Friday’s Football Bet of the Day see’s me focus on Turkey and Portugal. I’m backing two sides at the top end of their respective leagues to be too strong for their opponents at the opposite ends of the table.
Trabzonspor vs Yeni Malatyaspor
🇹🇷 Süper Lig
⏰ Friday 7th January, 17:00
It’s top versus bottom in the Turkish Süper Lig as Trabzonspor host to Yeni Malatyaspor. The hosts are currently seven points clear of Konyaspor at the top of the table, whilst the visitors are three points adrift of 16th placed Altay.
Trabzonspor failed to score for the first time this season last time out, as they were held to a 0-0 draw with European hopefuls Istanbul Basaksehir. However, prior to that draw, Abdullah Avci’s side had won 10 of their previous 11 in the league, including each of their last five at home. Trabzonspor have a strong record against sides positioned in the bottom half, winning 9/10. As well as having the leagues best attack, Trabzonspor also have the leagues best defence, conceding just 14 goals and keeping eight clean sheets, with five of those clean sheets coming in their last seven games.
Yeni Malatyaspor poor form continued last time out, as they were defeated 2-0 by 4th placed Fenerbahçe. That’s now nine games without a win in the league for Marius Sumudica’s side, losing three of their last four. Yeni Malatyaspor have collected a solitary point from their last five matches away from, failing to score a single goal in any of those matches. In fact, no side has scored fewer goals in the Turkish Süper Lig than Yeni Malatyaspor, with the bottom side scoring just 16 goals, with only three of them coming away from home.
Santa Clara vs Sporting CP
🇵🇹 Primeira Liga
⏰ Friday 7th January, 18:30
Sporting CP will look to jump above Porto at the top of the Primeira Liga as they travel to the Azores to take on Santa Clara at the Estádio de São Miguel. The reigning champions are currently 2nd, behind Porto on goal difference, whilst the hosts are 15th, just a point and a place above the relegation playoff spot.
Santa Clara couldn’t build on their victory over Vitória Guimarães, as they lost to Paços de Ferreira last time out. Tiago Sousa’s side have now only won two of their last 12 in the league, losing seven of them. Only Tondela (33) have conceded more goals in the Primeira Liga than Santa Clara so far this season, with Os Acoreanos conceding on 32 occasions. Santa Clara have already lost both home matches against Porto and Benfica by an 0-8 score line.
Sporting had to come from behind to defeat 10 man Portimonense last time out, as they finally won 3-2. That victory now means it’s 11 successive wins in the Primeira Liga for Rúben Amorim’s men, scoring 21 goals and conceding just four times. Whilst Porto and Benfica have outscored Sporting CP, no side has conceded fewer than the Lisbon club, with the Leões conceding just seven goals, as well as keeping a league high 10 clean sheets.
Bet of the Day
Two sides at opposite ends of the table and in complete opposite runs of form meet at the Medical Park Stadyumu as Trabzonspor host Yeni Malatyaspor. Trabzonspor come into this winning 10 of their last 12 in the league, whilst Yeni Malatyaspor are winless in their last nine and have taken just one point from their last five away, failing to score a single goal. Given that 13/14 of Trabzonspor’s wins and all six of Yeni Malatyaspor’s defeats away from home have featured fewer than five goals, I’m happy to add in under 4.5 goals alongside a home win. Sporting CP have won each of their last 11 in the Primeira Liga and I’m expecting them to make that 12 as they take on a Santa Clara side with just two wins in their last 12. Rúben Amorim’s side have won their last six against Santa Clara and with the hosts already losing at home to both Porto and Benfica, I’m happy to back the reigning champions to get all three points and leapfrog Porto at the top of the table.
- Trabzonspor to Win & Under 4.5 Goals
- Sporting CP to Win
- Double Pays 13/10 (Betway)
In December 2020 we sadly 
Trabzonspor to Win & Under 4.5 Goals ✅ (1-0)
Sporting CP to Win ❌ (3-2)
Double Pays 13/10 ❌❌
Despite taking the lead twice, Sporting CP suffer their first defeat of the season. 👎🏼