January 3rd: Friday’s European Double – 5/1 Special, Betting Tips & Predictions

With Real Madrid marking their return from Spain’s festive interval on Friday night, Los Blancos will be hoping to open the New Year by climbing to the top of the La Liga table.

With a handful of fixtures from the likes of France, Portugal and Turkey, we have plenty of early weekend action on the cards.

Ahead of what should be an enjoyable night of European action, we have taken a look at some of Friday’s most intriguing betting markets.

19:00 AC Ajaccio vs Annecy 

Spending the whole of last season almost sat in Ligue 2 limbo, Annecy have come roaring back this time around. Cementing their spot as one of France’s ultimate surprise packages, Laurent Guyot’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Opening the New Year sat in the play-off places, the Reds also get Friday’s showdown sat just four points adrift of finding a route into the automatic promotion places. Enjoying what has become quite the purple patch, the former Cercle Brugge boss has not seen his squad suffer a single defeat from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions. Simply looking to carry on from where they left off prior to France’s festive interval, Annecy have also lost just one of their last 10 outings. With that run stemming all the way back to October 19th, Friday’s guests should also be excited by their rugged success at the back. In fact, the Reds have recorded a clean sheet in all of their previous three consecutive Ligue 2 showdowns.

While AC Ajaccio might have eventually clung to their Ligue 2 status last season, the Bears are facing another real uphill battle in 2025. Last seen putting in another toothless performance as they fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Pau, Mathieu Chabert’s men have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity. Opening the New Year sat in the relegation zone, Friday’s hosts have collected just a single point from any of their previous four Ligue 2 appearances. Likewise, watching their Coupe de France adventure come to an abrupt end last month as they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Les Herbiers, Ajaccio have registered just a sole win from any of their last 11 matchups across all competitions. Hit with a 3-1 drumming when they last welcomed Annecy to the Stade Michel Moretti back in March, Chabert’s side should face another stern examination this weekend. It should also be noted, the Bears have drawn a blank in each of their previous four Ligue 2 outings.

AC Ajaccio vs Annecy Betting Tip: Annecy draw no bet @ 19/20 with Pribet

20:00 Valencia vs Real Madrid

While Real Madrid might have shown some real inconsistencies on either side of November’s international break, Los Blancos certainly signed off 2024 in the midst of a real flurry. Heading into Spain’s festive interval with an action-packed 4-2 victory against Sevilla, Carlo Ancelotti’s men should be relishing their return on Friday night. Crowned Intercontinental Cup champions last month following a routine 3-0 romp against Mexican outfit Pachuca, the former Real Madrid boss will be smelling a golden opportunity here. Knowing that they can climb to the top of the La Liga table this weekend, the defending campions have won four of their previous five appearances across all competitions and have not suffered a single defeat over the past month. Really impressing with their clinical performances in the final third, Madrid are rightfully installed as a standout contender on Friday night. In fact, Los Blancos have notched at least a trio of goals in all of their previous five straight showdowns across all fronts.

Although new boss Carlos Corberan might officially get his Valencia tenure underway on Friday night, the former West Brom managed has an almighty job on his hands at the Mestalla. Enduring what has been a public nightmare this season, the Bats opened 2025 sat in the relegation zone and facing a real battle in the race to keep hold of their top-flight status. Forced to settle for a frantic 2-2 stalemate at home against Alaves when heading into the festive break, Friday’s hosts have failed to win any of their previous five La Liga appearances. Signing off November with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Valencia, Los Ches have continued to show a string of glaring issues this season. Dealing with an injury crisis, Valencia couldn’t have asked for a tougher challenge this weekend. Likewise, mustering just a single La Liga victory at the Mestalla since back on September 21st, Corberan should be bracing himself for a real baptism of fire on Friday night.

Valencia vs Real Madrid Betting Tip: Real Madrid win & Both teams to score @ 12/5 with Luckster

Friday’s European Double

• AC Ajaccio vs Annecy – Annecy draw no bet @ 19/20
• Valencia vs Real Madrid – Real Madrid win & Both teams to score @ 12/5

Place a £10 bet on our Daily Double with Vegas Land and pocket £66.30 if all predictions are correct.

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