talkSPORT betting tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Friday 16 February

Following an exciting week of action in both Europe and the EFL, Friday’s fixture list has a lot to live up to. 

Luckily, there is a match apiece in Ligue 1, Bundesliga, La Liga and the Championship on Friday, as well as two in Serie A, providing plenty of high-class games to run the rule over.

Bet of the day

Koln to beat Werder Bremen @ 31/20 

Form is temporary but class is permanent. That is a mantra relegation-threatened Koln will be hoping rings true when they welcome in-form Werder Bremen to the RheinEnergieStadion. 

Werder have won three of their last four matches whereas Koln have been struggling for some time now, winning just one of their last eight Bundesliga matches. 

But although recent form favours Bremen, history suggests that the Billy Goats could be set to land an important win on Friday night. 

Koln are unbeaten in their last 11 home meetings with Werder, winning last season's corresponding fixture 7-1, and they are improving under new boss Timo Shultz, who has lost only one of his five matches since taking charge. 

They could continue their recovery under Schultz with a home win over Bremen. 

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Special of the day

Lyon v Nice Bet Builder: Lyon to win, Alexandre Lacazette to score, Said Benrahma to have 1+ shot on target @ 23/5

Pierre Sage has wasted no time in working his magic at Lyon, leading his side to eight wins from his 12 matches in charge and lifting the French giants out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone in the process. 

A visit from second-placed Nice will provide Sage’s men with a thorough examination, but it is a test they can pass given the visitors' woeful away form. 

Nice are winless in their last five Ligue 1 away games, drawing with relegation candidates Montpellier and losing to bottom-half Le Havre in that run, and could come unstuck against a Lyon side who have won three of their last four league home matches to nil. 

A huge reason for the hosts' upturn has been the form of former Arsenal man Alexandre Lacazette, who has scored in each of his last five Ligue 1 matches and netted eight goals in his last seven appearances. 

The French forward could again make his mark on Friday, and he may not be the only Lyon attacker to have a big impact against Nice. 

Said Benrahma, who joined Lyon on loan from West Ham in January, looked lively on his debut against Marseille as he registered three shots and hit the target once. 

He should be taken to test the Nice goalkeeper as the final leg of a same-game treble. 

Long shot of the day 

West Brom to beat Southampton @ 2/1

Southampton’s 25-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Bristol City on Tuesday, and the Saints may be unable to make an immediate recovery from that 3-1 defeat. 

Saints’ away form had been patchy prior to that defeat at Ashton Gate - they have now won just four of their last 11 games on the road - and the Hawthorns is one of the hardest venues in the Championship to win at.

West Brom have lost just two of their last 15 home matches, with those defeats coming against runaway Championship leaders Leicester and rivals Wolves in the FA Cup. 

The Baggies have won six of their last seven encounters at the Hawthorns and have an excellent chance of further success against a stunned Southampton unit.

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