We’ve got an action-packed weekend of top football to look forward, with things heating up as the season draws to a close. There’s still an awful lot to play for in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship, as well as an enthralling title battle going on in La Liga.
This weekend, Arsenal travel to West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough play Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur host Southampton and Manchester City and Liverpool go head-to-head. That last game is the highlight of the weekend and could be a cracker, as well as having a big say in who makes next season’s Champions League.
We’ll also be taking a look at two huge Championship clashes, and this weekend’s big one from Spain, as fourth host third.
- West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win (7/10 at Betfred)
- Bournemouth v Swansea City – Bournemouth to Win (11/8 at Betfred)
- Middlesbrough v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win -2 (13/8 at Ladbrokes)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil (21/10 at BetVictor)
- Manchester City v Liverpool – Draw (11/4 at Sky Bet)
- Bristol City v Huddersfield Town – Huddersfield Town to Win (11/8 at Betfred)
- Leeds United v Brighton & Hove Albion – Leeds United to Win (21/10 at Coral)
- Atletico Madrid v Sevilla – Draw and Both Teams to Score (4/1 at Bet365)
Premier League
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea may still be 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but the west Londoners still have a little bit of work to do. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool are not going away easily. Meanwhile at the other end, Hull City’s 2-1 win over Swansea City has tightened things up at the bottom and the relegation battle is as exciting as ever.
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal – 18th March
West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal get this weekend’s fixtures up and running, as the pair meet at the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon. After losing three of their last four Premier League games, the Gunners’ fortunes need to change quickly. As for West Brom, they will have been disappointed to have lost their last two.
Being at home, the Baggies will back themselves to get back to winning ways in this one, especially as they won the corresponding fixture last year. However, if Arsene Wenger’s men want to finish in the top four, these are the type of games they must be winning and their record against the “lesser” teams is very solid.
We can’t see Arsenal slipping up again, and fancy them to come out on top in the West Midlands this weekend. Betfred are offering 7/10 for Wenger’s boys to beat the Baggies on Saturday and that looks more than fair.
Arsenal to Win – 7/10 at Betfred
Bournemouth v Swansea City – 18th March
Paul Clement takes his Swansea City troops to the Vitality Stadium this weekend for a crucial Premier League clash against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. After losing at Hull City last Saturday, the Swans have been dragged back towards the relegation zone and this is essentially another relegation six-pointer for them.
As for the Cherries, after following up last weekend’s excellent point at Old Trafford with a huge 3-2 win over West Ham United on Saturday, they have pulled themselves six points clear of the drop zone. They have also gone three points above the Welsh club and will feel they are just a few more wins away from safety.
When the pair met at the Liberty Stadium back on New Year’s Eve, Bournemouth were superb in a 3-0 win. Saturday’s victory was their first since then, and we like the look of Betfred’s 11/8 for the Cherries to win this one.
Bournemouth to Win – 11/8 at Betfred
Middlesbrough v Manchester United – 19th March
On Sunday, Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough welcome Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United to the Riverside Stadium. United, who have drawn their last two, will be looking for the three points from this matchup.
Meanwhile, Boro have dropped into the relegation zone and they were also knocked out the Emirates FA Cup by Manchester City last weekend. After Hull’s win over Swansea, Karanka’s men have dropped to 19th in the table. With just 11 games left, Boro need to start putting some points on the board.
Unfortunately for last season’s Sky Bet Championship runners-up, we can’t see them picking anything up from this tough looking fixture. They don’t score anywhere near enough goals. The Red Devils are still hunting down a top four spot, and will be eager to win this one well on Sunday. Ladbrokes are offering 13/8 for United to win -1, a price we believe is worth taking advantage of, with 2-0 or 3-0 good correct score options.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 13/8 at Ladbrokes
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton – 19th March
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to keep up their stunning recent record when they welcome Claude Puel’s Southampton to White Hart Lane this Sunday. Spurs have been scintillating on home soil this season, and will be hard to beat in this one. They will miss the injured Harry Kane but have enough strength in depth to cope, as they showed when thrashing Millwall at the weekend.
The Saints have had an up and down season, but will be hoping to finish their campaign off in style. Puel is still finding his feet at St Mary’s, but his troops are capable of beating anyone. Incredibly, Southampton were the last team to win at the Lane in the PL.
However, with the way the Lilywhites have been playing of late, we can only see one winner on Sunday. Spurs have won without conceding at home 12 times in all competitions, and we feel there’s good value in BetVictor’s 21/10 for Tottenham to win to nil again in this clash.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win to Nil – 21/10 at BetVictor
Manchester City v Liverpool – 19th March
The weekend’s mouth-watering match comes from the Etihad Stadium where Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool square off on Sunday. With only a point separating these two in the Premier League table, Sunday’s showdown promises to be a cracker.
After a woeful start to 2017, the Reds have slowly turned the screw, having won three of their last four PL games. As for City, since being thumped 4-0 at Everton, Pep’s boys have hit back with four wins and two draws. The title may be out of reach, but the runners-up spot is certainly up for grabs for these two.
With Liverpool improving of late, coupled with Man City’s good form, this could go either way. However, we can see these two English giants cancelling each other out in Manchester. Sky Bet are offering the tempting odds of 11/4 for this one to end all square and we think the Reds have enough to maintain their unbeaten record against top half sides.
Draw – 11/4 at Sky Bet
Championship
Just when you thought Newcastle United were on their way back to the Premier League as Sky Bet Championship champions, they take just a single point from a possible six, leaving the door open once again for Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion. With nine games left, the Magpies and Seagulls are locked level on 77 points. Meanwhile, David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town are just six points behind in third and may have momentum in their favour.
Bristol City v Huddersfield Town – 17th March
On Friday night, high-flying Huddersfield Town make the trip to Ashton Gate to face Lee Johnson’s lowly Bristol City. With both teams desperate for the points for completely different reasons, we should be in for an enthralling battle in Bristol.
The Terriers have done a remarkable job of maintaining their lofty position in the Championship table. Huddersfield have defied the odds all season, and fully deserve to be third. As for Bristol, despite starting their campaign well, they have had a season to forget.
Huddersfield are the in-form team, and we can see them taking another precious three points on Friday. Incredibly, a win would take them just three points behind Newcastle and Brighton in the table, even if it’s only for a short while. We think it’s well worth backing the away side to do exactly that at nice odds of 11/8 with Betfred.
Huddersfield Town to Win – 11/8 at Betfred
Leeds United v Brighton & Hove Albion – 18th March
One of the standout fixtures in the Championship this weekend comes from Elland Road, where Leeds United host Brighton & Hove Albion. Since losing back-to-back games, the Seagulls have hit back with two successive wins.
As for Leeds, Garry Monk’s men look to have sealed a play-off place, as they sit six points clear of seventh placed Fulham and 10 points clear of Preston North End, who lie eight. Despite a couple of iffy results in recent weeks, Brighton are level on points with Newcastle at the top, and six clear of third placed Huddersfield.
This one could swing either way, but we can see the hosts nicking it. Brighton are the slight favourites, but we’re being drawn to Coral’s 21/10 for United to come out on top on their own patch. Brighton are superb on home soil but their away record, especially against the top sides, is much less impressive and we think the Yorkshire side will claim a big win.
Leeds United to Win – 21/10 at Coral
La Liga
After an incredible weekend of Spanish action, which saw Barcelona lose at Deportivo La Coruna and Sevilla draw with Leganes, Real Madrid went back to the top of La Liga. Zinedine Zidane’s men, who left it late against Real Betis, still have a game in hand on their rivals. We’re focusing on this weekend’s big match between third placed Sevilla and fourth placed Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla – 19th March
On Sunday, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid host Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla at the Vicente Calderon for a huge La Liga clash. A win for Atletico will take them to within two points of their visitors. However, an away victory would open the gap to a whopping eight points.
Los Rojiblancos may not have had the domestic season they were after, but there’s still a lot to play for. Meanwhile, Sevilla, who have impressed this term, still have faint hopes of winning the title. They are currently five points behind leaders Real, who have played a game less.
We’re predicting an open game in the Spanish capital, but fancy the pair to play out an entertaining draw. Because of that, we like the look of Bet365’s 4/1 for the draw and both teams to score.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 4/1 at Bet365