Celtic need some Dutch courage, plus six other bets for your Wednesday night acca
- Lee Bassin
- 17 August 2021
Bhoys are in for a tough test against Alkmaar with a spot in the Europa League group stage on the line, while the Champions League play-offs conclude.
The big games keep coming on Wednesday as the final three Champions League spots will be decided and Celtic face Alkmaar in the first of the Europa League play-offs.
There's also five Championship games to enjoy and Planet Sport have compiled a list of seven bets from all the major competitions which you can select from for your latest accumulator.
We also have a fantastic new ACCA INSURANCE offer to help you out placing your Wednesday night wagers. This promotion is available to new and existing Planet Sport Bet customers, and full T&Cs apply.
Celtic vs AZ Alkmaar (Europa League Qualifying)
A routine win over Jablonec in the last round of Europa League qualifying will have eased some of the pain of Celtic's Champions League exit, but an AZ side who finished just one point behind second-placed PSV last season are a significant roadblock.
However, the Dutchmen have played just one competitive game this season compared to Celtic's seven, and that was a 1-0 loss at little-known RKC Waalwijk, a side who look more like a wi-fi password than a soccer team!
The Bhoys on the other hand have put a nice run of form together in recent weeks, winning four straight in all competitions and scoring 16 goals in the process, and with home advantage their odds of 21/20 look generous.
We're expecting a tight affair as Alkmaar conceded an average of less than a goal a game in their Europa League Group Stage campaign last season, so under 2.5 goals could also be a profitable play.
Benfica vs PSV Eindhoven (Champions League Qualifying)
This tie really jumps off the page as two of European soccer's most familiar names get set to go at it for the first time since 2011, with a place at the top table just two games away.
And as if that wasn't exciting enough, both sides are defending 100% records in all competitions this season, with the hosts having won four on the bounce and the visitors six on the spin.
Benfica are averaging two goals a game, while PSV are banging them in at a remarkable rate of almost three per match, which means over 2.5 goals is sure to be a popular acca addition at 5/6.
However, with so little to choose between the two sides, we reckon the draw is the value play here.
Malmo vs Ludogorets Razgrad (Champions League Qualifying)
You won't find anyone in Razgrad bemoaning the scrapping of the away goals rule as Ludogorets squeaked through on penalties against Olympiacos in the last round, in a tie they would have lost last year.
However, two draws against the Greeks doesn't bode well ahead of a clash with a Malmo side who beat Rangers home and away in the third qualifying round.
With just two losses in their last 17 games, the Swedes should have too much in the locker for little Ludogorets, and even money is a cracking price for the home win.
However, the hosts have failed to keep a clean sheet in five of their six Champions League matches this season, so we're well up for boosting our acca with Malmo to win and both teams to score.
Young Boys vs Ferencvaros (Champions League Qualifying)
The hosts have saved their best home performances for the Champions League this season, defeating Slovan Bratislava 3-2 and CFR Cluj 3-1 in the previous qualifying rounds.
Ferencvaros are no slouches themselves having won five out of six qualifying matches this season. However, we can't ignore their 1-0 loss at Slavia Prague in the second leg of the previous round.
That was the standard they will be facing here and we reckon 8/13 on a home win is a more than worthy addition to any acca.
Middlesbrough vs QPR (Championship)
Rangers' 3-0 win over Hull lifted them into the rarified air of second place in the fledgling Championship table, and they will be confident of extending their three-match unbeaten run in all competitions at the Riverside.
The hosts are also unbeaten in the league and level on points with QPR after a win and a draw in their opening two Championship games, and are a tempting proposition on home turf at 6/4.
However, with both Middlesbrough and QPR finding the net in every league match they have played this season and both teams scoring in three out of the last four games where they have played each other, both sides finding the net is the top pick here.
Birmingham City vs Bournemouth (Championship)
Another two unbeaten sides meet at St Andrews as old friends Lee Bowyer and Scott Parker face off for the first time as managers.
Parker will be delighted at the start his side has made this season, hammering MK Dons in the League Cup, securing a 2-2 draw with promotion favourites West Brom and beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last time out.
Birmingham have started their Championship campaign in solid, if unspectacular fashion, beating Sheffield United and drawing with Stoke but scoring just one goal in the process, which explains odds of 15/8 on the home win compared to 6/4 on a Cherries victory.
A look at past results between the two sides leads us down a potentially profitable road though, as the last seven matches have yielded an average of five goals a game, so we're happy to take a punt on over 2.5 goals.
Hull vs Derby (Championship)
We don't know how many mirrors he has broken or if an army of black cats have walked across his path, but Wayne Rooney and his Derby side seem to be lurching from one crisis to another, conceding two goals in second-half injury time to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last weekend against Peterborough.
Not that Hull fared much better, beaten 3-0 at home to QPR and reduced to ten men after George Moncur's second-half sending off. And the question heading into this match is whether that Tigers team or the one that hammered Preston on the opening day turns up.
Normally we'd be all over Hull at 3/4, and while they are worthy favourites the Rams have brought some real leadership in to steady the ship, with defender Phil Jagielka and striker Sam Baldock joining the Derby ranks.
We're backing both to make an impact off and on the pitch, and we reckon this will be a tight affair, with under 2.5 goals a 10/11 shot.
