Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – May 15th Edition

This coming weekend, we have the last week of action in La Liga — with Barcelona reeling after taking a bizarre loss against Leganes that cost them an unbeaten season. We also have some gripping action in Major League Soccer. Even though the English Premier League has wrapped up another season, we do have the FA Cup Final on Saturday to look at. Consider our sports betting insights on three matches from the pitch before you place your soccer betting picks for the weekend.

Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – May 15th Edition

@EmiratesFACup Final @ChelseaFC v @ManUtd Saturday 19 May @wembleystadium pic.twitter.com/Di0IBR7F3K

— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2018

Saturday, May 19

FA Cup Final: Chelsea vs Manchester United (London, Wembley Stadium) (12:15pm ET, FOX)

The 137th FA Cup Final will be contested on Sunday, as Europe’s oldest soccer tournament reaches its climax once again. Manchester United came in second in the English Premier League, and Chelsea came in fifth, which means that they will not qualify for the Champions League next year, settling for Europa League qualification instead. However, the FA Cup gives both teams a chance to hoist the trophy that they missed out on in their regular season. Chelsea entered 2017-18 as the defending EPL champions, but they did not have the same offensive prowess in this campaign, which is why they had to settle for fifth. In the FA Cup, they needed penalties to dispatch Norwich City but then rolled past Newcastle in the second round. They routed Hull City and Leicester City to face Southampton in the semifinals, where they won 2-0. The drama off the pitch that has roiled Chelsea this year would ease considerably with an FA Cup to put in the trophy case. Manchester United came in second in the EPL standings, but it was a season in which the league really consisted of Manchester City — and everyone else. United were the best of the rest. In the FA Cup, their bracket has not challenged them significantly. They rolled over Derby County and Yeovil Town in the first two rounds, and then they took EPL bottom-feeder Huddersfield Town down. Beating Brighton gave them a ticket to the semis, where they finally gave up a goal against Tottenham Hotspur, but they were able to prevail, 2-1. United finished their EPL season with a 1-0 win against Watford. Their defense is superior to that of Chelsea’s, and they should able to apply enough pressure to deliver the win. Soccer Betting Prediction: Manchester United 3, Chelsea 1

MLS: Colorado Rapids at NYC FC (1:00pm ET)

NYC FC have slid out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference, now sitting in third place, four points behind Atlanta United. In their last match, they went out west to take on LAFC in a battle of contenders, but LAFC held their own against the visitors. NYC FC took an early lead on David Villa’s goal in the 13th minute but conceded an own goal in the 23rd minute. Carlos Vela gave LAFC the lead in the 66th minute, but NYC FC salvaged the point when Ismael Tajouri found the back of the net in the 75th minute. NYC FC only forced nine corners to LAFC’s 14, and they only possessed for slightly more than half the game. Now NYC FC have a chance against one of the bottom-feeders in the West, as Colorado come to town on Saturday. They hosted the New York Red Bulls last week but took a 2-1 loss, despite possessing the ball for 59% of the game and putting seven shots on target to the Red Bulls’ three. Colorado’s inability to finish up front will cost them against NYC FC — and their troubles in the back line (they gave up a goal in the fifth minute and then slid into a 2-0 hole in the 76th minute. They drew within one with a tally from Jack McBean in the 85th minute but could not get the equalizer. I don’t see them faring better against New York’s better team, especially on the road. Soccer Betting Prediction: NYC FC 3, Colorado 0

La Liga: Real Madrid at Villarreal (2:45pm ET)

The third-place and fifth-place teams in La Liga square off on Saturday afternoon, as Real Madrid have 75 points, and Villarreal have 60 — as Villarreal have lost seven more matches than Real. With the final positions in La Liga basically set, these teams are finishing out the string. Real Madrid shows no signs of letting up off the gas, though, as they delivered a 6-0 thumping to Celta Vigo last week. Gareth Bale had a brace to open the scoring, in the 13th and 30th minutes, and then Isco, Achraf Haikimi, Sergi Gomez (on an own goal) and Toni Kroos rounded out the scoring. Real Madrid only had possession for 57% of the game, but they turned their chances into quick scores. They visit a Villarreal team that went to Deportivo last week and delivered a 4-2 road win. Giving up two goals to a team way down the table was not a particularly good sign — Deportivo had possession for 52% of the game and played more physically, committing 14 fouls and earning three yellow cards. They also forced 11 corners — while Villarreal didn’t force one. Villarreal were able to win going away, but they won’t find it as easy with Real Madrid showing up. Soccer Betting Prediction: Villarreal 2, Real Madrid 2