Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire returns to share a couple of his favourite fancies across the globe with a focus on La Liga and the Championship this weekend.
Friday night’s La Liga fixture between Elche and Osasuna promises plenty. Both sides have displayed a habit of finding the back of the net and so Both Teams To Score has to appeal having been chalked up at an attractive 5/6 (1.83).
Elche made an immediate impression on their return to the Spanish top-flight, although Los Franjiverdes’ proactive approach hasn’t paid dividends consistently since September – winning just twice in 16 – with Eder Sarabia’s adventurous outfit dropping to within two points of the dreaded relegation zone.
A recent run W0-D2-L4 run has seen Elche ship multiple goals in five of those six encounters and the Alicante club have managed just five clean sheets across the campaign. However, Los Franjiverdes have displayed impressive attacking consistency themselves, notching in 20 of their 23 league matches since promotion, scoring in in 11 of their 12 home outings.
In contrast, Osasuna arrive at the Estadio Martínez Valero in fine fettle and as pre-match favourites having posted W5-D3-L2 across their last 10 league dates, striking twice or more in seven of those showdowns. The Gorritxoak have bagged in nine of their most recent 11 dates, though defensive fragility has remained an issue for the posse from Pamplona.
Osasuna boast a solitary shutout on their travels with just five league clean sheets to their name this term. Alessio Lisci’s side have been involved in BTTS winners in five of their last six, whilst seven of their previous 11 have featured at least three goals. Meanwhile, Elche have provided profit for BTTS backers in each of their last seven and 7/12 home games.
With Elche’s eye-catching scoring streak in front of their own supporters, matched up by in-form Osasuna, and with neither rearguard offering reliable resistance, the ingredients are in-place for another entertaining contest at the Estadio Martínez Valero with goals at both ends boasting a stronger probability than the market currently indicates.
Preston stand-out on Saturday as big home underdogs when they welcome Watford to Deepdale. The Lilywhites underlying metrics don’t paint PNE in a particularly strong light, though Paul Heckingbottom’s troops have proven themselves well-capable of staying competitive in the Championship this season, sitting outside the top-six on goal difference.
Written off as relegation fodder before the start of the 2025/26 campaign, Preston have continued to upset the odds, suffering just eight league losses in 31. The Lilywhites resilience is even more pronounced at Deepdale where PNE have been turned over in only four of their 16 fixtures in front of their own supporters (W7-D5-L4).
Heckingbottom has built a successful side upon organisation and game management, and Preston have relished their underdog role, keeping matches tight and giving themselves ample opportunity of picking up at least a share of the spoils. That approach should give us a great run for our money by backing Preston with a +0.0/0.5 Asian Handicap start here.
Watford arrive in Lancashire in shaky form, short on confidence and in the midst of another new managerial era following the appointment of Ed Still. The Hornets currently reside in mid-table, although only three points off the play-off places, but without a win in six with club left reeling from the unexpected departure of Javi Gracia a fortnight ago.
A lack of cohesion in both boxes has been attributed to their recent downturn – defensive lapses have dogged Watford’s season so far, whilst inconsistent attacking output have contributed to a sense of disarray. Results on the road have also been hard to come by for the Hornets who head here with only three wins on their travels in 15 (W3-D6-L6).
With that in-mind, I’m more than happy to oppose the Hornets as relatively short-priced favourites at Deepdale. The visitors have tabled only two triumphs against top-10 opposition this term and another winless outing will prove profitable for our proposed selection on Saturday.
Subscribe to the Matchbook Betting Podcast here
Subscribe to the Matchbook YouTube channel here
