Top football tips for Wednesday: Four strong bets headline today’s football action with expert insights on key pre-season matchups and Champions League qualifiers. With attacking form peaking and defences still adjusting, goals, dominance and both teams to score markets provide excellent betting opportunities. Plus, don’t miss our Super Double at the end for extra value.
Let’s dive into the top football tips of the day.
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | Open Account Offer – New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value settle. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs , time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org | New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply. T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org |
⚡ 3 Quickfire Stats:
- ✅ Benfica have scored in 100% of their pre-season and competitive matches so far
- 💥 Aston Villa have netted in all five of their pre-season friendlies
- 🔥 Basel and Young Boys have both scored in their last two head-to-head encounters
✅ Nice vs Benfica
Expert: Linus Bergström; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
This evening’s Champions League qualifier pits Nice against a well-oiled Benfica machine, and the visitors arrive in far sharper condition. While this is Nice’s first meaningful test of the summer, Benfica are already into their stride—lifting the Super Cup last week and scoring three against Fenerbahce beforehand.
Nice, by contrast, are still shaking off rust from a dismal 2024-25 European campaign, and although they beat Sheffield United in a friendly, their backline still looks suspect. The departures of Bulka and Laborde have disrupted the spine of the team, and new signings are yet to gel.
Benfica’s attacking options, led by Pavlidis and Aursnes, will pose far more threat than anything the French side have faced so far. With the Eagles rested and prioritising this tie, they should edge this first leg with more fluency and fitness in their favour.
Best Bet: Benfica to Win
Bayern Munich -1 Handicap | |
3/10 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Bayern are rampant at home, averaging nearly five goals per match at the Allianz. Bremen leak goals and lack defensive organisation. Even if the visitors score, Bayern’s relentless pressure and Kane’s finishing should ensure a comfortable victory by more than a single goal. | |
✅ Aston Villa vs Roma
Expert: Steve Harrington; Football analyst at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Aston Villa’s clash with Roma might be a pre-season affair, but both clubs are close to their competitive openers and have key attacking players in form. Ollie Watkins has been ruthless in front of goal this summer, while Donyell Malen is creating chances at will.
Defensively, Villa remain vulnerable. A 2-2 draw against Nashville followed by previous games where they shipped goals highlights unresolved issues at the back. Even with Emiliano Martinez starting, structural gaps remain, particularly late in games.
Roma, meanwhile, have impressed under Gasperini, with a four-game clean sheet run, but none of those opponents tested them like Villa will. Evan Ferguson is already bagging goals, and the Italian side’s back three may struggle with Villa’s wide threats and pace. Both teams are in goal-scoring form and have leaky moments at the back.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes
Benfica to Win & Under 2.5 Goals | |
12/5 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Benfica have dominated Gil Vicente historically but their visitors are defensively disciplined and rarely involved in high-scoring matches. Mourinho’s men should edge the contest with superior quality, but expect a narrow 1-0 or 2-0 win rather than a goal fest at Estádio da Luz. | |
✅ Basel vs Young Boys
Expert: Wolfgang Shotten; European football editor at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Basel meet their domestic rivals Young Boys in a game that should produce plenty of chances. Basel have scored and conceded in their first two league matches, while Young Boys started their campaign with a 3-1 win followed by a 1-1 draw.
Despite Basel’s status as reigning champions, defensive injuries have made them vulnerable, especially with Ruegg and van Breemen sidelined. Their attacking build-up has improved, with Junior Ze and Ajeti finding pockets of space, but they’re still adjusting in defensive transitions.
Young Boys are never shy in attack and will look to exploit Basel’s defensive reshuffles. Fassnacht and Bedia have started the season strongly, and the Bern-based side have scored in both games this term. History also supports the bet: both teams have scored in their last two meetings.
Best Bet: BTTS – Yes
Leicester City to Win & Both Teams to Score | |
11/2 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Leicester’s defensive strength and attacking variety make them favourites, but West Brom have a knack for scoring at home. The Foxes’ greater class should carry them to victory, though expect the Baggies to grab a consolation. Leicester to win with both teams scoring looks a realistic call. | |
✅ HNK Rijeka vs Shelbourne
Expert: Gram Dodd; Balkan football specialist at BettingTips4You
Rationale:
Rijeka’s home tie against Shelbourne in the Europa League qualifiers looks primed for a tight, low-scoring encounter. The Croatian side bounced back from their Champions League exit with a league win, but they remain compact and disciplined, often favouring control over attacking chaos.
Shelbourne, meanwhile, travel as underdogs but are no strangers to frustrating more technical opponents. Their away form in Europe has been relatively resolute, with a narrow win at Linfield and a battling display despite defeat to Qarabag.
The Irish side are expected to keep things compact and play for the second leg. Rijeka are likely to dominate possession, but without Gabrijel Rukavina and Toni Fruk—both suspended—their attacking threat is somewhat diminished. A low-scoring affair could be on the cards, especially in the first half where both sides may focus on control.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Espanyol to Win & Both Teams to Score | |
9/2 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Espanyol’s confidence and attacking potency should overpower a Girona side languishing at the bottom. The hosts may find the net in a derby atmosphere, but Espanyol’s form and firepower make them strong favourites to take the win with goals for both teams. | |
🧲 Wednesday Super Double
1️⃣ Bet: Over 2.5 Goals in Aston Villa vs Roma
2️⃣ Bet: Red Star Belgrade to Score in Both Halves vs Lech Poznan
Super Double Rationale:
Villa and Roma are stacked with offensive weapons and both thrive in open games—goals should come early and often. Meanwhile, Red Star’s form in Europe suggests they will be relentless from the start against a Lech side struggling to contain better-quality opposition. This double backs quality attacks to shine.
Friday’s Super Double | |
2/1 - odds when tipped | |
Reasoning Bayern’s attacking form and Bremen’s defensive woes make a high-scoring game highly probable in Munich. In Catalonia, Girona’s leaky defence combined with Espanyol’s in-form forwards suggests another lively contest. Together, these two overs bets form a Super Double that leans into goal-heavy trends across both fixtures. | |
Enhance your betting game with our daily free betting tips, predictions, and accumulators.
For more betting tips and news, check out:
Don’t forget to visit our Free Bets page for the best possible value from our Today’s Football Predictions, as well as our Predictions for Tomorrow’s Football Predictions.
