Football betting tips: Bundesliga, EFL, Superliga
Friday
1pt Denis Vavro to score anytime in Freiburg vs Wolfsburg (19:30) at 22/1 (Sky Bet)
0.5pt Denis Vavro to score first at 50/1 (General)
Saturday
2pts Maximilian Wober 1+ offsides in Preston vs Leeds (12:30) at 17/2 (Sky Bet)
1pt Otelul to beat Arad (12:30) at 21/20 (General)
1.5pts Over 2.5 goals in Universitatea Craiova vs Sepsi (15:00) at 17/20 (bet365)
Further tips may follow...
It's a shame the latest round of fixtures won't come with storm-like conditions.
It just adds to the entertainment, doesn't it? A goalkeeper trying to boot the ball from a goal kick only to see it come back towards him and start an opposition attack.
I was glued to it, much like that time we were all obsessed with Big Jet TV (eyyy, dya remember that?).
But that's fine, it's what makes it a nice treat. This weekend delivers games from across the leagues which provide some good betting opportunities.
As ever, I covered a few points of interest (well, to me anyway) for the weekend in my latest Notebook which is still available to read. Hopefully there will be some things of use in there which aren't discussed here.
I've ventured across to Romania again with a couple of games in the top-flight which have caught my attention, while a position switch for one Championship club opens up value elsewhere.
We start in Germany on Friday night.
Freiburg vs Wolfsburg
- Kick-off time: 19:30 GMT, Friday
- TV: Sky Sports+
- Home 11/10 | Draw 12/5 | Away 23/10
Wolfsburg go into Friday's meeting with Freiburg in fine form. They've won their last five games across all competitions with the unbeaten run currently standing at eight games.
The highlight was undoubtedly their last away game which ended in a 5-1 victory over RB Leipzig. The team, but particularly their attack, are flying.
Freiburg boast one of the best defences in the Bundesliga which makes this an intriguing clash. It could become a game which goes from end-to-end though, it's hard not to when Wolfsburg are involved.
Given the contest, I'm willing to take the 50/1 on DENIS VAVRO TO SCORE FIRST, with a separate bet on the 22/1 ANYTIME.
- CLICK HERE to back Denis Vavro to score first with Sky Bet
- CLICK HERE to back Denis Vavro to score anytime with Sky Bet
The centre-back netted his first for the club in their cup success over Hoffenheim and he's been carrying an attacking threat in recent weeks.
It's not a surprise when we consider how aerially dominant he can be - he sits fifth for average aerials won across all Bundesliga players this season.
Shots have come in four of his eight league starts and that includes the win over Mainz last time out. Vavro managed two in their away win at Heidenheim last month.
He also has previously held some set-piece responsibilities, further enhancing the potential for a goal.
Freiburg have conceded at least one shot to an opposition centre-back in six of their last seven league outings too. Vavro should get the opportunity to get his first one of the Bundesliga campaign here.
Preston vs Leeds
- Kick-off time: 12:30 GMT, Saturday
- TV: Sky Sports Main Event
- Home 9/2 | Draw 14/5 | Away 3/5
It was another positive result for Daniel Farke's Leeds on Tuesday night with a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough.
I'm writing this before Preston face Cardiff on Wednesday night but that's fine as the bet in this game has very little to do with the personnel of the opposition.
A price of 17/2 is available on MAX WÖBER 1+ OFFSIDES which is huge considering the role he will be playing.
Naturally a centre-back, Farke is looking to utilise the fact he's left-footed by playing him at left-back in place of the injured Junior Firpo.
He featured there against Middlesbrough and was caught offside very early into the game. There were a few occasions where it was marginal as well.
It's because he's being asked to play the same role as Firpo and he's clearly a player who enjoys the opportunity to get forward. One thing he doesn't have, as you'd expect, is the ability to time the run.
It's why Wöber was also caught offside when coming off the bench to replace Firpo following the injury gained in the win over Derby. Two games, two offsides given.
Sam Byram is 8/1 for an offside and he could well be continuing at right-back. That's a more natural role though, and while Wöber has been decent enough in attack, going early with runs will be something Leeds have to cope with.
We know that his place in the team is fairly secure given Firpo's absence. Now is certainly the time to keep backing this selection because if it wins as hopes, prices will only continue to get shorter.
Otelul vs Arad
- Kick-off time: 12:30 GMT, Saturday
- TV: Live Streaming
- Home 19/20 | Draw 2/1 | Away 13/5
I'm pretty confident that this is the longest trip in the top-flight of Romanian football.
Otelul, located in Galați in the east of the country, right next to the Moldova border, host Arad from the western side, on the border with Hungary.
Driving the 440-mile journey between the two places would take you near ten hours without stopping. It's certainly one that falls into the 'diehard away fan' category.
What's interesting then is Arad's away results this season. They've won three and lost six on the road but looking at who they've beaten underlines their potential issues when making longer journeys.
Two wins have come against both clubs in Cluj. While the other was against Unirea Slobozia, that was a result of their only shot on target in what was the fourth game of the season.
All three trips to Bucharest have ended in defeat, with Sepsi (central Romania) and Botosani (north-east Romania, 427 miles away) also securing victory.
Evens and slightly above in some places are available on an OTELUL WIN which is worth going for based on Arad's track record.
Otelul do need to improve their own home form but this game gives them an opportunity to do just that. Hermannstadt and Sepsi Sf. Gheorghe are the two sides beaten and they sit outside the top-five.
Universitatea Craiova vs Sepsi
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- TV: Live Streaming
- Home 8/11 | Draw 12/5 | Away 3/1
The Romanian Superliga got some social media numbers this week and Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe were one of the teams involved in the viral clip.
With the score level on the hour mark, Rapid Bucuresti's Borisav Burmaz directed a close range shot towards goal, only for it to hit the crossbar, rebound off the back of the goalkeeper's head, hit the crossbar again before the keeper gathered the ball.
Rapid Bucuresti were drawing 0-0 with Sepsi on the hour mark in their Romanian Superliga meeting last week.
— Tom Carnduff (@TomCarnduff) December 11, 2024
Step forward, Borisav Burmaz, who was involved in this bizarre moment… pic.twitter.com/0HGyOFuF3i
A bizarre sequence and Sepsi punished them for it in a 2-0 victory. Yet another home game in which the under 2.5 goals line was successful.
That's a nice thing to say before making the case for OVER 2.5 GOALS in Saturday's trip to Universitatea Craiova then, isn't it?
Defensively they are solid in front of their home supporters with just six goals conceded in 12 games. Yet on the road, they've conceded over double that (15) in less games (9).
In fact, no team has seen over 2.5 goals land in more away games than Sepsi - seven times it's been a winner already.
Universitatea Craiova's home showings have been mixed in terms of goals but they have an attack capable of capitalising on Sepsi's shaky away back line.
Only FCSB have taken more shots this season with the same true for efforts on target. They've been awarded the most penalties in the league as well.
Goalkeeping is a slight weakness on the defensive side of things when they aren't conceding as many chances as others in the league.
Given the match-up and the location, I'll side with goals.
Odds correct at 1535 GMT (11/12/24)
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
