Big Saturday Multiple: Frankfurt looking to tame Wolfsburg - and secure final European place

18May 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner previews action in England, France and Germany as he puts together three selections to make a worthy Big Saturday Multiple - at odds of 8s...

We're off to Wembley for our first pick of the day - and it's time for the League Two play-off final, as Bradford City face Northampton Town.

Phil Parkinson's Bantams side are well adjusted to the pressure brought on by finals, following their League Cup heroics earlier in the season - and that could give them the edge here, if their Cobblers opponents are overawed by the occasion.

The West Yorkshire side have no fresh injuries or suspensions to worry about - and will be going into this clash high in confidence, following a magnificent turnaround in their semi final tie with Burton Albion.

That makes nine unbeaten from their last 11 outings, and Parkinson will be desperate for his side to extend that form - and secure their place in the third tier.

Nakhi Wells is widely regarded as one of the best forwards outside the Championship - and he will be looking to maintain his personal dominance over the Cobblers, with three goals in his last four clashes against them.

Northampton go into this one with three wins on the bounce - but in the bigger picture, they have been far from consistent, and have failed to win in five of their last eight.

Aidy Boothroyd's side have only won one from five away from Sixfields, and that travel sickness could play a major part in the outcome of this game.

The Midlands club have doubts over forwards Clive Platt and Joe Widdowson, and with just six goals scored from their last eight, have looked a little barren in the final third of late.

History certainly favours the Bantams in this encounter - for Northampton have not beaten them in their most recent eight league and cup meetings.

Bet 1: Bradford @ 2.25

Switching our attentions to action over the Channel now, as Lille travel to Montpellier desperately seeking three points, in order to maintain their position in the Europa League places.

Rudi Garcia's side travel to the Stade de la Mosson in good form, and have lost just one of their last seven league outings, which gives them a lot of momentum going into this clash.

A 3-0 thrashing of Reims last time out will have been a perfect confidence boost for les Dogues, and with fifth placed Nice breathing down their necks, they will know that three points is a must if they are to keep their European dreams intact.

Fifteen goals scored in their last six games shows that Garcia's side are a force to be reckoned with in the final third, and I think that could be the difference as they face a Montpellier side which has not kept a clean sheet since the 1st of March.

Rene Girard's side are ninth in Ligue 1 ahead of this clash, and with nothing left to play for this campaign, you have to question whether their motivation will match that of their opponents.

Four losses from their last five shows just how out of sorts the south coast side have been of late, and they will be disappointed with that underwhelming finish in comparison to their title winning campaign last year.

Last time these sides met, Lille ran out 4-1 winners in a very one-sided encounter - and I fancy Garcia's side to do the double over their opponents here.

Bet 2: Lille @ 1.95

Over to the Bundesliga now, as Eintracht Frankfurt line up on their own patch to face Wolfsburg, with the hosts desperate to maintain sixth place in the table.

Armin Veh's side occupy the final Europa League place ahead of this clash - but seventh placed Hamburg are piling on the pressure, and that means that Frankfurt must look to take maximum points here.

Recent form is good though, with four unbeaten suggesting that a positive result is likely - and two wins on the bounce at the Commerzbank-Arena will have the home side high in confidence.

Just two goals conceded in their last four outings is a good record defensively, and Veh will be keen for his charges to maintain that level of organisation, as they face a Wolfsburg side who sit mid-table, with nothing left to play for.

The visitors go into this one with just two wins from their last 10 - and that suggests that they often lack the cutting edge to take all three points.

Dieter Hecking's side sit 10th in the Bundesliga, and have managed just one clean sheet since early February - a run that consists 14 games, and indicates that the hosts are likely to be presented with a chance or two.

Bet 3: Eintracht Frankfurt @ 2