Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, Friday, 9pm, live on Sky Sports 1
ARE you fed-up betting on friendlies, testimonials and some teams you can't pronounce? Well, there's some proper action on Friday with the Copa del Rey up for grabs in Madrid.
And after suffering Champions League and La Liga misery, Barcelona will be desperate to pick up some silverware in Pep Guardiola's last game in charge.
Athletic will also feel they owe their fans but a poor ending to the season was highlighted by a 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Final.
Barca are of course the hot favourites and are no bigger than 1-3 at Stan James while Athletic are 9-1 outsiders at Betfred and Skybet. The draw pays 5-1 at BetVictor.
But for me it's got to be Barca against a side that's amazingly failed to score in their last five games.
However, Guardiola will be without half his defence with Carles Puyol and Dani Alves missing so Athletic will fancy their chances of ending their goal drought.
And the man who could do it for them is likely to be big Fernando Llorente who is 11-4 at Skybet and William Hill to score and 8-1 at Ladbrokes, William Hill and Skybet to hit the opener.
I wish those odds were available on Lionel Messi but the Argentine phenomenon is just 12-5 at Betfred to score first and 9-20 with BetVictor and unibet to net at any time. You can also have 13-8 at Skybet for Messi to score two or more.
If you are looking for an alternative to Messi it could be Cesc Fabregas at 6-1 with William Hill or 7-4 with Ladbrokes and William Hill just to score.
Coral offer Barca at 5-6 minus one goal and they should cover the handicap having netted 10 in their last three La Liga games, even though they were held 2-2 at Real Betis last time out.
Hopefully there will be a few goals and there have been 20 in the last six meetings. This season it was 2-2 in Bilbao and 2-0 Barca at the Nou Camp and over 3.5 pays 5-6 at BetVictor.
Ladbrokes go 8-1 about Bilbao losing 3-0 for the fifth time in six games but I'm thinking 3-1 at 10-1 with Betfred and BetVictor.
Recommendations
Messi to score
(12-5, Betfred)
Messi to score two or more
(13-8, Skybet)
Llorente to score
(11-4, Skybet, William Hill)
Over 3.5 goals
(5-6, BetVictor)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Luke my evens is still going also. One bombed last nite as I tryed pauls double although very unlucky. The other is only 2 bets in and I have been playing alot safer on this line ie yesterday I had two korean fa cup teams @ 2/15 and then a 3/10 and a 2/9 which was celta vigo. Think I got lucky there as celta vigo where a man down and a goal down inside 10 mins but came back to win 4 1. Granted the more teams you take the harder it is but also in a way it should be alot easier. But not always the case. I was looking at red bulls last nite I thought they where a good thing @ 8/13 but they drew 1 1. So I will be sticking to the short odds.
The way I see it, is that if a team at really.short odds were to let me down, I’d be rather more annoyed than I would if a team around evens were to draw/lose…I’ve just seen Chicago fire won early this morning, but unfortunately I didn’t do them! Still likely to side with molde at the moment I think! Are you likely to be placing your 3rd bet today!?
Luke, I’m on Molde at 3-4 with William Hill. Just read this on a Norwegian website: “The fans will be right on side today. Solksjaer has announced he will stay at Molde instead of moving to Aston Villa and the club has reduced ticket prices for this game to celebrate.”
Quality bit of info there Paul, cheers for that! I’m about to put my 57.60 on them at 8/11 at paddy power, the 4/5 from last night has been cut! Let’s hope Ole’s team does the business for us!
my evens bombed last night too, only an acca tonight
elfsborg
malmo
inter turko(2 up at ht)
santos
uni de chile
£ on in-shop lad’s for 29.35
would’ve added in molde too if read this but been out all day, dunno bout south american teams but both at home and odds on favs, still no cert tho.
Craig, Molde looking good now but wasn’t a banker.
paul, will next seasons ev’s bet be a rolling acca, 1 team at a time, and will you be doing it all season or after certain amount of games, even banking winnings just say over £100 & continuing with £100 each time so at least got £ back to start again would be good idea. lookin forward to it already:)
Craig, I haven’t decided exactly how to do it. Will need to get a bookie on board then tackle it. The right way to do it is never to withdraw and always put the full stake on the next one but if it’s for charity we could look at taking some out. That’s assuming we don’t fall early doors.
malmo drew so back to drawing board, glad i didnt put them in a single now. good pick wi molde, got there in the end. guaranteed the south americans win now
Craig, my single on Friday will be Belgium at home to Montenegro but hopefully put up some tips later.
awright Paul
feel bad boot bein an arsehole wis attacked oan eh 62 eh utha nyt doon yoker fur nae reason an that wis the crazy out burst an went mad am a placid guy no in gangs as u no am aff tae perth an am chasin wan mare big pay oot fur an emirates business class lol
a minute of madness fleein oot ma mouth and i deeply regret it
is it awright if a continue to add my thoughts and feelings on the football/sport an help the troops in here to bash the bookies
cheers
Danny
1 last tip incase am no welcome back go as big as u have to spend/offord on degerfors – landskrona both to score
Danny over an out
Danny, put up tips as you like but let’s keep it sensible. Cheers.
Guys any tip for today?
Henry, the Copa del Rey tips are up and there will be some tips on the international friendlies on the site soon.
Thanks for the nudge towards molde yesterday Paul! Up to 99.49 from my £3, 5 bets in. If I can get 3 more winners then I’ll consider banking some! That ‘steels’ guy has tipped Belgium -1 tonight, but im not so sure!
Luke, I tipped Belgium yesterday and have just posted a piece on tonight’s games. I wouldn’t disagree with Belgium -1 and I also like Croatia -1 but you have to be cautious with friendlies and it might be an idea to see the starting line-ups before betting. As long as Belgium and Croatia start with strong line-ups they should win by two or three.
what about barca to be winning after 30 mins@11/10.
funbet – valdes to save a pen 40/1
both at paddypower
Craig, the first one must have a chance but the second as you say is a fun bet. Not one for me though.
I’ll definitely be waiting to see line ups in all matches tonight before deciding whether to take a punt or not!
Hi luke I had busy day and nite yesterday so I didnt manage to get a bet on. Yesterday morning I seen the molde tip flying around so I chucked them in my bet slip with barca but decided to leave alone to see everyones thought on the molde game. But in the end I missed the 6 oclock kickoff and to be honest am not so sure about barca tonight? Think I will be placing my third bet bet tonight tho. Thinking a double of belgium (thanks boys) and still undecided on another.
McGart, I’d take Barca although price is short. I’m looking at a Barca, Belgium and Croatia treble and may do them all -1 as well.
I may just play it safe, and have my 6th bet on Belgium as a single! Although I’ll be surprised if paddy power are still offering 4/6. may be tempted into -1. But its a bit risky and I would be a little annoyed at myself were they to win by just the single goal! Will wait to see line ups later and take It from there! How many winning bets are you aiming to reach before considering banking!? Mine is 8 or £800 I think
Thanks. I went for the barca belgium double earlier and got just over evens. Looking at around 8 bets also luke. I have had around 8 even money in past few weeks just hope to catch 8 in a row on the even money challenge. And buy myself a nice tv for the euros lol.
luke, you could do belgium -1 on asian handicap, wont be as good odds as -1 but if they win by 1 you get your £ back and if they by 2+ you win. i had same bet on AVAI couple days ago and they won 1-0 and got money back.
i see the irish games on tonight too, cant see many takerd there haha
£5 treble barca, belgium croatia returns £12
belgium -1 asian(1.9), croatia -1.5(1.71) & barca -1.5(1.75) £5 for £28
couldn’t resist, wulda been gutted if wasn’t on it and it came in haha. betvictor odds
Dunno if anyone seen my manager bets last week. Took martinez for liverpool @ 4/1 and hes now 1/4 and took benitez for villa job @ 18/1 hes now 6/5 clear fave. Surely gotta get at least one of them up! Looking at tonights tips in here gonna go on belguim barca croatia treble with a wee touch on them -1 also. Good luck all :)
New evens challenge tonight then craig?
i’ll see what happens tonight, if get both trebles up the £12 will go on an evens bet tomorrow, if not will start it again on tuesday. hopefully get somthing back tonight tho for tomorrows games
Craig, I was going to put up Irish tips after the midweek results but I was heartened to see Racing Post today describe them “as an incredible set of results”. They’ve tipped Bray to qualify in the cup v Shelbourne and I’ve taken a couple of my own.
Oh is that how the Asian handicap works! Can’t say I’ve ever really given it much notice or thought! I see Belgium are 4/7 now. I haven’t done a bet as yet, and leaving it late to do so! Haven’t seen the line ups yet! Will put it on in play.if I really fancy.something! Tempted to just follow suit and go Croatia, Belgium, Barca treble! But with us all on same bet, It wouldn’t come as a shock to see one let us all down!
2 1 belgium 2 0 croatia
Looking good so far and Hazard on target for Belgium so a few bets up already.
good stuff, was gettin worried when they went 1 down. hopefully belgium can get early gl in 2nd half so we can all relax and look forward to the barca game. cancelled my sports and movies for the summer break so gonna have to watch it on ma phone
Just stuck £30 on over 3.5 in the Barca game… Got 23/20 @ Sportingbet. Also done a Croatia -1 and Belgium over 2.5 double £20 returns £65 and the first half is up. Peps last game tonight and i smell goals… Good tipping tonight Paul, great reading.
Badham, happy enough with the way Barca went but should have put more on 3-0. That’s five 3-0 defeats in six games for Athletic, the other one was 0-0.
2 2 belgium as barca go up 2 0
Er goes the evens challenge. Think i will start at 20 next time!
typical barca strolling now that belgium drew