The title race and battle for survival may be all done and dusted in the Premier League, but a place in the top four is still up for grabs. Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are still fighting for the last two remaining UEFA Champions League spots.
After two tense and cagey Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first legs, we have the second legs to look forward to this week. Reading host Fulham on Tuesday, whilst Huddersfield Town travel to Sheffield Wednesday the following day.
We’ll also be previewing Real Madrid’s huge match against Celta Vigo in Spain’s La Liga. Standby for what promises to be a fascinating week of top footballing action.
- Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion – Manchester City to Win -2 (11/8 at Betfred)
- Southampton v Manchester United – Southampton to Win (15/8 at Betfair)
- Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win and Both Teams to Score (13/5 at Bet365)
- Reading v Fulham – Reading to Win (21/10 at Bet365)
- Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town – 0-0 Draw (15/2 at Bet365)
- Celta Vigo v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win and Both Teams to Score (21/20 at Coral)
Premier League
Chelsea were deservedly crowned Premier League champions on Friday night, as the Blues left it late to win 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion. Tottenham Hotspur sealed second place on Sunday, beating Manchester United in the last ever match at White Hart Lane. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Manchester City both took giant strides towards securing a top-four place with crucial victories over West Ham and Leicester respectively. At the other end, Swansea City’s 2-0 win at Sunderland, coupled with Hull City’s 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace sent the Tigers back down to the Sky Bet Championship.
Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion – 16th May
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City play their final home game of the season on Tuesday, when they welcome Tony Pulis and his West Bromwich Albion side to the Etihad Stadium. City will be looking to follow up last weekend’s 2-1 win over Leicester City with another three points in this one.
To be honest, the Citizens should have no problems whatsoever, considering the Baggies have lost five of their last six Premier League fixtures. Nevertheless, Man City still need to be wary of Albion’s threat and be at their best on Tuesday.
In the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns back in October, City put four past West Brom without reply. We’re backing a similar kind of result in midweek, with Betfred’s 11/8 for the hosts to win with a -2 goal handicap standing out.
Manchester City to Win -2 – 11/8 at Betfred
Southampton v Manchester United – 17th May
After losing 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Manchester United can now only qualify for the Champions League by winning the UEFA Europa League. On Wednesday, Jose Mourinho takes his troops to St Mary’s to face off against Claude Puel’s Southampton.
After going 25 Premier League matches unbeaten, the Red Devils have now lost two on the bounce, both in north London. As for the Saints, they picked up their first top flight victory in six at the weekend, seeing off relegated Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium.
With the visitors having one eye on the Europa League, Man United are there for the taking for Puel’s men on Wednesday. With that said, we feel there’s great value in Betfair’s price of 15/8 for a Saints win.
Southampton to Win – 15/8 at Betfair
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur – 18th May
After saying goodbye to White Hart Lane by securing the runners-up spot on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur will want to end their fine campaign with two wins on the road. Spurs make the trip to Leicester City on Thursday for their penultimate match of the season.
Despite slipping up at the London Stadium recently, the Lilywhites have been simply outstanding over the past few months. Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Man United on Sunday was their 10th Premier League victory in 11 games. Leicester, meanwhile, were unlucky in their 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
After losing their last away game, we fancy Spurs to hit back in this one. The standout bet here is the away team to win and both teams to score, which is nicely priced at 13/5 with Bet365.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win and Both Teams to Score – 13/5 at Bet365
Championship Play-offs
All four teams in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs gave nothing away in the first legs, with both matches ending in tight draws. On Saturday, Fulham and Reading kicked the play-offs off with a tense 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. The following day, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday played out a 0-0 stalemate at the John Smith’s Stadium. Which two of these four will contest the Wembley play-off final in two weeks’ time?
Reading v Fulham – 16th May
Jaap Stam’s Reading welcome Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham to the Madejski Stadium for the intriguing second leg on Tuesday night. After drawing 1-1 at Craven Cottage, this semi-final is delicately poised.
Despite finishing third, drawing at the Cottage and being at home on Tuesday, the bookies still don’t fancy Reading to progress. The underdog tag did not affect the Royals in London, it won’t bother them in Berkshire, either. In fact, Stam’s men were well worthy of their draw on Saturday.
Bet365 are offering the very tempting price of 21/10 for a home win, and we believe those odds are just too good to turn down. Although it will no doubt be another close match between the two, home advantage could turn out to be the key factor.
Reading to Win – 21/10 at Bet365
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town – 17th May
On Wednesday, David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town make the short trip to Hillsborough to face Carlos Carvalhal’s Sheffield Wednesday for their second leg of the Championship play-off semi.
These two were evenly matched in the regular season, both ending on 81 points, and there was nothing to split the pair at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday. However, being away from home, the 0-0 draw will have certainly suited the Owls more.
We can see Wednesday’s showdown being another extremely close match, which could go either way. Because of that, we like the look of Bet365’s 15/2 for another 0-0 draw. After that, it’s anyone’s guess who makes it through to the final.
0-0 Draw – 15/2 at Bet365
La Liga
Real Madrid and Barcelona remain in a fierce battle for the title in La Liga. After both securing 4-1 victories on Sunday evening, the pair are level on 87 points each. Barca have just one game left, whilst Real have two. If Zinedine Zidane’s men can claim three points in their game in hand on Wednesday, Los Blancos will go into the final day of the season three points clear at the summit of Spain’s top flight.
Celta Vigo v Real Madrid – 17th May
On Wednesday night, Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid make the trip to Balaidos to face Eduardo Berizzo’s Celta Vigo. On paper, this should be an easy win for the visitors, but with so much at stake, can Real keep their cool?
Los Merengues realistically need four points from their last two games to lift a first La Liga title since 2012. However, both their final matches come away from home, as Real travel to Malaga on the last day. Since losing to Barcelona last month, Los Blancos have responded like champions, winning their following four league fixtures on the bounce.
We can see Real Madrid taking a giant leap towards the championship with a win at Balaidos on Wednesday. Coral are offering 21/20 for the away team to win and both teams to score in Vigo.
Real Madrid to Win and Both Teams to Score – 21/20 at Coral