Football Bet of the Day: Goals a big no-no with Lugo

Ruben Castro is still doing the business for Betis

It's been a strong start to the week, but can Kevin Hatchard keep the winning run going with a selection from the Copa del Rey?

Real Betis v Lugo
Wednesday October 15, 21:00

Those cheeky Georgians made us wait a while, but they got there in the end. Georgia went 2-0 up against Gibraltar in Faro in the first 19 minutes, and our -2.5 Asian Handicap wager was looking rosy, but we had to fret until the crucial third goal came on 69 minutes.

To Spain! But wait Kevin, I hear you cry (I hear a lot of voices), the stars of Barcelona and Real Madrid are away with their countries! Well, you should know by now that we don't worry ourselves with all that elite nonsense in this column, so we're off to a Copa del Rey clash between second-division sides Real Betis and Lugo.

Betis were relegated from the top flight after a chaotic campaign that saw them finish rock bottom of La Liga, but reach the knockout stage of the Europa League. Coaches Pepe Mel and Juan Carlos Garrido were both sacked during the season, and former Oman and Bahrain coach Gabriel Calderon couldn't find the magic touch either.

33-year-old coach Julio Velazquez is now at the helm (when did managers start being younger than me?), and Betis have made a decent start to the season in the Segunda Division. Los Verdiblancos are seventh, having won four, drawn two and lost two.

There are signs that Betis are enjoying playing at their Estadio Benito Villamarin again - they have won three of five matches, losing just once. Veteran striker Ruben Castro is leading the attack, having banged in seven goals in eight appearances, while ex-Liverpool forward Dani Pacheco (always much better on FIFA than he is in real life) is also part of the line-up.

Lugo have bounced around the lower divisions since their formation in 1953, and the Galicians are enjoying only their third season in the second tier. The White and Reds are only a point worse off than Betis in the league standings, but while they are gritty and determined on the road (they have kept three straight clean sheets on their travels), they have only scored once in four away games.

Lugo aren't scoring or conceding on the road, while Betis have drawn their last two games 0-0, and have kept four clean sheets already this term. I like the look of backing No in the Both Teams To Score market at 1.834/5.

Recommended Bet

Back No in the Both Teams To Score market at 1.834/5

2014 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 37

Points Returned: 38.03

P/L: +1.03 points