Niko Kovac leads Eintracht Frankfurt to face his new club next season Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal final at the Olympic stadium in Berlin this weekend. The battle for the final Champions League spot in the Serie A and Ligue 1 will be decided on the last day of the season in both leagues and in Spain, legendary midfielders Andres Iniesta of Barcelona and Xabi Prieto of Real Sociedad will be playing their final La Liga matches when Barcelona host Real Sociedad.
Here is our preview of some key fixtures in the top leagues in Europe.
We begin in France;
LYON v NICE – SAT. 19 MAY 2018, 20.00HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Lyon suffered a shock defeat at Strasbourg last weekend but can secure Champions League qualification at home on the final day of the season in front of their supporters when Nice come visiting. Lyon are eyeing a sixth consecutive home win and in the last five, they have kept a clean sheet at home. On the other hand, Nice kept their Europa league qualification alive with an inspiring 4-1 win over Caen last week but against a determined Lyon team at home, it is a different kettle of fish.
VERDICT – Nice have a better head-to-head record against Lyon in their last six meeting (3W 2D 1L). Lyon’s average goal per match is 2.28 compared to Nice 1.31. Their last six meetings has produced 21 goals. Over 2.5 goals
TROYES v MONACO – SAT. 19 MAY 2018, 20.00HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Monaco moved a step closer to securing a second place finish and secure Champions League qualification in a hard fought victory over St. Etienne last week at Stade Louis II. The Principality club need a point against Troyes to finish in the top-three finish or a win to retain second spot behind champions PSG. Their host have an outside chance for retaining their Ligue 1 status by qualifying for the relegation play-off tie with a win in this game. This means Leonardo Jardim & his team will not have it easy at Stade de l’Aube and have to be at their best in order to secure desire result.
VERDICT – Troyes average goal per match in the league is 0.86 compared to Monaco’s 2.25. Troyes have managed one victory in their last six Ligue 1 matches while Monaco have three winning their last two games. A home win is very unlikely, over 2.5 goals
In Italy;
AC MILAN v FIORENTINA – SUN. 20 MAY 2018, 17.00HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Milan can secure a Europa league spot with a home win against Fiorentina on the last day of the season. The Viola are not mathematically out of the running for an European spot but could have a huge say in who qualifies with Atalanta just a point behind Milan on the table. It hasn’t been the campaign Milan wanted considering the heavy investment made by the club. However, Gennaro Gattuso and his team can offer the Rossoneri fans some consolation by securing European qualification.
VERDICT – The last six meetings between these sides has been even with 2W 2D 2L respectively. Milan can secure a top-six finish with a win at home against a Fiorentina team who have lost their last two league matches. Milan have won their last two home matches against the Violas. Can they make it three on the bounce?
LAZIO v INTER MILAN – SUN. 20 MAY 2018, 19.45HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
It is the most important game of the season for both sides. Inter need a win to knock Lazio out of the Champions League spot. It is a winner takes all game but will importantly for Inter, Lazio just need to avoid defeat at home to secure Champions League qualification. Lazio key players Ciro Immobile (capocannoniere) faces a fitness battle to be ready for the game while Luis Alberto unlikely to feature. In addition to their absence, Simeone Inzaghi has Stefan de Vrij mental state to worry about. The Dutch defender has agreed to join Inter next season which leaves his coach in a real fix.
VERDICT – These sides met at Stadio Olimpico three times on the final day of the season and Lazio won all of them in 1935, 2002 and 2012. Will they make it four this season? Mauro Icardi is a player to watch in this crucial game. A lively contest is on the cards, Lazio are tough to beat at home.
In Spain;
VILLARREAL v REAL MADRID – SAT. 19 MAY 2018, 19.45HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Villarreal secured Europa league qualification last week and will play Real Madrid at Estadio de la Ceramica in relax mood on the final day of the season. The Yellow Submarines can make it back-to-back victories over Real if they secure a home victory against Champions League finalist who may decide to adopt a cautious approach in order to avoid sustaining any injury ahead of next week showdown in Kiev. Apart from those vying for a starting role in the UCL final, there is very little for Zinedine Zidane’s team to play for and Real Madrid rarely play well when there is nothing at stake.
VERDICT – There have been over 2.5 goals scored in six of Villarreal’s last seven La Liga games. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 16 of Real Madrid’s last 19 La Liga games. Last season’s meeting between these two sides provided a five-goal thriller. Expect goals at Estadio de la Ceramica , over 2.5 goals
BARCELONA v REAL SOCIEDAD – SUN. 19 MAY 2018, 19.45HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Barca suffered a surprise defeat at Levante last week which ended their invincible campaign but Sunday evening game is all about Barcelona’s outgoing Captain Andres Iniesta who will be playing his final game for the club. On the other hand, Real Sociedad skipper Xabi Prieto should make his final appearance as La Real player at the Camp Nou. This is a game to celebrate two iconic midfield players who have projected La Liga well in the last decade and more. We should be served a spectacle at the Camp Nou.
VERDICT – In the last meeting between both sides at Camp Nou, Barca recorded a 3-2 win over La Real. Barca are undefeated in their last 18 league matches at home and will want to end the season on a high. An away win is very unlikely, over 2.5 goals
DFB Pokal Final (German Cup Final)
BAYERN MUNICH v EINTRACHT FRANKFURT – SAT. 19 MAY 2018, 19.00HRS
View Game & Bet
VS
Bayern Munich take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal Final at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. This should be Juup Heynckes final game as a coach but no one knows what will happen in the future. The relationship between the 72 year-old and Bayern is so strong that he may respond to their call if he is needed again. On the other bench, the new Bayern coach Niko Kovac leads his current team out for the final time before moving to Bavaria in the summer. The Berlin born Croat has led Frankfurt to two successive DFB Pokal finals (losing to Borussia Dortmund last season) while hoping his team put on a strong display in front of his future employers and creating an upset with a win. Bayern can clinch a domestic double with a win and would be encouraged with their recent results against Frankfurt, a team they haven’t not lost to in their last six meetings.
VERDICT – Bayern will look to dominate this game from the outset and Frankfurt need to fight hard to keep this match open for as long as possible. These two teams met in the final 12 years ago with Bayern emerging victors. Are we going to see history repeat itself again on Saturday?
A special mention to a legend of the game, Gianluigi Buffon. The Juventus captain and goalkeeper announced that he will be leaving the Italian giants at the end of the season. Buffon joined Juventus from Parma in 2001 and has spent 17 seasons with the Turin club, making a total of 655 appearances till date. He has won the Serie A title nine times, Coppa Italia four times and the Supercoppa Italiana five times.
This wraps up our previews across the major leagues in Europe. Keep playing, keep winning….
FESIG League Preview returns at the start of the 2018/19 season.
Predict and win big by visiting Babaijebu.ng