1) Audi Cup
Back Real Madrid to beat Tottenham and both teams to score at 7/4
Tuesday, 17:15
Live on Premier Sports
Back Real Madrid to beat Tottenham and both teams to score at 7/4
Tuesday, 17:15
Live on Premier Sports
You'll forgive us for going heavy on the friendlies in this week's column but there are some decent looking fixtures and, with the big kick-off just days away, the players will be wanting to impress so hopefully we'll see some competitive action.
Tottenham have a particularly tough task on Tuesday,
facing a Real Madrid side who have been in good nick in pre-season,
demolishing both Man City and Inter Milan and winning a couple of
penalty shootouts as well.
It's hard to see a Spurs side who have only added defenders this
summer having enough in the tank to overcome Rafa Benitez's side but
they showed plenty of attacking intent against the MLS All-Stars last week and I'm happy to back them to find the net, even if it is in a losing cause. DT
2) Champions Cup Football
Back Both Teams to Score @ 4/5 in Chelsea v Fiorentina
Wednesday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports 1
Chelsea play their final pre-season friendly on Wednesday night, just three days after a full strength side lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield and three days before they start the defence of their Premier League title.
The gut feeling is that, while Jose Mourinho will be
desperate to end his 'friendly' campaign with a victory, he'll also
play a much weakened side to what we'll see at the weekend. This should
open the door for Fiorentina to make this game very competitive and
it's easy to envisage both sides getting on the scoresheet.
Chelsea's three Champions Cup games have all resulted with both teams
finding the back of the net (and a total of 12 goals scored) while
Fiorentina beat Barcelona 2-1 in their latest warm-up game on Sunday. We
can expect more goals on Wednesday. MN
3) Cricket - Fourth Ashes Test, Trent Bridge
Back Australia at 2.24
Thursday, 11:00
Live on Sky Sports 2
We've had a couple of nice winners backing England in this column this summer but I'll have to desert Alastair Cook's troops this week, even if Australia aren't a huge price in Nottingham.
There is, of course, England's recent record of following wins with
defeats and vice versa - the record for the past seven Tests is WLWLWLW -
but the main reason for the selection is the absence of talisman Jimmy Anderson.
As Ed Hawkins examined in depth over the weekend,
the hosts tend to struggle without the leader of the attack. The only
teams they have beaten when he has been missing (since debut) have been
Bangladesh and the West Indies.
Add in the struggles of Adam Lyth, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow and there are plenty of reasons to suggest we could be in for a Fifth Test decider at The Oval at the end of the month. DT
4) Golf - WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Back Louis Oosthuizen Top 10 Finish @ 3.40
Thursday - Sunday
Live on Sky Sports 4
Course form mixed with current form is always a good recipe for a strong selection in golf, and in Louis Oosthuizen that's exactly what we have here.
The South African has been in splendid form of late, finishing
runner-up in both the US and British Opens in the last six weeks, while
around this week's venue Firestone he has recorded a top 10 finish and a top five finish in recent years.
Oosthuizen is playing at the top of his game right now following long
periods of struggles due to niggling injuries, and while he's in such confident mood we need to take advantage in this strong, but reduced field event. He's 3.40 to finish in the top 10 once again and that's a price that really appeals. MN
For a team that were gearing up for another title push, Liverpool had
a fairly dreadful start to last season, losing six of their first 12
fixtures including disastrous reversals at the hands of Aston Villa,
West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace. This time around they start at
Stoke, the scene of a seismic 6-1 defeat for Brendan Rodgers' men on the final day of 2014/15.
I can't have Stoke at such a big price for this - they are an organised, decent outfit under Mark Hughes and have shown they can win well against good teams when they're playing at home.
What's more, I really think Liverpool could go either way this year
and, despite their undefeated pre-season so far, the Reds could come
unstuck here as they look to balance yet another large amount of new
signings. Back a home win. LM
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