August 3rd: Saturday’s Football Accumulator – 5/1

Watching Scottish giants Rangers open the new Premiership campaign on Saturday lunchtime, we have a handful of eye-catching battles on the cards this weekend.

With the Turkish Super Cup up for grabs, we have a stacked schedule from across the footballing globe throughout Saturday.

So, for those of you looking to stick on a weekend acca, we have taken an in-depth look at some of the most appealing betting markets.

Saturday, August 3rd

BST 12:30 Hearts vs Rangers

Eventually finishing eight points of reclaiming their Premiership crown last season, Rangers find a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders this time around. However, reportedly dealing with some major issues behind the scenes at Ibrox, Philippe Clement’s men drastically struggled to find any kind of pre-season boost this summer. Signing off their preparations with an action-packed 4-4 stalemate against Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin, the former Monaco boss appears to have a mounting headache on his hands. Suffering Scottish Cup heartbreak at the hands of their bitter Old Firm rivals back on May 25th, Rangers could only muster a single victory from any of their final four domestic appearances across all competitions. It should also be highlighted, continuing on from their pre-season struggle, Clement’s side have failed to record a sole clean sheet from any of their last 10 consecutive matchups. On the flip side, while Hearts might have secured another bronze medal among Scotland’s elite last season, they too endured what was a frustrating summer at Tynecastle. Including a 5-1 drumming against Premier League heavyweights Tottenham on July 17th, Hearts lost all of their three pre-season appearances by an aggregate score of 9-2. Largely limping their way over the finishing line last season as they collected just a single win from any of their final six matchups across all formats, Saturday’s hosts have also shown their own continued defensive issues. With Saturday’s opponents playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw when they last met on May 18th, we could be treated to another frantic affair here.

Tip: Both teams to score @ 7/10

12:45 Shandong Taishan vs Shanghai Port 

Making real history last season as they got their hands on just a second Super League crown last season, Shanghai have continued on a remarkable purple patch this year. Leading the chase at the top of the table and pencilled in as a landslide contender to defend their domestic title in 2024, Saturday’s guests have certainly gained a fearsome reputation. Last seen putting in what was a sensational performance as they stormed their way to an 8-1 romp against Nantong Zhiyun, Kevin Muscat’s men have not suffered a single defeat across any competition so far this season. Extending on their FA Cup adventure on July 17th as they secured a 2-1 win away at Zhejiang Professional, the one-time Wolves defender will be calling on his high-flying squad to lay down another marker this weekend. In fact, on what has become a record-breaking purple patch, the Reds have won all of their previous 16 consecutive matchups across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to a 1-1 stalemate against local rivals Shanghai Shenhua on April 27th. While Muscat’s side might be riding a remarkable wave of momentum, Shandong are seeking some much-needed stability. Last seen falling to a 1-0 defeat away at Henan Songshen, the Jinan-based outfit have collected just a single win from any of their previous seven Super League showdowns. Slipping away from the AFC Champions League chase and hit with an action-packed 4-3 loss when they last met Shanghai back on April 14th, Saturday’s hosts have another real challenge on their hands here.

Tip: Shanghai Port win & Over 1.5 goals @ 8/11

18:45 Galatasaray vs Besiktas

Defending their Turkish crown last season in what was a stunning fashion, Galatasaray certainly gained a string of plaudits. Suffering just a pair of defeats from any of their 38 Super Lig appearances, the Lions also signed off the 2023/24 campaign in the midst of a real purple patch. Wrapping up a 24th domestic title thanks to a 3-1 victory away at Konyaspor on the final weekend, Okay Buruk’s men will simply be looking to carry on from where they left off back in May. In fact, the former Sivasspor boss saw his record-breaking squad win 18 of their final 19 Super Lig appearances – a purple patch that stemmed all the way back to January 11th. Likewise, landing a 1-0 win when they last met the Black Eagles on March 3rd, they have won four of their previous five battles against their local rivals across all competitions. While Besiktas might have eventually dragged themselves to a top-six finish this season, Saturday’s guests struggled to find any kind of fluidity since opening up 2024. Drawing a line under the 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kasimpasa, new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will also be aware of the Black Eagles’ glaring issues on the road. Recording just a single victory from any of their final eight consecutive Super Lig showdowns away from the Tupras Stadium, Besiktas couldn’t have asked for a tougher test here.

Tip: Galatasaray win @ 12/11

Our Saturday Accumulator:  

• Hearts vs Rangers – Both teams to score @ 7/10
• Shandong Taishan vs Shanghai Port – Shanghai Port win & Over 1.5 goals @ 8/11
• Galatasaray vs Besiktas – Galatasaray win @ 12/11

Place a £10 bet on our accumulator with Vegas Land and pocket £61.40 if all predictions are correct.

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