We have 5 games covered from across Europe today with some huge derbies in the Premier League taking up most people's attention today. Man Utd will certainly look for the 3 points when they welcome local rivals City to Old Trafford while Everton with Big Sam back in the dugout travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side that can't stop scoring. In today's preview we focus on that Manchester derby as well as fixtures from the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A with goals , as usual, the obvious target. #BOlieve **** I will add a Liverpool vs Everton tip in the next 30 minutes Premier League
16:30 Manchester United vs Manchester City - Prediction 1.1 Best Bets - BTTS @4/6 Final Verdict Stats really do go out of the window for a match like this with the top 2 in England going head to head and Man Utd surely needing the 3 points with City building an 8 point advantage so far on their local rivals. The absence of Paul Pogba will certainly hurt United's creativity and you wonder if Mourinho might surprise everyone with a left-field tactical or personnel selection. Will Ibra make his return? Will Lingard or Mata be handed the role of creator? Will Jose actually adopt an attacking mentality? You would have to think so. But, that being said, with City so dangerous breaking at pace, I don't expect a kitchen sink to be included in the United offence although Romelu Lukaku will lead the line against a City defence missing Stones and possibly Kompany. Without both, or even just without Stones, City are not the same side defensively. I fancy goals, but with the caveat that in a derby like this, anything can really happen. We have seen a 4.3 and a 0.0 in recent years at Old Trafford in previous derbies and while I don't expect that outcome here, ultimately, we have a really tough match to call. BTTS is priced @4/6 and seems the most obvious selection for this one. I don't think either side will want to lose, so I am not expecting a winner , but a 0.0 would be a surprise with so much attacking talent on display and if City are missing 2 of their most influential defenders, United will be confident of scoring while City are always confident of scoring with De Bruyne and Sterling in particular, in such good form. A lot of tipsters seem to be tipping the home win but without Pogba, I'm not sure United have enough creativity to win the match but I don't expect them to lose so a score draw looks the safest and likeliest outcome. Bundesliga 14:30 Hannover 96 vs Hoffenheim - Prediction 1.2 Best Bets - BTTS @8/13 - 3 stars, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @20/21 - 2 stars Current Form * Hannover have seen BTTS in 7 of their last 8 league fixtures * Hannover have seen BTTS in each of their last 3 home league fixtures * Hannover have only lost 1 of their last 7 home league fixtures, winning 4 and drawing 2 * Hannover have scored at least 1 goal in 8 of their last 9 home league fixtures * Hannover have scored at least 1 goal in 18 of their last 20 league fixtures * Hoffenheim have seen BTTS in 13 of their last 15 away league fixtures but not in the last 2 (@Koln and @Hamburg) * Hoffenheim have seen over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of their last 11 away league fixtures * Hoffenheim have scored in 21 of their last 23 away league fixtures including 5 out of 6 so far this season * However, they have kept only 5 clean sheets in 34 away league fixtures since the end of 2015 * Hoffenheim have scored 11 goals in their 6 away matches this season * Hoffenheim (6th) sit 4 points and 4 places ahead of Hannover (10th) after 14 games played in the Bundesliga Past Meetings * 4 of the last 6 meetings saw BTTS and over 2.5 goal scored * However, both of last season's matches were won 1.0 by the home side * Those 4 previous fixtures had produced 19 goals * Hoffenheim have won 5 of the last 6 meetings including all 4 of the BTTS matches Final Verdict We should see a competitive match in Hannover with Hoffenheim fresh from a 4.0 thumping over RBL, arriving in cofident mood to take on a side that sit just 4 points behind them in the Bundesliga. Hannover have not been a favourite in the BTTS market historically, but more recent form suggests that outcome is quite possible here with the hosts scoring in all but 2 of their last 20 league fixtures. Hoffenheim though are prolific in the BTTS market, especially on the road, with 13 of their last 15 away days in Germany seeing that outcome although not in their last 2 fixtures. Still, I expect both to score here @8/13 odds with Hoffenheim slight favourites to take the points home and with Hoffenheim seeing over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of their last 11 on the road, that outcome wouldn't surprise me here. La Liga 15:15 Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid - Prediction 1.2 Best Bets - BTTS @5/6 - 2.5 stars Current Form * Betis have scored 2 goals or more in 8 of their last 10 home league fixtures * Betis have scored in 14 of their last 15 home league fixtures * Betis have scored 17 goals in 7 home league fixtures, the 4th highest in the league * However, Betis have conceded 21 goals in their last 8 league fixtures and 12 in their last 7 at home * Betis 7 home matches this season have averaged more than 4 goals per game * Atletico have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 10 away fixtures * Atletico are unbeaten in their last 19 away league matches * Start striker Griezmann misses out for Atletico with a hamstring injury Past Meetings * 4 of the last 6 meetings in Betis have seen BTTS * Last season's meeting in Betis finished 1.1 while Atletico won 1.0 in Madrid * Atletico are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Betis Final Verdict You wouldn't normally tip BTTS in an Atletico league match but Betis are scoring plenty at home and having only failed to find the net in one of their last 15 home league matches, they can do it again here but I don't expect them to win with Atletico improving their form and going unbeaten in 19 away It was 1.1 last time these two sides met, and a similar outcome wouldn't surprise me here although Atleti will certainly have their eyes on the 3 points. It's tough to call but BTTS 4/5 has a decent chance. 19:45 Villarreal vs Barcelona - Prediction 1.2 Best Bets - BTTS @4/7 - 3.5 stars, Over 2.5 and yes @5/6 - 2.5 stars Current Form * Villareal have scored 2 goals or more in 13 of their last 15 home league fixtures including each of the last 4 * Villareal have won 7 of their last 10 home league fixtures including 4 out of 6 this season * Villareal lost 3.2 to Sevilla in their last home league fixture * Villareal have seen BTTS in 4 of their last 5 league fixtures * Barcelona have scored 2 goals or more in 8 of their last 10 away league fixtures * Barcelona drew 1.1 at Valencia and Atletico Madrid in the 2 games that they failed to score more than 1 goal * Barcelona have drawn their last 2 league matches (with Valencia and Celta) * Barcelona have only lost 2 of their last 45 La Liga matches Past Meetings * 8 of the last 10 meetings between these two sides saw BTTS Including 6 of the last 7 * 6 of the last 7 also went over 2.5 goals * 4 of the last 5 meetings at El Madrigal saw BTTS * The last 2 meetings between these two sides at El Madrigal finished level (1.1 and 2.2) * Barcelona are undefeated in their last 18 meetings with Villareal * Barcelona scored 2 goals or more in 6 of their last 7 meetings with Villareal * Villareal have not beaten Barcelona at El Madrigal since Oct 2007 Final Verdict Barcelona don't usually get it easy at Villareal and I expect a decent contest when these two sides round off the weekend fixtures at El Madrigal. Villareal are prolific at home and will fancy their chances of causing Barca problems and they can score to bring up a likely BTTS pick @4/7. Barca have not won on their last 2 visits to the Yellow Submarine, and recent form suggests this could be another close encounter for Messi and Co. I'm taking BTTS with a solid level of confidence while you would expect Barca to have enough in the tank to get the points they need but I don't expect it to be comfortable so over 2.5 and yes has a chance but depends on whether we can get an early goal. This one could be tight but only 1 of their last 24 meetings in La Liga finished goalless so we should expect some goals here. 19:45 AC Milan vs Bologna - Prediction 1.1 Best Bets - Bologno or draw @13/8 - 2.5 stars Current form * Milan have failed to win any of their last 4 home league fixtures * Milan lost 2 and drew 2 of those 4 without scoring a single goal * Milan have won only 2 of their last 10 league matches (W2, L5, D3) * Bologna have won 4 and lost 3 of their 7 away league fixtures this season including 3 of their last 5 * Bologna have won 5 of their last 10 league matches (W5, L4, D1) * Both sides have 21 points from 15 games played so far this season * Milan became the first side NOT to beat Benevento in their last league outing, conceding an injury-time equaliser to the home sides goalkeeper! Past Meetings * Milan have won their last 3 meetings with Bologna * Bologna did win 1.0 at Milan in 2016 * None of the last 5 meetings have seen BTTS Final Verdict Milan can't be backed at 1/2 and I fancy the visitors to come away with a point or better @13/8 odds with these two sides locked together on 21 points after 15 league matches. Rino Gattusso has replaced Vincenzo Montella as head coach at the San Siro and hIs immediate impact has not been overly impressive with points dropped at Benevento followed by a defeat in Croatia at the hands of Rijeka in a Europa League dead-rubber. Meaningless fixture or not, Milan are short on confidence and this could be a tough night for the Rossoneri with Bologna performing well on the road this season, winning 4 out of 7. With the wily Donadoni in charge of the visitors, I fancv Bologna to outwit Gattusso's Milan and grab a point or better @13/8. Sunday Best Bets Villareal vs Barcelona - BTTS @4/7 - 4 stars Hannover vs Hoffenheim - BTTS @4/7 - 3.5 stars Milan vs Bologna - Bologna or draw @13/8 - 2,5 stars Man Utd vs Man City - BTTS @4/6 Other Selections Betis vs Atletico - BTTS @4/5 Hannover vs Hoffenheim - BTTS and over 2. goals @20/21 Villareal vs Barcelona - BTTS and over 2.5 goals @5/6 16:30 Manchester United vs Manchester City - Prediction 1.1 Best Bets - BTTS @4/6 Final Verdict Stats really do go out of the window for a match like this with the top 2 in England going head to head and Man Utd surely needing the 3 points with City building an 8 point advantage so far on their local rivals. The absence of Paul Pogba will certainly hurt United's creativity and you wonder if Mourinho might surprise everyone with a left-field tactical or personnel selection. Will Ibra make his return? Will Lingard or Mata be handed the role of creator? Will Jose actually adopt an attacking mentality? You would have to think so. But, that being said, with City so dangerous breaking at pace, I don't expect a kitchen sink to be included in the United offence although Romelu Lukaku will lead the line against a City defence missing Stone and possibly Kompany. I fancy goals, but with the caveat that in a derby like this, anything can really happen. We have seen a 4.3 and a 0.0 in recent years at Old Trafford in previous derbies and while I don't expect that outcome here, ultimately, we have a really tough match to call. BTTS is priced @4/6 and seems the most obvious selection here. I don't think either side will want to lose, so I am not expecting a winner here, but a 0.0 would be a surprise with so much attacking talent on display and if City are missing 2 of their most influential defenders, United will be confident of scoring. A lot of tipsters seem to be tipping the home win but without Pogba, I'm not sure United have enough creativity to win the match but I don't expect them to lose so a score draw looks the safest and likeliest outcome. Comments are closed.
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