14:30 FC Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen - Prediction 1.2 Current Form * Koln have seen BTTS in 8 of their last 9 league matches including each of the last 7 * Koln have seen BTTS in 6 of their last 7 home league matches including each of the last 5 * Koln have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of their last 6 league matches * 25 goals were scored in those 6 matches * Koln have scored at least 1 goal in their last 10 Bundesliga matches * Koln have kept only 2 clean sheets in their last 13 home league matches * Koln have conceded 3 goals or more in 4 of their last 6 league matches * Koln conceded 15 goals in those 6 matches, keeping 0 clean sheets * Koln have taken 14 points from their last 10 league matches. They had only taken 3 from their first 16 league matches * Leverkusen have seen BTTS in 13 of their last 16 away league matches including 4 of the last 5 * All 4 of those recent BTTS matches also saw over 2.5 goals scored * Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 10 away league matches * Leverkusen have won 5 of their last 7 away league matches * Leverkusen have scored 2 goals or more in 5 of their last 6 away league matches Past Meetings * 6 of the last 7 meetings have seen BTTS * 4 of those 6, including both of their last 2 meetings also saw over 2.5 goals scored * Leverkusen won 2.1 in their most recent contest in October * Leverkusen have lost only 1 of their last 11 trips to face Koln Final Verdict Koln will be desperate for 3 points when they entertain Leverkusen in Western Germany for what should be a tasty derby contest between two sides with plenty still to play for. The home side seemed doomed to relegation at the half-way stage of the season but their form improved significantly following the winter break however 2 successive defeats in their most recent matches have left Stefan Ruthenbeck's men 8 points adrift of a relegation play-off spot. Time is certainly running out for The Billy Goats with just 8 games remaining in the campaign so we can expect the hosts to put everything into to trying to win this local derby against a Leverkusen side that they have only beaten once in 11 previous matches on their own patch. Goals have to be expected with Koln seeing so many goals at both ends in their recent matches and BTTS @8/13 looks likely to me with the hosts seeing that outcome in each of their last 7 league matches while Bayer have seen BTTS in over 80% of away matches over the past year and have kept only 5 clean sheets in their last 32 away league matches (3 of those 5 did come in their last 7 away matches). Leverkusen have scored 2 goals or more in 5 of their last 6 away matches, while they are unbeaten in 10 on the road and are favoured to get the win @4/5 but the safer bet could be on the visitors to score 2 or more @4/6 while BTTS and over 2.5 goals pays @20/21 and looks a good shout with both sides expected to play on the front foot and with both needing the points, we should see a decent derby dust down. Best Bets BTTS @8/13 - 3.5 stars Leverkusen to score 2 or more @4/6 - 3 stars BTTS and over 2.5 goals @20/21 - 2.5 stars 17:00 RasenBallsport Leipzig vs Bayern Munich - Prediction 1.3 Current Form * Bayern have scored 2 goals or more in 8 of their last 9 league matches * Bayern have scored 2 goals or more in each of their last 6 away matches (all comps) * Bayern have scored 42 goals in their last 13 matches (all comps) * Bayern have won 17 of their last 18 matches (all comps) * Bayern have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of their last 12 away matches (all comps) * RBL have seen BTTS in 8 of their last 10 home matches (all comps) * 6 of those 8 also saw over 2.5 goals scored * RBL have only failed to score in 3 of their previous 30 HOME Bundesliga matches * RBL have only won 3 of their last 13 league matches including none of the last 4 * RBL have conceded 2 goals or more in 5 of their last 10 home matches (all comps) Past Meetings * Bayern won 5.4 in last season's corresponding fixture * Bayern have scored 2 goals or more in all 3 previous league meetings Final Verdict Bayern travels to the East of Germany for a contest with RBL that looks good for goals as the reigning champions close in on yet another Bundesliga triumph. With a whopping 18 point lead at the top, it is only a question of when, and not if, Bayern claim the Bundesliga crown and they should take another step towards their 6th successive title with 3 points against a fatigued and out-of-form RBL. While both sides were successful on their midweek European exertions, it was Bayern that had much the easier task as they completed a thumping 8.1 win over Besiktas. In contrast, RBL held on for a 1.1 draw in St Petersburg with Zenit to edge through 3.2 on aggregate in their Europa League tie but they will have certainly exhausted more energy than Bayern who had already effectively sealed their qualification in the first leg of their tie with Besiktas having thumped the Turks 5.0 in Germany 3 weeks earlier. Given those fresher legs, and the extra depth and quality that Bayern possess within their squad, Juup Heyneckes men should be able to score 2 or more goals @4/6 odds on but given the home sides ability going forward, BTTS also looks good @7/10 with RBL only failing to score in 3 of their previous 30 home league matches since their promotion to the German top flight. Best Bets Bayern to score 2 or more @8/13 - 3.5 stars BTTS and over 2.5 goals @1/1 - 3 stars La Liga 15:15 Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao - Prediction 3.0 Best Bets Barca to win -1 @2/5 - 4 stars Barca to score 3 or more @8/11 - 3 stars 17:30 Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid - Prediction 0.1 Best Bets Atletico to win @6/5 - 2.5 stars 19:45 Real Madrid vs Girona - Prediction 2.1 Current Form * Real have won their last 4 home league matches, scoring a whopping 19 goals in the process * Real have kept only 5 clean sheets in their last 18 home La Liga fixtures including just 1 in their last 6 * Real have kept only 1 clean sheet in their last 9 home matches (all comps) * Real have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals scored in 11 of their last 13 matches (all comps) * Girona have lost by 3 goals or more in only 3 of their 28 La Liga matches this season (Barcelona twice, and Eibar) * Girona have scored in 11 of their last 13 away La Liga matches * Girona have won 4 of their last 5 La liga matches keeping clean sheets in all 4 wins * Girona have lost by 2 goals or more in only 3 of their 15 away La liga fixtures (2.0 at Bilbao, 4.1 at Eibar and 6.1 at Barcelona) Past Meetings * Girona won 2.1 in this season's first meeting of these two sides in La Liga Final Verdict Girona travels south to face Real Madrid with tremendous confidence following an exceptional run of form which has seen them win 4 of their last 5 La Liga matches as well as each of their last 6 on home turf. While a trip to Real Madrid represents one of Girona's toughest tests of the season to date, I'm confident they can put in a strong away performance with the Catalan's performing exceptionally well in recent weeks in La Liga and Real struggling for consistency at home. Girona have won 4 of their last 5, including a fine 2.0 win at Villareal while their away performances have been strong throughout the season with only Eibar and Barcelona beating them by more than 2 goals and I fancy the Catalans to perform well at the Bernabeu and I'm backing them at plus 3 on the handicap @4/6 as well as to score @4/7 with Real conceding in 8 of their last 9 home matches. Of course, the home side are in strong form at the moment, scoring 15 in their last 4 appearances at the Bernabeu but Real have also displayed plenty of weaknesses on their own patch this season, losing 3 of their last 12 at home in La Liga while visitors Girona have shown that they can dig in on the road against the divisions top sides, losing narrowly by just 1 goal at Sevilla and Valencia and even taking a point at Atletico. Real have been up and down for much of the season and while they have won by more than 2 goals in 6 of their last 10 home La Liga matches, including each of the last 4 they have also failed to win in 9 of their last 22 home matches in all competitions and I fancy the visitors to really make life difficult for Real here with Girona performing exceptionally well over the last month in particular. Still, with the hosts winning their last 4 in the league at the Bernabeu, and scoring 19 goals in the process, BTTS and over 2.5 goals @8/11 has to have a good chance in what should be a good contest with Girona playing in the Bernabeu for the first time in their La Liga history. Real are expected to win at just 1/6 odds on, while Girona are 16/1 to pull off the upset win and while I'm not backing that outcome, I do have a feeling this fixture could prove rather tricky for the struggling European champions so I'm taking Girona to score @4/7 and on the handicap plus 3 @4/6 with BTTS and over 2.5 goals @8/11 my final selection here. Best Bets Girona to score @4/7 - 3.5 stars Girona plus 3 handicap @4/6 - 3 stars BTTS and over 2.5 goals @8/11 - 3 stars Comments are closed.
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