The Big Wednesday Multiple: Newells and Boca to deliver the goods

29May 2013

Betfair

It's that time of the week where Paul Robinson selects a home win, an away win, a match to go over 2.5 goals and a match to go under 2.5 goals. Here are his selections:

Bet 1: England (HOME) @ 1.44 (4/9) - Live on ITV1 at 20:00 GMT

We begin in London as England take on Ireland in a 'friendly' at Wembley Stadium. Due to the histories of the two teams I can't see it being played at half pace and given that fact, England should have more than enough quality to pick up the win.

There was further confusion over the England captaincy yesterday but after numerous clarifications, it was confirmed that Ashley Cole would be the skipper. Cole is winning his 100th cap this evening and while he'll be in celebratory mood, he'll be desperate to lead the team to victory.

Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley are absent through injury but the squad is still a strong one and it's likely that Frank Lampard will partner Michael Carrick in midfield with Wayne Rooney leading the line up front.

Ireland have an impressive away record in competitive matches and while they haven't been defeated in a friendly away from Ireland since 2004, they've only played six and their two most recent ones ended in 0-0 draws in Hungary and Serbia last summer.

Giovanni Trapattoni has problems in defence for tonight as Marc Wilson is out with a calf strain and Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark is also injured. Robbie Keane is available after being released to play by LA Galaxy, but he's not exactly the player he was and the English defence should be able to contain him.

Bet 2: FC Basel (AWAY) @ 1.65 (13/20)

Our away victory comes from Switzerland as FC Basel will be looking to school Young Boys in Bern.

Basel are clinging on to top spot in the Swiss Super League and with two games to go they are three points clear of Grasshopper. It is almost imperative that they take all three points tonight as they lost to their closest challengers on Sunday and they won't want to risk going into the final day of the season level on points - despite their healthy goal difference - as they're in for a tricky match with third placed St Gallen.

Murat Yakin's men have lost their last two on the road and they also suffered cup final heartbreak on penalties - once again to Grasshopper. Prior to that though, FCB were undefeated in six on the road domestically, winning four times.

Young Boys finished third last term but the wheels have fallen off this season and they're down in seventh place. Bernard Challandes' side have lost three of their last five and after usually being relatively strong at Wankdorf, they've won just two of their last six - falling to three defeats.

This is an end of season game where one team has huge motivation to win whereas the other has nothing to play for. That usually only points in one direction and I'm confident that Basel will get the job done.

Bet 3: Newells v Boca Juniors (Over 2.5 goals) @ 2.3 (13/10) - ESPN and Betfair Live Video at 23:30 GMT

With a degree of trepidation, our search for goals takes us to Argentina for a Copa Libertadores second leg quarter-final clash between Newell's Old Boys and Boca Juniors.

The first leg between this pair finished 0-0 at Boca last Thursday and in an interesting twist of fate, they met again in the league on Sunday. Newell's ran out 4-0 winners on that occasion and while I think we'll be in for goals again, the scoreline should be much closer.

It's been a case of Jekyll and Hyde for Boca this season as they've been dreadful in the league but much improved in the Libertadores. Manager Carlos Bianchi is a club legend and he will be desperate to win his fifth Libertadores trophy - his fourth with Boca.

Newell's are currently top of the Torneo Final with just four games to go and they look set to face Velez Sarsfield in the Primera Division final at the end of June. Gerardo Martino will be eyeing up an historic double for his side and the 0-0 in the first leg has given them the slight advantage going into tonight.

The Old Boys need to tighten up at the back though as they will be eliminated with a score draw. Aside from the clean sheet they earned against an under-strength Boca at the weekend, they haven't kept one at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa in any of their last half dozen. They do score plenty themselves though and it's 18 in seven at home for La Lepra.

Bet 4: Sao Paulo v Vasco Da Gama (Under 2.5 goals) @ 1.6 (6/10)

We conclude in Brazil for a Serie A match-up between Sao Paulo and Vasco Da Gama. The home side should get the job done, but I can't see there being many goals.

Both of these sides won their opening game of the league campaign at the weekend, and both matches went under 2.5 goals as both the victors kept a clean sheet.

Sao Paulo finished fourth last term after having a strong finish and Ney Franco will be hoping his side can start better this year and challenge for the title. They warmed up for the season by reaching the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores and the semi-finals of the Paulista A1 - before being knocked out by Corinthians on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Vasco Da Gama finished one place below Sao Paulo last time and they started their year strongly by winning Group A of the Taca Guanabara before eventually falling to Botafogo in the final. Things weren't as good in the Taca Rio though as Paulo Autuori's team could only finish seventh of eight in Group A - scoring just five goals in seven matches.

If you needed further persuasion that under 2.5 goals is the way to go for this one, then their recent head to head record shows that the last six meetings between the pair have all had two goals or less.

Recommended Multiple

Back England @ 1.44 (4/9); Back FC Basel @ 1.65 (13/20); Back Over 2.5 Goals in Newells v Boca Juniors @ 2.3 (13/10); Back Under 2.5 Goals in Sao Paulo v Vasco Da Gama @ 1.6 (6/10); The Multiple pays approximately 8.74 (15/2)

Multiple prices are based on our Sportsbook product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.