Football betting tips: Weekend best bets
Sunday 15:15
2pts Kylian Mbappe to score anytime in Barcelona vs Real Madrid at 6/5 (General)
1pt A sending off in Barcelona vs Real Madrid at 11/4 (bet365)
Sunday 15:30
1pt Will Grigg to score anytime in Chesterfield vs Walsall at 15/8 (Betfair, Paddy Power)
Sunday 18:30
1pt Charlton to beat Wycombe & Charlton 4+ corners at 4/1 (bet365)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
- Kick-off: 15:15 BST, Sunday
- TV: Premier Sports 1 + La Liga TV
- Home 19/20 | Draw 29/10 | Away 23/10
- Live odds, form and stats
Jake Osgathorpe
El Clasico is always a big game, but this one feels bigger than usual, not only because of this game's importance in the title race, but also because of the last meeting in the Copa del Rey final, in which scenes turned unsavoury.
That game went to extra-time and while Barcelona went on to win 3-2, the game will be remembered for a hat-trick of red cards for Real Madrid's players on the bench, the most egregious offence being Antonio Rudiger launching an ice pack at the referee.
Rudiger wanted to throw bags full of ice at the ref in front of the King of Spain, proper head loss ššššš pic.twitter.com/1bXeKwW8AR
ā Dembouz šļø (@FCBWay) April 27, 2025
It seems Real Madrid continue to go down the route of 'the referee is biased' and 'it's not fair', and that all exploded in that final.
And it could do again, because this is effectively another final, and it's last chance saloon for Madrid. They head to Catalonia four points behind their Clasico rivals in the La Liga table with four games to play, so should they lose, the title is all-but over and Los Blancos will end the season trophy-less.
The stakes could not be higher for the star-studded Madridistas, especially with this also being Carlo Ancelotti's final Clasico.
On the flip side, Barcelona have to pick themselves up mentally and physically from their midweek Champions League elimination against Inter, with Hansi Flick's side a minute away from making the final only to be knocked out in extra-time.
Who knows how leggy they will be, but if there is a game to get the team to refocus quickly and forget about that disappointment, it's a Clasico. It's fair to say that Barca have owned Real this season, winning 4-0 at the Bernabeu, 5-2 in the Super Cup final and 3-2 (aet) in the Copa del Rey final, so the even money about the hosts winning and wrapping up the title did initially appeal.
But, their defensive issues continue to get exposed, and I do think they will be tired here so I'll swerve them and instead look to profit on the fact that they simply can't keep good teams out.
Their high-line is fantastically risky and leads to so many fun games, but it does mean they give up plenty of chances, and one player who is ideal for exposing that weakness is KYLIAN MBAPPE, and he appeals at 6/5 TO SCORE ANYTIME.
The Frenchman is obviously a sensational talent and has been in great form since the Super Cup final in January. He's scored in 11 of 17 starts across domestic matches, firing a total of 17 goals.
He has found the net in the last two Clasicos, and averaging 0.73 xG per 90 this season, he'll certainly get chances.
Finally, I have a feeling that Mbappe will be extra-motivated here after seeing the PSG team he left reach the Champions League final having already won Ligue 1 and the Super Cup, while also making it to the Coupe de France final. Should Les Parisiens win the UCL without him and he finishes trophy-less, it will be a bitter pill for him to swallow, so expect him to do everything in his power to help Madrid win this game and keep the title race alive.
Going back to how the last Clasico finished, and with the card line set at a huge 6.5 for this game, we simply have to back A SENDING OFF IN THE MATCH at 11/4.
The stakes are high, it kicked off last time, and we've a good refereeing appointment, so what's not to like? Also, for added spice, Real Madrid have gone after referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez this week via their TV channel, aiming to cast doubt on his impartiality ahead of the Clasico.
The broadcast portrayed him as a lifelong Barcelona fan who has been put in charge of one of the most decisive Clasicos in recent seasons. They stated that Madrid have only won two of the last six games when Senor Hernandez has refereed them. Oh, and Madrid TV didn't stop there, they also went after the VAR official too.
That will only add further fuel to the fire of Madrid players, who already - apparently - think the referees in Spain are all against them. Should this game be going against them, expect petulance from the team in white.
Anyway, that's a narrative-driven reason I like this bet, the others are the magnitude of the contest and the referees red card record. He loves giving players their marching orders.
In 241 La Liga career appearances, Hernandez has flashed red 74 times, working at an eye-watering average of 0.31 per game. He's also shown red in three of the four Clasico's he's officiated, and when we throw in the fact that seven of the last 24 domestic Real Madrid games have seen a red card too, this bet looks a real runner.
Odds correct at 1720 (09/05/25)
Chesterfield vs Walsall
- Kick-off: 15:30 BST, Sunday
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Home 21/20 | Draw 11/5 | Away 9/4
- Live odds, form and stats
Joe Townsend
It could never last, the bookies eventually caught on: Spireites good, Saddlers bad.
Having initially opened up as longshots to win the League Two play-offs, and significant outsiders for their semi-final, Chesterfield now have an equal chance of both reaching Wembley, and being promoted to the third tier as opponents Walsall - according to the odds.
Paul Cook's side, antepost title favourites before making a slow start, stormed into the final play-off place by winning eight, drawing four and losing just one of their last 13 games. Walsall's final-day win over Crewe was only their third in 21 matches, a run that saw them collapse from a 12-point lead at the top.
Chesterfield only just completed their late-season fightback by winning 1-0 at Accrington courtesy of a goal from veteran striker WILL GRIGG.
With the 33-year-old in the starting XI, Chesterfield are unbeaten since December 3, so it's therefore unsurprising his late March return from injury ultimately proved decisive. In his last six starts the Spirerites have won five and drawn one, with Grigg scoring in four of those matches, including in all of his last three.
The 15/8 about him TO SCORE ANYTIME looks large for a man who has scored 11 goals in 20 league starts this season, and 14 times in all competitions (23 starts, 14 sub appearances).
Given his own form, and that of both his team's and their opponents' it is a nice bit of value; facing the club he spent the first five years of his career with can't harm our chances either.
Wycombe vs Charlton
- Kick-off: 18:30 BST, Sunday
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Home 11/8 | Draw 2/1 | Away 9/5
- Live odds, form and stats
Tom Carnduff
Wycombeās season could so easily have followed a different path.
A side who looked like automatic promotion contenders under Matt Bloomfieldās guidance saw their campaign not quite derailed, but certainly knocked off course by his departure for Luton in January.
Mike Dodds was the man tasked with getting them over the line and, while heās returned a record which reads seven wins, four draws and six losses, itās the nature of their defeats which causes huge concern for the Chairboysā play-off hopes.
The six theyāve seen go against them under Doddsā guidance have come against Birmingham, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Reading, Stockport and Wrexham - sides who all finished in the top seven.
CHARLTON are the outsiders but Iāll back them to secure a first leg advantage, with CHARLTON 4+ CORNERS making up a 4/1 double.
The Addicks have been strong under Nathan Jones throughout the course of the campaign. They may have been beaten by Wrexham to end their automatic promotion hopes but theyāve had good results against the others featuring in the play-offs.
Theyāve beaten Wycombe twice - including a 4-0 thrashing at this venue less than three weeks ago, with maximum returns against Leyton Orient and two draws with Stockport.
Iād expect an attacking approach considering Wycombeās vulnerability, which contributes to the corners count, but they did finish fifth in Englandās third tier for corners taken during the regular season, while they were seventh for crosses attempted.
Itās a low enough tally to tempt me into adding it in to double the odds on an away victory.
Odds correct at 1215 BST (09/05/25)
Previews to follow:
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
