Soccer Best Bets: Top Picks, Predictions Around European Leagues
A tumultuous midweek series of confrontations in the European Cups concludes with top matches in their domestic leagues for many of the continent’s giants. Here are our best bets for the European soccer weekend.
Germany’s Der Klassiker, the confrontation between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, could change the balance of power in the Bundesliga, while the big clash in Italy between reigning champions AC Milan and Scudetto challengers Juventus will dominate the Serie A talk over the weekend.
Here are our best bets ahead of the European soccer weekend (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
European Soccer Best Matches and Odds
(Odds via DraftKings)
- Bundesliga: Dortmund (+330) vs. Bayern (-165)
- Serie A: AC Milan (+105) vs. Juventus (+255)
- La Liga: Getafe (+475) vs. Real Madrid (-200)
- La Liga: Barcelona (-380) vs. Celta Vigo (+800)
- Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach (-105) vs. FC Koln (+240)
European Soccer Best Bets
- Moneyline: Nice (-145 via FanDuel) vs. Troyes ★★★ (Ligue 1)
- Spread: Frankfurt -0.5 (+135 via FanDuel) vs Bochum ★★★ (Bundesliga)
- Total: AS Roma-Lecce Over 3.5 (+200 via DraftKings) ★★★ (Serie A)
- Upset: Juventus (+270 via FanDuel) vs. AC Milan ★★★ (Serie A)
- Game prop: Bochum Under 1.5 vs. Eintracht (-210 via DraftKings) ★★★★ (Bundesliga)
- Player prop: Kylian Mbappe to score two or more goals vs. Reims (+340 via DraftKings) ★★★ (Ligue 1)
Top European Soccer Predictions
Moneyline: Nice (-145)
Life hasn’t been easy so far this season for Nice under Lucien Favre. In spite of the squad revamp and signings of Nicolas Pepe from Arsenal, Ross Barkley from Chelsea, Aaron Ramsey from Juventus, and Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester, Nice have won only two matches from the nine they played.
Favre got reappointed in the summer, returning after a successful stint from 2016 to 2018. Patience is running thin, though, so Nice need to start delivering again on the pitch.
With just eight points this campaign, they sit 13th in the table, far below what's expected when considering the players they have. Big personalities shine in moments like these, so it’s expected that the experienced squad will step up and solve Troyes (11th on 11 points).
It can serve as a perfect new beginning for both Favre and his lads.
Spread: Frankfurt -0.5 (+135)
Eintracht Frankfurt are fresh off a 2-0 win over Union Berlin, who were undefeated in their first seven matches. Eintracht have won three and drawn one in their last four outings and are looking to extend their successful run. They travel to Bochum on Saturday in search of three points.
The hosts sit bottom of the table, taking just one point from eight games. Sixth-placed and hungry, Frankfurt can’t miss the chance to force themselves an entry into the Champions League pack.
Bochum have conceded 23 goals in their eight matches to date, an average of almost three per game.
Total: AS Roma-Lecce Over 3.5 (+200)
Roma kept it tight in their three previous three Serie A matches (1-1 vs. Juventus, 1-0 vs. Cremonese, 1-0 vs. Salernitana), but they are surely expecting to entertain their fans when Lecce visit on Sunday.
Lecce recorded four 1-1 draws in their previous six matches, with the most important point coming away at in-form Napoli. Roma will let the horses race, as Lecce are the type of opponents they like to face.
A statement win could confirm Roma's status as title contenders. The fact that there have been many goals between these two in past confrontations suggests a spectacular duel at the Olimpico might be in store.
Upset: Juventus (+270)
Milan’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League exposed many of their problems. A cultured tactician, Juve head coach Max Allegri surely took note.
Apart from the lack of ideas and freshness in their attacking game, Milan don’t look too solid at the back, either. Their many squad problems add to that: Mike Maignan (calf), Theo Hernandez (groin), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee), Junior Messias (calf), Alessandro Florenzi (hamstring), Simon Kjaer (hamstring), Davide Calabria (hamstring), and Alexis Saelemaekers (knee) were all unavailable for the trip to Chelsea.
Even though Milan manager Stefano Pioli hopes to receive some good news from his medical staff and recover at least some of those injured, Milan are still far from their best version.
A strong performance is expected of Milan on Saturday against Juventus, but the "Old Lady" look like the favorite of the derby match. Juve put three goals past Bologna in Serie A, then repeated the numbers for Maccabi Haifa’s visit in the Champions League.
Allegri seems to have taken the team out of the crisis it went through last month. The match against Milan is the perfect moment to prove the critics wrong and get Juventus among the challengers for the Scudetto.
Game prop: Bochum Under 1.5 (-210)
As noted, Frankfurt should win this match comfortably, and their 2-0 win over Union Berlin gives me more confidence that they'll play a tight brand of football this weekend, as well.
Bochum have scored just two goals in four home matches, and I don't expect that trend to change against a tough Frankfurt side.
Player Prop: Mbappe to score 2-plus goals (+340)
Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals in eight Ligue 1 matches so far this season and is topping the scorers’ rankings in France alongside fellow Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar.
PSG were limited to a 1-1 draw against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, so they'll likely be out for blood when they return to their home league.
Reims look like the perfect victims: 17th in the table with just seven points from nine matches. Reims were beaten 3-0 by Monaco in their previous home match.
Mbappe is looking to add numbers to his personal record, and the trip to Reims is a perfect opportunity to do so.
Where to Bet on Soccer Picks
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Odds and best bets from 10/6/2022 at 1:46 p.m. ET.
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