There will be another massive round of fixtures around Europe this coming weekend, as battles for European places head up. However, which soccer tips should gamblers be making for some of the biggest fixtures?
AC Milan vs Napoli
AC Milan are refusing to give up in the Serie A title race, but they will need to win almost every game that they have left remaining this season to stand the best possible chance of overcoming Inter Milan. They face a huge challenge this weekend as they welcome Napoli to the San Siro.
AC Milan showed signs that they were back to somewhere near their best at the weekend, as they won for the second time in three games. However, they are still three points behind the league leaders. Most pleasingly, they were able to keep the advantage that they have over Juventus in tact, as a place in the Champions League next season would have been their main aim for the season.
Napoli will also be looking to achieve that same target, but they will need to continue in the decent form that they have shown recently to stand the best chance of that. They have won two of their last three, and three of their last five. However, Napoli remain three points away from Roma in their pursuit of a Champions League spot this season.
Milan will have home advantage for this huge fixture, but they will once again be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It will be a testing game for them this weekend, and we could see a draw being the most likely outcome.
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig remain in the Bundesliga title race, as there are just two points separating the teams in the top two positions in Germany’s top-flight. They will be coming up against another side with European targets this weekend, as Eintracht Frankfurt are the visitors to the Red Bull Arena.
Leipzig are the most in-form side in the Bundesliga at present, but they will need to maintain the constant form that they have been in if they are to have any chance of overcoming Bayern Munich this season. Leipzig won for the sixth game in a row at the weekend, as they beat Freiburg 3-0 away from home. Christopher Nkunku scored before the break in that win, while second-half strikes from Alexander Sorloth and Emil Forsberg wrapped up the comfortable win.
Frankfurt’s excellent form at the start of the calendar year has evaded them over recent weeks, as they have now gone two without a win in the Bundesliga. They were beaten a couple of weeks ago by Werder Bremen, and they could only manage a draw in their most recent fixture against Stuttgart. Filip Kostic scored the equalising goal in that game for the Champions League chasers.
Eintracht Frankfurt will need to get back to the form that they were in at the start of the year to increase their chances of finishing in the top-four. However, we can’t see them avoiding defeat this weekend against the in-form Leipzig.
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
The second North London derby of the season takes place on Sunday afternoon, as Spurs will be looking to complete the double over Arsenal. A win for Spurs could reignite their Champions League hopes, while the Gunners will be looking to ensure that they don’t end the weekend in the bottom half of the Premier League standings.
Jose Mourinho’s side were written off by many a couple of weeks ago, but they will come into the derby with just a couple of wins standing between themselves and a place in the top-four. Spurs made it a third win on the bounce with a 4-1 success against Crystal Palace at the weekend, with Gareth Bale and Harry Kane scoring two goals each in the comfortable win.
Arsenal have fared slightly differently over recent weeks, as they have won just twice in their last six. They were unable to pick up a win in their last league fixture as they were held on the road by Burnley. A huge mistake from Granit Xhaka handed the Clarets a point in that game, and they will need to be more resolute against their local rivals.
Tottenham have been in excellent form over recent games, and if Bale and Kane are able to continue their excellent form, then we believe Spurs will make it four wins on the bounce.
Sevilla vs Real Betis
Sevilla’s place in the top-four looked assured a couple of weeks ago, but they are in danger of ending the upcoming round of games in fifth place. Betis will be the visitors this weekend, as they will be looking for a fourth straight win in LaLiga.
Sevilla can’t afford a third straight defeat in the league this weekend, as they could drop out of the Champions League places in the league. They were beaten by Elche at the weekend, and that defeat was their third straight loss in all competitions. They have scored just once in those three games, and they will need to rediscover their best form at this crucial stage of the season.
Betis are certainly a side moving in the opposite direction, as they have won their last four in the league. A Champions League place already looks a bridge too far for them this season, but they will be hopeful of claiming a spot in the Europa League. They have a five-point advantage in that battle at present, but they could extend that by continuing their excellent run of recent form.
Sevilla have been disappointing over recent weeks, while Betis have been in excellent form. Both sides are evenly matched, and we find it difficult to see anything other than a draw between the rivals.
