Football
Derek Bilton, ESPN.co.uk betting writer 5y

Man City travel woes to impact Premier League Asia Trophy?

Senegal needed extra-time to get past a gritty Tunisia side on Sunday but they are into the African Cup of Nations final and will face Algeria on Friday night. Before that there's another busy week ahead with Champions League qualifying and the Premier League Asia Trophy in China featuring Manchester City, West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves.

Running total: -£19.00

The Banker

Newcastle United take on Wolves in the Premier League Asia Trophy this week but arrive in China in disarray having lost manager Rafa Benitez and having failed to name a replacement. Steve Bruce remains the bookies' favourite to take over on Tyneside but fans are understandably underwhelmed at the prospect. Given how much the Spaniard was loved, Benitez's replacement was always going to inherit a Newcastle United in turmoil, and it will be interesting to see how they respond against Wolves. Having sold Ayoze Perez and with Sean Longstaff rumoured to be also on his way, Newcastle's squad could end up with a very different look to the one that stayed up last season.

When these teams met in the Premier League last season Wolves beat Newcastle 2-1 away, while the spoils were shared after a 1-1 draw at Molineux. Nuno Espirito Santo's men were excellent last season, playing the type of football that often had purists purring and they look a bet in Nanjing to lay down a marker for the new season by beating the Magpies.

Selection: £5 on Wolves to win at 19/20 with bet365.

The Tasty Treble

In the Champions League, Celtic were worthy winners when they beat FK Sarajevo 3-1 last week and the Hoops should finish the job. Neil Lennon's side looked very bright in that away leg and want to put this tie to bed early, so the 8/15 for them leading at half-time and full-time in Glasgow should land. Elsewhere, Piast Gliwice were a tad unfortunate to only draw 1-1 with BATE Borisov and the Polish champions can extent their Champions League qualifying campaign by winning on Wednesday night. It was a spirited first leg display from the Polish side and BATE's cause is not helped by the fact influential midfielder Stanislaw Drahun will be missing after being sent off in that first game. Finally, Dundalk look a decent price at 11/5 to beat FC Riga. The Lilywhites were frustrated after last Wednesday's Oriel Park stalemate because they had created enough chances to win the home leg handily. Their Latvian opponent's could line up defensively again but Dundalk look the pick here and the treble with bet365 is paying over 8/1.

Selection: £2 on the treble at 8.36/1 with bet365.

The Wildcard Tip

Manchester City are 1/3 favourites to win their Asian Trophy opener against West Ham but their prematch plans have been hampered by successive flight delays to China and, with this in mind, West Ham surely must be a spot of value at 15/2? At this stage of the season none of the players are expected to be in peak physical condition but with City arriving in Shanghai so late then it could be worth a small play on the Hammers at inflated odds. Mark Noble has said his side want to "put on a show" for Premier League fans in China and might just do so given Man City's recent travel woes.

Selection: £2 on West Ham to win at 15/2 with bet365.

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