Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire returns to share a couple of his favourite fancies across the globe with a focus on the Bundesliga and Serie A this Sunday.
Freiburg played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen last weekend to maintain their mid-table position in the Bundesliga standings and another goal-filled game is anticipated when Union Berlin arrive at Europa-Park Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
Freiburg have been reliable goal contributors across the campaign, especially at their Black Forest base. Stretching back a sample to the beginning of last season and Julian Schuster’s side have played 29 league games in front of their own supporters, scoring in 26 of those contests and averaging an eye-catching 1.93 goals per-game as Bundesliga hosts.
However, Freiburg have kept their sheets clean in just six of those showdowns, leading to a glut of successful Over 2.5 Goals wagers and Both Teams To Score winners – 79% and 76% to be precise. This term alone, nine of 12 Bundesliga battles in the Black Forest have featured at least three strikes, whilst 10 of those tussles saw both sides contribute.
So the opportunity to support a BTTS repeat this weekend at 10/11 (1.91) holds plenty of appeal. Freiburg are involved in European action on Thursday night and face an Union Berlin side that are looking over their shoulder having slipped to within four points of the relegation play-off place. The capital club arrive with plenty to play for at Europa-Park.
Now Union are not your traditional gung-ho Bundesliga outfit, though the visitors have managed to get on the scoresheet in 14 of their past 16 league outings, as well as in eight of their 12 road trips this term too. Ten of the away side’s last 14 have seen our proposed play, more than enough ammunition to support a repeat at an appealing price on Sunday.
Genoa’s transformation into one of Serie A’s most entertaining sides to follow continued last weekend when the Grifone grabbed a 2-1 success over Roma. The rejuvenated Rossoblu had scored just four goals in their opening nine matches but have been hugely impressive since Daniele de Rossi came into the head coach’s role.
Rock-bottom at the beginning of November, Genoa are now six points clear of the danger zone following a terrific W7-D6-L6 return under De Rossi. The Grifone are fun to follow again, playing with confidence, fluidity and have now notched in 15 of 19 games under the new regime, striking at least twice in 11 (58%) of those 19 Serie A showdowns.
Despite their obvious attacking improvements, Genoa do still allow opposition sides plenty of opportunity. That’s reflected in their meek tally of four clean sheets during that 19-game sample, leading to 12 (63%) Over 2.5 Goals winners with the same 12/19 (63%) hit-rate occurring for Both Teams To Score backers with the latter standing-out again on Sunday.
BTTS is available to support at a bulbous 11/10 (2.12) when Genoa travel to strugglers Hellas Verona despite a league-high 10 of the visitors’ 13 away days already providing profit in this market this season.
Verona achieved only their third victory of the league season last weekend against Bologna, to make it 17 Over 2.5 Goals winners in their past 21, a sensational run for goals-based punters, and another high-scoring showdown looks massively underrated by the market here. Hella have seen eight of 13 in front of their own fans feature goals at both ends.
Matches at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi are avergaing a healthy 2.54 goals with the same 8/13 (62%) hit-rate occurring for Over 2.5 Goals hunters. The hosts are seven points from safety and interim boss Paolo Sammarco has promised a proactive approach in a quest to try and preserve the club’s top-flight status over the coming weeks.
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