A healthy midweek profit for followers of the column as we called Red Star Belgrade to beat HJK Helsinki 2-0 at 11/2 on Wednesday night while our midweek banker bet also won. This weekend we have more International Champions Cup action while Ajax get their season under way against PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield.
Running total: -£13.25
The Banker
Ajax and PSV Eindhoven battled it out at the top of the Eredivisie for most of last season before the Amsterdam giants eventually won the title by three points. They meet again this weekend in the Dutch Super Cup, a match that traditionally acts as a curtain-raiser for the Dutch football season. Ajax have lost some big names over the summer with defensive colossus Matthijs de Ligt joining Juventus and Frenkie de Jong moving to Barcelona. However they have spent money too, while PSV also lost their best striker in Luuk de Jong along with classy full-back Angelino. Ajax are 5/6 favourites to win this weekend and the likes of Dusan Tadic and the lively David Neres can help them start the 2019-20 season with a bang.
Selection: £6 on Ajax to win at 5/6 with bet365.
The Tasty Treble
Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid in the unlikely setting of the MetLife Stadium this weekend, and the draw could be the play at 13/5 as the Madrid derbi comes to New Jersey in the International Champions Cup.
Both teams have spent big this summer and it will be interesting to see how the new personnel carry themselves this weekend. Atleti finished above Los Blancos last season and when you consider there have been nine draws from the past 24 matches between these teams then 13/5 about it finishing all square looks more than fair.
As stated, we like Ajax at 5/6 to see off PSV Eindhoven, while back in the ICC Benfica look worth a punt at 5/4 to beat AC Milan on Sunday. Portugal's most successful club have won both ICC fixtures so far, against Fiorentina and Guadalajara, and can maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition by seeing off the Rossoneri. The draw/Ajax/Benfica treble can be backed at better than 13/1 with bet365 but at this stage of the season, with new squads still finding their feet, it's probably wise to keep stakes sensible.
Selection: £2 on the treble at 13.85/1 with bet365.
The First Goal Flutter
Wolves begin their foray into Europe against Crusaders on Thursday night and Diogo Jota is a 15/4 chance to score first at Molineux. The Northern Ireland Cup winners are huge underdogs against Premier League Wolves, who will be playing their first competitive European game in almost 40 years. Punters looking to smash into Wolves should be mindful that the club have just returned from a lucrative pre-season trip to the Far East and so boss Nuno Espirito Santo could shuffle his pack, but if Portuguese star Jota starts he looks the obvious pick to score first.
Selection: £2 on Diogo Jota to score first at 15/4 with bet365.
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