This weekend, we’ve got Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, Ligue 1 and La Liga football to get stuck into.
There are several mouth-watering matches taking place, including Sunday’s blockbuster affair from Old Trafford between Manchester United and Liverpool, and the clash at the top of the Spanish top tier, as Real Madrid travel to Sevilla.
We’ve got analysis and tips on eight of the biggest fixtures spread across four top European leagues – starting with Tottenham Hotspur’s game with West Bromwich Albion and ending with the Sevilla versus Real Madrid clash.
- Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 (20/23 at Coral)
- Leicester City v Chelsea – Draw (22/5 at BetVictor)
- Everton v Manchester City – Draw and Both Teams to Score (19/5 at BetVictor)
- Manchester United v Liverpool – 0-0 Draw (11/1 at Bet365)
- Leeds United v Derby County – Leeds United to Win (17/10 at Betfred)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Win (29/20 at Coral)
- Marseille v Monaco – Marseille to Win (21/10 at Bet365)
- Sevilla v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win to Nil (4/1 at Betfred)
Premier League
Despite losing at Tottenham Hotspur last time out, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea still sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal and Liverpool both failed to capitalise on Chelsea’s slip-up as they both drew their respective matches, whilst Spurs’ highly significant victory lifted them into third. At the other end, Hull City remain bottom, although in an attempt to rise up the table they have replaced Mike Phelan with former Olympiacos boss Marco Silva. Swansea City and Sunderland occupy the other two relegation spots at present.
Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion – 14th January
Saturday’s early Premier League kick off comes from White Hart Lane, as Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur entertain Tony Pulis’s West Bromwich Albion. After beating Chelsea last time out, Spurs have the chance to go second with a win at the weekend.
However, Pochettino and co are coming up against a West Brom team who are in fine form themselves. The Baggies have won their last two Premier League matches, and they occupy eighth in the table. When the pair met at the Hawthorns earlier in the campaign, Nacer Chadli and Dele Alli scored the goals in a 1-1 draw.
Despite Albion’s decent form, this is a game Spurs should be looking to win comfortably. Therefore, we believe Coral’s 20/23 for Tottenham to win -1 is a standout bet for this one.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 – 20/23 at Coral
Leicester City v Chelsea – 14th January
On Saturday evening, Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea go head-to-head at the King Power Stadium. With the champions a whopping 28 points behind the Blues, it’s easy to see why the current leaders head to the King Power as favourites.
Chelsea’s winning streak may have come to an abrupt end at White Hart lane last week, but Conte’s men are still in pole position to claim their fifth Premier League title. As for the Foxes, four points from their last two league games has lifted them six points clear of the drop zone.
Despite Leicester’s lowly position, Ranieri’s troops are still very hard to beat on their own patch. In fact, only West Brom and Everton have won at the King Power in the Premier League this term. We can see Saturday’s showdown in the Midlands ending all square, and we like the look of BetVictor’s temping odds of 22/5 for the draw.
Draw – 22/5 at BetVictor
Everton v Manchester City – 15th January
The first part of Super Sunday comes from Goodison Park, as Everton and Manchester City lock horns. There was not a lot to split these two in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, with the game ending 1-1, and we’re predicting another tight contest this weekend.
To be fair to Ronald Koeman’s Everton, their form has picked somewhat up in recent weeks. The Toffees have won three of their last five Premier League matches, a decent run that has seen them maintain seventh spot in the table. As for City, they have won five of their last six in all competitions, and are fresh off the back of a stunning 5-0 FA Cup win at West Ham United.
As we touched on, we can see this one being a tight match in Merseyside. However, we can also see both teams scoring. Man City have scored in all bar one of their last 15 matches in all competitions, whilst Everton have scored eight in their last four. Because of that, we feel there’s value in BetVictor’s 19/5 for the draw and both teams to score.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 19/5 at BetVictor
Manchester United v Liverpool – 15th January
The standout Premier League fixture of the weekend is the heavyweight clash at Old Trafford between Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. After United’s superb six league wins on the trot, the Red Devils are now just five points behind the Reds.
However, despite a couple of draws in recent weeks, Klopp’s men are also in tip-top shape. The Merseysiders, who sit second in the Premier League table, could only manage a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light last time out in the league, but they have only been beaten twice all season.
As always in matches between these two English giants, we’re having a hard time splitting them. Being at home, United are the favourites, but how can you rule out Klopp’s free-flowing Reds? Back in October, the pair played out a 0-0 draw at Anfield, and Bet365’s big odds of 11/1 for a repeat scoreline might not be such a bad choice of bet this time around too.
0-0 Draw – 11/1 at Bet365
Championship
After winning their last five Sky Bet Championship matches on the spin, Chris Hughton’s Brighton and Hove Albion are two points clear at the top, with a game in hand on Newcastle United. The Seagulls’ exceptional unbeaten run dates all the way back to September. Meanwhile, Reading, Huddersfield, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday make up the top six. This weekend, play-off chasers Leeds and Derby County meet at Elland Road, whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Aston Villa to Molineux.
Leeds United v Derby County – 13th January
Garry Monk’s Leeds United welcome Steve McClaren’s Derby County to Elland Road for one of the Sky Bet Championship’s standout fixtures this weekend. Leeds are currently fifth, with the Rams two places and five points behind in seventh.
Since McClaren returned to Pride Park in October, Derby have been in devastating form. In fact, the Rams beat Leeds 1-0 in the former England boss’s first match back in charge. Overall, Derby have won 10 times in 15 matches in all competitions since his return.
The Whites, however, have also had a superb season under Monk. With Premier League football back in sight, can Leeds make a return to top-flight action this year? Being at home, we can see Monk’s men nicking this one, and we like the look of Betfred’s 17/10 for a Peacocks victory.
Leeds United to Win – 17/10 at Betfred
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa – 14th January
Also in the Championship, Paul Lambert’s Wolverhampton Wanderers and Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa meet at Molineux for a crucial Midlands derby on Saturday. Villa are seven adrift of the play-offs, whereas Wolves only lie five points clear of the drop.
Both sides have had an upswing in fortunes after changing their manager during the season. Since Bruce arrived at Villa Park, the former Hull City boss, who guided the Tigers to the Premier League through the play-offs last year, has turned the Villans from relegation candidates to genuine play-off hopefuls.
As for Wanderers, since sacking Walter Zenga and bringing in Lambert in November, Wolves have won four times, including last time out at Stoke City in the FA Cup. This is a typical difficult Championship match to call, but we’re favouring towards a home win. Coral are offering 29/20 for Wolves to make home advantage count on Saturday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers to Win – 29/20 at Coral
Ligue 1
Lucien Favre’s Nice continue to surprise people in the French Ligue 1, as the Eaglets remain at the top of the pile. The league leaders host Metz on Sunday, whereas the chasing pack are all away from home. Monaco travel to Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain head to Rennes and Lyon make the trip to Caen. Nice have a great chance to extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table at the weekend.
Marseille v Monaco – 15th January
In the French Ligue 1 on Sunday evening, Rudi Garcia’s sixth-placed Marseille welcome Leonardo Jardim’s second-placed Monaco to the Stade Velodrome. Monaco go into this weekend’s fixtures just two points adrift of leaders Nice.
When these two met at the Stade Louis II six weeks ago, Monaco ran out comfortable 4-0 winners. Since then, Jardim’s men have lost just once in the league. In fact, they have taken 10 points from a possible 15. As for Marseille, they are unbeaten in the league since losing to Monaco, winning their last four on the bounce in the process.
With the way both teams have been playing of late, this one could go either way. Even though Marseille were taught a footballing lesson in Monaco, they have certainly learnt their lesson since. We’re backing the home team to secure a priceless win on Sunday, and we believe Bet365’s decent odds of 21/10 for Marseille to come out on top are well worth grabbing.
Marseille to Win – 21/10 at Bet365
La Liga
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid returned to La Liga action with a whopping 5-0 win over Granada at the weekend. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona could only manage a 1-1 draw at Villarreal. This Saturday, Barca welcome Las Palmas, while Real travel to second-placed Sevilla on Sunday. Los Blancos are four points above their title rivals with a game in hand.
Sevilla v Real Madrid – 15th January
Last of our mini previews is the mouth-watering clash from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, as Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla host Zinedine Zidane’s La Liga leaders Real Madrid. Real, who have not been beaten in the league since February, will be eyeing another vital three points in this one as they edge towards the Spanish title.
Los Blancos currently sit four points clear at the top of the Spanish top-flight table, and nobody could argue with it. With Barcelona dropping points left, right and centre, Real Madrid have remained outstandingly consistent all season long. Los Merengues, who last won La Liga back in 2012, are going to take some serious stopping this term.
Sevilla are actually Real’s closest challengers at the moment, as they lie four points behind in second. Although these have not met in the league yet this term, Real have won the last three meetings between the pair. We just can’t see past a routine away triumph in this one, and Betfred’s 4/1 for Zidane’s men to win to nil has certainly caught our eye.
Real Madrid to Win to Nil – 4/1 at Betfred