Total Goals Guys / Total Goals Guys / 25 January 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

The "Total Goals Guys" talk us through their weekend selections

Last weekend was disastrous and with FA Cup action this weekend and a winter shut down in Germany still on the go, we have no more than 4 matches to focus on this weekend.

Rangers host an in-form St Mirren side as they aim to go 7 points clear of Celtic on the eve of their Sunday visit to The Falkirk Stadium. It hasn't been pretty recently for the hosts but the important thing for any side chasing a championship is that they keep on winning. In terms of goals, Rangers have bagged 11 in their last 6 whilst conceding 4. Of these six, four were away ties so it might be worth noting that Ibrox is yielding 3.5 goals per game this season. St Mirren lost 2-0 here earlier in the season but confidence stemming from recent results could help them improve on their pitiful scoring record of 5 goals in 10 away ties this term. It looks like Daniel Cousin is off to pastures new with low-flying Fulham so goals might be a little harder to come by. Mind you, Rangers have an even more prolific striker on the bench at present who might now come into his own. The pick here is 3 goals or more at [1.65]

By the time their coach pulls into Falkirk on Sunday, Celtic could be 7 points adrift of SPL leaders Rangers and the pressure will surely be on the current champions to restrict that lead. Falkirk lie 6th in the table at present and their sights are firmly set on a top 6 finish this season. They have been a real mixed bag this term but the hosts have picked up a credible 13pts from their last six games, scoring 7 goals whilst conceding 3. They own a terrible record against Old Firm this season however, and back in August a 4-1 home defeat was followed up with a 7-2 hammering at Ibrox. A two week period in late November / early December has also seen Rangers record a 3-1 away win before The Bairns shipped 4 goals at Celtic Park with no reply. Celtic, like their hosts, have racked up 13pts in their last 6 outings, notching 13 goals whilst letting 4 in through the back door. The Falkirk Stadium has seen no fewer 47 goals in 12 SPL ties this season and with the visitors averaging 2.3 goals per game on the road we are happy to go with what looks like a safe back of 2 goals or more at [1.25].

Barcelona travel to Athletico Bilbao on Sunday and a quick squint at the odds has two goals leaping out as the value back at [1.32]. The stats don't paint a pretty picture however with San Mames witnessing no fewer than 17 goals in 10 league matches this season. Barcelona's away days have also been a bit short on the goal front with fixtures away from the Camp Nou averaging 2.22 goals per game. The hosts might not offer much going forward, having drawn 6 of their 10 home ties this season and the onus will be on Barcelona to break them down. The visitors will still be without both Ronaldinho and Eto'o but Lionel Messi should return to the fold and when you consider Barcelona have goals in them all over the pitch we don't think a duo is too much to ask for here.

We fancy 3 goals or more in the late evening clash at Santiago Bernabau where the league leaders host 3rd placed Villarreal. [1.74] looks a little skinny for overs but both sides have goals in their sides and like to attack. The visitors' front two of Nihat and Rossi have no fewer than 21 goals between them in 20 league games this season and Villarreal are scoring on average 1.77 goals per game away from home this season. They also concede at the same rate however in what is a very gung-ho style of football. Real should be in a position to exploit this as they are the league's top scorers and Raul and Van Nistelrooy boast an identical record to the visiting front two this term and the team have a home scoring ratio of 2.55 goals per game. The clincher here is Villarreal's goals against column, its astonishing they lie third in the table when you consider only 5 other sides have conceded more goals than them.

20% of our balance (£2.66) is being staked on each of our four selections.

Tags: football betting, Real Madrid, total goals betting, Total Goals Guys