We are getting towards a tricky part of the season but I think a live chat is still warranted. So do join me at 2:30pm today.

Where I mention BANKER below, this signifies those matches where I think the favourites should win. These matches I would personally prioritise as regards DRT.

Remember the strategies:

Lay the 0-0 halftime score in certain signalled matches

Lay the 0-0 2nd half in matches where goals were expected but have not yet materialised

Lay the 2-2 scoreline, especially early on in matches. 2-2 shows us that teams are scoring and conceding.

Lay the away team leading 0-2 before halftime, especially if they are favourites. The home team is usually galvanised by the halftime team talk.

Lay the underdog if they score first in certain matches (especially BANKER matches where I would back the BANKERS if they conceded first at enhanced odds).

Lay the underdog scoring early in the first half, in the HALF TIME market , especially in BANKER matches.

Do note matches where one team is red carded. The opponents do tend to score next more often than not.

12:45pm - Everton v Sunderland  - 1.83 home

Standout Stats

• 0-1 Sunderland, 0-1 Everton and 1-1 Sunderland in the last 3 head to heads
• This is 11th v 18th in the Premiership.A win for Sunderland is one hand on safety as it will bring so many other teams into the relegation equation. Everton are safe .
• 3 matches remain this season

Everton

• 4 match home winning streak
• 4 consecutive home clean sheets.
• Scored in their last 7 matches.
• 3 losses at home v 1st, 10th and 12th. unbeaten v 13th and lower at home.
• Scored first in 11 of 17 matches at home

Sunderland

• No win in 8 away matches.
• Conceded in their last 7 away matches.
• Scored and conceded in their last 3 matches.
• Have only scored more than 1 goal in an away match on 2 occasions.
• A recent 2-1 win against Southampton must be a shot in the arm.
• Everton are in the middle of 2 lines of form. Sunderland have not beaten any teams above Everton in the league away from home. Yet, they have only lost 1 match away to teams below Everton in the league away from home.
• 8 0-0's at halftime away
• 13 goals conceded in the last hour hour of matches away from home.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Must win for Sunderland with only 3 matches remaining suggests they might add to their 0--0's at halftime. I expect a tough performance from Sunderland today buoyed by an unexpected win v Southampton latest.
• They meet a solid Everton side with 4 wins and 4 clean sheets at home.
• Back the 0-0 perhaps pre match and hope for a tight first half. I would lay any 2nd half 0-0 as Sunderland need is great.

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2:30pm - B Munich v Augsburg  - 1.55 home

Standout Stats

• A dead rubber for Bayern Munich and it was at this time of the year last year that they started losing.Augsburg won 1-0 last year when Bayern had already won the title.
• A top 5 spot seems the best Augsburg can hope for.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Bayern have already taken their foot off the gas with a loss to Leverkusen. They have bigger fish to fry in the Champions League and cannot be trusted now the title is in the bag.

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2:30pm - Eintracht Frankfurt v Hoffenheim  - 2.5 away

Standout Stats

• 1-2 Hoff, 0-0 and 3-2 Hoff in the last 3 head to heads. A match we hope which will be typically Hoff as the last head to head was!
• This is 12th v 8th in the Bundesliga. Hoff could aim for a top 5 spot and Europe I think? 3 matches remain and it is within their compass. Frankfurt are only 5 points clear of relegation with 9 points remaining. Win today and they are in the Bundesliga for another year.
• Just basic research here .
• Frank have failed to score in 4 matches now. No win in 6. But at home they are undefeated in 9 matches.
• Against 7th-14th at home, they score 2+ goals
• 20 of 31 goals scored 2nd half at home
• Both teams scored in 4 of the last 5 Hoff matches. Tough run recently with Mgladbach, Bayern, and Dortmund.
• Both teams scored in 4 of the last 5 away Hoff matches too.
• Only 2 0-0's at halftime in the last 15 matches.
• Against teams above Frank in the league, the Hoff have no wins away. Against teams below Frank in the league, the Hoff are unbeaten.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Only 2 0-0's at halftime away for the Hoff suggests we keep laying the 0-0 halftime score. It has paid off well for them recently.
• Both teams to score has a chance today and I will speculatively back 2-2. The need is there for Frankfurt who will have to reply if the Hoff score first so we might see a goal-laden match.

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2:30pm - Dortmund v Hertha Berlin  - 1.33 home

Standout Stats

• Hertha have won 2 of the last 3 head to heads.
• This is 9th v 13th in the Bundesliga.
• A top 6 spot is up for grabs for Dortmund . Hertha are 4 points above the relegation zone.
• There are 3 matches remaining.

Dortmund

• Again just a quick look at stats given the time of the season
• 2 match home winning streak and only 2 losses in 10 home matches were 0-1 losses.
• Only lost to 1st and 3rd in their last 12 matches.
• Did lose 0-1 at home to 14th and 17th.
• 15 of 21 goals scored 2nd half.

Hertha

• Lost also to 1st and 3rd recently.
• Those were the only 2 losses in 9 matches.
• All defeats away to top 8 and you could argue that that is where Dortmund should be.
• Only 1 0-0 away
• 18 of 26 goals conceded away came 2nd half.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Arguably the need is greater for Hertha  as they are so near to the relegation zone.
• Both teams in reasonable form and only beaten by 1st and 3rd recently.
• The market usually gets it right with Dortmund so I would favour them today .
• Don't worry if this is 0-0 at halftime. Dortmund do most of their scoring and Hertha their conceding in the 2nd half.

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3pm - Granada v Cordoba  - 1.47 home

Standout Stats

• 2-0 to Cordoba earlier this season.
• This is 19th v 20th in La Liga. Cordoba are 11 points from safety. Granada have a chance for safety but must start winning and hope other results go their way.

Granada

• 3 matches remain and a must win today.
• No win in 4 at home though.
• Scored and conceded in their last 3 at home.
• Only 5 wins this season. Won their last match.
• Unbeaten at home v 16th and lower, with a 0-0, 0-0, 2-1
• Granada have only scored 2 goals once at home.
• 24% over 2.5 goals at home.
• 9 0-0's at halftime at home.

Cordoba

• Cordoba are down and have failed to score in 6 of their last 7 matches.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Granada have the need here and with Cordoba not scoring recently, simply need to score to win you'd think.  Granada are unbeaten at home v 16th and lower, albeit 2 0-0's there.
• 0-0 must be in-play here surely?  I would lay the very late 0-0 as needs must for Granada.

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3pm - Leicester v Southampton  - 2.66 home

Standout Stats

• 2-0 Southampton win earlier this season.
• This is 16th v 7th . Leicester are 1 point above relegation. Southampton could go 4th with 3 consecutive wins but it will require other results to go for them. It's not really going to happen.

Leicester

• 5 wins and a loss v Chelsea in the last 6. You have to give it to Leicester - they are doing their fans proud here and fighting for their Premiership life.
• 3 clean sheets in 4 matches for Leicester is the backbone.
• 2-2-3 scored in the last 3 at home
• Losses v 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th at home v top 9 but wins v 4th, 8th and 9th at home

Southampton

• Scored and conceded in their last 3 matches.
• 4 losses and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last 5 away matches.
• No draw home or away v 15th and lower. Lost away to 3rd bottom and bottom.
• 0-1 away wins v 17th and 19th

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Needs must for Leicester against a Southampton side who are only dreaming about top 4. I would favour Leicester today. If Southampton score first, lay them. Both teams could score today and Leicester may prevail. They are in excellent form, scoring 2-2-3 at home.

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3pm - Aston Villa v West Ham  - 1.97 home

Standout Stats

• 2 0-0's and a 0-2 to West Ham in the last 3 head to heads.
• New manager syndrome for Villa though.
• This is 14th v 9th in the Premiership. West Ham are safe. Villa are only 3 points from the relegation zone.
• Villa have now scored in 7 of their last 8 matches under Sherwood and I would expect a goal at some stage from them today.
• 3-1-2-3 scored recently including goals against City and Everton should give them real confidence against a West Ham side whose season is over.
• 2-0-3-3 scored at home last 4 matches.
• Only 2 clean sheets in 15 matches though is a worry.
• Villa have failed to beat the top 10 at home yet, and that is where West Ham reside.
• Villa have conceded 10 goals in the last 1/4 hour of home matches.
• No win in 10 away for West Ham is a boon for Villa today
• West Ham have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 away matches.
• Only 3 wins since December 26th.
• Only 3 away wins v 12th, 13th and 20th.
• West Ham have scored and conceded in 8 of 9 matches away to teams below them

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Both teams to score must have legs today and if West Ham score first I would lay them. Villa should be able to score, they have 3 in each of their last 2 home matches which mist be a boon today.
• Lay the 0-0 halftime score speculatively in the expectation for goals.
• Lay any late 0-0

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3pm - Hull v Burnley  - 1.99 home

Standout Stats

• 0-1 Hull and 1-0 Burnley in head to heads about says it all!
• This is 17th v 20th in the Premiership. If Hull win, they bring in 3 other teams into the relegation battle.

Hull

• Scored in their last 6 at home.
• 2 wins in their last 3 matches. Recent losses were v Chelsea, Swansea, Southampton and Arsenal. So a tough set of fixtures.
• Score draw and a win v teams below them in the league.
• Only 1 0-0 at home

Burnley

• No win in 11 away
• Conceded in their last 15 away
• Failed to score in 8 of their last 9 matches.
• 4 consecutive 1-0 losses.
• Only 1 win away
• Only 1 0-0 away
• Have conceded 18 goals away in the last 1/2 hour of the first half.
• Opponents have scored first in 15 of 17 away matches.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Relegation 6 pointer and realistically Hull have the greater chance of survival. Burnley are tough to beat at the moment and expect that kind of set up in today's do-or-die match.
• Burnley are dire away so Hull must be favoured today.
• Back 0-0 pre match?

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5pm - Barcelona v Sociedad  - 1.06 home banker halftime lead

Standout Stats

• Wow.Sociedad are unbeaten in 3 head to heads, a draw and 2 wins.
• Barca are 2 points clear of Real Madrid so this is a must-win today.
• Sociedad are safe in mid table .
• 14 goals scored in Barca's last 2 matches. Not really worth researching.
• 1.06 odds suggest Barca will be as emphatic as their 7 goal average recently.
• Expect, of course, goals before halftime.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Sociedad have lost away to top 6 this season . That will continue today and Barca are likely to score 4+ goals today and score before halftime. Let's hope it's 0-0 for as long as it was last match ( 40th+ minute) so we can back Barcelona in the halftime market at decent odds.

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5pm - Juventus v Cagliari  - 1.6 home

Standout Stats

• 4-3-3 scored by Juventus in their last 3 head to heads.
• this is 1st v 18th in Seria A.
• This is a dead rubber for Juventus who have won the title and have the Champions League to worry about.
• 10 losses in 14 for Cagliari  and they are 6 points shy of 4th bottom.  All losses home and away v top 3

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• If there is a time to get Juventus, it's now. And it's built into the price.  Cagliari must , must win so we might see a defensive counter-attacking Cagliari.
• It's tough to get real angles in when one team has other things to worry about.

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5pm - Benfica v Penafiel  - 1.06 home banker halftime lead

Standout Stats

• 4 consecutive Benfica clean sheets in head to heads. 0-3 to Benfica last match.
• This is top v bottom in the Portugeuse Primera Liga.
• Benfica are 3 points above Porto in 1st. Penafiel are 7 points shy of 3rd bottom and apparent safety.
• Only 3 losses for Benfica this season. 12 consecutive home wins ended with a 0-0 v Porto last match.
• 3 consecutive clean sheets for Benfica.
• 3+ goals scored generally for Benfica at home v 11th and lower .
• 5 clean sheets in 6 matches at home v 12th and lower.
• 40 goals scored at home and 4 conceded.
• Only 4 wins for Penafiel this season.
• Penafiel have failed to score in the last 4 away.
• All losses bar a 0-0 v top 10 away from home.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• This should be as straightforward as the odds. As with Barcelona, expect 4+ goals from Benfica today against a Penafiel all but down and failing to score. Only 3 matches left this season so a must win for Benfica. Our only hope for value? Penafiel score early first half ( lay them halftime market). A concerted 0-0. Lay that /Back Benfica. Or a 0-0 at halftime. Back over 3.5 goals for the 2nd half at enhanced odds.

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5pm - Rosenborg v Lillestrom  - 1.27 home borderline banker -only 6 matches into the season

Standout Stats

• 4 Rosenborg wins in their last 4 head to heads.
• 3-3-2 scored in their last 3 matches.
• This is 1st v 11th in Norway.Only 6 matches played.
• 5 wins and a 1-1 draw for Rosenborg this season. Rosenborg have scored 5-6-1-4-3-2 in their matches. They have scored and conceded in their last 4 matches.
• Lillestrom are drawing too often. 4 1-1 draws, a loss and a win .
• Staebeck (2nd in the league currently), beat Lillestrom

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Rosenborg score 2+ goals in hread to heads and have scored 2+ goals in all bar 1 match this season. Only 6 matches gone though. Lillestrom are adept at drawing 1-1 which suggests we lay them if they score first.

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5:30pm - Red Bull Salzburg v Admira Wacker  - 1.13 home banker halftime

Standout Stats

• 5 consecutive head to head wins for Salzburg.
• This is 1st v 9th of 10 in the Austrian Bundesliga

Red Bull Salzburg

• 4 match winning streak at home
• No draw in 7 at home
• Scored in their last 7 matches.
• 4 wins in their last 5 matches scoring 3-3-6-2-3 goals.
• Scored 2+ in 10 of their last 11 matches.
• Failed to score in only 2 matches.
• 88% over 2.5 goals at home.
• 50% over 4.5 goals at home.
• Both teams have scored in 69% of home matches.
• No 0-0

Admira

• No win in 11 away matches.
• Only 2 wins in 23 matches.
• No 0-0 away

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• It looks emphatic for Red Bull. 1.13 suggests they score before halftime. They are likely to score 3+ goals today and over 4.5 goals .
• Both teams could score today. If Admira score first, that would be great.

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5:30pm - C Palace v Man Utd  - 1.92 away

Standout Stats

• 3 consecutive wins for Man Utd in head to heads.
• This is 4th v 12th in the Premiership. United still entertain dreams of a top 4 spot. Palace are 9 points above the relegation zone.

Palace

• 3 consecutive defeats to nil.
• 3 matches remain this season and Palace look safe don't they?
• Palace have conceded in their last 14 home matches. They have had no draws in 10
• Palace have scored and conceded in all matches at home v top 10. Wins v 2nd, 5th and 6th at home.
• Opponents have scored first in 12 of 17 home matches.

Man Utd

• United have failed to score in their last 3 matches.
• No draw for them in 11 matches.
• United are poor away from home and highly inconsistent.They have not won away v 8th-14th inclusive.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• A messy match this one. United have a 3 match run without scoring to end. That may end today against a Palace side scoring and conceded at home to top 10 sides.
• Both sides tend to avoid draws. Lay any late draw?

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7pm - Real Madrid v Valencia  - 1.44 home

Standout Stats

• Another must win for both sides. The to and fro with Barcelona for Real Madrid and the battle for 4th spot with Sevilla.
• 1-1, 2-3 Real Madrid, 2-2, 2-1 Valencia in recent head to heads. This match should be tighter than the odds suggest.
• This is 2nd v 4th currently in La Liga.

Real Madrid

• 7 match winning streak, 5 at home.
• No draw in 10 matches.
• No defeat in 15 at home
• Scored in 17 consecutive home matches.
• Only 1 home loss v Atl Madrid.
• Scored and conceded in all top 6 home teams.
• 76% over 2.5 goals at home
• 28 goals scored in each half at home

Valencia

• No win in 3 away
• Scored and conceded in their last 2 matches.
• Only 2 losses in their last 22 matches came away from home, against Malaga and Barcelona.
• Only 1 win in their last 5 away matches.
• Poorer away from home only 2 wins v top 12 included 6 1-1 scorelines.
• No 0-0 away

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Both teams could score today. Real Madrid are in great form. Real Madrid are likely to score at home so if Valencia score first , lay them. 3/4 of Real's home matches are over 2.5 goals so both teams to score and one to perhaps win looks the way to go. Valencia's recent loss 2-0 to barcelona could be a template for today?
• Lay the 0-0 halftime score based on Real Madrid's scoring and need at home

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8:30pm - Braga v Maritimo  - 1.49 home

Standout Stats

• 2-2, 1-1, 2-1 Maritimo in the last 3 head to heads.
• This is 4th v 10th In the Portugeuse Primera Liga.

Braga

• Braga are 14 points shy of 3rd place.
• No defeat in 3 at home
• 2 consecutive score draws.
• Only recent losses at home 0-1 were v Porto and Sporting Lisbon.
• Those were the only losses at home
• All wins v 8th and above bar a single 0-0 at home
• 7 clean sheets in those 9 matches.
• 7 0-0's at halftime at home
• Scored 18 of 26 goals at home 2nd half.

Maritimo

• No defeat in 6 matches.
• Scored in their last 6 matches.
• 5 1-1 draws in their last 6 matches.
• Only 1 loss in 7 away matches.
• 6 losses and a 0-0 draw away v top 9 teams
• Failed to score in 5 of 7 of those away matches.
• Only 1 0-0 away
• 6 0-0's at halftime aways
• Scored 12 of 15 away goals 2nd half.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• Maritimo have a good time of it v Braga in head to heads. Maritimo had 5 1-1 draws in 6 matches so lay them if they score first.
• Maritimo are poor scorers recently away from home.
• Braga are solid enough at home and tend to beat teams 8th and lower at home.
• This could be a 2nd half match do don't worry if it's 0-0 first half

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9pm - Ath Bilbao v Deportivo  - 1.64 home

Standout Stats

• 1-0 to Depor in the only recent relevant head to head.
• This is 8th v 18th in La Liga. A possible top 6 spot for Bilbao if other results go their way. Depor though need the points. A win today will bring Almeria and Eibar into the mix.

Ath Bilbao

• No defeat in 6 at home.
• Scored in their last 10 at home
• Only 2 defeats in 13 matches came away
• 3 clean sheets in their last 4 matches.
• Lost 0-1 to bottom 2 and playing 3rd bottom at home today.0-0 v 17th also.
• In fact all matches home and away v bottom 4 have seen 3 1-0 defeats, 2 0-0's and 2 0-1 wins
• Scored first in 11 of 17 home matches.

Depor

• No win in 13 and in 7 away
• Conceded in their last 7 and in their last 5 away
• 2-2-2-1-4 conceded in recent away matches.
• No win away v top 10.

Profitable In-Play Opportunities

• The need for points is greater with Depor than Ath Bilbao.With 3 matches remaining this is a must-win for the away side. It may herald a return to under 1.5 goals today as has occured in most other matches Ath played v bottom 4.
• But Depor have been conceding 2+ goals with regularity which is a worry.
• I would lay any late 0-0 here. I expect a tight match early on and may back 0-0 pre-match in the hope it remains as tight as Ath matches between bottom 4 have been season-long.

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