A New Year is upon us, but first, we have another weekend of elite-level soccer, and we’re here to supplement your betting needs for the best fixtures across Europe’s top-flight leagues.
Continue reading our betting previews and soccer odds from the Italian Serie A and the English Premier League fixtures involving Wolves vs. Everton, Atalanta vs. Lecce, and some extra best bets across both leagues for good measure.
Picks Summary
- Wolves ML (+160) at Bet365
- Atalanta-Lecce Under 2.5 Goals (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC vs. Everton FC
Saturday, December 30, 2023 – 10:00 AM ET at Molineux Stadium
Wolves
On Christmas Eve, Wolves won consecutive Premier League victories for the first time this season by defeating Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium. However, the last time they won three straight top-flight matches was in January 2022 under the management of Bruno Lage. Additionally, they have not won or scored any goals in their last four games at the end of the calendar year.
Wolves have not had a successful year-end performance since their 3-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in 2018. However, O’Neil’s current team has a great chance to break that streak at Molineux. They have not suffered any defeats in their past seven Premier League games at this venue.
Everton
The visitors, currently in 17th place, no longer have control over their own destiny. They are only one point ahead of Luton Town, who have played one less game. However, the visitors have not lost in their last four away matches at the end of the year. They must rely on their favorable past performances to overcome their head-to-head record at Molineux.
Everton have dropped four matches and drawn one in their last five encounters with Wolves in the Premier League. Wolves emerged as 1-0 winners at Goodison Park in August, with their tall striker Sasa Kalajdzic utilizing his 6’6 stature to score a header in the 87th minute.
Premier League Matchday 20 Prediction, Odds, & Trends
The EPL betting odds are gifting us plus-money value on both teams, which is always a pleasure.
O’Neil’s team has a variety of players who can score goals from different positions on the pitch. Considering that not many visiting teams have been successful at Molineux this season, we believe that the home team will continue their winning streak and add to Everton’s current string of losses.
Score Prediction: Wolves 2 – Everton 1
Soccer Pick: Wolves ML (+160) Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Atalanta BC vs. US Lecce
Saturday, December 30, 2023 – 06:30 AM ET at Gewiss Stadium
Atalanta
Despite smoothly advancing to the knockout phase of the Europa League, Atalanta has suffered seven losses out of their 17 Serie A matches this season. If they were to be defeated again this weekend, it would mark their eighth loss out of 18 games, a record they have not seen since 2015, before Gian Piero Gasperini’s impressive tenure.
They have allowed almost 40% of the goals scored against them to come from set-piece situations, which is the greatest percentage among all teams in Italy’s top league. These defensive weaknesses sometimes hinder their effectiveness in the attacking third.
Atalanta has netted a total of seven goals in their previous two Serie A matches played in their home stadium. Moreover, throughout 2023, they have scored a remarkable tally of 43 goals, surpassing all other Serie A teams in terms of goal-scoring prowess.
Lecce
Lecce has achieved their highest total of 20 points at this stage of the season since 2004, placing them in 12th position and seven points ahead of the relegation zone. Their recent Stadio Via del Mare performance has played a significant role in this accomplishment.
Coach Roberto D’Aversa is now working on solving his team’s difficulties when playing away from home. Despite holding Fiorentina in Florence and coming very close to defeating Roma in the capital, his squad is one of four that have not yet secured an away victory.
Trips to Inter and now Atalanta have not provided the optimal chances to stop this dry spell. Still, the Salentini have recently had the advantage against La Dea and will journey north to conclude the year with a flourish.
Serie A Prediction, Best Bet, & Trends
The Serie A odds regarding the over/under prices have sparked my interest in this upcoming clash.
Lecce’s stubborn record of five draws out of eight away matches highlights their resilience, making it difficult for opponents to secure a victory. Consequently, Atalanta may have to accept a draw in their last game of 2023. The hosts frequently find themselves vulnerable in their defensive line, and an opposing team managed by Roberto Piccoli, who is on loan from La Dea, might exploit this situation and manage to keep this fixture level after 90 minutes.
Given the robust defense of Lecce on the road, under 2.5 goals at a reasonable price of -110 feels like a fair probability to get behind.
Score Prediction: Atalanta 1 – Lecce 1
Soccer Pick: Under 2.5 Goals (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Extra European Soccer Best Bets
Liverpool FC vs. Newcastle United FC – EPL
- When: Saturday, January 1 – 03:00 PM ET
- Best Bet: Both Teams to Score (-170) at Caesars Sportsbook
Juventus Turin vs. AS Roma – Serie A Matchday 18
- When: Saturday, December 30 – 02:45 PM ET
- Best Bet: Over 1.5 Goals (-175) at Bet365
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
