WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 16 - 18 August

August 2024

FULL SPEED AHEAD AND R600,000 IN ADD-INS AND CARRYOVERS

It’s full speed ahead again for soccer from this weekend. The 2024-25 English Premier League (EPL) kicks off with the clash between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford tonight and that’s just part of the excitement for TAB soccer customers. There are add-ins and a carryover totalling R600,000 to TAB soccer pools tonight and tomorrow, and TAB is launching an exciting new bet that will give soccer fans even more chances to win a bomb betting soccer with TAB.

CITY AND ARSENAL DOMINATE BETTING ON PREMIERSHIP

Manchester City and Arsenal dominate the betting on the team to win the EPL this season. City are generally 12-10 favourites to win the title for the seventh time in eight seasons with Arsenal at 18-10 after near misses in the last two seasons. Most pundits - and even a supercomputer - are tipping City to dominate again, but whichever way you look at it Pep Guardiola and his team are going to battle to generate the motivation to win the title again, especially as their main aim will be to conquer the new-look Champions League.

And there’s no knowing the outcome of the 115 charges pending against them for allegedly breaking the EPL’s financial rules or whether Guardiola will stay on beyond this season.

City open their league campaign at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Chelsea, who they beat 4-2 in a friendly this month, and the outcome will give us a clearer idea of what both teams are all about this season. Chelsea will be hoping new manager Enzo Maresca, a former assistant to Guardiola, gets them going after several dismal seasons and a spending splurge that has yielded zero to date. They have eight new players in a squad that is unrecognisable compared to two years ago after an unprecedented outlay by its American owners.

Liverpool have not made a single signing yet, Manchester City have just one in Brazil winger Savio and the only new face at Arsenal is Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori. And Liverpool have a new manager in Arne Slot, who has a big reputation but has huge shoes to fill.

Getting back to the opener tonight Erik ten Hag has reinforced his line-up with a couple of ex-stalwarts from Ajax Amsterdam and United should make a winning start to their campaign, despite their manager saying they are not ready. The clash is the headline game in tonight’s R200,000-added Soccer 10 pool and there’s another R200,000-added Soccer 10 tomorrow which includes five EPL fixtures. Arsenal and Newcastle both look banker bets to win at home against Wolves and Southampton respectively.

TAB’S EXCITING MEGA 10 JACKPOT POOL KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND

TAB’s new soccer bet - Mega 10 Jackpot Pool - launches this weekend and it’s an exciting variation of TAB’s popular Soccer 10 bet. As with Soccer 10, there are 10 matches in each pool and three result options to choose from in each game: 1 = Team A win; 2 = Draw; 3 = Team B win. But there are key differences:

* The unit cost of the bet is R3 and not R2 as with Soccer 10. Thus a permutation or multiple entry with say eight combinations will cost R24 (8 combinations x R3 per combination).

* 70% of the pool will be allocated for entries with all 10 matches correct and 20% for any nine games correct.

* The remaining 10% of every pool will be carried forward to the next Mega 10 pool in order to generate a progressive Jackpot. In the event a Mega 10 net pool totals R10 million or more and there are no all-10-correct entries, 90% of the pool will be paid to the entries with the most matches correct. The other 10% will go to the progressive Jackpot.

* In TABs, Mega 10 cannot be played on a betting form and must be called to the teller in the following order: name of bet, venue number and choices in each match. As follows: “Mega 10; Venue 1; M1 numbers 1 and 2; M2 number 2 . . . etc”. The venue number will always be included in the bet details.

Initially Mega 10 will be offered on a Sunday with matches comprising fixtures on both Sunday and Monday. The first Mega 10 pool closes at 17:30 this Sunday 18 August and there are two obvious bankers in Manchester City and Real Madrid to win away.

R200,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS MATCH BY MATCH

Friday 16 August S10 V2

SOCCER 10 V2 SUGGESTED BET:

M1: Fortuna Sittard vs Almere City	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
This Soccer 10 contains the opening game of the 2024-25 English Premiership and TAB is adding R200,000 to the pool to enhance the chances of a bumper payout. Dutch Eredivisie clash kicks it off with Fortuna winless in 10 of their last 13 games and Almere on a three-game winning run. Last game between them ended 0-0, but Fortuna had won four of five before that.
M2: SBV Excelsior vs De Graafschap	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Excelsior are winless in their last four games and De Graafschap have failed to win 11 of their last 15. In last five clashes De Graafschap have won twice with three draws.
M3: Venlo vs Vitesse	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Venlo have lost eight of 14 recent games and Vitesse nine of last 14. In last six games over five years, Vitesse have won four times with one draw.
M4: Brescia vs Palermo	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Opening game of 2024-25 Serie B in Italy. Both won Coppa Italia games last time after good results in pre-season friendlies. Brescia have won twice with three draws in last six meetings between the two.
M5: Le Havre vs Paris Saint-Germain	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Opening game of new French Ligue 1 season. Le Havre are winless in their last four games, while PSG are unbeaten in their last five. PSG have won five of the last six meetings between the sides with one draw. The previous encounter ended 3-3 earlier this year.
M6: Coventry City vs Oxford United	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
English Championship. Coventry lost their first game of the new term, whereas Oxford kicked off with a home win over Norwich. In last five meetings, Coventry have won three times with one draw.
M7: Manchester United vs Fulham	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
First clash of 2024-25 EPL season. United lost the Community Shield to neighbours City last Saturday on penalties. In last six meetings between the two, United have won four times and Fulham once.
M8: Gil Vicente vs AVS	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Gil Vicente have been unable to win in 11 of their last 15 games and were thumped 3-0 by Porto in their first game of the new Primeira Liga season in Portugal. AVS have won six of their last nine games and started the new season with a draw. The two have not played each other before.
M9: Cadiz vs Real Zaragoza	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Spanish Segunda Division. Cadiz are winless in their last three, while Real Zaragoza have won six of last eight.
M10: Las Palmas vs Sevilla	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
La Liga. Las Palmas have failed to win in 14 of their last 15 games, while Sevilla have lost six of their last eight. Sevilla have won all six encounters between the two over the past seven years.

Suggested R108 permutation: 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2 x 3 x 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 3.

Saturday 17 August S10 V1

SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:

M1: Arsenal vs Wolverhampton	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Five EPL clashes in this pool which kicks off with a R200,000 cash add-in from TAB. Expect a big pool with the potential of a bumper payout. Arsenal have won eight of their last 10 games, while Wolves have lost nine of their last 14. Arsenal won the previous meeting 2-0 in April and have won all six matches against Wolves over the last two years.
M2: Everton vs Brighton	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
The visitors are on a four-game winning streak in pre-season friendlies while Everton have won six of their last 12. They drew 1-1 in February's EPL meeting with two wins each in last six clashes over three years.
M3: Newcastle United vs Southampton	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Newcastle have won nine of their last 14 games and Southampton seven of their last 10. Big test for the visitors who are back in the EPL after a season in the Championship.
M4: Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Forest have won five of last nine and Bournemouth have lost six of their last 11. Drew 1-1 in February with two wins for Bournemouth and two draws in last four clashes between the two.
M5: West Ham United vs Aston Villa	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
West Ham have lost seven of their last 12 games and Villa seven of their last 11. Their last meeting ended 1-1.
M6: Genoa vs Inter Milan	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Italian Serie A. Genoa have won eight of 11 recent games and Inter have avoided defeat in 12 of their last 14. Inter won 2-1 in March, their fourth win in the last six meetings between the two.
M7: Parma vs Fiorentina	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Parma are unbeaten in 12 of their last 15 games and Fiorentina have won eight of their last 15. Fiorentina won last meeting 2-1 in a Coppa Italia game in December.
M8: Osasuna vs Leganes	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Osasuna winless in 12 of last 15 and lost their last two pre-season friendlies, whereas Leganes are unbeaten in 13 of their last 15 games and won their last two.
M9: C.D Nacional vs Sporting Lisbon	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Both have won 10 of their last 14 games. Sporting made a winning start to the new season by beating Rio Ave, whereas Nacional drew their opener.
M10: Valencia FC vs Barcelona	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Valencia winless in last five pre-season friendlies while Barcelona have won 11 of their last 15 games. In last six clashes between the two Barcelona have won five with one draw.

Suggested R72 permutation: 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 3 x 2,3.

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 6 - 8 Sep

INTERNATIONAL CLASHES TAKE CENTRE STAGE THIS WEEKEND

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 30 Aug - 1 Sep

MEGA SOCCER 13 POOL SET TO GENERATE BUMPER PAYOUT

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 23 - 25 August

WHAT A SATURDAY TO BET SOCCER WITH TAB!