Many TAB football customers will be aiming to spend much of this weekend in front of a TV set. The clash of the season between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday evening headlines a reel of cracker games peppered with opportunities to score big with a TAB soccer bet from Friday through Sunday.
TAB is maximising the soccer action by injecting nearly R1 million in bonus add-ins and a carryover to six pools, including three R200,000-added Soccer 10 bets. Plus there’s a guaranteed R17.5-million jackpot in the event of one outright winner of Saturday’s Soccer 13.
Sunday’s Manchester showdown is M9 in a R200,000-added Soccer 10 that also contains three other English Premier League clashes - a Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool and crucial home games for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, with the former looking to consolidate a top-four finish and the latter fighting to stave off relegation.
The Everton-Liverpool duel would normally be centre stage but this time round it’s the supporting act to the potential EPL title-decider between City and Arsenal.
The odds are still stacked in favour of log-leaders Arsenal despite their defeat at the feet of Bournemouth last Saturday. They lead by six points, which will reduce to three if City win on Sunday and then to zero should Guardiola’s team win the game they have in hand.
But Arsenal do have a slightly superior goal average and, much more important, have an easier run to the finishing line than their pursuers - and a draw will suit them just fine on Sunday, whereas for City it’s a must-win as things stand.
We are unlikely be treated to a swashbuckling contest. As against Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final second-leg game on Wednesday night, Arsenal will probably be ultra-cautious and play tight with their chief priority not to concede a goal.
City will probe and probe with Rayan Cherki their best hope of exposing a chink in the Arsenal armour. An early City goal would be the best thing that could happen to the game because then Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta will be forced to take the shackles off the vast amount of talent at his disposal and let them play.
Predictably, City are 5-6 favourites in the ante-post betting (draw 11-4; Arsenal 15-4). They go into the game on a three-match winning sequence, comprising a victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final followed by demolitions of Liverpool and Chelsea. Arsenal on the other hand have just three goals and one win to show from their last five and look overly fearful of making mistakes.
Earlier in the afternoon Notts and Villa should both come away from three points and as is often the case, recent form may count for little in the Merseyside derby.
Liverpool are 5-4 favourites to win and need three points to consolidate their current top-five status and Champions League football next season, but they continue to display frailties. Everton cannot match their arch-rivals in terms of individual talent but are thoroughly organised under David Moyes and it will be no surprise to see them put Liverpool to the sword.
Saturday’s highlight will be the second-leg semi-final clash between Sundowns and Esperance in Tshwane. Sundowns go into the tie 1-0 up after beating Esperance in Tunisia last weekend and should only have to hold their nerve to progress to the African Champions League final for the third time running.
They will be without ace defender Grant Kekana, who was sent off last weekend, but Sundowns have more than enough depth to manage that disadvantage.
The match kicks off the day’s R200,000-added Soccer 10 and it should pay to make Sundowns a banker to win, while other potential bankers in this pool are Orlando Pirates and Leeds to win at home in M4 and M8 respectively.
A draw with Richards Bay has all but ruined Pirates’ hope of dethroning reigning champs Sundowns because they are now a point behind the Tshwane giants, having played a match more. Now they can only hope that Sundowns stumble in the final straight, but they must keep up the pressure so it’s vital for them to beat AmaZulu in Orlando on Saturday. AmaZulu are having a good season and are fourth in the table with two wins and three draws from their last five league games, but have not beaten Pirates for over 10 years.
The day is loaded with cracker games including Spurs at home to Brighton and Chelsea hosting Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Spurs are now 18th and in the relegation zone, with their situation looking increasingly desperate after Roberto de Zerbi’s reign started with an unlucky loss to Sunderland and a season-ending injury to captain Cristian Romero.
De Zerbi has had little time since to try and inject some confidence into his players, but with a home crowd urging them on Spurs may be able to conjure something from the game. Chelsea-United is also tough to call after lacklustre performances from both recently and much will depend on which one of them is more up for it.
With a guaranteed R17.5-million Jackpot in the event of one outright winner, Saturday’s Soccer 13 will also be a popular bet and the best bankers in a challenging bet look an away victory in M8 for Southampton, the hottest team in the Championship right now, and a home success for Wrexham in M10.
Other suggested banker bets through the weekend are victories by Inter Milan and Coventry tonight (both games are included in the R200,000-added Soccer 10) and home successes for Notts Forest and Aston Villa in Sunday’s big Soccer 10.
M1 Stellenbosch vs Sekhukhune United: Bomb start to a weekend loaded with great soccer and great chances to score big cash. Expect a bumper pool and big payout in this bet which starts with a Betway Premiership game. Stellenbosch have avoided defeat in eight of their last 10 games, while Sekhukhune have been unable to win in six of their last seven. Stellenbosch won the last meeting between them 1-0 away in January but Sekhukhune are fifth in the table, 10 points ahead of ninth-placed Stellenbosch who have played a game less.
M2 Pau vs Guingamp: Pau have lost four of their last eight games, while Guingamp have been unable to win in nine of their last 10. The last meeting between them ended 2-2. Pau are ninth on the Ligue 2 table with 42 points, two ahead of 11th-placed Guingamp.
M3 Sampdoria vs AC Monza: Sampdoria are on a three-game winning streak in Serie B, while Monza are unbeaten in their last five matches. Monza won the last clash between them 1-0 last September and are second on the log with 69 points, 29 ahead of 12th-placed Sampdoria.
M4 St. Pauli vs FC Koln: Bundesliga. Koln are unbeaten in their last four games, while St. Pauli are winless in five. The last meeting between them ended 1-1. Koln are 13th with 30 points, five ahead of 16th-placed St. Pauli.
M5 Dundalk vs Galway United: Dundalk are unbeaten in their last seven Irish Premier Division games, while Galway are on a two-game winning streak. The teams drew 2-2 earlier this year. Dundalk are fourth with 18 points, four ahead of fifth-placed Galway who have played a game more.
M6 Inter Milan vs Cagliari: Inter are unbeaten in four Serie A games, while Cagliari have lost six of their last nine. Inter won the last meeting 2-0 away and have won 12 of the last 15 matches between the sides. Inter top the log with 75 points, 42 ahead of 16th-placed Cagliari after 32 games.
M7 Lens vs Toulouse: Lens have won five of their last 10 games, while Toulouse have lost six of their last 10 Ligue 1 fixtures. Lens won the last meeting 3-0 away in January. Lens are second in the league with 59 points, 22 ahead of 10th-placed Toulouse after 29 games.
M8 Shelbourne vs Derry City: Shelbourne are on a two-game losing streak, while Derry are winless in seven games. Shelbourne won the last meeting 2-1 away in March and are sixth with 13 points, two ahead of seventh-placed Derry who have played a match more.
M9 Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City: Blackburn are unbeaten in five games and Coventry in their last four. Coventry won the last meeting 2-0 in October and head the Championship log with 85 points, 37 ahead of 19th-placed Blackburn Rovers after 42 games.
M10 Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians: Irish Premier Division log-leaders Shamrock are on a two-game winning streak, while Bohemians are winless in their last five. Bohemians won the last meeting between them 3-2 in February and are just points behind Shamrock in third place.
M1 Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance Tunis: With TAB adding R200,000 to the pool and a mix of cracker games, here’s the Soccer 10 of the weekend. African Champions League semi-final second leg kicks it off. Sundowns have won nine of their last 10 games in all competitions and Tunis six of their last eight. Sundowns beat Tunis 1-0 away last weekend in the first leg and have home advantage now.
M2 Marumo Gallants vs Siwelele FC: Gallants have lost eight of their last 10 games, while Siwelele have avoided defeat in eight of their last 10 Betway Premiership fixtures. Siwelele won the last meeting between them 1-0 and are 10th on the log, eight points ahead of 14th-placed Gallants.
M3 Orbit College FC vs Golden Arrows: Orbit are winless in their last four PSL fixtures, while Arrows have won five of their last 10 in all competitions. Arrows won their last meeting with Orbit 3-0 in the Cup and are eighth in the table, 12 points ahead of 15th-placed Orbit.
M4 Orlando Pirates vs AmaZulu: Pirates are unbeaten in seven games, while AmaZulu are unbeaten in their last four. Pirates won the last meeting 2-0 away and have won 10 of the last 15 matches between the sides. Pirates are second in the league with 55 points, 16 ahead of fourth-placed AmaZulu, and must win this if they are to have any hope of overhauling log-leaders Sundowns.
M5 Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund: Hoffenheim are winless in their last five games, while Dortmund have won six of their last 10. Dortmund won the last clash between them 2-0, their ninth victory in the last 15 encounters. Dortmund are second in Bundesliga, 13 points ahead of sixth-placed Hoffenheim.
M6 Werder Bremen vs Hamburger SV: Bremen have lost six of their last nine matches, while Hamburger are winless in four. Hamburger won the last meeting 3-2 and are 12th on 31 points, three ahead of 15th-placed Bremen.
M7 Udinese vs Parma: Udinese are unbeaten in their last three games, while Parma are winless in six. Udinese are 10th in Serie A with 43 points, seven ahead of 14th-placed Parma after 32 games.
M8 Leeds United vs Wolverhampton: Leeds are unbeaten in their last four games and beat Manchester United away on Monday night, while Wolves were trounced by West Ham last time and remain last in the table. Leeds won the last meeting with Wolves 3-1 away and are 15th with 36 points, 19 more than their rivals here.
M9 Newcastle United vs Bournemouth: Newcastle are on a losing streak of three games in all competitions, while Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last 10 EPL fixtures and beat log-leaders Arsenal away last weekend. The last meeting between them was a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup (Newcastle won on penalties). Bournemouth are 11th on the log, three points ahead of 14th-placed Newcastle.
M10 Polokwane City vs Kaizer Chiefs: Chiefs are on a four-game winning streak in the PSL and are third in the table, nine points ahead of seventh-placed Polokwane. The teams last met in August with Chiefs winning 1-0 at home. In their last 15 meetings over 11 years, Chiefs have won five times to Polokwane’s four.
M1 Aston Villa vs Sunderland: Competitive Premiership clash kicks off this R200,000-added pool. Villa are fourth in the EPL with 55 points, nine ahead of 10th-placed Sunderland. The teams drew 1-1 in their last clash.
M2 Everton vs Liverpool: Merseyside derby. Everton have won four of their last eight EPL games, while Liverpool have lost five of their last nine in all competitions. Liverpool won the last meeting 2-1 and are currently fifth in the league, five points ahead of eighth-placed Everton after 32 games.
M3 Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Forest are unbeaten in five games as they battle to avoid relegation, while already-relegated Burnley are winless in seven. The last meeting was a 1-1 draw. Forest are 16th with 33 points, 13 ahead of 19th-placed Burnley.
M4 TS Galaxy FC vs Richards Bay: Galaxy are in the Nedbank Cup final but have lost six of their last 10 PSL games, while Richards Bay have lost five of their last nine in all competitions. The teams drew 1-1 in their last clash and there’s little between them on the log with Richards Bay 11th on 27 points, just two ahead of 12th-placed Galaxy.
M5 Metz vs Paris FC: Metz are winless in their last 10 Ligue 1 games, while Paris are unbeaten in their last seven. Paris won the last meeting 3-2 and are 12th in the table, 20 points ahead of 18th-placed Metz.
M6 Nantes vs Stade Brest: Nantes are winless in their last five games and Brest are on a three-game losing streak. The last meeting between them ended 0-0, but Brest are 11th in the league, 17 points ahead of 17th-placed Nantes.
M7 Strasbourg vs Rennes: Strasbourg have avoided defeat in nine of their last 10 games, while Rennes have won six of their last eight Ligue 1 fixtures. Rennes won the last meeting 4-1 and are currently sixth, seven points clear of eighth-placed Strasbourg.
M8 Magesi vs Durban City: Magesi have lost six of their last 10 games, while City have won six of their last 10. City won the last meeting 3-1 and are sixth in the league, 18 points ahead of 16th-placed Magesi, who have played a game less.
M9 Manchester City vs Arsenal: Potential league-title decider. City have scored three decisive wins in a row, while Arsenal have won six of their last 10 but are faltering. City beat Arsenal 2-0 in the League Cup final a few weeks ago. Arsenal top the EPL with 70 points, six ahead of second-placed City who have a game in hand.
M10 Pisa vs Genoa: Pisa are on a three-game losing streak and Genoa have won four of their last seven. The teams drew 1-1 in their last clash, but Genoa are 13th in Serie A with 36 points, 18 ahead of last-placed Pisa.