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Malaga vs Barcelona

This is important for Barcelona. They’re wo points off top, with Real within a victory of over taking them, and even Villarreal closing in in fourth place. With a fixture against league leaders Atleti coming next weekend, this is must-win for the Catalonians. But they’ve had it tough against Malaga in the past. Worryingly, relegation threatened Granada have more goals away from home than Barcelona, while Malaga have the best home defence in Spain. Missing Gerard Pique will give the current Malaga squad a chance of scoring their first goal against Barca at home in eight years. Their best hope is Roque Santa Cruz, but maybe throw a peso on Charles as well. But I think Suarez will do the damage in the second half at.

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Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla

Atleti won’t want to show any cracks and drop points at home to Sevilla. But the away side have only lost once in their last eight, and already have victories over Real and Barcelona this season. They’ll be gunning for revenge after the leaders beat them 3-0 in their own backyard. Diego Simone is unbeaten in fixtures against them though, and has a striker desperate to break the 100-goal mark in La Liga in Fernando Torres. El Nino’s last goal in May of 2015 took him to 99, and he’s to score anytime against Sevilla. If you’re smart though, you’ll back Griezmann at.  I don’t think Atleti will lose, but a draw at is tempting. If you think there’s an upset, take Gameiro anytime at

Real Betis vs Real Madrid

This one is a little bit dodgy, because we don’t know who’ll be on the pitch, and who’ll be on the sidelines. Betis are close to securing Juande Ramos as their new manager, and he could make his return against he team he was in charge of in a trophyless 2008-9 season. Gareth Bale is missing with another calf injury, and Karim Benzema is facing a late fitness test. Whether Cristano could steer his side past a sinking Betis is questionable. If Benzema plays, Madrid will win so a wincast isn’t the worst bet. But wait for news before splashing the cash.

Deportivo La Coruna vs Valencia

Gary Neville is fast learning the difference between punditry and management. He still hasn’t got a league win while in charge of Valencia. And against a side who have only lost two of their last eight games at home, I struggle to see how he can get one this weekend. I would be backing a score draw though at .Both teams have scored in over half of Valencia’s matches, and 60% of Deportivo’s.

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Barcelona vs Atletic Bilbao

This is looking quite an easy one on paper to predict. Barcelona will win. The 5-1 aggregate win at the start of August for Bilbao will give them hope, but the two sides have both changed incredibly since then. Just two wins since the start of December for Bilbao, compared to Barca who have only drawn twice since then, the rest victories. Bilbao are missing Aduriz and Raul Garcia so the pressure will be on Inaki Williams to score anytime at . But overall, a Barca win at

Real Madrid vs Sporting Gijon

Gijon did win in the Bernebau a couple of seasons ago, but there is no chance there will be a repeat of that. Sporting have to be careful as they could slip to the bottom of the table,maybe go all out defensive. But it still won’t be enough. Madrid are chasing down the top spot. Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema should ease them through a weak Gijon defense. The handicap of Madrid -3 could be worth a punt at, as is Gareth Bale first to score at

• Madrid have won their last four afternoon kick offs
• Gijon’s win in 2011 was their only one in the last seven years against Madrid

Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano

Gary Neville still needs his first win. And he’s going to get it here. Vallecano will put up a fight, but expect the home side to come out on top. I’m expecting there to be plenty of goals, maybe back over 3.5 goals . In terms of goalscorers, Negredo against his home town club at is value. Valencia to win at

• This fixture in the Copa Del Rey last year ended 4-4
• Vallecano have only won twice against Valencia since 2013

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To expand on some of the stats provided by Graham in the video:

• There hasn’t been an El Clasico draw in seven meetings. The last came in the Copa Del Rey in January 2013.
• If it’s a draw, it’s very likely to be of the score variety. All nine of their most recent stalemates have been score draws. It’s for the draw and both teams to score.
• The last El Clasico scoreless draw came in November 2002. Patrick Kluivert was leading the line for Barca while for Real, Steve McManaman came on for about the last half an hour.

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It’s not all about El Clasico however. It mainly is, but Graham also fancies the for Athletic Bilbao to claim a rare away win at Granada. Here are some of the keys stats.

• Athletic Bilbao are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions, winning the last five on the bounce
• Granada haven’t won in nine La Liga games.
• In addition to his tidy haul against Granada, has scored three goals in his last six appearances in all competitions.

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At the Camp Nou, just over a year ago Valencia stuck their leg out and Barcelona tripped flat on their face.

Effectively it was the defeat which cost Barça the title.

A win would have seen them pipping Atleti to win the league on goals scored.

Barça led 1-0, they pulled back to 2-2 but ended up losing at home to Valencia for the first time since Luis Enrique played against them in autumn 2003.

In fact Los Che’s previous six visits had all been defeats and they’d conceded a whopping 21 goals.

Paco Alcácer scored the winner that day and it may be worth noting that he has 3 in his last 5 since returning from injury and 12 for club and country this season.

Both Celta Vigo and Málaga have managed 0-1 wins at Camp Nou in the last few months – mainly by playing a terrific, but exhausting, pressing game which capitalises on one of those rare days when not only do Luis Enrique’s team make a single crucial mistake in defence but, somehow, look nervy and imprecise in front of goal.

So, if you fancy Valencia, how to calibrate your chances?

Last week in Sevilla Barcelona committed two pretty horrible mistakes, Claudio Bravo and Gerard Piqué ending up with fingerprints on the crimes, to toss away a 2-0 lead.

But in Paris on Wednesday, despite regularly gifting the ball to PSG, Barcelona finished devastatingly well.
It does feel like there’s been a drop in concentration in using the ball – perhaps Valencia will have their scoring chances.

FYI: Leo Messi has played Valencia twenty times scoring fifteen goals [nine of them at the Camp Nou]. However he’s only actually hit the net in eight of those twenty matches – ie less than half the time.

His goals come in clutches, sometimes threes and fours. Thus, if he scores and you’re ‘in-play’ you may fancy backing him to do so again?

Diego Alves is the best goalkeeper in @LaLiga. Check out his impressive numbers so far: http://t.co/pynqe6EYcj pic.twitter.com/mWDgHVrCpV

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) April 16, 2015

FYI[ii]: Diego Alves has always loved testing himself against Barcelona. Not only was he super in Barcelona’s 90th minute away win earlier this season [Sergio Busquets] he has often played absolutely unbelievably at the Camp Nou. Is he good enough to thwart Messi, Suárez and Neymar??

FYI[iii] Kick off times really shouldn’t be important in a grown-up world but, hey, astrologists still make a damn fine living from making things up in the newspapers so the world’s not perfect. Ergo, the last time Barcelona lost at home it was a Saturday and the kick off time was 4pm Spanish.

Just like this….. Again, if you are on this match ‘in-play’ don’t be fooled into believing that if it’s a draw with just a couple of minutes left, and with a return Champions League quarter final coming up on Tuesday, that Barcelona will ‘settle’.

They only have a two point lead over Madrid and nothing, nothing at all, other than a win here will serve if they are going to win the title.

Valencia choose from: Diego Alves, Yoel, Cancelo, Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Vezo, Orbán, Gayà, Javi Fuego, Felipe Augusto, Parejo, André Gomes, Feghouli, Rodrigo, De Paul, Negredo and Alcácer.

Neymar is back on goal form, Parejo’s worth a small investment, Alcácer too. Major pressure on the league leaders. None of the three results would be a shock but … perhaps Barcelona to demonstrate how much they want this title?

Hunter’s Tip: Both teams to score and Barcelona to win at 7/5 

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Deportivo v Atlético, Saturday 5pm

It’s a central theme of Atlético’s title-defence season – key players missing because of suspension.

Not disastrous here, only Gabi is out, but he’ll be followed by fellow midfielder Mario Suárez on Wednesday against Real Madrid. All of which means that a pretty remarkable story should keep growing.

Tiago said his goodbyes to fans and team mates after the Champions League final having failed to renew his contract with Atleti – a deal with Chelsea was as good as signed. But the Portuguese never put pen to paper, financial terms and his fear about how much playing time he’d get brought things to a grinding halt.

His agent got back in touch with Atleti and Diego Simeone insisted to the men in grey suits that he be re-hired.

#LaLiga // LATEST: Atlético Madrid 2-0 Getafe // Raul Jiménez assists Tiago who heads in from close range for #Atleti pic.twitter.com/F3GdtmGF7W — TalkingTikiTaka (@talkingtikitaka) March 21, 2015

Nice call Cholo. The Portuguese should start against Depor, he’s played 25 games in la Liga this season and, with five, is third top scorer for the reigning champions in their league defence.

It’s also his best goal total for eight years.

It may guide you that in six of the last seven Depor v Atleti fixtures at the Riazor there’s only been a single goal victory margin, or no goals at all.

Atleti choose from:
Moyá, Oblak, Godín, Siqueira, Gámez, Ansaldi, Juanfran, Miranda, Giménez, Tiago, Koke, Raúl García, Arda, Saúl, Cani, Griezmann, Raúl Jiménez and Fernando Torres.

No Mandzukic, no Mario, no Gabi – training suggests a likely XI of Oblak; Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Gámez; Tiago; Raúl García, Koke, Saúl, Arda; Griezmann

New coach Victor Sánchez brings back Luisinho and Juan Domínguez but Helder Postiga’s still out.

Victor chooses from:
Lux, Manuel Pablo, Álex Bergantiños, José Rodríguez, Lucas Pérez, Medunjanin, Juan Domínguez, Juanfran, Sidnei, Fabricio, Cuenca, Laure, Luisinho, Toché, Cavaleiro, Oriol Riera, Lopo and Fariña.

Hard and hostile for Atleti here – might they drop two points in a score draw? Not an outlandish idea I’d say.

Hunter’s Tip: Both teams to score and the match to finish as a draw at 7/2

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Real Madrid v Málaga, Saturday 7pm

The Málaga brand of football is pretty much like what they used to say about Guinness – sound as a pound on home territory, doesn’t travel well.

How Málaga need a widget.

In fact the this mob have proved the old Robert Louis Stevenson thing about it being ‘better to travel hopefully than to arrive’

In 32 visits to Real Madrid’s ground their happy northward journey has ended, embarrassingly, without a single victory.

However, might the fact that Madrid have the ‘Derbi’ against Atletico in the Champions League on Wednesday give Javi Gracia’s sprightly, fun-to-watch team an edge?

Might it, also, make them a bit more chipper about their chances that Karim Benzema, eight goals in his last nine appearances against Málaga, is out injured?

How much do an away win at the Camp Nou and a home draw with champions Atlético [last week] strip away the ‘beaten before we take the field’ malaise which affects so many of La Liga’s minor teams at the Bernabéu?

Those are some of your decisions.

“The fact that Málaga won at the Camp Nou has focussed our attention on them, it means we’ll not take them lightly” Carlo Ancelotti promised on Friday

In midweek Madrid were thwarted by a superb Jan Oblak performance. Without the 22 year old Slovakian performing heroics Carlo Ancelotti’s men would have scored three, maybe four times.

Is Carlos Kameni, a little flappy last week, capable of the same? Having made a habit of beating Madrid while at Espanyol [three of his first four game against them were wins] he’s tasted nothing but defeat in this fixture since joining Málaga.

Carlos Kameni, “The Wall”. Impresionantes las dos paradas que ha hecho en Los Cármenes para seguir manteniendo el 0-0 pic.twitter.com/8PjMQIM8gW

— Sphera Sports ® (@SpheraSports) March 7, 2015

Thirty two conceded in fifteen games. If this helps your punt you can be wholly sure that Gracia’s team will play to win. They’ll press, they’ll try to pass the ball forward whenever possible and they’ll not abandon their front-foot, passing game I hate to emphasise what John Cleese would call ‘the bleedin’ obvious’ but Cristiano Ronaldo is your ‘go-to’ man here. One of his best records is against Málaga – 13 in 14 meetings.

Might Modric be a dark-horse ‘anytime’ bet? He was pinging the ball at goal in midweek – shooting boots on. Should be fun, should be open … should be a home win by a two goal margin.

Madrid choose from: Casillas, Keylor Navas, Pacheco: Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho: Kroos, James, Bale, Lucas Silva, Modric, Isco, Illarramendi, Ronaldo, Chicharito and Jesé.

Hunter’s Tip: Real Madrid to win by exactly 2 goals at 3/1

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Granada v Sevilla, Sunday 4pm

Glass half-full or half-empty for Unai Emery? After Thursday’s dramatic and draining comeback win over Zenit [2-1] he’ll be pleased not to have to travel too far to play Granada on Sunday. But he could probably have done without the extra ‘edge’ of an Andalusian derby against a team desperate to claw its way out of the relegation threat they face.

.@UnaiEmery_: La vuelta será distinta pero hemos madurado mucho en saber competir los partidos http://t.co/FwIRzgdkTI pic.twitter.com/GPD4SdNR9X

— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) April 16, 2015

There’s also the extra buzz for what is an aggressive home support that Andalucia’s ‘big boys’, Sevilla, have only played at Los Cármenes three times in the last forty years. It’ll be like there’s a bounty on their heads. Regional pride will see to that.

Yet Granada have been surrender-monkeys recently – white flag at the Bernabéu when losing 9-1 a couple of weeks ago, a sea of white flags last weekend losing 3-0 at Almería

Your big evaluation here is: ‘when will Sevilla’s huge European exertions cost them a ‘hangover’ in La Liga?’

Not here you’d hope. This is a mighty season for Unai’s squad and it would be such a damp squib if it teetered now.

Bacca’s goal against Zenit made it seven scoring headers from Sevilla’s players in their last ten matches. It’d be logical if their second half impact won Denis Suárez and Mbia starting places on Sunday. Each of them, plus Aleix Vidal, might be worth backing.

Finally, Sevilla’s league season only has seven matches left. I don’t know if I can hold on that long without a lame Dick Emery joke. So long as they keep winning I won’t have to reach for …. ‘Ooh they are awful, but I like them…’

Hunter’s Tip: Sevilla -1 goal at 12/5

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Madrid are a bit like those of us who say: ‘I’m not a morning person’. Bleary, sluggish – but capable of erupting into a blitzkrieg of action after a wee coffee. The Serena Williams of the football world. Yeah?

At the beginning of the season they were a bit Rip Van Winkle in defeats to Atlético and Real Sociedad, looking short on turbo-power. Lacking a cutting edge. Carlo Ancelotti warned then that these effects were temporary, that his fitness work would click and that the players would impose their class. So it proved. They won five straight in the league hitting 25 goals.

Right now they are suffering similar effects to the early season torpor. The physical and mental demands of setting a record of 22 straight wins, the post Christmas-break sluggishness – these factors affected the last two defeats, 2-1 to Valencia and 2-0 to Atlético in La Copa.

The question is: will that spark return this afternoon?

Twice since 2008 Espanyol have popped up with a 2-2 draw at the Bernabéu but generally they are punchbags in this fixture.

Their coach, Sergio González, was co-author of one of the biggest shocks at this stadium, when Deportivo La Coruña won the Copa Del Rey at the Bernabéu beating Real Madrid on the day of their 100th birthday back in 2002. In fact he scored. A repeat would be epic – but also an epic shock.

Sergio García is, by a distance, Espanyol’s best player – European Championship winner with Spain in 2008. Barça-trained as a kid and Catalan to the core he’d presumably fancy augmenting his record of only having scored twice against Los Blancos and not having won once in 15 attempts. Sergio Ramos is rested, Rafa Varane, an out-of-reach Manchester United target, will partner Pepe in defence while Álvaro Arbeloa will keep his place at right back as Carvajal is suspended.

Perhaps the most tempting factor is that Cristiano Ronaldo is going to collect another Ballon D’Or trophy on Monday night and, showman that he is, you’d expect him to take personal responsibility for a win with the flurry of goals his game has been lacking for the last month. Madrid to win by a two goal margin (at 10/3), Ronaldo (2/1 to score first) and Varane (15/2 anytime) on the scoresheet. 

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Malaga v Villarreal – Saturday, 5pm

Two happy stories bump heads. Málaga thought they had won the lottery but it all went a bit Viv Nicholson for them as the money which Al Thani promised started to run dry, salaries weren’t paid and a Uefa ban came thumping down on them. The crash and burn effect of such run-ins with sudden wealth can be horrific but, somehow, the seaside club has not only taken the body blow in its stride … Málaga are damn impressive.

Their youth academy has produced them a clutch of terrific young talents, players who not only wear the shirt with extra pride but who have clear, mercurial talent with which the local fans passionately identify – hence the terrific attendances at the Rosaleda. [La Rosaleda holds 30,000 and the average crowd this season is over 25,000]

@Teseo9Javi Welcome to home @MalagaCF pic.twitter.com/rQ0u81IhZr

— Álvaro Fdez Ortega (@ertottimlg) January 5, 2015

Samuel García, Samu Castilejo, Juanpi, Portillo Juanmi and Sergi Darder are all 24 or under and have all spent healthy amounts of time in Málaga’s own youth system. Roque Santa Cruz has moved on so now there’s an emphasis on Nordin Amrabat turning his marauding form into goals … and avoiding injury a bit more.

Villarreal’s verve has been such a refreshing presence in La Liga that their bouncebackability after one season demoted was mega-welcome. Last year was consolidation, this season Marcelino has them playing terrifically attractive football where Denis Cheryshev, Bruno and Luciano Vietto stand out.

• The Yellow Submarine have scored in every single one of the 19 games they’ve played since losing 0-2 to Madrid in late September. They have scored in all but one of their 14 away matches this season and Villarreal have fifteen different scorers in all competitions. Málaga have scored in each of their last 14 matches so you might like a ‘both teams to score’ flutter at 4/5

Villarreal’s cavalier attitude cost them a win at Elche last week when from 2-0 up they drew 2-2 so perhaps their heavy programme [eight Europa League matches plus league and cup] is taking a toll. But back them to do no worse than a point in a score draw at 10/3, possibly an away win at 6/4.

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Celta v Valencia – Saturday, 7pm

‘Celta plays good football even though it hasn’t been going well for them over recent matches. ‘They are dynamic, they keep the ball well, they make chances – current results don’t reflect Celta’s real personality’.

Never truer words from Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno Espírito Santo respeta al Celta ▶ http://t.co/KSut7kapF3 pic.twitter.com/CANXIW94bB

— AS (@diarioas) January 9, 2015

Celta were good enough to beat Real Madrid at the dog-end of last season, draw at Atlético in September then record their first away win against Barcelona as ‘recently’ as November. After which, you’d guess, their coach Eduardo ‘Toto’ Berizzo must have dropped a consignment of mirrors.

Injuries, errors, bad luck and total confusion amongst his players about what those posts and nets are actually for – that’s been Celta since the win at the Camp Nou.

• They are 665 minutes without a league goal. Sixty seconds more and there might be a numerical clue about what’s going on.

Just to torture Toto a bit more Celta remembered how to score in the Copa del Rey, seven in the last thee matches, but completely forgot how to defend in the midweek Cup tie against Athletic Bilbao which they lost 4-2 at home.

Joaquin Larrivey, leading scorer, is still banned as a result of mistaken identity [ref hears insult, ref waves red card, striker suspended for four games despite being innocent party] but at least Nolito is back in the squad after injury.

Joaquín Larrivey se perderá dos partidos de Liga y dos de Copa http://t.co/oxFX5ix3Ya #Comunio pic.twitter.com/Zh5egJeSZ3

— ComunioES Noticias (@EScomunio) December 29, 2014

Two defenders, Cabral and Planas are absent so, as such, Valencia have a chance of maintaining their push for glory with an away win.

But their personality is as changeable as Scottish weather. They thumped champions Atlético in October, then went and waved the white flag at struggling Deportivo in the next game, losing 3-0. They gave Barcelona a chasing one week then barely scrambled a draw at Granada next time out. And Los Che dismantled Rayo in the league on December 13, 3-0, but three days later only drew 4-4 at home against the same side.

Valencia lost in Vigo last season, Charles scoring twice and he is worth a look again having hit the net against Athletic in midweek (15/8 anytime). Álvaro Negredo (23/10 anytime) doesn’t mind a goal against Celta, three in two, and his two goals in twelves matches since signing for Valencia don’t fully reflect his effort, chances or form . Score draw at 16/5 anyone?

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Barcelona v Atletico – Sunday, 8pm

The key is Messi. No change there I hear you say. Fine, but consider this.

• Leo Messi’s goal record against Atlético is 17 in 20 matches – not too shabby.

Now factor in the extra data.

• It’s seven games since Messi scored against Los Rojiblancos, across two long years.

Do the arithmetic. He treated Atleti like rag-dolls before – scoring 17 times in 13 matches. Since Diego Simeone really got hold of his squad there’s been a total Messi drought.

Correspondingly, Barcelona are now six games without a win against the current Spanish champions – one defeat and five draws. Atleti have got their number and that number is 10. The one on Messi’s back.

Barcelona are still, theoretically, competitive in this league because of their home form. Away from home they have become limper than a wet dish-rag. In the league at the Camp Nou they are averaging nearly four goals per game but here’s the key – Messi has scored 13 of his 15 Liga goals at the Camp Nou. If Atleti manage to clamp him with their defensive congestion charge then they’ve a chance of a draw or better.

If Messi, as electric and ‘involved’ as at any time this season when orchestrating the 5-0 Copa win over Elche on Thursday, wriggles free then Barça should win and strike a huge blow against the tidal wave of ‘crisis’ headlines which have engulfed them.

Little vignettes proliferate across this game. Luis Suárez against his international team-mate Diego Godín should be herculean. Mario Mandzukic’s last visit to the Camp Nou didn’t yield a goal but did give a 3-0 win for his Bayern side – the Croat versus Gerard Piqué will be worth admission money. Ivan Rakitic has three goals in ten matches against Atleti which doesn’t make him prolific but it’s as many as he’s scored against any opposition in his career and it was against Simeone’s team he incurred one of only two red cards in his career. Xavi’s absence may mean the Croat playmaker joins Busquets and Iniesta in the midfield three. Finally, Antoine Griezmann. Again. Opened his account against Levante last week, netting twice having never scored against them previously. He has two goals in his last two meetings with Barça but hasn’t ever scored at the Camp Nou. Take your pick. But the win/lose equation centres on Messi.

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The Championship is a notoriously difficult league to get out of, unless you are a side fresh out of League One. In recent seasons, Norwich and the Saints have made a mockery of the strength of the second tier.

Both clubs achieved automatic promotion in their first seasons, leaving established Championship clubs scratching their heads. Momentum is massive in any sport and those two clubs certainly had it.

Those success stories will have no doubt given Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town real belief this summer.

Out of the three teams promoted from League One last term, Sheffield Wednesday (6/1 to be promoted) are perhaps the best placed to challenge for a second successive promotion.

The Owls will face a test of their credentials when they make the long trip down to Brighton & Hove Albion (Brighton 21/20, draw 12/5, Sheff Weds 5/2).

Brighton were in Sheffield Wednesday’s position in 2011-2012 and began impressively, before fading away. They will have learnt from that experience and will be better equipped to challenge this season.

Seagulls boss Gus Poyet made a number of eye-catching signings in the summer, with the likes of Stephen Dobbie and Andrew Crofts making the switch to the south coast.

Wednesday, too, were active during the transfer window. Jay Bothroyd has the ability to take the Championship by storm, while Rodri offers Dave Jones’ side continental flair.

The two clubs go into the clash at the Amex Stadium with seven points from their opening four matches, an encouraging start to a gruelling Championship campaign.

Wednesday fell to a disappointing defeat at Crystal Palace last time out and will be desperate to get back on track. They will find life difficult at Brighton, but have enough quality to emerge with a point (1-1 draw 11/2).

Friday’s other clash sees Charlton face Crystal Palace in a south London derby at The Valley (Charlton 10/11, draw 5/2, Palace 3/1).

The Addicks were the dominant side in the third tier last term and have already made an impression in the Championship – earning a creditable draw at Birmingham City on the opening day before beating pre-season favourites Leicester City at home.

Chris Powell has largely stuck with the squad which won him the League One title, with only six players making the switch to The Valley in the summer.

The most notable of which was former Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller (7/1 first goalscorer). The Jamaica international has a tendency to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but does have the ability to change games, particularly at this level.

Palace go into tomorrow’s match on the back of a morale-boosting victory over Sheffield Wednesday. The Eagles had lost their opening three games and looked devoid of confidence.

Dougie Freedman brought in David Goodwillie on a short-term loan on the final day of the transfer window. The Scotland international is the type of player who could fire Palace to a shock derby win (Goodwillie-Palace 2-1 66/1 – Scorecast).

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Liverpool v Hearts – 8:05pm

What a difference a week can make, especially if you are Brendan Rodgers. Seven days ago it appeared as though the knives were being sharpened after the opening-day debacle at West Brom. Had the Reds followed that 3-0 defeat up with another loss at Hearts in the first leg of their play-off clash then Rodgers may have become a marked man.

As it was, Liverpool rode their luck a bit as they picked up a 1-0 win thanks to an own goal from Andy Webster. Rodgers’ men have since followed that up with a good showing against Manchester City, when only two individual mistakes cost them all three points.

Given their advantage from the first leg, and with a game against Arsenal to come on Sunday, Liverpool will do well not to look beyond the Jambos. The Reds are 2/9 to win the match, with Hearts 12/1 and the draw 5/1.

Rodgers will hope he can keep his players focused on the job in hand and he should name another strong starting XI after fielding some big names in Edinburgh last week.

Nuri Shain could make his debut after failing to sign in time to face City at the weekend, while Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Adam Morgan are all pushing for starts. Andy Carroll could make his first start of the season against Hearts as Fabio Borini continues to struggle since his switch to Anfield.

Whoever starts for Liverpool will be expected to produce a professional performance as they look to do enough to reach Friday’s draw.

Hearts probably had their chance to cause an upset in the first leg and Liverpool’s extra quality should tell. The Reds are 6/1 to win 2-0 and 13/2 to run out winners 3-0.

Newcastle United v Atromitos Athens – 8pm

Last week we tipped the draw as being a good result for Newcastle in the first leg of their tie with the Greeks. Considering the team Alan Pardew put out and the conditions in Athens it was certainly an excellent result to record a 1-1 draw.

The Toon boss will more than likely keep faith with the majority of the players who did so well in the first leg, with Vurnon Anita, Gael Bigirimana and Romain Amalfitano all set to make their first starts at St James’ Park.

While the fans are desperate for a few European away days you get the sense Pardew would rather keep the club’s focus on the Premier League as they aim to build on last season’s success.

Given the Toon’s fairly small squad a European campaign is likely to take its toll and their league form may suffer as a result. Certainly they weren’t as good as they can be against Chelsea on Saturday, two days after the first leg with Atromitos.

The Greeks have responded well to the disappointment of drawing the first leg, winning the opening match of the season in their domestic league.

However, much like Hearts at Liverpool, a combination of home advantage and a bit of extra quality should make the difference. Newcastle are 4/11 for the win, with the draw 7/2 and Artomitos 8/1.

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Serie A

Catania boss Vincenzo Montella has called on his side to become more ruthless in front of goal after their slide down the Serie A table of late.

Parma visit the Sicilian side on Sunday in what could well be a tight contest. Parma started the season strongly, but have slipped down the league themselves after their bright opening to the campaign, but they are still a hard team to beat.

Montella may be eager for his side to get back to winning ways, but a draw could be on the cards in this particular fixture, which can be backed at 11/5.

Inter Milan endured an abysmal start to the campaign but the Nerazzurri are in a rich vein of form and have won their previous seven league games to close the gap on current pacesetters Juventus and AC Milan.

Inter travel to Lecce and can be backed at 8/13 to take all three points, and it is hard to see Lecce getting anything out of this fixture despite the fact they enjoy home advantage.

AC Milan are just a point behind Juventus, who host third placed Udinese this weekend and the San Siro side host Cagliari on Sunday.

The Rossoneri are the heavy 1/3 favourites to take all three points and they should have no problem in seeing off the Cagliari, who sit comfortably in mid-table despite a dip in form in the last few weeks.

An AC Milan-Inter Milan double pays out at just above evens and it is certainly worth considering backing the two Milan sides to secure victories this weekend.

La Liga

Malaga have been on a shocking run of late after a decent start to the season, with three losses and two draws in their last five La Liga fixtures.

Sevilla travel to La Rosaleda on Sunday in what promises to be an interesting affair and Sevilla are 9/4 to secure the win.

Sevilla have also endured a difficult run of form but they have picked up with two draws after three losses on the spin and could well take all three points at Malaga on Sunday.

Valencia lie third in the league but their form of late has been questionable and their midweek Copa del Rey exploits may have taken their toll ahead of the trip to Racing Santander.

Granted, Santander sit just above the relegation places and it will be a huge test for the strugglers but they have impressed in recent matches.

Valencia are the 11/10 favourites, while Racing can be backed at 12/5. The draw, which is priced at 9/4, could well be the best bet in this particular fixture.

Espanyol are a formidable side on home soil and the Barcelona-based club host Real Mallorca on Saturday. Espanyol are unbeaten in five, including a hard fought draw with city rivals Barcelona and look good value at 5/6 to take all three points.

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Man United v Arsenal (4pm)

This tie has often in the past been a meeting of the top two but the Gunners are currently enduring a six-year barren spell on the trophy front, while they have been firing blanks in picking up just one point from their first two games.

United boasted a tremendous record at Old Trafford last term on their way to winning a record 19th title and have opened up with two wins this season, including a 3-0 home thumping of Spurs on Monday night.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have been installed as the 8/15 favourites in the match betting, which is not surprising given their recent record against the Gunners – unbeaten at home in seven.

Arsenal are not the force they once were and are still trying to come to terms with the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri this summer, but are on offer at 11/2 to depart Old Trafford with maximum points.

That is a price that will tempt some on the back of a confidence-boosting, come-from-behind win at Udinese in midweek to secure Champions League football.

Arsenal will be hoping that defender Thomas Vermaelen passes a fitness test on Sunday given the way Wayne Rooney has started the season, two in two and 4/1 to open the scoring, but Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong are all out.

United could welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher but the youngsters have been deputising nicely and United have started the season in ominous form.

Tottenham v Man City (1.30pm)

Spurs have been a bogey side for City over recent seasons, winning 19 Premier League matches only bettered by Arsenal’s 20, and taking maximum points from 11 of the last 14 encounters.

The Lilywhites only lost one game at White Hart Lane last term, the second best home record in the league, but everyone is wary that money talks – and City have been doing a lot of talking.

The Citizens look a very real threat for honours this term and at 6/4 in the match betting, many will feel that price is too big to turn down, having opened up the season with two wins, scoring seven goals in the process.

Sergio Aguero (5/1 to score first) blasted on to the Premier League scene in emphatic style but such are the resources at Roberto Mancini’s disposal, the Argentina ace is not guaranteed to start – but who is now for the Blues?

Spurs have not been helped by the transfer saga surrounding Luka Modric and although he is expected to play some part on Sunday, there are still questions to be answered about his mindset.

Redknapp’s men are available at 2/1 to record a home win but Spurs won only three of their last 12 games last season, drew a league high of nine at home and do not keep clean sheets – not great stats going up against the money-men.

Newcastle v Fulham (1pm)

The Magpies are 11/10 favourites in the match betting despite having seen their squad weakened further by the departure of Joey Barton to QPR, but they should be buoyed by last weekend’s derby win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Alan Pardew’s men now have four points from two games and are yet to concede a goal, while Fulham (11/4 to win, Draw 23/10) have had to make the long trip to and from Ukraine in the Europa League.

The Cottagers suffered at Molineux last weekend, having done something similar, so it is difficult to see Martin Jol’s men getting anything from St James’s – especially as John Arne Riise and Simon Davies are on the casualty list.

West Brom v Stoke (3pm)

The fixture list has not been kind to the Baggies but impressive performances against Man United and Chelsea – albeit in 2-1 defeats – see them installed as the 11/10 favourites in the match betting to see off Stoke (11/4 to win, 23/10 the draw).

There has been cause for optimism for Roy Hodgson despite a start that has yet to yield a point but stat gurus will be fully aware that Stoke are very much a bogey side.

The Potters have lost only one (1-0 at the Hawthorns in 2003) of the last 27 league clashes between the two sides, winning seven of the last nine.

This season though could be the turn of the Baggies as Stoke are having to contend with the extra fixtures and travelling etc that participating in the Europa League brings.

Shane Long (11/2 to be the first goalscorer) has made an impressive start to life in the West Midlands with two goals in two games, although Matthew Etherington is back from suspension to boost the Potters attacking options.

Peter Odemwingie is pushing for a return to the starting line-up for Hodgson, who has no injury worries ahead of the clash, while Pulis could recall defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Robert Huth.

Enough has been seen to suggest West Brom should beat a side who needed a goal four minutes into injury time to salvage a point against Norwich but the stats do not lie!

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