Corner Picks, best soccer bets, odds, predictions: Bayern Munich have something to play for, Aston Villa don’t

We’ve reached the final weekend of the season across Europe and the penultimate edition of Corner Picks (our Champions League torture isn’t over yet), but whilst it’s been a tough season overall with the results here, I’d be lying if I say it wasn’t pleasant for me anyway.

Last year I was able to watch Napoli win Serie A for the first time since 1990, and this year I saw Aston Villa finish fourth in the Premier League and secure their first Champions League appearance since 1983. They are the only two clubs with both of which I’ve always cared about since I started following the sport, and both of which have taken me on wild and unique rides. Seeing someone experience the highest level of success each of the last two years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as a sports fan.

It’s not as rewarding financially as it would have been to win more bets this season, but spiritually, and you can’t put a price on that, right?

Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich

Date: Saturday, May 18 | Time: 9:30am ET | To attend: ESPN+

One of the biggest challenges this weekend is finding matches with significant results. Bayern Munich cannot win the Bundesliga and their heart was ripped out by Real Madrid in the Champions League last week. The team has every right to go into this weekend and put in a mediocre performance, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Not winning the Bundesliga is embarrassing enough for Bayern, but finishing third would be worse, and that is a possibility. If Stuttgart beats 113th-ranked Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern loses to Hoffenheim, Stuttgart will finish second. So Bayern have something to play for; Furthermore, it’s not often that we have the opportunity to bet on Bayern with positive odds against a team below them in the table. Even if Bayern rests some players, they are still the best team. The pick: Bayern Munich (+105)

Chelsea x Bournemouth

Date: Sunday, May 19 | Time: 11am ET | To attend: Peacock

Bournemouth have had a successful season, but have run out of fuel here in the final stretch, picking up just seven points from their last seven matches after picking up 13 from their previous five. They also face Chelsea at the worst possible time, as Chelsea have won four consecutive matches by a combined score of 12-3. Chelsea also have a chance of qualifying for the Europa League, as they are three points behind 5th placed Tottenham.

Considering Tottenham face relegated Sheffield United, the odds are against Chelsea, but he will approach the match as if it were. The moneyline price is too high to bear, but I like the odds of Chelsea scoring at least three goals. As I said, this team has scored an average of 3.0 goals in their last four matches, and Bournemouth have conceded 10 goals in their last four defeats. The pick: Chelsea over 2.5 (-120)

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa

Date: Sunday, May 19 | Time: 11am ET | To attend: Peacock

Aston Villa have scheduled their end-of-season banquet for Tuesday night, the day after their final home game. Coincidentally, it was also the night Tottenham faced Manchester City, needing a win to keep their faint Champions League hopes alive. So the entire club and their families gathered to watch Tottenham defeat, which resulted in Villa winning the Champions League for the first time in 40 years. The celebration was loud and based on all the videos Aston Villa have released on social media of the reactions, I’m sure the team may be feeling a bit hungover. Maybe not literally, but figuratively, because I wonder what the build-up to this match has been like since then.

Also, have you seen Crystal Palace recently? We caught them in the column last week, and Palace beat Wolverhampton 3-1. They have won five of their last six games, with 16 points in that period. If there’s any team in England that doesn’t want the season to end now, it’s Palace, and I would have liked them to have a chance to win here, even if Villa had something to play for. The pick: Crystal Palace (-115)

Weekend bet

This is an absolutely exciting weekend, so let’s hope we’re lucky. Our negotiation pay +131.

• Leverkusen (-390)
• Arsenal (-600)
• City of Manchester (-1100)
• Liverpool (-650)
• Barcelona (-390)