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Two Huge Finals for Punters to Enjoy In A Massive Week of Football

Although the football season is coming to an end, it does mean that it is the time of the year when teams are involved in big finals to major competitions. This week sees two such games as on Wednesday night Atletico Madrid and Marseille clash in the Europa League final, followed by Chelsea taking on Manchester United in the FA Cup Final on Saturday.

Of course, if you want to enjoy betting on both these games, plus a host of other big matches coming up in the next few weeks, including crucial World Cup warm ups plus the finals in Russia themselves, then you’ll need a top-quality bookmaker and Coral Sport is, in our opinion, about the best you can find at the moment.

Sign up today using Coral Sports standard bonus and for just a £5 bet you can receive £20 worth of free bets. That’s a massive 400% extra simply for placing your first £5 bet with Coral after you sign up on a qualifying market.

We’d also recommend you take a look at bet365 Sport as they have some outstanding betting available on the main markets for the FA Cup Final in particular.

So now you know where to bet, let’s now take a look at what you should be betting on this week in these two massive matches, starting with the action on Wednesday night in the Europa League Final.

Europa League Final

Atletico Madrid (Spain) v Marseille (France)

  • Date – Wednesday 16th May
  • Kick off – 7.45pm
  • Venue – Groupama Stadium, Lyon
  • Referee – Bjorn Kuipers

Match Preview

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid come into this game knowing that Diego Simeone won’t be on the bench as he serves the second match of a four game ban after being sent off in the first leg of the semi-final against Arsenal. Left back Felipe Luis is also absent with injury which means that young French star Lucas Hernandes will likely start in his place.

Diego Godin, Jose Giminez and Sime Vrsaljko will likely make up the remainder of Simeone’s back four in front of the talente Jan Oblak in goal. Simeone tends to employ a three man midfield with Gabi, Thomas Partey and Saul Niguez likely to get the nod, although Koke could come in for either Gabi or Partey should Simeone want a more attacking line up.

In attack Madrid will likely boast a fearsome triumvirate of Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa and Angel Correa all of whom are more than capable of finding the net and will give Marseille’s defence a real test.

Marseille

Rudy Garcia has a decision to make over who is their goalkeeper for this game with Steve Mandanda now back from injury, but the keeper had a nightmare on his return at the weekend, getting sent off and conceding a penalty in Marseille’s 3-3 draw with Guingamp. That could see Yohan Pele, who has ably deputised, perhaps getting the nod here.

Marseille’s back four comprises of two stalwart defenders in Rolando and Adil Ramzi at centre back with Jordan Amavi as the left back and Hiroki Sakai likely to play at right back. Injury to Bouna Sarr makes him a doubt in midfield, so Luis Gustavo will anchor Lucas Ocampos and Florian Thauvin in midfield.

In attack Kostas Mitroglu will play centrally with Dmitri Payet on one flank and likely Maxime Lopez on the other, although Garcia could opt for the in form Valere Germain to play centrally in attack too.

Top Tip – Atletico Madrid to win to nil – 29/20 with Coral Sport

I can’t see much hope for Marseille in this one to be fair, even despite Payet’s undoubted influence. Atletico’s back line are a class or even two classes above any side that Marseille have faced in this competition and in truth, Atletico’s attack is also better than any the French side have faced. For me Madrid will win this by grabbing the opening goal, defending well and then hitting the French side on the counter to get a 2-0 or maybe even a 3-0 victory.

FA Cup Final

Chelsea v Manchester United

  • Date – Saturday 19th May
  • Kick off – 5.15pm
  • Venue – Wembley Stadium, London
  • Referee – Michael Oliver

Match Preview

Chelsea

Antonio Conte rested plenty of players in many games of late but he should have a full strength team to pick from and I can see the Italian going back to his more trusted 3-4-2-1 formation for this game. Courtois is the obvious pick in goal and in front of him I would expect Azpilicueta, Christensen and Cahill to get the nod with Michael Rudiger seemingly out of favour.

In midfield, Moses and Alonso will provide the wide threat, with N’Golo Kante anchoring the midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas with Eden Hazard and Willian given freer roles in front of them and Olivier Giroud will likely get the nod due to his better form at the moment than Alvaro Morata.

Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has a pretty much full-strength squad to pick from, although having rotated several players in his last few matches to keep them fresh, it is hard to second guess who will feature in the games. You would assume David De Gea would play in the final, but Mourinho has played Sergio Romero in all FA Cup games this season and the Argentinean could get the nod here.

In defence, the full back positions will likely be taken by Valencia and Young with Smalling one centre back and it is a toss up between Bailly, Jones and Lindelof for the second berth, and I think it will be the former who starts the game, if he is 100% fit.

In midfield, Matic will anchor the team and Pogba will play just in front of him and I think Herrera will get the third spot in that midfield as he does tend to give the side better defensive balance when selected. Up front, Lukaku’s fitness is a big worry and while he should be fit, he may have to start from the bench. If he doesn’t play, expect Rashford to deputise with Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard likely to offer the threat from wider areas.

Top Tip – Manchester United to win 2.70 with bet365 Sport

It is hard to make too convincing a case for Chelsea here. The Londoners have beaten United this season at Stamford Bridge, but lost in the return at Old Trafford and with ten defeats in the Premier League, including a 3-0 thumping away at Newcastle last weekend, Antonio Conte’s men are just off the boil and have been for some time. United aren’t the attacking dynamos they once were but Jose Mourinho has a knack of grinding out the key results when they matter and I think they will do that here with a 2-1 victory in normal time.

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