As we enter the closing weeks of the season, there’s still plenty to be settled in Europe’s top leagues. This weekend, we’ve got several huge Premier League matches to preview, as the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City look to pile the pressure on leaders Chelsea – or at the very least cement their top four chances.
We’ll be previewing five matches from the Premier League, as well as the Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United fixture in the Sky Bet Championship. We’ll also be taking a look at the big one from Italy, as Lazio host Napoli. Sunday’s Bundesliga showdown in Germany between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund rounds things off.
- Tottenham Hotspur v Watford – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -2 (2/1 at BetVictor)
- Bournemouth v Chelsea – Chelsea to Win -1 (6/4 at Coral)
- Sunderland v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 at Bet365)
- Everton v Leicester City – Draw (3/1 at Betfair)
- Crystal Palace v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win (3/4 at Sky Bet)
- Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United – Newcastle United to Win (7/5 at Betfred)
- Lazio v Napoli – Lazio to Win (9/5 at Sky Bet)
- Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund – Bayern Munich to Win to Nil (2/1 at BetVictor)
Premier League
After being shocked at home by Crystal Palace at the weekend, Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League table has been cut to seven points. Tottenham Hotspur, who won 2-0 at Burnley, will be hoping the Blues slip up a few more times before the season draws to a close. This weekend, Spurs host Watford in Saturday’s early kick off, whilst Chelsea travel to Bournemouth in the late game.
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford – 8th April
Tottenham Hotspur and Watford get the weekend’s Premier League football underway, as the pair square off at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon. Spurs are still hunting down Chelsea at the top, whilst the Hornets have their sights set on a top half finish. Watford probably don’t have too much to play for but with just 20 miles between the clubs geographically, there is certainly a degree of local pride at stake.
Tottenham have been mightily impressive on their own patch this term, taking a superb 41 points from 15 home matches. Spurs have dropped just four points at the Lane all season, winning their last 10 home league games on the bounce. As for Walter Mazzarri’s Watford, they look safe on 34 points but won’t want to rest until they are mathematically secure.
With Tottenham being so devastating at home this year, we’re backing another comfortable home victory in this one. The standout bet is Mauricio Pochettino’s boys to win -2, which is nicely priced at 2/1 with BetVictor.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win -2 – 2/1 at BetVictor
Bournemouth v Chelsea – 8th April
On Saturday evening, Chelsea look to get back to winning ways when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on Eddie Howe’s in-form Bournemouth. A lot depends on how the Blues do against Manchester City on Wednesday night, as defeat to the Citizens will make their trip to the south coast a very interesting one.
Antonio Conte’s men were shocked at home by Crystal Palace at the weekend, but they will be hoping it was just a tiny blip in an otherwise near faultless season. Chelsea have the best away record in the division at present, having won 10, drawn three and lost two of their 15 fixtures on the road.
The Cherries have picked up dramatically of late, winning two and drawing two of their last four Premier League games. However, we believe Conte’s troops will be too strong for them on Saturday. Coral are offering 6/4 for the away side to win -1 at Dean Court and that’s solid value given the Blues’ season to date.
Chelsea to Win -1 – 6/4 at Coral
Sunderland v Manchester United – 9th April
David Moyes and his Sunderland side are running out of time to save their Premier League lives. Things don’t get much easier, though, as this weekend, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are the visitors to the Stadium of Light.
Last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Watford was Sunderland’s 19th PL loss of the campaign. In fact, the Black Cats have lost four of their past five league matches since winning 4-0 at Crystal Palace back in early February. Draws have been United’s problem this season, but they still have every chance of reaching the top four.
Last season, Sunderland secured a 2-1 win in this fixture, with a late David De Gea own goal being the difference. However, we can’t see a repeat result this weekend. The standout bet in this one is the Red Devils to win and both teams to score, which you can get at very solid odds of 12/5 at Bet365.
Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 at Bet365
Everton v Leicester City – 9th April
Craig Shakespeare has done a remarkable job since taking over from Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City on an interim basis, and he will be looking for another victory when the Foxes travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton on Sunday.
Leicester have won their last five matches on the bounce, with four of those coming in the Premier League. Shakespeare has taken the Premier League champions from the relegation zone to mid-table. As for the Toffees, despite falling to a poor 3-1 defeat at rivals Liverpool on Saturday, they have still had an excellent season under Ronald Koeman.
Prior to that loss no side had collected more points in 2017 than the Toffees. A strong run had them looking up the table and they won’t have totally written off a top four finish just yet. It would be a huge ask but they will certainly hope to bounce back here.
With the way both have been playing of late, this is a hard one to call. Everton will be looking to get back on track with three points at home, whilst the Foxes will be eager to keep up this fine run of results. Therefore, we’re backing the draw, which is available at 3/1 with Betfair.
Draw – 3/1 at Betfair
Crystal Palace v Arsenal – 10th April
On Monday night, a revitalised Crystal Palace welcome Arsene Wenger’s out-of-sorts Arsenal to Selhurst Park in what promises to be an intriguing battle in south London. Palace have been on fire over the past few weeks – can they pile more misery on the beleaguered Gunners in this one?
Arsenal have lost six of their last 10 matches in all competitions, and are in real danger of failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time during Wenger’s reign. Meanwhile, the Eagles have swooped to four priceless wins, beating Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Chelsea to fire themselves away from trouble.
We can’t see Arsenal’s bad run of results continuing for much longer though. Before travelling to Selhurst, the Gunners host West Ham United on Wednesday, looking for six points from their next two. Sky Bet are offering the decent odds of 3/4 for an away win in this one and that looks good as they have a great record against sides beneath them.
Arsenal to Win – 3/4 at Sky Bet
Championship
Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion just keep trading blows at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table. The Magpies lead the way on 81 points, with Brighton a point behind in second. In midweek, Newcastle welcome Burton Albion to St James’ Park on Wednesday, with the Seagulls hosting Birmingham City on Tuesday. After that, Rafael Benitez’s men make the trip to play-off chasing Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, with both clubs desperate to take all three points.
Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United – 8th April
On Saturday evening, Rafael Benitez takes his Newcastle United side to Sheffield Wednesday for a big clash at the top of the Sky Bet Championship. Before the midweek fixtures, the Magpies sit a point above Brighton & Hove Albion in the table.
Two points from a possible 12 has seriously damaged the Owls’ play-off hopes. Fulham have now leapfrogged Wednesday into sixth in the table, a point above Carlos Carvalhal’s men. As for Newcastle, after failing to win in three, a 2-1 victory over struggling Wigan Athletic at the weekend was just what the doctor ordered for the leaders.
Before welcoming Newcastle on Saturday, Sheff Wed travel to already relegated Rotherham United – this next week could make or break Wednesday’s season. Regardless of what happens in midweek, we anticipate the Magpies to get the job done at Hillsborough. Betfred have the away win priced at 7/5 and that’s very generous.
Newcastle United to Win – 7/5 at Betfred
Serie A
With Juventus on their way to yet another Serie A title, the battle for the European places is heating up in Italy. Roma are second behind Juve on 68 points, then come Napoli on 64 and Lazio on 60. This weekend, Lazio welcome Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico for a tasty matchup. A home win would close the gap between the clubs to just one point, but defeat would see Simone Inzaghi’s troops drop seven points behind the Naples side.
Lazio v Napoli – 9th April
The standout fixture from the Serie A this weekend is the clash between Lazio and Napoli, taking place at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening. With just four points separating these two Italian giants in the table, we should be in for a cracking contest this weekend.
Simone Inzaghi’s side find themselves four points adrift of their visitors, but victory would obviously close the gap to just one. With Roma on 68 points in second, both teams will be aiming to hunt down that second spot. The Eagles have won eight and drawn two of their previous 10 matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, Napoli have lost four of their last nine league and cup fixtures.
With the game taking place in Rome, coupled with Lazio’s fine form, we’re siding with a home win in this one. The best odds you can get on a Biancocelesti triumph are 9/5 with Sky Bet, a price we feel is very much worth taking advantage of.
Lazio to Win – 9/5 at Sky Bet
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich may be miles ahead at the top of the German Bundesliga table, but there’s a fascinating battle unfolding for the runners-up spot. After Red Bull Leipzig’s 4-0 win over Darmstadt at the weekend, they remain in pole position to claim second position. Sitting five points behind in fourth are Thomas Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund, who travel to the Allianz Arena for a huge clash with Bayern this weekend.
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund – 8th April
On Saturday, Germany’s two biggest clubs go head-to-head at the Allianz Arena, as Bayern Munich host Borussia Dortmund. Nothing is going to stop Bayern lifting a 27th German title, but Dortmund will be looking to halt their momentum in this one.
It’s been a poor season domestically for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who currently occupy fourth place in the Bundesliga table. As for FC Hollywood, they are a whopping 13 points clear of second place Red Bull Leipzig. Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who are unbeaten at home, will be on the lookout for another three points to add to their tally.
Dortmund may be the only side to have beaten Bayern in the league this term, but we can see the Bavarians getting revenge on Saturday. The home team to win to nil (2/1 at BetVictor) is the standout bet in this mouth-watering clash so cash in.
Bayern Munich to Win to Nil – 2/1 at BetVictor