Aston Villa v Olympiakos: Take punt on 18/1 card double

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·2 May 2024

Aston Villa v Olympiakos: Take punt on 18/1 card double

Our football props column is doubling up two players in the card market for Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final between Aston Villa and Olympiakos.

Digne also looks big in card market at 9/25.50
Back 18/119.00 Bet Builder card double
Read about Betfair's 90 Minute Payout offer here
It was another frustrating night for this column on Wednesday with the value angle landing early doors only for the overall Bet Builder to fall on the shorter-priced leg - hopefully some of you backed Ian Maatsen to be carded in a single.
Frankly, I can already see something similar unfolding here where there could be some value in the player-card market in which two players stand out as too big.
For Villa, playing their first European semi-final since their famous 1982 European Cup win, Lucas Digne shouldn't be out at 9/25.50.
The left-back has nine cards in 41 appearances this season, including two in his eight Conference League starts.
Digne is also set to go up against one of the in-form Greeks' dangermen in Daniel Podence, a player who will run with the ball and potentially attract tackles.
Podence is the other market candidate I like.
Currently on loan from the hosts' neighbours Wolves, Podence scored at Villa Park last season and looks sure to get some pelters from the home crowd.
He's already been carded in four of 11 European appearances this season, too, so odds of 13/53.60 look tempting.
The duo in a double pays around 18/119.00.
The issue - and reason for the big prices - is likely the appointment of Marco Guida as referee.
Admittedly, the Italian isn't the best official for cards, although he did produce eight of them in the recent Rome derby and five in his most-recent UEFA club appointment.
His patience will likely be tested here, too, with Villa having received a competition-high 30 cards in their 10 games, while Olympiakos have been shown 46 in 16 European ties this season, an average of 2.88 per game.
I fear one of the two will see yellow in this one but I'll take the chance on the big-priced double.

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Aston Villa v Olympiakos: Take punt on 18/1 card double | OneFootball

Aston Villa v Olympiakos: Take punt on 18/1 card double

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