BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 1st - 2nd JUNE

Soccer – Champions League Final – Liverpool vs Spurs

One of the biggest sporting events on the calendar takes place on Saturday night with the UEFA Champions League final taking place in Madrid. It is understandably the first of my big betting events for this weekend.

This year’s final involves two Premier League sides with both Liverpool and Spurs hoping to secure some silverware in the Spanish capital. The Reds narrowly missed out on Premier League glory, and they will be determined to avoid ending the campaign with nothing to show for their efforts. Jurgen Klopp’s side have been a joy to watch this season, and they barely put a foot wrong.

Liverpool edged past Barcelona to reach this stage of the competition, and they will also be keen to put last season’s CL final defeat firmly behind them here. They have very few injury issues to contend with, and only Naby Keita is a doubt for this showpiece event.

We were all writing off Spurs’ chances in the semi-final against Ajax, but they somehow came through, and thoroughly deserved their place in this game. Despite being injury-hit, Pochettino’s men turned the tie, and shocked the footballing world with their last-gasp victory.

The Argentinian boss will have a few things to conjure with here, especially considering Harry Kane may return in time to feature here. The striker hasn’t played competitive football for a number of months, but even a half-fit Kane will make a huge difference to Spurs’ play. Lucas Moura is highly unlikely to be dropped, whilst Son Hyeung Min’s relentless energy will always come in very handy.

Poch must decide how to approach this tie, and there will be questions asked by fans, regardless of his decision.

Liverpool won both of the two ties in the Premier League, but only be a single goal, and there was very little between the two sides during those 180 minutes of football. This tie may begin slowly, with both sides displaying plenty of nerves during the opening 15 minutes or so.

I can’t wait to see how the two sides match-up, and how they approach this HUGE clash. It’s going to be a tremendous spectacle, and both sides will be desperate to bounce back from their various disappointments this campaign.

Liverpool are always extremely enjoyable to watch, whilst Spurs never know when they are beaten. It’s an interesting mix of styles, and both managers will likely have some ideas up their sleeve.

UK viewers can watch the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final on both BT Sport and Youtube this weekend.

International Cricket – Cricket World Cup – New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

The third match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup takes place this weekend with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka, and it’s the second of my big betting events.

The Black Caps are clear favourites to get their World Cup campaign off to a flying start here, and it’ll be interesting to see whether they can justify that support. They’re fourth in the World Rankings, and will be hoping to finish ahead of near-neighbours Australia in this competition.

I’ve really enjoyed watching Lasith Malinga in recent months, and he will play a major role for his country this summer. It is his fourth and final appearance at this tournament, as he will be forty in 2023, and is unlikely to return for the next Cricket World Cup. He currently boasts a tally of 322 wickets in International One Day events, and he will be Sri Lanka’s main weapon. If they are to stand any chance of beating the Black Caps this weekend, they will need Malinga in top form.

He is the only player to have taken three ODI wickets in Cricket World Cup, and he will hope to end on another high here.

New Zealand were runners up in 2015, and will be aiming to go one step further this time around. The Black Caps have a great record against weaker sides, and they are particularly effective on home soil, however they will be severely tested during the latter stages of this competition. Until that point, they will pretty hard to oppose, and I expect them to begin with a victory here.

Their 4-1 thrashing at the hands of India will surely become a distant memory once the action gets underway here.

New Zealand will face tougher examinations later down the line, but this should be a decent contest with Malinga and co asking plenty of questions of their batting line-up.

All matches at the Cricket World Cup will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Soccer – Major League Soccer – DC United vs San Jose Earthquakes

The MLS continues apace throughout the summer months, and the standings are beginning to take shape. There are a number of big games taking place this weekend, but the match between DC United and San Jose Earthquakes is particularly intriguing, and that’s why it is the third of my big betting events.

DC United have attracted their fair share of headlines this season, largely due to the form of Wayne Rooney. The Scouser has made a decent start to life in Washington, and he scored from the spot last weekend to earn his side a valuable point.

Last season, DC relied on their formidable home form, and that has continued into 2019, with just two defeats so far. They have back-to-back home matches here, and they can add some valuable points to their tally here. They sit top of the Eastern Conference, but their lead is under threat from Seattle Sounders, and their recent form has been far from convincing.

San Jose Earthquakes were expected to struggle once again this season, and they looked on course for another disappointing campaign during the first few weeks. However, their recent form has been excellent, and they will make things tough for DC.

They are one of the in-form sides with three wins in their last five. Although the majority of their victories have arrived at the Avaya Stadium, they did pick up a 2-1 victory at BMO Field last weekend, and will be full of confidence.

SJ Earthquakes were battered 4-0 here last season, and they will be hoping to get their revenge on Saturday. They are yet to win at this stadium, but their recent form suggests that they may just get something from this clash. The odds suggest otherwise, but this tie is a fascinating match-up between the pair, and it could be closer than the betting dictates.

Coverage of this season’s MLS is being broadcast on Premier Sports and Freesports in the UK.

Aussie Rules – AFL – Collingwood vs Freemantle

My fourth big betting event comes from the AFL as week 11. There are a number of terrific games to enjoy, although high-flying Collingwood’s tie with the Dockers is amongst the best.

The Pies have won eight of their first ten games, and only Geelong can rival that form so far. They’ve been victorious in each of their last five games, and come off the back of a narrow success against the Swans. They have lost Daniel Wells with the veteran player sustaining a left-knee injury. He will now miss three months, but they still have plenty of depth to their squad. They have added West Adelaide wingman John Noble to their roster in the mid-season rookie draft, and he will add plenty of speed to their side.

The Magpies have a great record in this match-up, and have been victorious in each of the last four meetings. This weekend, they will face a side who are just about clinging onto their eighth placed spot.

The Dockers got back to winning ways last weekend, with a 73-72 victory over the Lions, and that should give them some confidence coming into this tie. They haven’t been playing particularly well lately, but they do have the ability to cause some problems for their impressive hosts.

With recent victories against hapless Carlton, freefalling St.Kilda and the inconsistent Swans, The Pies haven’t had a proper test in a good few weeks, and they should relish the chance to face a decent calibre of opposition.

This should be a cracker of a contest, and one of the standout AFL matches of week 11.

BT Sport have coverage and highlights of the AFL this season in the UK