If you are putting your accumulator together for this weekend’s soccer action in Europe, let us help you. We have done the homework for you to give you all you need to know about which matches are likely to see goals for both teams or over 2.5 goals scored based on recent trends and historical data.
Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (Over 2.5 goals)
Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat at Werder Bremen in the German Cup on Tuesday night was Dortmund’s 16th successive league and cup game in which a minimum of three total goals were scored. The last time Dortmund were involved in a match with under 2.5 match goals was on October 26 when they were held to a goalless draw at Schalke. In the January transfer window, Dortmund won the race to sign Europe’s hottest young talent, Erling Braut Haaland. The Norwegian striker had already scored eight goals in this season’s Champions League group stage for RB Salsburg and has hit the ground running in Germany with seven goals in his first three games for Dortmund who have scored five goals in each of their last three Bundesliga matches. The last three Bundesliga matches Bayer Leverkusen have played have seen over 2.5 goals scored and includes their 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim on Saturday. In the last six meetings between Leverkusen and Dortmund, a total of 29 goals have been scored at an average 4.8 per game. Over 2.5 goals has landed in five of those six meetings and with goals galore in recent matches involving both sides, there could well be three or more goals netted at the BayArena this weekend.
Verona v Juventus (Over 2.5 goals)
When Juventus beat Verona 2-1 on September 21, they had to come from behind to claim all three points at the Juventus Stadium. Miguel Veloso gave Verona the lead before Aaron Ramsey scored his first goal since joining the Old Lady from Arsenal in the summer. A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty four minutes into the second half secured victory for Juventus, who opened a three-point lead at the top of Serie A after they beat Fiorentina 3-0 in Turin on Sunday. Ronaldo scored twice from the spot with Matthijs de Ligt scoring their third goal in the last minute. The significance of that third goal should not be underestimated. It was the tenth successive league game involving Juventus that saw over 2,5 total goals scored. Five of Verona’s last eight Serie A matches have seen three or more goals scored and if they score against Juventus, they will extend their run of games in which they have at least one goal to 13. Verona’s chances of beating Milan at the San Siro on Sunday were dealt a blow when they had midfielder Sofyan Amrabat sent off in the 68th minute. Verona held an early lead when Marco Davide Faraoni scored in the 13th minute, but Hakan Calhanoglu levelled for the home side on the half hour mark.
Freiberg v Hoffenheim (BTTS)
Hoffenheim are always good value to be included in BTTS accumulators. Last season, 28 of their 34 Bundesliga matches (82%) ended with goals for both them and their opponents. That trend has continued into this season with 12 of their 20 games (60%) seeing BTTS land. So, it should not have been a surprise to many to see their last league game at home to Bayer Leverkusen finish with both teams finding each other’s net in a 2-1 win for Hoffenheim. Three of the last five league league games Freiberg have featured in have seen goals for both them and the team they have been playing. This is a match-up that could well see goals for both the home side and Hoffenheim especially as 12 of the last 13 meetings have seen it happen including the last six encounters played at Schwarzwald-Stadion. Hoffenheim won the corresponding fixture 4-2 with Andrej Kramaric scoring twice for the visitors. Freiburg can move to within a point of their opponents if they can win their first game in three.
Heerenveen v VVV Venlo (BTTS)
In the Dutch Eredivisie, Heerenveen possess the longest run of games in which there have been goals for them and the team they have been playing. Heerenveen’s 2-1 loss at Fortuna Sittard on Sunday was their 12th consecutive game in which both teams to score (BTTS) has landed. October 5 was the last time it did not land when Heerenveen beat PEC Zwolle 1-0 thanks to Mitchell van Bergen’s goal on the stroke of half-time. Four of VVV Venlo’s last five league games have seen goals for both them and their opposition and includes their 1-1 draw at home to FC Utrecht on Sunday. Both goals in the game came from the penalty spot with Oussama Darfalou opening the scoring for VVV Venlo in the 51st minute only for Simon Gustafsson to score for the visitors to the Seacon Stadion – De Koel to level nine minutes from time. Both Heerenveen and VVV Venlo have scored in six of the last eight meetings between the two sides. Don’t be surprised if this fixture ends in a 2-2 draw given that has been the result the last three times VVV Venlo has played Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in the last three seasons.