Betting Tips for Today

At Stamford Bridge, there is a clear need to avoid ending the year on a bitter note, and after the 2–1 defeat against Aston Villa the home side require a reaction both in performance and in results. Chelsea have won only one of their last five league matches, yet long-term trends of strong year-ending home performances and the fact that they have won two of their last three league meetings at home against Bournemouth still provide a solid foundation for confidence. Bournemouth arrive in obvious decline, with nine league matches without a win and the worst away defensive record in the division, having conceded 27 goals in nine road games, which represents a serious warning sign against an opponent that maintains solid attacking production. Chelsea are dealing with several fitness concerns involving Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and uncertainty surrounding Marc Cucurella, but they still possess enough depth to rotate effectively, with Malo Gusto able to deputise on the left flank and Wesley Fofana offering reinforcement in central defence. Bournemouth will be without Tyler Adams due to an MCL injury, and Ben Gannon-Doak, Veljko Milosavljevic and Matai Akinmboni are also sidelined; combined with their current away vulnerability this further tilts the balance towards the home side. Taking into account form, table context and the visitors’ defensive numbers, a Chelsea victory appears the most logical outcome.

There is a clear difference in motivation and overall performance levels, even though DR Congo have already effectively secured their place in the knockout stage. Following a win over Benin courtesy of Theo Bongonda’s strike and a draw with Senegal in which Cédric Bakambu found the net, Sébastien Desabre’s side appear stable and consistently capable of delivering in decisive moments. Botswana arrive without a point after defeats to Senegal and Benin, knowing that only pride remains to play for, and they are now without a victory in nine consecutive matches. The pattern of conceding first is also significant, as Botswana frequently fall behind early while DR Congo have opened the scoring in eight of their last nine matches. Bakambu is also chasing a personal milestone by potentially equalling Dieumerci Mbokani’s all-time scoring record of 22 goals, adding further motivation even in a relatively low-pressure fixture. Even if Desabre chooses to rest Arthur Masuaku and introduce Joris Kayembe, the defensive unit built around Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka should remain strong enough to maintain stability. From a results perspective, a DR Congo victory stands out as the most logical outcome.

Benin are enjoying a historic tournament moment after recording their first ever AFCON victory with a 1–0 win over Botswana, decided by Yohan Roche, which has undoubtedly lifted confidence within the squad. However, they now face one of the tournament favourites, as Senegal have collected four points from two matches, opened their campaign with a commanding 3–0 win over Botswana and demonstrated resilience against DR Congo by equalising through Sadio Mané after conceding early. Experience and squad depth are decisive here, with players such as Édouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye providing structure, control and composure. Benin’s historical struggles against Senegal, with only one victory and a far greater number of defeats, underline the difficulty of breaking down such a well-organised opponent. Senegal are monitoring the fitness of Ismaila Sarr following an ankle ligament issue, but even without full certainty over his availability the attacking quality remains high, as Nicolas Jackson has already demonstrated his ability to influence matches in this tournament. Benin remain without Andreas Hountondji due to a thigh injury and will rely heavily on discipline and compact organisation, yet at this level experience and efficiency in decisive moments usually prevail. For these reasons, a Senegal victory is the expected outcome.

Al-Nassr are enjoying a flawless league run, having won all ten of their matches, scoring 33 goals and conceding only five, figures that clearly establish them as the benchmark of the competition. Under Jorge Jesus the team appear more structured and confident, which is reflected in their uninterrupted winning streak since the October cup defeat to Al Ittihad. Al Ettifaq have improved and collected important points in recent weeks, and they have lost only once in their last five home league matches, meaning this will not be a straightforward away assignment. Nevertheless, they face an opponent with a decisive difference-maker, as Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 12 league goals in 10 appearances and arrives in excellent form after scoring twice in his most recent outing. Al-Nassr are without Mohamed Simakan, Saad Haqawi and Abdulmalik Al Jaber through injury, while Sadio Mané is away at AFCON and Sami Al Najei remains a fitness doubt, yet overall squad quality still remains well above the league average. Al Ettifaq will be missing winger Joao Costa and will rely on Georginio Wijnaldum, who has already netted five league goals and recently scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner, but against such an efficient league leader any defensive lapse is likely to be punished. Taking into account form, attacking productivity and the psychological momentum of an extended winning run, Al-Nassr are expected to maintain their perfect record.

The overall context speaks very clearly, with sixth-placed Scunthorpe sitting on 46 points while 23rd-placed Gateshead have accumulated only 19, a gap that is reflected in consistency of performance. Scunthorpe are also unbeaten in their last five home matches, which is often a decisive factor in the National League. In terms of team news the situation is straightforward, as the hosts have only one absentee in Jonathan Gjoshe following surgery, while Gateshead are missing Connor Pani due to an Achilles tendon rupture. The data suggest a high-scoring contest, with Scunthorpe recording three consecutive league matches over 2.5 goals and both teams showing trends toward higher goal counts in recent weeks. Gateshead have struggled on the road and have lost three of their last six away matches, which is a problematic combination when facing a side that averages 1.91 goals per home game. Even though the visitors are capable of scoring away from home, the overall picture points towards the hosts being more likely to secure all three points. For these reasons, a Scunthorpe United victory is the logical conclusion.