Lincoln Red Imps are eyeing an Old Firm double when they host Rangers in Europa League qualifying. The team from Gibraltar famously beat Celtic in Brendan Rodgers’ first match in charge in 2016, although the Bhoys made amends in the return leg in Glasgow.
Everton will hope a smart summer in the transfer market sees them challenging for silverware this season and they begin their EFL Cup campaign with the visit of League Two side Salford. The Toffees enjoyed an impressive start to the new campaign at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Tottenham and look to have recruited well under Carlo Ancelotti.
Harrogate made a dream start to life in the EFL at the weekend and will now be eyeing a cup upset at Premier League new boys West Brom. Town were promoted through the National League play-offs last month and have started the new season with four successive away games in three different competitions.
Burton pulled off an EFL Cup shock over Aston Villa on their way to the semi-finals in 2018/19 and will fancy their chances of a repeat on Tuesday night. Jake Buxton was part of the playing squad back then and now aims to take down Dean Smith’s side as a manager.
Birmingham finished 31 points below Brentford in the Championship last season but maintained a good head-to-head record against the Bees. City took four points from two tight tussles, having picked up a couple of draws during the previous campaign’s hard-fought encounters.
Kansas City and Houston were involved in a couple of high-scoring thrillers last term but replicating those classic contests will be tough. It is always easier for defences to prepare for a new NFL season and that should be even more apparent after a summer of disruptions this year.
Nations League holders Portugal look fired up to try and retain their title and are taken to edge out a spirited but limited Sweden side in Stockholm. The Navigators kicked off their campaign with a convincing victory over Croatia, while their hosts were beaten by France at Friends Arena.
Belgium have won all 11 previous encounters with Iceland and are expected to continue that trend in Tuesday night’s Nations League clash. The Red Devils prevailed 2-0 and 3-0 when these teams met in the inaugural staging of this competition and remain in red-hot form for this renewal.
Edin Dzeko helped Bosnia and Herzegovina to draw in Italy on Friday and could prove the difference in Monday’s clash with Poland. The visitors are without Robert Lewandowski for their first two Nations League fixtures and missed the Bayern Munich hot-shot when losing away to Holland.
Italy beat Bosnia and Herzegovina twice in Euro 2020 qualifying and can confirm that superiority in Friday’s Nations League clash in Florence. Roberto Mancini has helped the Azzurri to rebuild after missing out on the last World Cup and seems keen to maintain a winning mentality.
Aberdeen’s players appear to have come together through adversity and we’re backing them to battle for a draw at high-flying Hibernian. The hosts have only dropped two points from five Scottish Premiership matches but recent evidence suggests they may be flattered by a lofty position.
Hamilton ended a run of seven straight losses to Rangers when securing a surprise 1-0 Scottish Premiership success at Ibrox in March. In fact, the Accies have managed to score in three consecutive encounters with the Light Blues and are rated a value bet to keep that run going.
Celtic enjoyed a fine Champions League victory over KR Reykjavik in midweek and are also expected to ease past Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. The Terrors have shown great spirit since returning to the top flight but we fear this clash may provide them with a reality check.
Scottish Premiership high-flyers Hibernian have found McDiarmid Park a happy hunting ground in recent years and can beat St Johnstone there again on Sunday. The Edinburgh outfit are unbeaten in their last five trips to this venue, picking up maximum points from the two most recent visits.