Betfair Official Blog

Total Goals Guys

Total Goals Guys: Get on the goals on Grand Slam Sunday

Click here to view market

The Total Goals Guys are fashionably cynical on that over-hyped product of a profit chasing Sky Sports, namely Grand Slam Sunday. But that doesn't mean they won't use it to make a little profit of their own.

Another Grand Slam Sunday is upon this weekend, or so Sky Sports have been telling us all week. The broadcasters are billing this one up similarly to a boxing bout and when there is a double helping of "a clash of the titans" you can rest assured that if the goals flow there is plenty of profit available.

We turn our initial attention to Ibrox this weekend and begin the Easter punting with a lay of 4 goals or more at [3.08]. The league leaders face Hibernian on the back of a 3 game winless streak that has seen them through to the last 8 of the Uefa Cup whilst bagging their first trophy in 3 years. The 'Gers aren't playing particularly well just now and are perhaps suffering from the effects of having played 48 matches already this season. Saturday's visitors recorded a 1-0 victory here in October and having gone on to enjoy a decent season, currently sitting 3rd in the table. 2 weeks ago The Gers won a Scottish Cup replay at Ibrox by a single goal and another tight encounter is expected.

We have a strategy in place for the matches at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge this Grand Slam Sunday. The plan is to stick our money on 2 "odds-against" backs so that we make a profit on the pair should only one come in. We could back 1 goal or more in both matches and lose 45% on the pair if there is a 0-0. Similarly we could lose as much as 28% if we back 2 goals or more in both games and there is either a 1-0 either way, or again, a goalless draw. On paper it's difficult to see 3 goals or more coming in for both of these matches but with [2.38] on offer for Manchester United v Liverpool and [2.44] available for Chelsea v Arsenal there is value in covering both for an overall profit. Of course if its goals galore in both matches so much the better.

We just feel it's a risk worth taking on this weekend. Liverpool haven't managed a goal at Old Trafford in their last two attempts but who would bet against Fernando Torres getting on the score sheet? He only needs one chance as he proved in Milan the other week. Liverpool finding the net in a United victory is how we see this one going. Opinion is mixed on whether Chelsea are genuine title contenders and one reason for this is that they are not as predictable as they were under a certain Mr Morinho, would Jose's side have drawn 4-4 at White Heart Lane on Wednesday? Yes it's the same players but they are now more susceptible to high scoring encounters. Arsenal themselves have been leaking a few goals recently and if Adebeyor gets his shooting boots back on there is definitely a case for goals in both of the big games on Sunday.

There's a big game in Spain this Sunday also as Real Madrid welcome the unpredictable Valencia to the Santiago Bernabeau. Both sides are struggling for consistency at present and a high scoring match up could be imminent as we go with a back of 3 goals or more at [1.92]. The visitors shared 5 goals with Barcelona in their Copa del Rey 2nd leg at the Mestella in midweek. The side who currently reside a disappointing 11th in the table actually have quite a respectable away record, picking up 6 wins and 3 draws in 14 matches. It's the third best in the league and with Real Madrid letting the odd one in at the back recently we fancy Valencia to find the net. Barcelona should have taken care of Valladolid (Oops! - ed) by the time this one kicks off and the gap could be back to 4 points so the side who average [2.69] goals per game here will be gunning for another vital home win.

20% of our balance (£12.01) is being staked on each of our 4 selections.