Servette v Sion (6.45)
SION have huge problems for the game today against Servette.
Out of the team are defenders Michael Dingsdag and Arnaud Buhler with the former being a huge miss.
Buhler has played in 31 matches and without this duo Sion lost 4-0 to Grasshopper Zurich.
Sion also have problems in midfield with Alberto Regazzoni, Anthony Sauthier and Abdoul Yoda all out. Also unavailable are Xavier Margairaz and Rino Gattuso so I expect Servette to take advantage.
Recommended Bet
Servette win @ 2..40
Milesey (Betfair)
In December 2020 we sadly 
TEAM IN FOCUS – BAYERN MUNICH
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Goalkeeper | Manuel Neuer
After some games, Manuel Neuer claims, he doesn’t even have to take a shower, so good is Bayern’s defence that there’s no need to get dirty making saves. When called upon, though, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Also it bears remembering that he stepped up and scored a penalty in the last Champions League final, which Bayern lost and heartbreakingly so at home to Chelsea.
Back Manuel Neuer to keep a clean sheet at 2.86
Left-back | David Alaba
Scorer of the fifth fastest goal in Champions League history when his shot took an indecipherable deflection leaving Gianluigi Buffon no chance after just 26 seconds of Bayern’s quarter-final first leg against Juventus, David Alaba, ‘the young grasshopper’, has been taken under the wing of Frank Ribéry with whom he has developed a good understanding on the left flank. A full-back of great promise.
To Score 6.4
Centre-back | Dante
Described as a Schnäppen-Verteidiger or bargain defender when Bayern triggered the €4.7m release clause in his contract with Borussia Mönchegladbach last summer, Dante didn’t get the same billing as fellow summer signings Javi Martinez and Mario Mandzukic. Together with them, this elegant and assured Brazil international, admittedly a later developer at 29, has added a layer of quality which Bayern lacked last year.
To Score 13.5
Centre-back | Jérôme Boateng
Formerly of Manchester City just like his back-up Daniel van Buyten, the 24-year-old Germany international is now in his second Champions League final after leaving the Etihad where a knee injury wrecked his chances. Not that there’s any regrets. Highly regarded for his versatility Boateng, brother of AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince, can play across the back four and even in defensive midfield.
To Score 18
Right-back | Philipp Lahm
Back in 2009, Philipp Lahm gave a scathing interview to Süddeutsche Zeitung attacking the club’s culture of short-termism, its transfer policy and lack of a playing philosophy. Bayern, one assumes, took note of their captain’s words. They’ve now reached their third Champions League final in the four years since then and are held up as a model club. In addition to being the best right-back in the world, Lahm is consummate leader and winner.
To Score 18
Central Midfield | Javi Martinez
A midfield colossus with imperious poise, Javi Martinez is one of those players who takes one stride for every two taken by his opponent. Ubiquitous in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie against Arsenal, the decision made to pay Athletic Bilbao an eyebrow-raising €40m for him last summer was worthwhile not because he’s worth exactly that – Uli Hoeness admitted he isn’t – but because he’s a missing piece of a puzzle for which paying a premium in order to complete it was totally justifiable.
To Score 11
Central Midfield | Bastian Schweinsteiger
Prior to Bayern’s semi-final against Barcelona, coach Jupp Heynckes paid Schweinsteiger the following compliment: “He is the heart of the team, a midfielder with outstanding tactical ability. He always makes the right decisions. He is on a par with Iniesta and Xavi.” That’s all you need to know really except that what Schweinsteiger may lack in comparison with them, he certainly makes up for in physical stature.
To Score 6.4
Attacking Midfield Left | Arjen Robben
Were it not for Toni Kroos’ injury against Juventus in the quarter-finals, it’s unlikely Arjen Robben would be starting. He has, it must be said, been exceptional since he came on for him that night, scoring in both legs of the semi with Barcelona. The signing of Götze and return of Kroos may spell the end for him at the Allianz Arena. This could be his last hurrah in a Bayern shirt and redemption for his penalty miss in extra-time of last year’s final.
To Score 3.65
Attacking Midfield Centre | Thomas Müller
A socks-around-the-ankles footballer, Thomas Müller has been described as a Raumdeuter, the German for Space Investigator. He drifts, he lurks and eventually finds an opening. This is his talent. Being in the right place at the right time. There’s no stat for that. You’ve either got it or you haven’t. And Müller most definitely has it.
To Score 3.05
Attacking Midfield Right | Frank Ribéry
On the losing side in World Cup and Champions League finals, Franck Ribéry has been there or thereabouts in the last seven years. That’s also true of him as a player. Ribéry has straddled the line between very good and great throughout his career, threatening to break into the latter category for Bayern but not for France.
To Score 4.6
Striker | Mario Mandzukic
A real surprise. Signed from Wolfsburg for €14m as cover for Mario Gomez who suffered an ankle injury at the beginning of August, he has made the position his own on account of his goalscoring ability, sure, but above all his willingness to sacrifice himself and act as a first defender often pressing opponents and retreating back into midfield to help his teammates win the ball back.
To Score 2.6
Coach | Jupp Heynckes
Like in 1998 when he won the Champions League with Real Madrid only to lose his job, Jupp Heynckes will be pensioned off regardless of whether Bayern lift the trophy on Saturday night to make way for Pep Guardiola. It feels harsh considering this promises to be the club’s most successful ever season. The one consolation is that if Bayern do complete the treble a place in posterity awaits Heynckes and he can retire in the knowledge that he has made it difficult if not impossible for Pep to eclipse his achievements.
Milesey ( betfair )
STATS FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
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One of the notable features of the Champions League final is that it tends to be more exciting than other major finals and, with Saturday’s match involving two of the top four teams on goal average per game in this season’s competition, the goals markets are a good place to look for value.
Over/under 2.5 goals is the obvious starting point. There has been an even split of overs/unders in the 20 years of Champions League finals, although Italian teams have been a drag on the figures and it is worth noting that over 2.5 goals rises to 60 per cent when finals involving Italian sides are excluded.
It is also notable that the average goals per final is 2.55 since Europe’s premier club competition was rebranded as the Champions League. As a comparison, in the same period FA Cup finals have averaged 1.9 and World Cup finals a mere 1.4.
That points towards over 2.5 goals at 1.8, although there are complicating figures. Three of the four meetings between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund this season have had under 2.5 goals, while two of the three previous finals involving clubs from the same country have had unders.
An alternative to over 2.5 goals – at similar odds – is both teams to score at 1.72. Both teams have got on the scoresheet in seven of the 10 finals not involving an Italian side and in three of the four Bayern-Dortmund matches this season, although in only one of the three finals involving clubs from the same country.
At shorter odds, the stats point to the scoring being opened in the first half. Sixteen of the 20 finals in the Champions League era have had at least one first-half goal (three of the four exceptions involved an Italian side), as have three of the four Bayern-Dortmund matches this season. Over 0.5 first-half goals is 1.34.
Trying to pinpoint the exact timeframe is difficult, of course, but the best value according to the stats is the first goal to be scored in the opening 10 minutes at 4.4 or between 31 and 40 minutes at 7.4.
Punters looking for bigger odds might consider over 1.5 first-half goals at 2.46, although it is a risk because it is less well supported by the stats.
Another short-priced option is a goal to be scored in both halves at 1.53. That has occurred in 10 of the past 14 finals, although in only one of the four Bayern-Dortmund matches this season.
A better option on a similar theme might be a tie in the half with most goals market at 3.3. The odds are surprisingly big given that six of the past 12 finals have been a tie, with four of the other six having most goals in the second half, which is favourite on Saturday at 1.82.
With the Bayern-Dortmund head-to-heads pointing to a close match, Dortmund appeal off +1 on the Asian handicap at 1.7 – a bet that would have won twice and been money-back twice in this season’s four meetings.
Bookings markets will be influenced by the recent bad-tempered match between the two sides, which produced seven yellow cards and one red, but that might not be the best guide. There were a total of eight yellow cards in the other three meetings between the sides this season, while there have been only two recent card-heavy Champions League finals.
Under 4.5 cards and 25-45 total bookings points are decent options on the stats, while six to eight bookings points at 3.05 is a reasonable bet, having occurred in six of the past 10 finals.
Recommended Bets
Both teams to score at 1.72
Tie in half with most goals at 3.3
Six to eight bookings points at 3.05
Milesey ( betfair )
TEAM IN FOCUS – BORUSSIA DORTMUND
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Goalkeeper | Roman Weidenfeller
Seven years ago, captain Roman Weidenfeller, midfielder Sebastian Kehl and director of sport Michael Zorc were members of the Dortmund team that risked relegation from the Bundesliga. They all hugged on reaching the Champions League Final, something his girlfriend predicted when the season started. “At the time I just laughed, but now I must say she was absolutely right.”
Back Roman Weidenfeller to keep a clean sheet at 6.2
Left-back | Marcel Schmelzer
When Zorc brought Marcel Schmelzer to Jürgen Klopp’s attention, the Dortmund coach looked at the academy graduate and said: “Come on, he’s just a kid.” Zorc replied: “He can always play.” That he can. Only Weidenfeller and Robert Lewandowski have made more appearances than Schmelzer this season. The buzzing left-back scored the winner at home against Real Madrid in the group stages too.
To Score 19.5
Centre-back | Mats Hummels
Formerly of Bayern Munich’s academy, Mats Hummels has become one of the most sought-after and handsome centre-backs in Europe. Excellent at playing accurate long diagonals or bringing the ball out and making raids into midfield, he gives Dortmund’s build-up play an unpredictable element. Hummels does have an error in him, though, and is a slight injury doubt for the final with a sprained ankle.
To Score 9.8
Centre-back | Neven Subotic
When Dortmund won the first of their back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011, Subotic went on a road trip around Europe with a couple of mates in a VW camper van. A former US youth international who then committed to Serbia, after the quarter-finals he said: “Our story this season has been like a Hollywood movie, I hope it has a Hollywood ending.”
To Score 16.5
Right-back | Łukasz Piszczek
The least heralded of Dortmund’s Polish contingent, Lukasz Piszczek has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s best right-backs since coach Jürgen Klopp picked him up from relegated Hertha in 2010. Great at surging forward and whipping in crosses from his flank, he has been linked with Arsenal as an upgrade on the declining Bacary Sagna.
To Score 16.5
Central midfield | Ilkay Gündoğan
Signed as the replacement for Nuri Sahin after he left for Real Madrid, Gündoğan struggled at first but by the time his predecessor returned in the spring this year, he’d made the position his own. Hailed as “Dortmund’s Xavi” by Kicker, Gündoğan is the tempo-setting metronome in the middle of the park.
To Score 7.8
Central midfielder | Sven Bender
The Dortmund half of the Bender twins – brother Lars plays for Bayer Leverkusen – if this were a team of cyclists rather than footballers, Sven would be the domestique, the gregario, the water carrier who does a lot of the heavy going, the hard-running. Often clocking more than 12km a game, few cover more ground than him.
To Score 17.5
Attacking Midfielder Left | Kevin Großkreutz
Unlike Mario Götze, the ‘traitor’ of the piece for whom he is expected to stand-in after injury ruled him out of the final against future club Bayern Munich, there’s no doubting where Kevin Großkreutz’s loyalties lie. A ‘Dortmund lad’, he’d always travel and support the club, standing in the Yellow Wall even when playing for Rott Weiss Ahlen.
To Score 8.4
Attacking Midfield Centre | Marco Reus
As a nickname ‘Rolls Reus’ is a great riff on Marco’s surname, but as a description of his playing style it couldn’t be further from the truth. Rolls Royces are big and take a while to get going. Reus, on the other hand, is slight, lightning quick and nimble too. His backheel assist for Robert Lewandowski against Malaga was something else.
To Score 3.95
Attacking Midfielder Right | Jakub Błaszczykowski
Captain of Poland, Kuba looks older than his 27 years which is perhaps understandable considering what he went through as a kid. Tenacious, he brings the heat, the grit and determination to a baby-faced front four. A modern winger, he’ll get past you but you also won’t be able get past him. He isn’t one for shirking his defensive responsibilities and is arguably as good a right-back as Piszczek.
To Score 5.0
Striker | Robert Lewandowski
The first player to score four in a semi-final or later since Ferenc Puskas in the 1960 final between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, newspapers were full of stories the day after of how everyone from Tottenham and Blackburn to Genoa had almost signed Robert Lewandowski before he went to Dortmund in 2010. Expected to follow Götze to Bayern this summer, he’s established himself as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe.
To Score 2.78
Coach | Jürgen Klopp
Who wouldn’t want to play for Jürgen Klopp? True, it’s understandable that Götze and Lewandowski find Bayern and the chance to work under Pep Guardiola appealing. “I can’t make myself 15cm shorter or start speaking Spanish,” Klopp says. What he can do though is make you a great footballer, play exciting stuff and have a lot of fun while you’re doing it. The guy’s a hero.
Milesey ( betfair )
Only Stefan Kießling (12) scored the first goal of a game more often than Dortmund’s Marco Reus (8) in the Bundesliga this season
In light of confirmation that Mario Gotze will definitely miss the Wembley showdown after failing to shake off his hamstring injury, it will be down to Dortmund’s other attacking stars to shine. One man Jurgen Klopp can certainly rely upon on the big stage to notch the goals, other than Robert Lewandowski, is Reus. Behind his ultra-prolific teammate Lewandowski, the fleet-footed wide man represents BvB’s second top scorer in this year’s Champions League with four goals. In addition to his handy knack of opening the scoring in the Bundesliga, Reus has also drawn first blood three times in this competition.
Recommended Bet: Back Marco Reus to score first @ 13.0
Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has scored 22 goals in his last 24 competitive appearances for the club; only Cristiano Ronaldo (12) has scored more Champions League goals than the Polish striker (10) this season
It’s no shock to find Bayern priming the piggy bank for a damn good shaking in order to bring Dortmund’s prize Pole to the Allianz Arena next season. Lewandowski’s virtuoso four-goal demolition of Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg on its own was enough to add another £10 million to an already sizeable price tag. This guy has hit dizzying heights in front of goal this season and it’s no secret that this will almost certainly be his last game in the famous black and yellow, so what better way to mark it than a goal. Bayern know only too well what a threat he is after his five goals against them since the start of last season.
Best Bet: Back Robert Lewandowski to score @ 3.0
Bayern striker Thomas Muller has scored seven goals in his last eight Champions League matches, this despite only attempting 13 shots on target in these games overall
Muller has been the epitome of German efficiency for FC Hollywood this season. The joint-third top scorer in this year’s Champions League has been busy bagging goals with consummate ease for Heynckes’ European juggernauts as the rounds have swung past. Of course, Muller was the man for the biggest stage when he looked to have set Bayern on course for glory with a trademark header at the back post in last year’s final against Chelsea. Bayern are a monster side in stature which accounts for the fact they have scored more headed goals than any other side in the competition with five and it’s that man Muller who has nodded in the last two.
Recommended Bet: Back Thomas Muller to score @ 3.4
Milesey ( betfair )
Found a good one. ASTERAS TRIPOLIS v PAOK over 2.5 is 7/4 at William Hill. Got 50on it at 6.30. Last 4games over 2.5 and this last match at paoks ground was 2-1. Also btts looks good at 6/5 last ten results at least bin btts x good luck I got a good feeling x
1 minute gone
SWITZERLAND: Super League
Servette 1-0 Sion
Milesey
19 minutes gone
SWITZERLAND: Super League
Servette 2-0 Sion
Milesey
stuck 50 on servette at 1/1 3-0 up thats the tips yeh want lol
SWITZERLAND: Super League
Servette 4-0 Sion
20 minutes to go, think i can put my feet up now and enjoy my night with a beer, my work here is done.
Milesey
Milesey, hope it’s not 5-5 like WBA v Man Utd!
they would have to go some, with only 2 minutes left of the game ;) looks like i’ve hosed in ;)
1 winner on my lucky 15 today, 5/1 shot, double for the one win, so not a massive loss, 2 football bets = 2 wins, 1 cricket bet = 1 win.
If i don’t get at least 5 winners on the horses tomorrow, then some extra hours studying maybe required, don’t think i’ve let it slip since mondays biggie, but something isn’t going right at all, horses expected to come in easy aren’t putting in the runs.
Milesey
Milesey, it was a good tip, hoping Fenerbahce see out the Final.
Oh Milesey, I wish I had gone big on the Swiss. When I checked their league place and under 2.0 I decided to not go big. Good on you though and thanks to Scott. I doubled it with btts with the Greeks. Good work lads.