The quest for third place occurs this weekend, which is the trend among the main clashes in Europe’s top five leagues and will determine how many teams from each country will qualify for the Champions League next season.
Schalke vs Gladbach - Schalke to Win @2.45
Gladbach are a very Jekyll and Hyde team at the moment, which could be detrimental to their chances of grabbing the last Champions League spot. They’ve won their last four league matches in a row on home soil but cannot buy a win away. They will make the trip to Schalke attempting to record their first league win away from home in seven matches. They may struggle to achieve this, and in doing so, may relinquish fourth place to Schalke, who are only a point further back. Schalke have only lost once at home in their last six and the WhoScored Match Forecast predicts the home side to create many scoring chances.
Roma vs Inter - Draw HT- Roma FT @4.33
Defeat for Inter means falling eight points behind Roma with eight games to go. A loss would all but end their quest for Champions League football. The Nerazzurri travel to Rome in the worst possible shape, with Mauro Icardi injured and Rodrigo Palacio suspended. The two strikers in best form, and considering stand in Eder hasn't broken his duck since he joined Inter two months ago, it’s a mountainous task for Inter. To make matters worse, Roma striker Edin Dzeko seems to have rediscovered his best form.
Inter are on a five-game winless run away from home, but two of those five have seen both teams drawing at half time. Roberto Mancini needs to apply caution from the off as he knows a mistake can be fatal, but he can't perform miracles at the Olimpico. The WhoScored match forecast predicts only goalscoring scenarios for Roma.
Villarreal vs Barcelona - Under 2.5 Goals @2.35
The only way for Villarreal to gain a positive result here is to force Barcelona to play badly, but that is easier said than done. Villarreal, though, never lose their composure. The demanding Europa League meeting with Bayer Leverkusen - a more demanding tie than Barcelona's home leg against Arsenal - will push them to remain more compact than they will already line up. Villarreal have seen under 2.5 goals in six of their last eight games at El Madrigal, with the odds a tempting 2.35 on under 2.5 goals, especially given Villarreal’s home defensive record.
Real Madrid vs Sevilla - Madrid HT - Madrid FT @1.83
Zinedine Zidane has benefited from a stroke of luck since replacing Rafa Benitez as Real Madrid head coach. The calendar has been fortunate to them and they will take on a Sevilla outfit that are likely to be tired from their Europa League encounter with Braga on Thursday. Madrid have won at half-time and full-time in eight of their last nine home league matches and should be confident of improving that streak against a Sevilla side that are bizarrely still searching for their first league win away from home this season.
Manchester City vs Manchester United - Over 2.5 Goals in Second Half @4.50
The derby of shame. The loser of this will likely miss out on a place in the Champions League next year. City are at least in quarter-finals of the Champions League, but Manchester United are nowhere to be seen. Losing here will be a definitive sentence of their failure. That's why United must react. The best home attack belongs to City, while the seventh worst away defence to United. Goals are expected for the Sky Blues, but the odds on over 2.5 goals in the second half, as has happened in each of City's last three home league games, are at a lofty 4.50 with Bet365.
You can add Vincent Kompany to City’s usual list of absentees; the only centre-back Manuel Pellegrini can count on. Anthony Martial's pace against Nicolas Otamendi is the biggest United threat carry, while for City, the link between David Silva and Sergio Aguero can expose United’s fragile defence. Goals are the order of the day on Sunday, it seems.
What are your tips this weekend? Let us know in the comments below
