Scott Thornton’s European Props: Best Bets Preview

Scott Thornton brings you five bets from Europe’s top five leagues ahead of a busy weekend of football.

In Serie A, we have tackles bets for Como vs Cagliari and Lazio vs Juventus. Bayern Munich have already won the title, but there is an interesting betting angle when they face Monchengladbach. Our other game from the Bundesliga is Leverkusen vs Dortmund, as Kovac’s side aim to climb into the top four. In Spain, El Clásico tops the billing. Real Madrid need a win over Barcelona to have any hope of winning the La Liga title.

• Como vs Cagliari: Over 1.5 Tackles For Nadir Zortea
• Lazio vs Juventus: Over 2.5 Tackles For Manuel Locatelli
• Bayern Munich vs Monchengladbach: Over 1.5 Tackles For Joseph Scally
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund: Under 26.5 Shots In The Match
• Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Over 34.5 Tackles In The Match

Acca odds: 39.11

Como vs Cagliari: Cesc’s Team Force Plenty of Tackles

Italy, Serie A, Saturday, 10th May, 14:00 (UK)

Como were never in danger of being relegated. The team have been excellent in their first Serie A season. They have played some expansive football under Cesc Fabregas, and the future looks bright. I Lariani have won their last five matches without conceding a goal.

Cagliari are 14th, 12 points behind Como. They are safe from relegation, so they have nothing to play for in the coming weeks. Davide Nicola’s side will likely be under the cosh against a very capable outfit here.

Fabregas has plenty of talent in wide areas. Assane Diao is out injured, but Gabriel Strefezza is in fine fettle and should force plenty of tackles from right wing. He has netted two goals and assisted another in his last three. The opposing right-back or wing-back has had two or more tackles in all three of those matches.

Nadir Zortea should start in that position for Cagliari. His tackle numbers are mixed, but the opposition should make all the difference. Paulo Azzi played right wing-back for Rossoblu in the reverse fixture and made three tackles.

• Selection: Over 1.5 Tackles For Nadir Zortea (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Lazio vs Juventus: Locatelli Continues to Have an Impact

Italy, Serie A, Saturday, 10th May, 17:00 (UK)

This is another crucial game in the race for a Champions League place. These teams are level on 63 points, but Juventus occupy 4th place, ahead of both Roma and Lazio, on goal difference. With a win so important, this match should see plenty of tackles.

Igor Tudor is in charge of Juve until the end of the season and is tasked with getting them into Europe’s elite club competition. Thiago Motta’s attempts to change the style of play fell short. Tudor has his own approach. His teams make an abundance of tackles, and that has certainly rung true since he took over in Turin. Juventus have made an average of 17.67 tackles per game under the new boss.

Manuel Locatelli has been at the forefront of the Juventus’ tackling machine. The dynamic midfielder has made three tackles or more in all six Serie A matches with Tudor at the helm, with an average of four per game.

He will be facing a Lazio side that forced an average of 15.54 tackles per game, just above the overall league average. Empoli’s starting central midfield players made four and five tackles against Lazio last weekend

• Selection: Over 2.5 Tackles For Manuel Locatelli (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Bayern Munich vs Monchengladbach: Kompany’s Mercurial Wide Men

Germany, Bundesliga, Saturday, 10th May, 17:30 (UK)

Bayern Munich were crowned champions last weekend, so expect a jubilant atmosphere at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians have been a cut above the rest in the Bundesliga, and Vincent Kompany will be keen for his team to put on a show in this one.

It’s been a campaign to forget for Monchengladbach. They sit 9th in the table and are unlikely to secure a European place. Five matches without a win have left them with a lot to do. Those games have seen an average of five goals, so expect plenty of goalmouth action.

Bayern have plenty of quality in wide areas and can force plenty of tackles from opposition full-backs. Three of the last four right-backs or right wing-backs that have started against Kompnay’s side have made two tackles or more, if we include the Super Sub rule.

Joseph Scally is likely to start in that position on Saturday. He made two tackles against Hoffenheim last weekend. Scally made three tackles when he faced Bayern earlier in the season.

• Selection: Over 1.5 Tackles For Joseph Scally (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund: Tactical Battle at BayArena

Germany, Bundesliga, Sunday, 11th May, 14:30 (UK)

Bayer Leverkusen have already secured their place in next season’s Champions League. They may have relinquished their Bundesliga crown, but they have been the best of the rest in Germany. Xabi Alonso will be aiming to finish the season on a positive note, with rumours swirling about his future.

Dortmund are in great form. A run of six league games unbeaten has given them a chance to qualify for the Champions League. BVB struggled under Nuri Sahin earlier in the season, but things have drastically improved under Niko Kovac. They are just a point off 4th heading into the weekend.

Leverkusen’s home matches have seen an average of 25.69 shots per game. There have been 26 shots or less in six of their last seven home matches, so unders looks the best bet here.

BVB’s matches under Kovac have seen an average of 27.92 shots, but they shouldn’t get as many attempts against a very capable Leverkusen. There were just 19 shots when the teams met earlier in the season.

• Selection: Under 26.5 Shots In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Picking Up Where They Left Off

Spain, La Liga, Saturday, 11th May, 15:00 (UK)

Barcelona have already beaten Real Madrid three times this season, lifting the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup in the process. Another win over their great rivals would effectively secure the league title and go a long way towards healing the disappointment of their Champions League exit.

Real Madrid came into the season as champions of Spain and Europe. Many felt they would sweep all before them with the addition of Kylian Mbappe, but it hasn’t panned out that way. Carlo Ancelotti is widely expected to depart the club in the summer. The Italian needs his team to win here if he is to finish the campaign with silverware.

There were 43 tackles in normal time when these teams met in the Spanish Cup Final at the end of April, so the line looks low here. Barcelona’s home matches in La Liga have seen an average of 31.94 tackles, but the magnitude of the occasion should mean we see more.

Our bet has won in three of Real’s last four away matches in the league, with those games seeing 40.25 tackles on average. There were 36 tackles in their last league meeting against Barcelona.

• Selection: Over 34.5 Tackles In The Match (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

European Props Acca Tips Odds via bet365 as at 10:21, May 9th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

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