talkSPORT tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Friday 2 January

Major domestic action in Britain takes a back seat on Friday but there are top-flight games from Spain, Italy and France taking us into the first weekend of 2026 alongside a pair of games in the Portuguese top flight.

Below we have picked out the best bets from Friday’s fixture list.

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Friday football betting tips

Bet of the Day: Sporting Lisbon -1 vs Gil Vicente @ 7/5

It’s second vs fourth in the Primeira Liga as Sporting Lisbon travel to face Gil Vicente but the gulf in class suggests the visiting side can take a straightforward win.

After 16 rounds of games there are already 14 points between these teams. Sporting are averaging 2.87 goals per game in the league this season and they have conceded just eight times.

The hosts, meanwhile, have only found the net 21 times in 16 games. Sporting haven’t lost any of the last 13 meetings in league and cup, winning 11 times, and of those wins seven have been landed by more than a single goal.

Gil Vicente have conceded multiple goals in their last two league games, while Sporting have scored 14 times in three Primeira Liga outings.

Bet builder: AC Milan to beat Cagliari, both teams to score, Christopher Nkunku to score & Under 9.5 Corners @ 17/2

AC Milan turned the year in second spot in Serie A, one point behind city rivals Inter and one clear of champions Napoli in third.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side can start 2026 with a win at Cagliari, currently 14^th and with just four league successes in 17 games.

Two of those wins have come in the last four and they can push Milan. Both teams have scored in five of Cagliari’s last six games in Serie A, and the same is true of three of AC Milan’s previous four on the road. Not since May 2017 have Gli Isolani beaten Milan (D4, L11).

Christopher Nkunku has been held back by injuries since swapping Chelsea for Milan in late summer but the French forward has now completed 90 minutes in four straight games and he netted a brace in the win over Verona last time out. He can start 2026 in scoring form.

Don’t expect a barrage of corners, with Cagliari (8.59) and Milan (8.63) both averaging less than nine in their Serie A exploits so far.

Acca:  AC Milan, Lens & Sporting Lisbon all to win @ 22/5

AC Milan should take their opportunity to go top of Serie A by winning at Cagliari, a side with just two home wins in eight attempts so far.

Sporting Lisbon are also likely to have far too much firepower for Gil Vicente as they have scored a Primeira Liga-high 46 goals in 16 games so far and now face the side that has scored the fewest goals (21) amongst the top five.

Completing the acca is a win for Ligue 1 leaders Lens at Toulouse. Pierre Sage’s table-toppers have won nine of their last 10 games and they have a strong track record against Toulouse, winning six of the last eight league meetings and losing just once.

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