After the thrills and spills of the FA Cup and Champions League Finals the domestic football season is almost over but this weekend it’s all about the play-offs as six sides look to jump up a division care of a Bank Holiday triumph.
FOOTBALL
On Saturday the headline event takes place as Hull and Bristol City battle it out for a place in next season’s Premier League. The stakes can’t really get any higher for these sides as they both aim to reach the Promised Land. Just one point separated the sides during the league season and both enjoyed impressive wins in the semi-finals against more fashionable opponents.
Bristol City 2.8 Draw 3.2 Hull City 2.3
Leeds were playing in the Champions League semi-finals just over seven years ago but now face an equally important game here as they face Yorkshire rivals Doncaster in the League One play-off final. Can this proud club return to the top two divisions in England or will Sean O’Driscoll’s side pour more woe on the suffering Leeds fans?
Doncaster 3.2 Draw 3.2 Leeds Utd 2.1
Bank Holiday Monday sees the conclusion of the play-offs with the League Two clash between Stockport and Rochdale taking place. Rochdale have been in the bottom division in England since 1974 and will desperate to give their fans a rare slice of glory.
Stockport 2.3 Draw 3.2 Rochdale 2.8
Away from the play-off action in England, the Scottish season reaches it’s climax with the Cup Final taking place at Hampden Park. Just like last week’s FA Cup Final we have a top-flight side lining up against a second-tier team as outsiders Queen of the South join Rangers. It’s the first time the Dumfries side have ever reached a Cup Final but will Gordon Chisholm’s side find the occasion too much to handle.
Rangers 1.25 Draw 5.00 QOS 10.00
FORMULA 1
Also this weekend the Formula 1 season continues with the idiosyncratic Monaco Grand Prix taking place. Sportingbet have reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen as their favourite with Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa next in the betting.
Race Winner
Kimi Raikkonen 2.87
Lewis Hamilton 3.6
Felipe Massa 4.33
Fernando Alonso 11.00
Heikki Kovalainen 13.00
EUROVISION
Maybe you’re off to a Eurovision party this weekend to celebrate the festival of kitsch that is the Song Contest? This year’s contest takes place in Serbia and as usual we’re betting on it. Russia are strong favourites to oblige this year with Dima Bilan making his second appearance in Eurovision and he’ll be hoping to go one better than last time with his song ‘Believe’. The UK this year are represented by X Factor runner-up Andy Abraham but the trends don’t look good for the former dustman.
Eurovision Winner
Russia 3.25
Greece 7.00
Serbia 7.00
Ukraine 8.00
Armenia 13.00
Sweden 13.00
NHL
Eight months of intense ice hockey action come to a close over the next fortnight as the NHL’s finest two tussle it out in the Stanley Cup. Lining up this year are the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins and we make the Red Wings favourite to claim their 11th Stanley Cup. The Penguins won the title back in 1991 and 1992 and will be hoping to upset the favourites over the seven game series. The action begins on Saturday night.
Stanley Cup Winner
Detroit Red Wings 1.60
Pittsburgh Penguins 2.2
It’s a great weekend of betting action so make sure you stick with Sportingbet.
Prices correct as of 17:00 Wednesday May 21st
