Soccer Betting Tips for May 24, 2026: Best Bets, Odds and Analysis

It is European finals week, with the Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday followed by the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday. Throw in a Bundesliga relegation decider, a Portuguese top-flight playoff and a League Two showpiece at Wembley, and you have one of the busiest soccer weeks on the calendar. For more previews and tips, head to bettingtop10 South Africa.

The way I see it, Paderborn hold the upper hand in this second leg. The opening game at the Volkswagen Arena ended goalless, so it all comes down to Monday at the Benteler Arena. Wolfsburg have been woeful all year, managing only 7 wins in 34 Bundesliga games and shipping 69 goals, among the leakiest defences in the top flight. Christian Eriksen adds class and know-how in the middle of the park, but he cannot paper over the deep flaws that have dogged this team all campaign. Paderborn, on the other hand, ended the second division season third on 62 points with a goal difference of plus 14, and they come in having lost only two of their previous 12 league outings. Leading scorer Bilbija has hit 15 goals this term and will head the attack full of belief. Paderborn are without defender Sticker, who is suspended after a stoppage time red card in the first leg, but with a home crowd roaring them on I think their energy and hunger will make up for his absence. Wolfsburg have two wins and two draws from their last four meetings with Paderborn, but I would not put much weight on old results when there is such an obvious gap in current form between the teams.

Value Reasoning: My pick is a Paderborn home win; they bring the better form into this all-or-nothing second leg, Wolfsburg have been among the Bundesliga's weakest teams all year, and the Benteler Arena crowd hands Paderborn every edge.

For me, Salford City should win this one at Wembley. They come into the final in superb form: unbeaten in six, with a three goals to one aggregate win over Grimsby Town in the semi-final proving they can find the net when it matters. Daniel Udoh has nine League Two goals this season and another in the playoffs, and his link-up with Kallum Cesay, who netted twice against Grimsby, has been among the deadliest strike pairings in the division. Salford's head-to-head record against Notts County is hard to ignore: five wins from five meetings, including both league games this season, each ending two goals to one to Salford. Notts County do have a bite of their own: Alassana Jatta has shone all year with 15 goals and shot accuracy of nearly 63 percent, and the club let in only 51 league goals. Still, Notts got to Wembley through a one goal aggregate win over Chesterfield, and they have played the playoffs in a careful, defensive way. I think Salford's extra firepower and their recent dominance over this opponent will make the difference on the big day at Wembley.

Value Reasoning: My pick is a Salford City win; their edge over Notts County in head-to-head games this season is too big to overlook, and an unbeaten run of six in their latest stretch shows they are the team in better shape going to Wembley.

I am tipping Crystal Palace to win their first European trophy in Leipzig, and the way they got to this final gives me lots of faith. Ismaila Sarr has been the star of the competition, with nine Conference League goals, one of them the vital strike in the second leg win over Shakhtar Donetsk that booked Palace's spot in the final. He has found the net in every one of his last five Conference League games, which is remarkable form at this level. Head coach Oliver Glasner knows how to win a European final, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League success in 2022, and his experience of handling the pressure of a showpiece game is a big plus for Palace. Rayo Vallecano have enjoyed a brilliant run as well: Alemao has four goals in the competition while Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon have chipped in with three apiece, so Rayo carry a varied and dangerous threat going forward. Their players talked openly about their confidence ahead of the final, and winger Ilias Akhomach, who got injured in the semi-final warm-up, is said to be slowly getting better ahead of Wednesday. Palace have worries at the back: Chris Richards and Chadi Riad both went off hurt in a recent league game, leaving Glasner short of options at centre back. Even so, I think Palace's attacking quality and their manager's European record will see them home.

Value Reasoning: My pick is a Crystal Palace win; Sarr is enjoying the best form of his career with nine goals in the competition, Glasner has already won a European final, and Palace have the attacking talent and tactical know-how to get past a confident but limited Rayo Vallecano squad.

On home soil, this second leg looks like Casa Pia's for the taking. The first game in Torres Vedras ended goalless, and what stood out for me was how stubborn Casa Pia were at the back: defender Pedro Rosas was shown red after a VAR review in the 75th minute, yet they saw out the game with 10 men. That sort of calm from a team scrapping to stay in the Primeira Liga says a lot about what they can do in the return game. Casa Pia are a seasoned top-flight outfit, and although their league campaign was tough, they plainly have the defensive discipline and tactical nous to handle a high-pressure playoff. Torreense, third in Liga Portugal 2, deserve credit for getting this far, but facing a determined Primeira Liga team on its own patch is a whole different test. I think both sides will play it safe and the tie will turn on one moment of class. Backed by their home fans, Casa Pia should have the edge to produce that moment.

Value Reasoning: My pick is a Casa Pia home win; the way they stood firm with 10 men for 15 minutes in the first leg is the best proof that they are the calmer, better organised team, and playing at home will get them over the line.

For me, Arsenal are the bet here, and I see real value in backing them at these prices. PSG head to Budapest as narrow favourites at about 1.72, but their injury list worries me a lot. Ousmane Dembele, their most dangerous forward, has been nursing a right calf issue since being taken off early in their last Ligue 1 game of the season; the club is cautiously hopeful, but carrying a muscle problem into a Champions League final is a real risk. Luis Enrique also has fitness doubts over Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi before Saturday. Arsenal, meanwhile, come in as Premier League champions and unbeaten in 14 Champions League games this season, letting in only six goals over those 14 matches, the meanest defence in the whole competition. Ben White is out with a knee ligament injury and Jurrien Timber is still a doubt, but William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori make up a back line that has been excellent all season long. Mikel Merino is back in full contact training after getting over a foot injury and gives another midfield option in Budapest. I expect Arsenal to stay tight, press cleverly and pounce when PSG's weakened attack inevitably slips up.

Value Reasoning: My pick is an Arsenal win; conceding only six goals in 14 Champions League games this season is an outstanding defensive record, PSG bring real injury worries into their first-choice attack, and odds of about 2.20 offer genuine value.

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