Football Bet of the Day: Low-scoring sides to struggle again in front of goal

The March international window is now upon us, meaning there will be no regular Monday night games from the Premier League, Serie A or La Liga - three European leagues that we can usually rely upon to extend the weekend action.

Instead, we head to South America - Argentina specifically - for my Football Bet of the Day on Monday, March 17, with Banfield heading to the Estadio 15 de Abril to take on Union de Santa Fe in the Torneo Apertura Betano (22:00).

Union de Santa Fe vs Banfield Odds

Neither Union nor Banfield have enjoyed positive starts to the current campaign; the former are languishing in 14th in Group A, level on five points with 15th-place Aldosivi - albeit having played two games fewer than the bottom side - while Banfield (12th) are only two points better off than Monday's hosts at the Estadio 15 de Abril.

Union have only won one of their eight Apertura matches this calendar year, drawing twice and losing the other five. Banfield, meanwhile, won their first two games before embarking on a run of seven without a victory (D2, L5).

Both sides are suffering from a crisis of confidence and we certainly shouldn't expect a classic on Monday.

Union are the lowest scorers in the division having struck just three times in the Apertura, blanking in five of their eight contests so far.

Banfield have netted double (six) the amount of El Tate but that paltry total still ranks them as the third-lowest scorers and like Union, El Taladro have failed to score in five games, albeit they have played one more than their next opponents.

Still, neither side has been porous at the other end with Banfield (seven) and Union (nine) the only clubs outside the top five to have conceded single digits.

Football Odds

Banfield games in Apertura Group A are averaging just 1.44 goals and only Union (1.5) are posting numbers in that region.

Therefore, it seems appropriate to back a low-scoring contest in Santa Fe on Monday.

Five (62.5%) of Union's Apertura matches this season have gone under 1.5 goals and six (66.7%) of Banfield's have failed to see multiple strikes, so there's some value to be had in plumping for the under 1.5 line at 11/10, which offers an implied probability of 47.6%.

This bet has been a winner in three (75%) of Union's four home matches and all four (100%) of Banfield's away outings, while there has been just a single goal scored across the last two meetings between these two teams (0-0 draw in January 2023, 1-0 win for Union in May 2024).

If you're feeling even bolder, a goalless draw - which has landed once each for Union and Banfield this term - can be selected at 4/1.

However, at just over EVS, it's under 1.5 goals that I'm backing.

Offers

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You can read all our latest Football Bet of the Day at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.