We were scuppered by a couple of draws in the Champions League yesterday – perhaps that’s a pointer to keep an eye on or the perils of betting on early-season action – but we’re back for another crack at a Lucky 15 for today’s football and tennis action.
Again, we are focusing on the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and ATP tennis action in Gstaad on the clay and Atlanta on the hard courts.
Remember, for a Lucky 15, you make four selections and they are combined into 15 bets (one four-fold, four trebles, six doubles and four singles) which gives you more chances to win than if you just went with an accumulator.
Here are today’s selections.
- Tennis: Henri Laaksonen to beat Thomaz Belluci at around 10/11
- Football: Hapoel Beer Sheva v Ludogerets Razgrad: more than 2.5 goals at around 6/5
- Football: Celtic v Rosenborg: Celtic to win and both teams to score at around 12/5
- Tennis: Malek Jaziri to beat Tommy Paul at around 8/13
Henri Laaksonen to beat Thomaz Belluci
This might count for some as backing an upset, but if you look at the recent records, particularly on clay, Laaksonen has to be favoured. Last week he beat Pablo Cuevas – an excellent clay court player – and then only just lost to eventual champion David Ferrer. Meanwhile, Belluci is 2-8 from his last 10 games and has lost four of his last five on clay. He last won a set anywhere at the French Open. Laaksonen also leads the head to head 2-1.
Hapoel Beer Sheva v Ludogerets Razgrad – more than 2.5 goals
We see goals aplenty in this Champions League qualifying tie. In the two matches Hapoel have played in the qualifiers so far, they have scored five and conceded three while Ludogerets managed the same. Both are on good runs of form: Hapoel have won five in a row and Ludogerets won their last two. Expect both to fancy their chances of winning this one and play attacking football from the outset.
Celtic v Rosenborg – Celtic to win and BTTS
Although Celtic may go into this match without Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths and Erik Sviatchenko, they should still be too strong for Rosenborg, particularly playing at home. There is little value in the odds-on price they are to win, so we fancy them to win but both teams to score. With very few fit defenders available, Brendon Rodgers’ backline will be far from first choice, and Rosenborg are good enough to pounce on any uncertainty and nick a goal – particularly if Nicklas Bendtner is having a good day.
Malek Jaziri to beat Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul overcame the odds to beat Chung Hyeon in the first round at Atlanta, while Malek Jaziri beat American wildcard Reilly Opeilka. Both needed three sets to do it and I feel the Tunisian’s experience will stand him in good stead here. He is ranked well above Paul, who is fast improving, but nevertheless, Jaziri is a strong performer on hard courts and I think he’ll despatch the qualifier to reach the quarter-finals.