PSG, Liverpool and Barcelona feature in Europe's top tips this weekend

With the return of the Champions League imminent there could be some surprise results this weekend as the biggest teams in Europe turn their attentions to the continent's biggest domestic prize. While big fixtures are far and few between this weekend across Europe's top leagues, there are important matches where titles can be all but decided, especially in England.

BORDEAUX v PSG - Draw @4.00

Paris Saint-Germain have entered the most crucial period of their season. They can not afford anything other than a win against Bordeaux to keep pace with Monaco and Nice at the top of Ligue 1 before facing Barcelona in the first round of knockout matches in the Champions League. Unai Emery would have hoped for an easier fixture than a trip to Bordeaux here.

In fact, Bordeaux are level with Monaco and PSG on the current longest unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 (six matches), although the only difference is that Bordeaux are down in seventh and are not challenging at the top of the league.

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The level of performances PSG have shown this season doesn't lend to think they can pull out two top quality performances in the space of four days, so it is understandable if Emery casts his eye to the match with Barcelona as the most important one in that period.

LIVERPOOL VS TOTTENHAM - Liverpool Win @2.30

Liverpool's only win of 2017 may have come in an FA Cup replay against League Two side Plymouth but this is the ideal fixture to wake Jurgen Klopp's side from their slumber. Liverpool play host to one of the most in form sides in the league at the moment and will hope to rediscover their best form against a direct rival as they have done throughout this season.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have only won two of their last 12 away from White Hart Lane in all competitions and haven't won at Anfield since 2011. The Anfield atmosphere will be at boiling point for the home side and the odds of Liverpool returning to winning ways is a spectacular 2.30 on Bet365.

ALAVES vs BARCELONA - Draw First Half- Barcelona Second Half @3.75

This fixture could prove a preview to the main event with both sides poised to meet each other in the Copa del Rey final after coming through stressful semi final second legs in midweek. Interestingly, Alaves are one of just two teams to beat Barcelona this season after they pulled off a shock win at the Camp Nou back in September. To make things harder for Luis Enrique's side, they will also have one eye on their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain next week and that could be telling on the team Enrique picks here.

Alaves have only lost one of their last 17 matches in all competitions although they have struggled to convert draws into wins, having tied nine of those games. Mauricio Pellegrino's side have been drawing at the interval in each of their last five home matches in all competitions, which suggest Barcelona may not get their work done until the second half. The WhoScored Match Forecast only predicts two situations in which a side creates a goal, and both are in favour of Barcelona.

SCHALKE vs HERTHA BERLIN - Double Chance Hertha @1.95

At the start of the season you would have expected these two sides to endure each other's seasons. Schalke are 12th, while Hertha Berlin are battling in sixth ahead of the weekend's action.

Schalke looked to have recovered from their abysmal start to the season that saw them lose each of their opening five Bundesliga matches but they've never really been able to properly recover from that in truth. Markus Weinzierl's side are back in a slump and have only won one of their last seven in the league.

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Hertha are playing above expectation but that is no reason for them to put the handbrake on now. They may be sixth but they are only two points from third and should be dreaming of Europe next season. Only four teams have lost more home league matches than Schalke in the Bundesliga this season (4) and Hertha should be looking to leave Ruhr with at least a point.

LAZIO vs AC MILAN - Draw @3.80

AC Milan produced an epic final flurry to come out winners against Bologna despite being reduced to nine men at the time. A moment of magic from January arrival Gerard Deulofeu was enough for Vincenzo Montella's side to end a run of five matches without a win. Milan have a great team spirit, which isn't the same that can be said for some of their main rivals, but issues in quality have been more problematic for Milan.

Montella has been forced to make his Milan side more pragmatic from pressures from above, even though the squad is not capable of sustaining such football and that has told in their slump in form. Any mistakes will be punished by a clinical Lazio outfit at the weekend and perhaps a return to their more conservative approach will be the best recipe for success for Milan here.