Sunday's top tips: Trouble for leaders in Spain, Italy and France
Atalanta vs Napoli - 11:30 KO / Match Preview
This will be the second time these two sides have met in a matter of weeks since the turn of the year and if their Coppa Italia encounter was anything to go by the Serie A leaders will have a real game on their hands. Atalanta followed their scalp against the Partenopei earlier this month - winning 2-1 away from home - with a victory of the same scoreline at Roma and can be a real handful for Italy’s top teams. They’ve lost just two of 14 home matches in all competitions this season, so an upset of sorts could be on the cards.
Suggested bet: Atalanta win or draw (Best price - Betfair @1.80)
Southampton vs Tottenham - 16:00 KO / Match Preview
Saints host Spurs less than a month on from the seven-goal thriller between the two at Wembley on Boxing Day but a revenge mission seems unlikely. On his return to St. Mary’s Mauricio Pochettino will be confident of coming away with all three points once again, with his front line now back to its best. Both Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are in fine form, while the hosts struggles for goals are worsened still by the absence of top scorer Charlie Austin and they are without Maya Yoshida at the other end too. It could be another long afternoon for Mauricio Pellegrino.
Suggested bet: Tottenham -1 handicap (Best price - Betfair @2.88)
Real Betis vs Barcelona - 19:45 KO / Match Preview
While it would be hard to argue that runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona haven’t been the real entertainers in Spain, there’s certainly a case to be made for Real Betis to come under consideration. Quique Setien’s side have been involved in some of the most memorable matches in Spain this season due to their open approach and a high-scoring game certainly seems likely again come Sunday. While the visitors are the league’s top scorers, with 52 goals - including 14 in their last four league outings - no side has seen more goals in their games in total than their hosts (69), whose matches average 3.6 per game this season.
Suggested bet: Barcelona to win and over 3.5 goals (Best price - multiple @2.10)
Inter vs Roma - 19:45 KO / Match Preview
Until recently both of these sides would have been clinging to an outside chance of a title challenge but that seems a pipe dream after disappointing spells. Roma have managed five points from their last five league games while the Nerazzurri have earned just three over as many matches, with just three points separating the hosts in third and their visitors in fifth. With both strike forces misfiring somewhat, and neither side wanting to lose this one, the managers might settle for a draw even if Luciano Spalletti would love to get one over on his former employers once more.
Suggested bet: Draw and both teams to score (Best price - Betfred @4.50)
Lyon vs PSG - 20:00 KO / Match Preview
There’s no doubt as to the big game in Ligue 1 this weekend, with Lyon and PSG expected to end gameweek 22 with a bang. It’s second against first and as such this game will see some of of the French division’s top talents go head-to-head, with Neymar (8.94) and Nail Fekir (8.24) having earned the top two WhoScored.com ratings in the division this season. There may be an 11-point gap between the sides in the table but it’s unlikely that much will separate these two come Sunday. Neither side has won this fixture in Lyon by more than a single goal in ten years, with a victory by that margin in five of the last six.
Suggested bet: Winning margin 1 goal (Best price - Betway @3.00)
Best accumulator price (via Oddschecker Bet Basket) - Betway @125.02