Eden Hazard showed class and quality with his superb winner at Anfield on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup. Will Chelsea make it two in two when they host Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend in the concluding part of the double header? In Spain, Julen Lopetegui and Real Madrid have to pick themselves up as they welcome city rivals Atletico Madrid to the Santiago Bernabeu for the Madrileno derby. In the Serie A, it’s first place Juventus taking on second place Napoli at the Allianz stadium in Turin and the Rome derby between AS Roma and SS Lazio.
Here is our preview of matches across top five European Leagues.
We begin in France;
OGC NICE v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 16.15HRS
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Paris Saint-Germain can make it eight successive win which is their best start to a French Ligue 1 campaign. OGC Nice have had a decent start to the season with Patrick Vieira saddled with the responsibility of building a new team and implementing his ideas. PSG had to come from behind to beat Stade Reims at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night while Nice recorded an away victory at Nantes. Edinson Cavani and Neymar seem to hitting their best patch as the weeks go by. Wwith Kylian Mbappe returning from domestic suspension, Thomas Tuchel team could be at full throttle for this cracker at Allianz Riviera.
VERDICT – Thomas Tuchel may be tempted to make some rotation to keep in squad fresh with the Champions League match against Red Star Belgarde on the horizon. Nice lost their first two Ligue 1 matches at home but results and performance have improved recently. Mario Balotelli was rested for Nantes victory, he should be recalled to lead the line when Les Parisiens come to town as the home team will be fired for this. Our prediction is over 1.5 goals for the game.
LILLE v MARSEILLE – SUN. 30 SEPT 2018, 20.00HRS
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Lille were PSG closest challenger before they lost to Bordeaux midweek, a slip which has allowed Olympique Lyon and Marseillle overtake them on the log. The host solid start to this season is a welcome relief compared to last season survival scrap. OM were moments away from the start of their own crisis having lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League and followed it up with a loss in the Olympique derby to Lyon but they managed to secure a last-minute gasp winner at home against Strasbourg on Wednesday night. It was a refreshing victory for Rudi Garcia who believes his side need to show their crazy side.
VERDICT – History favors Marseille who won on their last trip to Stade Pierre-Mauroy and haven’t lost to LOSC since 2013. Lille and Marseille have played 38 matches so far; LOSC have 10W while OM have 19 with the average goal scored per match at 2.5 goals. Lille have all three league matches at home this season while Marseille have lost two league matches away from home which makes this very interesting. With all things considered, we expect both teams to get on the score sheet in this week 8 encounter.
To Germany;
HERTHA BERLIN v BAYERN MUNICH – FRI. 28 SEPT 2018, 19.30HRS
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Hertha Berlin suffered their first defeat of the season at Weserstadion midweek while Bayern Munich surprisingly dropped points at home against Augsburg. Die Alte Dame were outplayed in Bremen, struggling to impose themselves in the game but on return to their home patch, we expect a better performance from Pál Dárdai team. Die Roten perfect start to the new season came to an end on Tuesday evening in front of their home fans conceding a sloppy goal late in the game. Nico Kovac made changes to his starting XI in order to keep the roster fresh but will be disappointed they didn’t finish off their visitors earlier. FC Hollywood would love to return to winning ways when they travel to the capital in search of three points before hosting Ajax in the Champions League.
VERDICT – Both sides will aim to get back on track after midweek setbacks but the host face a difficult task against the mighty Bavarians. The fixture ended in a draw last season, a result Hertha Berlin would gladly take before kickoff on Friday evening but the home team should be confident they can hurt their well-known visitors as they have been scoring with ease lately. Bayern are favorites but our prediction is over 2.5 goals for this game.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN v BORUSSIA DORTMUND – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 17.30HRS
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Bayer Leverkusen appeared to have turned a corner after a poor start to the season. The home team has done well in the past week beating Mainz at home and Fortuna Dusseldorf on the road. Borussia Dortmund have made a good start to the season winning all three Bundesliga matches at home including a 7-0 annihilation of Nurnberg midweek but are yet to win on the road and remain unbeaten in the league this season. Lucien Favre has made Die Schwarzgelben defense difficult to break down having conceded just three league goals so far. Can Leverkusen break Dortmund down?
VERDICT – Die Werkself form has improved in their last two Bundesliga matches as they look to be back on track. A positive result at home in this game would be a huge step forward for Bayer 04 but against a confident BVB, it is a huge challenge. Borussia Dortmund travel to Leverkusen in confident mood as they search for three points to keep tabs with leaders Bayern Munich. We anticipate an open game with both teams have a go at each other at BayArena; our prediction is over 2.5 goals.
To Italy;
AS ROMA v SS LAZIO – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 14.00HRS
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Roma put a halt to their poor run by securing a much needed win over Frosinone on Wednesday, a result which should boost morale as the Giallorossi prepare for the Rome derby. On the other hand, Lazio are on a five match winning run in the Serie A after losing their first two league matches against Napoli and Juventus. Simeone Inzaghi has got his Biancocelesti team firing in anticipation of this derby; they are the form team going into thisbattle. However, when it comes to derby games, form is usually thrown out of the window with feisty battles expected across the park.
VERDICT – AS Roma have the better head-to-head in recent outings but Lazio are the form team. Eusebio Di Francesco is under heavy pressure for his team’s poor form and a defeat to Lazio could bring the house down. Roma are likely to adopt a cautious approach for the derby considering their current form. Lazio will aim to seize the moment and inflict more misery on their city rival. Over 1.5 goals is our prediction for the Derby della Capitale.
JUVENTUS v NAPOLI – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 17.00HRS
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Napoli played Juventus off the park when the Partenopei visited Turin last season leaving with all three points to reopen the Scudetto race. Both teams have kicked off their league campaign on a strong note and are in fine form for the top of the table clash which sees two of Italy’s finest manager coming face-to-face. Juventus have a perfect record in the league and in Europe but we are yet to see the best of this Old Lady even though Cristiano Ronaldo has started scoring which has reduced some pressure. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti has had to reshuffle his team and develop a new system to get the best out of them following the 3-0 defeat at Sampdoria some weeks back.
VERDICT – Ancelotti will recall players who were rested during the week for this Turin trip. Lorenzo Insigne enjoying his new role behind the lone striker with the diminutive playmaker finding the back of the net with relative ease. Max Allegri has some key players out injured but the Bianconeri squad filled with quality with available players stepping in to fill the void appropriately. This game is a top-of-the table clash but it will not decide the Scudetto just yet; however it could give the winner an edge in the race. With Cristiano Ronaldo in the Juve ranks, they have a slight advantage with the Portuguese forward who is always fired up for the big games. A close game but a home win for the Old Lady.
To Spain;
BARCELONA v ATHLETIC BILBAO – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 15.15HRS
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Barcelona suffered a surprise defeat at Leganes midweek in a game where the host scored two goals in two minutes and Ernesto Valverde team couldn’t respond. In a space of four days, the Spanish champions have dropped five points in two winnable games which leaves them desperate for a result against Valverde’s former team who are the next guest at the Camp Nou before the Catalan giants travel to London to face Tottenham Hostpur in the Champions League. Athletic Bilbao suffered an embarrassing home loss to Villarreal during the week so Los Leones are certainly not travelling to Catalonia in high spirit.
VERDICT – It’s four games without a win for Eduardo Berizzo’s Athletic. With such dire form, the team cannot be confident to create an upset at the Camp Nou. Both teams are struggling defensively; Barcelona have conceded four goals in their last two league matches while Athletic have shipped in five. This game is tailor-made for both attacks to strike gold. Our prediction is over 2.5 goals in this game.
REAL MADRID v ATLETICO MADRID – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 19.45HRS
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Real Madrid were handed their first defeat in Andalusia by a rampant Sevilla who blew away the European champions with an impeccable first half performance to the delight of the roaring crowd at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Julen Lopetegui and his team need to pick themselves up quickly with the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid next on the agenda. Atleti have fought their way back into LaLiga title race as they sit just two points behind joint leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid. A poor result against Los Colchoneros will see the new Madrid boss come under heavy pressure. It doesn’t look too good for the former Spain coach because Jose Mourinho was the last Real Madrid manager to beat Atletico Madrid in the league at the Bernabeu.
VERDICT – Real Madrid have the overall better head to head record against Atletico but they haven’t managed a victory at home in the league against Atletico since 2013 which is a poor run. Atleti are enjoying a good run currently and can be confident on getting the right result against their illustrious city rival. Real Madrid are still a force to reckon with at home but this will be a close game, probably a draw. Our prediction is that both teams will get on the score sheet but Atletico will not lose at the Santiago Bernabeu.
To England;
ARSENAL v WATFORD – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 15.00HRS
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Arsenal are back on course after a slow start to the season. The Gunners have won their last six matches in all competition including four in the Premier League. Watford have not won in their last two league matches having made a strong start by winning their first four. The North Londoners are on a fine path under Unai Emery right now and will aim to continue along that line when the Hornets come calling. As results continue to improve, we expect those empty seats at the Emirates to start getting filled once again in the post-Wenger era. Javi Gracia is doing a good job at Watford so far with club showing that they can compete in the Premier League and no one should expect them to roll over easily.
VERDICT – Both Arsenal and Watford won their home Premier League matches last season. Arsenal have won two and lost two of their last four home games against Watford. Watford captain, Troy Deeney will be eager the face the Gunners as always and the home team fans will also want to dish him the special treatment he deserves. At home, Arsenal are very strong losing thrice in 29 league matches; we believe Arsenal will win this London derby at home.
CHELSEA v LIVERPOOL – SAT. 29 SEPT 2018, 17.30HRS
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All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge for the concluding part of the Blues versus Reds series. Eden Hazard came off the bench to score a wonder goal which turned out to be the winner in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night at Anfield. The draw at West Ham last weekend ended Chelsea perfect start to the Premier League season and new coach Maurizio Sarri has maintained that his team should not be considered as genuine title contenders for the season. Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the season in the cup match against Chelsea with some of the players not helping their case for a starting role spot. Both managers will be expected to field their strongest XI for this intriguing clash in West London this Saturday and we expect to see top quality football on display.
VERDICT – In spite of Wednesday result, this is a tough game to call as we expect both teams to cancel each other out. With Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah on parade, we are certain both teams will score and that’s our prediction for this game.
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This wraps us our weekend focus. FESIG previews continues next weekend before the international break. Predict and win big by visiting our Sports shop Babaijebu.ng for mouthwatering offers.