European football acca: Barcelona to beat Atletico heads fourfold
Published:La Liga and Ligue 1 offer top-of-the-table clashes this weekend as Spanish leaders Barcelona host Atletico Madrid and French table-toppers Lyon travel to Paris Saint-Germain
Over in Italy, title challengers Napoli welcome lowly Bologna and the Bundesliga concludes for the winter break as Werder Bremen entertain Nuremberg.
It may not be particularly exciting – or indeed offer long odds – but backing the four home sides to come out on top here gives a good chance of giving a return at over 9/2.
Barcelona to beat Atletico Madrid @ 3/10
It’s a Barcelona Madrid one-two at the top of La Liga this season, but Real are third. That’s because the Spanish capital’s historically smaller club Atletico are on fire this season.
Los Colchoneros are second in the league and five points ahead of their local rivals, with coveted frontman Falcao having scored five goals during their last match in the league.
But the visitors are still a long 15/2 for their trip to face Tito Villanova’s Barca, who only seem to have improved after club legend Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Lionel Messi is literally scoring goals for fun, having added two more to his 2012 total during the midweek Copa del Rey victory after breaking Gerd Muller’s record of the most goals in a calendar year with a double against Real Betis.
The Catalan side look set to dispatch an impressive Atletico with Messi in the form of his life, and they will be buoyed going into this clash having beaten their opponents 5-0 in this fixture last season.
PSG to beat Lyon @ 8/11
It’s the big one in France as cash-rich PSG take on traditional Gallic heavyweights Lyon at the Parc des Princes.
Despite flattering to deceive at times this season, Carlo Ancelotti’s capital outfit won their Champions League group and have just recorded back-to-back 4-0 league wins.
The Parisians have won this league fixture three times out of the last four, and can take Lyon’s spot at the top of the table on goal difference by grabbing all three points here.
Napoli to beat Bologna @ 4/11
Edinson Cavani may not be at Napoli for much longer if the rumours linking him with a switch to the Premier League are to be believed, but he can inspire his current side to victory over Bologna.
Napoli are third in Serie A and fighting for the title, while Bologna are struggling at the other end of the table without an away win in six outings.
Cavani scored in the last two league meetings between these sides at Stadio San Paolo, and could score his fifth goal in just four games when he spearheads the hosts attack against the Rossoblù.
Werder Bremen to beat Nuremberg @ 17/20
These two mid-table Bundesliga sides will be desperate to sign off for the winter break with a win, but Bremen can use home advantage to take the three points against Nuremberg.
The hosts are two points better off in the league and have won three of their last four league fixtures at the Weserstadion.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
