The Multi of the Week for July 24-26

WE love to mix it up.

This week we’re having a crack at a three leg multi that encompasses three different sports from all over the world.

A soccer game in China, an MMA fight in an octagon in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and an Aussie Rules game down under on the vast expanses of Domain Stadium in Perth, Western Australia.

Let’s hope we can win you some money.

SUGGESTED MULTI:

SOCCER: International Champions Cup – AC Milan draw no bet vs. Inter Milan @ $1.99

MMA: UFC Fight Night – TJ Dillashaw to defeat Renan Barao on points @ $3.40

AFL: Round 17 – West Coast Eagles to cover the -16.5 point line against Sydney Swans @ $1.92

Multi pays $12.99 with sportsbet.com.au

Soccer – International Champions Cup: AC Milan vs. Inter Milan

Saturday, July 25, 2015, 10pm AEST

Prediction: AC Milan draw no bet ($1.99)

New season, new manager for AC Milan.

New boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has welcomed in a bevy of signings including star Spanish striker Carlos Bacca, Adra Berolacci, Jose Mauri and Luiz Adriano, but are still on the hunt for one of the biggest fish in the game, Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

If they dare to Zlatan in 2015-16 it makes them a legitimate Italian title chance. But the Swedish captain and superstar can’t help them in China against the old enemy, Inter Milan.

By contrast, Inter has had a much quieter transfer window, having only just rejected a transfer for volatile Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli only yesterday.

Congolese midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia is the only signing of note for Inter.

Neither side set the Serie A on fire last season, Inter managing eighth and Milan languishing two spots below in 10th.

But, as always with these two teams, you can expect bounce backs from both of them.

With the new signings on board, the Milan side looks good on paper and we think they will be too good for their cross town rivals in this match, which is expected to be played in front of a packed stadium of more than 60,000 people.

Inter has played one friendly already, against Bayern Munich, going down 1-0.

It is a friendly and this International Champions Cup doesn’t really have any impact in terms of FIFA rankings, but you can bet, with the tradition between these two storied clubs, there will be plenty in it.

The last two times these two met ended in low scoring draws, but we think there will be goals in this match.

We think both sides will want to put on a good show for the Chinese fans and display their skills in this game.

We think AC will win this game, but we’re going with a bit of safety for the purposes of the multi, removing the draw option to give us a little more wiggle room.

We want solid legs to surround our very specific MMA selection, up next.

UFC: TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao

Sunday, July 26, 2015, 3.30pm AEST

Prediction: TJ Dillashaw by decision ($3.40)

UFC bantam weight champion TJ Dillashaw takes on the number one contender in Renan Barao in a fight night that is sure to get the bums on seats.

Dillashaw, the 29 year old, sports a record of 12-2-0, while his opponent, 28, from Brazil, has lost just twice in 37 fights.

Problem is, one of those loses came at hands of Dillashaw, who claimed the bantam weight title from the Rio native in a superb performance at UFC 173 in May last year, ending his 22 fight win streak.

Since then, Dillashaw has successfully defended his title against Joe Soto, knocking out the former Bellator featherweight champion, but has not fought since August last year.

We get that Barao, who defeated Mitch Gagnon with a round three submission in December, will want the sweet taste of revenge, but we believe that Dillashaw will be up to the task for a second time.

It’s the rematch everyone’s been waiting for, but we think the result will be the same.

In the fight last year, Dillashaw landed some sweet blows on Barao in round one, knocking him out of his rhythm early, and the Brazilian was never able to recover.

The fight was eventually stopped when Dillashaw landed a flurry of blows on the tiring Barao at the 2.22 mark of the final round.

Dillashaw has the rare ability to match the lightning quick speed Barao possesses with both feet and hands.

But we think Barao will have a few more tricks up his sleeve in this one, keen to at least make it through the fight after the massive upset he suffered at the hands of Dillashaw last year.

While we think it will go the distance, we urge you not to listen to the confident 29 year old American.

“I see myself finishing the fight a little faster,” Dillashaw said.

We think this is an unpredictable fight, but we think it’s Dillashaw’s to lose. Call it an honourable defeat for Barao as the two men duke it out until the final bell.

AFL: West Coast Eagles vs. Sydney Swans

Prediction: West Coast to cover the line at -16.5 ($1.92)

The West Coast juggernaut just keeps hurtling through the AFL, while the Sydney punch buggy seems to have hit some engine trouble.

On paper, second versus fourth looks tantalising, but you just feel there’s a big gap in form between these two sides.

The Swans will surely be wounded after the terrible 23.8 (146) to 7.15 (57) hammering meted out on them by last year’s premiers Hawthorn last time out.

And it doesn’t get any easier against the second placed Eagles on their home deck in Perth.
The Eagles have only lost three games this year and find themselves in the midst of a five match winning streak that featured a five goal victory over Collingwood last time out, 11.21 (87) to 7.14 (56).

Bizarrely, the Eagles haven’t managed a win against the Swans since 2007, but they are ripe for the picking in this match.

Last time they met, Luke Parker had 33 disposals and kicked two goals, while Matt Priddis had 28 as the Swans raided Subiaco for a 10.19 (79) to 7.9 (51) win.

While the Eagles have lost key defender Jeremy McGovern to a hamstring injury, that out is softened by the news towering forward Kurt Tippett will miss the match with a hand injury.

Jamie Bennell, Fraser McInnes and Murray Newman have been selected on an extended bench that also includes potential first gamer Tom Barrass.

By contrast, the Swans, aside from Tippett, will also be without premiership defender Ted Richards, who was suspended and nuggety midfielder Craig Bird, who has done a calf.

Jeremy Laidler, Mike Pyke, young gun Isaac Heeney, Daniel Robinson and Dean Towers have all been included for the trip, while Xavier Richards is in line to make his debut.

Superstar midfielder Josh Kennedy plays his 150th AFL game, giving the Swans added reason to perform in this one, but we don’t think that will be enough to get them over the line on the road.

West Coast by five goals on their home deck.