The return of the Champions League is a day away but, before that, there is plenty of football action to enjoy on Monday.
Games from the top-flights in Italy and Spain feature along with a clash of the League One pacesetters Wrexham and title favourites Birmingham City, while we also have a bet from the Premier Division in Ireland.
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Bet of the day
Both teams to score Rayo Vallecano vs Osasuna @ 23/20
La Liga action on Monday comes from the Spanish capital as Osasuna visit Rayo Vallecano.
It’s been a testing start for Rayo, with a 2-1 home loss to Barcelona and away trips to Getafe, Real Sociedad, and Espanyol. Four points isn’t a bad return considering and both teams have scored in three of those four games so far.
Osasuna have won two of their four, including coming out best in a five-goal thriller against Celta Vigo last time.
They have scored five times in their last three visits to the Vallecas Stadium, while both teams have scored in the previous two meetings between the sides at this venue.
Taking the odds-against both teams scoring here looks like a value play.
Special of the Day
Shamrock Rovers Half Time/Full Time @ 3/1
Defending champions Shamrock Rovers have all but surrendered their SSE Airtricity League crown, with Shelbourne and Derry City fighting out the title race after Stephen Bradley’s side made an uncharacteristically slow start.
The Hoops also spent most of July and August focused on various European qualifiers, the result of which was a spot in the Conference League group stage that will bring them a glamorous trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December, amongst other games.
For now, the Tallaght outfit are attempting to climb the table and ensure they have European aspirations again next summer.
They hammered fourth-placed Sligo Rovers 4-0 on Friday evening, with Johnny Kenny and Sean Hoare both hitting doubles.
They head west to face Galway United with the sides locked together on points and with games in hand on the teams above them.
Galway have never beaten Rovers in 30 top-flight attempts.
The Dubliners were two up by half-time on Friday en route to victory and they can make early inroads again at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Longshot of the Day
Birmingham City and Wrexham to draw 2-2 @ 13/1
St Andrew’s will be packed to the rafters as League One pacesetters Wrexham come to town for a clash with pre-season title favourites Birmingham City.
Both clubs are unbeaten – the Welsh side with four wins and a draw compared to the Blues’ three wins and a draw – so far in the third tier.
Wrexham are the leading scorers with 11 goals, while Birmingham have hit eight in four so far. The Midlands side also re-signed striker Jay Stansfield in a League One record deal on deadline day.
Wrexham, going for a hat-trick of promotions, would probably settle for a point, but they may need a couple of goals to get it, with Birmingham set to properly test a defence that has conceded only two goals so far.
A high-scoring draw could result.
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