Ireland Premier Division-Dundalk VS Shamrock Rovers

 

 

Dundalk have not finished in the top two since winning their last league title in 2019. The Lilywhites were hoping to turn things around this year but 36 points from 23 games have instead kept them in contention for third place.

 

Shamrock Rovers are chasing a fourth successive title in the Irish Premier Division. The only team to achieve this in the competition's history is Bohemians, who won five titles in a row between 1999 and 2004. The visitors have been surprisingly great again this season, losing at least 3 games out of all the teams in this division.

 

Dundalk come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic that ended their three-game winning streak, but coming from a goal down with fewer men to earn a point must have boosted the team's confidence. Moreover, Stephen O'Donnell's men are unbeaten in six home games. Both sides scored in all those games.

Norwegian Tippeligaen-LILLESTROM VS AALESUND FK

 

 

Team Analysis

Lillestrom are 5th in the Norway Eliteserien Division. Lillestrom are undefeated in their last 12 home league games.

 

Aalesund FK are 16th in the Norway Eliteserien Division. We have seen 5 consecutive away defeats in the most recent games in the Norway Eliteserien of Aalesund FK.

 

Odd Analysis

In their last 30 head to head matches, Lillestrom has managed to win 11 of the matches, Aalesund FK has managed to win 10 of the matches and their has been 9 draws between the two teams. In the Norway Eliteserien Division, Lillestrom has a better performance compared to Aalesund FK.

 

Conclusion

Lillestrom win

J1 League-Urawa Red Diamonds VS Shonan Bellmare

Two sides in contrasting ends of the Japanese J1 League go head to head at the Saitama Stadium as Urawa Red Diamonds lock horns with Shonan Bellmare on Monday.

 

The Hiratsuka outfit are currently rooted to the bottom of the standings and will head into the midweek clash looking to pick up their first league win since early April.

 

Urawa Red Diamonds will be licking their lips as they take on a floundering Shonan Bellmare side who are without a league win since April. Given the gulf in quality between the two sides and their contrasting form, we predict a one-sided affair at the Saitama Stadium with the hosts claiming all three points.

UEFA Champions League-Atletic Club D Escaldes VS FK Buducnost Podgorica

 

 

Playing at the Kópavogsvöllur location in Iceland, both teams finished their season in equally good form. Atletic come into this contest having won six and lost only one of their last eight games of the season, having scored 19 goals in the process. Likewise, Bunducnost finished their campaign with four wins and just one loss in their last six games of the season.

 

neither side has a winning history in this event. Making their debut in the competition, Atletic made their first foray into European competition last season; however, they would suffer a narrow 2:1 Conference League qualification defeat at the hands of Maltese opponents Gzira United.

 

Comparatively, Budocnost enjoy more experience in this competition even though their record is not great. Losing six and winning only one of their previous nine UCL qualifying matches.

Chile Cup- Municipal Iquique VS San Marcos de Arica

 

 

Team Analysis:

Municipal Iquique is the third ranked team in the Chilean D2 league, with a 57.1% win rate at home and only one loss in seven appearances. Their recent form is relatively stable, they have been unbeaten in five consecutive matches and won four of them.

 

San Marcos de Arica is the ninth team in the league and has not won a single game on the road so far, most of the points have been gained at home. This match was preceded by two consecutive wins, both at home where a total of five goals were scored.

 

Odd Analysis：

The handicap is 0/0.5 giving by the hosting Municipal Iquique, who have won last two encounters in the past two year. We also prefer they can extend their good forms to get another win at home.

 

Conclusion Municipal Iquique Win

UEFA European U-21 Football Championship- Spain U21 VS Croatia U21

 

Spain Under-21s square off against Croatia Under-21s on Saturday with the opportunity to book their place in the Under-21 Euro 2023 knockout stages.

 

Earlier this week, Spain cruised past co-hosts Romania on the same day that Croatia succumbed to a potentially-decisive defeat in Group B at the hands of Ukraine.

 

Regardless of whether Spain decide to rotate for this contest, this represents a stiff challenge for their opponents. Although Croatia may pose more of a challenge than Romania, we still expect Spain to storm to a dominant victory and book their spot in the last eight in the process.

 

Pick:Spain to win.

2023 Gold Cup-USA vs. Jamaica - Gold Cup preview

 

 

The 2023 Gold Cup begins with an entertaining clash between USA and Jamaica on June 24th at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

 

The USMNT are coming into the tournament as reigning champions, after defeating Mexico 1-0 in the 2021 final to lift the trophy. Now, interim manager B.J. Callaghan, who will remain as head coach for the duration of the Gold Cup, will attempt to lead his side to consecutive titles.

 

Jamaica and head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, on the other hand, enter the tournament seeking revenge against the US after their 1-0 quarterfinal defeat in the 2021 tournament. The Carribbean side will be a tough test for USA as they welcome Demarai Gray after he switched his international allegiance from England to the Reggae Boyz.

 

The two countries have met 31 times dating back to 1988, with the USA leads the all-time series 19-3-3. The last time they experienced defeat against Jamaica was in 2019, during an international friendly, 1-0. Will USA triumph over Jamaica for the 20th time, or will the Reggae Boyz take control of Group A with an upset?

 

USA team news

 

B.J Callaghan had star-studded lineups in the Nations League final and semifinal that included the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Folarin Balogun. But those players are now preparing for pre-season with their clubs, forcing Callaghan to lead a much different squad in this Concacaf tournament.

 

Beyond Matt Turner, who returns to the camp as the No. 1 goalkeeper, it is an MLS-heavy roster for the American side as Cristian Roldan, Aidan Morris, Jesus Ferreira lead the way. Jordan Morris, DeAndre Yedlin, Cade Cowell, Brandon Vazquez, and Alex Zendejas will also form part of this Gold Cup side in an attempt to win the trophy.

 

USA are riding a six-game unbeaten streak and look to make it seven straight against Jamaica.

 

Jamaica team news

 

Andre Blake will be in between the posts for Jamaica as he closes in on 60 appearances for them in all competitions. The potential front three of Demarai Gray, Michail Antonio, and Leon Bailey could pose a threat for USA's backline with their pace and skill.

 

Antonio has scored three goals for Jamaica in seven appearances after making the one-time switch from England in 2021, while Bailey has managed three goals in 19 games played. It will be interesting to see what those two can do with Gray up front in the Everton player's debut for the Carribbean nation.

 

Following their Nations League exit in March, Jamaica has since played Qatar, who are also competing in the Gold Cup for a second time, and Jordan in tune-up friendlies. Jamaica were unable to win in either games, losing 2-1 twice. The Reggae Boyz hope to find the same magic that helped them knock off USA back in 2015 to set the tone early on.

 

 

Prediction

On paper, USA has the more balanced squad, but Jamaica's attacking unit should be able to create some chances to keep them in the game if they receive enough service. Things could get tricky for USA, especially if they are without Miles Robinson.

 

USA's forwards are still top-class, though. Together, they should be able to create plenty of chances against the Jamaica defense between Morris, Ferreira, Roldan, and Vazquez, but getting past Blake might be difficult. However, USA should have enough quality to overcome Jamaica in Matchday one of the Gold Cup.

 

Prediction: USA 2 - Jamaica 1