FRIDAY IN EUROPE: The Ultra previews GLADBACH v BAYER LEVERKUSEN and SEVILLA v VILLARREAL both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
GLADBACH V BAYER LEVERKUSEN
7.30pm The Bundesliga is back on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE for Friday night football from Europe! We’re back to our usual Friday night European football schedule with one game from the Bundesliga and one from La Liga. We kick off the action with the German Champions Bayer Leverkusen starting their season away to Gladbach. I’d say most football fans expected Leverkusen to be starting this season without Xabi Alonso given Liverpool and Bayern Munich (among others!) were looking for new managers but they have managed to keep him the way things have worked out. That’s definitely made the title race in Germany much more interesting this season, and it will be fascinating to see can Leverkusen keep the same level that they managed last season. They will be expected to make a winning start here, and come into the game as the odds on favourites. Bayer Leverkusen are trading 1.64 with Gladbach 5.5 and the draw is 4.6 at the time of writing. There was a huge gulf in class between the sides last season with Gladbach involved in the relegation battle – quite the drop after they finished in the Champions League spots in 2019/20!
Gladbach have been in decline for a number of years now, and coming within one point of being relegated last season might be the wake up call the club needs. They are creating a level of chances which should put them in mid-table, but all their issues are at the back. They have been absolutely woeful at the back – their average xG conceded of 1.76 was the worst defensive record in the Bundesliga last season, and they actually conceded over that too. Their actual goals conceded average worked out at 1.97; as they say you don’t win many games conceding twice! Compare that to Leverkusen who finished the season with an average xG created of 2.01 – the best in the league – and an average conceded of 1.02. Again the best in the Bundesliga. It’s the opening weekend of the season so I’m not going to go crazy with stakes, however the 1.64 on Leverkusen looks a cracking bet – if this was a little later into the season it would be a five star NAP. I’m happy with three points here.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Bayer Leverkusen to beat Gladbach at 1.64 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/GlaLev
SEVILLA V VILLARREAL
8.30pm Next we move over to La Liga to finish Friday night as Sevilla host Villarreal. It doesn’t feel like long ago since this was a fixture that would have a massive impact on the race for European spots between two reasonably even clubs – these days that’s changed with both clubs going through a rough patch. Sevilla have no European football this season after another stinker last season, and you can say the same about Villarreal too. There seems to be more light at the end of the tunnel for Sevilla however; their under-lining numbers were much better than their finishing position last season. They finished the season with an average xG created of 1.46 which was the fifth best attacking figure in La Liga – they can definitely compete for a European spot this season if they start taking their chance. With Villarreal, although they finished in eighth only one spot outside of Europe, it could have been much worse. They had an average xG conceded of 1.69 which was the worst defensive figure in La Liga last season. They simply must improve on that, however they have obviously found life tough since Unai Emery left for Aston Villa.
Both sides started their season with a draw – remarkably in La Liga only four sides won over the opening weekend! Villarreal would have been reasonably pleased with a draw at home to Atletico Madrid, while for Sevilla a draw at Las Palmas was disappointing. It’s no surprise to see such an open betting heat here. Sevilla are the favourites at 2.48 with home advantage while Villarreal are trading 3.05 and the draw is 3.6 at the time of writing. You can easily pick holes in both these sides to be honest; you couldn’t argue if anyone had a strong opinion either way! Both sides drew 2-2 over Matchday 1, and we should have an end-to-end game here. They both make plenty of mistakes at the back – Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.86 while Both Teams To Score is 1.71. I like both bets and couldn’t put anyone off either, but I marginally prefer Both Teams To Score at the odds.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Both Teams To Score at 1.71 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/SevVll
