Euro U19 Championship: Germany and Portugal to win

Man City's Marcos Lopes scored twice in Portugal U19's opener

Michael Lintorn finds ways to back Germany U19 and Portugal U19 at above evens in their second contests...

This year's European U19 Championship got off to an entertaining start, with Saturday's four opening fixtures serving up a combined 12 goals, and none delivering fewer than two.

The two teams judged the most likely winners - Portugal U19 and Germany U19 - recorded 3-0 victories over Israel and Bulgaria.

Holders Serbia U19 came from behind to hold Ukraine U19, while hosts Hungary U19 dragged the trend whereby the tournament stagers ship three or more goals in their curtain-raiser into a fourth year by surrendering 1-3 against Austria U19.

The second set of games are all on the same day again with the two most intriguing televised, so let's try to build on matchday one's profit with further punting success...

Germany U19 v Serbia U19
Tuesday, 17:00
Live on British Eurosport

Match Odds: Germany U19 1.51/2, Serbia U19 7.413/2, The Draw 4.216/5

This clash between competition favourites and defending champions is destined to end with the former prevailing according to the odds. If they triumph, expect the half-time/full-time double to be their method, as it has proven in their last four competitive outings and six of their overall seven in this process.

Marcus Sorg's teenagers required less than a minute to assume an advantage in their first Group B encounter against Bulgaria U19, whereas Serbia U19 were trailing at the same point in their collision with Ukraine U19.

Recommended Bet: Back Germany U19 to lead at half time and full time @ 2.1411/10

Portugal U19 v Hungary U19
Tuesday, 19:30
Live on British Eurosport 2

Match Odds: Portugal U19 1.574/7, Hungary U19 6.05/1, The Draw 4.67/2

UEFA haven't been very good at picking formidable host nations recently, with their last two exiting without a point and 2011 venue-providers Romania U19 only swerving the same shame by virtue of a 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland U19 in their final showdown.

Hungary U19 appear almost certain to tread the same path after commencing with a 1-3 defeat to Austria U19. While that was going, Portugal U19 won 3-0 against Israel U19, their fourth win in seven by a margin of two goals or more in the European Championship (counting qualifiers and finals).

Recommended Bet: Back Portugal U19 (-1) to win @ 2.447/5