Top Match Tips: The smart money on this week's biggest games
It's an interesting European weekend consisting of new and old rivalries, as well as derbies. However, you cannot look any further than in Serie A, where Juventus host Napoli with Gonzalo Higuain set to face off against his former club for the first time since leaving in the summer. How will el Pipita react? Will he score, will he celebrate or will he fail?
JUVENTUS VS NAPOLI – Draw first half @2.10
It’s worth remembering that Juventus come into this fixture having won each of their last 21 home matches, having kept a clean sheet in 14 of those matches. They are looking to smash the all-time Serie A record of 25 straight wins, which also belongs to them, split between Antonio Conte and Max Allegri.
What’s more, Napoli have so many issues to fix, with their confidence chief among them. Despite their struggles and the fact they do not have a recognised striker available, only Roma (19.3) are getting off more shots per game than Maurizio Sarri’s side (18.7). Against Juventus, however, they will need to concentrate on keeping things tight at the back.
Napoli may not be in their best moment, but nor are Juventus. In fact, this is possible the worst shape they’ve been in in their last five years and they’ve struggled in the four big matches they’ve had already this season. Even a less polished Juventus are still top of the league and four points clear of Napoli, with a defeat in Turin a disaster to their Scudetto hopes.
The absence of Paulo Dybala will hurt Juventus, while Evra’s leadership will also be missed on the left. Claudio Marchisio made his first start in five months in midweek and it’s rumoured he will play again against Napoli. All in all, expect a controlled first half from both teams, who will be desperate to avoid handing their opponents an early advantage. Bet365 price up a draw at half time at 2.10
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TOTTENHAM VS LEICESTER - Tottenham win HT / Tottenham win FT @2.50
Both of these teams were battling for the title last season before Leicester eventually won the race, but this fixture is now deemed as a home banker for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Leicester are putting all of their focus on the Champions League, which means rotation could be applied again this weekend by Claudio Ranieri. Leicester have been losing at half time in all four of their away league games this season and have gone on to lose each of them. There is only one scoring scenario in the WhoScored Match Forecast, and it has Tottenham as the beneficiaries
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ATLETICO MADRID VS MALAGA – Atletico Winning Margin - 1 @3.40
In spite of the technical gap, Atletico wouldn’t be ashamed to win by a winning margin of 1. Diego Simeone is a specialist in those sort of victories and when you consider Malaga haven’t lost an away game by more than a one-goal margin since November 2015, it certainly seems the game will shape up this way.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS SCHALKE – Dortmund Win HT/ Dortmund Win FT @2.25
The Ruhr derby comes at a time when Borussia Dortmund are incredibly six points behind Bayern. Schalke started the season in disastrous form but have won two and drawn one of their last three games.
In three of Dortmund’s last four home matches they have entered half time in the lead, while Schalke were behind at half-time in two of their four away league matches this season. There are two ‘very likely’ situations in the WhoScored Match Forecast, and they are both in favour of Dortmund scoring.
NICE VS NANTES - Home win @1.90
Forza Balotelli! Pardon the bias, but it is amazing to see a) Nice leading! b) with a four-point lead at the top of Ligue 1! c) they are unbeaten! d) they’ve won five games in a row! They really can’t stop now against Nantes, who are one point above the relegation zone.
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