WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 26 - 28 July

GRAND RANGE OF MATCHES AND SIX CASH-BOOSTED POOLS

What a weekend for TAB soccer customers. There’s a grand spread of matches in TAB soccer pools, ranging from games at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to Brazil’s Serie A and the pick of some fascinating pre-season friendlies. And to make it all even more exciting, there are cash add-ins and a carryover to no fewer than six pools, including R200,000 boosts to Soccer 10 pools tonight and tomorrow. What a great chance to win big bucks, like the two TAB customers who each pocketed nearly R150,000 on Soccer Any 13 Xtra last weekend.

SLOT IN SPOTLIGHT AS REDS PLAY FIRST GAME FOR HIM

Liverpool are one of several English Premier League sides spending much of their pre-season touring the USA, and it will be fascinating to see how they start to shape up under new head coach Arne Slot.

Slot has the unenviable task of taking over from much-loved Jurgen Klopp, but the Dutchman can quickly win Reds fans over with some good performances in the USA, even if results in the pre-season mean little in the grander scheme.

Liverpool start their pre-season fixtures this evening, when they go up against Spanish La Liga side Real Betis at the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Reds will be missing many of their top international stars, who are being given extra time off after reaching the latter stages of EURO 2024 and the Copa America. But they do still have a squad containing Egyptian star Mohammed Salah and Hungarian midfield maestro Domonic Szoboszlai, as well as left-back Andy Robertson and young English talent Jarell Quansah.

Betis are coached by former Manchester City mentor Manuel Pellegrini, who is preparing for his fifth season in charge at the Seville-based side.

Elsewhere on Friday evening, Cairo giants Zamalek are at home to title hopefuls Pyramids FC, who look increasingly likely to miss out on winning the Egyptian Premier League. Pyramids have lost their last two matches, both against Al Ahly, who are in the process of making up a host of games in hand on the rest.

Ahly are now just two points behind Pyramids with three games in hand, and a loss to Zamalek could be a final nail in the coffin for them.

Zamalek are having a poor season by their high standards and are currently fifth in the table, some 20 points behind Pyramids. They do have two games in hand though and may feel they can capitalise against a Pyramids side that must have had their confidence knocked by Ahly.

On Saturday, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games men's football tournament continues with Japan's Under-23 side taking on Mali's under-23 side.

Japan opened their Group D campaign in fine style with a 5-0 hammering of Paraguay, a game in which Sparta Rotterdam's Shunsuke Mito netted a brace.

Mali took on Israel in their opening Group D match and drew 1-1 with Dubai-based Cheickna Doumbia getting the African side's goal.

Also on Saturday, two of England's top sides will go head-to-head in a pre-season clash as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal take on Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Gunners opened their pre-season tour of the USA on Wednesday with a penalty shootout victory over Bournemouth after the match at Dignity Health Sports Park in the USA ended in a 1-1 draw.

Manchester United began their pre-season in Europe, where they lost 1-0 to Norwegian side Rosenborg and then beat Glasgow Rangers 2-0 at Murrayfield.

Chelsea will also play on Saturday and take on Glasgow Celtic at the Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana. Enzo Maresca's side opened their pre-season tour with a 2-2 draw with Wrexham in San Francisco.

R200,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS MATCH BY MATCH

Friday 26 July S10 V1

SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:

Suggested R54 perm: 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1.

Saturday 27 July S10 V3

SOCCER 10 V3 SUGGESTED BET:

Suggested R192 perm: 1,2 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,2 x 1,2,3.