football | Monday, September 12, 2022 1:27 PM (Revised at: Monday, September 12, 2022 1:28 PM)

Sam Ingram’s Early Bird Best Bets Sep 16th-18th: 3 Early Picks for the Weekend

Sam Ingram

Sam Ingram’s Early Bird Best Bets: Weekend September 16th-18th

Friday night in Belgium will act as a starting course to a Sunday feat in both France and Italy where European commitments may make all the difference. Here at bettingexpert, we’ve got three picks for you to ponder.

In this article:

Nantes vs RC Lens Preview & Best Bet
Royal Antwerp vs RFC Seraing Preview & Best Bet
Cremonese vs Lazio Preview & Best Bet

Nantes vs RC Lens Preview

France, Ligue 1, Sunday, September 18th, 16:05 (UK)

This is one of France’s more thrilling encounters in recent times. Last season, RC Lens and Nantes produced 15 goals from three matches, including a meeting in the Coupe de France that ended 2-4 to a visiting RC Lens.

Now, the Sunday afternoon fixture arrives awkwardly for Nantes. At a time when one’s success can ultimately prove their sticking point in the following season, a trip to Azerbaijan and back provides a problematic backdrop for the hosts. After an impressive win against Olympiakos that saw the Greeks fail to register a shot on target, Qarabag FK on match day two represents a winnable fixture. Any victory following the 2300-mile journey would set them up nicely in terms of progression from Group G, a quartet that also includes Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg.

RC Lens will prove a difficult opponent for the leading clubs in the division at the best of times. On the back of a near 5000-mile, eight-hour round trip, that task naturally ramps up a level or two. The Blood and Gold are undefeated in Ligue 1 and head to Nantes after a routine win against Troyes, who approached the game with a gameplan of sitting in and soaking up as much pressure as possible. Unfortunately, Troyes could only hold out for 40 minutes, an unsuccessful approach put in place by a head coach concerned by the quality of RC Lens on the counter and in forward areas.

Nantes vs RC Lens Best Bet

The first half Asian line of RC Lens 0.0 at 1.72 is worth consideration. From the opening seven games, the first half handicap hasn’t lost in RC Lens colours, with Les Sang et Or leading at the break in 4/7. If Nantes appear sluggish after their midweek excursions, the 1.72 price may prove a steal.

Selection: RC Lens First Half Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.72 (bet365)
Stakes: 15/10

More Nantes vs RC Lens Tips

Royal Antwerp vs RFC Seraing Preview

Belgium, Pro League, Friday, September 16th, 19:45 (UK)

Incomings in Vincent Janssen (£4.95m) from Mexico, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp (£4.5m) from Hertha Berlin, and Gaston Avila from Boca Juniors for £3.96m suggests Royal Antwerp have silverware in their sights come the end of the season. A hefty fee for a 33-year-old Toby Alderweireld from Qatar and a coup in Calvin Stengs on loan from OGC Nice also bolster the ranks in Belgium, replacing a few notable sales heading the other way.

The new pieces to Mark van Bommel’s jigsaw have home support purring eight matches into the new campaign. Eight games, eight wins, and a spot at the head of the table best explains the early stages of Royal Antwerp’s 2022/23.

RFC Seraing present as the unwelcome opposition in Antwerp on Friday. The away side lost 13/17 matches away from home last season as they finished second from bottom, conceding 38 (2.23 per90) goals in the process. The current campaign hasn’t been overly kind, with only one point separating their stay in 16th with the foot of the table after eight games.

Royal Antwerp vs RFC Seraing Best Bet

A clinical Antwerp side should put Seraing to the sword, though the 1.30 price for them to win suggests precisely that. In an attempt to carve out some value from the match-up, the Antwerp double result (Antwerp/Antwerp) at 1.80 provides some food for thought, as does Antwerp to score in both halves at 1.90. I’ll take the latter in the hope of Vincent Janssen (five goals in eight) and company continuing the theme of casting teams aside in their stride.

Selection: Royal Antwerp Score Both Halves (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.90 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Royal Antwerp vs RFC Seraing Tips

Cremonese vs Lazio Preview

Italy, Serie A, Sunday, September 18th, 14:00 (UK)

Serie A’s new boys will be buoyed by their solitary point on the board as we head into week six. It doesn’t sound like much, though the equaliser in Atalanta’s backyard four minutes after conceding in the 74th minute shows an abundance of belief. A never-say-die attitude is what they’ll need at this level, but they look to be in good hands on that front. Their ringleader, Massimiliano Alvini, orchestrated play from the side in a frantic manner – kicking and heading every ball throughout, channelling a will to fight to his players.

That eagerness to push the eleven on saw Cremonese’s head coach pick up a booking for being unable to contain himself when the referee pondered a potential disallowed Atalanta goal at the VAR monitor. Rest assured, that won’t be his last. Still, despite their efforts on the road, Cremonese were lucky to escape with a share of the spoils. Several wasted opportunities from Atalanta and a disallowed goal thanks to a peculiar handball was the reasoning behind the score ending 1-1.

Lazio are game-week seven’s opponents as the top flight tests come thick and fast for Cremonese. The Europa League fixture in Denmark Lazio will have to contend with isn’t ideal. It comes less than 72 hours before the scheduled Serie A match and will undoubtedly affect the visitors.

Ciro Immobile’s 185th Serie A goal versus Hellas Verona took him past Gabriel Batistuta in the all-time scoring rankings, with him now just three shy of Alessandro del Piero. It’s a head-turning record that shows no signs of stopping in Italy and one that could easily run Cremonese’s suspect backline ragged. With personnel such as Immobile and Luis Alberto finding form after Sevilla baulked at a £20m transfer fee for him in the summer, we can expect goals here.

Cremonese vs Lazio Best Bet

Cremonese should give as good as they get in terms of attempts at goal. The hosts will be rubbing their hands together with a Lazio side with minutes in their legs from Thursday evening. If there’s any time Cremonese can knick points off Le Aquile, it’s now. No doubt Massimiliano Alvini will have that hammered into his starting eleven before they cross the white line on Sunday.

Both teams to have a say on the scoresheet, and over 2.5 goals come in at a backable 2.05. Cremonese have scored in 4/6 fixtures during their brief Serie A spell, with BTTS paying out for punters in 5/6 for Lazio.