It's half-time in the all-English Europa League semi-final and Nottingham Forest have a slender advantage heading into tonight's second leg away to Aston Villa.
Last week's clash at the City Ground was incredibly cagey and it took a Chris Wood penalty to separate the sides on a night of few chances.
Nottingham Forest head to Villa Park buoyed by five successive wins but Unai Emery will be hoping the fired-up home crowd can roar his side on to a place in the showpiece.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest top betting tips
With just a one-goal deficit to overturn, I'd be surprised if this was an open game and we could be in for a repeat of the first leg, with chances at a premium.
That makes the half-time draw a decent option at 5/4 with Virgin Bet tonight, especially after that bet landed last week.
Villa were aggrieved that VAR didn't intervene to send Elliot Anderson off at the City Ground after he caught Ollie Watkins on the ankle.
He escaped without any punishment but the combative midfielder looks decent value to go into the book tonight at 3/1 with William Hill.
Villa skipper John McGinn also loves a tackle and the Scotland star is a tempting 11/10 at Bet365 to commit over 1.5 fouls.
Freiburg vs Sporting Braga
The other Europa League semi-final is also on a knife edge with Sporting Braga defending a 2-1 lead against Freiburg in Germany.
I tipped the Portguese side to win the first leg but they made me sweat and didn't grab their second goal until right at the death.
Braga are now just 8/11 to qualify for the final but it's Freiburg who are 4/5 favourites for a win on the night, with the visitors a bit overpriced at 4/1 with 10Bet.
We only saw four corners in the first leg but there should be more tonight, especially if one of the teams is chasing a goal for most of the match. Over 9.5 corners pays 19/20 at Paddy Power and that looks worth a punt.
Most of those corners should go to Freiburg as they try to level the tie on aggregate and backing the German side at -2 in that handicap pays 10/11 at Bet365.
Fancy backing a team with a goal advantage or underdog status? Take a look at our Masterclass on Handicap Betting to understand how the margins shift.
Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Crystal Palace have one foot in the Conference League Final and it would be a massive surprise if they blew a 3-1 lead at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Eagles did me a turn by winning last week's first leg in neutral Poland and looked a cut above their Ukrainian opponents.
There will be a cracking atmopshere for Selhurst Park's first European semi-final and I'm expecting Oliver Glasner's men to go for another win instead of defending their lead.
Crystal Palace are a best 8/13 at Betfred but you can increase their odds to 7/5 at BOYLESports by backing them to be winning at half-time and full-time.
Ismaila Sarr has scored in Palace's last four European games so he looks decent value at 11/10 with BetMGM for a goal or assist tonight.
Super singles
- Elliot Anderson to be carded 3/1 William Hill
- Over 9.5 corners in Freiburg vs Sporting Braga 19/20 Paddy Power
- Ismaila Sarr goal or assist 11/10 BetMGM
Upcoming match previews and betting tips
- Thu 20:00 Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
- Thu 20:00 Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- League Two playoffs: Betting tips for Grimsby vs. Salford, Chesterfield vs. Notts County
- League One playoffs: Betting tips for Bolton vs. Bradford, Stevenage vs. Stockport
Racing tips
Rizzel has picks for Redcar and Chester today, including a tasty 17/2 shot.
As always, leave your own tips and comments below.
Mr Fixit launched this website as a small project in 2010 to give him a platform to provide daily football tips to punters on the internet. The site has grown massively since, and while he is no longer with us, our aim is to continue his good work and provide our readers with solid tips every day to consider placing their bets on.
GambleAware
🇪🇺 Freiburg v Braga
▪️Over 2.5 Match Goals, Evens
▪️bet365
✅️
3-1 to Freiburg, early red card for Braga probably helped for once rather than ruin it 😅
Hoping Bigwigg has an eye on a game from the Norwegian u19s full card…
Aston villa win 8/11
Aston villa to qualify 11/10
Palace win
freiburg vs braga over 1.5mgls
0.97/1
All at paddy power
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest double chance at 11/10 (NAP)
Smaller stake on Forest to win at 15/4
I just couldn’t back Villa with their current form even with home advantage. Forest won last time out beating Chelsea with ease at Stamford Bridge so will be even more confident. Villa aren’t scoring goals which is a problem whilst Forest are the complete opposite. Forest are the form team so for me backing them not to lose makes sense.
Couldn’t agree more if a league game,i just find cup games less predictable,bol although I will be wanting Villa to win its just a shame they get so far and crumble .Forest are on a roll with relegation fears more than not over and Villa have to eventually go for it
Forest are out running teams and have been difficult to beat, unbeaten in 10, I can’t make a case for Villa.
Not tonight though me ol mucker,cup games are less predictable,still surprised but like Leeds against Chelsea,the occasion overwhelmed them
Just heard Arne Slot will not be the Liverpool manager next season, Xabi Alonso will but he’s only 4/11 with skybet. From a reputable source.
Does that reputable source work in the jobseekers office🤣🤣,4/11 and no doubt a limit you can put on it either way,bookies detest giving money away unless they know something as they will ring up traders for the amount allowed and the big amount they happily take your money and the bet is gubbed but the low amount they let you gamble as your only allowed a nibble and would you adam and eve it the bet wins at a canter🤔
4/6 At betvictor
Aston villa v Nottingham forest
Chris wood 1+ fouls won
Matty cash 2+ fouls won
Elliot Anderson 2+ fouls committed
17/2
A . Villa v Notts Forest
Freiburg v Braga
Strasbourg v R . Vallecano
Red card trixie pays around 145/1 for all three .
Ladbrokes
Bet builder for an interest whilst watching – Watkins to score, Mcginn to be booked and Tielemans over 1 SOT. 42/1 with a 50 percent boost. Boylesports 👍
Longshot at Villa Park
Villa v Forest
John McGinn 2+ fouls & to score or assist
Elliott Anderson 2+ fouls
Igor Jesus to score or assist
70/1
Best of luck all 👍🏻
Going for an in play bet on the Villa game aswell. Mcginn to be booked at 11/4. Have him in the bet builder also. Should have been booked in added time in the first half so with any luck he’s one tackle away from a booking 👍
Should have been booked on 65 mins. Not to be tho. Great performance from the Scotsman. Look forward to seeing him lift the Europa league trophy and then the world Cup 😂
I can’t believe how well Villa are playing,like the Villa before the bad run😄,bookies are canny little brutes,whatever Emery has said has worked wonders so far,maybe the occasion got to Forest,over confidence maybe?,just hoping Villa dont crumble🙏
Not to be could only manage the one LOSER