With just three weeks before the start of Euro 2024, leagues across Europe are beginning to wind down for the season but there is still plenty of action on Thursday evening.
Our tips focus on Cagliari’s Serie A season coming to a close, a goal threat for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie and the first leg of the Bundesliga play-off.
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Bet of the Day
Cagliari v Fiorentina – Fiorentina to win and BTTS @ 85/40
Victory over Sassuolo last time secured safety for Cagliari with a game to spare and so there will likely be smiles all around the Unipol Domus – even if the hosts are unable to end their season with victory over Fiorentina.
The Islanders have only won one of their last six Serie A matches while their recent record against Fiorentina does not make for happy reading, with Cagliari failing to win any of their last six head-to-heads with the Tuscany side.
The Violets still have two games remaining of their domestic season and have been in largely impressive form in recent weeks, losing just two of their last eleven in all competitions – with just one of these coming in the league.
Fiorentina also still have European spots to play for – with a Europa Conference League final against Olympiacos on the horizon – and will be desperate to win to keep themselves in fine fettle. However, they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven and so Cagliari should be able to at least grab a consolation strike.
Special of the day
Utrecht vs Sparta Rotterdam – Camiel Neghli to score anytime @ 9/2
The Eredivisie has now reached the Europa Conference League play-off stages and both Utrecht and Sparta Rotterdam will fancy their chances of qualifying for continental football.
With Utrecht losing just one of their last seven and Rotterdam winning four of their last five, the end result could be too close to call and so the goalscorer market might provide the better value.
Algerian Camiel Neghli has had a difficult season for Rotterdam since signing from De Graafschap in the summer, but the 22-year-old has netted in each of his last two appearances – including the winner against Utrecht this month – and is fancied to continue his good form.
Longshot of the day
Bochum vs Fortuna Dusseldorf – Fortuna Dusseldorf to win and BTTS @ 5/1
The first leg of the Bundesliga play-off sees top tier Bochum, whose 4-1 defeat to Werder Bremen on the final day saw them drop into the bottom three, face a Fortuna Dusseldorf side searching for a return to the top flight since their relegation in 2020.
Bochum have won just two of their last 12 while the visitors have lost just one of their last 15 competitive fixtures and could claim a shock away victory to give themselves the advantage before the return leg at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
Dusseldorf have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent weeks, with no shutouts recorded in their last four matches, so goals at both ends could be on the cards.
Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*
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- talkSPORT betting tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Thursday 23 May
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