Football Accumulator Tips: The 3-3-3 Column – Who knew Cagliari were Europe’s great entertainers?

James Pacheco introduces you to the brand-new 3-3-3 betting column, which is a weekend acca made up of three selections from matches from all around Europe, and never the British Isles.  

This week we travel to Cagliari, Lisbon and Brest in search of the three selections that can hopefully deliver us a winning acca at just over 3/1. 

Hello and welcome to the first-ever 3-3-3 betting column. Why is it called that? Glad you asked.  It’s not a formation to play when you’ve had a man sent off but rather:

3- The number of different selections making up the acca.

3- The number of different (non-English) European Leagues the selections are taken from every week.

3- The minimum odds (3/1) or 4.0 if you prefer, that the acca will come to it every week.

And it really is as simple as that. The selections can be from any betting markets, as long as they meet the criteria set out above.  And to round things off, every week I’ll leave you with a cool (or at least I think so) bit of trivia involving one of the teams featured in the acca. Simples...

*You can check out all of our Football Odds over at betfred.com

Cagliari v Roma – Saturday, August 17, 19:45  

Selection: Both Teams to Score @ 8/11 

Cagliari are one of European football’s great entertainers. Now, there’s  a sentence I never thought I’d write, but it’s true. Or at least it is when it comes to their matches, having goals at both ends when at home.  

All of their last 10 home games last season saw Both Teams to Score (BTTS) bets pay out and it was 16/19 across the season as a whole.  

Opponents Roma are no slouches in that regard, either. 68% of their away matches last season had goals at both ends and six of the last eight between the two of them in Serie A saw BTTS wagers pay out, as well.  

And for good measure, when Cagliari played Serie A side Carrerese in the Coppa Italia last week, they still managed to concede, winning 3-1, a good omen there might be more of the same again this campaign. 

As a bonus, this match is broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 on Saturday night.  

Benfica v Casa Pia – Saturday, August 17, 20:30  

Selection: Over 9.5 corners @ 4/7  

Former Portugal midfield maestro and current Benfica President Rui Costa must be wondering if he did the right thing by keeping on manager Roger Schmidt (with many fans calling for his head) for another season and also getting the big chequebook out to secure the services of Ángel Di María for another year…after they were upset by Famalicao (2-0) as short-priced favourites last week, in their opening match of the season.  

They have a chance to bite back this week at home to Casa Pia, who interestingly, always put up a decent fight against the Eagles.  

However, it’s not the match odds but rather the corners market that interests me here.  

Last season, Benfica saw 65% of their home matches have over 9.5 corners, while 53% of Casa Pia’s away matches went the same way.  

When Benfica drew 1-1 with them at home last season there were 12 corners in the game and when they beat them 1-0 away, there were 17, including 13 for Benfica alone.   

Somewhat remarkably, in their last three away matches last season, Casa Pia managed 8, 7 and 5 corners respectively, so the smart money is on them making a good contribution to our selection, rather than just relying on Benfica to get them.   

Stade Brest v Marseille – Saturday, August 17, 16:00  

Selection: Brest or Draw on the Double Chance market @ 8/15  

Marseille, one of the great forces of European football in the past, have been struggling in recent years. Last season, they finished eighth, on 50 points. Five places and 11 points ahead of them were their hosts this weekend Stade Brest, whose third-place finish is going to be extremely difficult to replicate this time around, but not impossible.  

Marseille have made some eye-catching signings this summer, with Premier League alumni Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emil Hojgjberg signing for the French outfit, who appointed former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager after he left the Seagulls at the end of last campaign.     

But as good players as they are, they will take time to gel in a new league and there should also be some teething problems under a new boss who insists on a very particular way of doing things, and has a very specific view on how he wants his team to play football.  

Brest had an excellent record home record last season, losing just twice in 17 home matches, while Marseille seriously struggled with the better sides; they won just one of eight matches against the teams who finished in the Top 4. 

OM were pretty ropey away from home in general at the back end of last season, failing to win any of their last eight matches on the road if you include two Europa League ties.     

A draw would do us fine just here, with all stats suggesting an away win is pretty unlikely.   

*You can create your own Acca or follow James' selections over on our Football Accumulator Coupon page on betfred.com

James’ Fun Fact:  

No-one will be wearing the Number 10 jersey for Roma when they travel to Cagliari on Saturday. Although it hasn’t been officially retired as a tribute to their great number 10 Francesco Totti, no-one has wanted to (dared to?) wear the coveted jersey, out of respect, since Totti hung up his boots in 2017.

Argentinian Paulo Dybala, who plays as a real Number 10 for Roma and wore that number at Juventus no less, was the latest to resist the temptation and opted for 21 instead. He’s said that ‘one day he might’ but then again that’s looking increasingly unlikely as he’s rumoured to be leaving Roma for Saudi Arabia in the next few weeks, anyway.     

Jamie Pacheco predominantly covers Cricket and European Football for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out his Football Betting Tips, along with those from the rest of the team, at our Football hub page...