With just a handful of games left in Europe’s top leagues, there’s still a lot to be settled before the season draws to a close. The Premier League title race is heating up between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as the Blues’ lead at the top has been cut to just four points. Antonio Conte’s men host Southampton on Tuesday, whilst Spurs travel to Crystal Palace the following day.
There’s also a thrilling fight for the title unfolding in Spain between rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. Lionel Messi’s injury-time strike on Sunday blew the title race wide open, as Barca ran out 3-2 winners over Real in a thriller at the Bernabeu Stadium.
We’ve got four big Premier League midweek fixtures to preview, including Thursday’s eagerly anticipated Manchester derby. We’ll also be looking at Barcelona’s home match with Osasuna, as well as Real Madrid’s fixture at Deportivo La Coruna.
- Chelsea v Southampton – Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 at Betfair)
- Arsenal v Leicester City – Draw (7/2 at BetVictor)
- Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win (4/6 at Bet365)
- Manchester City v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win (16/5 at Sky Bet)
- Atletico Madrid v Villarreal – Atletico Madrid to Win -1 (13/10 at Betfred)
- Barcelona v Osasuna – Barcelona to Win -3 (4/5 at Betfair)
- Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win to Nil (7/4 at Ladbrokes)
Premier League
With just four points separating the Premier League’s top two, all eyes will be on Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur this week. After the Blues ran out 4-2 winners in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, Spurs will be even more determined to beat Antonio Conte’s men to the title this season. Elsewhere, Arsenal host Leicester City, and Manchester City and Manchester United go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Manchester derby.
Chelsea v Southampton – 25th April
We begin with Tuesday’s game from Stamford Bridge, as leaders Chelsea host Claude Puel’s unpredictable Southampton. This won’t be an easy one for the Blues, but with Tottenham breathing down their necks, three points in a must for Antonio Conte’s men.
Chelsea have the excellent habit of hitting back after suffering a loss. Last time out in the Premier League, the London outfit didn’t show up at Old Trafford, fully deserving their 2-0 defeat. However, being back at the Bridge, they will be expecting to add a crucial three points to their tally on Tuesday.
The Saints have had an up and down sort of season, but we can see them scoring in this fixture. Nevertheless, we’re still backing Chelsea to get the job done on home soil. Betfair are offering 12/5 for the Blues to win and both teams to score.
Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 at Betfair
Arsenal v Leicester City – 26th April
On Wednesday, Arsenal, who have just made it through to the FA Cup final after beating Man City at Wembley, welcome Craig Shakespeare’s vastly improved Leicester City to the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners may be favourites, but the Foxes will back themselves to gain a positive result from their trip to London.
Despite Arsenal’s season ultimately being a disappointment, winning the FA Cup could ease the ‘Wenger Out’ chants. However, it’s the Premier League where the majority of the Arsenal fans want their club to succeed, but they lie seventh. As for Leicester, they have dropped down to 15th after last weekend’s results.
Arsenal will be on a high after Sunday’s win, but Shakespeare’s boys are not out the woods in terms on relegation just yet. With that said, we believe the champions are good enough to leave the capital with a point. BetVictor’s 7/2 is your best price for the draw.
Draw – 7/2 at BetVictor
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur – 26th April
Mauricio Pochettino takes his in-form Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park to face Sam Allardyce’s in-form Crystal Palace on Wednesday in what promises to be an excellent affair.
The Eagles have beaten the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks to keep their Premier League status intact for next season. As for Spurs, a run of seven straight league victories has given them a slim chance of winning their first Premier League title.
Going by recent form, this match could go either way. However, the Lilywhites need maximum points if they want to sustain their title challenge. Therefore, check out Bet365’s 4/6 for Spurs to win in south London.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win – 4/6 at Bet365
Manchester City v Manchester United – 27th April
On Thursday, rivals Manchester City and Manchester United square off at the Etihad Stadium in a crucial Manchester derby. Both sides are hunting down a UEFA Champions League spot, with the winner of this one surely beating the other to the post.
Just one point separates City in fourth and United in fifth, which makes this fixture one of the most intriguing Manchester derbies in years. Both will be going all out for the win, with City knowing victory would take them four clear, but defeat would see them be leapfrogged by their rivals with just five left to play.
This derby match is always hard to call, especially when they are so close in the table. However, we feel Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils are the team with momentum. Because of that, there’s real value in Sky Bet’s 16/5 for United to win at the home of their rivals on Thursday.
Manchester United to Win – 16/5 at Sky Bet
La Liga
Lionel Messi’s left foot has blown the race for the title wide open in La Liga. In a topsy-turvy game in the Spanish capital – where Real Madrid went 1-0 up, 2-1 down, before eventually losing 3-2 – Messi’s late strike has put Barca at the top. However, Zinedine Zidane’s men have a vital game in hand on their rivals. In midweek, Blaugrana entertain bottom club Osasuna, whilst Los Blancos travel to Deportivo La Coruna.
Atletico Madrid v Villarreal – 25th April
It’s not all about the title race in La Liga, as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid face a battle with Sevilla for third spot. This Tuesday, Atletico welcome Fran Escriba’s fifth placed Villarreal to the Vicente Calderon.
The visitors travel to the Spanish capital having won three of their last four. As for the hosts, they have won eight and drawn four of their last 12 league and cup fixtures. When the pair met in the reverse match back in December, Villarreal were comfortable 3-0 winners.
Being at home, we’re backing Simeone’s men to get revenge this Tuesday. Los Rojiblancos have only been beaten twice on their own patch in La Liga this season. The standout bet in this one is the home team to win with a -1 goal handicap, which you can get at decent odds of 13/10 (Betfred).
Atletico Madrid to Win -1 – 13/10 at Betfred
Barcelona v Osasuna – 26th April
On Wednesday, Barcelona will be looking to keep their top spot in the table, increasing their goal difference in the process, when they entertain bottom club Osasuna at the Camp Nou.
Barca will be on cloud nine after Lionel Messi’s heroics on Sunday. They may have played a game more than their rivals, but Luis Enrique’s boys will be hoping their 3-2 win in Madrid will give them the edge in the title race.
The side from Catalonia should not have any problems whatsoever in this one. In the reverse fixture, Barca won 3-0, and we’re expecting more of the same on Wednesday. Betfair are offering 4/5 for Enrique’s troops to win with a -3 goal handicap at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona to Win -3 – 4/5 at Betfair
Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid – 26th April
If Real Madrid want to win their first title since 2012, it’s imperative they don’t let Sunday’s heart-breaking defeat affect them too much. On Wednesday, Zinedine Zidane’s men make the trip to the Estadio Riazor to play Deportivo La Coruna.
Real need to get back to basics, and fast. Forget a good performance, plenty of goals and a clean sheet – Los Blancos just need three points however they come. Real Madrid have been the best team in the league for most of the season, can they carry that on for the last few weeks of the campaign?
Standing in their way on Wednesday, however, are a Deportivo side, who lie 16th in the table, eight points clear of the drop zone. Still, we believe Real will have too much for them in this crucial clash. Ladbrokes have the away side to win to nil generously priced at 7/4.
Real Madrid to Win to Nil – 7/4 at Ladbrokes