The holiday weekend continues with some top-quality action today including four Premier League games featuring Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, however there are top-flight games in all the major European leagues.
EPL:
FULHAM VS CHELSEA
Fulham Preview: Pushing for Europe
Marco Silva has been the subject of links to Tottenham Hotspur for this summer but the Portuguese coach has enjoyed an impressive spell and once again another season in charge of Fulham as the Cottagers now chase European qualification this season.
However, their push for the top eight and potential UEFA Europa Conference League football was dealt a bit of a blow in midweek as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium due to a strike from Antoine Semenyo within the first 60 seconds.
Chelsea Preview: Underwhelming Blues
Since mid-December, Chelsea have been underperforming and that even continued in midweek as the Blues suffered a 2-1 loss to Legia Warsaw in the second-leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final tie, winning by four goals to two on aggregate.
Enzo Maresca’s side also once again struggled in the Premier League last weekend as they shared a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge in a game in which supporters loudly expressed their discontent at going 2-0 down at home to relegation-bound opposition.
Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction
Fulham have been frustrating for their supporters this season with some excellent performances and results almost always being followed by a deflating defeat. That lack of consistency is exactly what they are: mid-table. A good run would likely give them a top eight finish, though, and they now have a game whereby they have done well against a bigger side at Craven Cottage and the lack of form of Chelsea and apparent trust in the coach would suggest a home win is a good value bet for this one.
Fulham vs Chelsea Tip: Double chance – Fulham to win or draw
IPSWICH VS ARSENAL
Ipswich Preview: Too little too late
Ipswich Town have dropped way too many points throughout the season but it has shown that they have been able to be competitive without an overall effectiveness this year and that continued last weekend with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea last weekend.
The Tractor Boys went 2-0 up before half-time in that clash with the Blues thanks to strikes from Paraguay international attacker Julio Enciso and defender Ben Johnson but Chelsea fought back with second-half goals from Jadon Sancho and an Axel Tuanzebe own goal.
Arsenal Preview: Gunning for more in Europe
In midweek, Arsenal put in an impressive and mature performance to comprehensively knock defending champions Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage by five goals to one on aggregate with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu.
Bukayo Saka endured a fairly humiliating penalty miss early on in the second-leg but the England international then produced an excellent second-half finish before Gabriel Martinelli won the match on the night deep into second-half stoppage-time.
Ipswich vs Arsenal Prediction
Ipswich Town have shown an ability to take the game to any team in the division and have taken the lead on several occasions. They will now seek, with the pressure off as relegation nears closer to being mathematically confirmed, to exploit the emotional and physical fatigue that Arsenal may be feeling. The Gunners will likely heavily rotate at Portman Road and it could well be a good bet to side with the hosts for this one on Easter Sunday.
Ipswich vs Arsenal Tip: Double chance – Arsenal to win or draw
MAN UTD VS WOLVES
Man Utd Preview: Historical victory
In midweek, with the aggregate score beginning at 2-2, Manchester United went into a 2-0 lead at home to Olympique Lyonnais in the second-leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final before Lyon produced a comeback to take the game into extra-time despite going down to ten.
Then, despite being down to ten men, Lyon went into a 4-2 lead in Manchester in the second-half of extra-time. However, with three late goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and then Harry Maguire, Manchester United produced one of the all-time European comebacks.
Wolves Preview: Impressive Wolves
Ever since the appointment of former Porto boss Vitor Pereira in mid-December, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been much-improved as they try to push themselves further into the middle-of-the-table and well clear of the bottom three and the relegation places.
Their impressive run of form continued last weekend as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur by four goals to two at Molineux thanks to an own goal as well as strikes from Jorgen Strand Larsen, Rayan Ait-Nouri as well as the returning Matheus Cunha.
Man Utd vs Wolves Prediction
Manchester United produced a remarkable comeback in midweek and that will overshadow an hour of football that had them on the verge of one of their more humbling and embarrassing defeats in a decade chocked full of humiliating losses – one of which came last weekend as they were hammered 4-1 by Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Wolves simply look more cohesive and well adjusted than United under Pereira and, even away from home, will fancy their chances of exploiting a disorganised side that may well be feeling some physical and emotional fatigue at Old Trafford this weekend.
Man Utd vs Wolves Tip: Double chance – Wolves to win or draw
LEICESTER CITY VS LIVERPOOL
Leicester Preview: Awful Foxes
Leicester City ended a run of form whereby they hadn’t scored since January by earning themselves a surprise 2-2 draw against European chasing Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium down on the south coast last weekend.
The Foxes went behind to a 31st minute penalty scored by Joao Pedro before they then equalised a few minutes later via Stephy Mavididi. Another Joao Pedro penalty put them behind again but they earned a point in the 74th minute via Caleb Okoli.
Liverpool Preview: Winning it with ease
Liverpool have endured a difficult month or so with UEFA Champions League elimination, an EFL Cup final defeat, rumours surrounding the exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold and some average form in the Premier League but the Reds can still clinch their 20th English title this weekend.
They put in another lacklustre performance against struggling West Ham United at Anfield last weekend with Luis Diaz opening the scoring in the first-half before a mix up between Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson produced an equaliser but the former then won the game late on.
Leicester vs Liverpool Prediction
Leicester City finally got themselves a goal, and two of them, as well as a point last weekend but they remain arguably the worst team in the league because, frankly, league tables do often lie despite what many will say. Liverpool, though, have been the most consistent and competent team this season and if Ipswich defeat Arsenal before this game then the Reds will be crowned champions. Regardless of the permutations, a comfortable Liverpool will be expected to win this one quite comfortably.
Leicester vs Liverpool Tip: Liverpool to win -1 handicap
SERIE A:
AC MILAN VS ATLANTA
AC Milan Preview: Rossoneri frustration
AC Milan begin the 33rd match day of the 2024/25 Serie A season sitting outside of the top seven and the European spots with former Porto manager Sergio Conceciao struggling in the job despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana in his first two matches in charge in January.
The Rossoneri’s season is more or less defined by the upcoming second-leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie against arch-rivals Internazionale. They most recently hammered Udinese by four goals to nil last weekend, though, in Friuli.
Atalanta Preview: Much-needed respite
Atalanta went into Christmas in excellent form and perhaps even in contention for the treble but the Bergamasci have endured a difficult time of it, both on and off the pitch with in-fighting between manager and players as well as more or less a collapse in their performance level.
The visitors did, though, earn themselves a much-needed 2-0 defeat of Bologna in Bergamo last weekend at the Gewiss Stadium courtesy of two early first-half goals scored by Mateo Retegui and Mario Pasalic.
AC Milan vs Atalanta Prediction
AC Milan will hope to have discovered some much-needed fluency and form at San Siro last weekend with an excellent and slick performance against an admittedly coasting Udinese side who could fairly described as being ‘on the beach’. They face an Atalanta side that also enjoyed a morale boosting victory last weekend so both sides will be clinging to that and that desperation for a bit of confidence and form could shine through in an open game whereby both teams scoring would seem a good bet.
AC Milan vs Atalanta Tip: Both teams to score
BOLOGNA VS INTER MILAN:
Bologna Preview: Bologna need to bounce back
Following the departure of Thiago Motta as well as several key players last summer, Bologna have somehow gone on to be even better this time around under the management of former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano.
However, the Emilio-Romagna-based outfit do come into this one on the back of a rare defeat – just their fifth of the Serie A season – as they were beaten by two goals to nil in Bergamo against Gian Piero Gasperini’s faltering Atalanta.
Inter Milan Preview: Treble chasing Inter
Internazionale begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting back at the top-of-the-table in Serie A with a three-point lead over challenging Napoli. The Nerazzurri also have the second-leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie with AC Milan to look forward to.
As well as those domestic feats, Simone Inzaghi’s defending Italian champions also moved themselves into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in midweek as a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich at San Siro completed a 4-3 aggregate victory over the Bundesliga leaders.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Prediction
The fact that Bologna have surpassed expectations once again this season is a testament to Italiano and his coaching style and capabilities to manage the losses of last summer and immediately implement his own ideology to a successful standard. Inter are the classic ‘grind it out’ side but they do have more to their game in attack. However, with their focus on the treble this season, their eye has occasionally been off the ball in the league and siding with Bologna, especially at home, could well be the good value bet.
Bologna vs Inter Milan Tip: Double chance – Bologna to win or draw
LA LIGA:
REAL MADRID VS ATHLETIC BILBAO
Real Madrid Preview: Losing Los Blancos
Reigning European champions Real Madrid succumbed to a heavy 5-1 aggregate defeat in midweek as Arsenal defeated them by two goals to one at the Bernabeu in what was, in terms of the manner and character shown in the loss, fairly embarrassing for Los Blancos.
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to depart at the end of the season, albeit Madrid do have the Copa del Rey final to play against Barcelona in a Clasico but they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures in La Liga sitting four points behind the aforementioned league leaders Barca.
Athletic Bilbao Preview: Brilliant Basque
In comparison, Athletic Club continued their march to trying to win the UEFA Europa League at their home ground of San Mames next month with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Rangers in the Basque Country in midweek thanks to goals from Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet.
Ernesto Valverde’s side had appeared to be wobbling ever so slightly of late but they remain comfortably tucked inside the top four in La Liga and returned to some fluency last weekend with a comfortable and impressive 3-1 defeat of Rayo Vallecano at San Mames.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction
As mentioned, Real Madrid have not been close to the standard that they should be at with their squad and the standards that they have set. Los Blancos have struggled for fluency but the absence of Kylian Mbappe will allow them to search for what they had last year with Jude Bellingham’s late runs in behind Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. They face an Athletic side that have their full focus on the UEFA Europa League and could rotate quite heavily this weekend so siding with Madrid to get a much-needed win is a good bet for this one at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Tip: Real Madrid to win
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA:
DORTUMUND VS BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Borussia Dortmund Preview: Making ground
After having taken seven points from the nine available to them, Borussia Dortmund are charging towards those European spots. They are now only three points away from the top six and six points adrift of the top four. Niko Kovac has masterminded the revival after what has been a disasterous season otherwise.
Although Dortmund went out of the Champions League in midweek, the German giants deserve credit for the fight shown against Barcelona. Trailing 4-0 on aggregate, a Serhou Guirassy hat-trick helped them to a 3-1 victory in Germany, at least making Hansi Flick’s side sweat.
Borussia Monchengladbach Preview: Bounceback required
Borussia Monchengladbach are in danger of losing their grip on those European places and defeat here would represent a substantial blow to their chances. Their last Bundesliga fixture saw them beaten at home by two goals to one at the hands of Freiburg, ending what had been a three-game unbeaten streak.
Currently, Gladbach sit on 44 points and seventh-place heading into the weekend after Freiburg overtook them in the table. Another loss here would see them drop down even further with Dortmund breathing down their necks.
Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Monchengladbach Prediction
Despite going out of the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund looked really good vs Barcelona, adding on to what we’ve already seen from Niko Kovac’s men recently in the Bundesliga. Scoring goals freely again has been key, with Dortmund netting 12 goals across their last five matches in all competitions. Confidence is currently coursing through that frontline and their attacking firepower should see the hosts overwhelm Borussia Monchengladbach and lead Dortmund to victory here.
Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Monchengladbach Tip: Borussia Dortmund to win
LIGUE 1:
LILLE VS AUXERRE
Lille Preview: Searching for consistency
Following the departure of Paulo Fonseca to AC Milan last summer, former Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais boss Bruno Genesio have been as good as they were last season as they hover just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in Ligue 1.
The northerners had made themselves an extremely difficult to beat for any team in European football but they have since regressed to a more inconsistent run. However, they did manage to defeat Toulouse by two goals to one at Stadium de Toulouse last weekend.
Auxerre Preview: Steady Auxerre
Under the management of Christophe Pelissier, Auxerre have enjoyed an impressive campaign this season following their return to Ligue 1 football this season having gained automatic promotion to the top-flight last season.
They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting firmly in the middle-of-the-table but the visitors do come into this one on the back of a fairly comprehensive 3-1 defeat to the aforementioned Lyon in their most recent outing last week.
Lille vs Auxerre Prediction
Lille have continued to play the style of football that Fonseca initially implemented with an easy on the eye approach that sees them try to dominate possession but a lack of clarity in the final third, as well as the prolonged absence of Zhegrova, has hurt them. They do now face an Auxerre side that would be forgiven for now coasting and heading to the beach for the final few weeks of the campaign and Lille, especially with home advantage, should push themselves through to another vital three points.
Lille vs Auxerre Tip: Lille to win & under 3.5 goals
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
