Soccer Best Bets: Top Picks, Predictions from Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga & More
It’s not a weekend for the biggest derbies, but bettors must keep an eye out for the matches being played in Spain, Italy, Germany, and France. The giants across the continent need to be at full capacity to overcome the challenges that come with playing almost non-stop until the World Cup break. Check out our soccer best bets for the week below.
Surprises are expected in all the big soccer leagues this week. Therefore, betting options involving teams that are still battling for qualification to the knock-out stages of the European competitions might turn out to be slippery. The decisive matches at the continental level lie just days ahead.
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 FanDuel)
- Valencia (+440) vs. FC Barcelona (-175)
- Real Sociedad (+105) vs. Betis (+260)
- Athletic Bilbao (+105) vs. Villarreal (+260)
- Frankfurt (+175) vs. Dortmund (+140)
- Leipzig (-140) vs. Leverkusen (+320)
- Union Berlin (+100) vs. Borussia Monchengladbach (+280)
- Torino (+270) vs. AC Milan (+110)
Best Soccer Bets Across Europe: October 29-30
- Moneyline: Wolfsburg (-150 via FanDuel) vs. Bochum
- Spread: Inter -1.5 (-150 via DraftKings) vs. Sampdoria
- Total: Leipzig vs. Leverkusen Over 3.5 (+122 via FanDuel)
- Upset: Valencia or draw vs. FC Barcelona (+140 via DraftKings)
- Prop bet: Sadio Mane anytime goalscorer for Bayern Munich vs. Mainz (-105 via DraftKings)
- Parlay: Bayern to Win and Under 3.5 vs. Mainz (+140 via DraftKings)
European Soccer Top Picks
Moneyline: Wolfsburg (-150) ★★★★
Wolfsburg’s expectations this season were to enter the race for the top European spots, but they sit just 14th in the Bundesliga after 11 matches. If they are to stand any chance of turning their fortunes around, then the match against 17th-placed Bochum is a must-win.
Bochum has shown signs of life after a terrible start to the season, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 and Union Berlin 2-1 in consecutive home matches. Still, their away form is dismal, having lost on each of their last six travels in Bundesliga play. Also, Bochum conceded at least three goals in seven of their last eight away matches.
Last season, when the two sides met in the Bundesliga after a seven-year break, both Wolfsburg and Bochum won their home matches 1-0.
Spread: Inter -1.5 (-150) ★★★★
Regarded as favorites to win Serie A, Inter disappointed in their first outings this season, losing four of their first eight matches. Since then, form has improved and Simone Inzaghi’s men are on a three-game winning streak. They also impressed against FC Barcelona in the Champions League, beating the Catalan giants to qualification in the Round of 16.
On the other hand, Sampdoria are 18th in Serie A, with just one win through 11 games. Their first triumph this season was last week, when they beat newly-promoted Cremonese 1-0. That added three points to their previous three which came from draws. Sampdoria’s campaign record encourages bettors to expect goals against them, as the team from Genova conceded 18 times in 11 matches.
Add that there have been over 2.5 goals scored in 16 of Inter’s last 18 Serie A clashes. Going to the head-to-head chapter, Inter and Sampdoria combined for more than 2.5 goals in their last seven encounters.
Recent history clearly pleads for an Inter victory. The Milano outfit won nine of their last 10 matches against Sampdoria in all competitions.
Total: Leipzig-Leverkusen Over 3.5 (+122) ★★★
Have you seen a Leverkusen match? You just know there are going to be goals.
Bayer’s below standard start to the season has seen them drop to 15th in the Bundesliga table. Their problems haven’t stopped after Xabi Alonso was appointed manager last month, with goals still flying past the Leverkusen defense.
There have been Over 2.5 goals scored in nine of Bayer’s last 10 domestic games. Leipzig are a good partner to play open football against. They conceded 18 times themselves, compared to Leverkusen’s 23.
Upset: Valencia or draw (+140) ★★★
It’s ninth-place vs. second, but anything can happen between these two. Barcelona are fresh off of being humiliated in a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Barca were dumped from the UCL as a consequence and will continue their quest for continental glory in the Europa League, UEFA’s ‘second tier’ club competition. Missing out on the Champions League Round of 16 is a huge blow both for the club’s finances and for the players’ morale.
The match couldn’t have come at a better time for Saturday’s hosts. And that’s because Valencia are not just another opponent for Barca, but a special one. Ignoring their place in the table, Valencia vs. Barcelona is a season highlight in La Liga. It’s the kind of clash that sees previous stats count for nothing, adding stories and tension to a great rivalry.
Encouraged by Barcelona’s recent slips against Inter Milano, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, Valencia will try to make the most of their chances to take home at least a point.
Prop: Mane anytime goalscorer (-105) ★★★★
Sadio Mane scored five times in 11 Bundesliga matches for Bayern this season. The Senegalese forward had trouble adapting after his summer move from Liverpool but seems to have overcome his team chemistry issues. Mane silenced his critics with important goals and consistent performances. He is hungry for more, so Mainz is surely on his hit list.
Parlay: Bayern to win and Under 3.5 vs. Mainz (+140) ★★★
Bayern won their last five home matches against Mainz in all competitions and are strong favorites to add another one to the streak. The Bavarian giants scored at least twice in their last seven Allianz Arena confrontations with Mainz, who now sit seventh in the Bundesliga table.
Despite Bayern’s goal-scoring form, Mainz don’t look like an easy job to deliver. Also considering Bayern’s busy calendar and the rotation system used by head coach Julian Nagelsmann, the defending champions will secure the three points.
Where to Bet on Soccer
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
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Soccer best bets from 10/28/2022 at 7:02 p.m. ET.
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