offs. Those who have backed a side to be promoted will undoubtedly be following the progress of their chosen team carefully throughout May.

To Win the Play-Offs – This is a bet which can be struck ahead of the Football League play-offs. All four teams will be included in the market, with the higher-finishing sides usually assigned shorter odds. This is a four-team market, and with the competition deemed a ‘lottery’ by many pundits, it often results in a very open field. Your chosen side will need to be promoted in order for this bet to pay out.

To Win the Match (1X2) – This is a bet which can be struck on a match-by-match basis. Each game will be priced up a couple of days ahead of kick-off. Punters can predict which will come out on top, but the 1X2 market applies to 90 minutes ONLY.

To Qualify – This is similar to the above market, but it involves sides progressing to the final. These odds are typically shorter, and will cover extra-time and penalties. This bet can be struck ahead of the first leg or ahead of the second meeting. If a side are trailing after the first match, bigger odds will be available on them to make it through.

Total Goals – This market is available on a match-by-match basis. Punters will be able to predict how many goals will be scored in each game. The bar is typically set at Under/Over 2.5 Goals, although others are available. The play-offs often produce high-scoring games, and with plenty at stake, it is perfectly understandable.

Anytime/First/Last Goalscorer – Players have the opportunity to make themselves heroes during the end-of-season play-offs, and the goalscorer markets allow punters to predict the players who will have the biggest impact on the game. Backing a player who has enjoyed a successful end to the campaign, or is a penalty-taker is often the best way to go in these markets.

Penalties/Extra Time – There are often separate markets available during the each the second leg and the final for the match to last the distance. Punters can predict whether a game will be decided in a shoot-out or not. For those who fancy a more exotic price, it is possible to back ‘Team A to win on Penalties’ or ‘Team B to win in extra time’.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Football League Play-Offs

Managerial Experience Can Make the Difference – Having the right manager in the dugout can make all the difference in the play-offs. Savvy operators will help guide a side through a tricky and busy period, and they can often be the key to a side going up. Many coaches have previously suffered heartache in the play-offs, and they will have undoubtedly learnt from their mistakes. They know what it takes to manage the game, and they often know how to prepare their players for the big occasion. Rookie managers can occasionally come out on top, although they are more liable to fall short. A manager who been to Wembley before in the end-of-season play-offs will know how to manage expectations.

Likewise, players with experience can often drag their side through. Look for experienced heads, particularly those who have been handed the captains armband.

Goalscorers are Key – It may sound really obvious, but having a prolific goalscorer is absolutely vital. Chances will come and go throughout the campaign, but sides will get the opportunity to make amends for missed opportunities, whereas in the play-offs, there is only a maximum of 180 minutes to oblige. If a side has a goalscorer in good form, he could make all the difference in the final third.

Cagey First Legs/Entertaining Second Legs – This isn’t a guarantee, but generally speaking, the first leg games tend to be fairly low-scoring as both sides size one another up. There is plenty at stake, and nerves are understandable, hence a typically slow start. As the games ebb and flow, sides will know their fate, and the second legs can often be frenetic and fraught with incident. Always bear this in mind when tackling the goals markets.

It’s a One Off Game at Wembley – The play-off final is such a big occasion, and players will be understandably nervous. Sometimes punters put too much stock into previous meetings between the sides, but studying h2hs is ill-advised. It’s a one-off game, where anything can happen, and a previous meeting in the FA Cup in November is hardly going to be relevant to the outcome of this one.

The Football League play-offs will be broadcast on Sky Sports throughout May, with additional coverage on their website and app. 

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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 26TH-27TH APRIL

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Soccer – Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke

The first of my big betting events comes from the Bundesliga this weekend. Unlike Serie A and Ligue 1, the Bundesliga title race is still undecided, and both Dortmund and Bayern Munich are still hoping to secure top honours this season.

The Yellow and Blacks start the day just a single point behind Niko Kovac’s side, and they will fancy their chances of collecting three points here. They looked back to their free-flowing best with a convincing 4-0 victory againstg Freiburg. Bayern could only draw 1-1 there, but Lucien Favre’s side were dominant throughout, and never let up.

They’ve now netted six goals in their last two matches, and they’ll desperately be hoping that Bayern slip up somewhere along the way.

One of the more interesting factors about this game is whether Marco Reus will be fit enough to play. He played through the pain barrier after taking a knock in the first half, and it’ll be interesting to whether he starts on Saturday. If he doesn’t feature, Dortmund may find it tougher, and their odds are likely to drift.

Schalke are a complete mess this season, and they lost 5-2 to Hoffenheim on Saturday night. Their goal difference took another hammering in the process, and their fragile defence isn’t likely to enjoy coming up against the likes of Jadon Sancho and the aforementioned Marco Reus.

With Dortmund getting back to their best in recent weeks, they will be looking to improve their goal difference here. Dortmund have four fixtures left, but this is by far and away their easiest assignment. They will be expected to take advantage of a fragile Schalke outfit.

It ended 2-1 to Dortmund earlier in the campaign, and the pair played out an entertaining 4-4 draw last season. These games are rarely dull, and I’m expecting another cracker!

The better makes Dortmund overwhelming favourites, and that’s to be expected. They should ease to victory here, and I can’t wait to see them running at the shaky Schalke back-line.

BT Sport viewers in the UK can enjoy all of the highlights from the Bundesliga throughout the course of the season. 

 

Soccer – Premier League – Brighton vs Newcastle

The second of my big betting events comes from the Premier League with a crucial game for Brighton. The Seagulls have been slipping down the table, and although they picked up a point on Saturday against Wolves, some fans were unhappy with the way to set up.

Chris Hughton’s men played for the point, and they took a small step closer to safety as a result. However, disgruntled supporters wanted to see their side play with a little more ambition, and they will be expected to show more adventure in this game.

Newcastle are going well at the moment, and they picked up another terrific victory against Southampton. Ayoze Perez single handedly helped his side to the victory, and they’ll be aiming to kick on here.

Rafa Benitez’s side are generally better on the road this campaign. They may only have won three times away from St.James’ Park, but they’ve only lost seven matches on their travels, and won’t make it easy for their opponents.

There is rarely much between these sides, with the sides being separated by just a single goal in three of their last four meetings, with the other ending all-square.

I don’t think this will be one for the neutral, but it’s certainly an interesting betting heat. Brighton are clear favourites in this one, but their recent form doesn’t fill anyone with confidence.

They’ve failed to score in each of their last three home games, and have netted just three in their last five at the AMEX. I’ve always had the idea that they are tough to beat at home, but they’ve shown a real vulnerability of late, and Hugton still doesn’t appear to have found the right balance to his starting XI.

This looks like the perfect fixture for Newcastle, who will relish the chance to face an out-of-form side.

Fans are losing patience with Chris Hughton, and if Brighton fall behind, it could get a little hostile on the south coast, and that is likely to translate to the players.

Premier League fans in the UK can watch this match live on Sky Sports on Saturday night. 

 

 

Aussie Rules – AFL – St.Kilda vs Adelaide Crows

The AFL season is shaping up nicely, and this game between the Saints and the Crows is the third of my big betting events this weekend.

We’re five rounds into the new campaign, and St.Kilda’s form has surprised many fans so far. Until Geelong’s victory, the Saints found themselves top of the ladder, with a 4-1 record, and they could continue their good form here.

Alan Richardson’s side were at their destructive best last weekend, with a 40-point success at the MCG. The Demons were no match for them, and the Crows could also be in for a long afternoon here.

They’ve also seen off the Hawks, the Bombers and the Suns this season, and they will fancy their chances against the inconsistent Crows.

The Adelaide side have and 2-3 record this season, but they do come off the back of a thumping win against the Gold Coast Suns.

Many pundits predicted the Saints would finish in the bottom half, and the betting odds still reflect that on a match-to-match basis. They are consistently underestimated by the bookmakers, with many companies expecting them to slip down the ladder as the season progresses.

They are missing a number of key players, which makes their early-season success even more remarkable! Dylan Robertson won’t feature in 2019, whilst Dan Hannebery is still working his way back to full fitness.

They have plenty of momentum, and will be expected to prevail here. The bookies continue to underestimate them, and punters like myself are keeping a keen eye on their progress this season. I can’t wait to see if they can keep their run going on Saturday morning.

BT Sport have highlights of all AFL games throughout 2019, and fans can also catch up on this game on the App. 

 

Soccer – Premier League – Fulham vs Cardiff

My final big betting event will take us back to the Premier League, and it involves a side who are also battling relegation. The final spot in the bottom three is still to be decided, and Cardiff are looking to avoid an instant return to the second tier.

They face a side who are already preparing for life in the Championship, but a team who have remarkably worked out how to keep clean sheets!

Fulham have now won back-to-back games, and haven’t conceded a goal in over 180 minutes of football. They’ve kept just four shutouts throughout the campaign, and they will fancy their chances of repeating the trick here. Scott Parker has obviosuly found the right balance at the back, and they could hammer a nail in Cardiff’s coffin at Craven Cottage.

The Bluebirds battled hard against Liverpool, but inevitably came unstuck. Neil Warnock has ranted and raved his way through the season, but his side look like they will fall short. Their home form has been significantly better than their record on the road, and this looks like a tough ask.

Fulham are rightfully the favourites here, but the bookies seem to be largely ignoring their recent momentum, and that makes it an interesting betting heat.

This is another PL clash which will have major implications on the battle to avoid relegation, but the pressure is off the home side, and they will hoping to take advantage of that fact.

UK viewers can catch highlights of this game alongside all of the Premier League encounters on Sky Sports Match Choice. 

 

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Best Bets of the Day – Sunday April 21st 2019

Neil Warnock

Everton v Manchester United
Premier League – 1.30 pm
Sky Sports

This is going to be really interesting at Goodison Park on Sunday lunchtime. Everton have done well in their last few home games. In their last three fixtures at Goodison Park, they have held title-contenders Liverpool to a draw, and have beaten Chelsea and Arsenal. So that’s a very good return from a difficult run of home fixtures. Can they upset the Red Devils on the weekend as well? Everton are 9/4 underdogs on home soil, but punters may well see value in them as one of their best bets of the day.

Manchester United have no clean sheet in nine games and have lost five of their last seven. That is across all competitions. The away form of the Red Devils has to come under scrutiny a bit at the moment in the Premier League as they have lost the last two on the road. Those were back to back defeats against Arsenal and Wolves. Some of the shine has started to come off the tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as boss, maybe. United are at 13/10 to win at Goodison, and they need to as they have to work to do try and get back to the Champions League next season.

Leinster v Toulouse
European Champions Cup Rugby – 3.15 pm
Channel 4

Leinster and Toulouse meet again. They were together in the Pool stage of this season’s Champions Cup and now here they are again, going at it in the semifinals. From the two meetings in the group stage, they each won their game on home soil. So will that be a telling factor when they line up on Sunday at the Aviva? Perhaps so, as top bookmakers have Leinster as the 2/5 odds on favourites with home soil on their side.

Leinster went up against Ulster on home soil in a big duel in the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup. They were under pressure in the game and it was really the points from the kicking game that got them across the line in the end for a 21-18 victory. That was some pressure that they were under though. Toulouse pulled off an underdog success against Racing 96 who were last season’s runners up in the cup. It was a huge battle between the French outfits, Toulouse doing enough early on to hold on for a 22-21 success away from home. It was a performance full of grit and character. They are 11/5 to pull off another underdog success this weekend.

Cardiff v Liverpool
Premier League – 4.00 pm
Sky Sports

Cardiff did their survival hopes the power of good in midweek as they collected a victory away from home against Brighton. That left them three points from safety going back into action this weekend and still, there is no margin for error. The problem is that they have to step out against title-chasers Liverpool this weekend and it is not going to be an easy game at all for them. The Bluebirds have lost three of their last four home games as well and for a team which has conceded at almost two goals per home game this season, meeting Liverpool isn’t what they need right now.

The Bluebirds are massive 16/1 underdogs with leading bookmakers to win this. Liverpool have to stay focused. They beat Chelsea last weekend and now they won’t meet any other top six side during their run in. So they have a great chance at the title and they are in form. It is a five-match winning streak that they are on at the moment and they have scored at least two goals in each of those five games. The Reds have conceded just 10 goals in 17 away games this season, but have conceded in their last two on the road at Fulham and Southampton. With this easier run of games coming up, will they keep their eye on the ball? It’s not the time for complacency to set in. Top bookmakers have them at 8/11 odds-on to win to nil.

Don’t miss out on a chance to land some betting bonuses for you play, check out our section to see what takes your fancy.

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Best Bets of the Day – Saturday, April 20th 2019

Aguero

Manchester City v Tottenham
Premier League – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports

What a game this could turn out to be. It’s almost hard for it to live up to the Champions League game they played out at the Etihad in midweek. City won that 4-3 but were knocked out on away goals by Spurs. The thing about that game is that Manchester City had to come out and search for an early goal to overturn the 1-0 deficit that they had from the first leg. So that’s why they were so gung-ho, which ultimately hurt them in defence.

In this one, they can afford to be a little more patient. The Citizens are still 1/4 odds-on with leading bookmakers to get the win. That increased patience should help them stay stronger at the back. Manchester City have won all but one of their home games this season so they have the home form. They have averaged over three goals per game and now they know that they can open up the Tottenham defence. This is now about mentality. Can they hold it together?

Tottenham are on a four-match losing streak away from home in the Premier League at the moment which has left them at 11/1 underdogs for this fixture. It is a big price, but punters may eye that up as one of the best bets of the day, given how they have handled themselves against City in the Champions League. But the Lilywhites have lost three of their four away games this season against others in the Big Six (W1) so have had their troubles on the road in big matches. But their confidence is through the roof despite losing in 90 minutes at the Etihad on Wednesday. They need points for a top-four finish. Can they ruin Man City’s hopes at a league title too?

Newcastle v Southampton
Premier League – 5.30 pm
BT Sport

Southampton have done a fantastic job recently of putting points on the board to get themselves ever-closer to safety this season. They have won four of their last six league games and they will be looking to avoid defeat at the least on a trip to Tyneside on the weekend. The Saints have only won the four away games this season, but they did get a victory over Brighton in their last road game. Three of their four wins on the road this season have been against sides who are currently sat in the bottom eight.

Newcastle are two points better off than Southampton are. The Magpies have posted a W7 D1 L9 record at home this season. They were on a good five-match winning streak on home soil before they tanked to a 1-0 reverse against Crystal Palace in their last home fixture. But that burst of form is more than likely good enough to preserve their Premier League status. This almost has the feel of being a game in which the two sides are going to be more concerned about not losing in than anything. The Magpies are only 13/8 as favourites with top bookmakers, leaving the Saints at 11/5 chancers. There isn’t likely going to be much between them on the day.

Terence Crawford v Amir Khan
Boxing – 4.30 am (Sunday)
BT Sport

It’s back into the ring for Amir Khan who goes for the WBO welterweight title in this one against America’s Terence Crawford. Following his knockout loss against Canelo Alvarez back in May 2016, this is just Khan’s third fight since then. His last bout saw him beat Samuel Vargas on a unanimous decision in Birmingham in September last year. Most people were expecting him to go against British rival Kell Brook, but a big purse offering in this one, plus the shot at the title means that goes on the back burner.

Khan is a big 8/1 underdog in this one against a superb boxer. Crawford has power in spades and he has already gone through the nerves or retaining the WBO welterweight title once. He won the belt against Jeff Horn back in June last year and then defended it against Jose Benavidez. From the pre-match round of press conferences, it seems as if Khan is fully aware that he is the underdog and that he needs probably the most perfect performance of his career to win. Crawford has won world titles across three different divisions and is as short as 3/10 for a knockout victory.

Accrington v Luton
League One – 5.30 pm
Sky Sports

Luton had a hiccup last weekend as they suffered a 3-1 loss at Charlton. That leaves them just the two points clear at the top of League One above Barnsley who are in great form and hot on their heels. Luton do still have a game in hand though. But their loss last weekend made things a little more dramatic in the title race in the division. Luton are back out on the road this weekend as they go to Accrington. The Hatters are 13/20 favourites with leading bookmakers to pick up the away win.

Accrington have been struggling for form for a while now and the best that they can shoot for is a mid-table finish. They had taken one point from five games before actually landing a victory last weekend. That was a success over Walsall, who are second from bottom. Accrington have lost five of their last six home games and there has been no clean sheet from them in any of their last fourteen games, home and away. They are facing up to the league’s top scorers in his one. Accrington have some big 19/5 underdog odds to defy.

Saracens v Munster
European Champions Cup Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport

This is a heavyweight showdown in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup. It should be a cracker. The winner faces Toulouse or Leinster in the final. Saracens have had a fine tournament it has to be said. They won all of their group stage matches, and then they went out and stomped all over the Glasgow Warriors with a 56-27 victory in the quarterfinals. Home advantage is so crucial at times like this and Saracens have posted some huge scores on home soil in Europe this term.

Munster though are carrying form with four wins in their last five games in all competition. They topped their Pool in the European Champions Cup and then they found themselves in a tough battle with Edinburgh in the quarterfinals. They managed to get a late converted try on the board at home to take the game 17-13. That was big test of character and the Irish side are going to need more of that. They are going to need that grit as they have lost three of their last five against Saracens and can’t match up to them in terms of try-scoring power. Leading bookmakers have a Saracens -8 handicap at even money.

Keep an eye on all of the latest action from the busy Saturday of top sporting action by checking in on live bets!

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2018/19 Champions League Semi-Final Previews

Lionel Messi

It is down to the final four in the Champions League this season. There has already been some high-level drama along the way. What more is there to come? We are really at the business end of the tournament now.

There is still a possibility of a one-nation final to come as well (Tottenham v Liverpool). Barcelona are looking for their fourth Champions League title. Ajax and Spurs have have both fought off underdog statuses to get this far.

Here we take a look at the two semi-final ties that are coming up. Which way do the bookmakers think they are going to swing?

Barcelona v Liverpool Preview

What a tie this could end up being. The action is at the Nou Camp for the first leg on Wednesday, May 1st before the return at Anfield a week later on the 7th. The leading bookmakers have Barcelona at 7/10 to win the home leg. In the To Qualify market, it is the Catalans who are 8/13 odds-on to prevail.

Barca’s mighty home form

Barcelona have such a stunning home record in Europe. In the quarterfinals, they tore Manchester United to shreds. Their home record against English sides is now W21 D11 L2 following that 3-0 success over the Red Devils at the Nou Camp. The Spaniards are undefeated in 31 home games in the Champions League, winning 28 of those.

Barca have won their last thirteen knockout phase home games as well. That’s what Liverpool are up against. Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the Champions League this season with ten goals on the board too. As good as their home form is, there are cracks in Barcelona’s away game. Their victory at Old Trafford in the last round was their first victory in seven away knockout stage fixtures. Barca scored just two goals in those seven away games.

Can Reds survive Nou Camp trial?

Liverpool know that their big chance will be back on home soil. So they are going to have to show some defensive power at the Nou Camp in the first leg. The Reds had an easy time of things against Porto in the quarterfinals, easing through without breaking too much of a sweat. However, it has been a very tough campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s men. They faced Napoli and PSG in the Group Stage. Then it was Bayern Munich the round of sixteen.

The Reds did have a poor time of things in the group stage away from home. They lost all three games. So they looked in trouble in the round of sixteen against Bayern Munich after having tied the first leg 0-0 at Anfield. But Liverpool came up big in Germany with a 3-1 road success. Liverpool have lost five of their last eleven European games now. Each of those five defeats were outside of England, including their Champions League Final defeat last season against Real Madrid.

Previous Head to Head

Liverpool have triumphed in the three previous two-legged contests against Barcelona. They are 6/5 To Qualify from this one. The Reds are W2 D2 in their four previous trips to the Nou Camp and hold a W3 D3 L2 record against Barcelona in their previous matches.

Barcelona’s record against English opponents is W35 D21 L18
Liverpool’s record against Spanish opponents is W14 D12 L12

Previous European Semi Final experiences

Ajax W6 L2
Barcelona W7 L8
Liverpool W8 L2
Tottenham W0 L1

Tottenham v Ajax Preview

How many people would have had either one of these pegged for a semi berth this season? It has been a remarkable journey for both of them. The first leg of the tie is at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 30th. The reverse fixture comes from Amsterdam on May 8th. Spurs are 10/11 odds on with leading bookmakers to win the first leg. Punters can take an early price of 10/11 on either one of them To Qualify.

Tottenham’s rocky road

Tottenham only took one point from their opening three group stage games. So the fact that they are here in the semifinals is remarkable enough. It was a dramatic draw in their final group stage game at the Nou Camp against Barcelona (who had already won the group), which was enough for Tottenham to squeeze their way through to the round of sixteen with.

But then they really came to life. They powered their way past Borussia Dortmund in emphatic style in the first knockout stage. That really was the turning point of their European season. It put them into that epic all-English quarter-final tie against Manchester City. Spurs were underdogs for that tie. However, a superb home performance in the first leg saw them take a 1-0 lead to the Etihad.

That return game saw Manchester City produce a 4-3 win on a night of dramatic twists. Tottenham’s third goal needed a VAR review, which was still debatable, and then Man City thought they had won the tie with a late strike from Raheem Sterling. The Etihad erupted, only to be brought crashing back down to earth as the goal was ruled out for offside. City were eliminated in an astonishing fashion on away goals.

Ajax take down giants

Ajax also had a tremendous journey. It started back in the qualifying rounds. In the main stage of the draw, they couldn’t quite get the better of Bayern Munich in the group stage. Ajax finished second behind the Germans. That put them through to a round of sixteen tie against Real Madrid, the reigning Champions. Ajax were heavy underdogs for the tie and they looked doomed after a 2-1 home loss in the first leg. Then came a stunning result. The Dutch team put on a show to win 4-1 at the Bernabeu, ending the three-year European reign of Los Merengues.

There was another giant in front of them in the quarterfinals, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus. Ajax again failed to win at home in the first leg, giving up an away goal in a 1-1 tie. But then they came up with another superb display of exciting, confident football to fight back from being a goal down in Turin to get a deserved 2-1 success on the night to win through. How much further can this exciting young Dutch team go? Will having the second leg advantage at home tip the tie in their favour?

Previous Head to Head

There have only been on the one previous meeting between the two clubs. That was in the 1981/82 European Cup Winners’ Cup first round when Spurs won 6-1 on aggregate.

Spurs’ record against Dutch opponents: W9 D5 L3
Ajax’s record against English opponents: W7 D7 L8

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