Okay, so we are up and running. After the last attempt at the challenge ended in heartbreak, we have gone back to basics, eliminated all goals-based bets and instead decided to focus on simple results-based betting.
It’s a formula that has served us well with the challenge in the past, and it’s also a case o so far, so good for this latest effort at the £10 to £1000 challenge after four correct picks last time out.
Here’s a recap:
- Bet 1: Atlantas vs Kairat Almaty: Kairat/Draw Double Chance – this Europa League qualifier went as expected with Kairat claiming a 2-1 victory.
- Bet 2: Sporting KC vs Philadelphia: Sporting KC/Draw Double Chance – we spoke about the dominance of home teams in the MLS, and Sporting KC proved the point albeit in a 1-1 draw here.
- Bet 3: Tianjin Quanjian vs Guangzhou R&F: Tianjin +1.25 Asian Handicap – Tianjin are in red hot form at present, and they continued their momentum with a 2-1 win here.
- Bet 4: Valur vs Stjarnan: Valur/Draw Double Chance – it was steady as she goes for Week 1 of the challenge, with a 1-1 stalemate here completing a successful first set of picks.
We move on with £19.49 on our hip. Can we navigate our way safely through Week 2?
Bet 5: Garbine Muguruza vs Magdalena Rybarikova: Muguruza +4.5 Game Handicap – £19.49 at 1/8
Thursday July 13, 13:00
Let’s stop by Wimbledon first of all this week and the ladies semi-final on Thursday between Garbine Muguruza and Magdalena Rybarikova.
Anybody that has watched the Spaniard play this week will have marvelled at the balance between her balletic movement and devastating power, and the manner in which she handled tournament favourite Angelique Kerber was a perfect example of grass court tennis.
Muguruza was the epitome of professionalism when beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarters too, and many onlookers have her installed as the tournament favourite right about now.
Rybarikova deserves huge credit for dumping bookies favourite Karolina Pliskova out of the tournament, but since then she has dropped a set against Petra Martic and benefitted from playing Coco Vandeweghe in the last eight, who was clearly crippled by nerves.
Even if Rybarikova wins by a 6-4, 6-4 or 7-5, 7-5 margin our selection lands.
Bet 6: Oakleigh Cannons vs North Geelong: Oakleigh Draw No Bet – £21.93 at 1/10
Friday July 14, 11:30
This match takes place in the Australian Victoria League, and sees a solid-enough Oakleigh welcome a hapless North Geelong outfit.
The hosts are unbeaten on home soil, albeit W2 D6 L0, but in their last four anywhere they have beaten the league leaders 2-0 and stuck four past St Albans, who are one place above the visitors here.
North Geelong are just so easy to bet against. They are bottom of the table and have lost seven on the bounce – conceding 21 in those. They have yet to win on the road (W0 D3 L7) and concede an average of 2.70 goals per game on their travels.
Bet 7: Gnistan vs KPV: KPV/Draw Double Chance – £24.12 at 2/11
Saturday July 15, 15:00
We’re dipping into the Finnish First Division now, naturally, as league leaders KPV travel to bottom club Gnistan.
The tale of the tape is that KPV have had things easy so far, with a formline of W8 D3 L1 symptomatic of their success. They are unbeaten in five and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.
Gnistan are bottom of the pile and with good reason: they are yet to win in 12 attempts (W0 D4 L8). Playing at home (W0 D2 L4 GF5 GA12) has not been of any real advantage to them.
Bet 8: Lyngby vs Silkeborg: Lyngby +1.25 Asian Handicap – £28.51 at 1/7
Sunday July 16, 13:00
Over to Denmark now to see a Lyngby side that finished the regular league campaign there in fine fashion. Thy won each of their last five matches, at a combined foal difference of +10, to book their place in the Championship Group.
Silkeborg, meanwhile, find themselves in Relegation Group B after finishing ninth during the regulation season. They are an okay outfit but in their last thirteen matches they only managed to win once against a side from the top half of the division.