Seeing the joy of teams progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions and Europa League this week can only serve to motivate others into working their way up the league and pushing for qualification for next season's tournaments. Domestic league action returns this weekend with some tasty looking ties on Sunday, and here's the rundown on the best bets at the end of the week.
Newcastle vs Sunderland - Preview
The Tyne-Wear derby comes at a crucial time in the season, particularly so for Sunderland's new manager Paulo Di Canio. He has been charged with saving the Black Cats from relegation and faces the unenviable task of ending his side's run of 9 successive Premier League games without victory against a Newcastle side who have won their last 4 home league matches. Sunderland have also won none of their last 7 league trips to Newcastle and only have one victory in the last 16 meetings at home or away. Di Canio might be expected to inspire a great escape by some but Newcastle won't be doing him any favours. The Magpies can be backed at 1.36 draw no bet.
North-east derbies unsurprisingly tend to be feisty, dramatic affairs and this one could well be too, with both sides still in the relegation battle. There have been 5 red cards in the last 5 Tyne-Wear derbies, including 3 in the last 2 at St James's Park, with each given to a Sunderland player. Frustration could get the better of them once again with the Black Cats unlikely to dominate the game, and a red card being shown (to either team) is available at 3.00.
Continuing with the theme of likely drama, there has been an injury-time goal in 3 of the last 5 Tyne-Wear derbies, and one after the 85th minute in 4 of the last 5. Newcastle have also seen a goal scored after 90 minutes is up in each of their last 4 games at St James' Park. Back a goal after the 81st minute minute this coming Sunday at 2.50. The scorer of those late goals is often the Magpies' talisman Papiss Demba Cisse. He has scored each of their last 4 goals at home in all competitions, on 3 occasions of which those goals have been an injury-time winner. He is on a rich vein of form and could well strike late again; he can be backed at 5.50 to net last against Sunderland.
Milan vs Napoli - Preview
AC Milan are marching up the Serie A table, currently on the longest unbeaten streak that any team has embarked on this season, having gone 13 games without tasting defeat. Milan are also unbeaten in their last 18 home games against Napoli and should be in good stead to continue their run. Mario Balotelli is yet to taste defeat in Milan colours, but notably, the controversial striker is out of Sunday's game with Napoli through suspension. The Partenopei have won their last 3 games in a row and are favourites to finish second behind Juventus this season. Milan slipped up at Fiorentina last week, drawing 2-2, whilst 5 of the last 8 meetings between these sides have ended in stalemates. With both sides on good form but the home team lacking Balotelli, another draw could be on the cards, and can be backed at 3.30.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid - Preview
Real Madrid's real silverware aspirations lie in the knockout tournaments, but all the while, they continue to try and hunt down Barcelona at the top of La Liga, however unlikely actually doing so may be. This weekend they travel to one of the league's biggest underperformers in Athletic Bilbao. Finalists in both the Copa del Rey and the Europa League last season, Bilbao are down the table in 14th, though they have staved off the threat of relegation with 3 wins in their last 5 games. However, they still have the propensity to concede a fair few goals; only Mallorca and Deportivo have conceded more in La Liga all season. Against Madrid meanwhile, they have a quite terrible record, having lost each of the last 6 meetings, conceding at least 3 goals each time, and a total of 25 in those matches. Mourinho's men will be sure to take this game seriously and do all they can to keep up the chase at the top. A win for Los Blancos with over 2.5 goals at 1.85 looks like good value.
