Early goals for Barca the lynch-pin of European league treble

Away from tonight’s Capital One Cup action, a trio of televised games from across Europe provide ample opportunity to land a tasty treble of odds of around 15/2.

Barcelona v Real Sociedad – First half to have the most Barcelona Goals (7/4)

Barca have started this season in blistering form. Five wins from five, with a goal difference of +14, there are few teams that you wouldn’t fancy them to see off. But at odds of 1/7 it is worth exploring other avenues.

The goals market looks to be the place to look. More specifically a punt on Gerardo Martino’s men to score most of their goals in the first half at 7/4 looks cracking value. In their previous ten competitive fixtures 58% of their goals have come in the opening 45 minutes. As well as this, of their last 50 competitive goals at the Nou Camp, there has been an even split between the two halves. For those reasons, this looks a big price and is well worth including in the treble.

Udinese to beat Genoa (17/20)

In the last two and a half years, only Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan have come away from the Stadio Communale Friuli with three league points. That is some stat that Genoa have to overcome. Even the return of Alberto Gilardino hasn’t particularly boosted Il Grifone’s start to the season, with a 3-0 win at struggling Sampdoria being their sole victory of the campaign.

Udinese have also struggled with consistency and have just one win to their name so far. But led by the talismanic Antonio Di Natalie it is their goalscoring threat that stands out. Netting in each of their last 20 games, it is clear that Bianconeri certainly are confident going forward and this combined with home advantage means they should have enough in their locker to claim victory here.

Marseille v St Etienne – Under 2.5 goals (4/6)

Despite both sitting in the top four, Marseille and St Etienne have proved rather tricky to pin down. After a good start to the season, the home team are winless in four, and will be without front-man Andre-Pierre Gignac here. St Etienne on the other hand were humbled with a defeat at home to the underperforming Toulouse last week. For these reasons, investing in the win-draw-win market is risky business.

Although they have lost just one of their last ten at Stade Velodrome, Marseille have rarely run out convincing winners. Compounded with Gignac’s absence,  the visitors missing as many as six first-teamers, and the fact that seven of the last eight meetings between the sides has gone this way, under 2.5 goals looks the bet to take.

All odds and markets correct as of the time of publishing