TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 4 - 6 July
CLUB WORLD CUP, BIG SOCCER 13 ADD SPICE TO WEEKEND Horseracing dominates the ...
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TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 4 - 6 July
July 2025
CLUB WORLD CUP, BIG SOCCER 13 ADD SPICE TO WEEKEND
Horseracing dominates the sporting menu this weekend but TAB soccer fans will not lack for exciting top-drawer action loaded with opportunities to score big wins, including the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, a likely R12-m pool in Saturday’s carryover Soccer 13 and a cash-added Soccer 10 tonight.
PSG MAY HAVE TOO MANY ACES FOR BAYERN MUNICH
The Club World Cup (CWC) has gone pretty much as predicted so far with the quarter-finalists comprising five teams from the UK and Europe, two Brazilian Serie A outfits and the surprise package of the tournament in Al Hilal The Saudi club made it to the last 16 by virtue of finishing second to Real Madrid in Group H and then delivered the shock of the tournament when beating Pep Guardiola and his new-look Manchester City side 4-3.
That defeat doesn’t augur well for City in the new season unless something changes - it underscored the same fragility in defence that plagued them last season with a high-line back four easily panicked by fast counterattacks.
Al Hilal take on Fluminense in the first of the quarter-finals and this one is tough to call. An early goal and some outstanding saves by Fabio Maciel saw Fluminense outgun a jaded Inter Milan in the round of 16, but Al Hilal displayed plenty of sharp touches in sinking City and could emerge victorious here.
The game is M6 in tonight’s R150,000-added Soccer 10 with M8 the clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea, now the sole representative of the English Premier League. Palmeiras are good, but Chelsea’s individual stars like Reece James, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto should undo the Brazilians. Unfortunately, Chelsea will be without suspended Moises Caicedo, but manager Vincenzo Maresca has several options at his disposal to nullify the star midfielder’s absence. PSG and Bayern Munich square up in the third quarter-final at 18:00 on Saturday evening and this should be a cracker that you don’t want to miss.
The German champions have looked fluid and well organised most of the time in this tournament and have beaten PSG in their last four encounters. But all those Bayern victories came before PSG turned over a new leaf this year and became virtually unplayable when they are on song - as evidenced by their 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final and later playing Atletico Madrid of the park in this tournament. Banker PSG to win in Saturday’s R6.1-million carryover Soccer 13, as well as Holland’s women’s team against Wales in M3. France takes on England in the other UEFA Women’s Championship clash (M2) in the pool and here a draw looks the most likely outcome.
The final CWC quarter-final pits Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish side have been a bit muted this year and are still finding their feet under new coach Xabi Alonso, but expect them to find a way past their German opponents and into the semi-finals.
R150,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOL MATCH BY MATCH
Friday 4 July – S10 V3
| M1: Derry City vs Waterford FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Derry are on a three-game winning streak in the Irish Premier Division, while Waterford have failed to win six of their last seven. Waterford won the last meeting between them 2-1 in April, but Derry are second in the table with 37 points and 10 ahead of eighth-placed Waterford. | |||
| M2: Drogheda United vs Galway United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Both teams have been unable to win in eight of their last 10 league games. Galway won the last meeting between them 2-1 in April, although Drogheda have the better overall record in their last 15 clashes. Drogheda are fourth in the table with 35 points, six ahead of seventh-placed Galway after 22 and 24 games respectively. | |||
| M3: Shelbourne vs Cork City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Shelbourne are winless in their last three games and Cork in their last 10. The last meeting between them ended 1-1. In the last 15 clashes Shelbourne have won 10 times with four draws. Shelbourne are fifth on the log with 32 points, 17 more than 10th-placed Cork. | |||
| M4: St Patrick's Athletic vs Bohemians | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Bohemians have won six of their last nine games, while St Pats are winless in their last five. Bohemians won the last meeting 2-1 and are currently third, six points ahead of sixth-placed St Pats. | |||
| M5: UC Dublin vs Treaty United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| UCD are on a two-game winning streak, while Treaty United are winless in their last three. Treaty won the last meeting with UCD 4-0 in May, but they are level on 29 points in the table. | |||
| M6: Fluminense FC vs Al-Hilal | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Club World Cup quarter-final. Brazil Serie A outfit Fluminense are unbeaten in their last 10 matches, while Saudi-based Al Hilal are unbeaten in their last nine. Both sides finished second in their respective groups and then secured unexpected wins against European opposition in the round of 16. | |||
| M7: FC Dallas vs Minnesota United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Dallas have lost their last two MLS fixtures, while Minnesota have avoided defeat in seven of their last eight in all competitions. Minnesota are currently third on the MLS table, 13 points ahead of 11th-placed Dallas. | |||
| M8: Palmeiras vs Chelsea | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Palmeiras are unbeaten in four Club World Cup games to date and Chelsea have won eight of their last 10 in all competitions. The teams last met three years ago when Chelsea won 2-1. | |||
| M9: Colorado Rapids vs Sporting KC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Colorado have lost six of their last 10 MLS games, while Sporting KC have been unable to win in seven of their last nine. The teams last clashed last September with Sporting KC winning 4-1 at home. Colorado are eighth in the MLS table with 26 points, six ahead of 12th-placed Sporting KC. | |||
| M10: LA Galaxy vs Vancouver Whitecaps | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Galaxy have lost six of their last 10 MLS matches, while Vancouver have avoided defeat in seven of their last 10 in all competitions. Vancouver won the last clash with Galaxy and are second in the MLS table, 29 points ahead of Galaxy. | |||
Suggested R144 perm: 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2 x 1,2,3 x 2,3 x 1 x 1 x 2,3.
TOP SATURDAY SOCCER 10 POOL MATCH BY MATCH
Saturday 5 July – S10 V2
| M1: France Women vs England Women | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| France are on an eight-game winning streak in all competitions, while England have won six of their last 10. The last time they met England won 2-1 away in a UEFA Women's Championship qualifier last June. In the last 15 clashes over 14 years, France have won eight times to England’s three. | |||
| M2: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Club World Cup quarter-final. Both have won their last three matches at the tournament after being held to draws in their opening games. In their last 15 clashes, Real Madrid have won eight to Dortmund’s three and it’s hard not to fancy the Spanish giants to triumph again. | |||
| M3: Charlotte FC vs Orlando City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Charlotte have lost three in a row, while Orlando have won five of their last nine MLS fixtures. Orlando won the last meeting with Charlotte 3-1, their fifth victory in the last 11 encounters. Orlando are fifth on the MLS table with 33 points, eight ahead of 10th-placed Charlotte. | |||
| M4: DC United vs Atlanta United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Both teams have lost their last three games and drew 3-3 draw in their last clash last July. DC are 12th in MLS with 18 points, one place and one point above Atlanta who have a game in hand. | |||
| M5: Cincinnati vs Chicago Fire | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Cincinnati are on a three-match winning sequence in MLS and Chicago have won seven of their last 10 in all competitions. Cincinnati won the last meeting between them 3-2 away from home this year and are second on the MLS table with 39 points, 11 more than Chicago Fire who have played a game less. | |||
| M6: Austin FC vs Los Angeles FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Austin have avoided defeat in seven of their last nine games, while Los Angeles are winless in their last four. Austin won the last clash between them 1-0 in March, but both teams have 26 points in the league. | |||
| M7: Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Nashville are unbeaten in their last 10 games, while Philadelphia have won six of their last nine. Nashville won the last meeting between them 3-1, but Philadelphia lead the Eastern Conference with 40 points, two ahead of third-placed Nashville. | |||
| M8: Real Salt Lake vs Saint Louis FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Salt Lake have been unable to win in eight of their last nine matches and St. Louis are winless in their last four. Salt Lake are 13th in the MLS table with 19 points, four ahead of 14th-placed St. Louis. | |||
| M9: Portland Timbers vs New England Revolution | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Portland have avoided defeat in seven of their last 10 games, while New England are winless in their last three. Portland are currently fourth in the MLS table, six points ahead of 11th-placed New England. | |||
| M10: San Jose Earthquakes vs New York RB | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Earthquakes are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 matches, while New York are winless in their last three. In the last 15 meetings, New York have won eight times to three victories by Earthquakes and lead their rivals by two points in the table. | |||
Suggested R108 perm: 1,2,3 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2.
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