There are two EFL Championship fixtures taking place on Tuesday. Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion go head-to-head in a tasty-looking match at the City Ground. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United lock horns at the Riverside Stadium.
With the start of the Premier League season just around the corner, the Chelsea are putting their final preparations in place. After losing to Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on Sunday, the Blues welcome Roma to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for their final friendly.
Championship
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/08/18 | 19:45 | Nott’m Forest v West Brom | Draw & BTTS |
| 07/08/18 | 19:45 | Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd | Middlesbrough to Win 2-1 |
With so many big clubs desperate to get to the Premier League, this season’s Championship promises to be as competitive as ever. Stoke City and West Brom, who were both relegated last year, are among the favourites to win the division. On Tuesday, the Baggies make the trip to the City Ground to face Nottm Forest, who have also been tipped to have a good season. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, will be hoping to shrug off the disappointment of losing out in the play-offs last year. On Tuesday, Tony Pulis and his side entertain Chris Wilder’s Sheff Utd.
Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion
Tuesday 7th August, 19:45, Sky Sports
Aitor Karanka’s Forest and Darren Moore’s West Brom meet at the City Ground in the Championship on Tuesday. With both sides expected to be there or thereabouts in the race for the title this season, this is a huge game in midweek.
Karanka has been a busy man in the summer, bringing in the likes of Michael Dawson, Gil Dias, Lewis Grabban and Jack Robinson. Also, Joao Carvalho has signed from Benfica for a whopping £13.2m fee. Meanwhile, the Baggies will be hoping to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and the signings of Kyle Bartley and Sam Johnstone will certainly help.
This promises to be an entertaining game between these two pretty evenly matched teams on Tuesday. With that in mind, have a punt on the draw and both teams to score at 7/2.
Draw & BTTS – 7/2 at 888 Sport
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United
Tuesday 7th August, 19:45
Boro and Sheff Utd meet at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday. Boro, who are expected to have a fine season under Pulis, will be eyeing up all three points from this home match. However, the Blades will be no pushovers in North Yorkshire.
Middlesbrough have strengthened their team over the summer with the arrivals of Aden Flint and Paddy McNair. However, they could lose the influential Ben Gibson, who has attracted plenty of interest elsewhere. Sheff Utd have let several players leave, with John Egan and Dean Henderson arriving.
Being the home team, Boro will back themselves to come out on top in this one. We fancy Middlesbrough to win 2-1, which is available at 8/1.
Middlesbrough to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at Bet365
Friendlies
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/08/18 | 20:05 | Chelsea v Lyon | Chelsea HT/FT |
| 08/08/18 | 01:05 | Real Madrid v Roma | Real to Win to Nil |
The 2018 International Champions Cup has thrown up several memorable matches over the past couple of weeks or so. Chelsea play their last game in this successful pre-season tournament when they face Lyon at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The following the day, Real Madrid play Roma at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Chelsea v Lyon
Tuesday 7th August, 20:05, Premier 1
The Chelsea fans will get to see Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge for the first time when they face Lyon in an International Champions Cup fixture on Tuesday night.
The Blues have impressed at times during pre-season, with last week’s penalty shootout loss to Arsenal being their only defeat. Lyon, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on last season’s third-place finish in Ligue 1.
Despite their defeat to Man City at Wembley, the Chelsea players will want to impress their boss in midweek, so have a punt on the Blues to be winning at half time and full time (13/5).
Chelsea HT/FT – 13/5 at 10Bet
Real Madrid v Roma
Wednesday 8th August, 01:05, Premier 1
Julen Lopetegui’s Real Madrid go up against Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This is Real’s last fixture before the UEFA Super Cup final with rivals Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid have had a mixed bag of results in pre-season, beating Liverpool and losing to Man Utd. Meanwhile, Roma sealed a big 4-2 win over Barcelona in their past friendly last week.
This will not be an easy game for Los Blancos in East Rutherford, but Lopetegui’s men should have enough to pick up a win. We like the look of 7/2 for Real to win to nil on Wednesday.
Real Madrid to Win to Nil – 7/2 at BetVictor