WhoScored Tipster: The Top Tips Across Europe this Weekend
The top four in Serie A and the Premier League are all set to clash in what is set to be an explosive Valentine's weekend. League titles won't be won this weekend, but the destination may become somewhat clearer.
Juventus v Napoli - Draw @3.30
Perhaps the biggest European league game of the season, El Clasico aside. It's Paulo Dybala vs Gonzalo Higuain, the two in-form frontmen in Italy. It's Max Allegri vs Maurizio Sarri, Serie A’s two top managers, and that’s without mentioning the deep rivalry between the two. These two are fighting for the title for only for the third time in history. Both come into this fixture on their best consecutive winning runs, with Napoli’s eight keeping them at the top to Juventus’ 14, which is second best in Serie A’s history, behind the 17 of Inter in 2007.
Juventus come into this fixture in slightly better shape as they have been forced to come from behind having started the season abysmally, while Napoli are yet to face a team that matches them, quality wise. However, the hosts are without Giorgio Chiellini, which means they may be compelled to revert to a four-man defence, which doesn’t suit the Old Lady, though this is because Allegri has not had time to prepare Daniele Rugani for such an important game.
This means Stephan Lichtsteiner will have to defend against Lorenzo Insigne without defensive cover, while on the opposite flank, Faouzi Ghoulam isn't accustomed to stopping a player of Juan Cuadrado’s ilk. The WhoScored match forecast suggests it is ‘likely’ that Juventus ‘will make a comeback if they go behind’.
Arsenal v Leicester - Draw @4.00
As it stands, Leicester’s greatest obstacle between now and the end of the season may be trying to overcome any mental insecurities that may creep into the dressing room. As for Arsenal, defeat here would leave them eight points off the top and could really end their hopes of ending a 12-year wait for the Premier League title. Selection could prove key to the outcome of this fixture, particularly at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, where Jamie Vardy will be hoping to line up against Per Mertesacker. Arsenal are one of only two teams to have inflicted defeat to Leicester in the league this season and the Foxes will be keen to avenge that discrepancy from earlier in the campaign.
Fiorentina v Inter - Draw @3.20
Inter’s campaign is now in danger of completely collapsing. Having been battling for the title for most of the season, Roberto Mancini’s side are now desperately hoping to cling onto one of the two final Champions League spots. They’ve picked up just one win from their last six matches and with a resurgent Roma closing in on their tails, they cannot avoid to concede more ground to their rivals here. Fiorentina aren’t in much better shape themselves, having only won twice from their last six in the league. Individual class could prove the difference in this fixture and Inter will have to pay particularly close attention to Josip Ilicic if they are to stifle the home side’s attack.
Manchester City v Tottenham - Over 1.5 goals in the Second Half @2.50
Pochettino directly translates into ‘very few’ in Italian, but the young Argentinean manager is actually gaining more and more admirers as Spurs continue their straight path to the summit of the Premier League. While Leicester’s extraordinary season has courted most of the attention, Spurs have quietly been going about their business with ruthless efficiency, which will suit their young and inexperienced squad. The blueprint to beating City was already laid bare by Leicester last week and City should be worried of simply being run into the ground by Spurs’ young, energetic squad. Goals will come, especially in the second half where City have scored over 1.5 goals in three of their last four home games, while Spurs have also managed the same feat in three of their last four away fixtures.
Augsburg v Bayern Munich - Not Both Teams Scoring @1.66
Bayern’s performances of late haven’t been as overpowering and destructive compared to the start of the season. They will certainly need to improve their away form, particularly when the Champions League rolls back around. Pep Guardiola’s side have only won two of their last four away league matches, and those two victories have only come with a one-goal winning margin. A defensive crisis will make their chances of improving their record even harder, but the WhoScored.com Match Forecast predicts Bayern to enjoy most of the possession in the oppositions half, as far away from their own goal as possible. A clean sheet could therefore be on the cards, as they managed last time out on their travels down to 10-men against Bayer Leverkusen.
Who will your money be on this weekend? Let us know your tips in the comments below
