Saturday’s domestic action in Britain is headlined by the FA Cup third round as the big boys from the Premier League and Championship enter the fray.
There’s also action from League One and League Two as well as top-flight fare from Scotland and, on the continent, games from La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.
We’ve selected our three best bets for Saturday’s football action.
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Bet of the day
Birmingham -1 vs Lincoln City – 17/10
Saturday’s FA Cup action with a midday appointment at St Andrew’s as League One rivals Birmingham City (1st) welcome Lincoln City (12th).
Chris Davies and his Blues side are well on track for a return to the Championship. They dropped points against Blackpool and Stockport over the festive period but remain top of the pile following a 3-0 win at Wigan last weekend, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games.
The Imps, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four games and haven’t scored a goal in that run.
When these sides met at the LNER Stadium in October, Bailey Cadamarteri scored in the opening minute for the hosts before Birmingham ran out 3-1 winners having enjoyed 76% possession.
Changes could be afoot in both camps here but the Blues are better set for that and can make smooth progress into round four.
Special of the day
Atalanta to beat Udinese, Ademola Lookman to score & Over 1.5 goals – 41/20
Napoli knocked Atalanta off top spot last weekend as La Dea were in Super Cup action against Inter Milan but Gian Piero Gasperini’s team remain in a strong position for the second half of the season.
They signed off a brilliant 2024 with a 1-1 draw at Lazio before Inter took their measure in that Super Cup clash, played in Saudi Arabia.
Atalanta can bounce back with a victory at a Udinese side that have failed to win any of their last four home games, losing three.
La Dea have notched an impressive six away wins already from 10 in Serie A, while only Inter have scored more top-flight goals than them.
Ademola Lookman hasn’t netted in his last two games but, before that, the Nigeria international bagged nine in 12. He can help propel his side to a win against a Udinese side that has shipped nine goals in their last four games at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Long shot of the day
Mainz vs Bochum – Paul Nebel to score first – 5/1
Midfielder Paul Nebel has established himself as a regular starter for Mainz as they continue an excellent season, starting 2025 in fifth spot in the Bundesliga and just two points behind Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig in the Champions League berths above them.
The 22-year-old has found himself deployed behind the main striker in recent games, routinely alongside the experienced Jae-Sung Lee and, between them, they have scored six goals in Mainz’s last three games, including the 2-1 win over Bayern Munich last month.
Nebel helped himself to braces in the games at Wolfsburg and Frankfurt either side of that win.
Rock-bottom Bochum are the visitors to the Mewa Arena on Saturday and only one Bundesliga side has conceded more than their 35 goals so far.
In his current vein of form, Nebel could add to his tally by breaking the deadlock.
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