Match day 36 in the Barclay’s Premier League is upon us this weekend and it brings with it several standout matches underlined by battles from top to bottom in the table.
At the top, the race to the title is heating up between Manchester United and Chelsea FC, who are three points apart. Appropriately, they’ll settle the title matter between themselves on Sunday when they collide at the Old Trafford.
At the bottom of the table, Wigan Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United are fighting for Premier League survival.
Here is a look at the first three matches that will kick off Saturday’s soccer betting card at 10:00 AM Eastern Time/ 15:00 Local Time.
Aston Villa -130 vs. Wigan Athletic +325 Draw +250
Soccer Betting Verdict: Aston Villa dropped from 11 to 13 in the table last weekend following a 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion. The defeat snapped a four-game undefeated run. Wigan Athletic meanwhile stayed put at 18 in the table, following a draw at home to Everton.
Aston Villa will aim to get back on the winning track at the expense of relegation-mired Wigan at Villa Park on Saturday. Wigan is down but not out. There is still everything to play for which means that they should give Aston a real fight. This should be a tough game as these teams are quite similar in some respects. The draw bet (listed at +250) is always a good betting option in such a case.
Bolton Wanderers -130 vs. Sunderland +325 Draw +250
Soccer Betting Verdict: Bolton Wanderers are on back-to-back losses going into this match and another defeat would be costly towards their bid for a spot in European action. It’s imperative therefore that they return to winning ways. They have an excellent opportunity against Sunderland who have not only suffered recent dip in form that has seen them lose four of their last five matches but also who aren’t as effective on the road as they are at home. Look for Bolton to bounce back with a win, listed at -130.
Everton +170 vs. Manchester City +145 Draw +220
Soccer Betting Verdict: Manchester City is holding steadfastly to fourth spot in the league table and with a seven-point margin and a game in hand over fifth placed Liverpool, the Champions League playoff spot is within reach. Hence, they’ll be looking to take all three points at Everton on the weekend. Everton will be no cakewalk though. In seventh spot in the table, Everton has a European agenda too and so they’ll be looking to take all three points as well. Appropriately, the market on this match is tight but Man City has the slight edge despite being the visiting team. I’d say the odds are split evenly between these two teams on the win and therefore, the draw bet (listed at +220) seems to be the first betting pick here.
