AFCON 2023 has been a joy to watch, but don’t forget the European leagues. This weekend, we’ll have more club games played and here, we’ve previewed some mouth-watering ties while giving out our expert betting tips. **Manchester City vs. Everton** Manchester City is on an impressive run of form, boasting 9 consecutive victories and 11 wins along with a draw in their last dozen matches. Remarkably, much of this success has been achieved without their star striker, Erling Haaland, who recently returned from a two-month injury layoff. His 14 league goals has him as one of the EPL top scorers alongside Mo Salah, and he’ll be itching to get back to scoring. In contrast, Everton finds themselves in a slump since their four-game winning streak in early December, which coincided with the announcement of their 10-point deduction. They have managed just one victory in their last 10 games, drawing four and suffering five defeats. As a result, they have dropped to 18th place in the table, trailing Luton Town by one point, with the latter having a game in hand. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City boasts an impressive home record, remaining unbeaten in 35 consecutive EPL games at the Etihad since their defeat to Brentford in November 2022. Against Everton, they have won 11 and drawn 2 of their last 13 encounters, both at home and away, and are expected to extend this streak. Also, given that Manchester City are over-performing their xG this season (+6.23), we expect a few goals. **Betting Tips:**
**Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brighton & Hove Albion** Six weeks after their first encounter, Spurs and Brighton will face off once again, this time in North London. In that meeting, the Seagulls secured a 4-2 victory, with João Pedro netting a brace. Pedro has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 19 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions, and our bet of the day is for him to continue this scoring streak. Despite the absence of their captain, Son Heung-min, who was competing in the Asian Cup, Spurs have maintained a decent run of form in recent matches. With Son’s team, South Korea, eliminated by Jordan in the semi-finals, there is a possibility of his early return to Spurs, bolstering their attacking lineup. However, a cause for concern for manager Ange Postecoglou remains the vulnerability of their defense. Spurs have kept just two clean sheets in their last 16 outings across all competitions, conceding 28 goals during that period—an average of 1.75 goals per game. **Betting Tips:**
**Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich** In one of the biggest Bundesliga games of the decade, Bayer Leverkusen hosts Bayern Munich in a game that will undoubtedly have a say in how the title race unfolds. Under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen has achieved a remarkable feat, becoming only the second team in German football history to go unbeaten in 30 consecutive games across all competitions. They now stand just two games away from equalling Bayern Munich’s all-time record. Bayer Leverkusen’s midweek comeback win over Stuttgart in the DFB Pokal sent them to the semi-finals, offering even more hope of ending their 13-year trophy drought. However, their focus must now shift to their Bundesliga results as they navigate through this crucial phase of the season. Both teams will be without a few key players for this game. Thomas Tuchel will be without Alphonso Davies who sustained a knee injury in the last game. He joins Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer and Serge Gnabry, while there are slight concerns about Manuel Neuer who didn’t train with the team on Tuesday. On the other side, Leverkusen will also be without some influential players. Exequiel Palacios, who scored the equalizing goal in their last encounter at the Allianz Arena, will be unavailable. Also, top scorer, Victor Boniface, remains sidelined, while Odilon Kossounou, who is still away on international duty with Ivory Coast at the AFCON 2023, will also be absent. Two players who will undoubtedly command attention in this match are Harry Kane and Florian Wirtz. Kane’s remarkable tally of 24 goals after 20 matches mirrors Robert Lewandowski’s performance at the same stage during the 2020/21 season, when the former Bayern striker set a new Bundesliga record with 41 goals in a single season. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz has been a standout performer for Bayer Leverkusen this season and is expected to attract significant interest in the summer. The 20-year-old has been instrumental for Xabi Alonso’s side, contributing 8 goals and 15 assists, playing a pivotal role in their attack. **Betting Tips:**
**Real Madrid vs. Girona** Similar to the Bundesliga, the top two teams in the LaLiga standings will meet in what promises to be an epic encounter. Girona has emerged as one of the surprise packages in European football, leading LaLiga with an impressive tally of 52 goals scored, the most by any team this season. Meanwhile, Real Madrid sits atop the table with a two-point lead and boasts the league’s best defensive record, having conceded only 15 goals thus far. This defensive solidity is commendable considering the many challenges their back line has faced throughout the season. Madrid’s defensive woes have only worsened in recent weeks, and it’ll be interesting to see how they cope. In their last match against Atletico, the decision to deploy the 5’8” Right Back Dani Carvajal in the center-back position left them exposed to aerial threats, with Diego Simeone’s side capitalizing on this vulnerability by delivering crosses into Los Blancos’ 18-yard box. This tactical move proved successful as Marcos Llorente secured a crucial 93rd-minute equalizer for Atletico. As they prepare to face Girona, it is expected that Carvajal will once again be tasked with playing in the center-back role, likely alongside midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. This arrangement leaves Real Madrid susceptible to conceding goals, particularly against a team like Girona, who have been excellent in attack throughout the season. **Betting Tips:**
**Roma vs. Inter** Former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi has made an impressive start to his managerial career with the Giallorossi. Winning each of his first three games in charge of the club, he has become the first manager in 95 years to achieve this remarkable feat. These three victories, we must add, came against teams currently in the bottom four of the table. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, you can only beat what’s in front of you. Now, De Rossi faces his first proper test as table-toppers, Inter visit the nation’s capital. Inter currently holds a commanding four-point lead in Serie A, with a game in hand, showcasing their dominance in the league. Their recent 1-0 victory over Juventus underscores their fine form, with a league-leading tally of 51 goals scored and an impressive defensive record of just 10 goals conceded in 22 matches. Against Roma, they’ve scored in 18 of their last 19 league matches, and have picked up 5 wins in their last 6 meetings. Leading the charge for Inter is Lautaro Martinez, who has been in scintillating form with 19 league goals to his name. Martinez’s recent run of six goals in as many league games highlights his potential to influence the outcome of the match significantly, and the Romans will have their work cut out for them as they try to contain him. **Betting Tips:**
**Aston Villa v Manchester United** Aston Villa has been nearly invincible on their home turf this season. Stretching back to last season, specifically from April 3rd, Unai Emery guided his team to a remarkable sequence of 15 consecutive home victories, setting a club record. Notable victories during this streak included wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brighton. However, there’s a silver lining for Manchester United: Villa’s invincibility has waned somewhat. In their last three home fixtures, they drew against the bottom-placed Sheffield United, narrowly defeated Burnley, and suffered a loss to Newcastle. The loss to the Magpies was followed by a mid-week loss at home to Chelsea which saw them get knocked out of the FA Cup. Manchester United’s fortunes in front of goal have improved significantly, thanks to their reshuffled front-three. In Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, and Marcus Rashford, Erik Ten Hag seems to have found a working formula. In their last five matches, Rashford has contributed three goals and an assist, Højlund has netted four goals and provided two assists, while Garnacho, enjoying a run of 19 consecutive starts, has scored twice. As a team, Man Utd has not lost a game in 2024, winning 4 and drawing once. They’ve scored 15 times in that span, an average of 3 goals per game. This will be a tight contest. Historically, the Red Devils have often found success during their league visits to Villa Park, securing victory in 17 out of 28 games. However, their last trip saw them lose 3-1 and Villa will aim for consecutive home league wins against Man Utd for the first time since the 1970s. Ollie Watkins will be the man to keep an eye out for. With 11 goals and 10 assists in the English Premier League, he’s the first player to hit double figures in those two categories this season. **Betting Tips:**
**West Ham United vs. Arsenal** The last encounter between these two teams was filled with drama, and we can only hope for a repeat of that. Despite Arsenal dominating with 30 shots, it was West Ham who emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, denying Arsenal a chance to claim the top spot. West Ham capitalized on two of their three shots on target to secure the victory, in what was a typical smash-and-grab performance. The match was marred by controversy, particularly surrounding Tomáš Souček’s contentious opener, which took VAR three and a half minutes to validate. This win was West Ham’s second victory over Arsenal this season, following their earlier triumph in the League Cup, where they secured a 3-1 win. Now, West Ham have their sights on achieving a rare feat of securing three wins over Arsenal in a single season for the first time in their history. Arsenal enters this game on the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Liverpool. While Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson, had a dodgy performance, Arsenal’s win was undoubtedly well-deserved. The Gunners will also be fuelled by a sense of revenge following those two defeats to the Hammers. With three consecutive league victories in 2024 already under their belt, they aim to start a calendar year with four wins for the first time since 1935. The outstanding form of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli adds to Arsenal’s optimism, suggesting that they have the firepower to secure three vital points. **Betting Tips:**
**Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid** These two teams will face each other for the second time in a matter of weeks, following their recent encounter in the Copa del Rey. Atletico Madrid were victorious once again with a 1-0 win, mirroring their earlier result this season. Under Diego Simeone’s management, Atletico has enjoyed dominance in this fixture, securing points in 9 out of 12 visits to Sevilla. However, Atletico’s away form in the league has been less than stellar, providing Sevilla with a glimmer of hope. In their last six away matches, Atletico has suffered four defeats, with just one victory and one draw. This contrasts sharply with their previous travel record, where they lost only five out of 26 games, winning 15 and drawing six. This significant dip in form away from home may give Sevilla added confidence as they prepare to host Atletico once again. **Betting Tips:**
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