Football Accumulator Tips: Hertha to start season in style at Olympiastadion

The month is now August, which means one thing - the European football calendar is officially returning to some normality with several leagues starting up again this weekend.

The German 2. Bundesliga is among those, and a game featuring one of the division's heavy hitters is among my football accumulator tips for Saturday, August 3.

Football Odds

Hertha BSC (H) to beat SC Paderborn 07 @ 19/20

Germany's biggest capital club, Hertha Berlin, endured a disappointing 2023/24 campaign. Following relegation in 2023, they failed to return to the Bundesliga at the first attempt, instead finishing ninth and 20 points behind the automatic promotion places.

But Saturday marks the start of a new season, and Die Alte Dame will be looking to trouble the top spots this time.

They kick things off by welcoming Paderborn to the Olympiastadion (12:00), a venue where they collected 30 of their 48 points last season. Three of those were picked up against this weekend's opponents last October, with Hertha running out 3-1 winners in Berlin.

Saturday's hosts also won the reverse fixture in Paderborn, coming from behind to record a 3-2 victory, and will be targeting a sixth-straight success against their visitors, who haven't beaten Hertha since November 2014.

Hertha have made some fascinating signings this summer, bringing in former French wonder kid Mickael Cuisance - formerly of Bayern Munich - from Venezia, and one-time Germany international Diego Demme from Napoli.

At home, in front of a raucous crowd on the opening weekend, Hertha can power to another victory over Paderborn.

Galatasaray (N) to beat Besiktas @ 19/20

Later in the day (18:45), at the Ataturk Olimpiyat in Istanbul, Galatasaray and Besiktas do battle in the Turkish Super Cup.

Galatasaray enjoyed a sensational 2023/24 league campaign as they amassed a mammoth 102 points in the Super Lig to finish three points ahead of runners-up Fenerbahce, and they will be looking to make it three league titles on the trot next year.

Besiktas, on the other hand, struggled mightily in the Super Lig, ending the season sixth and 46 points behind the champions.

However, they clawed back some respectability by beating Trabzonspor 3-2 in the Turkish Cup Final, thereby setting up a Super Final clash with city rivals Galatasaray.

Besiktas have made serious moves to improve their squad this summer, signing Ciro Immobile, Al Musrati, Rafa Silva and Gabriel Paulista.

Galatasaray haven't been quite as active, but given the level of success they enjoyed last season, do they have to be?

After a successful loan spell from Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech has now joined permanently, while Michy Batshuayi made one of the most controversial free agency moves of the modern era as he made Galatasaray his third Istanbul club following previous stints at Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

Elias Jelert has also joined from FC Copenhagen to beef up the Galatasaray defence and the reigning league champions should be ready for Saturday's Super Cup.

Besiktas have made strides this summer but they are still wearing the battle scars of last season when they lost twice to Galatasaray - 2-1 away from home and 1-0 on their own patch.

Led by 2023/24 Super Lig Golden Boot winner Mauro Icardi, Gala should have too much for their opponents this weekend as they look to lift their first silverware of the new season.

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France Olympic Women (N) to beat Brazil Olympic Women @ 8/13

A 2-1 win against New Zealand on Wednesday was enough for France to clinch top spot in Group A of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament after Colombia lost 1-0 to Canada.

Les Bleues opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Colombia before losing 2-1 to Canada, who won all three group games but finished as runners-up following a six-point deduction for spying.

France's reward is a quarter-final tie with two-time silver medallists Brazil in Nantes on Saturday (20:00).

Brazil finished third in Group C, picking up just three points after beating Nigeria (1-0) and losing to Japan (1-2) and Spain (0-2), and they will find it tough up against Herve Renard's side at Stade de la Beaujoire.

France scored six goals across three group games and, as the host nation, will have the majority of Saturday's crowd on their side. They've also dominated the recent head-to-head with Brazil, winning all five matches since 2018, including a 2-1 victory at last year's World Cup in Australia.

Brazil will look to frustrate France but the superior quality in Renard's side should shine through.

Vasco da Gama (H) to beat Red Bull Bragantino @ 21/20

Over in Brazil, Vasco da Gama and Red Bull Bragantino face off in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Only two points are separating the sides in the table heading into this Saturday's contest at Sao Januario (23:00) with Bragantino one spot ahead in 10th, and both are looking to end recent winless runs.

Vasco have lost their last two Serie A matches, failing to score against either Atletico Mineiro (2-0) or Gremio (1-0) before being held to a 1-1 draw at Atletico GO in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil last 16 tie.

Bragantino, meanwhile, have suffered back-to-back defeats against Fluminense (0-1) and Athletico Paranaense (2-0) in Serie A and Copa do Brasil respectively.

There's not much between these teams, as also seen in April when Bragantino edged out their visitors 2-1 in Braganca Paulista thanks to a 78th-minute Vitinho winner.

Home advantage may just win out again on Saturday with Vasco having won three of their last four games at San Januario, while Bragantino are winless in their previous seven away outings.

Offers

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