After a brief winter break which treated us to a couple of intriguing transfers in the January window, league action is back and just in due time ahead of the resumption of the Champions League. As the second half of the season enters full swing, we continue with the best tips and predictions to go with for the latest game week, spanning games across Europe’s top five leagues.
Straight Wins
Stuttgart host Frankfurt at the Mercedes Benz Arena on February 05. Both sides have been on poor form of late and need points here today. Deciding on a winner for this Bundesliga fixture is tough, given the form of both sides. Stuttgart are winless in their last five outings and Frankfurt’s recent form is not much better with two losses and a draw accrued in their last three outings. The Eagles have not lost to Stuttgart in five meetings and we believe their unbeaten run against the Swabians will continue. Using their previous H2H records, we are backing Frankfurt to take home the win and three points. Bet9ja have 2.53 odds, Paripesa have 2.62 odds and 1xBet have 2.62 odds.
Bayern Munich have stormed to first place and once more they’ve done it in record-breaking style. Four goals past Hertha in the last round put their goal tally to 65 after just 20 games, a new Bundesliga record. The Bavarians are likely heading to another title this season, adding to their 30 league titles. Today, RB Leipzig would be the next candidate to try and dent their ambitions as Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann will be desperate to avoid any ill fate against his former side. Bayern won the reverse fixture by a 4-1 score line and we are looking at a repeat of their reverse fixture this season as this Bayern side is really strong. Bet9ja have 1.43 odds, Paripesa have 1.44 odds and 1xBet have 1.44 odds.
Roma sit 6th in the Serie A table and even a win this weekend won’t take them up any further places as the current gap between themselves and Juventus stands at four points. Relegation battling Genoa provide the opposition on Saturday. Roma have won their last four encounters with Genoa and are yet to lose against Saturday’s guests since 2014. Each of Roma’s last two victories over Genoa has been accompanied by a clean sheet and while Mourinho’s side have not kept many clean sheets of late, Genoa have failed to score in four of their last six outings. Everything points to a win for Roma. Bet9ja have 1.36 odds, Paripesa have 1.36 odds and 1xBet have 1.36 odds.
Top-of-the-table Inter Milan take on their local rival’s AC Milan in Serie A this weekend. AC Milan currently sit 3rd in the table, four points behind Inter, and could really do with a derby day win to close the gap between the two clubs. We’re backing Inter to secure all 3pts this weekend as they have done so in five of their last seven Milan derbies. The home advantage doesn’t count in this fixture as both teams play their games at the San Siro but the injury situation at both clubs suggests that AC Milan will be more hampered this weekend. Inter have won four of their last five matches in all competitions. Bet9ja have 1.83 odds, Bet365 have 1.85 odds and 1xBet have 1.85 odds.
Over 2.5 Goals
Mainz 05 take on the challenge of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim as they continue their bid for a first top-six finish since 2015/16. Hoffenheim not only like to score goals but also concede in abundance. Their fixtures have seen 3.7 goals per match on average this season. Moreover, their last five outings have seen 18 goals, four of which concluded with over 2.5 total goals. Mainz are in a similar territory of late with three matches in this period finishing with at least three goals at the very least. Bet9ja have 1.65 odds, Paripesa have 1.74 odds and 1xBet have 1.74 odds.
One of the top home sides in Ligue 1 have a chance to extend their domestic unbeaten run at Stade Louis II to nine games as Monaco play host to Lyon on Saturday. Monaco are eighth in the table, but only a point behind Lyon for seventh, while only two points separate them from Strasbourg, who are fourth. Monaco have come out very aggressively and have been lethal in the final third, so we expect them to continue their strong play at home with a striker in Ben Yedder who is in fine form. We are expecting a high-scoring affair here today. Bet9ja have 1.68 odds, Paripesa have 1.790 odds and 1xBet have 1.79 odds.
The Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig fixture returns to the selection here as we know both sides have a thing for scoring goals. Two out of their previous three fixtures have provided more than four goals, with both sides finding the back of the net on both occasions. Both sides have also scored in all their three previous matches going into this game, making this a tough one for both defenses to keep their respective strikers at bay. We expect goals from both ends also which is an added tip here today. RB Leipzig would be disappointed if they were not to put a goal past this Bayern Munich outfit, but it probably won’t quite prevent them from conceding a couple at the other end. Bet9ja have 1.37 odds, Paripesa have 1.38 odds and 1xBet have 1.38 odds.
Fireworks are usually seen when Stuttgart and Frankfurt face off against each other. Three of their last five outings have concluded with at least three goals observed during the 90 minutes of action. This should be the case as they meet at the Mercedes Arena following the international break. Both defenses have been found wanting with 18 goals conceded. Their compounded issues at the back will surely make the highlight reel again as we witness a high-scoring affair. Bet9ja have 1.76 odds, Paripesa have 1.85 odds and 1xBet have 1.85 odds.
Anytime Goalscorers
Tammy
Tammy Abraham is into double figures in his first campaign in Serie A and is also the top scorer for Mourinho’s side with 10-goals. The 24-year-old England international has been in fantastic form of late, netting 9-goals in his last outings for Roma in all competitions. That explains just why we’re backing the striker to score against Genoa on Saturday. Bet9ja have 2.05 odds while Paripesa have 1.910 odds.
Lewandoski
The Polish striker would have relished the holidays and would be returning to action here today against RB Leipzig. He has been prolific this season (as always), with 23 goals already this season, which is three more than the games he has appeared in. He was on the score sheet in the reverse fixture and we are expecting him to score again here today. Bet9ja have 1.50 odds while Paripesa have 1.40 odds.
Immobile
He would be gutted to not have found the back of the net in Lazio’s final fixture just before the break. This ended a run of three consecutive games where he scored. He had four goals in those three games and he is sure to score against opponents who seem to be lacking in the defense. Meanwhile, this could be Ciro Immobile’s 250th career Serie A start with the Lazio striker’s last three Serie A H2H goals coming in 2-1 wins. Bet9ja have 2.55 odds while Paripesa have 2.10 odds.
Martinez
The Inter star would be returning from a very impressive world cup qualifier in which Argentina showed a nice outing. Eleven goals in the league already and he is a top candidate to increase his tally at the Milan derby as he has done in previous seasons with the club. Bet9ja have 2.60 odds while Paripesa have 2.41 odds.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
