Weekend accumulator predictions: Five teams to back across Europe

Simon Barlow

Spotlight

Mark Robins has overseen an upturn in Coventry's fortunes in recent weeks and that can continue against QPR

It is the last weekend of top-flight action in the major European leagues before the World Cup begins and we have selected five teams that could give your bank balance a boost if they do the business.

Saturday, 3pm

Bet 1: Back Coventry to beat QPR at 13/10

Only Blackburn have outperformed Coventry over the last six Championship fixtures with Mark Robins' side climbing up to 12th in the table following their 2-0 midweek home win over Wigan.

The Sky Blues left it late to claim their third win on the bounce, but they are understandably fresher than most of their rivals after so many early-season postponements.

After also beating in-form Rovers and surging Watford in their recent winning run, all of which were achieved with clean sheets, Coventry will be full of confidence against QPR.

On Tuesday, basement club Huddersfield handed the R's their third defeat in four games — all of which have come since head coach Michael Beale was linked to the Wolves job.

Although that could just be a coincidence, it is worrying for Rangers to have scored only one goal and taken a solitary point from their last three away games.

Saturday, 5.30pm

Bet 2: Newcastle to beat Chelsea at 5/4

Newcastle have not lost at home yet this season and should give Graham Potter even more to worry about going into the World Cup break as his Chelsea side travel north on the back of three straight defeats to Premier League opposition.

Admittedly, two of those losses were against the leading duo, but there were signs that Chelsea were going off the rails at Brighton and Potter's team have not produced any evidence to the contrary since.

Undefeated since August, the Magpies carry all the momentum into this game and have proven they create plenty of chances at home.

They have won six and drawn two of their eight Premier League games when priced up as the betting favourite and can consolidate their top-four berth at the expense of a rival at St James' Park this weekend.

Saturday, 6pm

Bet 3: Aberdeen to beat Dundee United at 8/11

Aberdeen will have payback in mind when they take on their east coast rivals Dundee United at Pittodrie on Saturday evening.

The Dons lost 4-0 on Tayside last month as manager Jim Goodwin began an eight-match touchline ban, but he is now back in the dugout.

The Reds are third in the table and coming off a 2-1 loss to Livingston last week in which they missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

In-form forward Bojan Miovski was the culprit, but he has been in excellent form and should be out to make amends against the Terrors.

Dundee United have failed to win a single game on the road this season and, although winners over a slumping Kilmarnock side last week, arrive on the back of three consecutive away defeats.

Saturday, 8pm

Bet 4: PSV to beat AZ Alkmaar at 1/2

Ruud van Nistelrooy's PSV will look to maintain their place at the summit of the Eredivisie at the expense of AZ Alkmaar

PSV went top of the Eredivisie last weekend with a hard-fought and fully-deserved win over champions Ajax at Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's side have the perfect blend of grit and guile to remain in the title race right until the end.

PSV have won all six home Eredivisie matches this season, scoring 29 times and conceding just six goals, so should be formidable opponents for an AZ Alkmaar side that have lost three of their last four away games in all competitions.

AZ look a tired team after a gruelling run of 10 games in the last 37 days.

They have been outscored 5-1 in the second halves of their last four matches combined and collapsed to defeat after RKC Waalwijk scored twice in the last three minutes last weekend.

PSV are fatigued too, but have a bigger squad and will enjoy the boost that goes with such a victory as they achieved over rivals Ajax last Sunday.

Sunday, 2.30pm

Bet 5: Eintracht Frankfurt to beat Mainz at 29/20

Five wins from their seven Bundesliga games since the last international break have brought Eintracht Frankfurt back into the Bundesliga title race and a win at mid-table Mainz could see them jump into the top two.

The reigning Europa League champions have won four of their last five away league games and face a Mainz side that have lost three in a row — including a 1-0 defeat at rock-bottom Schalke in midweek.