Scott Thornton’s European Props: Table Topping Clash in Serie A

Scott Thornton brings you his props bets from the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A ahead of another busy weekend of football.

In Germany, we cover the relegation battle in Bochum vs RB Leipzig and Holstein Kiel vs Hoffenheim before Bayer Leverkusen aim to continue their winning run against Borussia Monchengladbach. Barcelona are looking to end a miserable run at Getafe in the first of our La Liga games on Saturday. On Monday night, it’s Villarreal vs Mallorca. Our only game from Italy is the top of the table clash between Atalanta and Napoli. 

• Bochum vs RB Leipzig: Under 27.5 Shots In The Match
• Holstein Kiel vs Hoffenheim: Over 28.5 Shots In The Match
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach: Over 28.5 Shots In The Match
• Getafe vs Barcelona: Under 23.5 Shots In The Match
• Villarreal vs Mallorca: Over 15.5 Shots For Villarreal
• Atalanta vs Napoli: Under 25.5 Shots In The Match

Acca odds: 41.91

Bochum vs RB Leipzig: Leipzig Look Toothless on the Road

Germany, Bundesliga, Saturday, 18th January, 14:30 (UK)

Bochum were incredibly fortunate to remain in the top tier of German football last season, mounting a miraculous comeback in the second leg of their relegation playoff. However, they look set to be back in the second division if things don’t improve. Dieter Hecking’s side sits at the bottom of the league with just 11 points. 

RB Leipzig have been disappointing in the Champions League but they have their sights set on qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition once again. They are 4th in the league, just a point ahead of Stuttgart, who they lost against in their last league game. 

The relegation-threatened Bochum are averaging just 12 shots per game this season. Under 27.5 shots has landed in seven of their last eight league games with an average of 24.88.

Marco Rose’s team lack a creative spark on the road. They are averaging just 9.11 attempts per Bundesliga away game and have had fewer shots than their opponents in all nine of their matches on the road. They face a Bochum side that also doesn’t have many shots here so the overall count should be low. 

• Selection: Under 27.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Holstein Kiel vs Hoffenheim: Relegation Shootout

Germany, Bundesliga, Saturday, 18th January, 14:30 (UK)

Holstein Kiel are another team that are in the midst of a relegation battle. They came up from the second division last season and have struggled to adapt to the top flight. Marcel Rapp’s side are 17th in the table, above Bochum only on goal difference Nevertheless, they will take some confidence into this game after a memorable 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund midweek.

This is a huge game for Hoffenheim. They were competing in Europe with Julian Nagelsmann at the helm not so long ago but they find themselves in a relegation battle this season. Christian Ilzer’s side currently occupy the relegation playoff place and are just three points above Saturday’s opponents. 

The Storks have conceded an average of 16.41 shots, the second-most in the Bundesliga with only Monchengladbach affording their opponents more opportunities to let fly. They also have the fewest shots in the division but this one should play out differently with the stakes so high.

When Hoffenheim hosted Holstein Kiel earlier in the season, there were 38 shots in the match. Their most recent game against Bayern saw 30 attempts so over 28.5 appeals here. 

• Selection: Over 28.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borrussia Monchengladbach: Alonso’s Men March On

Germany, Bundesliga, Saturday, 18th January, 17:30 (UK)

After a shaky start to the season, Bayer Leverkusen have found their stride and are looking to defend their Bundesliga crown. They have won their last 10 competitive matches, which has helped them move within four points of Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s side edged past Mainz midweek and have another home fixture here.

Borussia Monchengladbach have lost both of their matches since returning from the winter break. They were hammered 5-1 at Wolfsburg in their last outing and need a response when they head to the BayArena. Gladbach haven’t beaten Leverkusen since 2019, a run of 10 matches. 

Leverkusen are having a heap of shots in their home matches this season. They are averaging 18.83 attempts per game in front of their own fans. Only Bayern Munich have had more in the German top flight. 

Gerardo Seoane’s side’s matches have seen the second most shots in the Bundesliga this season with an average of 29.47. Their clash with Leverkusen earlier this season saw 39 shots and there were 32 the last time they squared off at this ground. 

• Selection: Over 28.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Getafe vs Barcelona: The Blaugrana Struggle at This Ground

Spain, La Liga, Saturday, 18th January, 20:00 (UK)

Getafe are aiming to stay in the top flight and the first half of the season suggests they will do just that. The club has had to deal with a plethora of injuries but they find themselves in 15th place, three points above the bottom three. Their success is largely to do with their defensive record. 

Hansi Flick’s side recorded yet another emphatic victory over Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup last weekend. They followed that up by hammering Real Betis in the Copa Del Rey but now it is time to get their league campaign back on track. Barcelona were the league leaders at one stage but they have now fallen behind both Madrid clubs. 

Geta Azulones are conceding the fewest shots in La Liga with an average of just 8.53 per game. Their home matches in the league have seen an average of 18.8 shots overall and they face the team who have conceded the second-fewest shots here.

Barcelona have struggled at this ground in recent years, failing to score in their last four visits. The shot count has dwindled in this fixture for even longer. Under 23.5 shots has won in the last seven head-to-heads in Getafe with an average of 18.57 attempts. 

• Selection: Under 23.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Villarreal vs Mallorca: The Yellow Submarine are on the Offensive

Spain, La Liga, Saturday, 20th Monday, 20:00 (UK)

Villarreal’s 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad midweek has set them back in the race to finish in the top four. They are now six points behind Athletic Bilbao but have the chance to bounce back on home turf. However, the Yellow Submarine are yet to keep a league clean sheet in front of their own fans this season. 

Mallorca made the long trip to Saudi Arabia last week only to be beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Super Cup. The early exit has given them time to recover but their four defeats in their last six competitive matches is cause for concern. 

The Yellow Submarine have had the third most shots in La Liga this season with an average of 14.74 per game. The line is set at 15.5 here but Villarreal are capable of exceeding this mark against Mallorca. 

Los Bermellones conceded 21 shots when they went toe-to-toe with Villarreal earlier in the season. Their last visit to this ground saw them concede 18 shots. 

• Selection: Over 15.5 Shots For Villarreal (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Atalanta vs Napoli: A Showdown at the Top

Italy, Serie A, Saturday, 18th January, 19:45 (UK)

Gian Piero Gasperini has done a wonderful job over the course of his lengthy tenure at Atalanta. The club have never won the Scudetto but they are in with a chance of accomplishing that monumental feat this season. Three draws in their last three league games have come as a setback but they can remedy that here.

Napoli are top of the table heading into this mammoth clash. They have a three-point lead over their opponents but have played a game more. Khvicha Kvaratskehlia secured a move to PSG this week so Antonio Conte will be hoping the loss won’t hurt his team in the attacking third.

With the stakes so high, it should be a nail-biting fixture. When Atalanta faced Napoli earlier in the season there were 25 shots and we are backing under 25.5 once again. Gasperini’s side’s home matches have seen an average of 24.67 attempts this season and this bet has won in seven of their last eight league matches against Napoli at this ground.

Antonio Conte has a reputation for being a defensive coach. While that may be a little unfair, shot numbers have certainly been low in Napoli fixtures this season. The average of 23.7 shots per Napoli game is the third lowest in Serie A. 

• Selection: Under 25.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83 
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

European Props Acca Tips Odds via bet365 as at 15:12, January 16th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

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