With no Premier League football last weekend, we can’t wait for the action to get back underway this Saturday. The pick of that action sees Tottenham Hotspur host Stoke City, whilst Leicester City entertain Liverpool on Monday. Arsenal and Manchester City, meanwhile, have the weekend off, as Manchester United and Southampton contest Sunday’s EFL Cup final.
We’ve also got plenty of Sky Bet Championship matches to get stuck into, as well as the top games from the Italian Serie A and Spain’s La Liga. There’s plenty of great football this weekend, which means loads of excellent betting opportunities. Take a look at our tips, covering games from Friday to Monday and offering, we’re confident, winners aplenty!
- Watford v West Ham United – Draw and Both Teams to Score (7/2 at BetVictor)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City – Tottenham Hotspur to Win 1-0 (7/1 at Betfair)
- Leicester City v Liverpool – Liverpool to Win -1 (17/10 at BetVictor)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City – Draw (13/5 at Bet365)
- Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday – Sheffield Wednesday to Win (19/10 at Betfred)
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading – Brighton & Hove Albion to Win (4/6 at Coral)
- Inter Milan v Roma – Inter Milan to Win (31/20 at BetVictor)
- Atletico Madrid v Barcelona – Barcelona to Win 2-1 (8/1 at Coral)
Premier League
After a break from the Premier League to let Emirates FA Cup action take place last weekend, England’s top flight gets back underway this Saturday. With Manchester City beating Bournemouth, whilst Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw with Burnley, the Blues’ lead at the top was cut to eight points last time out. This weekend, Chelsea host Swansea City, whilst City have the weekend off. Can Chelsea extend their lead as we enter the home stretch of the campaign?
Watford v West Ham United – 25th February
On Saturday evening, Walter Mazzarri’s Watford welcome Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United to Vicarage Road. Both teams, who have had their struggles this season, look as though they are on the up at present. With both teams full of confidence, we should be in for an entertaining game.
With only two points separating the pair in the table, this is a difficult match to call. The Hammers have won three of their last five league matches, losing just one of those in the process. As for the Hornets, they have won two of their last three PL fixtures, which includes a 2-1 win at Arsenal.
We can see this one ending all square at Vicarage Road, but we also anticipate both teams finding the net. Therefore, BetVictor’s 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score is a standout bet. Up your odds by plumping for the 2-2 correct score – it’s a long shot but worth a small punt.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 7/2 at BetVictor
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City – 26th February
Sunday’s Premier League fixture comes from White Hart Lane, as Tottenham Hotspur host Stoke City. Despite losing to Liverpool last time out, Spurs will back themselves to get back to winning ways on home turf.
However, the Potters are not the same side who Tottenham thrashed 4-0 at the Bet365 Stadium back in September. Mark Hughes’ team have improved drastically since then, and will no doubt be a tough nut to crack for the Lilywhites on Sunday.
Of course, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham are the favourites, but we believe Stoke will give them a game. However, we fancy Spurs to nick this one, and we like the look of Betfair’s tempting price of 7/1 for the home team to win 1-0.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win 1-0 – 7/1 at Betfair
Leicester City v Liverpool – 27th February
On Monday night, Claudio Ranieri’s relegation threatened Leicester City welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to the King Power Stadium. By the time Monday’s match kicks off, the champions could be in the bottom three. Their form is just woeful right now and they look totally bereft of ideas.
The Reds got their dwindling season back on track last time out, when they secured an excellent 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur. In contrast, Leicester fell to yet another defeat, this time at Swansea City. When these rivals met in Merseyside earlier in the season, Klopp’s troops ran out big 4-1 winners.
Unfortunately for Ranieri’s boys, we can see the Reds building on their good win over Spurs. In fact, we’re predicting a comfortable night for Liverpool, with BetVictor offering 17/10 for the away side to win -1.
Liverpool to Win -1 – 17/10 at BetVictor
Championship
Both Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion won last time out to go even further ahead at the top. Meanwhile, with Huddersfield Town and Reading not playing, and Leeds United only managing a draw, Sheffield Wednesday were last weekend’s big winners in the top six. At the other end, Rotherham United fell to a 5-0 defeat at Cardiff City, and Burton Albion beat Norwich City. The play-off and relegation battles look set to all the way this term in what should be a thrilling Championship finale.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City – 24th February
On Friday night we’ve got a tasty looking Midlands derby to look forward to, as Paul Lambert’s Wolverhampton Wanderers face Gianfranco Zola’s Birmingham City at Molineux. Neither club are in particularly good form, but both will be going all out for the points in this one.
Since Zola arrived at St Andrew’s, the former West Ham and Watford boss has guided the Blues to just one win in 14 games, and his side have lost their last three successive Championship fixtures. As for Wolves, they have also lost their last three league matches.
With the duo looking dangerously over their shoulders in the table, this is a game that both need to be winning. Because of that, we believe they will cancel each other out at Molineux. Bet365 are offering 13/5 for this one to end all square. It won’t please either boss but in a game that’s sure to be close those odds look far too big.
Draw – 13/5 at Bet365
Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday – 25th February
Saturday’s early Championship kick off is another tasty derby match, this time between Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday. The fact that both are in the top six and fighting for promotion adds extra spice to this already mouth-watering matchup.
These two are divided only by goal difference in the Championship, with Garry Monk’s men ahead – although Wednesday’s game in hand will be played on Tuesday. When they met at Hillsborough earlier in the campaign, Leeds came away 2-0 winners. The Owls will be out for revenge but Elland Road is a tough place to visit.
However, Sheffield Wednesday are the side who have the form, having won their last four league matches on the spin, conceding just once in the process. We can see the Owls carrying on their superb form with a win in West Yorkshire and that is priced at solid odds of 19/10 (Betfred).
Sheffield Wednesday to Win – 19/10 at Betfred
Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading – 25th February
Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion, who look destined to reach the Premier League this year, welcome fellow promotion hopefuls Reading to the Amex Stadium this Saturday.
The Seagulls briefly swooped to the top of the division at the weekend, by beating Barnsley 2-0 at Oakwell. However, their lead at the top did not last long, as Newcastle United saw off struggling Aston Villa 2-0 at St James’ Park on Monday.
However, if Reading were to win on Tuesday and Saturday, they would go to within two points of Brighton in the table. That makes this a vital game for both. However, we do believe Hughton’s men will make the most of being on home soil, and we like the look of Coral’s 4/6 for a home win. Albion are very strong in front of their own fans and 4/6 is just about big enough to offer value here.
Brighton & Hove Albion to Win – 4/6 at Coral
Serie A
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus sit pretty at the top of the Serie A table, four points clear of second placed Roma. Juve, who have won their last six successive league matches, welcome Empoli to Turin this weekend. Meanwhile, second placed Roma travel to the San Siro to face fourth placed Inter Milan in what looks a great game.
Inter Milan v Roma – 26th February
The standout fixture in Serie A this weekend comes from the San Siro, as Stefano Pioli’s Inter Milan face Luciano Spaelletti’s Roma. With Inter eight points behind their visitors in the table, they will see this as a great chance to claw back some points.
However, Roma have been in outstanding form of late, winning a superb nine of their last 10 in all competitions. In fact, since losing to Sampdoria in January, Roma have won their following four, conceding just once along the way. Meanwhile, Inter are also in devastating form, having won nine of their last 10 league matches.
With both teams bang in form, this is a really tough one to call. Being at the San Siro, though, we believe home advantage will give Inter the edge. BetVictor are offering 31/10 for a home win. With Inter sure to be full of confidence, those odds look very generous indeed, despite the points superiority of the visitors.
Inter Milan to Win – 31/20 at BetVictor
La Liga
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid sit top of La Liga, a point above rivals Barcelona with two games in hand. Sevilla currently occupy third, with Atletico Madrid fourth. This weekend, Diego Simeone’s Atletico entertain Luis Enrique’s Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon in a blockbuster encounter. Real, who travel to Villarreal, will be hoping for a draw in that one.
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona – 26th February
Two of Spain’s heavyweights, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, go head-to-head at the Vicente Calderon this Sunday. With the duo hunting down Real Madrid, both will be searching for maximum points from this one. Defeat for either could be terminal for their title hopes and so we expect a fascinating encounter.
Atletico have blown hot and cold this season, but they go into this fixture having won six and drawn two of their last eight La Liga fixtures. As for Barca, they are unbeaten in the league since a shock 4-3 defeat at Celta Vigo in early October. They did, however, get thrashed 4-0 by PSG recently.
These two have met each other three times this season, with two of those ending in 1-1 draws. The other, however, ended in a 2-1 Barcelona win, and we like the look of a repeat scoreline this weekend. With that said, we think there’s good value in Coral’s 8/1 for Luis Enrique’s men to win 2-1 as they look to bounce back from their Champions League mauling.
Barcelona to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at Coral