Scott Thornton's BTTS 6/1 Weekend Acca

Southampton failed to pick up any points in their first match since returning to the Premier League. Russell Martin’s side had 78% possession as they succumbed to defeat despite an xG of 1.77 but didn’t manage to score. However, the stats suggest we should see more goals when they host Nottingham Forest.

Last season, Southampton’s matches averaged the second most goals in the Championship with 3.16, but their defensive record left something to be desired. Both teams have scored in eight of their last 10 league matches at St. Mary’s with those matches averaging 3.8 goals.

Nottingham Forest ran out 4-3 winners the last time they faced Southampton. Both teams scored as they drew 1-1 with Bournemouth last weekend. Under Nuno, Forest are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road in the Premier League. Those matches have seen 3.3 goals on average.

Udinese finished just two points above the relegation zone last season and opted to change the manager in the summer. Kosta Runjaic’s first game in charge saw his team earn a respectable 1-1 with Bologna.

Both meetings between Lazio and Udinese last season finished 2-1 with both teams securing victory on the road. Udinese have picked up just one win in their last 16 home matches in Serie A, but they have only failed to score in two of those matches. Both teams scored in 13 of those games so that looks a solid bet here.

Like Udinese, Lazio also made a managerial change in the summer. Marco Baroni was brought in, and he will have been delighted with what he has seen thus far with Lazio looking menacing in their win over Venezia.

Espanyol succumbed to a 1-0 defeat away to Real Valladolid in their first game in La Liga since earning promotion. Manolo Gonzalez’s side lacked cutting edge, but they should offer more going forward in front of their own fans.

The last time Espanyol hosted Real Sociedad, they lost 3-2 and we are backing another goal-laden affair on Saturday. Espanyol’s last campaign in Spain’s top tier saw their home matches average 3.2 goals.

Real Sociedad were also disappointing in their opener. They were beaten 2-1 at home by Rayo Vallecano but both teams created several chances.

Real Sociedad looked defensively fragile against Vallecano and their clean sheet record at this ground doesn’t bode well. They have conceded on their last six trips to the Stage Front Stadium. Those encounters have seen an average of three goals evenly split at 1.5 apiece.