James Sharman, Author at The Boost

The Sharman Weekend 5: Top soccer predictions and storylines for this weekend’s fixtures

Welcome to this week’s Sharman 5, where we take a look at the top storylines — and some fun wagers — ahead of this weekend’s action on the pitch.

Top soccer predictions & storylines

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Phonzy is back!

I wouldn’t call it a good time to return from a torn ACL. After all, there is absolutely nothing positive about such an injury.

But the fact that Alphonso Davies was able to return two weeks before the German Bundesliga shut down for its Christmas break meant that he has now had a mini pre-season to prepare ahead of this weekend’s return to action.

Bayern Munich hosts Wolfsburg on Saturday, and with three substitute appearances under his belt, there might be a start in the cards for Davies.

-> Bet on Bayern Munich at NorthStar Bets!

As is the case most weeks, Bayern has another mismatch ahead of it, with Wolfsburg sitting down in the fourteenth spot.

The Champions are unbeaten this season and are setting records every week. A good way to put this weekend’s encounter into perspective is to look at each club’s goal differential:

Wolfsburg: -5 GD
Bayern Munich: +44 GD

Bayern is averaging 3.6 goals scored per game, so you can expect another rout this weekend in Munich. There is rarely value with Bayern Munich these days, so it is off to a Northstar Bets pre-pack for this one.

Best bet: Over 3.5 total goals, Bayern to win both halves, Harry Kane to score and record over 1.5 shots on target (+175)

Wrexham Notts to be dismissed

I always enjoy this time of year in English football. Following the madness of the festive period, which officially comes to a close on Thursday (in my mind anyway) with Arsenal and Liverpool wrapping up a full mid-week schedule, we get to sit back and enjoy the FA Cup third round.

This is the round where the Premier League teams enter the fray. Massive clubs travel to tiny clubs, and tiny clubs travel to massive clubs. There is nothing else like it in global sport.

Over the years, this round has delivered many an upset, the odd shocker, and every now and then, a fairytale giant-killing of unparalleled significance.

My mind is cast back to 1992 when Arsenal lost to Wrexham, 2-1. In the English football pyramid, there were ninety places between the two clubs, with Arsenal reigning as English champions and Wrexham mired in the fourth division.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on Wrexham to upset Nottingham Forest here!

Wrexham is a club on a mission these days, and incredibly, thanks to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, they have become a global phenomenon.

Eye-balling the Premier League as early as next season, the Welsh side welcomes EPL opposition to the Racecourse Ground this weekend in the form of the struggling Nottingham Forest.

Best bet: Wrexham to win (+350)

Champs under the gun

Meanwhile, the greatest mismatch has defending FA Cup Champions Crystal Palace taking on sixth-tier non-league semi-pros Macclesfield Town.

For the record, sixth tier means National League North in Macclesfield’s case, currently fourteenth in the table, twenty-three points off the top, which is occupied by South Shields.

Get what I mean by “mismatch?”

Palace, of course, stunned Manchester City in last year’s final. They are legit under Oliver Glasner, and occupied fourth in the table in early December.

But Palace have struggled since, slipping to thirteenth, and are on a winless run of eight matches in all competitions.

The Eagles will still, in all likelihood, have a convincing win versus the Silkmen. But this is the FA Cup, and I always enjoy at least one ill-advised wager in the third round, because strange things do tend to happen occasionally.

Best bet: Macclesfield win or tie (+310) OR (and why not) Macclesfield win (+1,200).

Premier League vs the Rest

As I have mentioned over and over, I really do enjoy the FA Cup.

“The magic” of the Cup really is that. And once upon a time, the FA Cup final was the biggest weekend of the sporting calendar in England. Those days are long gone, but it is still special and, in my opinion, warrants some fun (such as wagering on a Macclesfield result versus Crystal Palace).

-> Bet on the FA Cup now at NorthStar Bets!

-> See on the FA Cup now at NorthStar Bets!

Let us lose the romance for this one, and stay logical and rational with a juicy Premier League versus the rest parlay.

Yes, this is in great dispute with some earlier bets, but the FA Cup third-round weekend is all about sitting back, embracing the madness and covering your behind.

Parlay: Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leeds United, West Ham and Liverpool to all win in full time (+2,218)

David comes good

We have been promising that Jonathan David would come good at Juventus; we just didn’t think it would take this long.

Earlier this week, against Sassuolo, David earned man of the match honours with a goal and an assist.

You could feel the pressure releasing from the ice man, not to mention his teammates and manager, all of whom tellingly ran out to embrace the Canadian star, enjoying his second straight start.

It was a great moment. Thirteenth-ranked Cremonese are the opponents this weekend, and fourth-placed Juve need to lean on the man who has a propensity for scoring streaks.

Best bet: Over 2.5 total goals, Juventus halftime/fulltime, David to score and record over 1.5 shots (+380)

The Sharman Weekend 5: Top soccer predictions and storylines for this weekend’s fixtures

Have you caught your breath? The holiday season provides non-stop football action. It really is a dream for the hardened fan who can burn off the Christmas calories… by sitting on the couch for hours on end, right? Ok, don’t judge my appearance, I’ll be back on the health bandwagon shortly, just not now, there’s simply too much to watch.

Not to mention, there is so much to consider. The New Year is upon us, and what a year 2026 will be! Finally, the World Cup arrives and boy, will it be worth the wait.

So, for this final Sharman 5 of the year, allow me to look a little further beyond just this weekend, and to the year to come, both domestically and internationally.

Top soccer predictions & storylines

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Gunning down Villa

The Premier League really has been the aroma that feeds my Christmas spirit, always has. It is not often that we have a title decider over the break, and it is even less often that Aston Villa feature in it.

I am clearly overstating the importance of Tuesday’s Arsenal vs Aston Villa encounter, but it was huge … and the statement Arsenal put forth in the 4-1 win was equally huge!

What a way to silence the critics who, despite seeing the Gunners consistently win, had been querying the current form after some results had to be ground out.

The win gave Arsenal a six-point lead over the surprising Villa, with Manchester City still in the rear-view mirror in second place.

-> See all EPL futures at NorthStar Bets!

The odds change following the win really said it all. Pre-match, Mikel Arteta’s side were at -139 to hang on and win the league, with Villa at +1600.

Following the win, Arsenal was down to -162 and Villa up to +2000. Amazing what one win can do.

Of course, Arsenal have a history of faltering down the stretch, and with Man City still at plus money to reel them in, it is certainly very tempting.

Don’t hate me Arsenal fans, but City provides the value.

Best bet: Man City to win the Prem (+165)

Wolves under the Hammer

A relegation tussle, nothing like it! The reality is, West Ham are still very much in the race to survive this season, sitting in the final relegation spot, four points from safety.

While Wolves? They are going down, sorry. Three points on the season to date, zero wins, Wolves have been appalling.

Saturday is a huge match for West Ham, who are being linked with Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen as a means to solve their goal-scoring woes.

-> Bet on Wolves vs. West Ham at NorthStar Bets!

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is very much on the hot seat despite his team coming off a 2-2 draw with Brighton on Tuesday.

Wolves drew Manchester United, showing that at least there may be some fight in the team despite its dastardly season to date.

All that said, despite being on the road, any team at plus money in an encounter versus Wolves is too good to dismiss.

Best bet: West Ham to win (+205)

Golden Boot Parlay

End of the year, let’s look ahead and throw down some money on the goal scorers markets, specifically the Golden Boot in the top leagues.

The trouble is, given the dominance of the top strikers in Europe, there really isn’t any value in the individual lines, but create a parlay and suddenly there is plus money.

Let’s take a look at the leading scorers and what their current odds are of leading the way all season:

Erling Haaland (Man City, Premier League): 19 goals (-2,500)

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, La Liga): 18 goals (-3,335)

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Serie A): 9 goals (+150)

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, Bundesliga): 19 goals (-10,000)

-> Bet on soccer futures at NorthStar Bets

Barring injury, Haaland, Mbappe and Kane will run away with their scoring championships, and the lines reflect that.

Martinez is one league leader who poses the most threat. The Serie A has been low scoring this season, and Martinez only leads AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic by one goal.

The American has scored his 8 goals in only 11 matches, though, so it is highly unlikely Pulisic continues that pace, and with Martinez having already won a Golden Boot two years ago, we are confident his value is worth it to the overall wager.

Best bet: Haaland, Mbappe, Martinez and Kane all to lead their domestic goal scoring charts (+168)

Top soccer predictions: The Promise of something special

There have been many bright spots from a Canadian angle this year, but as the year turns the one player with the biggest upside could well be Promise David.

The twenty four year old broke through into the Canadian mainstream last season following his commitment to Canada and an outstanding domestic season after switching to Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise and winning a league title.

This season, David has continued his fine form, as has his team which continues to set the standard at the top. David is tied at the top of the scorers chart, despite missing several matches through injury.

Of course, he still needs to convince his international manager. David only has eight appearances for Canada, and although Jesse Marsch has high hopes for the striker, he has been outspoken regarding the areas that David must improve; namely his fitness, as ‘Marsch-ball’ is an all-action high press system that demands extremely high levels of fitness.

Canada is still looking for the right partner for Jonathan David in attack, and David does seem to have the attributes that can work, namely his finishing. It is a fascinating area to watch in the build-up to the World Cup.

Best bet: Promise David to lead all goal scorers in Belgium this season, including playoffs (+300)

-> Get in on the action — bet on Promise David props!

Striking it rich

Here’s a fun one to let percolate over the New Year. World Cup squad selection, specifically England!

After Harry Kane, there really is a swath of options up front that can hardly be described as prolific in the goal-scoring department.

So, perusing the goal scoring charts, you might be surprised to see that Leeds Utd veteran No. 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads all English strikers with eight goals.

Starting off the year slowly, the 28-year-old has found his form with six in his last seven.

The former Everton man has eleven caps for England, but much of his career has been curtailed through injury. Stay healthy, and with his aerial prowess, he could be a great option off the bench for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the World Cup.

Yes, this pick is a little off centre, but it is New Year’s, let’s take a risk or two, and when you see the odds, it is definitely worth a sprinkle.

Best bet: Calvert-Lewin to make England’s World Cup squad (+700)

-> Bet on all of this weekend’s soccer action at NorthStar Bets

The Sharman Weekend 5: Top soccer predictions and storylines for this weekend’s fixtures

‘Tis the season for winter and holiday breaks, unless you play your football in the UK.

In that case, it’s complete chaos! There are some genuinely tantalizing matches on the slate, which we’ll take a look at in this latest addition of the Weekend 5.

See what’s piquing my interest and get my top soccer predictions across a handful of games.

Top soccer predictions & storylines

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Aston Villa is the best-kept secret in football, riding a nine-match winning streak.

Victors in 10 of its past 11, Unai Emery’s side is up to third place in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Arsenal. A win against Manchester United on Sunday would mean that throughout 2025, Villa has only lost once at home. Remarkable.

Trouble is, if any team has Villa’s number, it’s Man Utd.

The Red Devils have only lost five times in Premier League history to Villa, and only three times at Villa Park!

The record isn’t quite as damning if you dismiss the notion that soccer was invented in 1991 with the advent of the Premier League. But regardless, Villa traditionally has a torrid time against Utd.

Coming off that astonishing 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday, United seems to be heating up. And given Villa’s unlikely recent dominance in the league, I’m taking United to shock Villa.

Best bet: United to win (+240)

New crisis club?

On the other end of the scale, a Tottenham loss to Liverpool this week would be the Spurs’ 11th home defeat of the year, a club record.

Indeed, things are going pear-shaped for Thomas Frank at Tottenham. In fact, he has just assumed the role of “crisis manager,” previously held by his counterpart this weekend, Arne Slot at Liverpool.

-> Bet on Liverpool vs. Tottenham at NorthStar Bets!

The Spurs are languishing mid-table in 11th spot, just four points back of Liverpool in seventh. The League is so tight this season, however, that a win for any team between fourth and 15th can change things dramatically.

With Mo Salah off to AFCON, that’s one headache gone for Slot, while the Spurs have lost midfielders Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma to the tournament.

With Liverpool suddenly unbeaten in five and coming off an impressive win over Brighton, taking the Reds at plus money on the road makes sense. Add in a goal for the on-fire Hugo Ekitike, and suddenly there’s some genuine value.

Best bet: Liverpool to win & Ekitike to score (+335)

David making news

The trouble with football, and in this case Italian football, is the rumour mill. It’s at times out of control, and with the January transfer window days away, it hits top gear.

Jonathan David has found himself in just such a rumour mill this week, and considering his slow start to life at Juventus, it’s to be expected. According to some Turin-based tabloids known for speculation and sensationalism, David is unpopular and has been frozen out at Juve.

Rumour had it that he was potentially on his way to Arsenal in a swap deal for Gabriel Jesus until Juve pulled the plug! Suffice to say, certain elements of the Italian media are getting their pound of flesh.

-> See Jonathan David props at NorthStar Bets

It’s tough to imagine David being unpopular at his new club. An Instagram post this week featuring a smiling David among his teammates poured more cold water on the report.

As for the link to Arsenal? It’s likely that several top clubs would be looking at a prolific goalscorer potentially available on the cheap this winter. But it doesn’t mean he’s leaving. In fact, if not for a few combined inches on the offside line in recent weeks, we could be talking about David bossing play at Juve of late.

His club seems to be playing better and is coming off a win against Bologna in a match David started.

Roma is visiting Juve this weekend, and is a dynamic defensive force. But David is on the brink of his breakout, making him among my top soccer predictions for the weekend.

Best bet: David to score (+170). Another play, if you think this will be a low-scoring affair, is David to score the first goal (+400).

Top soccer predictions: Promise of things to come

Promise David’s name has been mentioned in much transfer scuttlebutt. But having just signed a new contract in the offseason at Union Saint-Gilloise, and once again leading the charge both domestically and in the Champions League, he looks to be in a great situation.

Any links to bigger clubs should probably wait until the summer.

David has seven goals on the season and is coming off a strike vs. Charleroi on the weekend. This weekend, the top-ranked Union meet midtable Zulte Waregem in Belgium. All eyes will be on the big man up front.

Best bet: Union to win & David to score (+128)

-> Get in on the action — bet on Promise David to score!

Yellow Submarine ascending

Something special is happening for a team that two Canadians — Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi — call home.

Villarreal sits third in Spain, but has two matches in hand on both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Win them both, AND beat Barcelona at home this weekend, and Villarreal is in first place. Easy, right?

Sure, the Yellow Submarine has been far from good in the Champions League, sitting in a lowly 35th position. And, yes, it lost in the Copa del Rey midweek to Racing Santander of the second division, but the focus is clearly on La Liga.

Barcelona is still Barca, though, and off the back of seven straight wins, it would be a statement for Lamine Yamal’s team.

The prodigious teenager was named in FIFA’s best XI earlier this week. With six goals and seven assists on the season, he continues to be almost impossible to contain.

Best bet: Barcelona win & Yamal score or assist (+143)

-> Bet on all of this weekend’s soccer action at NorthStar Bets

The Sharman Weekend 5: Best soccer bets and top storylines for this weekend’s fixtures

The MLS season is over after Lionel Messi secured another title for his trophy case. But don’t worry, the European leagues are in full winter mode.

We got a double-dose of Champions League play this week and have a weekend slate loaded with goodies.

It’s off-pitch drama, though, that leads this addition of the Weekend 5. See what’s piquing my interest and get my best soccer bets across a handful of games.

Top storylines & best soccer bets

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I’m keeping my eye on several things this weekend, including a Canadian running hot in La Liga.

But before we touch on that, let’s dive into one of the biggest stories in the English Premier League.

The Salah situation

Is this it? Has Anfield seen the legendary Mo Salah for the final time?

All things Liverpool blew up last Sunday, when the team’s talisman over the past seven years went public in a withering analysis of his situation with the Premier League champs.

Manager Arne Slot had the audacity to drop Salah for three straight games following an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, for both player and team. Seems reasonable, right? Depends on who you ask.

Salah feels like he has been thrown under the bus and turned into a scapegoat. The star believes he has earned his spot in the starting XI, form be damned.

The Egyptian was dropped from the travelling squad in a 1-0 win over Inter Milan midweek, and whether he’s back in contention at home vs. Brighton this weekend is anyone’s guess.

Salah is leaving next week for the African Cup of Nations. If his behaviour is the result of a strategy to force a transfer this January — as has been cynically speculated in some quarters — the Brighton match may very well be his swansong at the ground he has been King at for almost a decade.

This would be a sad way for the club to say goodbye to one of its all-time greats.

If Salah does play this weekend, he’s +105 to score.

-> Like Salah to score? Bet on the Liverpool star at NorthStar Bets

-> Like Salah to score? Bet on the Liverpool star at NorthStar Bets

Best bet: How about where Salah is playing post-transfer window? He’s been linked to Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia in a league known to throw around cash. That seems like a wise bet to jump on, though the general odds consensus is that the 33-year-old will remain with Liverpool.

Will Toffees stick it to Blues?

If Everton beats Chelsea on Saturday, the Toffees would remarkably leap over the Blues and potentially sit in the Champions League spots.

Chelsea is struggling, dropping four straight, including a midweek UCL loss to Atalanta. But make no mistake, Everton is the story here.

The club has edged up the table in recent weeks, winning four of five. David Moyes’ team, as expected, is tough to break down, but it doesn’t score goals. Expect normalcy to resume this weekend.

Best bet: Chelsea to win & under 2.5 total goals (+260).

-> Get in on the action — bet on Chelsea vs. Everton

Title contenders… and City?

I jest. Of course, Manchester City are title contenders. Following Arsenal’s loss to the brilliant Aston Villa, City are in second place, two points off the top.

But who’s in the fourth spot? That’s right, Crystal Palace, sitting five back of City. A win at home to City and Palace is right back in the hunt.

As brilliant as Palace have been, it is largely due to their otherworldly form away from home. No team has more away points in the Premier League.

At home? Barely mid-table. That partially explains why City are -115 road favourites.

This promises to be an exciting match. And it’s a solid example of how the parity in England this season is creating compelling battles every week.

Best bet: City to win and Phil Foden to score (+325). As much as Erling Haaland’s record-setting exploits this season have made headlines, Foden’s return to form (five goals in his last three matches) has also excited both City and England fans.

Best soccer bets: More for Igor

Brentford vs. Leeds may not have the same appeal as some other fixtures. But truth be told, it has the potential to be thoroughly enjoyable.

One of the stories not getting enough attention this season is the form of Brazilian Igor Thiago.

The Brentford striker has an incredible 11 goals this season, second to Haaland’s 15.

He has been a revelation, scoring over half of his team’s goals and helping the club get on the board early.

Five of his 11 goals have been the first of the match, helping Brentford surprise in the post-Thomas Frank era.

Best bet: There’s value on Thiago to score first (+280).

-> See Igor Thiago’s odds to score first + more props at NorthStar Bets

CanCon in the house

We were all excited to see Tani Oluwaseyi join Tajon Buchanan at Villarreal this summer.

But while Buchanan has excelled for the Yellow Submarine, Oluwaseyi has understandably taken his time to adjust to a new country and league.

Of course, it helps when your new team is really good, sitting third in La Liga.

But the former Minnesota United man has slowly earned the trust of this manager, scoring in the league and also potting a hat trick in the Copa del Rey.

As of this week, Oluwaseyi is also a Champions League goalscorer. He came off the bench on Wednesday vs. Copenhagen, scoring a tying goal in an eventual loss.

At home against last-place Levante, look for Oluwaseyi to get the start and stay hot.

Best bet: Oluwaseyi to score (+200).

-> Bet on all of this weekend’s soccer action at NorthStar Bets

The Sharman Weekend 5: Storylines, best bets and more

With another Champions League week now behind us, it’s back to domestic action for the weekend.

Here in North America, the schedule features a couple of enormous tilts. Meanwhile, across the pond in Europe there are some intriguing encounters featuring both struggling individuals and struggling teams.

Here are this week’s Weekend 5.

-> Looking to bet along with James? Check out the latest MLS and European soccer odds at NorthStar Bets.

-> Looking to bet along with James? Check out the latest MLS and European soccer odds at NorthStar Bets

1. The biggest story in Canadian sport?

If the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2025 Major League Soccer season and its current playoff run isn’t the biggest story… then it really should be!

On Saturday, the ‘Caps head to San Diego for the Conference Final, with a berth in the MLS Cup at stake. Vancouver had its signature match last weekend, when it blew a 2-0 first-half lead against Son Heung-min and LAFC. Eventually, a nine-man ‘Caps side would hang on for dear life in extra time and force a penalty shootout, where it prevailed.

It was pure theatre, as has been the case for much of the season with Jesper Sorensen’s team. This weekend’s combatants were tied atop the Western Conference during the regular season, with the expansion San Diego posting one more win than Vancouver. Suffice to say, there is little to choose between the two sides.

Worth noting is what should be a crisis at the back for Vancouver with MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon suspended and his centre back partner, Belal Halbouni, injured.

Best bet: Vancouver to win and Brian White to score: +390. The Whitecaps’ top scorer with 16 goals this season was hobbled by injuries to close the regular season but returned against LAFC for his first action in almost a month.

His minutes were managed, and he was subbed off after 62 minutes, but expect White, who has been Mr. Dependable all season when healthy, to be a major factor this weekend.

-> See current prices and build your own picks at NorthStar Bets

2. Ali stakes his claim

There are so many narratives surrounding the Whitecaps, so let’s keep the CanCon alive with some Ali Ahmed talk.

Every match Ahmed plays, the more he looks like a star man not in the making, but in the present. For Canada, Ahmed has been one of the biggest developments in the past 12 months. Whether Jesse Marsch picks the left winger for his World Cup squad is a redundant question — of course, he will. The bigger question is whether he will start in Marsch’s preferred XI.

That is a conversation for another day. But for now, let’s focus on Ahmed vs San Diego. This MLS season, Ahmed trailed only Sebastian Berhalter in assists. This weekend, against a San Diego side as well-balanced as any in the league, he’ll be looking to play playmaker again. Deadly in transition, the ‘Caps and its wide players, including Ahmed, will be a threat.

Best Bet: Vancouver to win and Ali Ahmed with one assist. +700

-> See current prices and build your own picks at NorthStar Bets

3. Miami and Messi aim for the Final

Meanwhile, in the MLS East, Inter Miami hosts New York City FC with all eyes on Lionel Messi, who continues to dominate the league.

In last weekend’s 4-0 humbling of Cincinnati, the Argentine scored a goal and assisted on three more. No one scored more goals this season than Messi’s 29, and no one had more assists than Messi’s 19. Including this year’s playoffs and one international against Angola, Messi has scored 11 goals in his past seven matches — numbers that would be barely believable if not attached to his name.

We can expect similar production against New York, whom Miami dispatched 4-0 earlier this season, with Messi scoring a brace. New York — the lowest-ranked team in the final four — conceded 44 goals this season, the same number as woeful Toronto FC.

Conversely, Miami conceded a staggering 51 goals during the regular season, suggesting that even if Messi scores – and he will – Miami is likely to have some problems of its own at the back. So expect a high-scoring encounter.

Best bet: Messi with another two goals or more, and over 3.5 total goals in the match pays a tempting +330.

-> See current prices and build your own picks at NorthStar Bets

4. Reward for Jonathan David at Juve?

Let’s be completely honest: it has been a dreadful start to life at Juventus for Canada’s Jonathan David.

Scoreless since late August, you could sense the enormous relief on Tuesday when his injury-time goal proved the match-winner against Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. David was once again a substitute in this one, a role he has been forced to adapt to in recent weeks, even under new coach Luciano Spalletti, who replaced fall guy Igor Tudor four matches ago.

Of interest last week was Spalletti’s comments following a draw versus Fiorentina. The Italian acknowledged that he had left it too late for his subs – David and Lois Openda – to make an impact. Well, against Bodo, Openda was given the start, with David on the bench. Openda scored the opener in an excellent performance, before subbing off for David and the eventual game winner.

Like most strikers, David is a slave to confidence despite his “ice-man” reputation. He is also a striker known for impressive goal-scoring streaks. On four occasions last season with Lille, he scored four goals over a four-match span. Surely then, a start this week is on the cards at home to Cagliari?

Best Bet: David to score this weekend +110

-> See current prices and build your own picks at NorthStar Bets

5. Title decider!

OK, it’s only November, and nothing is determined this early in the season. However, if Arsenal is going to feel any pressure from the chasing pack this season, it looks more and more like it is going to come from Chelsea.

The Blues find themselves six points back of the all-dominating Gunners, whom they face at home on Sunday. However, Tuesday’s 3-0 dismantling of Barcelona in the Champions League is yet more evidence that the ‘mad scientist’ strategy of recent years is finally paying off. Build young and build through talent has been the mantra, and Chelsea continues to impress. Stamford Bridge is getting it too.

By all accounts, the atmosphere on Tuesday was spell-binding. After a few years where such passion was limited, if even possible at all, it sure feels as though it’s back.

There have been a number of standout stars so far this season, but perhaps the most excitement surrounds 18-year-old Brazilian, Estevao. A goal scorer against Barca, the forward is considered the most exciting Brazilian prospect since Neymar, but without the veteran’s, how should I say… propensity to enjoy himself a little too much? Manager Enzo Maresca has limited Estevao’s playing time, choosing to ease the trickster into Premier League life.

But before too long, he will have no choice but to lean on such talent regularly.

What a match this might be, and with Arsenal, who handily dispatched Bayern Munich earlier this week, also slowly blooding potential superstars such as 15-year-old Max Dowman, there are plenty of reasons to make this appointment viewing beyond simply a top-of-the-table clash.

Best bet: Despite the glut of attacking options on both sides, these are also two outstanding defensive sides, with Arsenal almost impenetrable. A cagey affair between two contenders relatively early in the season screams a draw to me at +240.

-> Ready to make your weekend picks?
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How the 2026 World Cup draw works — and what it means for Canada

There was a time when the thought of a 48-team World Cup was as unpalatable to me as Video Assistant Referees, Swiss Model Champions League formats, and pink boots.

Now, I still have trouble with pink boots, but as we look ahead to history being made on Dec. 5th in Washington with the 2026 World Cup Draw — and the first-ever 48-team tournament — I have to admit that, as much as I have some nagging reservations, I am excited.

Progress then?

-> Get the latest World Cup 2026 odds and sign up at NorthStar Bets

Yes, there will be some bad teams, but that also means the potential for giant-killing, not to mention some enormous value on the betting lines. The value will include Canada, which as co-host, finds itself placed as a seeded team in Pot 1 for the draw.

Traditionally speaking, Pot 1 teams have an excellent chance of progressing out of their group. So, for a team like Canada set to make its third-ever World Cup appearance, this bit of history bodes well for Jesse Marsch and Co.

The format for the expanded tournament and draw is actually relatively simple. As the world’s largest confederation, UEFA (Europe) is granted the most tournament berths with 16, followed by CAF (Africa) with 9 and AFC (Asia) at 8.

Here’s a full look at the number of berths by confederation:

UEFA (Europe) – 16 berths
CAF (Africa) – 9 berths
AFC (Asia)) – 8 berths
CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 berths
CONCACAF (North/Central America, Caribbean) – 3+3 (3 hosts, plus 3 qualifiers)
OFC (Oceania) 1

+ 6 more berths via World Cup playoffs (4 from UEFA, 2 inter-confed.)

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Ah yes, the World Cup playoffs. These will be played over two legs in March. The inter-confederation playoffs are scheduled for March 26 and 31, 2026, while the UEFA playoffs will also take place with semi-finals on March 26, 2026, and finals on March 31, 2026.

So on Dec. 5, the draw will have six incomplete groups by the time all the festivities have ground to a halt in Washington.

For the draw itself, you can expect FIFA to go ‘big,’ employing huge celebrity power, legendary footballers, both current and long retired, and probably our fair share of musical acts to convey the idea that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is “with it,” and can relate to the new generation of fans.

2026 World Cup Draw: How it works

Countries will be drawn from one of our four pots, with 12 teams in each. The spots reserved for the playoff teams will be placed in Pot 4.

Pot 1: Includes the three co-hosts, plus the next nine highest FIFA ranked qualifiers.

Pots 2 and 3: The following top 24 qualifiers.

Pot 4: The lowest-ranked qualifiers and playoff teams.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1993380273493516760

A team will be pulled from each Pot and allocated to a group. As a co-host ,Canada already knows it will be the head of Group B. The draw will continue until we have 12 groups of four teams.

-> Visit NorthStar Bets for latest Team Canada odds

-> Visit NorthStar Bets for latest Team Canada odds

Canada Scenarios: Best and worst case

With the tournament expanding by so many teams, there is less likely to be a traditional ‘Group of Death,’ but that is not to say Canada won’t have challenging group. By viurtue of being in Pot 1, it will avoid having to face a true powerhouse such as Spain or Germany, although the potential of facing a Croatia or Uruguay is possible as both of those nations are in Pot 2.

Norway is another squad to fear in Pot 3 as Erling Haaland and Co. tore through World Cup qualifying putting up 32 goals.

Canada’s worst case scenario? It could find itself in Group B with Uruguay, Norway, and perhaps Italy if it navigates its way through the World Cup playoff.

The best case? Canada lands in a group with Austria, Uzbekista,n and Cape Verde(?) With respect of course…

A potential fun group for Canada? How about Colombia and its brilliant, travelling fans, Scotland and its Tartan Army, alongside playoff team Wales, and the bad blood that this summer’s friendly with Canada in Swansea conjured between them?

That would be exciting, compelling, and a great experience, whether you are fortunate enough to own a ticket or not.

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-> Join NorthStar Bets and bet on soccer today!

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How the 2026 World Cup draw works — and what it means for Canada

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