After an intriguing batch of midweek Premier League fixtures, we’ve got another 10 games from the best league in the world to look forward this weekend. Chelsea, who extended their lead to nine points with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Tuesday, kick this weekend’s fixtures off with a tasty home match with London rivals Arsenal.
Elsewhere in the top flight, Tottenham Hotspur welcome Middlesbrough to White Hart Lane, Swansea City travel to the Etihad Stadium and champions Leicester City host Manchester United.
We’ll also be looking at the big clash in the Sky Bet Championship between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, as well as top-of-the-table matches in France and Germany, as Monaco and Nice go head-to-head and Borussia Dortmund entertain Red Bull Leipzig.
- Chelsea v Arsenal – Draw (13/5 at Bet365)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -2 (21/10 at BetVictor)
- Manchester City v Swansea City – Manchester City to Win -1 (8/13 at Coral)
- Leicester City v Manchester United – Draw and Both Teams to Score (22/5 at BetVictor)
- Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa – Draw (9/4 at Betfred)
- Monaco v Nice – Monaco to Win (3/5 at BetVictor)
- Borussia Dortmund v Red Bull Leipzig – Draw (3/1 at Betfred)
Premier League
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were the big winners in the Premier League in midweek, as all the teams above them dropped points. Arsenal lost at home to Watford, Tottenham Hotspur could only manage a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light and Manchester United failed to beat Hull City at Old Trafford. Manchester City, meanwhile, thumped West Ham United 4-0 at the London Stadium.
Chelsea v Arsenal – 4th February
This Saturday afternoon, London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal meet at Stamford Bridge to get this round of Premier League fixtures up and running. After drawing with Liverpool, the Blues extended their lead over Arsenal to nine points as the Gunners were beaten by the Hornets at the Emirates.
Chelsea have won 10 of their 11 Premier League matches at the Bridge this season, but they were heavily beaten at the Emirates Stadium back in September. Because of that, we should be in for a fascinating contest in west London.
Although the Gunners will still be hurting after their shock result in midweek, we’re backing them to bounce back by nicking a draw at the home of the current league leaders. Chelsea may be the strong favourites, but we like the look of Bet365’s 13/5 for this mouth-watering match to end all square.
Draw – 13/5 at Bet365
Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough – 4th February
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur entertain Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane this Saturday. Tottenham currently occupy second spot in the Premier League table, whilst Boro lie back in 15th position.
Despite being held to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night, this is a game Spurs should be looking to win, and win with ease. Only Chelsea have taken more points than Tottenham on their own patch, while Karanka’s men have won just one of their 11 league matches on the road this term.
We’re predicting a comfortable night for the Lilywhites, and we believe they will beat last season’s Championship runners-up by a decent margin. Pochettino’s men are available at the tempting price of 21/10 to win -2 this Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win -2 – 21/10 at BetVictor
Manchester City v Swansea City – 5th February
Sunday’s first Premier League match sees Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Paul Clement’s Swansea City square off at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams secured excellent wins in midweek, but City should have enough to see off the Swans in this fixture.
Since Clement arrived at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea’s results and performances have improved drastically. After earning a memorable 3-2 victory at Anfield, the Welsh outfit followed that up with an excellent 2-1 win over Southampton on Tuesday.
As for the Citizens, after winning just one top flight game in four, they sealed a vital 4-0 win away at West Ham in midweek. We can see Pep’s troops building on that fine result, and we think there’s good value in Coral’s 8/13 for Man City to win -1.
Manchester City to Win -1 – 8/13 at Coral
Leicester City v Manchester United – 5th February
Sunday’s late kick off comes from the King Power Stadium, as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City entertain Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. The Foxes, who have lost their last three, and United, who have drawn their last three successive league matches, will both be looking for the three points at the weekend.
Leicester have made an abysmal start to 2017, having drawn one and lost three of their first four Premier League fixtures of the year. Ranieri’s men now sit just two points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Man United have lost ground in the top four race, drawing their last three.
United go into this one unbeaten in 14 league matches, and we can’t see them losing on Sunday. However, we’re also anticipating that the champions hit back, so we like the look of BetVictor’s 22/5 for the draw and both teams to score.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 22/5 at BetVictor
Championship
After only managing a 2-2 home draw with Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday evening, Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United missed their chance to go back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship. Instead, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion, who play Huddersfield Town on Thursday, have the chance to extend their lead at the summit to four points.
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa – 4th February
This Saturday, Gary Brazil’s Nottingham Forest welcome Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa to the City Ground. Both teams have underachieved this season, but we should be in for a cracking clash between these two English giants this weekend.
Despite still being on the lookout for a new manager, Forest pulled off some very shrewd business before the transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday. However, the same can be said about Villa, who also bolstered their squad for a play-off push.
In terms of Saturday’s game, this is a match that could go either way. Forest will back themselves to make home advantage count, but the Villans will also fancy their chances. Therefore, we believe Betfred’s 9/4 for the draw is your best bet in this one.
Draw – 9/4 at Betfred
Ligue 1
After earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco kept their place at the top of the Ligue 1 table. However, Nice’s win against Guingamp took them level with Monaco at the top. This weekend, Lucien Favre’s men travel to the Stade Louis II for a mouth-watering match at the top of France’s top tier.
Monaco v Nice – 4th February
With nothing to split Monaco and Nice in the French Ligue 1 table, Saturday’s match between the top two promises to be an enthralling contest. Being at home, Leonardo Jardim’s side are the favourites, but the visitors have lost just one league match all season.
The Red and Whites may be in fine form, but in the reverse fixture at the Allianz Riviera back in September, they were thumped 4-0. Although we anticipate things to be a lot tighter this Saturday, that result could still play a part in Monaco’s minds.
Only Nice have a better record on their own patch than Monaco, and we believe home advantage could be the key factor in this one. BetVictor are offering the tasty price of 3/5 for a home win.
Monaco to Win – 3/5 at BetVictor
Bundesliga
Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich sit top of the pile in Germany, but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Red Bull Leipzig are only three points behind. After a remarkable first season in the Bundesliga so far, the Bulls will be looking for an equally impressive second half of the season. As for Borussia Dortmund, they have massively underachieved this term, as they are a whopping 14 points off the pace.
Borussia Dortmund v Red Bull Leipzig – 4th February
Thomas Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund welcome Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Red Bull Leipzig to the Signal Iduna Park this Saturday for a mouth-watering German Bundesliga game. Leipzig go into this weekend’s match 11 points clear of their hosts.
Despite the huge gap between the two, Dortmund are the favourites to prevail. To be fair to the Black and Yellows, Tuchel’s men have yet to be beaten on their own patch in the Bundesliga this season. However, only Bayern Munich have a better away record than RB Leipzig in the division.
We’re struggling to pick a winner between these two evenly matched sides. Like we said, Dortmund are strong at home and the Bulls are no mugs on the road. As a result, Betfred’s 3/1 for the draw stands out for us.
Draw – 3/1 at Betfred