There’s plenty of football to enjoy this weekend, and as usual, we bring you 10 best bets and value picks from Europe’s major football leagues.
Aston Villa v Man United (Saturday)
Real Betis and Villarreal meet on Sunday in a clash between two teams that are trying to capitalize on the traditionally bigger clubs failing to live up to their own high standards. Manuel Pellegrini’s men won four of their last five matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, Villarreal ended a three-game winless streak with a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Mallorca.
Suggested Bet: Under 2.5 goals
Osasuna v Sevilla (Sunday)
Sevilla return to La Liga action on Sunday at Osasuna. The Rojiblancos have been terrific for the most part under Julen Lopetegui, though they remain winless in three matches with draws against Valencia and Celta Vigo, before bowing out of the Copa del Rey in a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis. The title-chasers will look to bounce back strongly against an Osasuna side who have managed just one win from their last six home matches.
Value Bet: Sevilla (-1) handicap
Roma v Genoa (Saturday)
Juventus may not be challenging for the title, but their recent signings are an indication of their intentions going forward. Serie A’s current top goal scorer Dusan Vlahovic has found himself making the controversial move from Fiorentina to Juve, and he will have a point to prove. Hellas Verona have outdone expectations since coming back to the Serie A and are seemingly establishing itself as a midtable side. This season’s great run is definitely sown to Giovanni Simeone’s 12 goals to date.
Value Bet: Roma to win to zero
Juventus v Hellas Verona (Sunday)
Borussia Dortmund welcomes Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga on Friday night. Marco Rose’s side is strong favourites in this tie, as expected, but they’ll need to be wary of the upset threat posed by Christian Streich’s men. The Breisgau Brazilians have beaten BVB in the last two matches between the two teams, including a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture back in August.
Suggested Bet: Juventus to win
Value Bet: Dusan Vlahovic to score anytime
Mainz v Hoffenheim (Saturday)
Hoffenheim will be looking to return to winning ways when they visit Mainz on Saturday. The visitors, who sit seventh in the Bundesliga and are on a quest for a first top-six finish since 2015/16, come into this encounter on a three-match losing streak. Meanwhile, the hosts, who lie 10th on the table, will be delighted to return to their home stadium after suffering six straight away defeats. Mainz are unbeaten in their past three meetings with Hoffenheim, losing the previous two ties before drawing the other.
Suggested Bet: Under 3.5 goals
Stuttgart v Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday)
Stuttgart hope to claw their way off the bottom of the table when they face Eintracht Frankfurt at the Mercedez-Benz-Arena this Saturday. On paper, this fixture looks an absolute cracker as both sides have come out the gates all guns blazing this season. Eight goals have come in the first halves of Frankfurt’s last five fixtures; at least one first-half goal has been scored in their last 11 fixtures, and roughly a similar statistic for Stuttgart.
Suggested Bet: 1st half totals – over 1.5
Value Bet: Highest scoring half – 1st half
Utrecht v Cambuur (Saturday)
Utrecht play host to Cambuur at the Stadion Galgenwaard hoping to close the margin on the top-six teams in the Eredivisie. The visitors have drawn their last three matches, while Utrecht come into the clash off a 3-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam. Cambuur edged Utrecht 2-1 back in November and will be eyeing maximum points once again, however, a cagey and tightly contested affair is expected.
Value Bet: Utrecht to win to zero
PSV Eindhoven v AZ Alkmaar (Saturday)
Both teams will be aiming to return to winning ways at the Philips Stadion this Saturday. PSV Eindhoven were on a five-match winning streak before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Ajax, while AZ Alkmaar’s six-game winning spell was followed by a goalless draw with Cambuur. PSV won the last meeting between these opponents 3-0, prior to suffering four straight losses to AZ Alkmaar.
Value bet: Over 2.5 goals and both teams score
Arouca v Porto (Sunday)
Porto are not the team they used to be, although they are still levels above many domestic competitors. The rivalry between them, Benfica and Sporting has grown immensely with the two slowly surpassing the Dragons. They do, however, come up against Arouca, who are barely floating above the relegation zone. Two wins in their last 10 matches does not show enough fight for to even consider an upset in this fixture.
Value Bet: Porto to win both halves
Tondela v Benfica (Monday)
Newly-promoted Tondela come into the clash needing to improve, losing three of their last four league games – finding themselves on 20 points after 20 matches. On the other hand, Benfica are in stellar form. The visitors claimed three wins from four away games, suffering a loss away at Porto. The Eagles are short-priced to claim a fourth straight win over Tondela, our bet of the weekend.
Value Bet: Benfica (-1) handicap