Football Accumulator Tips: 9/1 Friday five-fold as club action resumes

Club football properly resumes on Friday, following the September international break. In Friday's Football Accumulator Tips, I've made five selections, which combine for a 9.67/1 payout.

We start the day in China and Japan, moving to Saudi Arabia, England and, finally, Portugal. Check the five-leg acca out below... 

Shanghai Port (H) to beat Yunnan Yukun & Both Teams to Score (11:00 BST) @ 23/20

Two-time defending Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port host 2024 Jia League winners Yunnan Yukun at the Pudong Football Stadium, where Kevin Muscat's side have lost just twice in 12 games this season (W6, D4).

Eighth-placed Yukun, 18 points behind Port (third), have won just twice on their travels this term (D3, L6), losing their last four away matches. The first three of those were in the league, against Beijing Guoan (2-1), Zhejiang Professional (3-1) and Qingdao Hainiu (5-1), before a 7-0 thrashing at Guoan in the Chinese FA Cup semi-finals last month.

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The first-ever meeting between Port and Yukun, at the Yuxi Plateau Sports Centre Stadium in Yuxi on April 25, was competitive, as the visitors triumphed 3-2. Port opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but their hosts had a goal disallowed either side of that strike from Leonardo.

I'd expect Port to finish proceedings on Friday with a healthier margin, winning by two or three goals, perhaps, but I'm backing Yukun to get on the scoresheet again, as they have done in all but three of their 23 league games this season. Both teams have scored in 74% (17) of their matches, with only two clubs posting a higher percentage; one of those, leading the way on 87% (20), is Port, who have seen the selection land in their last eight games - five of which they have won.

Today's Football Fixtures

Machida Zelvia (H) to beat Yokohama FC (11:00 BST) @ 8/15

In the Japanese J1 League, relegation-threatened Yokohama FC pitch up at the Machida GION Stadium to take on title contenders Machida Zelvia, who have won their last nine home games (five in the league).

Friday's hosts now appear to be in a six or seven-team chase for the J1 League trophy, with Machida just four points behind leaders Kyoto Sanga with over a third of the season remaining.

Yokohama FC, on the other hand, are firmly entrenched in a relegation battle, sat 19th in the 20-team table, and have lost eight of their last 10 league matches, failing to score in half (five). No club has picked up fewer points on their travels this year than Yokohama FC (eight), who have scored just nine goals away from home.

Machida won the reverse fixture 2-0 on March 8 and should make light work of Friday's fixture.

Al-Ittihad (H) to beat Al Fateh (19:00 BST) @ 4/11

In the Saudi Professional League, Al-Ittihad face Al Fateh at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, with both sides experiencing contrasting fortunes in gameweek one.

Reigning champions Al-Ittihad, inspired by a Karim Benzema hat-trick, thrashed Al Okhdood 5-2 in their opening match, while Al Fateh lost 2-1 at home to Al Fayha.

Al Fateh won the last head-to-head 2-0 on April 17, but that was in Al-Hofuf, and earlier in the 2024/25 season, on November 24, Al-Ittihad beat their upcoming opponents 2-0 in Jeddah, thanks to a goal apiece from Fabinho and Houssem Aouar.

Al-Ittihad won 16 of their 17 home games last term, dropping just two points, and it's difficult to see them not starting the season in style at home on Friday.

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Ipswich Town (H) to beat Sheffield United (20:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) @ 9/10

Ipswich were installed as the pre-season favourites to win the EFL Championship, but after four games of the league campaign, they're yet to taste success, drawing three times and losing once. They were also dumped out of the Carabao Cup first round on penalties by League 2 side Bromley after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Those results hardly inspire confidence, but on Friday, they host Sheffield United, the only team yet to pick up a point in the second tier, at Portman Road.

United were dismantled 4-1 at home by Bristol City on the opening weekend, and have lost their last three league games 1-0 to Swansea City (A), Millwall (H) and Middlesbrough (A), while they also made an early exit from the Carabao Cup, suffering a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham.

Pressure is already mounting on Blades boss Ruben Selles, and you fear for his position if his side loses again on Friday.

There's pressure on Town head coach Kieran McKenna, too, given the wealth of second-tier talent at his disposal, but he has credit in the bank, having steered the Tractor Boys to promotion from League 1 and the Championship prior to their one-season stay in the Premier League.

Ipswich are also unbeaten at home this season, drawing at Portman Road with Derby County (2-2) and fellow title contenders Southampton (1-1). Town were leading in both games, so the next step is for them to score a second before their opponents can reply.

Given United are yet to find the net on their travels, this could be the night they get in front and stay in front.

Benfica (H) to beat Santa Clara (20:15 BST) @ 1/4

We finish the night in Lisbon, Portugal, to take in Benfica's Primeira Liga match with Santa Clara.

Benfica have made a perfect start to the season, winning all three league games as they look to wrestle the title back from Sporting CP, who are the two-time defending champions.

The Eagles have scored six goals and conceded just once so far, while their next opponents, Santa Clara, have struck just once and shipped four in four contests.

Benfica have dominated the recent head-to-head, winning the last eight meetings, and they've kept four clean sheets in the last five.

The teams played each other three times last season, twice in the league and once in the League Cup. The first two matches were played at Benfica's Estadio do Luz, with the hosts winning 4-1 in the league and 3-0 in the cup.

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

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