Hipster Tipster: Derby delight for Sampdoria tipped in Euro fourfold

I was so preoccupied with thoughts on whether I should keep or lose my carefully crafted beard this week that the weekend has really crept up on me.

I mean, when the models for River Island are sporting beards more impressive than mine it really is time to ponder whether I’ve made the right life decision regarding my facial follicles.

Anyway, I can put any thoughts of a trip to Murdock’s to one side for the moment and instead focus on what is actually a pretty solid weekend for televised European football action.

There’s the Derby della Lanterna for a start plus games in Germany, France and Holland – there’s also some La Liga action taking place if you’re still interested in that sort of thing!

So, without further ado, here are the games you should be watching and sides you should be backing this weekend.

FC Koln to beat Hannover 96 @ 6/5

Peter Stoger’s Billy Goats sit one place behind Hannover in the Bundesliga but look a solid bet to leapfrog their rivals this weekend.

The RheinEnergieStadion faithful have seen their side lose just once in five games and with 96 losing four and drawing one in that time it has to be the hosts who are backed here.

Sampdoria to beat Genoa @ 11/8

Sampdoria also sit one place behind their city rivals having not win a game in five attempts. Genoa have also won three on the bounce so tipping i Blucerchiati may seem unwise.

However, it is the Stadio Luigi Ferraris that holds significance here. The clubs may share the ground but their fortunes there differ somewhat.

Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men are unbeaten in 11 games at the stadium, while their co-inhabitants have won just one of their last five.

Ajax to beat Willem II @ 23/20

Willem II are not in bad form to be fair, winning two of their last three matches, but Ajax simply love smashing the Tricolores from Tilburg.

Frank de Boer’s men have won their last three games, lost just two of their last 23 games on the road and have won each of the last eight meetings with this weekend’s hosts.

In fact the last two games have seen Ajax run out 5-0 winners so this is about a banky as bankers get.

Lyon to beat Nantes @ 8/15

Les Gones are in danger of being dubbed draw specialists after sharing the spoils in each of their last three outings.

Nantes, however, would love such a moniker after winning just one of their last nine games. Such form will boost the confidence of Hubert Fournier’s league leaders who have won nine of their last 10 at the Stade de Gerland.

And after knocking Lyon out of the Coupe de France last time the sides met the Canaries can expect something of a backlash.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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