Could this be the last chance for Roma to get back into the title race? Or is it already too late? The clash at the Stadio Olimpico dominates the footballing weekend, but there is a lot to come before that Monday night meeting. The rest of the fixture list brings some great bets with it.
LIKELY BETS
Real Madrid vs Villarreal: REAL MADRID HT/REAL MADRID FT @ 1.53
Real Madrid have been ahead at half time and then gone on to win 9 of their 11 home league games so far this season. In fact, the only two times they failed to do so were in matches against Barcelona and Atletico. Moreover, the Yellow Submarine could be tired from Europa League exertions in midweek, and they haven't won any of their last 4 away games.
Valencia vs Real Sociedad: HOME WIN @ 1.57
Valencia are in cruise control towards Champions League qualification as the only Spanish team to have won their last 3 games. While David Moyes looks to be dealing with Carlos Vela's absence well, this particular challenge may be too hard, especially given that Real Sociedad have not won any of their last 12 away games, a run stretching back to April 2014!
Atalanta vs Sampdoria: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.83
Atalanta's slide down the table could soon become a serious problem. They need to make the most of their home games, but Mihajlovic's reaction to Sampdoria' draw in the derby could be quite a shock for his squad. Both definitely look likely to score and concede: it has happened in 7 of the last 7 for the bergamaschi, and 5 out of 5 for Sampdoria.
TEMPTING BETS
Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg: AWAY WIN @ 1.90
Wolfsburg’s 10-game unbeaten streak is enough to worry any team, although Werder Bremen are currently on a 6-game unbeaten run, a record only bettered by Sunday’s opponents. Wolfsburg are blossoming in spring after the winter break, while they are unbeaten in all competitions since November. The visitors came away from Lisbon with a commendable draw in the Europa League in midweek and have the strength in personnel to take all 3 points here.
WBA vs Southampton: AWAY WIN @ 2.37
West Brom have won only 2 of their last 10 Premier League games, so this is a great chance for Southampton to return to winning ways after a poor run of form. The WhoScored match forecast suggests Saints will dominate this game, where it is 'likely' that Ronald Koeman’s side 'will steal the ball from the opposition often' and 'extremely likely' that they 'will score from wingplay situation'.
Bordeaux vs Stade Reims: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.90
Ligue 1 currently has the worst goal average of Europe’s top 5 leagues. For that reason, the odds on both teams scoring always favour the punter. Reims have scored in 4 of their last 5 league games away from home, while Bordeaux have failed to net in just 1 of their 12 home Ligue 1 matches this term.
LONG-SHOT BETS
Roma had one job. Coming into this game without worsening their deficit of 7 points to Juventus, perhaps trying to reduce it to 5. Instead, however, they are 9 adrift of the Old Lady. After months of pain, the victory in Rotterdam has at least restored some pride - but surely cost Garica's men some energy in the process.
The real positive for the giallorossi, though, was Borussia Dortmund's performance in Turin. It was extremely demanding for Juventus to overcome the Germans, and Allegri will now be without Pirlo for the next 3 weeks, and perhaps even Pogba for this game. Nevertheless, Rudi Garcia needs an extraordinary performance to get something from this game: so something we haven't seen from them since October, and if there is one thing that Juventus have never shown a lack of, it is definitely confidence.
Moreover, it's not only about Tevez up-front anymore. Morata was brilliant against Dortmund showing pace and great decision making, something that, up against Roma's centre-backs, could be lethal. Meanwhile Roma's hopes will lie on the kind of day their right side will have: Gervinho vs Evra backed by Pjanic vs Sturaro could be unbearable for the visitors, if only those two can be effective… The game is still level though, as witnessed by the WhoScored's match forecast predicting only that Juventus will likely 'create many scoring chances'.
Lille vs Olympique Lyonnais: AWAY WIN @ 2.70
Lyon are not feeling anxious about leading the table ahead of PSG and Marseille at present, while Lille definitely have their own issues with only 1 win in their last 6. It gets to the point that Lyon are 'extremely likely' to scoring from a fastbreak situation according to the WhoScored.com match forecast.
Manchester United vs Sunderland: DRAW 1ST HALF-HOME 2ND HALF @ 3.75
United are favourites but this won't be easy (nothing is for them at the moment). Sunderland have only twice ended the first half of an away game this season going down at the break, last doing so back in October.
What are your top tips for the weekend? Let us know in the comments below
