Tips — Tuesday, 18 August 2026

💬 Singapore rarely get beaten badly, and that is the case for this pick. They have lost only twice in their last 12 games. In ten of those twelve they have either won or stayed within one goal. Their away record is strong too, at 4 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss. Thailand are the better side and they have won their last five. At home, though, they are far more careful than that record suggests. Across eight home games they have scored under 2 goals a game and let in under a goal. The big scores that lift their numbers came against weaker teams: 5-0 at Laos, 6-1 and 2-0 against Chinese Taipei, and 4-0 at Sri Lanka. Thailand also carry a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Singapore. They do not need to chase this one. A team protecting a lead sits in and plays on the break, and that keeps the margin small. A 2-1 Thailand win is the most likely score, and a one goal defeat is exactly what we want. Now the honest part. Thailand have won all nine meetings between these teams, and four of the last five were by two goals or more. If Singapore throw bodies forward late, Thailand will punish them. We are backing Singapore to keep this close anyway.

💬 These two cannot stop scoring against each other. The last seven meetings have averaged almost 6 goals a game, and every one of them had 3 or more goals, including a 3-3 tie in May. Heidenheim are built for that. They were relegated last season and they let in more than 2 goals a game. Their own games average just over 4 goals in total. Their two competitive matches this season were a 4-3 home win over Osnabruck and a 1-4 loss at Hertha. Bayern bring the firepower. They score more than 3 goals a game, and 12 of their last 16 games had 3 or more goals. This is also Bayern's last game before the Super Cup against Dortmund. Kane and Olise have not played yet in pre season and are due minutes. Expect a strong first half team, then wholesale changes, and a loose second half with new legs everywhere. That is how these games get stretched out. A 1-3 Bayern win is the likely script, and four goals clears what we want here. The catch is that this is a friendly. Team selection and effort are hard to call, and Bayern are only four days from a trophy game, so they may take it easy. Even so, this matchup keeps producing goals and we want the busy one.

💬 Dinamo have not lost a competitive game all season, and that is the heart of this pick. They have won 12 and tied 3 of their last 15, with no losses. At Maksimir they are even better, with 7 wins and 2 ties from nine games, and they let in less than a goal a game. They have also won their last five in a row. Viking are a good side, with 13 wins from their last 18, but they are a different team on the road. They score plenty at home and under 2 goals a game away. They also travel without Baertelsen, Berisha and Roseth. This is the first leg of a two game tie, and Viking have lost all seven of their previous European ties over two legs. That points to a careful away plan. Dinamo should break through before the break, then add a second late as Viking are forced to push up. A 2-0 home win looks the most likely result, and a win by that margin is all we need. The worry is the absences. Filipovic is suspended after a red card and Theophile-Catherine is out, so Dinamo are missing two of their squad. With a second game to come, both coaches may also rest players. Dinamo still have too much here.

💬 Fenerbahçe have a real problem in goal, and that is the main reason we want goals here. Both senior keepers are doubtful. Ederson is ill and Gunok has a muscle injury, which leaves them short in goal. Fenerbahçe are unbeaten at home at 6 wins and 2 ties, and they score more than 2 goals a game there. Ten of their last 17 games have had 3 or more goals in them. Lyon are not in great shape either. They have won 5, tied 4 and lost 5 of their last 14, and 8 of those 14 games had 3 or more goals. Fenerbahçe also come in tired. They have had 3 days since their last game to Lyon's 7, and they lost 2-1 at Genclerbirligi on 15 August. Tired legs late on can open a game up. Be clear about the risk though. All four of Fenerbahçe's Champions League qualifiers this season finished with two goals or fewer, and the only previous meeting between these clubs was a 0-0. Lyon barely score on the road, at under a goal a game, and they will be happy to keep this tight for the second leg. A 1-0 home win is the most likely single score, so this needs the game to break open. The keeper problem is why we think it can.

💬 Levski have turned this into a habit. Their last three European wins have all been 1-0, twice against Kairat Almaty and once at home to Universitatea Craiova. They know how to make a game small. At home they have won 8 of nine and let in well under a goal a game. Across their last 16 they have won 11 and lost only once, and only 6 of those games had 3 or more goals. Their games average just over 2 goals in total. AEK are the bigger name, but they arrive short of rhythm. They have played one competitive game since 17 May, a 2-2 tie with OFI in the Super Cup. They have tied four of their last five, and away from home they score just over a goal a game. They are also missing Gacinovic, and defender Penrice has left for Rangers. Put a rusty AEK side against a defense this stubborn, in a first leg in Sofia, and goals are hard to find. A 1-0 Levski win is the most likely score, and that is the kind of game we expect. The warning is AEK's quality. They beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1 and PAOK 3-0 in their last competitive run, so they can score in bunches when they click. If Levski have to chase, this gets busier. We still expect a quiet night.