Wednesday 10th January 2024

In Across the Leagues today:

• FA Cup 4th Round draw verdict…
• Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, 7pm…
• Standout stats for Stefan Savic… 

Cup update – and a second bite at Savic tonight…

FA Cup 3rd Round weekend was light on major shocks. But our two outsider selections both made it into the 4th Round draw at exciting prices…

Wolves went in the book at 80/1 or 66/1 Each Way. A 1-1 draw when down to 10 men at Brentford means Gary O’Neil’s team get the chance to go again in a replay on their own patch, next week…

The 4th Round draw sends the winner of that tie to Championship side West Brom at the end of the month.

• The bookies now make Wolves 50/1 for the FA Cup. Each Way terms: 1/2 odds 1-2 places

For the second time this season in all competitions, Leicester beat Millwall, 3-2. The Foxes are also in the book for us at 80/1 or 66/1 Each Way…

Leicester will face fellow Championship opposition again in the next round. Drawn at home to take on either Birmingham or Hull.

• Leicester can still be backed 66/1 EW with Bet365, 888 Sport, Betfred, and Betway

Overall, I’d say that the 4th Round draw is pretty promising from an underdog perspective. Especially when you consider that there are four all-Premier League ties - with the possibility of that becoming six, depending on replays.

And with Chelsea v Aston Villa and Tottenham v Man City set to take out a couple of the teams at the top of the betting. That can only be a good thing for our outsider picks Wolves and Leicester, moving forwards in the competition.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid tonight…

Kick-off 7pm

Last Wednesday I flagged up our old friend Stefan Savic as a Card prospect for Atletico Madrid’s trip to Girona in La Liga. He didn’t get on the pitch that night, in a game that turned out to be a 4-3 thriller. Our Player Card picks were void there.

We can look to take a second bite at the Savic prices this evening, with Atletico facing old foes Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi final…

Despite its name, these days the Spanish Super Cup is played in Saudi Arabia. That’s the only aspect that I can see dampening the ‘high cards’ script in this rivalry; my guess would be that the stadium is unlikely to be filled with entirely partisan Spanish supporters, whipping up a ferocious atmosphere.

Since last week, our man Savic has celebrated his 33rd birthday. If the now-veteran defender gets a game today, he is very much a Card contender…

As reported last week, Savic has been carded in five of his last eight appearances in all competitions for club & country. Including being sent off against Getafe last time out for Atletico in the Spanish league, resulting in a one-match ban.

Should he start the match for his first appearance of 2024, or make it on as a substitute in Normal Time this evening (Extra Time doesn’t count for pre-match Cards bets). Then the Madrid-derby history suggests Savic is a chief Card candidate for this cup contest:

• Savic has been booked in Normal Time in 3 of his last 6 starts against Real Madrid in all competitions. Plus, he was shown two yellows & a red in Extra Time at Real in the Copa del Rey last season…

As with last week’s advice, we’ll take Savic for a Card at the best prices, with 2/1 available. And a smaller stake (eg. 0.5 point) for him to get Sent Off, at 28/1.

TODAY’S PICKS

See above for full details

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

Spanish Super Cup/ Supercopa de Espana, 7pm

Live Streaming available with bookies including Bet365 and Skybet (with a funded account).

• Player to be Carded: Stefan Savic @ 2/1 (3.0) Skybet, 9/5 (2.8) Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, 17/10 (2.7) William Hill, 6/4 (2.5) Betway, 7/5 (2.4) Bet365, BetVictor, 13/10 (2.3) LiveScoreBet, Unibet, BetUK, BetMGM 

• Player to be Sent Off: Stefan Savic @ 28/1 Skybet, Bet365, 25/1 William Hill, LiveScoreBet, 22/1 Betway

Time-saver: where possible, the bookie links above go directly to the matches/ markets in question.

I’ll be back on Friday with your Weekend Picks, and Premier League Predictions.

P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at: oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues