Tuesday 26th November 2024

In Across the Leagues today:

• Champions League tonight…
• Sporting v Arsenal…
• Hat-trick prices… 

We need to talk about Viktor…

There’s only one player I want to talk to you about today. Sometimes, it pays to just keep it simple and follow what the formbook is saying. In this case, the message is very loud and clear…

Viktor Gyokeres is in the scoring form of his life.

Via Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry - the 26-year-old Swedish striker has found his Champions League chances at Sporting in Portugal. He grabbed the headlines in Ruben Amorim’s final home game at the Lisbon club, bagging a hat-trick against none other than Manchester City…

Amorim is now the new boss at Manchester United. And on either side of that name-making hat-trick against City, Gyokeres has been banging in the goals - left, right & centre…

Prior to the Sporting-City game at the start of the month, Viktor had smashed in FOUR goals in one game for his club. And a brace in the one before that…

Since that man-of-the-match City showing, Gyokeres has found the net in three out of four appearances for club & country, including another four-goal salvo when on International duty for Sweden last week.

• Gyokeres has landed Anytime Scorer bets in 8 of his last 9 games overall. Racking up a remarkable 17 goals in that period. And going back to the start of the season in August, in total, he’s got 33 goals from his 24 appearances. Remarkable stats…

In that time, Viktor has scored two or more goals in a match on eight occasions. With a hat-trick (or more) in four of those.

Using that exceptional 2024/25 form as guide, one can take the stance that tonight’s Scorer prices represent some of-the-moment value about Gyokeres. Sporting are at home v Arsenal, in their first European assignment since Amorim left for the Premier League…

A couple of firms are taking on the market and offering a series of industry-best prices about Viktor tonight (see end of email for bookies). Using those odds as a marker here:

• 15/8 (2.88) Anytime Scorer - if you’d backed Gyokeres to level 1-point stakes at that price in all 24 games this term, you’d have landed 19 payouts, and be showing 30 pts profit, with an ROI of 127%...
• 11/1 (12.0) To Score 2+ Goals - to level 1-pt stakes, backing Gyokeres for a brace or better in every game would’ve landed 8 winners. Generating 72 pts profit, with a 300% ROI…
• 66/1 (67.0) To Score a Hat-Trick - backing Viktor for a hat-trick in every game would’ve produced 4 winning bets, 244 pts profit, and a four-figure ROI of 1,016%...

Admittedly, there’s an element of letting the numbers guide us where we want to go there. The above calculations are an example only, showing what kind of profits Gyokeres would’ve turned up so far this season, had today’s at-home-to-Arsenal best prices been the same in those three respective Scorer markets, every time.

But the fact remains. Viktor is in sparkling form. He takes penalties, too. In fact, two of his three goals against Man City came from the spot.

We used to back this guy when he was doing the business at Coventry City in the Championship. Let’s get behind him this evening, on a big stage in the Champions League…

Gyokeres is currently top-scorer in the Portuguese Liga. And joint-top in the Champions League, too.

Using those standout prices as the template, I’m proposing a mini staking plan for this match:

• 2 points on Gyokeres to Score at Anytime @ 15/8
• 1 pt to Score 2+ Goals @ 11/1
• 0.5 pt to Score a Hat-Trick @ 66/1

You may have your own opinion and preference when it comes to the prices, markets, and staking, or course.

And talking of making your own choices…

Paul’s Pick-Your-Own Profits…

I got a good email from Across the Leagues member Paul H at the weekend. Paul used the stats on our site to pick out a winning treble for himself:

Great work, Paul.

Why not have a go yourself. Log-in to view all our bet-specific stats for 18 leagues at:

www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

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TODAY’S PICKS & BEST ODDS

See above for full details including staking suggestions

Sporting v Arsenal

Champions League, 8pm - TNT Sports

• Anytime Scorer: Viktor Gyokeres @ 15/8 (2.88) Bet365, 13/8 (2.63) Betfred, Boylesports, 888 Sport, Unibet
• To Score 2+ Goals: Viktor Gyokeres @ 11/1 Bet365 (‘Multi Scorers’ player market), 10/1 Betfred, 9/1 Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, Boylesports
• To Score a Hat-Trick: Viktor Gyokeres @ 66/1 Paddy Power (‘Player to Score Multiple Goals’ market), Betfair Sportsbook, 888 Sport, 50/1 Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Star Sports

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I’ll be back ahead of the weekend games, with plenty more stats, analysis & standout prices for you.

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues