Arthur Wandji, a Cameroonian sports journalist and betting expert, has selected a three-match accumulator for Sunday, 23 August 2026, with Aston Villa backed to avoid defeat against Brighton, more than 2.5 goals expected in Elche v Barcelona, and Lille favoured in a low-scoring encounter with Angers.
Brighton will be aiming to extend an unbeaten record in their opening league matches that has stood since the 2020/21 season. The Seagulls have won four and drawn one of those five fixtures, but their manager will also be looking to address a difficult end to the previous campaign while integrating new players into the squad.
That rebuilding process follows the departures of key figures including Jan Paul van Hecke and Danny Welbeck. Their first opponents, Aston Villa, come into the fixture after an outstanding season which ended with victory in the Europa League. However, the visitors will have to cope without several important players for the trip to the south coast.
The previous meetings between the sides provide a strong argument in Villa’s favour. Brighton have won only two of their past 14 Premier League matches against Aston Villa. The visitors’ collective strength, combined with Brighton’s long-standing struggles in this particular fixture, makes Aston Villa the logical selection to take a positive result from Falmer Stadium.
Brighton have also repeatedly allowed promising positions to slip away in this contest, having dropped 13 points after taking the lead across the history of the fixture. That record further strengthens the case for backing Aston Villa in the day’s opening selection.
Barcelona expected to produce goals at Elche
Barcelona begin their pursuit of a third successive La Liga title with a potentially awkward away match at Elche. The home side opened the season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Deportivo La Coruna and will be hoping their strong record at home can give them a chance of causing an upset.
Elche have gone 10 matches without defeat on their own ground, a run which offers encouragement before the champions visit. Recent history, however, is heavily weighted towards Barcelona. The Catalan club have won their past 10 La Liga meetings with Elche and have maintained a consistent attacking advantage in this fixture.
Barcelona remain overwhelming favourites for the title despite losing major attacking figures such as Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres during the summer. Their away form is another reason for confidence, with only one defeat in their past 20 La Liga matches on the road.
The visitors may still need time to develop new attacking combinations, but Elche’s determination to challenge the reigning champions in front of their home supporters should contribute to an open game. The recommended betting option is therefore for more than 2.5 goals to be scored.
Lille defensive strength points to tight Angers game
Lille start their Ligue 1 campaign after finishing an impressive third last season and will be looking to build on that achievement. Their away record is particularly notable, with six consecutive victories on the road during the previous campaign, while their historical record against Angers is also strongly in their favour.
Angers begin the new season with significant uncertainty after a disastrous finish to the last campaign. The SCO went nine matches without a win and struggled badly in front of goal at home. Across the whole calendar year, Angers scored only six league goals on their own ground.
Those figures make “both teams to score: no” the preferred selection for this match. Lille’s defensive organisation is expected to limit the hosts’ opportunities, while Angers’ persistent problems in attack make a home goal difficult to predict.
Lille have won the past four meetings between the teams without conceding, reinforcing the expectation of another controlled and low-scoring encounter. The trend points towards a match decided by defensive discipline rather than an exchange of goals.
Odds can change.
