Soccer Betting Tips: Odds, Analysis and Best Bets for May 17, 2026

This week's calendar is dominated by some of Europe's biggest cup finals and a PSL title showdown. Included among my best bets for the week are five fixtures across the Europa League final, the DFB Pokal, the EFL Championship playoff, the Scottish Cup, and the Betway Premiership. For more tips and previews, visit bettingtop10.co.za.

In my opinion, Aston Villa head into this final as deserved favourites. Manager Unai Emery has won the Europa League four times, and his record in this competition gives Villa a clear edge over a Freiburg side playing in their first continental final. Across the campaign, both teams have been dominant, Villa scoring 28 goals and conceding just eight, while Freiburg scored 25 and conceded ten. Villa have also gone unbeaten across three previous visits to Istanbul without conceding, a remarkable stat that will no doubt fill them with confidence. Freiburg finished seventh in the Bundesliga with 13 wins from 34 games, and their 11 consecutive Europa League home wins is a fine record, but this fixture is on neutral ground. They will also be without key attacker Yuito Suzuki, who is absent through a fractured collarbone. On the other side, Amadou Onana is targeting a return from his calf issue in time for kick-off.

Value Reasoning: I am backing Aston Villa to win at 1.75: Emery's four Europa League titles as a manager, Villa's tighter defensive record across the campaign, and Freiburg's absences all point towards a Villa victory in Istanbul.

Bayern Munich are in ruthless form heading into this final. They closed out their Bundesliga season with a 5-1 win over Cologne, with Harry Kane finishing on 36 league goals, while the eam overall booted 122 – the most in league history. In the DFB Pokal semi-final, they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 without too much difficulty. The head-to-head record between these two teams this season is also emphatic: Bayern beat Stuttgart 2-1 in the Supercup, 5-0 away in the Bundesliga, and 4-2 at home in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart are no pushover, having finished fourth in the Bundesliga and secured a Champions League spot, and they enter this game on the back of a five-game undefeated streak. My read on this is that Stuttgart have the attacking quality to find the net, which pushes Both Teams to Score into strong territory, but Bayern's dominant record over Stuttgart this season makes them a clear winner pick. Over 2.5 goals feels almost certain given what both attacks have shown.

Value Reasoning: Despite the short odds, I am backing Bayern Munich at 1.35: three wins over Stuttgart this season by an aggregate of 11 goals to three, combined with Kane's historic scoring form and Bayern's record Bundesliga attack, make this the most straightforward pick of the week.

Southampton finished the Championship in fourth place with 80 points and 22 wins, ending the regular season on a run of 19 matches without defeat. That is the form of a team built to handle the pressure of Wembley. Hull earned their place by beating Millwall 2-0 across two legs, with striker Oli McBurnie finishing on 17 league goals, and they showed resilience throughout the campaign. Southampton needed extra time to see off Middlesbrough in the Championship semi-final, with Shea Charles scoring in the 115th minute to seal a 2-1 aggregate win. In my view, playoff finals at Wembley consistently produce goals: both sides carry genuine attacking quality, the occasion demands enterprise, and neither can afford to park the bus with a Premier League place at stake. Southampton's 19-match unbeaten run tells me they have the defensive discipline to avoid being overrun, but also the attacking intent to break Hull down. I expect both sides to find the net and Southampton to have the edge through 90 minutes.

Value Reasoning: I am backing Southampton to win at 1.40: their superior Championship season form, 80 points from 22 wins, and a 19-match unbeaten run all justify making them my pick for the promotion spot at Wembley.

Celtic sealed a fifth consecutive Premiership title and a record 56th overall with a 3-1 win over Hearts on the final day. They arrive at Hampden Park in commanding form under Martin O'Neill, who knows this stadium and this occasion well. Dunfermline compete in the Scottish Championship, a full division below Celtic, and reached the final by beating Falkirk on penalties after a goalless semi-final draw. The quality gap is significant, making Celtic a perfect banker heading into this match. I expect O'Neill's side to take control early, and while Lennon will set up defensively, the attacking depth Celtic possess makes it very hard for a second-division club to contain them across 90 minutes. The Over 2.5 Goals market is backed by Celtic's form and the gulf in class.

Value Reasoning: I am backing Celtic to win at 1.25: their fifth straight Premiership title, a 3-1 final-day win, and a significant gap in quality make Celtic the most reliable favourite on the card this week.

Orlando Pirates head into this final-day fixture with a title within reach, aiming to end a drought of 14 years in the Betway Premiership. A win will be enough to claim the championship, after the Mamelodi Sundowns were stunned 3-2 by TS Galaxy on 12 May to hand Pirates a genuine shot at glory. Pirates demonstrated their attacking quality with a 3-0 win over Magesi FC on 9 May, goals from Maswanganyi, Sebelebele, and Appollis doing the damage. They were held to a goalless draw by Durban City on 16 May, but the title motivation going into this fixture could not be higher. Orbit College sit 14th and are battling to retain their PSL status, which creates a dynamic which will likely lead to goals: Pirates need to attack relentlessly, while Orbit need a result of their own to stay up. In my read on this, a Pirates side chasing history at Mbombela Stadium will be ruthless. I back them to score multiple times and take the three points.

Value Reasoning: I am backing Orlando Pirates to win at 1.30: a drought of 14 years without a league title, a clear attacking edge over a team fighting relegation, and a final-day fixture that demands maximum effort from Pirates all support this pick.