Strasbourg vs Saint-Etienne Prediction & Match Preview

Strasbourg vs Saint-Etienne
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade de la Meinau.

Strasbourg are in 13th place and come into this match having won their last 2 games in a row. The club beat Bordeaux and Toulouse, scoring 4 goals against Toulouse, though they are the bottom side.

The home side would go into the top 10 with a win at the weekend and at home they have won 4 of their last 5 games and have lost just twice here so far this season. Strasbourg have goals in them and have scored 9 goals in their past 3 home matches. They beat Nantes in the League Cup in midweek and have reached the quarter finals of that competition.

Saint Etienne also advanced to the quarter finals of the League Cup after they beat Nimes 2-1 but they will face PSG away from home. Poor form has seen Saint Etienne fall to 11th place and they have lost 3 of their last four games. Their last league game ended in a 4-0 home defeat to PSG and the club has conceded 7 goals in their last two games.

Strasbourg vs Saint-Etienne: Head to Head

Last season this game finished 1-1.

Since 2005 Saint Etienne has won at this ground just once.

3 of the last 4 league meetings has seen both teams to score.

Strasbourg vs Saint-Etienne: Prediction

Saint Etienne have actually won 5 of their 9 away games which is good but they have lost their 2 games on the roads coming at Rennes and Reims.

Usually these games are quite close and one pick that we do like is to see both teams to score, we will go for this market. Too raise the value we will also pick out two different correct score markets based on the draw.

We expect to see a very equal game, with few chances and it may just take a piece of magic to separate the two sides.

Strasbourg vs Saint-Etienne: Betting Tips:

• Both teams to score at 1.91 (10/11)

• Correct Score: 0-0 or 1-1 at 8.00 (7/1) and 6.00 (5/1).

Rennes vs Bordeaux Prediction & Match Preview

Rennes vs Bordeaux
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Roazhon Park (Rennes)

Rennes are in 4th place and have played some great football recently. They were knocked out of the League Cup in disappointing fashion for them as they lost to Amiens 3-2. But maybe the club are sensing the bigger picture and that is they have won their last 4 games in a row and are looking for European football next season.

The club are in a great position as they have 30 points but have an extra game over their rivals. Win that and they would, in theory, be in 3rd place and just 2 points behind Marseille in 2nd place.

Rennes have also won their last 4 league games at home their last one finished in a 2-1 win over Angers. Bordeaux are in 7th place with 26 points and a win here would take them within one point of their hosts.

Form has been average to poor though as they come into this game having lost their last two matches and have won 1 in their last 4 games, now is not the time to make mistakes but that is what has happened with the club.

A worrying trend is that Bordeaux have conceded 10 goals in their last 3 games, is their defence simply falling apart?

Rennes vs Bordeaux: Head to Head

• Last season Rennes won this game 2-0.
• Bordeaux have not beaten Rennes away in the league since 2013.
• The last 6 matches have finished in under 2.5 goals.

Rennes vs Bordeaux: Prediction

Going on form and the fact that Bordeaux have a miserable record here we are going to back the home win. Rennes are just in a good mood and have a lot of confidence flowing through the club, they can sense a European finish could be on the cards if they keep winning and can then breakaway.

We don’t expect many goals and the away side who have lost too many games lately may set up to just defend. We will back the correct score in Rennes favour though in a game they will have to work very hard to win but their quality should shine through.

Rennes vs Bordeaux: Bet Tips:

Rennes to beat Bordeaux at 2.00 (1/1)

Correct Score: Rennes to win 1-0 or 2-0 at 5.00 (4/1) and 8.00 (7/1).

Reims vs Lyon Prediction & Match Preview

Reims vs Lyon
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade Auguste Delaune.

Reims have moved up to 6th and after hitting poor form the club seem to have turned a page and are winning again. Indeed, they are unbeaten in their last 5 games and have won their last two matches coming into this one.

On top of that Reims are in the quarter finals of the League Cup after knocking out Montpellier 1-0, so it has been a positive few weeks for the club.

Reims have 27 points and if Nantes slip up, they could finish the year in 5th place. At home they have lost just once but almost 60% of their games have finished in draws. But their defence has been excellent, and they have only conceded 4 goals at home this season.

Lyon are the sleeping giant and life under new coach Rudi Garcia hasn’t always been great. They did beat Toulouse 4-1 though to move into the quarter finals of the League Cup. But Lyon have found it hard to gain consistency in the league. Looking great one week and average the next.

They are in 8th place and 5 points from a top 4 place but Lyon are really only looking at 2nd place and a chance to play in the Champions League and on that account, they are 10 points behind.

Reims vs Lyon: Head to Head

• The last time the teams met here Reims won 1-0.
• Reims have won the last two meetings over Lyon when at home.
• Lyon have not beaten Reims since 2015.

Reims vs Lyon: Prediction

Lyon has the better team, but Reims have the better, stronger and clearer mindset and that can go a long way.

Lyon have struggled to beat Reims in recent games, and we think with Reims on good form they could struggle again. We expect to see goals in this one though and will opt for over 2.5 goals.

Reims will be determined to win this match as they try and eye a European place. Lyon at this time don’t seem up for the fight when it comes to a team that will put pressure on them.

For this we will back the home win, we aren’t fully convinced of Lyon’s qualities especially away from home.

Reims vs Lyon: Bet Tips:

• Reims to beat Lyon at 2.50 (6/4)

• Over 2.5 goals at 2.25 (5/4).

Nice vs Toulouse Prediction & Match Preview

Nice vs Toulouse
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade Allianz Riveria.

Nice come into this game in 14th place and it has clearly been a difficult campaign for the club where one week they look back to their best and the next look very average.

Last weekend the club drew 0-0 away to Brest which was a good point and they haven’t lost for two matches. The league is still close and a win here would take them back into the top 10. It’s all about home form for Nice with 17 of their 24 points so far coming at home. They have won 3 of their last four games and are undefeated in four games at home.

Toulouse are in bottom place with 12 points and are five points from safety. They have lost their last 5 games in a row and from their last 10 matches they have 3 points, they look odds on to be relegated.

Their last match ended in a 1-0 defeat against Reims and they are conceding on average 2 goals a game. A win could take them into 19th place if Nimes lose or draw.

Nice vs Toulouse: Head to Head

• Last season this fixture ended 1-1.

• 4 of the last 5 league matches have seen both teams to score.

• There is a 70% chance to see under 2.5 goals.

Nice vs Toulouse: Prediction

Toulouse haven’t won yet away from home and this will be a very difficult game for them. However we feel that they are due something and the fact is that surprises always happen.

Nice have been solid at home of course but at the same time they have not been wholly convincing overall this season. This is why we will opt to take on Toulouse to win the game with a handicap start. It is risky but the value is decent.

Many fixtures between the two have ended in draws and this would cover our selection too. Because of the risk involved this will be our only pick for this game.

Nice vs Toulouse: Bet Tips:

Toulouse to beat Nice with a +1 Handicap at 2.00 (1/1).

Nantes vs Angers Prediction & Match Preview

Nantes vs Angers
France- Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade La Beaujoire (Nantes)

We are set to see a cracking match here when these two local rivals come together just before Christmas.

Nantes were knocked out of the French League Cup in midweek to Strasbourg so that could affect the club for this game. In the league Nantes have found form and climbed back to 5th place having won their last 2 games. The club have one defeat in their last five and last weekend they beat Nimes 1-0.

Nantes have a decent home record with 6 wins from 9 games, but they are not scoring many goals. Whilst they have only conceded 5 goals at home, they have also only scored 9, only three other clubs have scored less.

Angers are in 10th place and are 4 points behind Nantes. They have had an overall good start to the season but are going through poor form where they have not won any games for 4 matches. Their last match did end in a draw 0-0 v Monaco which was positive and ended a 3-game losing run.

Nantes vs Angers: Head to Head

• This fixture finished 1-1 last season.
• Angers have not won at Nantes since 2009 and that is the clubs only win here in the last 15 years.
• The last 4 meetings in the league have all ended in under 2.5 goals.

Nantes vs Angers: Prediction

Derby matches can be very close games and we are expecting one at the weekend where the game could get bogged down and get physical. There isn’t much between the teams although Nantes will start as favourites as they are at home and have had a better start to the league campaign.

We will back the correct score of 0-0 at half time based on the fact that not many goals have been scored recently in this fixture and we will also back more goals then to occur in the second half after some tiredness sets in. Angers have one of the worst away records in the league and have won only 1 game this season on the road.

Nantes vs Angers: Bet Tips:

1St Half Correct Score: 0-0 at 2.25 (5/4)

Highest Scoring half: 2nd half at 1.91 (10/11)

Montpellier vs Brest Prediction & Match Preview

Montpellier vs Brest
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)

Montpellier were knocked out of the French League Cup in midweek when they lost 1-0 away to Reims. They come into this match in 12th place with 24 points and their form is hardly good with 5 points earned from their last 15.

Montpellier have lost back to back games, having faced Lille and PSG but defeats against such quality teams could be expected.

The club could still climb into the top 10 with a win at the weekend. Home form is average with 7 points earned from their last 12 and they lost their last game at home against PSG 3-1. But the club have only lost 2 games here and remain a threat.

Brest got a super result in the French League Cup as they beat Bordeaux 2-0 and now they have reached the quarter finals.

Form in the league for Brest though is very patchy and they have fallen to 15th place. They are 6 points clear of the bottom three which is a nice gap but it is one that can be quickly swallowed up and the team could well get sucked into a battle. Their last match finished 0-0 v Nice and a win at the weekend could take the club up 2-3 places.

Montpellier vs Brest: Head to Head

The clubs have not played each other since 2013 when Montpellier won 2-1.

Montpellier have won the last 3 meetings.

From the last 16 games Brest has only 1 win and that was when they were at home.

Montpellier vs Brest: Prediction

Brest are a very interesting team and they remind us of Nimes in their first season in the League. Full of hope and attack and a good side at home. But away Brest are in problems and struggle.

Montpellier is a tough ground to come too and we fully expect the home side to get the win here. In fact we will chase better value and back them to be winning at half time.

Brest have won 1 away game all season and have lost 3 in a row coming into this game. Plus they have a very poor record over their opponents. A home win.

Montpellier vs Brest: Bet Tips:

• Half Time: Montpellier to be winning at 2.10 (11/10)

• Montpellier to score 2+ goals at 1.72 (8/11)

Dijon vs Metz Prediction & Match Preview

Dijon vs Metz
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade Gaston Gerard.

Dijon earned another point at last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Amiens which has enabled them to just stay above the relegation zone. But the club need wins and they are finding that result very hard to get. They haven’t won a game in almost a month and wins really are needed as the next club up from them are 5 points clear.

If Dijon are to stay up then it will all be about their home form, and recent form here by their standards is excellent. They are unbeaten at home in the last 5 games, winning 3 in a row before Montpellier came here and the match finished in a 2-2 draw.

Metz are in 18th and this game becomes interesting because they are just 1 point behind Dijon. They have drawn 3 of their last five games and have no wins in the last month. Their last resulted ended in an impressive 1-1 draw at home to Marseille who have done so well this season.

Away from home Metz have won just one game all season. They can’t score many just 4 goals recorded on the road together with Dijon this is the worst record in the league. Their last away match ended in a 4-1 loss at Nice.

Dijon vs Metz: Head to Head

• Last season this fixture ended 1-1.
• Since 2010 Metz have only won at Dijon once.
• The last 3 meetings has seen both teams to score.

Dijon vs Metz: Prediction

Dijon have been strong at home in recent weeks and Metz don’t travel well, also Metz have a poor record at this stadium. Simply put everything points to a home win. It could be a close game and the lack of quality in both teams is apparent.

But on the face of it, this would be a surprise to see Dijon not get all three points here.

We will back the home win and also we will back Dijon’s striker Stephy Mavididi. He has found some form lately and we are surprised at the value in backing him to score anytime, so this should be taken on.

Dijon vs Metz: Bet Tips:

• Dijon to beat Metz at 2.10 (11/10)
• Anytime goalscorer: Stephy Mavididi (Dijon) at 4.00 (3/1).

Marseille vs Nimes Prediction & Match Preview

Marseille vs Nimes
France – Ligue 1
Date: Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Stade Velodrome.

Marseille are in 2nd place in the league and are 7 points behind PSG and have played a game more. So the clubs objective will be to finish in 2nd and qualify for next seasons Champions League. Pressure is on to win this game since they drew last weekend against Metz and that has let in Lille who sit in 3rd place just 4 points behind.

Marseille were able to rest this week as they had already been knocked out of the French League Cup. Form is good and the club have not been beaten in over a month. Marseille has lost just 1 game at home so far this season and have 20 points from a possible 27. Their last match here ended in a 3-1 victory over Bordeaux.

Nimes did have to play in midweek in the League Cup and it was a game they lost at home to Saint Etienne by 2-1. How much did that take out of the club and being knocked out is always a sucker punch. The club don’t have far too travel for this match but it is still away game and will be very tough. Nimes form is poor with just 1 point won from the last 15 and they come here after losing 3 games in a row. The club are in 19th place and are 5 points from safety.

Marseille vs Nimes: Head to Head

• Last season Marseille won this fixture 2-1.
• The clubs have only played each other 3 times in recent history and there is a 100% success rate to see over 2.5 goals and both teams to score.
• The last two meetings has seen more goals in the 2nd half.

Marseille vs Nimes: Prediction

We can’t see past a Marseille victory here. The team are playing their last game at home of the year and will want to finish on a high. They have a decent record over Nimes, they have had rest in the week and are in 2nd place compared to Nimes in the relegation zone.

Also, Nimes away form is very poor with no wins this season, it seems highly unlikely that a team also suffering from a lack of confidence can get a win here.

The home side are odds on to win around 1.30, so that offers no value but we will still take them to win on the handicap, and we think Marseille have goals in them for this game.

Marseille vs Nimes: Bet Tips:

• Marseille to beat Nimes with a -1 Handicap 1.80 (4/5)

• Anytime goalscorer: Dario Benedetto (Marseille) at 1.91 (10/11).

Hertha Berlin vs Monchengladbach Prediction & Match Preview

Hertha Berlin vs Borussia Monchengladbach
Germany – Bundesliga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 17:30 UK / 18:30 CET
Venue: Olympiastadion (Berlin).

Hertha Berlin have been tasting nothing but success in their last two games. However, with Borussia Monchengladbach desperate to retain the top spot, it looks like the hosts are in for a tough set of ninety minutes this weekend.

Hertha Berlin vs Borussia Monchengladbach Head to head (h2h)

• Their last clash here saw Borussia Monchengladbach pick up a 1-0 win.
• Both teams have found the back of the net together in three of their previous five matchups.
• All but one of their past five meetings have featured over 2.5 goals on the charts.
• None of their previous ten fixtures have finished as a tie.
• Borussia Monchengladbach have registered the win seven times in their past ten encounters. (W-7, D-0, L-3)

Hertha Berlin vs Borussia Monchengladbach Prediction

Hertha Berlin are finally starting to show promise in their domestic campaign. Their last clash on the road saw them take down Bayer Leverkusen with a narrow 1-0 scoreline, prior to which got the better of Freiburg at home by the very same scorecard.

Be that as it may, the home side have come out on top just five times this season, and are currently thirteenth on the ladder, four points shy of falling into the relegation zone.

On the other hand, Borussia Monchengladbach will be making the trip to Olympiastadion on the back of a 2-0 win over Paderborn at home. The visitors have stumbled just once in their last four games in the Bundesliga, and are, at the moment, playing second fiddle to RB Leipzig, albeit only on goal difference.

Furthermore, Hertha Berlin have been erratic on home soil this term. They have secured the bragging rights just once in their last four games here. And have garnered no more than three points from a possible twelve as well.

It is also worth noting that two out of the four defeats for the hosts here, have come against sides that are dwelling in the top five. Given that Borussia Monchengladbach made no mistake in picking up the win in their last visit here as well, Hertha Berlin are the underdogs to come out on top this weekend.

Be that as it may, the guests have dropped points thrice on the road already. Hence, the safest punt in this one would have to be a double chance.

Additionally, only one of the last eight Bundesliga games at Olympiastadion have failed to produce more than 2.5 goals on the scoreboards. Moreover, four of their previous five h2h meetings here have also been high scoring affairs.

Hence, count on no dearth of goals come Saturday either.

Hertha Berlin vs Borussia Monchengladbach Betting tips

• Double chance: Draw or Borussia Monchengladbach @ 1.40 (2/5)

• Over 2.5 goals @ 1.60 (3/5).

FC Koln vs Werder Bremen Prediction & Match Preview

FC Koln vs Werder Bremen
Germany – Bundesliga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 14:30 UK / 15:30 CET
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion (Cologne).

Things are finally starting to look up for FC Koln, who are currently on a two-match winning streak. With Werder Bremen well out of their comfort zone on the road, the hosts are in line to extend their positive form this weekend.

FC Koln vs Werder Bremen Head to head (h2h)

• Their last clash here ended as a stalemate.
• Three of their past five fixtures have featured fewer than 2.5 goals on the charts.
• Both teams have found the back of the net together in six of their previous ten meetings.
• A stalemate has occurred twice in their past ten games.
• Werder Bremen have registered the win in two of their last ten encounters. (W-2, D-6, L-2)

FC Koln vs Werder Bremen Prediction

FC Koln completed back to back wins for the first time since earning promotion and posted a whopping 4-2 victory over Frankfurt on the road last week. The hosts have stumbled just twice in their last five fixtures in the Bundesliga, and have garnered eight points from a possible fifteen as well.

At the moment, the home side have propelled themselves out of the relegation zone, albeit only on goal difference.

On the other hand, Werder Bremen have been admitting defeats by some very hefty margins in their last two fixtures. Their previous clash at home saw them at the losing end of a thumping 5-0 scorecard against Mainz. While on the road, the guests managed no more than a consolation goal against Bayern Munich who thrashed six past them.

It is also worth mentioning that the visitors have just one win to their name from their past five matchups in the top flight.

Furthermore, FC Koln have been very convincing in their recent clashes at home. They have salvaged a point at the least in three of their previous four games here.

With Werder Bremen yet to hit the ground running on the road, FC Koln are the front runners to come away with all three points in this one.

Be that as it may, the guests have done just enough to grab a share of the spoils in three of their outings so far. Taking into account that four of their previous five visits here have also ended as a tie, the safest punt to back would have to be a Draw no bet.

In addition, irrespective of the result, Werder Bremen have been consistent in getting their names on the scoresheet. Fifteen of the twenty-three goals that they have netted so far have come from their trips on the road.

Meanwhile, neither side have kept a clean sheet in three of their last five h2h meetings here. As such, count on both teams to find the back of the net this Saturday.

FC Koln vs Werder Bremen Betting tips

• Draw no bet: FC Koln @ 1.60 (3/5)

• Both teams to score @ 1.50 (1/2).

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Match Preview

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen
Germany – Bundesliga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 14:30 UK/ 15:30 CET
Venue: Opel Arena (Mainz).

After back-to-back losses against two teams from the lower tier, Leverkusen will be hell-bent on not to let the streak extend to three in a row. They will have to deal with the away handicap, and in the process deal with the inconsistent Mainz, who are trying to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-head (h2h)

• The last time these two met, Leverkusen won at this venue, 1-5.
• Bayer are on a three-game winning run against this opposition.
• Six of the former nine wins went to Leverkusen.
• Four of the previous six wins at this stadium went to the guests.
• The last six encounters at this stadium had goals from both teams.

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Match Preview

Leverkusen fans were starting to hope great things from their players after the team went on a rampage of six unbeaten games, which included wins over Atleti, Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Schalke etc. Keep note that these wins included tough fixtures from the Champions League.

However, the tough-fought loss against Juventus brought them back to ground, and ever since they have struggled to put forth a satisfactory performance.

This match-day, they have an opportunity to put an end to the dismal run.

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction

Mainz had made mincemeat out of Bremen the last match-day in the Bundesliga. The former were on the road, and still cruised to a comfortable, and dominating 0-5 victory on the road.

In the meantime, Leverkusen saw their struggles continue the previous game week, as they lost at home to Hertha. The hosts had tried their best to salvage at least a point from the fixture, but Hertha held on to a narrow 0-1 scoreline at the end.

This match-day, the desperation of Bayer to get back on track will surely play a role in determining the outcome of the game. After recording impressive wins against some of the best teams in Germany, and in the world, they have found life hard the previous three match-days.

Likely, they will try their best to take it out on the inconsistent Mainz, from the lower tier.

Keep note that Leverkusen are on a three-game winning run against this opponent, and that the latest such encounter had ended in a massive 1-5 victory for Bayer, as well. They have also registered six of the previous nine overall h2h wins, and four of the prior six at this stadium.

In addition, also consider the fact that Mains have conceded three or more goals in four of the prior six face-to-face encounters at their home, and that they have succeeded just twice in keeping clean sheets in such games since 2004.

Moreover, Mainz are currently placed just above the relegation zone, and they have conceded three goals more than the dead-last placed Paderborn.

In the meantime, understand that Leverkusen need a surplus of just one point over Freiburg to get into the European spots, while the latter are pitted against Schalke the upcoming match-day.

Suffice it to say, Leverkusen have the motivation to go after the three points, and they have the backing of logic too. As such, count on Bayer to emerge victorious this weekend.

However, do take into consideration the away handicap of Leverkusen, and the fact that they are on a three-game losing run at present. Also, the past six h2h encounters at this venue have had goals from both teams, and in the previous 15 years, only once have Mainz failed to find the back of the net here in such games.

Finally, keep in mind that Mainz have scored twice or more in four of the last five h2h battles at home, and all these reasons combine together to pick out the BTTS as a firm favorite for punters this Saturday.

Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen Betting Tips

• Bayer Leverkusen to Win @ 1.83 (5/6)

• Both Teams to Score @ 1.44 (4/9).

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg Prediction & Match Preview

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg
Germany – Bundesliga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 14:30 UK/ 15:30 CET
Venue: Red Bull Arena (Leipzig).

There might be considerable distance between the teams in the table, but do take into account the fact that these two are currently the most in-form teams in the Bundesliga. Likely, we are in line for one of the best games this weekend in Germany.

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg Head-to-head (h2h)

• The last time these two met, Leipzig won 1-2 on the road.
• Two of the former three games had ended in draws.
• Augsburg have scored a total of one goal from the preceding four clashes.
• Leipzig hold a 100% unbeaten record in league games at home.
• Augsburg had failed to score in their last two visits to this venue.

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg Prediction

The winning streak of Leipzig in the league was brought to an end the last match-day by Dortmund. The former had taken a trip to the Signal Iduna Park, and took part in a six-goal thriller, with either team chipping in with three goals apiece.

Meanwhile, Augsburg put their home status to good use, as they romped to a 3-0 win over Dusseldorf the previous game week. The home advantage, coupled with the fact that Dusseldorf are comparatively new members of the league, probably contributed to Augsburg’s win.

Home advantage has a huge potential role to play this weekend as well, considering it’s the current toppers of the Bundesliga in front of their home crowd. Leipzig, and Monchengaldbach are giving some serious competition to the Bavarians for the league title this season.

Both challengers are four points above the Munich outfit, but Leipzig arises as even more of a threat due to their incredible offensive talent. They have scored the most number of goals in the competition, and have conceded the second-fewest of all the squads in the table.

Moreover, along with Bayern, and Dortmund, they remain the only team to have touched the 40-goal mark, and are one of only three teams to limit the number of conceded goals below 20.

In addition, they have lost just twice this whole league season, and just once in front of the home crowd. The team is also on an eleven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, and had recorded eight wins in the process.

At home, they have won four of their prior five appearances, and even scored a total of 17 goals from the previous four home fixtures.

Moreover, Leipzig have lost just once against this opponent since 2013, and have conceded just once against them from the preceding four such battles. Importantly, at this venue, they hold a 100% unbeaten record in Bundesliga h2h games, and a 100% winning record disregarding a single goalless draw.

Taking into account these observations, count on the toppers Leipzig to do their best on the pitch to secure another win.

However, do note that Augsburg are in form as well. They are on an unbeaten run of seven match-ups, of which six were wins, and have lost just once in their preceding eleven games. On the road, they are on another impressive run of six invincible match-ups, and won four of these as well.

In addition, Augsburg have scored a total of 18 goals from their last six overall matches, and scored four or more goals in three of their last six trips on the road.

Considering this stupendous form, it would be illogical to think that Leipzig would be keeping a clean sheet despite being the favorite to post the three points.

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg Betting Tips

• RB Leipzig -1 Asian Handicap @ 1.40 (2/5)

• Both Teams to Score @ 1.67 (2/3).

Torino vs SPAL Prediction & Match Preview

Torino vs SPAL
Italy – Serie A
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (Turin)

Torino will be looking to secure back-to-back home league victories for the first time this season when they take on last-placed SPAL on Saturday night.

Torino vs SPAL: Head-to-head (h2h)

• Overall Stats (4 games): Torino 2 wins, 2 Draws.
• Torino have won both home games against SPAL.
• The Granata have scored at least one goal in 3 of 4 meetings vs Gli Spalini.
• Both last season’s games had under 2.5 goals.

Torino vs SPAL: Predicted Starting Lineups

Torino (3-4-1-2): Sirigu – Izzo, Nkoulou, Bremer – De Silvestri, Rincon, Baselli, Ansaldi – Berenguer – Zaza, Belotti.

SPAL (3-5-2): Berisha – Cionek, Vicari, Igor – Strefezza, Murgia, Missiroli, Kurtic, Di Francesco – Paloschi, Petagna.

Torino vs SPAL: Prediction

Walter Mazzarri’s side remained 9th in the Serie A standings following a six-goal thriller at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi which saw the guests going three goals ahead and Verona staging a great comeback with three goals in a fifteen-minute spell.

With 21 points on the board, Torino are tied with Napoli and AC Milan and seven points off of sixth-placed Atalanta. The Granata have won three of their last five league outings.

‘Il Toro’ logged three wins, two draws and three defeats in their own backyard, scoring a goal per match and conceding 1.25 per bout. They’ve beaten Fiorentina 2-1 in latest home fixture.

Iago Falque, Lyanco, Bonifazi, Parigini and Edera are all out with injuries for the hosts.

SPAL have taken their winless streak to nine games after suffering a 1-3 defeat against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Leonardo Semplici’s men were 1-0 up at half-time, but the free-flowing Giallorossi turned the game around quickly.

With 2 wins, 3 draws and 11 defeats to their name, Gli Spalini are last-placed, six points behind safety and they will be hoping to upset the hosts and take their points tally to double digits.

The Ferrara-based outfit are the league’s worst away side with a sole point from eight road games. They’ve scored two goals and shipped 14 (1.75 per match).

D’Alesandro and Fares are long-term absentees for the guests, Reca is one week away from full fitness.

The hosts are projected to start in attacking 3-4-1-2 formation with Alex Berenguer operating behind Simone Zaza and recovered Andrea Belotti.

I fancy them to score over 1.5 goals in this one, but I don’t trust them to keep a clean sheet after that horror show in last twenty minutes against the Scaligers.

Gli Spalini ended their six-game goal drought on their travels with goals against Inter and Roma and I’m willing to back them to net again.

Torino vs SPAL: Betting Tips

• Torino to score over 1.5 goals @1.83

• Both teams to score – Yes @1.97.

Udinese vs Cagliari Prediction & Match Preview

Udinese vs Cagliari
Italy – Serie A
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 14:00 UK / 15:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Friuli (Udine).

With the W-D-L record of 4-3-9, Udinese are 17th, two points above the pit and they will be hoping to take down high-flying Sardinians before the mid-season break.

Udinese vs Cagliari: Head-to-head (h2h)

• Overall Stats (38 games): Udinese 21 wins, Cagliari 10 wins, 7 Draws.
• Udinese have 13-4-2 home record vs Il Sardi.
• Both teams have scored in 4 of the last 6 head-to-head duels.
• Four of their last six meetings had over 2.5 goals.
• Udinese have won both last season’s games (2-0h, 2-1a)

Udinese vs Cagliari: Predicted Starting Lineups

Udinese (3-5-2): Musso – De Maio, Troost-Ekong, Nuytinck – Ter Avest, Fofana, Mandragora, de Paul, Stryger Larsen – Okaka, Lasagna

Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Rafael – Cacciatore, Klavan, Pisacane, Pellegrini – Oliva, Cigarini, Ionita – Nainggolan – Simeone, Joao Pedro

Udinese vs Cagliari: Prediction

The Zebrette find themselves flirting with relegation zone following a defeat to Juventus (1-3), their third in last five league matches. Luca Gotti’s men are leaking goals again, especially in the first half, as both Lazio and Bianconeri bagged three before the break.
With the W-D-L record of 4-3-9, Udinese are 17th, two points above the pit and they will be hoping to cause an upset against high-flying Sardinians before the mid-season break.

Udinese have recorded three wins, two draws and three defeats at Friuli this season, scoring 0.63 goals per game and shipping 1.13. 73% of their points have been earned at home and they held Napoli to a 1-1 draw in their latest home fixture.

Samir is out with an injury, Jajalo and Sema are doubtful to make it.

Cagliari’s historic thirteen-game unbeaten run came to an end as they fell to a heartbreaking 1-2 loss to Lazio after conceding two goals in the stoppages.

Following Roma’s win over SPAL, Rolando Maran’s side are now out of the top four, three points behind Giallorossi and, perhaps more importantly, five points clear of Europa League chasing pack. They have one more team to face before the transfer window opens.

The Sardinians logged three wins and four draws on the road this season, netting 1.71 goals per match, whilst conceding a goal per bout.

Birsa, Castro, Pavoletti, Cragno and Ceppitelli are on the sidelines, first-choice goalie Olsen and influental midfielder Nandez are suspended.

I’m loving the BTTS – Yes bet here, even with Udinese’s dreadful numbers.

The hosts have bagged at least one goal in four of the six games under Luca Gotti and they tend to do well against Cagliari at Friuli. The visiting side have conceded two goals or more in last five league matches and scored two goals in each of their last three away games.

As for my second bet, I will take Over 1 (Asian Total) in the first half since Zebrette are prone to conceding early goals against attacking sides I expect to see an aggressive, hungry Cagliari from the get-go.

Udinese vs Cagliari: Betting Tips

• Both Teams to Score – Yes @ 1.75

• First Half Goal Line – Over 1 (Asian Total) @ 1.98.

Valladolid vs Valencia Prediction & Match Preview

Real Valladolid vs Valencia
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Estadio José Zorrilla (Valladolid).

Valencia are trying their best to get into the top-most tier, but La Liga has been uncharacteristically and severely competitive this season. Still, they are on an unbeaten run as of now, while their counterparts have not won a single league encounter in the last five attempts. Likely, Valencia hold the upper hand this weekend.

Real Valladolid vs Valencia Head-to-head (h2h)

• The last time these two met, Valencia won 0-2 on the road.
• The latest Valladolid win had come back in 2009.
• Valencia have conceded just one goal from the previous three clashes.
• The last the hosts won at this venue was back in 2003.
• Seven of the preceding twelve match-ups at this stadium saw the home team failing to find the back of the net.

Real Valladolid vs Valencia Prediction

Valladolid were on the road the prior game week, and had taken on the top-tier team Getafe. Expectedly, the former had a tough outing, and were subjected to a 2-0 loss.

Meanwhile, Valencia will be cursing their defensive lapse right at the end of the game the previous match-day. They had the home advantage, and were leading 1-0 against the mighty Real Madrid even in the injury time.

But, Karim Benzema broke the hearts of the home fans with a 90+5th minute equalizer.

This sense of hurt will definitely act as a driving force for Valencia. They had to miss out on a famous win by the tiniest of margins, and will certainly look for reparations.

Current form, and the stature of the team are firmly on their side this weekend. Valencia are easily one of the best teams in Spain, and are perennial contenders for the Champions League spots.

To quote an impressive trivia, last season, they took the fourth and final CL ticket in the 38th match-day, and even defeated defending champions Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.

On the other hand, Valladolid had gained promotion to the top flight just the season before, and have yet not established themselves as a firm contender in the La Liga.

Moreover, as of now, they are winless in their previous five games in the league, and embarrassingly have not scored a single goal in these five fixtures. They have also failed to find the back of the net in their prior two home appearances.

In addition, Valencia have remained unbeaten against this opponent in the past decade, and at this venue, their last such win had come sixteen years back.

Furthermore, Valladolid have failed to score against Valencia in seven of the previous twelve h2h meetings at this venue, while the guests scored four or more goals in two of their prior five visits here.

Taking into consideration these factors, it’s adjudged that Valladolid are massively on the back-foot this weekend, and are expected to suffer. Meanwhile, Valencia will try to make full use of this opportunity to continue their unbeaten run, and be in contention for the top-four spots.

As such, it’s in the best interests of the punter to back a comprehensive Valencia win.

Real Valladolid vs Valencia Betting Tips

• Valencia to Win @ 2.20 (6/5)

• Valencia to Score in First Half @ 1.60 (3/5).

Villarreal vs Getafe Prediction & Match Preview

Villarreal vs Getafe
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 17:30 UK/ 18:30 CET
Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica (Villareal).

After a rocky start to their season, Getafe are back to what they do best. They may be on the road this weekend, but Villarreal surely have reasons to be worried taking into consideration their recent off-form.

Villarreal vs Getafe Head-to-head (h2h)

• The last time these two met, spoils were shared with a 2-2 scoreline.
• Both teams scored in the previous two clashes.
• The biggest win in the past decade belongs to Getafe, with a 4-0 scorecard.
• At this venue, the most recent encounter ended in a 1-2 victory for the guests.
• Four of the preceding seven wins at this stadium went to Villarreal.

Villarreal vs Getafe Match Preview

Getafe are in revenge-mode this season. Last time around, they were in contention for a Champions League spot till the very last match-day, but missed out on it to Valencia.

As of now, Getafe are placed above the likes of Atleti, and are lagging behind leaders Barcelona by just six points. Also keep note that all three teams above Getafe in the table are winless in their respective last two league games, while they are on a six-match winning run in all competitions.

Suffice it to say, La Liga fans should expect great things from the team this season.

Villarreal vs Getafe Prediction

Villarreal were on the road the last game week in the La Liga, and they had taken on tough customers Sevilla. Still, the team held on to record a narrow win of 1-2.

In the meantime, Getafe kept their winning streak going on in their latest league battle. Aided with the home advantage, they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Valladolid.

This weekend, recent form emerges as the major pointer in determining the impending outcome of the game. Getafe have won their previous six fixtures on the trot, and are unbeaten in their last eight.

Do keep note that the stretch of games even included difficult Europa League fixtures. In fact, this whole season, other than in the EL, Getafe have lost against Just Barcelona, Atleti, and Sevilla – all titans of the Spanish top flight.

Furthermore, the team has also conceded just a single goal from the prior six matches combined, and just two from the last eight.

Going on, they were unbeaten in 13 of their last 16 on the road, and are on a winning run of three games in the previous three road trips. And impressively, they have failed to score away from home just against Sevilla, and Atleti this whole 2019-20.

On the other hand, Villarreal were winless in six of their former eight overall match-ups, and one of the very few wins in the process had come in the Copa del Rey against minnows. They also had a three-match losing run in the midst of this stretch.

Finally, while Villarreal are usually tough contenders at home, they have been misfiring these days at the Estadio de la Ceramica. In fact, they are winless in their prior three appearances here, and have scored just a single goal in the process.

Likely, count on them to come up short against the in-form visitors, and as such, a bet favoring Getafe should bring good returns this Saturday.

Villarreal vs Getafe Betting Tips

• Double Chance: Getafe or Draw @ 1.70 (7/10)

• Getafe to Win Either Half @ 2.20 (6/5).