Discover Friday’s top football betting tips including Lyon, Benfica, and Sheffield United. Expert insights, team news and form breakdowns.
Let’s dive into today’s best four tips, each backed by rationale and built for punters looking for edge and insight on this action-packed evening.
Backed by form analysis, tactical insight, and detailed stats, these tips are crafted to give you the edge when placing your Monday wagers.
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Gil Vicente vs Benfica
Steve Harrington; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Gil Vicente’s current run is nothing short of dire. Seven league matches without a win and just one goal in their last four outings show how blunt they’ve become in attack. They’ve now lost three straight at home, and face a Benfica side surging towards the summit of the Primeira Liga. Bruno Lage’s side are in rampant form, racking up six straight league wins and scoring at least three in five of those.
Benfica are second in the table and chasing Sporting Lisbon hard. With the likes of Akturkoglu and Pavlidis thriving in forward positions, and a midfield packed with energy and creativity, they’re simply too strong for a Gil side floundering near the bottom. Their 5-1 demolition of this same opponent earlier in the season only reinforces that. Expect the visitors to control the game, dominate the ball and rack up another healthy win.
Best bet – Benfica to score over 2.5 goals
Benfica to score over 2.5 goals | |
29/20 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Benfica have netted three or more in five of their last six Primeira Liga games and face a Gil Vicente team on a seven-game winless streak. The visitors boast far superior quality and form, and another high-scoring performance should be on the cards against a defence struggling for structure and confidence.
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Strasbourg vs Lyon
Wolfgang Shotten; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Lyon head to Strasbourg full of confidence, having strung together a run of four wins in a row since their 4-1 aggregate demolition of FCSB in the Europa League. Paulo Fonseca’s side are one of the most prolific in Ligue 1 at present, led by the ever-dangerous Rayan Cherki and in-form striker Georges Mikautadze, who has racked up seven goals and five assists in his last 245 minutes of football.
Strasbourg, while defensively strong, haven’t proven they can manage the same level of composure when facing higher-tier opposition. Their impressive unbeaten stretch was built largely against teams outside the top half. Lyon, meanwhile, have a superb record against them, scoring in 28 consecutive league meetings—a remarkable feat stretching back over five decades. Even with Strasbourg looking to tighten up, Lyon’s creative flair should shine through.
Best bet – Lyon to win
Lyon to win | |
6/4 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Lyon are unbeaten in their last six and full of attacking threat, while Strasbourg’s strong run has largely come against weaker sides. Given Lyon’s historical dominance and recent form, especially from Cherki and Mikautadze, the visitors should edge this contest even against one of Ligue 1’s most organised defensive units.
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Tranmere Rovers vs Cheltenham Town
Herrin Kendrick; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Tranmere have been rejuvenated since Andy Crosby took the reins. Five games unbeaten and two clean sheets in a row suggest they’re turning a corner at the right time. While they sit precariously close to the relegation zone, Crosby’s tactical adjustments have created a sturdier unit. Returning to Prenton Park, where they’ll aim to notch consecutive home wins, gives them an added advantage.
Cheltenham, on the other hand, have stumbled of late. One win from their last seven matches has effectively derailed their slim play-off hopes, and their recent 1-0 defeat to MK Dons was another reminder of their inconsistency. Although they’ve dominated this fixture in recent seasons, current form suggests Tranmere’s defensive improvements will be difficult to break down. A low-scoring game seems likely, with neither side likely to take major risks.
Best bet – Under 2.5 goals
Under 2.5 goals | |
8/11 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Tranmere have become more difficult to break down under new management, while Cheltenham’s recent form has tailed off. With both sides struggling for attacking fluency and favouring cautious approaches, a tight encounter is expected at Prenton Park, making a low goal count the most likely scenario in this League Two clash.
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Sheffield United vs Coventry City
John Pentin; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
This is a true top-end scrap in the Championship, with both Sheffield United and Coventry desperate for points in the promotion race. The Blades have quietly become specialists in grinding out results, particularly at Bramall Lane, where six of their eleven 1-0 wins this season have come. With midfielders like Choudhury and Peck focused on disrupting play rather than sparking attacks, and several key injuries still impacting their creativity, it’s no surprise their matches remain cagey affairs.
Coventry may be resurgent under Frank Lampard, but key absentees, including Rudoni and potentially Sheaf, could limit their control in midfield. Haji Wright’s recent hat-trick was a boost, though it came after a lengthy injury layoff and against a far less disciplined defence than the Blades. With so much riding on the outcome, both sides will likely prioritise structure over fluidity, leading to a tight affair.
Best bet – Under 2.5 goals
Under 2.5 goals | |
4/55 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning With promotion pressure mounting, both teams are likely to play cautiously. Sheffield United have made a habit of narrow wins, while Coventry are missing key midfielders. This clash has the feel of a gritty, tactical battle where one goal could settle it, making a low-scoring encounter the most probable outcome. | |
Friday’s Super Double
- Benfica to win to nil (vs Gil Vicente)
- Over 2.5 goals in Strasbourg vs Lyon
Double Rationale:
Benfica’s defensive improvements and Gil Vicente’s goal drought point to a comfortable win without reply, while Lyon’s attacking sharpness and Strasbourg’s recent habit of conceding late goals suggest a lively affair in France. Combining these two plays offers value from contrasting angles—dominance in one, end-to-end excitement in the other.
Friday’s Super Double | |
2/1 - odds when tipped | |
Reasoning Benfica’s defensive improvements and Gil Vicente’s goal drought point to a comfortable win without reply, while Lyon’s attacking sharpness and Strasbourg’s recent habit of conceding late goals suggest a lively affair in France. Combining these two plays offers value from contrasting angles—dominance in one, end-to-end excitement in the other. | |
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