The Expert’s Acca: Derbies, Rotation, and Days of Reckoning

The Expert’s Acca: Expert Tips and Predictions From bettingexpert This Weekend

We’re back with expert tips in the Expert Acca from bettingexpert. There’s a five-man cohort this week, fresh from an international break, the return of domestic football, and a sprinkling of European domestic competition.

Let us take you on a journey from Manchester in the Premier League to Morecambe in League Two, stopping in Milan for a day of reckoning, before sampling the best Argentina and the Bundesliga has to offer. Five picks, one Expert’s Acca to enjoy. Let’s get to it.

In this article:

• Sam Ingram’s Best Free Tip and Prediction For This Weekend
• Jack Wright’s Best Free Tip and Prediction For This Weekend
• Nathan Joyes’ Best Free Tip and Prediction For This Weekend
• Daniele Fisichella’s Best Free Tip and Prediction For This Weekend
• Matt Kirby’s Best Free Tip and Prediction For This Weekend
• Safer Gambling

Manchester United vs Manchester City: Worth Trusting City In Current Form Landscape

England, Premier League, 29th October, 15:30 (UK)

The old adage clearly states that one must look past form, momentum, and everything that comes with it heading into a derby day fixture. Perhaps that’s true in some respect. It’s something that should be considered, of course, but how much weight can you really place on passion, determination, additional bite in the tackle, etc? Both sides will be at it, intent to secure local bragging rights for the foreseeable.

Let’s cut right to it. Manchester United are struggling. They’ve run out fortunate winners against Copenhagen, Sheffield United and Brentford. That win against the Bees needed two late Scott McTominay strikes to overcome a 0-1 deficit at home, whilst two uninspiring performances and an extremely late Andre Onana penalty save followed in subsequent fixtures.

Galatasaray came to Old Trafford and left with three points in the early stages of October, not long after Crystal Palace saw out September with a slender 0-1 win at the Theatre of Troubling Dreams. Manchester City have not been at their vibrant best either, of course. Two defeats in their last three games prove as much. But this is a Pep side which is used to winning at Old Trafford.

Scorelines of 2-1 (L), 0-2 (W), 0-2 (W), 2-0 (L), 0-3 (W), 0-2 (W), and 1-2 (W) tell the story of City’s jaunts across Manchester dating back to 2017: 5/7 victories in United’s back yard.

There’s no denying City’s class. To be able to back them at a decent price in a big, big Manchester derby when their opponents are a touch off the boil, even if they’re somewhat struggling themselves by their standard – it has to be something to consider.

You’ll notice all 7/7 of their visits have gone under 4.5 goals above when visiting Old Trafford. I’d expect United to try and contain and hit City on the counter for as long as possible. That will work against a whole range of teams, but City have enough to unlock that mismatch United defence in the end. By then, hopefully, there’s not enough time left on the clock to turn this into a shootout.

• Expert: Sam Ingram
• Selection: Man City Win and Under 4.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 2.05
• Bookmaker: William Hill
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg: Alonso to keep his lethal Leverkusen in pole position

Germany, Bundesliga, Sunday 28th October, 16:30 (UK)

The German Bundesliga has certainly captured our attention in recent weeks, with goals flying in from all angles. There have been 255 in total from just eight rounds of fixtures at an average of 3.54 per game, comfortably the highest of the “Big 5” European leagues.

At the head of the table sit Bayer Leverkusen after a sensational start to their campaign, which has seen them win seven of an undefeated opening eight fixtures. While only the formidable champions Bayern Munich, with 26, have plundered more goals than Die Werkself’s 25.

Xabi Alonso’s free-flowing philosophy has had the footballing purists purring, having seen his side connect with 89.7% of their passes. Across 11 fixtures in all competitions, only the aforementioned Bayern have prevented them from winning following a 2-2 draw on matchday four.

Each of those fixtures have seen a minimum of three goals, with summer signing Victor Boniface, chief contributor, getting on the scoresheet nine times already. Their BayArena home has become a fortress, hosting five wins from five appearances there, seeing the hosts hit the back of the net 19 times and never fewer than on three occasions in any one game.

A home tie with Azerbaijani opponents Qarabağ in the Europa League on Thursday night shouldn’t inconvenience Leverkusen too much before their return to domestic action. Conversely, opponents Freiburg have a tricky trip to Serbia to navigate on the same day, so will certainly be more inconvenienced.

Christian Streich will know he can not take TSC Bačka Topola lightly. With the Serbs already having given West Ham a scare by taking the lead and fighting back to earn a point against Olympiacos.

The Breisgau-Brasilianer got back to winning ways at the weekend after falling to successive defeats. However, a home game against a winless Bochum represents a much easier assignment than the one they face here.

Sitting in 8th place, Freiburg have suffered three league defeats this term, all of which came to the sides sitting directly below Leverkusen in the table. What is more, they shipped 12 goals in the process of losing 5-0 at Stuttgart, 4-2 at home to Dortmund and 3-0 to Bayern in Munich.

Another win for Alonso’s men, with a minimum of three goals scored, is available at a very attractive price.

• Expert: Jack Wright
• Selection: Leverkusen to Win and Over 2.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

Boca Juniors vs Estudiantes: Expect rotations ahead of Libertadores final

Argentina, Copa de la Liga profesional, Saturday 28th October, 23:00

Sadly, the lights went out on my good form last week. Quite literally, in fact, as Botafogo’s floodlight failure meant the second half was played 15 hours later in an empty stadium. Not ideal. Don’t worry; we’ll look to get back on track over in Argentina this weekend.

La Bombonera should be lit up in all its glory on Saturday evening, but expect a sub-par performance from the hosts. Jorge Almiron’s next match is the Libertadores final in Rio next Saturday, so expect plenty of changes ahead of their crucial final.

There should be no or limited minutes for the likes of Valentin Barco, Edinson Cavani and arguably even Romero in goal. We saw heavy rotation even against River Plate before Boca’s semi-final second leg against Palmeiras – River came out on top 2-0.

Estudiantes have been performing well on the road with just one defeat in five – a harsh 92nd-minute winner for Platense ruining their unbeaten streak. However, they’ve already beaten Boca’s first team at La Bombonera back in April, and another is on the cards due to the circumstances.

• Expert: Nathan Joyes
• Selection: Estudiantes Draw No Bet
• Best Odds: 2.05
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 9/10 (TRACKED BET)

Inter Milan vs Roma: Rom faces a day of reckoning

Italy, Serie A, 29th October, 17:00 (UK time)

San Siro will ‘welcome’ Romelu Lukaku with 50,000 whistles that will be distributed before the match to make sure Inter fans’ feelings will be heard by the Belgian striker.

Once the idol and now labelled ‘the traitor’, after snubbing Inter’s offer in the summer, Lukaku has hit form quickly in the capital and has been extremely consistent for both club and country this season.

He has scored seven goals so far for Roma, enjoying a great partnership with Paulo Dybala, who is likely to miss this game due to a muscular injury he picked up before the international break.

Roma, without their ‘creator in chief’, have always looked a touch short of ideas, and Josè Mourinho (who’ll be in the stands as he got sent off against Monza) might choose a cautious approach.

In 2022/23, Roma picked up six out of four points in Milan, but under Mourinho, last year and this season, the Giallorossi have never scored more than two goals against one of Italy’s top sides.

Inter have picked up just one point in their last two home matches, giving up leads against Sassuolo and Bologna. They were not scintillating either against RB Salzburg but once again showed some great character to win the match.

They’ve scored first in 11 of their 12 games this season, and at San Siro, they often start games strongly. The Nerazzurri, alongside Roma, are the only sides in Serie A who never failed to score.

• Expert: Daniele Fisichella
• Selection: Over 2.25 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.68
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake:10/10 (TRACKED BET)

Morecambe vs AFC Wimbledon: Morecambe to keep Dons at bay

England, League 2, Saturday, October 28th, 15:00

It’s League Two for my pick, where I couldn’t work out why Morecambe were such a big price.

Derek Adams saw his side beat Tranmere 1-0 on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run in the league to six (W4 D2) – only Stockport have a longer run.

This sequence has seen the Shrimpers climb above AFC Wimbledon and into the final play-off place ahead of their clash. And the hosts are also unbeaten at the Mazuma Stadium in the league this season (W4 D3), managing four shutouts in those games.

Wimbledon are somewhat stuck in a rut, without a win in four after their 4-2 home defeat to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday. However, that loss did see them score for the first time in 404 minutes after blanks against Mansfield, Bradford and Barrow.

Despite Johnnie Jackson’s Dons been unbeaten on their travels (W4 D4), this will be a stern test after they faced 17 shots, nine of which were on target in midweek. Morecambe managed 15 shots, with five on target in their Tuesday win, so Alex Bass is likely to be kept busy.

With Morecambe full of confidence on this unbeaten run, I’m taking them to extend it, although the bookies have them as the outsiders on home soil, which looks surprising.

• Expert: Matt Kirby
• Selection: Morecambe to Win
• Best Odds: 3.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10 (TRACKED BET)

SAFER GAMBLING

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