THERE’s a bumper weekend of top-flight action ahead around the continent.
As well as our usual Premier League picks, we’re heading to La Liga this week for the Madrid derby – and offer up a 12/1 five-fold which we think will do the business.
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Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – Saturday, 8pm
IT’S derby day at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Two La Liga wins over Sevilla and Levante have eased the pressure somewhat on Zinedine Zidane – but his sides’ current failings were out in force against PSG in the Champions League.
Historically, this fixture away from the Bernabeu is one in which Real tend to shine.
They’ve not lost to Atleti in a competitive game since February 2015, when Los Blancos were humbled 4-0 by Diego Simeone’s men.
We’re also paying no attention to the baffling 7-3 pre-season match the sides played out just a couple of months ago.
Seriously, that match was just absolute insanity with both sets of players in first gear.
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Real were the last team to beat Atletico here seven months ago, but Simeone’s side couldn’t find the net in a 0-0 stalemate with Celta Vigo last time out on home soil.
England full-back Kieran Trippier has settled in nicely since his move from Spurs and is improving game on game.
For all of you who go misty-eyed at the thought of THAT freekick against Croatia, he’s a 10/1 shot to open the scoring in the derby. Well worth a play.
We see this one being a tight, nervy affair rather than the goal fest of pre-season.
Atleti don’t concede many goals here and we’re happy to back the draw which has happened in three of the last six H2H’s on this ground.
Atletico and Real to draw in the derby: 23/10
Kieran Trippier to score: 10/1
Everton vs Man City – Saturday, 5.30pm
MARCO SILVA is in a sticky situation.
We could wheel out the Toffee puns all day, but this is the last team in Premier League that the Everton boss wants to face after their Sheffield United humbling.
The Spaniard saw his blunt, expensively-assembled side go down 2-0 to the Blades – and is as short as 6/4 to be the next Premier League manager to get the sack.
City’s shock defeat at Norwich seemed to anger Pep Guardiola‘s men a bit. Well, actually quite a lot.
It was perhaps the kick up the backside they needed – and it was poor Watford who were in the firing line last week, torn apart to the tune of eight without reply.
We can’t tip the same again with a straight face, but City to win 8-0 here at Goodison is 200/1.
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Despite their recruitment in the summer looking great on paper, the Toffees just haven’t gelled yet and remain wildly inconsistent.
It really does say a lot that Everton are priced at 9/1 – yep. 9/1 – to win a HOME game in the Premier League. Madness.
But then again maybe it says more that you can’t possibly back Silva‘s side with any sort of confidence in their current state.
They’ve scored just five times in six games, losing three of those matches.
The goals against column isn’t much better, with four conceded in their last two matches on home soil.
City look like a team on a mission after the Norwich embarrassment – you don’t back them here at 3/10, but go for them to win and over 2.5 goals. No brainer.
City to win and over 2.5 goals at Goodison: 8/11
Visitors to be winning at HT and FT: 20/23
Man City to hit Everton for eight: 200/1
5-fold acca
Both teams to score in Madrid derby – 7/10
Liverpool to beat Sheff Utd – 4/11
Everton vs Man City over 2.5 goals – 4/9
Leicester to beat Newcastle – 8/15
Man Utd vs Arsenal over 3.5 goals – 29/20
Leicester vs Newcastle – Sunday, 4.30pm
STEVE BRUCE is on a fox hunt – but we reckon he’s coming home empty-handed.
His Newcastle team were lacklustre in their 0-0 draw with Brighton and in truth were lucky to escape with a point.
If the Seagulls had taken their chances up at St James’, they’d have had the game wrapped up by half-time.
The Toon Army voiced their displeasure at the final whistle and we reckon that Bruce will have his side fired up for a trip to face Leicester at the King Power.
Newcastle went to Spurs and stunned Poch with a 1-0 win.
That victory required a lot of luck and a lot of discipline. We don’t see lightning striking twice.
Brendan Rodgers has his side flying at the moment, playing an exciting brand of attacking, thrilling football.
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In James Maddison they have a star in the making – even if his taste in backpack’s is absolutely shocking.
He netted the winner against Spurs last week and we reckon he scores again against a Newcastle side who dominated by the Seagulls midfield last time out.
Despite their attacking outlook, Leicester are yet to really tee off against anyone this season.
We’re backing that to change on Sunday – and so should you.
Over 2.5 goals and a Leicester win is huge at 31/20 – that bet has won in each of their last two home matches and we expect it to again.
Leicester to beat Newcastle: 8/15
Foxes to win and over 2.5 goals: 31/20
James Maddison to score first: 11/2
Man Utd vs Arsenal – Monday, 8pm
THE GUNNERS haven’t won a Premier League game at Old Trafford since 2006.
And let’s face it – they’re not going to get a better chance than this.
United are in complete disarray, with nearly £900million spent and no recognised centre-forward in the squad.
It’s a shambles of recruitment and Ole’s face on the touchline against West Ham said it all – he’s got a mighty job on his hands.
The Hammers didn’t even need to play that well to run out 2-0 winners last weekend.
But – and this is a big but – you can’t blindly run in and back Arsenal to take all three points back to North London.
This Gunners side are absolutely bonkers and impossible to trust.
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They threw away a two-goal lead at Watford a fortnight ago before a quite brilliant comeback against Aston Villa when down to ten men.
But when you’re talking about placing your hard-earned money on a football team to win, they just can’t be trusted.
We’re going goals at Old Trafford, mainly because it’s the safest way to play – and also because that’s where the stats suggest the value is.
In the last six meetings between these sides at the Theatre of Dreams, there’s been 19 goals.
And both teams have netted in EVERY game. Arsenal know how to score here – they just don’t know how to win.
Back both teams with confidence and chase the value with the over 3.5 goals market. With these defences, anything could happen.
If you want to play for a goalscorer, Nicolas Pepe is one to look for.
He opened his account against Villa and with that now off his back, the Gunners record signing can kick on.
Both teams to score at Old Trafford: 1/2
Over 3.5 goals on Monday Night Football: 29/20
Nicolas Pepe to score anytime: 21/10
*All odds correct at time of publication
