Best Weekend Football Bets: Back goals galore in England v Spain, Scots to toil plus 14/1 San Marino shout

The Big Game Preview

England v Spain - An unexpected thriller

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Nations League, Group 3
Saturday, 19:45 kick-off
Live on ITV1

The recently crowned world champions come to Wembley this weekend, boasting a defensive record that extends far beyond the tournament.

In their last 18 commitments, Luis de la Fuente's men have conceded just five times. That's five breaches in the last calendar year. A goal every 324 minutes. Asombroso!

So why does a multi-goal spectacle feel imminent?

Maybe it's because each of England's last five fixtures have produced over 2.5 goals, their most recent outing conjuring up a ridiculous 6-4. Or because the last four meetings between these nations have produced an average of five goals per 90.

Expect England to be constructive, with a point to prove. Expect Spain to pick them off as a consequence. Expect goals.

Slovenia v Scotland - A draw true to form

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Nations League, Group 1
Saturday, 14:00 kick-off
Live on BBC Scotland

Slovenia are the draw specialists of international football, sharing the spoils in exactly half of their last 28 outings.

Their inability to maintain a lead - and admirable trait of digging deep when behind - partly explains why they have won only once in their last 10 fixtures. It certainly accounts for their winless streak across their World Cup qualifying campaign.

This trend has continued under new head coach Boštjan Cesar who incidentally was once sent off against Scotland as a player. True to form, the game finished all even.

Under new management, the visitors will be determined to bounce back from a disappointing summer, but will encounter a well-organised rearguard and a hard-working midfield who protect them well.

Still, Oli McBurnie is an interesting addition to the squad, recalled after five years. The Hull striker is 12/53.40 to net his first international goal.

Cambridge v AFC Wimbledon - Away win hardly an upset

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League 1
Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

The hosts may have started the season strongly but they have conceded in each of their seven outings to date. Wimbledon meanwhile - bolstered by the arrivals of Dan Sweeney and Steven Sessegnon at the back - have kept clean sheets in five of their seven.

Granted, the other two were heavy losses on the road but the more persuasive truth is that Johnnie Jackson's side have shown they can nullify for the full 90. And with Myles Hippolyte in good shape - scorer of three in his last five - an away win to nil tempts at 6/17.00

This remember is seventh traveling to fifth. A meeting of near equals.

A more conservative option is to go with a 0-0 at the break. Cambridge has converted only one first-half goal since the opening day.

York v Gillingham - Gills shot-shy in the first 45

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League 2
Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

We're staying with first half betting for the Minstermen's hosting of the Gills but before we get to that it's well worth noting that the visitors are 5/16.00 to prevail in North Yorkshire. For a team lying fourth, unbeaten since the opening weekend, that feels generous.

Should Gareth Ainsworth's men indeed leave with the points we can expect the damage to be done after the break. That's because, when it comes to the first 45 minutes of games this term, there is a big disparity between these teams.

York are top of the table for shots undertaken in the first period and subsequently only Barnet and Grimsby have scored more first-half goals. Gillingham, by stark comparison are bottom of that table and have scored the joint-fewest first-half goals in League Two.

York/Gillingham offers up a whopping 50/151.00. Again though, let's go for the much safer shout.

San Marino v Finland - Hosts to spring an early surprise

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Nations League, Group 1
Saturday, 17:00 kick-off

San Marino don't score often, but their ratio is certainly improving, converting four in their last five. Previously, they scored one in seven across the best part of 2025.

Moreover, they have developed a handy habit of scoring early, with all four of those goals coming inside the opening half an hour.

Finland represent tough opposition, the kind who could put a handful past an inferior host, but at such tempting odds an early surprise lead by the underdogs is well worth taking a punt on.

Denmark v Wales - Danes to win, directly

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Nations League, Group 4
Sunday, 17:00 kick-off
Live on BBC One Wales

Both teams were a penalty shoot-out away from reaching the World Cup finals while a contrast in styles should make this a fascinating watch.

The Danes waste little time in getting the ball forward, route one if necessary. Wales prefer to get it down and play.
Which can produce results, even away from home, and it's to the Dragons' credit that they have scored in seven of their nine on the road under Craig Bellamy. Wales over 0.5 goals therefore at 8/111.73 is a decent builder add.

Regarding the result, however, it's the Danes who are fancied, unsurprisingly so given they have lost only one of their last 22 on home soil, and that to Spain.

They tend to score in multiples too, putting four past North Macedonia, three past Greece and five past Lithuania under Brain Riener's charge.

Serbia v Netherlands - A poor and porous defence

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Nations League, Group 2
Sunday, 17:00 kick-off

A change of manager last winter has not improved Serbia's sustained inability to defend. In fact, after shipping five to Mexico and three to Cape Verde in 2026 it could be argued their problems have only exacerbated.

The Eagles' last clean sheet was attained over a year ago.

One of the last teams they want to face then is the Netherlands, who may have flaws of their own but who are unquestionably consistent and prolific goalscorers.

Oranje have only failed to convert once in their last 19 games, and that a pre-World Cup friendly.

Brian Brobbey has to be fancied to make his mark, after his Etihad hat-trick heroics last weekend.

Now read Lewis Jones' Notebook on why to back Spurs to be relegated.