It’s that time of the week again when we run through a selection of the most exciting matches taking place this weekend and offer our best bets and value picks.
Tottenham v Leeds (Saturday)
Tottenham desperately needs a return to form and get back to winning ways before the Premier League goes on a mid-season break due to the World Cup. They’ve lost three of their last four league encounters, which doesn’t bode well against a Leeds team who have shown plenty of grit in the past couple of weeks, beating Liverpool at Anfield, and then going on to win against Bournemouth, coming from two goals down.
Liverpool v Southampton (Saturday)
Liverpool hoped to have turned the corner after beating Tottenham last weekend, winning for the first time away from home in the league. That was despite a host of injuries to key players, especially in attack. Southampton named Nathan Jones, formerly of Luton Town, as their new coach this week, and his first taste of Premier League action is a daunting trip to Anfield.
Preston v Millwall (Saturday)
Preston seems to be edging closer to the promotion play-off spots after claiming their third successive victory last time out. They’re building momentum and the break looks like it’s coming at the worst possible time. Millwall are winless in three league ties and have won just one of their nine away trips this term.
Coventry v QPR (Saturday)
Queens Park Rangers have been dropping the ball and have struggled for consistency of late, enduring a four-game winless run, losing three times in that period. Coventry, on the other hand, have been one of the Championship’s most in-form teams and could leapfrog QPR if they were to win their games in hand. The hosts have also won three successive matches.
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (Saturday)
Hoffenheim have dropped to the bottom half of the German Bundesliga table after winning just one of their last eight league fixtures. They’re also winless in four matches, losing back-to-back ties. Wolfsburg are jumping higher and higher up the table and are unbeaten in seven league games, which include three successive victories coming into this encounter.
Freiburg v Union Berlin (Sunday)
Freiburg and Union Berlin come into this game as the chasing pack behind Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich, who look to be distancing themselves as we draw closer to the halfway mark. Union Berlin have been disappointing, winning just once in their last four matches, meanwhile, Freiburg could go back above their opponents with a positive result. They’ve won three of their last four encounters and are definitely the form team coming into this weekend.
Napoli v Udinese (Saturday)
Napoli have shown that they’re well ahead of any other team in Italy, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table. They’ve won 10 league games in a row and are still unbeaten this campaign. Udinese are winless in six matches, drawing five times in that run. Victor Osimhen is the league’s top goal scorer with eight goals and will be setting his sights on distancing himself from the chasing pack before the World Cup.
Juventus v Lazio (Sunday)
Juventus are slowly turning the corner and could go above Lazio in the third place when the two sides meet this Sunday. Juve are unbeaten on their turf, winning five of their seven fixtures. They also boast the record of having the best defence in the league, which was evident in their last home game, when they beat Inter Milan 2-0. Lazio have the second-best defence in the division and have let in just one goal away from home this term.
Lens v Clermont (Saturday)
High-flying Lens have been marvelous to watch and sit comfortably in the second spot. They have a 100 percent record at home, winning all seven of their home matches – the only team in the French Ligue 1 to hold that record. Clermont are winless in four ties, drawing three times.
Lille v Angers (Sunday)
Lille have the luxury of returning to winning ways in a favourable fixture against the French Ligue 1’s lowest-ranked team, Angers. The visitors are on a six-game losing streak, shipping in 33 goals this season. Lille have been above average and are in the seventh spot going into the weekend. The hosts have won four of their seven home ties and will be confident of adding to that run.