While there is a massive day of action in the English Premier League on Sunday, it is worth noting that several fixtures across Europe could also have a huge bearing on the outcome of their respective league’s title races.
Here are the top five games taking place on the continent that are worth checking out.
Almeria v Real Madrid (6pm)
Jose Mourinho’s side sit two points behind rivals Barcelona in the race for the Primera Liga crown (Real 6/4 Outright) after 18 matches and they will be fully expected to leap-frog Pep Guardiola’s side for a short time on Sunday when they travel to face lowly Almeria.
Real have won six on their travels so far, while second-bottom Almeria have no wins on home soil from their opening eight matches to date so it appears that an away-day banker is on the cards.
Prediction: Cristiano Ronaldo 1st Goal & Real To Win 3-0 Scorecast @ 14/1
Barcelona v Malaga (8pm)
The reigning champions (1/2 Outright) are not expected to be off top spot for too long on Sunday as their home game against lowly Malaga kicks off shortly after Real’s game against Almeria concludes.
Barca have been in good form of late with a 4-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna last weekend consolidating their two point lead at the top of the table.
They should have far too much for Malaga, but it might not be as clear-cut as you would think as the opposition go into the match having won their last away game 2-1 at Sporting Gijon, while Barca struggled to see of Levante 2-1 in their last outing at the Nou Camp.
Prediction: Barca To Win 3-1 @ 11/1
Marseille v Bordeaux (8pm)
We will take a giant leap across The Pyrenees and into the south of France for our next game as the only match on Sunday sees a clash between two sides firmly embroiled in what is becoming a very congested battle for the French Ligue 1 crown.
Marseille (21/10 French Ligue 1 Outright) sit in fifth position but are only three points off Lille in top spot ahead of this weekend’s action which brings an end to the winter break.
Marseille went into the break having drawn two on the bounce, while seventh-placed Bordeaux did the same so it is set to be a close encounter at the Stade Velodrome.
Bordeaux could jump above Marseille in the table with a win so it is all to play for.
Prediction: Draw 1-1 @ 5/1
Lecce v AC Milan (7.45pm)
Into Italy’s Serie A now and all eyes will be on lowly Lecce as they look to try and slow down the Rossoneri’s march towards the title (10/11 Serie A Outright) on Sunday evening.
Milan are four points clear of the chasing pack but returned from the winter break last weekend looking out-of-sorts as they were forced to fight back from 3-1 down to eventually snatch an injury-time 4-4 draw against Udinese at the San Siro.
Meanwhile, Lecce may sit third-bottom in the table but they stunned third-placed Lazio with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico to boost their survival fight.
It is set to be closer than you would think but Milan should just about nick it.
Prediction: Milan To Win 2-1 @ 7/1
Eintracht Frankfurt v Hannover (2.30pm)
Moving up to Germany’s Bundesliga and, with Borussia Dortmund 13 points clear at the top, it does not look like there will be much of a title race in the second half of the campaign.
However, there is still an interesting battle for the Champions League and Europa League places going on beneath them and these two sides are firmly in the mix.
Eintracht Frankfurt are in seventh spot – but only seven points off second position – while Hannover are sitting pretty in fourth on 31 points.
Frankfurt inflicted Dortmund’s first away defeat of the season after eight successive wins just before the winter break in December so will return to action brimming with confidence after that 1-0 success.
Hannover have won four and lost four with no draws on their travels to date, but lost 3-1 at Nuremberg last time out on December 18.
Everything points to a home win, but I feel the visitors are long overdue an away-day draw.
Prediction: Draw @ 23/10
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