Although the weather is still freezing cold around Europe, clubs in the top leagues are already thinking about the run in to the season. In the Premier League, managers are desperately trying to bring in a player or two to improve their chances of achieving their preseason goals. In the Championship, everybody is waiting for somebody to quickly climb the table thanks to a strong run of form. In the Bundesliga, it’s all about the fight for a top four place.
We’ve got some very big games in all three of those leagues ahead of us this weekend. While lots of fans will be disappointed with the outcome, you’ll hopefully feel much better about things by following along with our weekend football betting tips below.
- Brighton v Chelsea – Chelsea to Win 2-0 (11/2 with Bet365)
- Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Crystal Palace/Draw Double Chance (13/8 with Bet365)
- Southampton v Tottenham – Tottenham to Win to Nil (9/5 with BetVictor)
- Derby v Bristol City – Derby to Win (11/10 with Betfred)
- Leeds v Millwall – Leeds to Win and Under 2.5 Goals (16/5 with Coral)
- Borussia Mönchengladbach v Augsburg – The Draw (13/5 with BetVictor)
- Schalke v Hannover – Schalke to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 with Betfred)
Premier League
It finally happened. Man City finally lost in the Premier League in a pulsating match against Liverpool. Liverpool’s 4-3 win will go down as one of the best games in Premier League history. While that defeat is the merest dent in City’s chances of winning the title, it was a boon to Liverpool’s chances of an automatic Champions League place. Like the fight for a top four spot, the battle to avoid relegation is set to rumble on until the very end and we have more important matches in both regards ahead of us this weekend.
Brighton v Chelsea – 20th January
After initially taking to life in the Premier League very well, Brighton have started sliding towards the foot of the in a very worrying way. The Seagulls have won just two games since the start of November and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend with the visit of Chelsea to the Amex Stadium.
Chris Hughton is working hard behind the scenes to improve his defence. He knows his team must tighten up to remain in the top flight but for now all he can do is put the work in on the training ground and hope Chelsea have another off day in front of goal.
Antonio Conte’s men recently drew three games 0-0 for the first time in their history but should still have too much for Brighton. While it won’t be a thrashing, the 11/2 you can get with Bet365 on Chelsea running out comfortable 2-0 winners looks well worth a shot, whilst under 2.5 goals is a safer bet at shorter odds.
Chelsea to Win 2-0 – 11/2 with Bet365
Arsenal v Crystal Palace – 20th January
Those who enjoy watching angry Arsenal fans on YouTube have had plenty of material recently. The Gunners fans who made the recent trip to Bournemouth were provided with Arsenal’s worst performance of the season. They were awful in defence and not much better going forwards last week, raising Crystal Palace’s hopes of getting something out of Saturday’s game at the Emirates.
Arsenal were comfortably the better team when these two met at Selhurst Park just after Christmas but things have gone very sour, very quickly. Some believe that after over two decades in charge, Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal in roughly the same state that he found it (on the pitch at least). That’s a pretty damning take on his time as manager but few Arsenal fans will disagree if they fail to get a win against Palace at home. With the Eagles strong in attack, we think they can get at Arsenal and cause an upset here at nice odds.
Crystal Palace/Draw Double Chance – 13/8 with Bet365
Southampton v Tottenham – 21st January
Mauricio Pellegrino and Mauricio Pochettino have plenty in common besides their names. Both men are from Argentina, both played in defence and, very shortly, both could be former Southampton managers. While Pochettino took the decision to leave the Saints to pursue bigger goals at Tottenham, it’s the Southampton board who will most probably make the final call on Pellegrino.
Among Southampton’s recent shocking run of form was their 5-2 defeat against Tottenham on Boxing Day. There’s little chance of seven goals being scored in the reverse fixture at St Mary’s but every chance of another chastening afternoon for Pellegrino. Spurs were brilliant last weekend when they beat Everton 4-0 and have a very good record against the bottom half. Southampton, in contrast, have scored just two goals against the top six this season so a Spurs win to nil looks good value at solid odds of 9/5 with BetVictor.
Tottenham to Win to Nil – 9/5 with BetVictor
Championship
Wolves’ strength at the top of the Championship is such that it’s big news every time they drop points. Their goalless draw away to Barnsley gave the chasing pack slight hope that there is life in the title race yet. Realistically though, they know they’re playing for second place. Derby are the side in the driving seat currently but there’s a lot of football to be played and lots of twists and turns still to come.
Derby v Bristol City – 19th January
The biggest game of the Championship weekend comes from Pride Park on Friday night. Both Derby and Bristol City have shown they have the talent in their ranks to win automatic promotion but with such a big prize on the line, it’s about more than just talent. Gary Rowett and Lee Johnson have a big part to play in their team’s fortunes, starting on Friday night.
As the odds suggest, this is a tight game that could go either way but you have to think that Derby are a very good price at 11/10 with Betfred. The Rams are unbeaten in their last four home games, winning three of them. In contrast, Bristol City have lost their last three league games and will surely have half an eye on their upcoming Carabao Cup semi final against Man City. They are still very much in that one and so we think that will just edge things the way of the home side here.
Derby to Win – 11/10 with Betfred
Leeds v Millwall – 20th January
With the best part of 200 miles between the two clubs, you may not think there’d be much of a rivalry between Leeds and Millwall. You would, however, be mistaken. The two sets of fans despise each other so this is always a game that they mark out on the calendar when the fixtures are announced.
You can guarantee a good atmosphere at Elland Road when Millwall are in town. That’s handy for Leeds at the moment as they need a boost following a winless run of three league matches and defeat against Newport County in the FA Cup third round.
For their part, Millwall’s form is also very mixed. They’ve largely been good at home but are without a single win on their travels. That follows the pattern of this fixture which has been won by the home team in the last seven encounters. Leeds need a win and should get the better of Millwall in a tight affair in which the roar of the home faithful could once again make the difference.
Leeds to Win and Under 2.5 Goals – 16/5 with Coral
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich are all set to cruise to yet another Bundesliga title. That won’t surprise anybody outside of Germany – or inside for that matter – but their 13 point gap at the top of the table represents a remarkable turnaround since Jupp Heynckes returned to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Just below Bayern and the fight for a top four spot could hardly be any more wide open. Just seven points separate RB Leipzig in second and Hertha Berlin in 11th so it’s that area of the table that will provide the drama in the run in to the Bundesliga season.
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Augsburg – 20th January
Borussia Mönchengladbach and Augsburg are two of the midtable Bundesliga clubs who are very much dreaming about pushing on to claim a place in European competition for next season. Neither is what you’d call consistent but they’ve both claimed big wins against the top teams and will each be looking at their meeting on Saturday as a chance for three points.
If anything’s going to stop Gladbach from pushing higher up it will be that inconsistency. They’ve beaten the likes of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga but lost to FC Köln at the bottom. Augsburg, who are just one place and one point below Gladbach, have plenty of goals in them and are rarely out of a game. They’ll keep attacking the home side and their never say die attitude could secure them a point with the draw well priced at 13/5 with BetVictor in a clash between evenly matched opponents.
The Draw – 13/5 with BetVictor
Schalke v Hannover – 21st January
Schalke’s defeat at RB Leipzig last weekend saw them drop below Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men into third place. While they have a very good chance to grab second back in the coming weeks, the chasing pack is breathing down their necks. Of most concern will be Dortmund, Leverkusen and Mönchengladbach but the tight nature of the Bundesliga means Hannover still believe they’re in with a shot of quickly climbing the table from 10th.
Schalke are in need of a quick return to winning ways after their 11 game unbeaten run was ended on their first game back from the winter break. That won’t be easy against a Hannover side who have scored against every team above them this term. Schalke’s strong home form should see them through but expect Hannover to at least make Sunday’s game interesting.
Schalke to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 with Betfred