Soccer Friday: Miller looks to Croatia, France and Serbia for Gorica v Istra, Hadjuk Split v Slaven Koprivnica, & St. Etienne v Montpellier

After the excitement of the midweek matches across Europe, Friday is a slow day.

There are some matches spread out here and there around the continent, but much of the action will come this weekend, especially in England. The EFL Championship playoffs will begin Saturday, while the Premier League title will be decided on Sunday.

Today, it is all about the other leagues.

St. Etienne heads into its final three league matches with a huge opportunity to break into the UEFA Champions League. ASSE sits in fourth place, just one point behind Lyon for a Champions League playoff spot. Friday, St. Etienne gets a home contest against fifth place Montpellier, which is all but out of European contention.

St. Etienne has not lost in eight matches, with seven wins and a draw. In every one of those games, the team has scored at least two goals. Montpellier has been better as of late, after it won just three times in the four months from December 1 to April 1.

In Croatia, there are two games worth taking a look at today. Gorica hosts Istra 1961, while Hadjuk Spilt hosts Slaven Koprivnica. Both home teams are heavy favorites, and look like the play.

Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) will hit the road to face Proleter Novi Sad in Serbian Superliga action.  The two teams come into the contest in diametrically opposed form: Crvena Zveda has lost just once since December (17-1-1), while Proleter has just three wins since November (3-9-9).

Crvena Zvezda has just one loss all season in the league 31 wins, three draws), and has a plus-73 goal difference. Expect there to be some goals here for Red Star.

CROATIA 1. NHL

Gorica (-188) vs. Istra 1961 (+475), draw (+310), 10:30 a.m.
THE PICKS:
Gorica -1 (+150)
Gorica 2+ goals (-170)

Hadjuk Split (-350) vs. Slaven Koprivnica (+1000), draw (+380), 1 p.m.
THE PICKS:
Hadjuk Split -1 first half (+150)
Hadjuk Split -1 (-110)

FRANCE LIGUE 1

St. Etienne (-125) vs. Montpellier (+350), draw (+280), 2:45 p.m. (beIN Sports and Fubo.tv)
THE PICKS:
St Etienne ML (-125)
St. Etienne 2+ goals (-130)

SERBIA SUPERLIGA

Proleter Novi Sad (+800) vs. Crvena Zvezda (-350), draw (+400), 12 p.m.
THE PICKS:
Crvena Zvezda half time/full time (-110)
Crvena Zvezda first half -1 (+240)
Crvena Zvezda -1 (-120)