The action around Europe continues to captivate football fans around the world, and once again there are a number of stellar fixtures to capture the imagination taking place this week. But, which sides will be able to claim the wins?
Arsenal vs Leicester City
There is no hiding the fact that this is a huge fixture for Leicester City in their battle to finish in the Champions League places this season. The Foxes had been in disappointing form over recent weeks and allowed Manchester United and Chelsea to close the gap on them. However, they claimed a much-needed win in their last fixture in the Premier League as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0. There were two goals for Jamie Vardy in that fixture, as he became the latest player to hit 100 goals in the division.
This will be a completely different proposition for the Foxes this week, as they will come up against a Gunners side that looks to have found their best form. After a tricky beginning to the restart, which saw Arsenal lose back-to-back games, they have won their subsequent three. Mikel Arteta will be hoping that his side can finish in the Europa League places this season, as the top-four is out of reach.
Leicester will take confidence that they have won the last two against the Gunners. However, they haven’t won away at Arsenal in the Premier League era. That run will continue, as the sides will play out an entertaining draw.
AC Milan vs Juventus
The biggest game in Europe to take place this week will see Juventus travel to the San Siro to take on AC Milan. Both sides have been in incredible form since the restart, and something will have to give when they meet for the second time behind closed doors.
It now only appears a matter of time before Juventus wrap up the league title as they currently hold a seven-point lead over Lazio. The title challengers have been unable to emulate their form from before the break, while the Old Lady have won all four games since the restart. They have conceded just two goals in these four games, and have scored an impressive 13 goals. Paolo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo have both scored four goals in four games since play resumed. Dybala and Ronaldo both scored one goal in the recent 4-1 success over Torino, while there was also a goal for Douglas Costa.
AC Milan still have their sights set on a European finish this season, and their recent form has been good. They have won three of their four games since the restart, and are just two points behind Napoli and Roma. Their last outing in Serie A was a 3-0 win against Lazio. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in that success, while there were also goals for Ante Rebic and Hakan Calhanoglu.
However, Milan haven’t beaten Juventus in eleven attempts, which means the preference would still be for the away side.
Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla
There will be high-quality action in LaLiga this week as two sides that are hoping to finish in European places meet. Sevilla had been in pole position to finish in the Champions League places throughout much of the season, but they have struggled to transfer draws into wins since the action resumed in Spain. Bilbao have drawn four of their seven games in La Liga since play resumed. Four of those draws came in quick succession against Levante, Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Valladolid.
However, they have recently returned to winning ways, and they will go into this fixture having won their previous two. They have scored four goals in these victories against Leganes and Eibar, and are yet to concede. Their most recent outing was their 1-0 win over Eibar, with Lucas Ocampos scoring the only goal of the game.
Bilbao have shot up the league table since play resumed in LaLiga, and they are now three points away from seventh-placed Real Sociedad. They have won two of their previous three games in LaLiga, and three of their previous five. Their winning run was brought to an end last time out as they were controversially beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid. However, on that performance, they should be able to trouble Sevilla. The pick for this fixture would be the draw.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
The game of the weekend in the Premier League will take place at the New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday with the North London derby on the menu. Both sides match up evenly in the league standings, with a victory for either meaning that they will end the weekend above their rivals. Spurs and the Gunners have both struggled for consistency throughout the season, but Arsenal’s recent run of three wins means that they are the in-form side. However, they have won just four away league games all season.
Tottenham’s home form has been consistent throughout the season as they have won ten of their 17 home matches. Since the restart, they have won two of their three fixtures at home. The only game that they dropped points was their 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Spurs will be hoping for a European finish this season, but defeat against their arch-rivals would mean that could be unlikely.
Arsenal have endured a terrible record away from home in the derby over the past couple of years, as they haven’t won in four in all competitions. The two sides shared the points earlier in the season, and that would appear to be the most likely result again.
