Not all clubs are taking a break this week, as the national teams take center stage once again. In England, the spotlight is on the EFL Trophy, a football competition involving teams from League One and League Two – the third and fourth tiers of the football system – and, since 2016, some Under-21 teams from clubs currently playing in the Premier League and Championship. To make a somewhat risky comparison, it is the English equivalent of our Coppa Italia Serie C, albeit with some substantial differences.
It is now a well-established event. The first edition dates back more than 40 years, to 1981, although it was called something different at the time. Peterborough United triumphed again last season, lifting the cup for the second year in a row and joining Bristol City on three wins in the special team rankings.
The evening kicks off with the group stage: among the favorites for the three points is Doncaster, which has had a very good start to League One, earning 13 points in the first six games (currently fifth, three points behind the leaders). The Vikings are unbeaten in front of their fans and have made it through the first two rounds of the League Cup, even beating the higher-ranked Middlesbrough at home. The match against Everton U21 should not pose too many problems. Plymouth and Cheltenham, on the other hand, will try to take advantage of the EFL Trophy to turn the page after a less than positive start to the season.
The Biancoverdi are fourth from bottom in League One with a disastrous record of one win and five defeats, while Cheltenham are bottom of League Two with just one point from six games. Although they have not shone so far, Plymouth should assert their superiority and secure a healthy win. The same goes for the match between Wycombe and Colchester: the Blues are struggling in League One—they are still without a win in the league—but it’s a different story in the cups. They have already eliminated Leyton Orient and Bromley in the League Cup and should also get off to a good start in the EFL Trophy.
Predictions for the other matches
One of the most interesting matches is the clash between League One teams Bolton and Rotherham: it has been a far from memorable start for the Trotters, who are only fourteenth, but the Millers have done even worse, if anything.
Although Bolton have failed to beat the Red and Whites in their last five meetings, we believe they are slight favorites—net of the two coaches’ rotations—in a match that promises excitement, given that neither defense has been impenetrable in this early part of the season, conceding six and eight goals respectively in the first six rounds. Finally, as far as goals are concerned, Burton Albion-Liverpool U21 and Bromley-Crystal Palace U21 are worth considering.
EFL Trophy: possible winners
Doncaster (in Doncaster-Everton U21)
Plymouth (in Plymouth-Cheltenham)
Wycombe (in Wycombe-Colchester)
Matches with at least three goals in total
Bolton-Rotherham
Doncaster-Everton U21
EFL Trophy: matches with at least one goal per team
Burton Albion-Liverpool U21
Bromley-Crystal Palace U21
Odds comparison
A Doncaster win is priced at 1.32 on Lottomatica and 1.30 on Snai. The “Over 2.5” bet in Bolton-Rotherham is quoted at 1.65 on Lottomatica and Snai.
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