As always, lines per Bovada.

Premier League

Leicester City @ Norwich City (-0.5, -115; -115)

Look, Leicester hasn’t been great so far this year. Leicester followed up a less than convincing win against Wolverhampton in week 1 with a 4-1 loss to West Ham in week 2, during which Ayoze Perez saw red. Obviously Ayoze will be missing this week’s match due to the red card. That being said, Norwich have had a rough start to the season. Having yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season, Norwich is sitting on a goal difference of -8 after just two weeks. While Norwich’s losses were to elite Premier League teams (3-0 to Liverpool and 5-0 to Man City), Leicester should have enough quality to earn 3 points away this weekend.

West Ham vs. Crystal Palace (Over 2.5, -115)

This game is a risky pick because Crystal Palace has yet to score a Premier League goal this year, but I feel like being risky. This pick is entirely based on West Ham. In the first two games, West Ham has scored 4 goal in each while demonstrating they have a leaky backline. They even conceded a goal to 10-man Leicester last week. It looks like West Ham will be in a lot of high scoring games this season, and this may very well be one of them.

Manchester United @ Wolverhampton Wolves (-0.5/-1, +105; -125)

Manchester United put in a dominant display last week against Southampton, but only came away with one point due to an own goal by Fred. While dropping those two points may matter later in the season, it shouldn’t matter for this week 3 match-up. Paul Pogba has been in-form from minute one, and the supporting cast led by Bruno Fernandes has played well as well. I do, however, wonder what line-up Solskjaer will put out there on Sunday. So far, United’s big summer signings, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, have not been incorporated into the starting lineup. One would think that if a team spends more than 100 million pounds on two players, that those two players would be in the lineup. On the other side of this is Wolves, who have a lot of attacking talent, but have yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season, leaving a lot to be desired. I’m sure Bruno Lage will eventually get this team going offensively one of these weeks, but I’m not sure that week 3 against Manchester United will be that week.

La Liga

Valencia vs. Alaves (-0.5, -120; -120)

Valencia has been quietly playing well in the first few weeks of the La Liga season. After going down to 10-men in the third minute of the opener, 10-man Valencia beat a decent Getafe team 1-0. Los Murcielagos followed this up with a 1-1 draw at Granada. However, the most impressive aspect of Valencia so far this season has been Carlos Soler. The 24-year-old is clearly a leader for this team and has earned the respect of his teammates. From comforting Hugo Guillamon after his third minute red card to stepping up and score both of Valencia’s goals from penalties this season, Soler has been a shining star on the Valencian Coast. Alaves put together a really good first 60 minutes against Real Madrid in week 1 before losing 4-1. In week 2, Alaves had a lackluster performance at home against a Mallorca team that should be in a relegation fight later this season. With the game at the Mestalla, I like Valencia’s chances.

Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen @ FC Augsburg (-0.5/-1, -110; -135)

Bayer Leverkusen bounced back from a 1-1 draw against a defensively sound Union Berlin in week 1, blowing out Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 in week 2 (in a scoreline that was a bit unfair to Monchengladbach). Leverkusen re-discovered their offensive form in week 2, something that is likely to carry in to week 3. Despite a lackluster performance last weekend, Augsburg managed to get a point against Eintracht Frankfurt. The weekend before that, Augsburg found itself on the wrong side of a 4-0 scoreline against a competent but unremarkable Hoffenheim squad. Patrik Schick and company look ready to keep the offensive fireworks going for Leverkusen, and Augsburg have yet to score a Bundesliga goal this season. I’m riding with Leverkusen here.

Serie A

Inter Milan @ Hellas Verona (-1, even; -165)

Inter Milan, despite losing Hakimi and Lukaku, picked up right where they left off last season, bagging 4 goals in a dominant win over Genoa (4-0). Newcomers Edi Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu both managed to score and seemed to slot seamlessly into the lineup. Most notably, Lautaro Martinez was missing from the lineup, though this was likely an effort to give him an extra week off after participating in the Copa America over the summer. Though Inter Milan seemed to do just fine without him in the season opener, Lautaro may return to the lineup this weekend, adding more offensive firepower to a team that had no issue scoring in the season opener. Hellas, on the other hand, dropped the season opener against Sassuolo 3-2 in a game where the result was closer than the match. Sassuolo seemed to dispatch Hellas with some ease, though Hellas went down to 10-men at the end of the first half when Miguel Veloso was sent off. Only a 90^th minute penalty from Zaccagni brought Hellas and the final scoreline within one goal. Veloso, an experienced defensive midfielder who would be an asset against an attacking force like Inter Milan, is set to miss this match due to the red card and will surely be missed by Hellas.

Napoli @ Genoa (-1, -115; -180)

Napoli opened the season at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium against Venezia, taking all three points in a 2-0 win. While 2-0 against a newly-promoted team may not seem impressive, Napoli went down to 10 men just 22 minutes into the season, with Victor Osimhen receiving a red card. Despite playing the rest of the match down a man, Napoli managed to bag two goals and retain the majority of possession. Lorenzo Insigne also maintained his impressive form from the Euros, converting a penalty and scoring Napoli’s first goal of the season. Genoa’s start to the season, however, was anything but pleasant. Il Grifone started the season away against reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan. The highlight of the match for Genoa was the first five minutes of the match, before they went down 1-0. The match ended with a 4-0 defeat for Genoa. While Inter Milan is likely a better team than Napoli, a 4-0 loss in the first game of the season (including the demoralizing effect) is something that cannot be overlooked. Napoli will be disappointed if they don’t walk away from this one with three points.

Roma @ Salernitana (-1, -105; -170)

Red cards seemed to be the theme in week 1 of Serie A, with both a Roma player and a Salernitana player seeing red in different matches. Roma opened the season against Fiorentina, in a match that ended with only 10 men on each side. The display was competent against a solid Fiorentina side. In particular, newcomer Tammy Abraham shined for Roma and looks to be a great signing if he can maintain this form throughout the season. Fiorentina was a little unlucky to lose 3-1, but Roma deserved the three points. Salernitana, unlike Roma, did not earn any points in their start to the Serie A season. The newly-promoted side started the season away at Bologna, where De Silvestri’s second goal was the difference in the scoreline; however, the scoreline is deceptive. Salernitana only had 27% possession and just all around outplayed by Bologna. If Salernitana is unable to increase their share of possession against Roma, it will be a long night in Salerno. Despite Roma missing Zaniolo due to his red card, the team from the Italian capital should still leave Salerno with three points.

Ligue 1

PSG @ Reims (-2/-2.5, even; -575)

Normally, I would not feature a game with these odds, but this will be Messi’s debut with PSG. This game will either finish 5-0, affirming that PSG is a superpower in Ligue 1 and the presumptive 2021/2022 Ligue 1 champion, or PSG will struggle and every commentator will overreact (“What’s Wrong with PSG?!?” headlines), ignoring the fact that Messi joined the squad two weeks ago and may need a little more time to adapt to the new league, new style of play, and new teammates.

Here’s a fact that is still sinking in for Barcelona fans: Lionel Messi is no longer an FC Barcelona player. After two decades at the club, arguably the greatest player of all-time, who rose through the ranks at Barcelona and achieved tremendous success at the club, is now gone. Messi didn’t leave because of a desire to explore other teams or cultures or move his family to a different city or even to get the highest wage possible; Messi left because Barcelona, after years of overspending on transfer fees for decidedly mediocre players, along with severely inflated wages, was already over the La Liga imposed salary cap. Now, there are questions (rightly so) surrounding the exemption application and whether Real Madrid supporter and La Liga President Javier Tebas interfered to ensure that Messi could not continue as a Barcelona player, but that, along with the financial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a different discussion for a different time. The questions that need to be asked are: How did it come to this? Why did Barcelona need to pray that Tebas would grant an exemption in the first place? Why was there no salary cap room set aside for the greatest Barcelona player of all-time to continue at, and perhaps retire with, the club? The answer is: Bartomeu, La Masia, and the role of youth players at Barcelona.

Barcelona has always been, and will continue to be, one of the biggest clubs in the world. The list of great players who have played for the club could fill pages and pages. But, one staple of Barcelona’s success has always been homegrown talent. La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, is a famed institution that has produced exceptional talents. A top academy in the world, we don’t need to reach far back in the history books to see what kind of talent has come through the academy: Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Pedro, Gerard Pique* (left for Manchester United before returning for a nominal fee), Sergio Busquets, and, of course, Lionel Messi. These players, one way or another, all found themselves at La Masia, rose through the ranks, and eventually established themselves as indispensable first team players.

Barcelona never exclusively relied on La Masia graduates, but always brought in transfers that would supplement the academy stars, not replace the academy stars. Players like Ronaldihno, Brazilian Ronaldo, Neymar, Eto’o and Mascherano were brought in to play alongside the likes of Iniesta, Busquets, and Messi, adding talent and supplementing the team. And, using this strategy, Barcelona achieved great success, winning 4 Champions League trophies between 2005 and 2015, along with numerous La Liga titles, Copa del Rey trophies, and other national and regional cups.

This all changed under Josep Bartomeu. Barcelona’s attitude shifted from developing youth players and supplementing the team as needed to let youth players leave and replacing youth players with other talent, usually for an exorbitant transfer fee and a hefty wage packet. Suddenly, star youth prospects were being pushed out and replaced. One doesn’t have to look far to see how the talent from La Masia has performed elsewhere: Eric Garcia became an elite young center-back (and Barcelona is lucky to have him back); Dani Olmo’s performances with Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig earned him a call-up to the Spanish national team; Carles Perez has shown flashes of brilliance with AS Roma; and Marc Cucurella has developed into an in-demand attacking left-back. These are just a few examples of players who saw their path into the first team blocked by during Bartomeu’s tenure and moved elsewhere to get a chance.

But blocking the path to the first team wasn’t the sole issue; if it were, Barcelona probably would still have the ability to re-sign Messi. No, this issue was coupled with absolutely outrageous spending. Don’t get me wrong, certain signings during Bartomeu’s reign were great: Pedri, Sergino Dest, and Frankie de Jong will be Barcelona stars for the next decade, but with the sheer number of transfers that occurred, a few were bound to work out. Other transfers, more expensive transfers, drained Barcelona’s resources. Phillip Coutinho: 120 million euros. Ousmane Dembele: 105 million euros. Antoine Griezmann: 120 million euros. These fees do not include the wages for these players which, when adding Samuel Umtiti and including bonuses and fees, reach nearly 100 million euros gross per season. It’s clear that this “replace, not supplement” strategy caused massive spending and drove Barcelona into severe debt. But there is one player who epitomizes the Barcelona transfer problem: Martin Braithwaite.

Now, I have nothing against Martin Braithwaite, and I think he has actually been a pretty good addition to the Barcelona squad, so it’s not so much that Martin Braithwaite is the issue, but rather the reasoning behind signing Martin Braithwaite. As you all remember, Braithwaite was signed outside of the transfer window after Barcelona was granted an emergency exception due to an injury to Ousmane Dembele. Braithwaite’s 18-million-euro release clause was triggered, he was given a reasonable (by Barcelona’s standards) wage packet, and he joined Barcelona. The issue with the Braithwaite transfer is that rather than looking to La Masia and giving academy players like Hikori Abe and newly-signed Rey Manaj a chance to demonstrate their talents, Barcelona instead relied on an outside player. Barcelona replaced an injured player, rather than giving La Masia academy graduates and using transfers to supplement their homegrown players.

So, the question becomes: what should Barcelona do now? Bartomeu is out (and in serious legal trouble), and Joan Laporta, a man who Barcelona achieved incredible success under, is back in charge. Barcelona must now look to a post-Messi future. Luckily for Barcelona, Laporta is the right man for the “supplement, not replace” system. Many players mentioned earlier, including Sergio Busquets and the now departed Messi, got their start in the first team while Laporta was originally in charge (2003-2010). Sure, Laporta brought in players like Ronaldinho to supplement the squad, but he also allowed managers like Pep Guardiola the freedom to test young players and see if they could make it in the Barcelona first team. Laporta has a lot of issues to handle during his second time at Barcelona’s helm, including fraud allegations, Barcegate, and, of course, Barcelona’s inflated wage bill. If Laporta goes back to his roots and looks back at his first term he can right the Barcelona ship. Laporta can use talent youth players and remain an elite European club while cutting down on the wage bill.

The key to fixing Barcelona and future success is going back to the pre-Bartomeu strategy that created incredible success: supplement, not replace.

Rough predictions start to the season. One always thinks that a team is going to be fully integrated and in mid-season form in the first game, and that often isn’t the case. Between the many national team tournaments this past summer and the transfer moves, some teams aren’t used to playing with each other. Then there’s the refereeing in the Atletico Madrid game, which was a travesty by itself. Nonetheless, the season continues and we persist. Week 2 gambling predictions:

Premier League:

Manchester United (-1, +105/-160) @ Southampton

Manchester United made a statement on opening day: purchasing Raphael doesn’t mean that we’ve turned into a defensive team. Man U dropped a fiver on Southampton, with 4 of the 5 goals coming in just 16 minutes during the second half. Bruno Fernandes appears to have continued his form from last season right into this season, and looks more and more like a steal at 55 million euros (not including add-ons) each week. Southampton also made a statement on opening day, but not the kind they were hoping for. It’s clear that the Saints are missing Danny Ings up top and Jannik Vestergaard at the back. There’s hope that Adam Armstrong and Mohammed Salisu will develop into good replacements, but developing into those key replacements by Sunday’s game? Unlikely.

Chelsea (-1, Even; -130) @ Arsenal

I usually avoid picking rivalry games because anything can happen, but in this battle for London, I have to take the Blues. Chelsea got off to a great start to the season against Crystal Palace, handily beating the south Londoners 3-0. This score-line was even more impressive when you consider that new signing Romelu Lukaku did not play for the Blues. Arsenal’s start was not nearly as impressive, losing to Premier League newcomers and west London team Brentford 2-0. Brentford looked energetic, Arsenal created very few quality chances, and had trouble getting the ball on frame when those chances arose. Chelsea’s backline, midfield, and attacking talent are all better than Arsenal’s talent, plus it appears that Aubameyang and Lacazette will be out, so if Chelsea can keep it together during this rivalry showdown, they should leave the Emirates with a win. But like I said before, it’s a London derby, so anything can happen…

Tottenham – I am not picking Tottenham over the Wolverhampton this weekend, and I imagine some people will say “but they beat Man City last weekend without Harry Kane,” so I’m going to explain my feelings on Tottenham. Tottenham are a quality team that do have quite a bit of talent. I like the Cristian Romero signing, though I do not understand why Lo Celso does not start more regularly in the midfield for them. That being said, why I am staying away from picking Tottenham is precisely because of the Harry Kane situation. Until he is either sold or the transfer window has closed, a star striker with rumors of huge transfer offers is exactly the kind situation that can cause a team to lose focus. They did not lose focus, beat Man City in the opener, and I commend them for that; however, until the Harry Kane situation is resolved, I think there is instability in the locker room, and betting on an unstable team is generally not a profitable endeavor.

La Liga:

Barcelona (-110) @ Athletic Bilbao

Barcelona showed they are a little vulnerable at the back, but also showed that they are still a forced to be reckoned with, even without Lionel Messi. Barcelona played in a more fluid shaped, morphing between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 throughout the game. Arguably the most impressive part of their opener vs. Real Sociedad was the off-ball movement, which was something that was seriously lacking last season. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are clearly the future of this team, but Memphis put in an outstanding performance as well. The performance looked to be one of consistent talent, not a one-off great game. Athletic, meanwhile, drew in their opener against Elche. They looked exactly like a team that finished 10^th in La Liga: average, middling, nothing special. Frankly, if it wasn’t for an unexplainable first-half miss by Pere Milla, Athletic would be 0-0-1. Athletic do have some talented players in Inaki Williams and Iker Muniain, so they do have the potential to be a dangerous team, but Barcelona should be able to handle them, even away at San Mames.

Atletico Madrid (-475) vs. Elche

I usually don’t like making picks when odds are this obvious, but Atletico Madrid showed some real talent against Celta Vigo in the opener. While the score-line read 2-1, Atletico dominated the game, the Vigo goal was from a very questionable penalty call, and Correa looked to be in midseason form up top. Unfortunately, Correa’s performance was overshadowed by the double red card (Hermoso will be missing this match) and the truly abysmal refereeing. When you give a yellow card to the player that was fouled on two separate occasions, you probably shouldn’t be refereeing top-level matches. Just disgraceful. Nothing against Elche, who should have won their opener against Athletic Bilbao, but Atletico looked like the La Liga winners that they were last season, so I’ve got to stick with Los Rojiblancos.

Bundesliga:

Borussia Dortmund (-1, Even; -200) @ SC Freiburg

Own goal by Passlack aside, Dortmund looked great in their opener against Eintract Frankfurt. Even if there are defensive questions (odd seeing Witsel play center-back), Dortmund have an incredible amount of offensive firepower that should compensate for any defensive deficiencies. Haaland, Reyna, Reus, Hazard, Bellingham… Bundesliga teams should respect the attacking talent and the plethora of options. Freiburg, on the other hand, were the better of the two teams in their opener, but played Bundesliga newcomer Bielefeld. Nothing against Bielefeld, but the talent gulf between Bielefeld and Dortmund is…enormous. If Freiburg couldn’t get it done against Bielefeld, it’s hard to imagine them taking a point from an in-form Dortmund team.

Borussia Monchengladbach (+0.5, -120; +195) @ Bayer Leverkusen

Getting a draw against Bayern is no small feat, and it could be argued that Monchengladbach deserved more. Monchengladbach’s backline was pretty solid against a very talented attack from Bayern, but it was the counter-attacking and open field play from Monchengladbach that really stole the show. Plea, Stindl, and, when he came on, Thuram all created transition scoring chances. Neuhaus and Kramer were both solid in the midfield. Overall, I was very impressed with the Monchengladbach performance. Last week, I picked Leverkusen with the caveat that Union Berlin has a knack from getting a point against teams that may have more talent. That’s exactly what happened here with the 1-1 draw. Bayer had more possession were probably the better team, but failed to convert when it counted. So, once again, Bayer Leverkusen is in my risky game to bet this week, but this time I’m picking against them.

Ligue 1:

AS Monaco (-0.5, -110; -140) vs. Lens

I know, I took Monaco last week, raved about how good they could/would be, and then they let us down. And I’m a little nervous to take them again this week for two reasons. First, Niko Kovac’s lineup in the season opener should be serious questioned. Failing to start two of your best players (Ben Yedder and Golovin) in the season opener is concerning. Second, Monaco played in a UCL qualifier on Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk. Will Kovac play another weird lineup again in an attempt to rest players for the second-leg on Wednesday? That being said, I still believe Monaco has an impressive amount of talent in their side and will be playing their home opener against Lens, a decent team with a good young center-back in Facundo Medina, but a team that is decisively less talented than Monaco. I might be going down with the ship, but I’m going with Monaco again.

Stade Rennais (-0.5, -110; -110) vs. Nantes

Nantes got off to a good start this season, but a win over Metz isn’t exactly impressive. Stade Rennais was less than impressive with a draw against Brest. However, Stade Rennais, between Jeremy Doku, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Eduardo Camavinga, has an impressive amount of young talent. It may be too early in the season to bet on this talent, but I’m going to go with Brittons in Week 3 of Ligue 1.

Serie A:

Lazio (-1, Even; -125) @ Empoli

Lazio didn’t make much noise in the transfer market this summer, though they were able to nab 16-year-old wonderkid Luka Romero from RCD Mallorca. That being said, Lazio also didn’t lose any key players…yet (looking your way, Joaquin Correa). Anyway, Lazio looks to have retained its top talents: Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic, and Luis Alberto, while adding Felipe Anderson to the attacking group on the cheap. While there weren’t a lot of improvements made, Lazio finished 6^th in Serie A last year and was a quality team, so they should be solid again this season. Empoli also did not permanently add much talent, but unlikely Lazio, the newly promoted side probably should have. Patrick Cutrone is a pretty good loan signing from Wolverhampton, and Samuele Ricci is a young midfielder destined for great things both in Serie A and with the Azzurri, but overall, Lazio is a substantially more talented team.

Juventus (-1, -120; -190) @ Udinese

We’ll keep this one short: Juventus is the most talented team in Serie A. Udinese lost their starting goalkeeper, Juan Musso, to Atalanta. Udinese also lost their best player and key link to any offensive production, Rodrigo de Paul, to Atletico Madrid (10 assists in Serie A last season). They brought in a less talented replacement in goal (sorry Marco Silvestri) and don’t have anyone who can fill de Paul’s shoes. Juve underperformed last season, but should dominate this game.

Cagliari (-0.5, +105; +105) vs. Spezia

Spezia overperformed expectations and avoided relegation last season; however, they didn’t build on that success and failed to bring in any big playmakers to help them avoid relegation this season. Cagliari significantly underperformed expectations, narrowly avoiding relegation (actually finishing below Spezia), but made a few key additions during the summer. Cagliari signed Razvan Marin, who played well for Cagliari, signed Kevin Strootman on loan, and, most importantly, hung on to both Nahitan Nandez and Giovanni Simeone. This can be seen as a risky bet given Cagliari’s serious underperformance last season, but Cagliari has the talent to open the season with 3 points at home.

Here are some select predictions for the first weekend of the 2021/2022 season. Odds and lines from Bovada:

Premier League

Aston Villa (+130) @ Watford

Aston Villa had an underrated transfer window. Yes, they lost star Jack Grealish to Manchester City, but they re-invested the 100 million pounds received for Grealish back into the squad. Villa strengthened the squad with Emiliano Buendia, Danny Ings, and Leon Bailey. Villa has a strong backline anchored by Matty Cash and Tyrone Mings, and I expect their offensive firepower to overwhelm the newly-promoted Watford.

West Ham United (+120) @ Newcastle United

West Ham finished in a Europa League place last season, which surprised teams throughout Europe. While they didn’t make any big moves this offseason, they brought in Alphonse Areola on loan to provide competition for Fabianski, and bought big, experienced center-back Craig Dawson from Watford after a successful loan spell last season. The biggest win for West Ham was hanging on to midfield duo Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. This game could come down to midfield play, and between Rice, Soucek, and Fornals, West Ham should win the midfield battle.

Leicester City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Over 2.5 goals: +105)

Betting goals on the first weekend is always risky business, and this game is no different. However, both teams have backline issues. For Wolverhampton, the backline was sloppy last season, giving up nearly 1.5 goals per game last season. The combination of a leaky backline, new addition Jose Sa coordinating that backline in goal, and Leicester’s attacking power (including the addition of Patson Daka) could lead to some serious problems. For Leicester, their backline has a significant injury problem. Wesley Fofana looks to be out for the season, and Jonny Evans has a foot injury and should be unavailable. These injury issues, combined with Wolves attacking power, could spell a bad start to the season for Leicester. This game has the potential to have serious offensive fireworks, so over 2.5 goals is certainly realistic.

La Liga

Real Betis (+ 125) @ RCD Mallorca

Real Betis finished in a Europa League spot in La Liga last season. If Betis had any weakness, it was on the wings for the backline and in goal. Betis took steps to resolve those issues, signing Juan Miranda, Rui Silva, and Youssouf Sabaly while retaining their attacking talent. Mallorca, on the other hand, was promoted back to La Liga from La Liga 2. While the Balearic-based team made some moves during the summer transfer window, most notably signing Angel Rodriguez and Takefusa Kubo (on loan from Real Madrid), Mallorca did not make enough moves to play Betis tight throughout all 90 minutes.  

Atletico Madrid (-105) @ Celta Vigo

Atletico not only returns the bulk of their 2020/2021 La Liga title team, but also added Copa America winner Rodrigo de Paul and free agent Marcos Paulo. It could be argued that Atletico Madrid improved during the summer transfer window. Meanwhile in Galicia, Celta Vigo made no major moves, signing Javi Galan and former Benfica winger Franco Cervi. Atletico Madrid is a complete team and likely expect to beat the Galacians handily.

Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen (+155) @ Union Berlin

This is a risky game to bet. Leverkusen lost Leon Bailey, but are still a very talented team, hanging on to Paulinho, Florian Wirtz, and Patrik Schick. Additionally, Leverkusen added big center-back Odilon Kossounou to its backline. On the other side, Union Berlin, who finished 7^th in the Bundesliga last season, had a knack for frustrating the opposition’s offense and getting points from a draw. Berlin added more players known for being stingy defenders during the 2021 summer transfer window, including Rani Khedira. The odds are good at +155, but bettors beware.

Ligue 1

AS Monaco (-0.5/-1: -105) @ Lorient

The combination of new talent (Myron Boadu and Alex Nubel) and young talent that is developing well (Benoit Badiashile and Aurelien Tchouameni) means that Monaco is going to be a force to reckon with this season. They were potentially dark horse title contenders for Ligue 1 until PSG signed Messi. Monaco is talented defensively, offensively, and in the midfield. Meanwhile, Lorient, who finished midtable in Ligue 1 last season, made no key additions. Most expect Monaco to dispose of Lorient easily in the second weekend of Ligue 1.

Marseille (-1: -105) v. Bordeaux

Marseille had an underrated 2021 summer transfer window, adding Gerson on a permanent transfer from Flamengo, and taking Pau Lopez, Cengiz Under, William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi on loan. Already strong up top with Milik (injured) and Benedetto, adding Guendouzi and Gerson should solidify and help control midfield play in front of what looks to be a fairly talented backline. Bordeaux has yet to finalize any major moves this summer, but may bid on Hondoran forward Alberth Elis, currently at Boavista and formerly of the MLS. While Bordeaux does return a young, talented squad, Marseille should win their 2021/2022 home opener.

Predictions are not guarantees and should not be taken as guarantees. Gambling is a risky endeavor that can lead to the loss of money. Do not bet more than you can lose. Have a gambling problem? Call 1 (800) 522-4700

As the 2021/2022 season kicks off for three of the Big Five Leagues (Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga), we complied a list of who we believe are the young stars. We give you the 21 under 21 for the 2021/2022 season:

Eduardo Camavinga

CM, Stade Rennais F.C., France

Age: 18

Camavinga is one of the top young midfield talents in Europe. Born in a refugee camp in Angola, Camavinga’s family moved to France when he was young, settling in a small town near Rennes. The eventual beneficiary of the family’s settlement location was local soccer club Stade Rennais. After playing for a smaller local team, Camavinga joined Stade Rennais’ youth set-up at age 11. After rapidly rising through the Stade Rennais system, Camavinga debuted for the first team at just 16 years old. This meteoric rise has continued, as Camavinga has played a key role in Stade Rennais Champions League qualification in the 2019/2020 season, has been critical to Stade Rennais domestic success over the last two years, and even debuting for the French national team. Camavinga has since been transfer linked to every major club in Europe, though the most consistent links have been to Real Madrid and, recently, Manchester United. Camavinga’s contract expires with Stade Rennais in 2022, unless he signs a new contract, Stade Rennais will look to cash in on Camavinga in the Summer 2021 transfer window. Regardless of whether he commands a hefty transfer fee or leaves on a free, expectations for the 18-year-old will be enormous no matter where he lands. Camavinga looks to become a top midfielder in Europe and evolve into a key piece of a French national team that is loaded with talent, and will be for the foreseeable future.

Myron Boadu

CF, AS Monaco, Netherlands

Age: 20

Many people will credit Billy Beane with AZ Alkmaar’s recent success, European qualification, and “moneyball” style of play. While others may debate who should get credit for AZ’s success, there is no doubt who AZ’s most exciting young talent was: Myron Boadu. The young goal-scoring machine has had another great season, with double-digit goals yet again and AZ set to qualify for European Competition for the second year in a row. His domestic success was rewarded with his first cap for the Oranje and, true to his form, Boadu scored in his debut. Boadu’s performance caught the attention of several European clubs and his decision to hire Mino Raiola looks like it paid off, as Boadu will join Raiola in the income-tax free haven Monaco for the 2021/2022 season.

Yusuf Demir

AM/RW/LW, SK Rapid Wien (on loan at FC Barcelona), Austria

Age: 18

Demir couldn’t buy liquor during last season, but he could certainly score goals. The now 18-year old talent, who can play any attacking position, scored 6 goals and set up another 3 in his first full season in the Austrian Bundesliga. Demir’s performances garnered attention from Europe’s top club, and he eventually landed a loan with Barcelona, with an option to make the move permanent. Barcelona will evaluate Demir throughout the season, but from what everyone else has seen, the Blaugrana would be crazy not to exercise the 10-million-euro option.

Giovanni Reyna

AM/LW/RW, Borussia Dortmund, United States

Age: 18

Barely 18 and already a US international, Reyna appears to be following in the footsteps of international teammate Christian Pulisic and making a name for himself at Dortmund. A regular starter for BVB this season, Reyna scored 4 goals and added 6 assists in the Bundesliga. With another year of Haaland, Reus, and Brandt, and a new contract locking him up until 2025, Reyna will have constant competition between training sessions and matches, so we expect him to develop into one of the premier attacking players in Europe.

Nuno Mendes

LB, Sporting CP, Portugal

Age: 19

Another Sporting CP defensive product, Mendes is arguably the best young left-back in the world. Signing a new contract with a 70 million Euro buyout clause at just 18 years old, Mendes has been a regular starter for the 2020/21 Primeira Liga champions. His standout performances led to a 2021 call-up to the Portuguese National Team where, despite being called up in March 2021, he already has three caps. Mendes will be a standout for the Portuguese National Team for years to come, and will certainly be included in their 2022 World Cup roster. Where will Nuno end up after Sporting CP? Well, he has the same agent as Bruno Fernandes, so the Premier League may be calling, and the Red Devils may have an advantage.

Pedro Gonzalez Lopez (Pedri)

CM/AM, FC Barcelona, Spain

Age: 18

The 18-year old Spanish international has secured his place as a starter in the Barcelona side as the 2020/2021 season has progressed. While the stats are not overwhelming, one only needs to watch a couple of Barcelona games to see Pedri’s immense talent. With his agility, speed, and on-ball ability, Pedri is set to develop into Barcelona’s next star. His talents have not gone unnoticed in the international realm as well, as the 18-year old has earned himself a call-up to La Roja for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and will presumably battle for a place on the 2022 World Cup Roster. While his transfer fee could rise to 22 million Euros from incentives, the transfer looks like a steal for a player that is sure to feature for Blaugrana for years to come.

Maarten Vandevoordt

GK, KRC Genk, Belgium

Age: 19

The 19-year old looks to be the next great Belgian goalkeeper, though Thibaut Courtois won’t give up his place in the national team without a fight. Although not quite as tall as Courtois, both the 6’2” Vandevoordt and the starting Real Madrid keeper came through the Racing Genk academy. Vandevoordt has secured his place as the number 1 for the Belgian Cup champions, and will presumably remain their number 1 during their Champions League run next season.

Kaio Jorge

CF, Juventus, Brazil

Age: 19

The 19-year old Santos product looks set to be the next number 9 for the Brazilian National Team, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Kaio, who found his goal-scoring form in the 2020 Copa Libertadores, was tracked by every major club in Europe, eventually landing in Turin with Juventus. With obvious talent and success in the 2020 Libertadores, it was a wonder why Fernando Diniz only started Kaio once in the 2021 Libertadores. That question has disappeared with his move to Juventus, and has been replaced with a new inquiry: Will Kaio Jorge spend the 2021/2022 season with Juventus? If not, who will he be loaned out to? Kaio was always destined for a move to Europe. The only question left now is how will Kaio perform now that the European move has happened.

Anssumane “Ansu” Fati

LW/RW/CF, FC Barcelona, Spain

Age: 18

Prior to a painful meniscus injury, Fati was one of the best young stars in La Liga. Despite only appearing in 7 games prior to the injury, Fati had bagged 4 goals and an assist in La Liga. Fati also put in some great displays in European competition, scoring a goal and adding 3 assists over three games. A versatile forward who can play any position up front, Fati’s skill set should be advantageous for a Barcelona team that, at times, plays a more “fluid” front three model. Despite being eligible to play for his birth country of Guinea-Bissau, Fati made his international debut for La Roja in 2020, at just 17 years old. One of the younger players on this list (age 18), Fati is arguably the most talented player on the list, with one of the highest ceilings on the list. Fati joined La Masia in 2012 at 10 years old, and if Barcelona is smart, they won’t let this generational talent go.  

Rodrygo

RW/LW/CF, Real Madrid, Brazil

Age: 20

While his teammate and compatriot Vinicius Junior could be on the move, it looks like Rodrygo is there to stay at Real Madrid. After inconsistent playing time and performances at the beginning of the 2020/2021 La Liga season, Rodrygo has been in form since February 2021. Zidane put faith in Rodrygo, and Rodrygo repaid that faith with some stellar performances. Despite his inconsistency at the beginning of the season, the speedy Brazilian scored 1 goal and contributed 5 assists during the La Liga season. Inconsistent and underperforming wing play may have been Real Madrid’s most glaring weakness during the 2020/2021 season, but Rodrygo was a bright spot for Real. With players like Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard potentially on the move (either via transfer or loan), Rodrygo may end up as Real’s first-choice right winger during the 2021/2022 season.

Gabriel Menino

CM/RM/RB, Palmeiras, Brazil

Age: 20

Menino, who turns 21 next month, is the next young midfield star to come out of Brazil. A regularly appearing member of Palmeiras, he’s a natural central midfielder who can also play on the right side or slot in at right back. Menino is not particularly lethal going forward so upon moving to Europe, expect him to play in a more defensive midfield role like Casemiro or Fabinho rather than an attacking midfield role, i.e. Coutinho or Lucas Paqueta. In the future, I see Menino as a midfielder like Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes, an important or integral part of a team, but not necessarily a player who has eye-popping stats.

Chukwunonso “Noni” Madueke

RW/AM, PSV Eindhoven, England

Age: 19

Noni followed the “Jadon Sancho” model, moving from the Tottenham Academy to a team abroad in search of first team experience, and just like Sancho, it has paid off. Noni moved to PSV in 2019. He spent much of his first season on the bench, making just a few Eredivisie appearance; however, Noni really blossomed this past season with seven goals and six assists in 24 Eredivisie appearances. Just like Sancho, a team abroad gave Noni a chance, and he has made the most of it. Eventually, he’ll move from the Eredivisie to a bigger league, but for now, expect him to continue to thrive with PSV. Tottenham’s loss with be PSV’s gain in the form of a hefty transfer fee whenever he moves on.

Thiago Almada

AM/LW/RW, Velez Sarsfield, Argentina

Age: 20

A name familiar to anyone who has followed the South American transfer market over the last 3 years, Almada is the most talented young player in Argentina. Standing at 5’6” (1.71 m), Almada is from the same area of Buenos Aires as Carlos Tevez. Almada continues to have a huge impact on the field, with 3 goals and 2 assists in 12 matches in Copa de la Liga, and 2 goals in 6 games in Copa Libertadores. Watching him play, it’s no wonder that teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United are bidding on his services; however, after a recent sexual assault allegation, any and all moves may be off pending the outcome of the legal case. It also appears that any move that Almada makes will be to Europe, as Atlanta United agreed to a transfer fee with Velez for Almada, but was unable to come to a contractual agreement with the player.

Josko Gvardiol

CB, RB Leipzig, Croatia

Age: 19

Leipzig, knowing that Konate and Upamecano would leave the club soon, went out and grabbed a young center-back who could replace their defensive standouts. Gvardiol spent the 2020/2021 season loaned back to Dinamo Zagreb, presumably to continue to develop and have consistent playing time, and it appears the loan paid off. A stalwart in the Dinamo defense, Gvardiol helped Dinamo Zagreb win yet another Prva HNL title. Leipzig, less concerned about the Croatian league title, also got what they were looking for out of the loan. Gvardiol appeared 41 times throughout all competitions, including 25 appearances in Prva HNL, 2 appearances in Champions League, and 11 appearances in Europa League. Despite not being known for his forward prowess, Gvardiol added 2 goals and 3 assists in Prva HNL and contributed 1 goal in the Europa League. Expectations are high for the 19-year-old, and he’s replacing two young, great center-backs, but if Gvardiol can handle the pressure, expect him to flourish as a yet another young defender dominating the Bundesliga for Leipzig.

Jude Bellingham

CM, Borussia Dortmund, England

Age: 18

The now 18-year-old got his start at the Birmingham City Academy, where younger brother Jobe now plays. After a battle between clubs to sign his signature, with links to numerous clubs and bids from both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham chose follow in the steps of England international Jadon Sancho and signed with Dortmund in Summer 2020. Despite competition in Dortmund’s crowded midfield, Bellingham has emerged as a regular starter for BVB, appearing in 28 games and contributing 1 goal and 3 assists throughout the season. The stats are simply a simplified metric for how Bellingham has grown into his role with Dortmund. While he looked timid and confused during his first few games for Dortmund, Bellingham has really grown into his role within the team, linking up with BVB’s other young wonderkids Gio Reyna and Erling Haaland. His performances for Dortmund piqued the interest of Gareth Southgate who, in November 2020, handed Bellingham his first England senior team call up. Bellingham was capped in a friendly with the Republic of Ireland, making his Three Lions debut at just 17 years old. Bellingham is already at a big club and developing well, so only time will tell if he will leave the Yellow Wall.

Florian Wirtz

AM, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany

Age: 18

Wirtz, who turned 18 toward the end of the Bundesliga season, was an absolute revelation for Bayer Leverkusen. With 5 goals and 6 assists in 29 appearance, it’s clear that he contributed during the season, but the statistics belie Wirtz’s true value last season. Wirtz played such an important role as a link between Leverkusen’s midfield and attacking play that on his 18^th birthday, Leverkusen signed him to a new five-year     contract; apparently, Bayer Leverkusen will be damned if this young talent gets poached     by the likes of Dortmund or Bayern on the cheap because of an expiring contract. Wirtz, who was then 17, started the season on the first team bench and was initially incorporated as a rotational player; however, by mid-October, it was clear to the entire Bundesliga that he was both their starting attacking midfielder and he was destined for great things. Joachim Low was also apparently impressed, and he named the then 17-year-old midfielder to the German squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in March 2021. Providing critical link-up play between the midfield and attack, Wirtz is an attacking-minded work horse who is going provide offensive firepower to Bayer Leverkusen before commanding a huge sum to move to one of Europe’s elite clubs.

Mason Greenwood

RW/SS/CF, Manchester United, England

Age: 19

Greenwood, who joined Manchester United’s youth system in 2007 at just 6 years old, has spent the past 12+ years rising through the ranks, developing, and, finally, breaking into the first team squad. After a strong showing at the end of the 2019/2020 season, Greenwood was asked to undertake a new challenge: to learn to play the right-wing in addition to his ability to play the number 9 position. This adaptation has given Greenwood the opportunity to play a more important role in the first-team, and he has emerged as a rotational starter during the 2020/2021 Premier League season. Preferred by             Solskjaer over the likes of Amad Diallo, Daniel James, and Juan Mata, Greenwood has scored 7 goals and added another 2 assists during a good 2020/2021 Premier League campaign. Additionally, Greenwood added vital goals during Manchester United’s European campaigns, which culminated in a Europa League final appearance for the Red Devils. Internationally, Greenwood has debuted for the England national team, but he may have to wait a bit being called up again. Greenwood, along with Phil Foden, were     sent home after breaching COVID-19 guidelines before a Nation League match against Iceland. While the situation was juicy for the English tabloids, the real issue is a combination of losing Gareth Southgate’s trust and the depth of the England national team. Obviously, losing a manager’s trust is not good, and when competing for a place in the team with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, and others, Greenwood may find himself iced out of the team for a long time. Greenwood was not part of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but if he can find great form and can repair the trust issues with Southgate, he could find himself in the 2022 World Cup squad.

Benoit Badiashile

CB, AS Monaco, France

Age: 20

What more can be said about a center-back who has been talked about extensively? The 6’4” 20-year-old played in 35 Ligue 1 games last season, scoring 2 goals, adding 1 assist, and playing a huge role in Monaco’s 2021/2022 Champions League qualification. Badiashile is being tracked by a number of top clubs throughout Europe, including PSG and Manchester United. A star in the making, Monaco has no income tax, which may appeal to the young center-back when discussing a contract extension, but other major European clubs can more than compensate for the income tax issue. Badiashile is with Monaco for now, but his destiny may lie elsewhere in Europe.

Eric Garcia

CB, FC Barcelona, Spain

Age: 20

Garcia left the legendary La Masia for Manchester City in 2017. In Manchester, he found an inconsistent backline and a manager willing to give him a chance. Garcia became a regular starter for Pep Guardiola, despite being just 19-years-old; however, he rejected a contract extension with Manchester City. Guardiola desperately wanted to keep hold of the youngster, but it was clear that the 20-year-old had his sights set on one place: Camp Nou. Arguably the best young signing of Summer 2021, Garcia brings both youth and top tier experience to a Barcelona backline that needs to replace an aging Pique, but has only found expensive duds so far (no offense, Umtiti). Garcia, at 6’, is big enough to play with some of the more physical forwards in La Liga, yet fast enough to keep pace with the elite speed. He’s shown consistent good play, with flashes of brilliance, playing in one of the top leagues in the world. If the trajectory that he’s on continues, Garcia has the chance to be a starting center-back at Barcelona for a decade or more. As for the international aspect, Garcia is a full-fledged member of La Roja, and was a member of both the Euro 2020 squad and the 2020 Olympic squad. A future world-class center-back, Barca was fortunate to get him on a free, but it’s a wonder why they ever let him leave in the first place.

Jeremy Doku

RW/LW, Stade Rennais, Belgium

Age: 19

People (i.e. the media) are far too tough on Jeremy Doku. Did he have a bit of a lackluster season given the 25-million-euro transfer fee? Sure, 2 goals and 3 assists in 30 Ligue 1 games probably doesn’t cut it given the fee. Where was he in the Champions League, the first one Rennes had qualified for in decades? Yeah, he wasn’t great in their 6 games in the Champions League either. But the Belgian winger is 19-years-old, has shown how high his potential ceiling is, and, given his age, maybe needed a season to adjust to a new league. While you can look at the performances and argue about whether or not Rennes should have spent the money they spent, one thing can’t be argued: Jeremy Doku is an incredible talent who will be a star at Rennes shortly. Anyone who doesn’t believe that did not watch the 2020 Euros. Though he only played in 2 games, Doku brought an energy and quickness that was an asset to an otherwise methodical and aging Belgian side. The spark that he brought to the Red Devils was undeniable, and, despite the loss, he was brilliant against Italy in the quarter-finals. His quickness, change of pace, and ability create great goal-scoring situations will be an asset to Stade Rennais and Belgium as he continues to improve.

Agustin Alvarez

CF, CA Penarol, Uruguay

Age: 20

The 20-year-old forward is a star in the making, and his 2021 numbers back that up. In 10 appearances during Copa Sudamericana, he has 8 goals and 2 assists. In 2021 Primera Division, Alvarez has contributed 7 goals and bagged 1 assist as well. Alvarez clearly has a nose for goal and the only question is which path he will follow. Will Alvarez go directly to Europe? Or, will he follow the path of other young Penarol stars Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez, and end up in MLS while European teams continue to evaluate his talent? Only time will tell.

Honorable Mentions:

Anatoliy Trubin

GK, Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine

Age: 20

Standing at 6’6.5”, Trubin is one of the tallest goalkeepers in the world. He has the size and range of an elite goalkeeper. Displaced from his hometown of Donestk, Trubin won the starting keeper spot for Shakhtar Donestk during the 2020/2021 season and so far, it looks like he’ll remain in that spot for the 2021/2022 season. His performances have drawn interest from the Ukrainian national team, and Trubin received a call up to the national team in March 2021. Additionally, clubs with aging goalkeepers, such as Inter Milan, have made inquiries into Trubin’s availability and potential transfer fee costs. Goalkeepers have notoriously long careers, so Trubin could be a top club’s keeper for the next 2 decades if the right move happens.

Charles De Ketelaere

AM/LW, Club Brugge KV, Belgium

Age: 20

If you thought the Belgian golden age of soccer ended with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, think again. De Ketelaere, along with the other Belgians on this list (Kana, Verschaeren), are demonstrating that even as some Belgian stars are in their prime, the Red Devils will continue to be a dominant force in world soccer for the foreseeable future. De Ketelaere, who plays for his hometown team Club Brugge, made his debut for the Belgium in November 2020. In addition to being called up to the senior squad at just 19-years-old, the now 20-year-old midfielder has starred for Brugge, playing in the midfield, on the left wing, and in a forward position. In addition to his production in Jupiler League (3 goals, 4 assists) and Champions League (2 goals, 2 assists) last season, De Ketelaere is already on the score sheet for the 2021/2022 season, scoring in Brugge’s season opener. Much like many other Belgian stars, teams across Europe will watch De Ketelaere develop in the Jupiler League for the next season or two before making a move for the young midfielder. And if past moves are any indication, De Ketelaere may want to start looking at real estate in England or Germany.

Wesley Fofana

CB, Leicester City, France/Cote d’Ivoire

Age: 20

The 20-year-old center-back was the subject of a very large transfer fee (36.5 million Pounds) from Leicester City for a young and relatively unproven player. If anyone thought that Fofana was going to sit out for a couple of seasons and develop, they were quickly dispelled of that notion. A key starter throughout Leicester’s Premier League campaign, European campaign, and silverware-winning FA Cup campaign, Fofana has been a stalwart of the Leicester defense. Despite Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu as other talented center-back options for the Leicester back line, Fofana seems to have thrived amongst the competition. It looks like Fofana will not be seen this season due to injury, and we’re wishing him a speedy recovery.

Marcos Paulo

LW/CF, Atletico Madrid, Portugal

Age: 20

Kayky and Metinho aren’t the only Fluminense youngster who are on their way to Europe; Marcos Paulo is bound to appear in the nightmares of even the most experienced right-backs. Paulo joined reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on a free transfer this summer. With 7 goals and 7 assists in 48 Brazilian Serie A matches, the young left winger has shown the he not only has a nose for goal, but that he’s able to set up teammates to score as well. Playing alongside the likes of Luis Suarez, Joao Felix, Angel Correa, and Marcos Llorente, the “defensively-minded” Simeone is going to have an embarrassment of attacking riches this season. One interesting note: like Pepe, Marcos Paulo is Brazilian-born, yet has represented the played in the Portuguese national team set-up so far. Though he is only risen to Portugal’s U-19 team so far, it’s only a matter of time before he’s playing for their senior team. The Brazilian national team is always stacked with an incredible amount of talent, so they may not even notice his absence, but this is a great get for the Portuguese national team.

Moriba Kourouma Kourouma (Ilaix)

CM, FC Barcelona, Spain/Guinea

Age: 18

Despite the crowded Barcelona midfield, Ilaix worked his way into the rotation of substitutes used by Ronald Koeman last season. Despite other midfield options, such as Miralem Pjanic, Riqui Puig, and Coutinho, by the end of the season, Ilaix was the first midfield name off the bench. In his 12 appearances in La Liga this season, Ilaix contributed 3 assists and bagged a goal for himself. Though he needs to improve his decisionmaking and on-ball defending, Ilaix has the potential to be the next great creative midfielder. Initially, everyone expected Ilaix to contribute to Barcelona from the bench this season; however, it now appears that Ilaix’s season may lie away from Barcelona. Unable to come to an agreement regarding a new contract, Ilaix may either be sold to another suitor or Barcelona will lose him on a free in Summer 2022.