The football action continues this weekend, both in the Premier League and the rest of Europe.
So which team should you bet on and what are the big stories? Our analysts are here to provide you with all the information you need for the EPL and more.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
Manchester United (+325) host Manchester City (-130) at Old Trafford, where United have won their last nine games in all competitions. City recently defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup third round, have the best goal differential (+29) in the EPL and beat United 6-3 in the first derby of the season. Who do you like this time?
Paul Carr: United have won all three games since the break by a combined 7-0. However, all three wins have come against teams from the last six, so I’m not convinced United have suddenly found an airtight defence. City have been mostly dominant since Boxing Day, recording two wins and a draw in which they beat Everton 16-2. City have won three games in a row against United, all by multiple goals, and I see no reason to expect otherwise in this one. i will take Town.
Dalen bracelet: United seemed to have turned the corner before the World Cup break and continued after. That being said, I still think City are in a different class. It was just the Carabao Cup, but City looked lifeless on Wednesday as their upset 2-0 loss to Southampton knocked them out of the competition. All of that, coupled with the fact that City continue to look at Arsenal and play against their rival, I think we’ll see the best they have to offer. I’m with Paul. Town to win, and the juice is also going down.
Daniel Thomas: Wow! Who would have thought this would be a debate at the beginning of the season? United are on a roll at the moment and City are, for lack of a better word, weird. You just don’t know what you’re going to get from Pep’s side. I’ll go for something of value and take United to do the job.
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Speaking of derby rematches, Tottenham Hotspur (+225) host Arsenal (+114) at the top of the table on Sunday. While Arsenal won the season opener 3-1 at the Emirates, Spurs have won the last three times these teams have met on home ground. Can they do it four in a row?
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Car: Maybe? These teams have met twice since Antonio Conte took over from Tottenham. Last May, Spurs won 3-0 at home after a 22nd-minute Harry Kane penalty opened the scoring, beating Arsenal 16-9 in the process. The Gunners won 3-1 in October, scoring three times in the first 35 minutes, then relying on Aaron Ramsdale to make several good saves in the second half. Any script is very possible again, and I anticipate goals one way or another. i will take more than 2.5 goals to -130.
Bracelet: First, the standard disclaimer: I’m an Arsenal fan, so bias will be shown. The Gunners dominated the Spurs for long periods in the meeting earlier this year. Spurs have struggled with slow starts so I was tipping Arsenal to score, 1st half at -110. Forget this. Were going arsenal to win on the road.
What do you watch in the other European leagues?
Thomas: It is the final of the Spanish Super Cup live on ABC, which will see Barcelona face Real Madrid. Both teams reached the final via penalty shootout and I’d be surprised if that’s not how this tie will play out on Sunday. I will take the tie after 90 minutes.
What is your best bet for the weekend?
Car: I will go with both teams to score at Nottingham Forest-Leicester City (-130). Forest have been decent at home all season, with 11 goals (and 12 expected goals) in 12 games, scoring in all but one. Leicester have been decent away from home, with 17 goals (13 expected goals) in nine games, scoring in each of them. Both teams have a bottom-five defence, so the goals should come, as they often do in Leicester’s away games.
Bracelet: They haven’t gotten the results they deserve, but I like the way Wolves have looked and how they’ve performed since Julien Lopetegui took over. I think that at home, against a West Ham United team that sometimes seemed lost, especially away from home (five points in nine games), Wolves Get the long-awaited three points (+165).
Source: news.google.com