As the weekend approaches, the world of football becomes a thrilling whirlpool of opportunity, adventure, and fierce competition. From the frosty fields of Norway to the lively stadiums of the United States, this weekend's football tips highlight some of the most anticipated matches from around the Globe.
Viking v Haugesund – (Saturday, 5pm)
Two in-form outfits take on one another in the Norwegian Eliteserien this weekend when Viking welcomes Haugesund to SR-Bank Arena. This is the only top-flight game in the country taking place on Saturday, so lots of eyes will be on this clash, and for good reason. Earlier in the campaign Haugesund already looked destined for the drop after winning one of their first seven, but three wins in four has given life to their campaign. As for Viking, they’ve lost only three times inside 90 minutes since the beginning of April, winning ten times in the process.
The odds suggest this should be quite a routine home win, but I fancy the visitors to be a bit more competitive than those prices suggest. A goals angle looks to be the best port of call on this occasion from a value and price perspective. A quick glance at many of the recent fixtures of the two sides indicates goals should not be far away once again, including both teams scoring. Viking are on a ten-match streak in league action where BTTS has paid out. Out of those ten matches, eight has featured a minimum of three goals. For Haugesund, seven of their previous eight in league and cup has included each side netting and at least three match goals.
With that in mind, we have to jump on board with the Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals, which is neatly priced at 1.91 with Sky Bet. Viking are rightly favourites, but don’t accept to be one-sided for the entire match.
Hartford Athletic v San Diego Loyal (Sunday, 12:00am)
Three matches across the USL Championship are covered in this piece, starting with Hartford Athletic against San Diego Loyal, but only William Hill have priced up at the time of writing. Do check around for potential better odds elsewhere!
Right, back to previewing this game. Hartford sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with only two wins to their name and enter this on the back of a four-match losing run. One other disadvantage is they played in midweek when going down 2-1 away to Loudoun United, so fatigue could be an issue given their weekend opponents had no such problem. San Diego Loyal have made the play-offs in each of the last two seasons, and again find themselves in one of those slots 17 games into the 2023 season. Won six, drew six and lost five highlights an inconsistency issue, and no wins in five and one win in eight is another obvious concern at present. In their defence, they’ve had a tough schedule, whilst another problem is this is a big journey for them across the country, with a flight time of just over 5 hours expected.
The travel is a bit of a worry, but the fact Hartford already played in midweek could level out that issue somewhat. I’m keen to get on the away side here, as you just can’t confidently back Hartford at present. San Diego is ranked third in the entire USL Championship in terms of Expected Goals (xG), whereas Hartford only have three sides above them with a worse Expected Goals Against (xGA) number. 2.38 on an away win with William Hill is a good way to approach this at the price.
Indy Eleven v FC Tulsa (Sunday, 12:00am)
Another USL Championship battle for us to examine and on this occasion we focus on an all-Eastern Conference meeting between Indy Eleven and FC Tulsa. Indy Eleven do find themselves inside a play-off position but they’ll still feel that they should be performing slightly better in terms of league standing. They have high ambitions at this club and the new stadium plans highlights that. They used to be play-off regulars but last appeared in them in 2019, so big improvement this season is required. FC Tulsa are another team in need of improvement as only Miami FC and Hartford Athletic are below them in the standings. Still, they won last time out and another triumph takes them to only one point behind Indy Eleven.
Where we can point the finger at Indy Eleven is their contributions in attack. Only five teams in the entire USL Championship has scored fewer goals than they have, but recent performances have suggested they will soon heavily improve upon that. They’ve not only lost once in five, and across those five they’ve averaged 2.00 goals per game. Another positive factor is that they come up against an opponent this weekend that concedes plenty of goals, and has shipped an average of 3.00 goals per game across their last four, which includes three defeats. FC Tulsa has the worst xGA figure across the USL Championship, and it is tough to back any side with that hanging over them.
Indy Eleven are rightly the favourites here but I will play it a little safer and back them to succeed in another particular market at a better price. William Hill is offering 1.91 on Indy Eleven to net Over 1.5 Goals and it is the recommended selection. Whilst that haven’t regularly achieved that this season, they are hitting their stride after a slow start and they’re facing the worst defence in the league from an xGA perspective.
Minnesota Utd v Austin FC (Sunday, 01:30am)
We’ll continue the American theme but we can’t not do that and miss out MLS! Yes, we do have a play across the always excellent card this weekend and Minnesota Utd versus Austin FC contains one bet which I just couldn’t resist. Let us set the scene first and foremost, and with only two points separating these two teams in the Western Conference, then this weekend’s encounter could be tasty.
It was certainly an inconsistent start to the campaign by the standards of Minnesota, who have made the MLS play-offs in each of the last four seasons. Whilst they opened unbeaten in five, including three wins, they followed up that run going winless in six, including five losses. Back-to-back wins followed, before another poor run when going five without victory. Beating Portland Timbers 4-1 last time out could be the turning point for another positive run. Austin are another example if inconsistency as their previous nine has resulted in five wins and four defeats. You never know what you’re going to get!
With both teams just as likely to win or lose it would appear, we’ll happily swerve the 1×2 markets. The hosts are rightly the favourites given they are the hosts, and whilst they’ve only lost one MLS home match this season they have drew five of eight. One big, big positive for them is reintroducing Emanuel Reynoso into the picture, who failed to report for pre-season and was subsequently suspended by the club. He is now back in the picture and is without a doubt their best and most influential player. Since his return, the Argentine has three goals in four appearances, scoring in the two matches in which he has started.
Fresh on the back of netting a brace in the Portland win, Reynoso can be backed at 3.00 with Paddy Power merely to find the back of the net at any point in this upcoming contest with Austin, who are without an away clean sheet all season.
New Mexico v Detroit Sunday, 2:00am
Lastly, we focus on another USL Championship clash when New Mexico entertains Detroit in what is another fixture between two teams in the lower echelons on the standings. New Mexico may be in the bottom four of the Western Conference but they’re only a point outside the play-offs thanks to improved showings under Eric Quill, who is unbeaten in four of his five matches in charge. Detroit did recently go unbeaten in five, but back-to-back losses you feel could be the start of another bad run of results.
Detroit started the season winning just one of their opening 10 league matches, but a formation switch did bring about some improvement in terms of making them harder to beat. Of that mentioned five game unbeaten run, it included two 1-0s and two 0-0s, but the issue now is with them losing games again, they have to show something different. Going forward they offer very little, with them being the lowest USL scorers and possessing the third-worst xG number, too. New Mexico aren’t much better in that regard, but the new manager has definitely had a positive effect. They enter this match on a high, whereas Detroit simply do not.
Whilst Detroit does have the ability to frustrate, New Mexico should still contain the greater goal threat here. They went away to El Paso recently and won, a team packed of MLS experience and currently sits second in the Western Conference, with the victory being more than deserved. Detroit are limited in what they can offer, and I like the thought of the new manager bounce continuing for this weekend at least. New Mexico did play in midweek, unlike Detroit, and with them conceding in the 94th minute to draw with Las Vegas Lights you fancy them to really try to right that wrong. The 1.95 offered by William Hill for a home victory is appetising enough to get involved.
Weekend Betting Tips
- Viking v Haugesund – Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (1.91 Sky Bet)
- Hartford Athletic v San Diego Loyal – San Diego Loyal (2.38 William Hill)
- Indy Eleven v FC Tulsa – Indy Eleven Over 1.5 Goals (1.91 William Hill)
- Minnesota Utd v Austin FC – Emanuel Reynoso Anytime Goalscorer (3.00 Paddy Power)
- New Mexico v Detroit – New Mexico (1.95 William Hill)
In December 2020 we sadly 
