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🇪🇸 ATLETICO MADRID V MANCHESTER UNITED 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ⚽ #UCL Tuesday 8pm We have a massive Champions League night on Tuesday on Betdaq as Atletico Madrid host Manchester United at the Metropolitano! This is undoubtedly the highlight fixture of Tuesday night, and no doubt all eyes will be on Michael Carrick in the United dugout after yet another disappointing weekend. United did win their opening Champions League game 4-0 at home to Sabah, but the draw at home to Spurs at the weekend means they only have one Premier League win all season and while Atletico lost 2-1 at Liverpool on the opening Champions League matchday, the domestic form tells a very different story. Atletico come into the game as the favourites at 2.04 with Manchester United 3.7 and the draw is 4.0 at the time of writing. Atletico got the job done at the weekend, winning 2-1 at Alaves. It wasn’t easy but it was classic Atletico and Simeone – just getting the job done. Basically the opposite of what United have done this season. The start of the season has been a disaster for Carrick. United were terrible at home to Spurs on Saturday; Mbeumo put them ahead after 73 minutes and Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for a headbutt on Luke Shaw, but United still couldn’t see it out. More points dropped – it’s six points from six games now – and surely Carrick must be feeling the pressure. The running stats tell you everything. After the draw at Fulham before the break, the data showed United are 20th in the Premier League for high intensity distance, high intensity running time, total sprints and time spent sprinting. It feels like United have gone back to their old ways before Ruben Amorim tried to change the culture in the club. The only positive for United is their attacking figure is very impressive. Their average xG created of 2.15 is still the best attacking figure in the Premier League, and their average xG conceded of 1.29 is a top six figure. On paper they should have far more points, but they are just finding ways to not get over the line at the moment. Also, obviously they haven’t been taking all their chances and perhaps that’s annoying for United fans too given the lack of big signings during the summer transfer window. Especially considering they lost a player like Casemiro in midfield. Atletico have been playing superb as well; their average xG created of 1.97 is the fourth best attacking figure in La Liga, and their average xG conceded of 1.10 is the second best defensive figure, behind only Barcelona. There is only one side in form here. Atletico have been excellent at both ends of the pitch, they will be desperate to get their first points on the board in Europe after the defeat at Anfield, and the Metropolitano is one of the hardest places to go in Europe. United have the attacking talent to cause problems, but Simeone’s side won’t give them time and space here, and if United aren’t willing to put in the hard yards running, then it’s hard to see them getting a result here. All the headlines too will be about the amount of pressure Michael Carrick is under – I just can’t see past Atletico here and I’m happy with a confident bet at 2.04 to continue the United woes! The Ultra Says: Three points win Atletico Madrid to beat Manchester United at 2.04 with Betdaq Exchange.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ARSENAL V LILLE 🇫🇷 ⚽ #UCL Tuesday 5.45pm The Champions League is back on Betdaq for matchday two of the Group stage, and we kick it off as Arsenal host Lille at the Emirates on Tuesday night! Everyone will remember Arsenal coming up short last season in the Final against PSG, and they got their bid to go one better this season off to a winning start with a 1-0 win in Naples. That was a tough away trip, and now they will be fully expected to follow that up with a win here. Lille have made an excellent start to Ligue 1 this season, but it’s still no surprise Arsenal come into the game as the red-hot favourites at 1.25 with Lille 13.5 and the draw is 7.0 at the time of writing. Arsenal got back to winning ways at the weekend after the international break, beating Leeds 2-1 at the Emirates – it wasn’t straightforward though as James Justin gave Leeds an early lead and Arsenal struggled to break them down for long spells. I suppose it was classic Arsenal under Arteta though – they didn’t really impress but they grinded out a win. The xG figures show where their strength lies – their average xG conceded of 1.17 is the best defensive figure in the Premier League, while their average xG created of 1.56 is a lot more mid-table. It’s a familiar Arteta story; they don’t blow teams away, but they are very, very hard to score against. It will be interesting to see what Lille can create here. Lille have made an excellent start in Ligue 1 under Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo, who arrived in the summer. They’ve picked up 13 points from their opening six games, including a 2-2 draw with PSG where they led 2-0, and a 1-0 win over Le Havre at the weekend keeps them right up near the top of the table. The only league defeat was 2-1 at Nice. However, the underlying numbers suggest they are over-performing. Their average xG created of 1.38 is the sixth worst attacking figure in Ligue 1, and their average xG conceded of 1.73 is the fifth worst defensive figure in the league. They’ve only conceded four league goals in six games, but clearly they have been lucky and it’s no surprise to see the market has Arsenal so short when you look at the performance levels. I suppose many might feel the price on Arsenal is short if they look at the top of the Ligue 1 table! It's very hard to see past Arsenal here, but obviously trading at 1.25 we’ll have to look around the side markets for some value. Lille have scored in every game they’ve played this season, but they aren’t creating a lot and have clearly been scoring from low-value shots, and coming up against the best defence in the Premier League is a massive step up. Arsenal kept a clean sheet in Naples, and that’s the sort of performance I’d expect again here. Obviously we all know how solid Arsenal are at the back anyway, and I’d expect them to fully control the ball and the game here – I can’t see Lille being able to create much, and Arsenal can keep a clean sheet on the way to winning. Both Teams Not To Score is 1.73 and that looks nice value to welcome the Champions League back! The Ultra Says: Two points win Both Teams Not To Score at 1.73 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ ATALANTA V VENEZIA 🇮🇹 #SerieA Monday 5.30pm It’s the start of a massive week from Europe on Betdaq as the Champions League and Europa League return, but we kick it off with Monday night football from Serie A. Atalanta host Venezia in Bergamo, and there is plenty of pressure on both sides here. Atalanta went into the international break on the back of three defeats in a row, while Venezia have lost every game this season and sit rock bottom without a point. Fair to say both sides badly need a win. Atalanta come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.6 with Venezia 6.4 and the draw is 4.4 at the time of writing. Atalanta have fallen off the pace in Serie A recently. They were a top four side and a regular in the Champions League – they finished third in 2024/25 – but Gasperini left for Roma, Ivan Juric didn’t last until Christmas, and Raffaele Palladino could only lift them to seventh and a Conference League spot last season. Even that wasn’t enough to save him, and Maurizio Sarri was brought in this summer. It started well enough with home wins over Sassuolo and Bologna, but then came three straight defeats. The underlying numbers are a real worry too – their average xG created of 1.30 is in the bottom six attacking figures in Serie A, and their average xG conceded of 2.01 is the second worst defensive figure in the league. Only Frosinone are giving up more chances, which is hard to believe for a club that was playing in the Champions League recently. It looks like another difficult season for Atalanta fans. If you just looked at this fixture and the table, you might feel that the 1.61 on Atalanta jumps off the page, but obviously when you look at the underlying numbers you can see why there’s plenty of willing layers and they aren’t shorter. Venezia won Serie B last season, but given the gulf in class (and money) between the top flight and the second divisions all over Europe these days, they were always in for a hard time this season. They’ve lost all five games and have conceded 13 goals along the way. Somewhat ironically, they have actually played better than Atalanta on bare figures - Venezia’s average xG created of 1.54 is the tenth best attacking figure in Serie A, and their average xG conceded of 1.61 is better than Atalanta, if not impressive itself. Zero points is probably harsh, but obviously life is tough in Serie A. It’s easy to poke holes in both sides here, and hard to have a strong opinion in the match odds market. Obviously you would expect Atalanta to get the job done – home advantage against a newly promoted side – but their performance levels are a massive worry. Atalanta have conceded twice in each of their last three games, and Venezia are creating more than their results suggest. I feel we’ll see goals here – Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.6 and Both Teams To Score is 1.71 – I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest, but I’m happy with Both Teams To Score at the bigger price. The Ultra Says: Two points win Both Teams To Score at 1.71 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ COVENTRY V NEWCASTLE 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #PL Monday 8pm We have Monday Night Football to enjoy from the Premier League this week on Betdaq as Coventry host Newcastle! It’s a big night for the Sky Blues – they finally got off the mark before the international break, and now they need to start picking up points at home. Newcastle will see this as a great chance to keep their decent start going after everything that went on at the club over the summer. It will be fascinating to see how both sides get on here; from a Coventry point of view – you’d like to see them picking up points in games like this if they are going to have a chance at staying up. And from a Newcastle point of view – you’d like to see them winning these games if they are going to try compete for those final European spots and avoid mid-table. We have an interesting betting heat. Newcastle come into the game as the favourites at 2.2 with Coventry 3.5 and the draw is 3.7 at the time of writing. It’s been a summer of huge change at Newcastle. Eddie Howe walked away in July, and the club were forced to sell three of their best players – Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon. That is a massive blow obviously, and it was over £240 million in sales just to stay within the financial rules, and Matthias Jaissle has been left to build a new, much younger squad on the fly. They must be looking at Manchester City and those 115 charges wondering what’s going to happen there. Newcastle had to rip the heart out of their team to play by the rules, while City have now been found guilty of breaking them over nine seasons – and they’re still appealing. When you look at the likes of Newcastle, Everton and also Aston Villa – it does make a mockery of the situation in Manchester. Despite all of that, Jaissle’s side have made a decent start on paper with eight points from five games. I say on paper, because their underlying numbers have some major red flags. Their average xG created of 1.17 is one of the bottom three attacking figures in the Premier League, and their average xG conceded of 2.00 is the worst defensive figure in the league. Quite alarming performance levels to be honest, and it would certainly put you off taking the 2.18 here. They have been very open at the back – four of their five games have produced Over 2.5 goals, the other game being a 2-0 win away to Spurs who have obviously struggled to score at the start of the season. Against anyone else, you might be thinking of a Newcastle lay but Coventry have had a very difficult start. They lost their opening four games without scoring a goal, conceding ten along the way. Their xG figures are very similar to Newcastle’s – an average xG created of 1.16 and an average xG conceded of 1.81 – so on those numbers there isn’t a lot between the sides, and it will be interesting to see whether Coventry can be competitive here but it’s hard to have a very strong opinion on the match odds market here. It’s easy to poke holes in both sides, hard to rely on either. I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market because I do think we’ll see goals. Newcastle have the worst defensive figure in the league, Coventry have shipped plenty already, and both sides look very vulnerable at the back. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.72, and that looks a very nice position to start the week. The Striker Says: Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.72 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ CAGLIARI V JUVENTUS 🇮🇹 #SerieA Sunday 7.45pm The focus from Europe on Sunday on Betdaq is on Serie A as Cagliari host Juventus! This should be a very interesting game – it’s a game that should give us a good idea on what to expect from Juventus this season. They already come into the weekend three points behind Inter Milan, and with Cagliari in fourth actually ahead of them, this should be a good test. Juventus come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.62 with Cagliari 6.8 and the draw is 4.0 at the time of writing. It’s been an excellent start from Cagliari results wise. Four wins from five games and 12 points is vastly better than they would have been expecting – but when you look at the underlying numbers there are some obvious red flags. Their average xG created of 1.17 is one of the worst attacking figures in Serie A – only three sides have created less, and their average xG conceded of 1.95 is the fourth worst defensive figure as well. All five of their games have been decided by a single goal, and you just feel that sort of luck is going to run out sooner rather than later. They’ve obviously been getting away with a lot at the back, and you’d expect a side like Juventus to make them pay. Juventus have been impressive, and their underlying numbers are excellent. Their average xG conceded of 0.92 is the best defensive figure in Serie A, and their average xG created of 1.87 is the fifth best attacking figure – those are genuine title contender numbers. They had title contender underlying numbers last season too though, and they finished miles away. Converting their chances was a major issue, but you have to feel that they will get plenty of opportunity against this Cagliari defence. The slight worry would be the 3-2 loss away to Sassuolo for Juventus, and granted that the Cagliari squad will be full of confidence given their run of results – that shouldn’t be taken lightly – but they are clearly massively over-performing. It’s hard to see past Juventus here, and the 1.62 looks very nice value in my opinion. Cagliari don’t create a lot, and they come up against the best defence in the league. I know Cagliari have been getting away with a lot at the back, but this could easily be the game where their luck runs out. I’m happy with a confidence Juventus bet – not quite a Five Star NAP given Cagliari have found a way to get results and obviously Juventus did struggle to convert their chances last season but I feel the 1.62 on Juventus is a good price given the underlying numbers, and I’m happy with a confident bet on the away win. The Ultra Says: Three points win Juventus to beat Cagliari at 1.62 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #PL Super Sunday 4.30pm We have a blockbuster for Super Sunday from the Premier League on Betdaq! Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield, and this is probably the biggest game of the season so far. City have won all five of their opening games and sit top of the table, six points clear of an unbeaten Liverpool but they will be disappointed with three draws from their five games, especially considering the opposition. This is a massive test for Enzo Maresca’s side too who haven’t faced any major opposition yet either, so we have a fascinating game ahead. We have a very open betting heat – there’s only ten ticks between the sides. Manchester City come into the game as the marginal favourites at 2.64 with Liverpool 2.74 and the draw 3.85 at the time of writing. Obviously all the focus coming into this game is going to be about the 115 charges. After years of waiting, the Premier League confirmed last week that an independent commission has found City guilty of all 80 charges relating to financial breaches over nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18, and 34 of the 35 charges of failing to co-operate with the investigation. The commission found City used sham sponsorship contracts, with the owners topping up payments, to inflate revenue and cut costs. Punishment will be decided at a separate hearing, and City have denied all wrongdoing and said they will appeal. Whatever happens, that is going to hang over them all season – the possible sanctions range from fines to points deductions, and even expulsion from the league. Whatever about it hanging over City, it does leave a sour taste in the mouth this season – it’s going to hang over everything else, and it seems awkward already that City are leading the title race too. To be honest, if the punishment isn’t strong from the Premier League, it does all feel like a shambles. It will be very interesting to see the reaction of the Liverpool fans here. The 2013/14 title race – when Liverpool finished two points behind City – falls inside the period covered by the charges, and also Jurgen Klopp’s near misses in 2018/19 and 2021/22 came after it, Klopp had some wonderful seasons where Liverpool were just beaten by City. Expect a hostile atmosphere at Anfield, surely they are right to feel robbed to be honest. On the pitch, City have been flawless results wise, but the xG figures suggest there’s isn’t much between the sides and with Liverpool having home advantage, it’s no surprise to see such an open market. Liverpool have an average xG created of 1.72 and an average xG conceded of 1.26, while City’s average xG created of 1.62 is a little under, and their average xG conceded of 1.27 is solid and only 0.01 off Liverpool. Everything suggests a very close game here, but it should be an entertaining one. It feels like 4-4 is more likely than 0-0! City have done brilliantly to win their opening five games, but there have been a little sloppy at the back and got themselves into some tricky situations. Liverpool have been sloppy at the back at times too, so it’s hard not to see goals here. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.61 with Both Teams To Score six ticks shorter at 1.54. I have to say I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest – I felt both prices would be much shorter. I feel we’ll have an open game here, and I’m very happy with a confident bet on Both Teams To Score at 1.54. The Striker Says: Three points win Both Teams To Score at 1.54 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ REAL MADRID V VILLARREAL 🇪🇸 #LaLiga Saturday 8pm La Liga is back on Betdaq after the International break, and there’s only one place to focus on as we have a massive game on Saturday night as Real Madrid host Villarreal at the Bernabeu! There’s huge pressure on Jose Mourinho’s side coming out of the international break – they’re already six points behind Barcelona after seven games after the loss in the Madrid Derby just before the International break. You might say that the International break came at a good time to avoid the fallout from that, but six points already feels like a massive gap at this stage of the season. This is a game that Real will be expected to win, and it’s no surprise that they come into the game as the red-hot favourites at 1.37 with Villarreal 8.4 and the draw is 6.4 at the time of writing. Obviously the Madrid Derby took a bad turn for Real just after half-time when Dean Huijsen was sent off for pulling back Giuliano Simeone, Alejandro Grimaldo scored the resulting penalty, Atletico then went 2-0 up quickly. It was a second defeat of the season for Madrid and with El Clasico away to Barcelona coming up on October 25, Madrid basically cannot afford to drop any more points between now and the next international break – lose ground anywhere and then possibly in Barcelona and the title race could be slipping away before November. Mourinho might actually come under immense pressure if that happens. The xG figures show where Madrid’s problems are. Their average xG created of 2.15 is the second best attacking figure in La Liga behind Barcelona, so they are still creating plenty, but their average xG conceded of 1.43 is only mid-table – it’s clear to see they are conceding too many chances. While most football fans will be expecting a home win here, Real’s defence will be tested. Villarreal have had a strange start, sitting mid-table on eight points including three straight defeats, but they won their last two games prior to the International break and their underlying numbers are excellent. Their average xG created of 1.99 is the third best attacking figure in La Liga, and their average xG conceded of 1.35 is actually better than Real’s. The 1.37 feels very short in my opinion. We’ve had some crazy stories around the Real team (as per usual you might say) – this time the target has been Vini Jr. Social media has been full of crazy stories about him being replaced (an actual body double!), and whatever about that rabbit hole, there are reports Mourinho is even considering leaving him on the bench here, which is a sign of how bad things have been for him. You know your form is bad when fans are literally saying someone has replaced you with a body double! On the other hand, Jude Bellingham was superb for England over the break, scoring and claiming three assists in the 7-0 win in Croatia – Mourinho needs him to bring that level for Real Madrid now. The big question is Mbappe though. He picked up a knee injury scoring for France against Turkey and had to leave the camp, and while it turned out to be less serious than first feared, we’ll have to keep an eye on the team news here. I wouldn’t put anyone off a lay at 1.37 on Madrid given their defensive problems and the uncertainty over Mbappe. Villarreal are much better than their league position suggests, and they’ll create chances. However, I feel we’ll see goals here – Both Teams To Score is trading 1.6 and that looks a cracking position in what should be an entertaining game. The Ultra Says: Three points win Both Teams To Score at 1.6 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ ARSENAL V LEEDS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #PL Saturday 12.30pm The Premier League returns on Betdaq after the international break on Saturday, and it’s great to be back! We have a cracking weekend ahead, and we kick it off with Arsenal hosting Leeds at the Emirates. The Champions had their first setback of the new season with a 3-0 hammering off Brighton before the International break – the International break probably came at a good time in that sense – and now they can hopefully get back to winning ways. They remain hot favourites for the title, especially with those 115 charges hanging over Manchester City. As you would expect, Arsenal come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.4 with Leeds 9.4 and the draw is 5.4 at the time of writing. The Brighton game was a very rare off day for Mikel Arteta’s side. Obviously the score line probably flattered them, but Brighton still finished the game with a higher xG figure. Brighton were brilliant and deserved the win in fairness. Arsenal still have 12 points from five games, and this is a game they will be fully expected to win and bounce back in – as I said above, it’s actually hard to know what to expect this season with those charges hanging over Manchester City – we don’t know if they will be docked points or not. Despite the loss, Arsenal are the shortest price they’ve been all season for the title; they are into 1.55 now. Their average xG conceded of 1.14 is the best defensive figure in the Premier League – that’s classic Arteta, they just don’t give much away. Going forward they haven’t been quite as fluent, with an average xG created of 1.52 only mid-table, but they have so much quality in that squad and they have been very efficient so far. It’s likely they will grind their way to the title again! Leeds have made a very good start to the season results wise, but when you look under the hood there are some worries. Daniel Farke’s side are fifth and unbeaten after five games, with two wins and three draws – the highlight being a 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle – and they’ve only conceded three goals. However, it’s clear they have over-performed looking at their xG figures. Their average xG created of 1.28 is one of the bottom five attacking figures in the league, and their average xG conceded of 1.63 is very poor. You wouldn’t be surprised to see results start to turn soon, but obviously confidence must be high in the group! The International break probably came at a bad time for them to break the momentum. James Trafford deserves a lot of credit, he has the best save percentage in the league after his summer move, but that level of over-performance rarely lasts. It's hard to see past Arsenal here, but I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.4. That looks a tad short – it’s hard to make a strong case that they should be massive shorter. I know Leeds underlying numbers aren’t fantastic, but they are scoring goals. Leeds don’t create much – their unbeaten start is built on some fortunate defending and an inspired goalkeeper. With Arsenal not exactly a very open side and never really blow sides away, I feel we will see a low scoring game here. Under 2.5 goals is trading 2.18 which surprised me when I clicked into the market – I thought that would be the favourite in the goals market, and I’m happy to start the weekend with Unders. The Striker Says: Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.18 with Betdaq Exchange.

⚽ MANCHESTER UNITED V SPURS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #PL Saturday 5.30pm What a huge game we have to finish Saturday’s Premier League action on Betdaq! Manchester United host Spurs at Old Trafford, and both sides are pretty much in crisis coming into this one. Apparently they are calling it El Sackio for the managers – why does it always seem this way when these two clash! United have five points from five games, Spurs have two and are in the relegation zone sitting bottom, and both managers will be feeling the heat. All that pre-season confidence from the summer has drained away at this stage – obviously Spurs spent big and United fans weren’t happy with their transfer dealings but they had the Michael Carrick high following last season. This should be a fascinating game. Manchester United come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.76 with Spurs 4.7 and the draw is 4.4 at the time of writing. United have already dropped so many points given their “easy” start on paper, and they were heavily criticised after the 1-1 draw at Fulham before the break. Perhaps the International break came at a good time in that sense, but their stats are pretty shocking. United covered 110.2km against Fulham, 6.5km less than their hosts, and according to the data they are 20th in the Premier League for high intensity distance, high intensity running time, total sprints and time spent sprinting. The running stats were very poor before Ruben Amorim arrived, and he seemed to correct that. If you’re reading between the lines – maybe Michael Carrick benefitted from that at the end of last season. Now it seems the culture as changed, and United have gone back to their old ways. Is there anything worse as a support to see your team effectively not trying as hard as the other side? The frustrating thing for United is that the xG figures show the quality is there. Their average xG created of 2.31 is the best attacking figure in the Premier League, and their average xG conceded of 1.25 is a solid top four return too. On those numbers they should have far more than five points – they are creating plenty of chances but they need to start taking them. They clearly need to start covering more ground too. If they can add the effort and intensity to that quality (and convert the chances obviously), they should win a game like this comfortably. Spurs have had a desperate start. They lost 3-2 at home to Aston Villa before the break and surely the alarm bells are now ringing - two points from five games is Spurs’ worst ever start to a Premier League season, and they haven’t gone five league games without a win at the start of a campaign since 1986. All of last season’s problems have followed them despite all the money spent during the summer. Roberto De Zerbi admitted he didn’t even speak to the players after the Villa defeat, and he must be feeling massive pressure now. Their average xG created of 1.62 is actually the sixth best attacking figure in the league, and their average xG conceded of 1.53 is mid-table – they aren’t a relegation side on the numbers, but they keep finding ways to lose. Obviously the 1.76 on United is a tempting bet given all the issues at Spurs, but the home side are hardly reliable either for an odds on favourite. I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here, and I do feel this game screams goals. Both make so many mistakes, and they are both creating a decent volume of chances too. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.54 and I’m happy with a confident bet in what should be an entertaining game. The Striker Says: Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.54 with Betdaq Exchange.

🐶 Our greyhound expert @caul_barry previews Irish Laurels with three cracking Semi-Finals set for Curraheen Park 👇 With only the first two from each semi-final guaranteed a place in next week’s €30,000 final on October 17, the pressure is now firmly on. There are some of the competition’s leading contenders among the 17 remaining runners, with Droopys Monk the fastest of the quarter-final winners, while ante-post favourite Ballymac Setanta survived a scare last weekend to book his place in the semis. With the draw now made, let's take a closer look at the three semi-finals. Semi-Final One The opening semi-final is an intriguing contest, with the unfortunate withdrawal of Coloursaregreen leaving Trap 3 vacant. Droopys Unreal was the quickest of these runners in the quarter-finals, producing a career-best 28.15. The draw has not been particularly kind to Ian Reilly’s runner this time around, but he has winning form from both Trap 5 and Trap 6 in the past. If he can reproduce last week’s performance, he should qualify at the very least. Magical Jet in Trap 1 was another to catch the eye last weekend. Pat Guilfoyle’s runner overcame trouble in running before finishing strongly to get up close home in 28.39. He has gone faster in the past and, with the benefit of the red jacket, he looks a major player. Microchip possesses plenty of early pace on his day and has the best sectional in the field, having recorded a 3.20 split. He really needs to lead to be seen at his best, however, and will be hoping to establish an advantage in the early part of the contest. Ballycowen Moon needs to produce a personal best if he is to get involved, but he is well drawn as a sole wide seed in Trap 6. It is a tricky opener to call, but Droopys Unreal has won from five before and the draw may not be quite as big a hindrance as it initially appears. He gets the vote to qualify, with Magical Jet fancied to chase him home in second. Selection: Droopys Unreal to win, Magical Jet to qualify. Semi-Final Two The second semi-final is a real cracker, with ante-post market leaders Ballymac Setanta and Droopys Monk lining up together in what is arguably the heat of the night. Ballymac Setanta was turned over at short odds last weekend, but he did well to qualify in the circumstances. The trap draw has once again not been particularly kind to Liam Dowling’s runner, and he will need to mind himself in the early stages if he is to play a major part. Droopys Monk, despite being an inside seed, has shown that he can perform from almost any box. He finds himself drawn on the outside of kennel companion Droopys Porter, and that could prove an interesting dynamic. Droopys Porter could certainly prove a thorn in his side, but if Droopys Monk gets a level break, you feel he has too much early pace for most of these rivals. Jaykay Fly produced a personal best of 28.22 last week but looks to be facing a tricky draw while Lone Calling won a messy contest last time out and she is capable of going considerably quicker from the red jacket. However, off a level break, Droopys Monk looks the one to beat. His 28.09 victory last week was the fastest of all the quarter-final winners, and a repeat of that performance would make him extremely difficult to beat. He gets the nod to come out on top, with Ballymac Setanta having to do everything right to secure the second qualifying place. Selection: Droopys Monk to win, Ballymac Setanta to qualify. Semi-Final Three The final semi-final is another red-hot affair, with Ballymac Kamala and Sober Barry both having clocked 28.12 in victory and defeat last weekend. Ballymac Kamala has once again been handed the red jacket, and that looks a huge asset. She made all last week to win in 28.12 and is particularly strong when able to dictate matters from the front. She also defeated Slick Sanctuary last time out. Slick Sanctuary ran better than the finishing position might suggest and, as a finalist in this year’s Puppy Derby, has plenty of ability. The draw is not ideal, but he is more than capable of playing a part if he gets a clean passage. Kennel companion Sober Barry was another to run a cracker last week. He was only just beaten behind the impressive Droopys Monk after posting a rapid 28.01 in the first round. He starts and stays, and if he can reproduce his third-round performance, he could prove extremely difficult to keep out of the final. Ballymac Lix, kennel companion to Ballymac Kamala, also ran well in defeat behind the surprise winner Lissatouk Sydney last time out. Lissatouk Sydney is in the form of his life and is giving his connections a real thrill in this competition, but he may need a little luck to get involved here. Romeo Alliance is a solid greyhound for Graham Holland, but he too appears to have been handed a tricky draw in what is a very competitive semi-final. It is a cracking contest to finish the three semi-finals, but the narrow vote goes to Sober Barry. He starts and he stays, and if he can reproduce the level of his performance from the first round, he can get the better of Ballymac Kamala in what promises to be another terrific heat. Selection: Sober Barry to win, Ballymac Kamala to qualify. The Verdict Three semi-finals, six places in the final and very little room for error. Droopys Monk arrives as the fastest quarter-final winner and looks the one they all have to beat in the second semi-final. The third semi-final may be the most open of the three, with Sober Barry narrowly preferred to Ballymac Kamala. Whatever happens, Saturday night at Curraheen Park promises to deliver three hugely competitive races as the field is cut down to the six finalists who will battle it out for Irish Laurels glory on October 17.

⚽ DORTMUND V WERDER BREMEN 🇩🇪 #Bundesliga Friday 7.30pm Domestic football is back on Betdaq after the international break, and it’s great to be back! The Nations League gave us some cracking games, but after nearly three weeks away there’s nothing quite like club football returning, and we have Friday night football from the Bundesliga to get us started. Dortmund host Werder Bremen in what should be an entertaining game. As you would expect with home advantage, Dortmund come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.4 with Werder Bremen 7.8 and the draw is 5.9 at the time of writing. Dortmund have made an excellent start to the season with four wins from four, and they sit two points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the table returning from the International break. You can’t ask for more than that, but they have over-performed a little when you look at their xG figures. Their average xG created of 1.63 is only the tenth best attacking figure in the Bundesliga. In any other league, 1.63 is actually a reasonably good attacking figure but obviously the Bundesliga is very open! At the other end, their average xG conceded of 1.37 is decent, but it doesn’t really back up just two goals conceded in four games. They have been clinical in front of goal and very efficient at the back, but those numbers suggest they have been riding their luck a little. I wouldn’t be thinking title challenge just yet, granted Dortmund fans are probably getting a little excited. In fairness, Bayern are fully expected to run away with the title again, so Dortmund putting up a fight would be very welcome. It’s the first time Dortmund have won their opening four Bundesliga games since Thomas Tuchel was in charge back in 2015/16, and Niko Kovac’s side have kept three clean sheets along the way – nine goals scored and only two conceded. It will be interesting to see can they keep a clean sheet against a Werder Bremen side who have been playing a very open game so far. Eight goals scored and eight conceded tells you everything about Daniel Thioune’s side, and their xG figures back that up – an average xG created of 1.59 and an average xG conceded of 1.68. They create chances, but they give plenty away too. Their games have been very entertaining to be fair, and we know that they are unlikely to sit back here. On pure performance levels, there actually isn’t much between the sides in attack. That would make the 1.4 feel a little short on Dortmund – it’s certainly not a price that jumps off the page as massive value anyway. I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here because this game screams goals in my opinion. Both Teams To Score has won in all four of Werder Bremen’s games, and that looks a good bet here trading at 1.7. The obvious concern is that Dortmund have kept three clean sheets in four games against it. However, given the underlying numbers suggest Dortmund have been fortunate to concede so few, and Bremen have scored in every game so far, I’m happy to side with goals at both ends. Over 2.5 goals is another option, but that is way shorter at 1.44. Both Teams To Score looks the best option here and the 1.7 looks cracking value. The Ultra Says: Three points win Both Teams To Score at 1.7 with Betdaq Exchange.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SCOTLAND V SLOVENIA 🇸🇮 ⚽ #NationsLeague Tuesday 7.45pm We have a huge game to finish the international break on Tuesday in the Nations League on Betdaq as Scotland host Slovenia at Hampden Park! Switzerland have won all three games in Group B1 and will be fully expected to top it, so this is all about the race for second – and with both Scotland and Slovenia on four points, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. Home advantage is massive for Scotland here too. Second spot goes into the promotion play-offs, so this is a huge chance for Scotland to put themselves in an excellent position. Scotland come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.85 with Slovenia 5.9 and the draw is 3.7 at the time of writing. Scotland got a big win in North Macedonia on Saturday - Kieron Bowie broke his Scotland duck with a wonder strike after just seven minutes, ending a scoring drought of over 400 minutes! Captain Andy Robertson won his 100th cap too, and most importantly, it was Sebastien Pocognoli’s first win as Scotland boss at the third attempt. The only negative was Scott McKenna’s late red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, so he will be suspended here, although Jack Hendry is back after serving his own suspension. It was a slow start to the international break for Scotland, but the 0-0 draw away to Slovenia in the opening game was a decent result all things considered and obviously puts them in a position where a win here is now massive. They absolutely needed that win on Saturday too obviously - with a new manager and a lot of new faces in the squad, Saturday felt like an important moment. Slovenia lost 2-1 away to Switzerland on Saturday, but they gave a good account of themselves. Zan Vipotnik scored inside two minutes – the first goal Switzerland had conceded all campaign – but the home side bounced back eight minutes later. Slovenia were always going to be up against it to be fair. They had kept clean sheets in their first two games before Saturday. They are still missing Benjamin Sesko though, and they haven’t created a lot going forward. We had a very cagey game when the sides met earlier in the International break, and it’s hard to see anything different here. I do feel that the 1.85 on Scotland is a little short – I know home advantage is massive for Scotland they have made a tonne of improvement in recent years but Slovenia are hard to beat, and I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.85. It’s hard to make a strong case that Scotland should be massively shorter. Given how tight the first meeting was and how solid Slovenia have been at the back, thoughts have to turn to Under 2.5 goals again here. We landed it in the first meeting, and it’s trading 1.7 here which looks a nice price as well. The Ultra Says: Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.7 with Betdaq Exchange.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ENGLAND V CZECHIA 🇨🇿 ⚽ #NationsLeague Tuesday 7.45pm We bring the curtain down on the new extended International break on Tuesday on Betdaq! England host Czechia in the Nations League - four games in under two weeks rather than the usual two September and October breaks. While the jury is always out on International football, this window has probably worked well – last season definitely felt like it broke the domestic momentum too much so early in the season. England come into this game on a massive high after hammering Croatia on Saturday, and now they can finish it in style at home. As you would expect, England come into the game as the red-hot favourites at 1.16 with Czechia 25.0 and the draw is 9.2 at the time of writing. What a performance from England in Rijeka on Saturday! We were on England at 1.98, but nobody could have seen a 7-0 win coming – it was Croatia’s biggest ever defeat. England were 4-0 up at half-time and simply ran riot, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scoring twice, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham also on the scoresheet, and Morgan Rogers coming off the bench to grab the seventh. Bellingham added three assists too. Most are calling it the best football England have played under Thomas Tuchel, and Tuchel himself called it a complete performance from the first minute to the last. It was the biggest win of his reign, and it’s surely a massive confidence boost for the whole side. This squad look in a superb spot at the moment. Kane has now scored in all three games, Gordon has three goals, and that front four look completely in sync. They will be fully expected to win here, and that would set up a trip to Spain in November with a small chance to top the Group. Even if they don’t manage to catch the World Champions, the top two in the Group go through to the Quarter-Finals, and with Croatia now three points behind and on the wrong end of a 7-0 hammering, that win basically means England have one foot in the Quarter-Finals already. The only slightly negative thing to say about the 7-0 win was that obviously Croatia have an aging side, and was that the match that just caught up with them – we’ve been saying age will eventually catch up with them for years in fairness! England’s midfield were absolutely superb though. With England trading as short as 1.16 in the match odds market, we’ll have to look around the side markets for some value here. I feel this one is going to be about how many goals England can score rather than will they actually win. Czechia have really struggled at this level. They won their League B group last time to earn promotion, but they have lost all three games so far – obviously they are massively up against it given the quality of the Group. League B is probably more their level, and it’s hard to see them avoiding relegation back down. England have scored nine goals in their last two games, Czechia have conceded in every game and their defence is weakened again here, and England will be full of confidence in front of their own fans. England can score plenty of goals on the way to winning, and I’m happy to take the 1.42 on Over 2.5 goals - I’d be surprised if England didn’t get at least three here, and there’s also the chance Czechia help out too. We should have an entertaining game. The Ultra Says: Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.42 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇫🇷 FRANCE V BELGIUM 🇧🇪 ⚽ #NationsLeague Monday 7.45pm A new week begins in the Nations League on Betdaq! We’re coming to the end of the new long international break, and we kick the week off on Monday with a top of the table clash as France host Belgium at the Stade de France in Group A1. This is a big game in the race for top spot with just one point separating the sides – France are top on seven points, and Belgium are right behind them on six after a comfortable 3-0 win over Turkey on Friday. France were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Italy which has made things competitive at the top – it’s highly likely this game will decide who gets top spot considering Italy and Turkey look off the pace of the top two. France come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.56 with Belgium 5.8 and the draw is 4.9 at the time of writing. France were a reasonably similar price to beat Italy on Friday – ten ticks shorter at 1.46 – and when you consider that price, the 1.56 feels a little short here. We were on Unders there, so it was a nice result for us – the highlight was a wonderful free-kick from Michael Olise. You’d have to feel that this will be a pretty similar game; it’s hard to see Belgium wanting an open game here and obviously France are still without Mbappe. France also had Dayot Upamecano sent off five minutes from time against Italy. That means he will be suspended for this game, which is a real blow to the French defence. Olise has been the star of the show without Mbappe though. He has been involved in all three of France’s goals under Zidane, and he scored the winner when these sides met earlier in this international break – coming off the bench to run from inside his own half and score in the 88th minute in Brussels. That was a close game, and Belgium could have easily nicked a point. I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.56, and I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here. Belgium have done pretty well in this Group - won 2-0 in Rome on the opening night, and then brushed aside Turkey on Friday either side of the loss to France. However, France have been very solid at the back, conceding just once in three games, and it’s hard to see Belgium doing a lot of damage – I’d rather stay out of the match odds market than lay France. With Mbappe injured and having to leave the camp after the opening game, sitting top of the Group at the end of this window would be a massive result for Zidane’s side. A draw wouldn’t be the worst result. All three of France’s games have finished with Under 2.5 goals, so Under 2.5 has to be an option here at 2.92 – I was very surprised to see that trading so high when I clicked into the market. The market is obviously expecting a reasonably open game, but I don’t see things that way. As I said above, Belgium won’t want a massively open game and then obviously France are without Mbappe too – I feel we’ll see a close and cagey affair and I’m happy to be on Unders at the odds. The Ultra Says: Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.92 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇮🇪 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND V ISRAEL 🇮🇱 ⚽ #NationsLeague Sunday 7.45pm We have one of the most talked about fixtures in Irish football for a very long time here, and it finally arrives on Sunday in the Nations League on Betdaq! The Republic of Ireland take on Israel in what is officially their home game, but it won’t be played anywhere near Dublin – it has been moved to Backa Topola in Serbia and will be played behind closed doors. There’s already been so much drama off the pitch about this fixture, let’s see what happens on the pitch now! Ireland come into the game as the favourites at 2.22 with Israel 3.7 and the draw is 3.5 at the time of writing. The drama around this game has dominated the Irish media for months, with calls for the team to boycott both matches against Israel over the war in Gaza. The FAI have stood firm on fulfilling the fixtures, arguing they had no choice given the potential sanctions from UEFA, and the players took a vote of their own last week, deciding by a “significant majority” to play. There was another protest on Thursday night against Austria – tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch, forcing a short break in play, and a man carrying a flag ran onto the field before being escorted off. It was a small, brief protest though, and the reaction inside the Aviva was telling – it drew boos from large parts of the crowd, and the supporters very much got behind the team and focused on the football. Whatever your own view, the fans in the stadium were clearly siding with the players. There’s a lot for this Irish squad to carry. They’ve had criticism online, they pulled out of all media duties for the window, and they’ve had to play football with all of this going on around them. In a strange way, the game being in Serbia might actually help them – away from the Irish media bubble, behind closed doors, with nothing to focus on but the football. That’s exactly what they did in Debrecen last Sunday, where they produced a superb 3-0 win over Israel to get their campaign back on track after the opening defeat in Kosovo. It’s fair to say that 3-0 win was a surprise – but at the same time, Israel look quite limited too. This is a superb opportunity for Ireland to put themselves in a decent position in the Group. The 2-2 draw against Austria on Thursday night, and they’ll feel they let that one slip after being 2-0 up, was a good result in the grand scheme of things as well. Israel are bottom of the Group with one point from three games. They were beaten 3-1 in Austria and 3-0 by Ireland, before a goalless draw with Kosovo on Thursday – one goal scored in three games, and six conceded. They look there for the taking to be honest. It’s hard to see past Ireland here. They have already beaten Israel comfortably in this window, Parrott is in fine form and Israel have offered very little going forward. The 2.22 looks a fair price for Ireland to get the job done – there’s no home crowd to help them, but you have to say the squad has handled the situation brilliantly and they were clearly massively up for the last game against Israel too – I’d expect a similar performance here and I’m happy to take Ireland at the odds. The Ultra Says: Two points win Republic of Ireland to beat Israel at 2.22 with Betdaq Exchange.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 WALES V DENMARK 🇩🇰 ⚽ #NationsLeague Sunday 7.45pm We’re into the final Nations League matchday of this long International break on Sunday! Wales host Denmark at the Cardiff City Stadium on Betdaq in what should be a cracker – Cardiff will no doubt be bouncing again. What a difference a few days makes – after two defeats it looked like Wales were in real trouble, but the group has completely opened up now. Portugal are clear at the top with nine points, but Denmark, Norway and Wales are all level on three behind them, and this is a massive game in the race for second. As you would expect, Denmark come into the game as the favourites at 2.0 with Wales 4.0 and the draw is 3.9 at the time of writing. That was a huge win for Wales on Thursday night, and a real surprise given Norway were odds on favourites – trading 1.59 and in good form with Haaland banging in goals for fun too. It looked like it was going to be a long night when Oscar Bobb gave Norway the lead after 11 minutes, but Wales grew into the game and Daniel James levelled before the break, then turned within seconds of the restart – Torbjorn Heggem was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, and Neco Williams lashed home the free kick to put Wales in front. Haaland was kept very quiet, and it was Wales’ first ever win in a League A Group. With home advantage now, they have a real chance to put themselves in a decent position now. Wales are always a different animal in Cardiff to be honest; there’s some atmosphere here! Obviously they are still up against it in League A – we know their history of bouncing between League A and League B – but they have given themselves a genuine chance of avoiding the drop at least. Denmark were beaten 4-2 at home by Portugal on Thursday too, that game was overshadowed by the Cristiano Ronaldo drama. Ronaldo had spent the whole game on the bench in Norway, and when Jorge Jesus told the media he wouldn’t start against Denmark either, Ronaldo left the training camp in Copenhagen after a conversation with the Federation president. Never a dull moment with Ronaldo, but Denmark were put to the sword by Portugal – obviously facing Wales is a much easier task for Denmark but they have conceded plenty of goals. The negative being though from a Wales point of view is that they managed to keep a clean sheet when they had home advantage against Wales, while shipping seven goals in their other two games. Denmark have now lost two of their three games. The win over Wales in Copenhagen is their only points, and I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 2.0 despite Wales having a history of struggling at this level. It doesn’t jump off the page as good value – as I said above, Wales are a different side with Cardiff behind them. Denmark have looked shaky at the back against the better sides, and Wales can get on the score sheet at some stage in my opinion. Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.82 with Both Teams To Score ten ticks shorter at 1.72. I couldn’t put anyone off either bet, but I like the Overs option at the bigger price. We should have an entertaining game here. Denmark have certainly played an open game during this International break, and Wales won’t sit back at home. The Ultra Says: Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.82 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇭🇷 CROATIA V ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ⚽ #NationsLeague Saturday 5pm We have a huge game from the Nations League in Group A3 on Saturday evening on Betdaq as Croatia host England! Spain are already three points clear at the top of the group, and after winning at Wembley and then beating Croatia 4-1 on Tuesday, it’s hard to see them not topping this Group. That leaves Croatia and England battling for second and a spot in the Quarter-Finals. A massive clash ahead then, and this should be a fascinating game. England come into the game as the marginal odds on favourites at 1.98 with Croatia 4.1 and the draw is 3.95 at the time of writing. England have been impressive overall, even with a defeat to their name. They more than matched Spain for long spells at Wembley before losing 3-2, and then got the job done in Prague on Tuesday. Even with home advantage, there’s no shame in losing to Spain – and it could have been so different too if Harry Kane converted the penalty at 2-1 England. Kane has been on the scoresheet in both games now, and Gordon has scored twice as well – the midfield area is working very well for Thomas Tuchel – he’s had Bellingham in superb form too. This is another game that England will be expected to win. I know there might be a big debate about their price on either side of the back and lay columns – but the UK media will be expecting a win anyway! Croatia had a tough night in Seville on Tuesday. They actually levelled through Dion Beljo’s header from an Ivan Perisic cross after Lamine Yamal’s early opener, but Spain were just too good. Not unexpected given Spain are European and World Cup Champions after all, and they had beaten the Czechia 2-1 in the opening game. Perhaps a worry has been conceding four times and then also not keeping a clean sheet against Czechia. The big question with Croatia is their ageing side, particularly in midfield. Luka Modric is now 41 and is being used off the bench, Ivan Perisic is 37, and Mateo Kovacic isn’t getting any younger either. Every tournament we think it’s going to be the last hurrah for this generation, but they just keep sticking around – nobody seems to want to retire! You have to admire it in fairness, and Modric still has the quality to change a game. However, you do wonder how long they can keep competing against the top sides with the legs in that midfield, and Spain certainly exposed that. As you said above, England have been quite impressive in that midfield area under Tuchel as well, and I have to say I do feel that the 1.98 on England is too big here. I’m happy to keep stakes reasonably low though - it will be a hostile atmosphere, and Croatia have a good record against England in big games. But this England side look in good shape, they are creating a lot which is always a good sign because how many boring England games have we had to watch over the last few years, there’s also the angle that Croatia’s midfield could be overrun here too – especially with Bellingham so good under Tuchel. I’m happy to take the 1.98 on England; I’d have them closer to 1.9. The Ultra Says: Two points win England to beat Croatia at 1.98 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇲🇰 NORTH MACEDONIA V SCOTLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ⚽ #NationsLeague Saturday 7.45pm We have a massive game for Scotland in the Nations League on Saturday night on Betdaq as they travel to take on North Macedonia. It’s been a slow start for Scotland – one point from two games and still waiting for their first goal – and this is the one they simply have to win. Despite the start, it’s not the end of the world – they would have been expected to lose to Switzerland and they would have been expected to top the Group. A draw away to Slovenia isn’t the end of the world, but they really have to win here so the pressure is on. Scotland come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.83 with North Macedonia 5.4 and the draw is 3.65 at the time of writing. They opened with a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia – we were on Unders there, and it was a cagey game as expected – and that isn’t the end of the world given they still have Slovenia to come at Hampden. Then on Tuesday night they were beaten 3-0 by Switzerland, but there’s no shame in that. It’s still a big transition for Scotland. Sebastien Pocognoli – the 39-year-old Belgian who replaced Steve Clarke after the World Cup – is still looking for his first win, and his first home game at Hampden turned sour very quickly. He’s made big changes to the squad since taking over, with seven uncapped players called up and twelve of the World Cup squad left out, and it’s clearly going to take a bit of time for things to settle. A lack of goals is the big worry – two games and no goals is obviously the biggest worry. It’s highly likely North Macedonia are going to be quite cagey and negative here too; even with home advantage. Their biggest moment came in March 2022, when Aleksandar Trajkovski’s stoppage-time winner in Palermo knocked the reigning European Champions Italy out of the World Cup play-offs – one of the biggest shocks in international football in fairness. They have been poor since though, and they come into this in dreadful form – beaten 3-0 at home by Switzerland, where they managed just two shots all game, and then 2-0 away to Slovenia on Tuesday. They are now winless in nine games and haven’t scored in six. They were promoted after winning their League C group last time, but they look well off the pace at this level so far. As you said above, Scotland need to win here though – anything less would be a disaster. Although, they should avoid relegation given you’d have to expect North Macedonia to finish last. Given North Macedonia can’t buy a goal at the moment, I feel the 1.83 on Scotland is a fair price. However, Scotland have yet to score in this Nations League either! It will be interesting to see how Scotland approach the game – they are usually quite cagey away from home, but as I said above they will have to chase this game. Under 2.5 goals is trading 1.73 which is a tempting bet just ten ticks shorter than the Scotland win. I couldn’t put anyone off either bet, I expect Scotland to have to grind out a win here, but I feel the best value option is Unders in what should be a tight and tense affair. The Ultra Says: Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.73 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇫🇷 FRANCE V ITALY 🇮🇹 ⚽ #NationsLeague Friday 7.45pm We have a cracker from the Nations League on Friday night on Betdaq! France host Italy at the Stade de France, and it’s a homecoming for Zinedine Zidane – his first game in charge on home soil since taking over from Didier Deschamps after the World Cup. It’s been a great start for Zidane too with two wins from their opening two games, probably not playing their best as well. As you would expect with home advantage, France come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.46 with Italy 7.6 and the draw is 5.1 at the time of writing. A 1-0 win in Turkey was followed by another 1-0 win in Brussels on Monday night – obviously that was a tricky fixture with no Mbappe, injured while scoring the winner in Turkey. Olise came off the bench and set off from inside his own half to score a stunning solo winner in the 88th minute. The best part was Zidane’s reaction – he went sprinting down the touchline screaming and booted a loose ball away. He was always so cool and calm as a player, but he’s certainly celebrating more on the sideline! He said afterwards that he just wanted to be part of it. It might not have been pretty at times, but it’s no clean sheets, two wins while not blowing sides away and having to grind it out – probably ideal for France. Obviously Mbappe is gone for the whole International break and so much of France’s attack comes through him, if they sit top of this Group after the International break is over they will be delighted. It’s been a very different story for Italy. All the drama off the field over the summer, with the failed search for a new manager, the Pep Guardiola talks, the Andrea Pirlo u-turn and Paolo Maldini and Leonardo walking away after just 16 days, has left the fans disgusted. Roberto Mancini’s return started with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium in front of a half-empty Stadio Olimpico, with the team booed off at half-time and full-time. They badly needed a response, and they got it on Monday with a 4-1 win in Turkey. How much did they need that!? They did the damage early, 3-0 up inside 27 minutes, and then from then it was just about seeing the game out. Mancini made eight changes, and it looked like a completely different side, but you also have to wonder why eight changes are being made in International football in games only days apart. Italy seem all over the place behind the scenes to be honest – although the new manager hunt became very public! That win will ease the pressure a little on Mancini, but now they have one of the toughest fixtures in European football – away to France in Paris. Turkey were very poor on Monday and gifted Italy a couple of goals, so I wouldn’t read too much into the scoreline. France haven’t been scoring freely without Mbappe though, and you would expect a pretty tense affair here. Surely Italy will set up quite negatively here and France will have to grind out another win. I couldn’t put anyone off the 1.46 on France here – but I was very surprised to see Under 2.5 goals trading as big as 2.92. I can’t see this game being too open; Italy won’t want an open game and obviously France haven’t been banging in goals for fun, plus they are without Mbappe. I’m happy with a small bet on Unders from a value point of view. The Ultra Says: One point win Under 2.5 goals at 2.92 with Betdaq Exchange.

🇮🇪 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND V AUSTRIA 🇦🇹 ⚽ #NationsLeague Thursday 7.45pm International football returns on Thursday after a day off on Wednesday, and we have a big night at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday in the Nations League on Betdaq! The Republic of Ireland host Austria in Group B3, and it’s the first time we’ll see Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side at home in this campaign after what has been an incredibly difficult few days for the squad. Austria arrive as the group leaders with two wins from two, while Ireland have a win and a loss. Austria come into the game as the favourites at 2.22 with Ireland 3.7 and the draw is 3.45 at the time of writing. It was a poor start for Ireland, beaten 1-0 away to Kosovo last Thursday, but they bounced back in style with a 3-0 win over Israel on Sunday – Troy Parrott getting the opener. Given everything going on around the squad, that result was a real surprise. The fixture had dominated the Irish media for months, with calls for Ireland to boycott the games against Israel over the war in Gaza. It all came to a head over the weekend – goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu told the squad he would not play in either match, there was an emergency meeting at the team hotel, and the players voted by a “significant majority” to fulfil the fixture. Hallgrimsson admitted the pressure was close to breaking point, and the players have been subjected to a huge amount of criticism online, with the squad pulling out of all media duties for the rest of the window. From a football point of view, the squad have been put in a terrible position really. The FAI came out afterwards and said they didn’t even know the full effects if they decided not to fulfil the fixture. The game itself was played in Debrecen in Hungary as Israel’s home fixture, and the Irish players wore black armbands, bowed their heads during the anthem and didn’t take part in the pre-match handshakes. The drama isn’t over either – Ireland’s own home game against Israel has been moved out of Dublin and will be played behind closed doors in Serbia on Sunday – there’s been a huge drama/debate around that in Ireland as well. It’s a huge amount for a group of footballers to carry, and to go out and win 3-0 in those circumstances says a lot about the character in that dressing room. Austria have had no such chat. They beat Israel 3-1 with home advantage in front of a packed stadium on the opening night, and it’s been a case of so far so good for them as they top the Group with two wins from two. Another win here would see them well on their way to topping the Group. They look well organised and very comfortable. They are clearly the class side of this Group, and it’s a big test for Ireland here, even with the Aviva crowd behind them. I have to say, it’s hard to see past Austria here. Ireland deserve huge credit for Sunday, but they’ve had a draining week and I was surprised to see Austria as big as 2.22 when I clicked into the market. I felt they would be marginally odds on if anything. Austria have been able to focus purely on football, while Ireland have had huge media pressure from home, and no doubt will have it all again this week too. Home advantage will keep Ireland competitive, but I feel the 2.22 on Austria is too big to ignore given the gulf in class between the sides. The Ultra Says: Two points win Austria to beat Republic of Ireland at 2.22 with Betdaq Exchange.