A cracking weekend of football lies ahead. La Liga and Ligue 1 have games that could shape the title race, Serie A with a classic encounter that once decided the Champions League and the Premier League with two of the most heated derbies in England’s top tier.
LIKELY BETS
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: DOUBLE CHANCE HOME WIN/DRAW @ 1.57
Without James Rodríguez and Sergio Ramos, and Cristiano Ronaldo not at his best, this is the worst possible time for Real Madrid to travel to the Calderón. Diego Simeone will deploy his usual tactics and demand every player fight for the ball on the pitch, an extremely demanding proposition that requires Los Blancos to be in peak physical condition, which they are not at this moment in time. It was already difficult to see Carlos Ancelotti’s side come away with all 3 points, which now seems extremely unlikely, so a Double Chance in favour of Los Rojiblancos is possibly the most valuable looking bet for the Madrid Derby.
Gareth Bale is perhaps the biggest threat to Atletico and he will look to exploit Guillherme Siqueira's defensive inadequacies, while Kroos can provide the ammunition for the Welshman. For the hosts, Mario Mandzukic is always alert to capitalise on any defensive errors and it’s worth noting Fernando Torres’ goalscoring record against Madrid. The WhoScored Match forecast favours Simeone’s side from an attacking perspective, with two offensive situations deemed ‘Very Likely’ for Atletico.
Everton vs Liverpool: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.66
Results are improving for Liverpool, while Everton will look to build on their recent league win at Crystal Palace. At Goodison Park, the Toffees have a much better chance of claiming maximum points, but must outscore their heated rivals to do so. Everton have trouble denying the opposition on home turf - only West Brom (19) have conceded more goals at home in the Premier League this season than Roberto Martínez’s side (16).
Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.61
The weekly Bundesliga fixture where goals are guaranteed comes from the Weserstadion. Werder Bremen have the worst defence in Germany's top tier, having shipped 40 league goals this season, while both teams have scored in 5 of Werder's last 6 league games. The WhoScored match forecast lists a number of ways either side will score in this encounter.
Cagliari vs Roma: AWAY WIN @ 2.00
This downturn in form must stop for Roma sooner or later, and maybe the shock following their humiliating elimination at home in the Coppa Italia will finally force the Giallorossi to wake up. The visitors should have the players to exploit Cagliari's main weakness of 'defending against attacks on the wings', as stressed by the WhoScored.com database, which is one of Roma's favourite ways to attack, in spite of their injury problems.
QPR vs Southampton: AWAY WIN @ 1.85
Not having won in a month and a half, and now without a manager, QPR couldn't really be in a worse situation heading into their match against the most ambitious team in the Premier League. Looking at the WhoScored.com match forecast, there isn't really much hope for the home fans…
Rennes vs Marseille: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.83
In the round of fixtures where OM can take advantage of the direct clash of their opponents as Lyon host PSG, Bielsa still has to guard against complacency from his players. It is true that Rennes haven't won at home in their last 4 games, but on the other side Marseille have not won away in their last 6 matches, which hadn't happened to them beforehand in the last 3 years. In turn both teams will be particularly keen to end these negative streaks.
LONG-SHOT BETS
Juventus vs Milan: DRAW HALF TIME/JUVE FULL TIME @ 3.50
Hands up anyone who really thinks that this Milan side can win at the home of this Juventus, or even draw with them. The only way for Milan to survive - stay tight at the back, with quick counter-attacks - could slow Juventus down, and the bianconeri often need the second half to dispatch their opponents and take a lead. That could once again come via the magic boot of Paul Pogba, whose battle with Muntari could prove one-sided. It might take a while for them to break through, but eventually Juventus should grab a win.
Olympique Lyonnais vs PSG: DRAW @ 3.30
The game that could shape Blanc's future, although probably not with immediate effect thanks to the upcoming Champions League fixture. Lyon are undefeated since November, but, since Ibra returned PSG have got back on track with 3 consecutive wins. In fact, the Parisiens will rely on Zlatan, as they struggle to cope with the pressure when away from the Parc des Princes, and it looks like it will be a similar story at the Stade Gerland, where OL boast 11 wins and 1 loss. The number 10s will also play crucial roles; Lavezzi vs Dabo on one side and Gourcuff on the other, who will play between the lines and could be the undoing of Blanc's tactics.
Levante vs Malaga: AWAY WIN @ 2.30
They are doing so more quietly than in the past, but Malaga are putting together a brilliant season, though they were slowed by a groggy start to 2015. Still, that blip is in no way comparable to bottom-of-the-table Levante's 9-match winless streak, while they also have the second worst home defence.
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What are your top tips for the weekend? Let us know in the comments below
