StefanBB

Leeds United vs Manchester City
Leeds United will play in this fixture after a goalless Premier League draw versus Crystal Palace. It was their fifth straight match without a defeat which lifted them five points above the relegation zone. Jesse Marsch's Leeds United has scored nine times over their prior six outings. Conversely, the tally of goals that have been scored against them in those same games is 7. Going into this contest, Leeds United are unbeaten in their previous two league matches at home. They look forward to extending that run and stunning one of the hottest title candidates.
Manchester City goes into this clash following a 4:3 Champions League win vs Real Madrid in their most recent fixture. In the Premier League, the Citizens are still one point ahead of Liverpool. In a total of 5 out of the previous six games involving Manchester City, three or more goals have gone in. The average goals scored per game within that spell is 4.17, with the average number of goals for Manchester City being 2.67. Going into this one, Manchester City has not emerged victorious against Leeds United in away games against them for the last three league games. Nevertheless, they want to break that negative run and remain on the top of the Premier League table.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
It’s going to be an interesting clash where the hosts will try to make the title race more exciting. However, Manchester City should break their unbeatable run and return home with a valuable victory from Elland Road.
Goals Market Prediction
The home side’s defense has been pretty leaky this season, and Manchester City could exploit its weaknesses. We anticipate a high-scoring match that should go over a 2.5 margin.
Manchester City AH -1.5 @ 1.85
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.50
Correct score 0:3 @ 9.50

Aston Villa vs Norwich
The Dean Smith Derby, to give it the unofficial name, is coming up at 3pm BST on Saturday afternoon as the man who now manages Norwich will take his team to play his former employers Aston Villa at Villa Park. The home side might be getting a case of the twitchy bums about now as they slide dangerously closer to the relegation zone but they could ease their worries with a win against a visiting team that are still firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.
Aston Villa are a team in transition I think it's fair to say. Head coach Steven Gerrard is slowly bringing in his own players and ideas but it's a process not without its issues. Villa are in 15th place and only 8 points above the drop zone after a poor run of 5 matches without a win including 4 defeats. The losing run was halted with the 0-0 draw away to Leicester last weekend but it's still not brought about a much-needed victory. Villa's record against teams bottom of the table isn't great with the club losing 4 of their last 7 league games against clubs in such a position. That statistic is contrasted by the fact that they have won 7 of their last 8 top flight league games against Norwich.
Norwich come into this game as a team that could be officially relegated this round if they lose this game and Burnley win away to Watford. That is a scenario that is quite likely to happen so could this be a dour weekend for the Canaries fans? Smith's men have lost back-to-back matches in the league and conceded 6 goals in those two games after taking 4 points from their previous 2 matches when they played Brighton away and Burnley at home keeping clean sheets in both of those games. Norwich have now become the first team to concede at least 3 goals in 8 league games in three separate Premier League seasons. It's clear to see where their problems lie this season with the team possessing the fewest shots, fewest shots on target, and lowest shots to goals conversion rate in the division.
There is a chance that Aston Villa can win a fifth straight league game in a row against Norwich here. It won't help the already low morale of Norwich fans to hear that their team are without a win in their last 8 top flight league trips to Villa Park. I'm not sure I can see them getting anything here. They know they are Championship bound and Aston Villa remain a team with more quality in their ranks.
Aston Villa HT/FT @ 2.10 with Bet365
Aston Villa to Win to Nil @ 2.38 with BetVictor

Newcastle vs Liverpool
The opening game in the Premier League on this weekend is the classic clash of Newcastle versus Liverpool in a 12:30pm BST start from St James' Park on Saturday lunch-time. This fixture is packed with vintage moments and epic encounters but with the home team effectively safe from relegation and the away side aiming to keep their title hunt going will we see a one-way match here?
Newcastle come into this game now in an incredible 9th position in the league and 14 points above the relegation zone. It only seems like yesterday that Eddie Howe took over a team that was looking destined for relegation at the foot of the table without a league win to their name. It's a huge credit to Howe for the job he has done to turn the club's fortunes around. There is a chance that the Magpies could win 5 league games in a row for the first time since 2014. Home form has been crucial to their climb up the table with the club winning their last 6 home league games and losing just 1 of their previous 12 home matches in the league. Unfortunately, Newcastle have lost all 5 league games that they have played against teams currently positioned in the top four.
Liverpool are flying right now with their dominant 2-0 win at home to Villarreal in the Champions League Semi-Final first leg in midweek proof that they are determined to keep this quadruple dream alive. The Reds are 2nd in the league and just 1 point behind Manchester City but will move to the top of the table and put the pressure on their title rivals with a win. Jurgen Klopp's men have taken 37 points from the last 39 points up for grabs in the league and the only dropped points in that run was in that 2-2 draw away against Manchester City. It's just 1 loss from their last 27 matches in all competitions. The team are undefeated in their 10 away league games played during 2022 including 8 victories. Mohamed Salah is a decent shout for anytime scorer having bagged 6 goals in his last 7 starts in the league against Newcastle.
It's perhaps not the best news for Newcastle fans that their team are without a win in their last 10 league meetings with Liverpool. There is the opportunity for Liverpool to go 5 league games in a row without defeat at St James' Park for the first time since 1969. Interestingly, Liverpool have failed to take all 3 points in 7 of their last 10 visits to Newcastle. This will be a tough one for the title chasers but I think they'll get the win to keep their title dream alive. Only just though!
Liverpool to Win to Nil @ 2.40 with BetVictor
Anytime Scorer: Mohamed Salah @ 1.98 with VBet

West Ham vs Eintracht Frankfurt 
West Ham United will want a better result here following the 1:0 Premier League defeat last time out to Chelsea. The Hammers are far from the top-four zone in the Premier League, and they should focus on snatching another Europa League spot. It has been seldom in recent times where West Ham United has managed to hold out for a full 90 minutes. In fact, West Ham United has been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 matches, giving up six goals. Regarding the selection issues, the home side will have several. Kurt Zouma (Sprained Ankle), Issa Diop (Ankle Injury), and Angelo Ogbonna (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) will be missing for West Ham United boss David Moyes. Aaron Cresswell will not be able to play in this game through being suspended.
Last time out, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 2:2 in the Bundesliga match with Hoffenheim. They will unlikely finish in the top-six zone, but winning the Europa League is the shortcut to the Champions League. The stats tell the story, and Eintracht Frankfurt has been scored against in 5 of their last six matches, seeing their opponents hit nine goals overall. In defense, Eintracht Frankfurt has some weaknesses to address. Nevertheless, they go to London to make another upset since they eliminated Barcelona in the latest round.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Both sides have been pretty inconsistent lately, and this game can easily go either way. Therefore, we don’t think either team will secure the advantage in the first leg in London.
Goals Market Prediction
On the other hand, both sides have been involved in efficient matches this season. They won’t give up on the attacking style, and we expect to see goals in both nets.  
Draw @ 3.55
BTTS Yes @ 1.80
Correct score 1:1 @ 6.50

Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Manchester City, who won their previous game, will hope for a similar result following the 5:1 Premier League victory against Watford. They remained on the top of the Premier League, being one point ahead of Liverpool. It was their second straight win, and the Citizens have been very efficient lately. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have found the net 13 times over their past six outings. Conversely, the number of goals that have been scored against them in that same time is 6. They need another good performance in front of their fans to get closer to the trophy they want so much.
Real Madrid goes into this encounter following a 3:1 La Liga win versus Osasuna in their most recent outing. Los Blancos shouldn’t worry too much in the domestic championship, as they need just one more point in the remaining five rounds to seal the title. In a total of 5 out of the previous six clashes involving Real Madrid, at least three goals have been struck. The average goals scored per match within that spell is 3.83, with the number of goals averaged by Real Madrid equalling 2.5. Real Madrid managed to win five times on the previous six occasions, and they hope they can pick up where they left off.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
It is going to be a great clash between the two rivals, and it can easily go either way. Although Manchester City is a favorite, we believe the bookies underestimate Real Madrid a lot. The visitors shouldn’t lose this game by more than a goal.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have been involved in many high-scoring matches this season, and they have very talented offenses. We should enjoy an interesting encounter where both teams should find the back of the opponent’s net.  
Real Madrid AH +1.5 @ 1.65
BTTS Yes @ 1.85
Correct score 2:1 @ 8.00

Liverpool vs Villarreal
Liverpool will be looking for another win after the 2:0 Premier League victory vs Everton. Thanks to that victory, the Reds remained in the title race, being one point behind Manchester City. Three or more goals per game were seen in 5 of the last six fixtures where Liverpool has taken part. Opposing sides scored 8 of them in these games, whereas Liverpool managed to get a total of 17. Mohamed Salah and the lads booked three straight wins, and they head to this clash full of confidence. The Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has zero fitness concerns whatsoever before this clash, with a completely injury-free squad available for selection.
Villarreal goes into this clash following on from a 2:0 La Liga win with the downing of Valencia in their last outing. The  Yellow Submarine extended its unbeatable streak, and they sit in 7th place in La Liga. Over the course of 5 of the previous six clashes involving Villarreal, a notably low volume of goals have gone in between them and their opponents. The overall average goals scored per game during that spell comes out as a paltry 2, with the number of goals averaged by El Submarino Amarillo being 1.17. Although they are underdogs in this one, nobody should underestimate Villarreal since they have already eliminated Juventus and Bayern Munich. Thanks to a largely full-strength group, there’s just the sole fitness issue for the Villarreal manager Unai Emery to contend with. Alberto Moreno (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) misses out on this game.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Both teams have been playing excellent lately, and they enter this clash full of confidence. However, Liverpool should meet the expectations here and celebrate a win by at least two goals.
Goals Market Prediction
Villarreal has been pretty disciplined lately, and only two of their last ten matches went over a 2.5 margin. They will be focused on defense in this one, and we don’t think there will be more than two goals in total here.
Liverpool AH -1.5 @ 1.90
Under 2.5 FT @ 2.35
Correct score 2:0 @ 6.50

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid
Manchester City will be looking for another win after a 2:0 Premier League success versus Burnley. Thanks to that victory, the Citizens remained on the top of the Premier League table. Their more recent scorelines really do illustrate the point that huge efforts have been put in by the Manchester City defense. Manchester City has been stingy, resulting in the total number of goals that have gone in at their end during their past six games, standing at 2. Pep Guardiola’s side was pretty confident in the previous round, eliminating Sporting Lisbon 5:0 on aggregate. Regarding the selection issues, Rúben Dias (Unknown Injury) will miss out.
Atlético Madrid comes into this match following a 4:1 La Liga win against Alaves in their previous match. They have improved their form lately, winning six times in a row in all competitions. Over the course of their last half-dozen outings, Atlético Madrid has bagged the sum of 13 goals. Atlético Madrid has also scored on each one of those occasions. During those fixtures, they’ve had three goals go into their own net. Los Colchoneros faced Manchester United in the previous round and managed to beat them 2:1 on aggregate.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Both teams have been in very good form lately and will search for a positive result in the first leg. Although the hosts are favorites in this tie, we don’t believe they will win by more than two goals. 
Goals Market Prediction
Atletico Madrid has tightened its defense lately, allowing three goals in the previous six matches. Therefore, we don’t think we’ll see more than two goals in total in this one.
Atletico Madrid AH +1.5 @ 1.80
Under 2.5 FT @ 2.15
Correct score 1:0 @ 6.50

Benfica vs Liverpool
Benfica will be looking to improve on their last outing here following a 3:2 Primeira Liga defeat last time out to Braga. That defeat held them to 3rd spot in the domestic championship, and the eagles are far from the title battle. Benfica hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, finding the back of the net every time they’ve gone out to play in their last six games. They have hit an aggregate of 11 during that period while also conceding a total of 6. Darwin Nunez and the lads were very successful in the previous round, eliminating Ajax 2:1 on aggregate.
Liverpool comes into this encounter following a 2:0 Premier League win with the downing of Watford in their previous game. It was their fourth straight victory in all competitions, and they are still in the game for the Premier League title. A sequence of steadfast performances by the Liverpool defensive unit has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 1 from their past six fixtures overall. During the same period, their own attack force has managed to score 8. The Reds want to go far in this competition and will search for a win here. From a largely healthy squad, there is only a single fitness worry for the Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp to contend with. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Hamstring Injury) won’t be in action.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Benfica has had a pretty good campaign in the Champions League so far, but they face one of the favorites for the continental title. Liverpool is in a much better momentum, and we believe they will secure the advantage at halftime. 
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have participated in many high-scoring matches this season, and this one shouldn't be much different. Although Liverpool kept the clean sheet four times in a row, we think this game will go over a 2.5 margin.
Liverpool HT-FT @ 2.05
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65
Correct score 1:3 @ 11.00

Benfica vs Liverpool
Benfica will be looking to improve on their last outing here following a 3:2 Primeira Liga defeat last time out to Braga. That defeat held them to 3rd spot in the domestic championship, and the eagles are far from the title battle. Benfica hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, finding the back of the net every time they’ve gone out to play in their last six games. They have hit an aggregate of 11 during that period while also conceding a total of 6. Darwin Nunez and the lads were very successful in the previous round, eliminating Ajax 2:1 on aggregate.
Liverpool comes into this encounter following a 2:0 Premier League win with the downing of Watford in their previous game. It was their fourth straight victory in all competitions, and they are still in the game for the Premier League title. A sequence of steadfast performances by the Liverpool defensive unit has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 1 from their past six fixtures overall. During the same period, their own attack force has managed to score 8. The Reds want to go far in this competition and will search for a win here. From a largely healthy squad, there is only a single fitness worry for the Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp to contend with. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Hamstring Injury) won’t be in action.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Benfica has had a pretty good campaign in the Champions League so far, but they face one of the favorites for the continental title. Liverpool is in a much better momentum, and we believe they will secure the advantage at halftime. 
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have participated in many high-scoring matches this season, and this one shouldn't be much different. Although Liverpool kept the clean sheet four times in a row, we think this game will go over a 2.5 margin.
Liverpool HT-FT @ 2.05
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65
Correct score 1:3 @ 11.00

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid
Manchester City will be looking for another win after a 2:0 Premier League success versus Burnley. Thanks to that victory, the Citizens remained on the top of the Premier League table. Their more recent scorelines really do illustrate the point that huge efforts have been put in by the Manchester City defense. Manchester City has been stingy, resulting in the total number of goals that have gone in at their end during their past six games, standing at 2. Pep Guardiola’s side was pretty confident in the previous round, eliminating Sporting Lisbon 5:0 on aggregate. Regarding the selection issues, Rúben Dias (Unknown Injury) will miss out.
Atlético Madrid comes into this match following a 4:1 La Liga win against Alaves in their previous match. They have improved their form lately, winning six times in a row in all competitions. Over the course of their last half-dozen outings, Atlético Madrid has bagged the sum of 13 goals. Atlético Madrid has also scored on each one of those occasions. During those fixtures, they’ve had three goals go into their own net. Los Colchoneros faced Manchester United in the previous round and managed to beat them 2:1 on aggregate.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Both teams have been in very good form lately and will search for a positive result in the first leg. Although the hosts are favorites in this tie, we don’t believe they will win by more than two goals. 
Goals Market Prediction
Atletico Madrid has tightened its defense lately, allowing three goals in the previous six matches. Therefore, we don’t think we’ll see more than two goals in total in this one.
Atletico Madrid AH +1.5 @ 1.80
Under 2.5 FT @ 2.15
Correct score 1:0 @ 6.50

Juventus vs Inter
Juventus will be hoping for a repeat of their last result, following a 2:0 Serie A success vs Salernitana. It was their fourth straight win that brought them only a point away from their upcoming rival. Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus have hit the back of the net ten times in their last six outings. On the other end, the tally of goals they conceded in those games amounts to 6. Juventus is seven points behind the top-placed Milan, and another win in a row would keep their title dreams alive. Regarding the availability issues, Luca Pellegrini will not be able to play in this game through being suspended.
Inter drew 1:1 in the Serie A tie with Fiorentina in their last fixture. Nerazzurri slipped from the top spot after winning just once on the previous seven occasions. They are now third, being six points behind their arch-rivals Milan. A sequence of outstanding displays by the Inter defensive players has resulted in the number of goals they’ve conceded standing at two from their last six fixtures in total. During the same period of time, their forwards have scored 8. From a largely available group, there is only a single fitness issue for the Inter manager Simone Inzaghi to be concerned about. Stefan de Vrij (Calf Injury) misses out for this game.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Juventus is in better form, but Inter cannot allow themselves another defeat. It is going to be a tough battle that can go either way, and we won’t be surprised if this match ends in a draw.
Goals Market Prediction
Their recent head-to-head matches have been pretty productive, and BTTS Yes cashed four times on the previous five occasions. This one could follow the same pattern, and we don’t believe either side will manage to keep the clean sheet.
Draw @ 3.40
BTTS Yes @ 1.75
Correct score 1:1 @ 6.50

Sweden vs Czech Republic
The last and toughest 2022 World Cup qualifier play-off semi-final to call is the clash between Sweden and Czech Republic in a 7:45pm GMT start on Thursday night from the Friends Arena in Stockholm. Neither of these two nations are close to the peaks they have enjoyed down the years with the likes of Henrik Larsson, Tomas Brolin, and Pavel Nedved donning their jerseys but they are still two resilient, organised, and combative sides. Who will prevail?
Sweden boast an impressive record for qualifying for the World Cup down the years for a nation of their size having made 12 appearances and finishing as runners up once and in third place twice. Head coach Janne Andersson is the man tasked with returning the glory years for the Blue and Yellow but his team lacks any real star quality like previous campaigns with an aged captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic their closest offering. It was ultimately a disappointing end to their qualification campaign with Sweden losing their last two group games to get pipped to top spot by Spain. The team did win all 4 of their home qualifiers and kept 3 clean sheets during that spell. It's now 9 wins at home for Sweden with Croatia and Spain amongst their scalps.
Czech Republic enjoyed a positive 2020 European Championship as they reached the Quarter-Final stage only to be narrowly knocked out 2-1 by Denmark. A tight 2022 World Cup qualifying group saw Jaroslav Silhavy's men finish in 3rd place behind Belgium and Wales but they did end their campaign on a high with 5 games unbeaten, including friendlies, having won the last 3 games. The big blow for the team is that star striker Patrik Schick is unavailable for this game so that will likely damage their attacking threat. The defence hasn't conceded a goal in the last 291 minutes of international football so they'll need to be at their resolute best to give the team a chance here.
Both of these teams have shown that their defensive units are key to their performances during the qualification campaign so I wouldn't anticipate a classic. There is very little between the two teams but the absence of Schick could be massive for the away team. I think backing a narrow home win is the best option but if Czech Republic can hold out with their back-line standing firm then Sweden might need penalties to progress.
Sweden to Win @ 1.98 with SBK
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.72 with Bet365

Italy vs North Macedonia
The third 2022 World Cup qualifier play-off semi-final that I'm previewing is a bit of a one-sided affair on paper with reigning European Champions Italy hosting heavy underdogs North Macedonia in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo. It seems very odd that a team who were lifting a major trophy last summer are now in a gruelling battle to just qualify for this year's World Cup but here we are!
Italy deservedly won the 2020 European Championship last summer but Robert Mancini's men suffered a bit of a hangover in their 2022 World Cup qualification group finishing 2nd behind eventual group winners Switzerland. It was the Azzurri's inability to turn draws into wins that saw them finish 2 points off the top spot. Mancini will be disappointed that his men failed to beat Switzerland twice both home and away having demolished the same team 3-0 at Euro 2020 just a matter of months earlier. However, they come into this play-off having never lost a home World Cup qualifier. Despite failing to qualify automatically, they still didn't lose a qualification game and only conceded 2 goals.
North Macedonia will be pinching themselves that they have reached the play-offs for the World Cup. Head coach Blagoja Milevski took over from Igor Angelovski who had guided the nation to their debut major international tournament last summer. They may have lost all 3 group stage games when they got there but they did themselves proud with their performances. Milevski led the team to 2nd in their group finishing only behind group winners Germany. The biggest result of their campaign was the shock 2-1 win away to Germany. That victory did come under the management of Angelovski though. It was an impressive feat but after finishing above Romania, Armenia, Iceland, and Liechtenstein they didn't finish higher than a team ranked higher than 47th in the FIFA rankings.
It feels like this one is as good as decided already but North Macedonia have shown they can upset the big names already. It might not have happened under Milevski yet but this team has a number of decent players such as Ezgjan Alioski, Elif Elmas, and Enis Bardhi. The evergreen striker Goran Pandev may have hung up his boots but they could still cause Italy problems. I do think Italy were just a victim of their own conservatism though and I can see them getting through this in a business-like manner.
Italy to Win to Nil @ 1.70 with BetVictor
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 2.26 with SBK

Portugal vs Turkey
The 2022 World Cup qualifier play-off semi-finals are heading at us on Thursday night and the next one I'm looking at is the clash between 2016 European Championship winners Portugal and dark horses Turkey in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off from the Estadio do Dragao. There is no doubt that the home team are heavy favourites but they do have a track record of stumbling when they have that tag.
Portugal will be desperately disappointed to even be in this position. Head coach Fernando Santos will be scratching his head at how his team finished in 2nd place and 3 points behind group winners Serbia. A 0-0 draw away against Republic of Ireland and then a 2-1 loss at home to Serbia, including a 90th minute decisive winner by in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic saw the Portuguese throw it all away in the final two group games of the campaign. A Selecao are not only in this situation but if they win here will face the winners of Italy versus North Macedonia in the final. The loss to Serbia was especially gut-wrenching because it was Portugal's first defeat at home in a World Cup qualifier since 2008. There is a ray of hope though because Portugal have won 5 of their last 7 matches and have kept clean sheets in 4 of their last 5 games.
Turkey may have suffered a terrible campaign at the 2020 European Championship but new head coach and former Germany international Stefan Kuntz (careful how you say that!) is turning things around. The Crescent Stars were unfortunate to miss out on automatic qualification finishing in 2nd place in their group behind group winners Netherlands. Turkey only suffered 1 loss during the campaign and even pulled off a stunning 4-2 win over Netherlands at home earlier in the group stage. The 6-1 loss they suffered in the reverse fixture is better left alone! Turkey will look back at dropping points to Latvia and Montenegro as the times that let them down. However, they are unbeaten in their last 4 competitive games and have won 3 of their last 4 away matches. 
I think the bookies writing off Turkey before a ball has been kicked is a little harsh. This is a much more resolute and organised Turkish side than we all saw at Euro 2020. Portugal have shown they are prone to an off day so the outcome is far from done and dusted here. I just don't know what's happened to the Turkey defence though. They were superb pre-2021 but regularly concede 2-3 goals now. I think that will be their undoing. Portugal will likely sneak a win but I don't think it'll be an easy one.
Portugal to Win to Nil @ 2.25 with Coral
Anytime Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo @ 1.83 with Unibet

Wales vs Austria
The long-awaited 2022 World Cup qualifier play-off semi-finals for the UEFA section are finally here and what a game we have in store for us all on Thursday night at 7:45pm GMT when Wales take on Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium. OK, it might not actually be a classic but I'm going to the game and I can't bloody wait. Already got the nerves going. Who will progress to meet Scotland or Ukraine?
Wales might have laid to rest the ghost of major tournament qualification but it's now been 64 years since they last qualified for a World Cup. The Dragons come into this game having gone unbeaten in their last 16 matches at home and have only conceded only 5 goals during that run. Head coach Robert Page has done a fantastic job on an interim basis due to the court case involving Ryan Giggs. He's still divided the fans but I personally think he's done a cracking job. He guided us to the last 16 at Euro 2020 despite us being in the "Group of Death" and supporters basically saying we'd be glad to simply get a draw against someone! He's then led us to the UEFA Nations League top group. He's taken us to the 2020 World Cup play-offs. I'm not sure there's a lot more he could have done. Especially with the injuries to Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, and David Brooks that he's had to contend with.
Austria come into this game as the understandable underdogs but there's no way they should be written off. Manager Franco Foda led his team to the last 16 at Euro 2020 as well and qualified them for these play-offs. However, the team did finish 4th in their qualification group and were saved by their UEFA Nations League performance. They will be looking for a first away win against Wales since 2005 when they pulled off a 2-0 win a 2006 World Cup qualifier. I was at that game and it was grim. Austria have already competed in two World Cup qualifiers and both ended in defeat against Sweden in 1973 and versus Turkey in 2001. They are a free-scoring team right now having scored 4 goals in each of their last 2 matches. Striker Marko Arnautovic is undoubtedly the man to watch having been directly involved in 13 goals in his last 14 international appearances including 9 goals and 4 assists.
The good news for Wales is that both Bale and Ramsey are involved and, reportedly, fit to start. The bad news is that neither individual has got many minutes under their belt this season with Ramsey outcast at Juventus and Bale still enduring a nightmare time with Real Madrid. If both players turn up and they are on it then Austria won't stand a chance. Bale has been on a downward slope for the past 2-3 years now though and Ramsey is made of glass. I'm quietly optimistic Wales will win but I've been here before many times with Wales and Cardiff where it's ended in tears. Wales should be looking to win this so I want to back them. Austria have the potential to cause problems though. This could go all the way to penalties.
Draw @ 3.00 with BetVictor
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.60 with Bet365

Aston Villa vs Arsenal
The Premier League only has one game taking place on Saturday when mid-table Aston Villa will play Champions League qualification contenders Arsenal in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off at Villa Park. Both teams saw unbeaten runs in the league come to an end in their most recent games so the challenge is on to see if either team can bounce back to winning ways in this clash?
Aston Villa appear set for a mid-table mediocrity finish this season with the club currently in 9th place on 36 points. Steve Gerrard will be satisfied with his team's progress under his management thus far but a big summer of transfer dealings is certain to take place. Villa had won 3 league games on the bounce all with clean sheets but the 2-1 loss away to West Ham last weekend put an end to that impressive stint. Gerrard will have to manage without full back Lucas Digne. Philippe Coutinho should be involved which is great news for Villa given he's been directly involved in 6 goals at home for the club since he joined on loan with 3 goals and 3 assists. One stat that does stand out is the fact that Villa have lost 9 of their 11 league games played against teams currently placed above them in the table.
Arsenal were looking in fine fettle before the 2-0 loss at home to Liverpool in midweek. It had been 6 league matches undefeated for the Gunners before that loss. Mikel Arteta's side are now in 4th position and just 1 point inside the top four with just a couple of games in hand on the teams behind them. It remains four away league games won in a row for Arsenal. Bukayo Saka could be a fair shout for anytime scorer having scored 4 goals in his last 4 away league games for the club. Arteta does see Aston Villa as a bit of a bogey team having suffered three defeats against the Midlands club as a manager. He has only lost more games as a gaffer against Manchester City and Liverpool.
OK, so Aston Villa may well have only won 11 of their 53 Premier League encounters with Arsenal but they have won the last two home league games both by a 1-0 score-line. Arsenal have won away against Aston Villa 12 times in the Premier League. They have only won more Premier League away games against West Ham and that is 13 times. I can see Arsenal getting back to winning ways here.
Arsenal to Win @ 2.46 with SBK
BTTS @ 1.76 with SBK

Arsenal vs Leicester
The final game of the day in the Premier League on Sunday comes up at 4:30pm GMT when Champions League qualification hopefuls Arsenal look to consolidate their place in the top four against an inconsistent mid-table Leicester at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams have enjoyed some winning form recently but can they keep the good times going with another 3 points here?
Arsenal are starting to look like genuine Champions League contenders again under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are up to 5th in the table but are just 2 points outside the top four with a number of games in hand. It's now been 5 league games without a loss including winning the last 4 in a row scoring at least 2 goals in three of those matches. The decision by Arteta to keep faith with the youngsters is now paying dividends. Arsenal have won 9 of their 13 home league matches this season. Only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals at home in the league this season than Arsenal.
Leicester have managed to win back-to-back league games to lift the team up to 12th in the table. Faint relegation fears appear to have been laid to rest but any hopes of qualifying for European competition next season through the league now look distant. Brendan Rodgers has suffered from an injury-plagued campaign but he'll be delighted with his side winning their matches against Burnley away and Leeds at home with both victories coming with clean sheets. Unfortunately, it's only been 3 wins from 12 away league games this season so they will understandably lack confidence coming into this one.
It is Arsenal who have enjoyed the better of the head-to-head results over recent times with the London club winning 3 of the last 4 meetings. However, the last time these two teams met at this venue it was actually Leicester who prevailed as 1-0 winners. I'm not entirely sure it won't happen again. In recent years, it's these sort of games that have been Arsenal's undoing just as they look to be building a run of form. I think Arsenal are evolving under Arteta again now and they should have enough to get past this challenge.
Arsenal to Win & BTTS @ 3.00 with Bet365
Arsenal HT/FT @ 2.26 with SBK

Porto vs Lyon
Following on from their previous result, Porto will be hoping for more of the same after a 4:2 Primeira Liga success against Paços de Ferreira. The Dragons lead the title race in the Portuguese top-flight, being six points ahead of the defending champions Sporting. Fixtures featuring Porto have tended to be absorbing ones recently, with a lot of goalmouth action anticipated. Over their past six clashes alone, the sum of 20 goals has gone in for both teams combined (at an average of 3.33 goals per game), with 12 of these accredited to Porto. They managed to beat Lazio twice in the previous round and look forward to continuing that run. Regarding the selection issues, Fernando Andrade (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) and Wilson Manafá (Patella rupture) aren’t available for Porto manager Sérgio Conceição.
Lyon will come into the match following on from a 4:1 Ligue 1 win over FC Lorient in their most recent game. However, the away side is 9th in the French top-flight, but not too far from the continental qualification. The stats tell the story, and Lyon has been scored against in 5 of their last six matches, letting opponents get six goals in all. At the back, Lyon has not been doing too well. On the other hand, LOL finished on the top of its Europa League group, which secured them a direct spot in this round. However, the visitors need to be more confident to be competitive in this tie.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Porto has been in excellent form, and their confidence is sky-high. They didn’t have much trouble against Lazio, and they are slight favorites in this tie. We believe they will secure the home advantage and win this match.
Goals Market Prediction
Lyon has a talented offense, but their defense hasn’t been too tight this season. Their head-to-head clashes have been pretty efficient so far, and we expect a similar encounter again. We anticipate goals in both nets in this clash.
Porto to Win @ 2.10
BTTS Yes @ 1.60
Correct score 3:1 @ 15.00

Bayern Munich vs RB Salzburg
The second legs of the Champions League last 16 matches kick-off on Tuesday night at 8pm GMT. The first preview up for these fixtures is German Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich against Austrian Bundesliga table-toppers RB Salzburg. The first leg out in Austria ended in a closely-fought 1-1 draw. That makes the home team the favourites but is there any chance of an upset win for the away club?
Bayern Munich will have been relieved to see the last minute equaliser from Kingsley Coman snatch a draw in the first leg but there is now an expectation on one of the competition favourites to push on and see this tie out now on home turf. The Bavarians have won 9 of their last 11 home matches and have scored 51 goals in just 16 home games so far this season. The German side scored 13 goals in their 3 home group stage fixtures versus Barcelona, Benfica, and Dynamo Kiev. I mentioned before the first leg encounter that Julian Nagelsmann's side have failed to beat a number of teams this season and have lost to both Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach at home already. So this tie is by no means cut and dry for the home side.
RB Salzburg are still undoubtedly gutted that they couldn't hold on to their 1-0 lead in the first leg that they had earned through Chukwubuike Adamu's opener on 30 minutes. Head coach Matthias Jaissle has seen his team struggle on a number of away trips in all competitions so far. Die Roten Bullen have lost 2 and drawn 1 of their 3 group stage games on the road and those matches were against Sevilla, Wolfsburg, and Lille. They have also failed to beat the likes of LASK, Austria Klagenfurt, Ried, and Rheindorf Altach in the league on their travels this campaign. Judging by the history books though, this game should have goals. Salzburg's last 9 visits to clubs in the German Bundesliga have produced a staggering 32 goals.
I think RB Salzburg did incredibly well to hold Bayern Munich to a draw in the first leg but, realistically, they would have needed to win that home game if they wanted any hope of progressing here. I'm anticipating Bayern Munich to put in a business-like display and progress with minimal fuss and maximum professionalism as their attacking dominance and creativity will cause problems for the visitors.
Bayern Munich HT/FT @ 1.67 with SBK
Bayern Munich to Win & BTTS @ 2.30 with Bet365

Liverpool vs Inter
With buoyed by their previous result, Liverpool will be hoping for more of the same after a 1:0 Premier League victory versus West Ham United. The Reds stayed in the chase for the Premier League title, being six points behind Man City and having a game in hand. Their more recent scorelines show that there has been much resilience in the Liverpool backline. Liverpool has been mean at the back, resulting in the tally of goals that have gone past their goalkeeper during their last six matches, standing at 2. They have a 2:0 advantage picked up from Milano, and they want to keep it intact. Thiago (Thigh Problems) and Joel Matip (Ill) won’t be available for Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp.
Inter will come into the game following a 5:0 Serie A win as they beat Salernitana in their most recent match. That victory boosted their confidence and kept them two points behind the top-placed Milan. A tendency of at least one team not managing to score in games involving Inter has become noticeable of late. A glance at their last six meetings shows that it’s occurred five times. During these clashes, opposing sides have hit a goal total of 5 while Inter has scored 6. On the other hand, Nerazzurri go to Liverpool being two goals behind, and they need an exceptional performance on the road.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Although they didn’t dominate in the first leg, Liverpool secured a comfortable advantage. However, we don’t think they will get complacent, and the Reds should beat their rivals once again.
Goals Market Prediction
Inter cannot wait, and they need to go attacking mode from the very start of the match. Although Liverpool has been good in the back recently, both teams should be able to find the back of the net in this one.
Liverpool to Win @ 1.60
BTTS Yes @ 1.70
Correct score 2:1 @ 8.50

Bayern Munich vs Salzburg
Bayern Munich will play in this fixture after a 1:1 Bundesliga drawn result vs Bayer Leverkusen. Nevertheless, they remained nine points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who also has one game in hand. Bayern Munich hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, hitting the target in each and every one of their last six matches. They have managed to rack up 12 during that period while also conceding a total of 9. However, the hosts haven’t been too convincing over the past few weeks. They didn’t secure a first-leg advantage and need to go for a win in this one.
Red Bull Salzburg heads into the game following on from a 4:0 Bundesliga win against SCR Altach in their last fixture. The away side is marching to the new title in the Austrian top-flight, and they comfortably sit on the top. A sequence of accomplished displays from the Red Bull Salzburg defense has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 3 from their last six fixtures in total. In that period of time, their forwards have managed to score 12. The Red Bulls were excellent in the first leg, but a victory slipped from their hands at the very finish of the clash. Red Bull Salzburg manager Matthias Jaissle has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Sekou Koita (Cruciate Ligament Rupture), Noah Okafor (Hamstring Injury), and Albert Vallci (Achilles tendon rupture) won’t make appearances.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Bayern Munich is a firm favorite in this one despite having some consistency issues over the past few weeks. Salzburg needs more experience in games like this one, and the hosts should secure the advantage already at halftime. 
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams have been involved in many efficient matches this season, and the upcoming one shouldn’t be much different. The crowd should enjoy a high-scoring game and at least four goals in total.
Bayern Munich HT-FT @ 1.60
Over 3.5 FT @ 1.80
Correct score 3:1 @ 10.00

Brentford vs Newcastle
The relegation battle in the Premier League could take another big twist on Saturday afternoon when two struggling sides in Brentford and Newcastle meet in a 3pm GMT kick-off at the Brentford Community Stadium. These two clubs are now worlds apart in terms of their financial clout but the home side are slightly better off points wise but it's the away team who are experiencing the better form right now.
Brentford had enjoyed such a positive start to life in the top flight but it's all gone very sour very quickly. Thomas Frank's side are now down to 14th place and just 4 points above the drop zone having played more games than a number of teams below them. The Bees have won just 1 of their last 10 league games losing 8 of those matches. Christian Eriksen is set to make his first start since suffering a cardiac arrest for Denmark during the European Championship last summer. Striker Ivan Toney is also set to return from injury. However, those two additions are unlikely to fix the defensive issues Brentford are suffering with the team only keeping 1 clean sheet in their last 25 matches across all competitions and conceding 42 goals in 26 league games this season.
Newcastle are beginning to show signs of recovery under Eddie Howe. I still have doubts about his suitability for this job but at the moment he has lifted the Magpies up to 17th place in the league table and 2 points above the drop zone. It's now 6 league games unbeaten for Newcastle with Howe addressing the defensive problems that had plagued the team. Two clean sheets in the past 4 league games is evidence of that. 4 goals conceded in the last 6 games compared to 11 goals conceded in the 3 matches before that run shows a stark contrast. Unfortunately, scoring goals away from home remains a problem with the team failing to score more than 1 goal away from home in their last 11 away league games.
This is a difficult one to call. Newcastle have looked so much better over recent games but the inclusion of Eriksen in front of a home crowd in this game could give Brentford a much-needed boost. I am concerned about Brentford though. Their form is shocking and they have now been sucked into a relegation battle. That will be playing on the minds of their players and the pressure has now cranked right up. Newcastle have had this pressure since nearly the first league game so they are likely to adapt better. I understand why the bookies are divided in their opinions but I think Newcastle are more likely to get the win if one team does take all 3 points.
Newcastle Draw No Bet @ 2.30 with SBK
Anytime Scorer: Christian Eriksen @ 5.70 with VBet

Southampton vs Norwich
The Premier League weekend action kicks off on Friday night at 8pm GMT when mid-table in-form side Southampton host relegation battlers Norwich at St Mary's Stadium. The pressure is well and truly on the visiting team as time is running out for them to save themselves from relegation. Can they get a win here against a home side that are playing impressively on their own patch?
Southampton now appear to have nearly done enough already to stay up this season so Ralph Hasenhuttl's side can focus on moving as far up the table as possible. The Saints are in 10th place but still 10 points off the European qualification spots. It's just 1 loss from the last 11 matches in all competitions for the team. It's also 9 league games at home undefeated as the team continues its fine run of performances on home turf. This is the team's best home run in the top flight since 2005. There is also hope that the club have turned a corner defensively with their clean sheet achieved against Everton on the weekend being their first in their last 14 games. 
Norwich are sitting ominously at the foot of the league table and 5 points adrift of safety with a number of teams above them boasting games in hand. It's not looking good for the Canaries who have now failed to win any of their last 3 league games including losing back-to-back matches. It's now 8 defeats from their last 11 league games and hope is running out for Dean Smith's team. Only three teams have lost as many as Norwich's 16 defeats after 25 league games and survived. These being Southampton in 1993/94, Leicester in 2014/15, and Crystal Palace in 2016/17. It doesn't help that Norwich have scored 6 less goals than any other side in the top division this season as well as possessing the second worst defensive record after Leeds.
Recent history doesn't bode well for Norwich with Southampton winning the last 4 meetings between these two sides at this stadium. Norwich have also lost 4 of their last 5 away league games. I find it hard to see how Norwich can stay up now. They had a small run of results that gave them a chance to build momentum but that has now fallen flat. It's a big ask for them to get something against a Southampton team who have been superb at home. Anything other than a home win seems like a long shot.
Southampton HT/FT @ 2.64 with SBK
Southampton to Win & BTTS @ 3.25 with Bet365

Villarreal vs Juventus
The second 8pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday night in the Champions League last 16 first legs will see Spanish La Liga side Villarreal go up against Italian Serie A club Juventus at the Estadio de la Ceramica. These two teams have contrasting histories in European competition down the years but in this particular encounter it feels that it is more unpredictable than in any other previous season with both teams possessing the capabilities to win this game.
Villarreal continue to be the little club that could. Head coach Unai Emery saw his team reach this stage of the competition thanks to a dramatic 3-2 win away to another Italian club in Atalanta. It was a closely fought battle but the Yellow Submarine held off the attacks late on from the hosts to progress. Just 1 loss from their last 10 league games has seen the team move up to 6th in the league and just 3 points off the pace of the Champions League qualification spots. Scoring goals has been easy for the Spaniards recently having bagged 9 goals in their last 4 matches in this competition. Former Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma is the danger man for Villarreal right now having scored 4 goals in the Champions League this season and banging in a hat-trick in the club's 4-1 win away to Granada in the league on the weekend.
Juventus are still seen as one of the great teams of European football having won the European Cup/ Champions League twice, the UEFA Cup three times, and the European Cup Winners' Cup once. Head coach Massimiliano Allegri has returned to the club after Andrea Pirlo's departure. The Old Lady were pipped to the Scudetto last season and are currently down in 4th place in the league this season. The team progressed to the last 16 in this competition with ease as group winners ahead of Chelsea, Zenit St Petersburg, and Malmo. There is an expectation that goals will fly in here with both teams scoring in 7 of the last 10 matches that Juventus have been involved in. The team has shown the ability to keep clean sheets though managing to do that in 4 of their 6 group stage matches.
These two teams have met once previously and this was a friendly game when it was Villarreal who prevailed as shock 4-1 winners at the Allianz Arena. I feel that this is a game that a fully firing Juventus could scrape a win in but something doesn't feel quite right with the Italian side. Villarreal have a man who knows how to walk the European competition path in Emery and I wouldn't be surprised to see him help his team get something from this game. This is Juventus though and you can never write them off. The odds of an away draw no bet is just too tempting.
Juventus Draw No Bet @ 2.14 with Unibet
BTTS @ 1.98 with SBK

Chelsea vs Lille
The Champions League last 16 first legs continue this week and the Tuesday night kick-off at 8pm GMT will see reigning holders of this competition's trophy Chelsea take on underdogs in the form of French Ligue 1 club Lille at Stamford Bridge. All the expectation and pressure is on the home team who many expect to progress from this game but is it as cut and dry as many are tipping?
Chelsea qualified with relative ease for this stage of the competition after finishing 2nd in their group but having won 4 of their 6 group matches. The Blues finished just 2 points behind group leaders Juventus and pipped both Zenit St Petersburg and Malmo to the qualification spots. Thomas Tuchel's side have already lifted two trophies this season in the shape of the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, they are likely to be without Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Reece James for this game. The team have a crunch EFL Cup Final with Liverpool on Sunday so it'll be interesting to see what line-up Tuchel goes with. Chelsea's recent games haven't been filled with the most goals with each of their last 8 matches seeing less than 2.5 goals scored. The team also saw less than 2.5 goals scored in each of their Champions League knockout round matches last season on their way to lifting the trophy.
Lille are a bit of a surprise package this season. Les Dogues stormed to the Ligue 1 title last season shocking PSG in the process. Head coach Jocelyn Gourvennec had been tasked with picking up the pieces after former gaffer Christophe Galtier's stunning resignation just two days after the club won the league title. The former Guingamp and Bordeaux man might not be getting the most out of his squad in the league with the team down in 11th place but they managed to navigate their way through a Champions League group containing RB Salzburg, Sevilla, and Wolfsburg and finishing as group winners too. That being said, Lille are the lowest scoring winners of a group over the last five seasons having scored just 7 goals in their 6 group matches. Striker Jonathan David is their man to watch having scored 16 goals in all competitions already this season but the likes of Renato Sanches, Jose Fonte, and Hatem Ben Arfa are players that fans of Premier League football will be familiar with.
These two sides have only met twice before back in the 2019/20 edition of the Champions League. On both of those occasions, it was Chelsea who prevailed as 2-1 winners. It's been a hectic time for Chelsea recently with their packed schedule on all fronts but they seem unfazed. I'm not expecting many goals in this game at all and I can see Chelsea pulling off a narrow one goal victory again.
Chelsea to Win to Nil @ 1.93 with BetVictor
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.98 with SBK