Match Preview

Top Midweek Bets

Pick Your Winners on this Exclusive Preview of top football games

There is little time to catch our breaths after a weekend of blockbuster action across Europe. Victor Osimhen scored his 19th goal of the season, scoring in eight Serie A games, just as we tipped him to do.

Manchester City and Arsenal kept the EPL title battle interesting by both winning away games, while Tottenham beat Chelsea to heap more pressure on Graham Potter. In La Liga, Real Madrid slipped up as they were held to a draw in the Madrid Derby.

As the action continues in the EPL, Copa Del Rey and FA Cup, here is a preview of the top games and, as per usual, some betting tips.

Do not forget to check out our Daily Specials Bets and Kings Combo for the most unique bet combinations and high odds.

Bristol City vs Manchester City

Bristol City have their 2023 unbeaten record at stake when they welcome EPL champions Manchester City to Ashton Gate for Tuesday’s fifth-round FA Cup tie.

Manchester City eliminated Arsenal in the fourth round, while the Robins defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-1 to advance to the fifth round.

Form Guide

Bristol City

Since suffering a 2-0 loss at home to West Brom on Boxing Day last year, Nigel Pearson and his charges have gone unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions.

The Robins have also scored in all 11 of their fixtures in 2023, conceding only one goal in their last four home matches.

A show of how resolute the Bristol City defence has been lately. However, the test against Manchester City will be the toughest they have faced yet.

Manchester City

Having already dumped Chelsea and Arsenal out of the FA Cup, Pep Guardiola will play lower league opposition this time around, with hopes of not repeating the result the last time they met a team from the lower tier in the FA Cup, which ended in a loss to Wigan Athletic.

They’ve gotten their league title bid back on track after dropping points against Nottingham Forest last time out.

Prediction

Any notion that Bristol City would extend their unbeaten streak against Man City is unlikely, despite their impressive run, against the attacking force that is Manchester City, they will rightfully be the underdogs.

While the FA Cup often produces wonderful underdog victories, Pep Guardiola will be gunning for yet another title and is likely to name a strong side for this fixture, making it a tough evening for Bristol City.

Our betting picks

Manchester City to [email protected] 1.20
Over 2.5 @ 1.39
Only one team to score @ 1.81
Under 3.5 bookings @ 1.45

Juventus vs Torino

Juventus and Torino, who are separated in the Serie A standings by one point, square off in the 156th Derby della Mole on Tuesday.

Juve’s stunning point deduction reduces their advantage over Torino to the smallest of margins, but recent performances indicate they can still finish just outside the top six.

(W-W-W-D-D-W)

Form Guide

Juventus

Going into their latest Turin Derby, Juventus have won five of their last six games, more impressively, they have conceded only once in those matches, a solitary strike from Nantes in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

Although they find themselves in an unusual mid-table position in Serie A after receiving a 15-point deduction for financial league infractions, Juve’s defence extended with a 2-0 victory at Spezia in their last league match.

Only Barcelona with 16 wins without conceding, have a better record than Juventus in Europe’s top 10 leagues. Juventus have played 14 matches this season without allowing a goal.

(W-W-W-D-W-W)

Torino

The last time Torino defeated Juventus on the road in the league was back in April 1995. Since then, the team has lost 11 of its previous 16 attempts.

Beyond the rivalry between the two teams, Torino will also be driven to end a run of only one victory in five matches, which will see them move above Juventus on the table.

In their last match, they were held to a 2-2 draw by the bottom team, Cremonese and had to come from behind to earn a vital point.

Prediction

Juventus have been stingy at the back and will look to do so against a Torino team that have conceded more goals than they have scored.

The mid-season revival of Angel Di Maria has been a boon to Juventus, who are trying to make the most of a Serie A season that has been derailed by the points deduction meted on them.

Our betting picks

Juventus to win @ 1.73
Under 2.5 goals @ 1.64
Over 8.5 corners @ 1.48
Over 3.5 bookings @ 1.19

Manchester United vs West Ham

With little time to bask in the joy of their Carabao Cup triumph, Manchester United will welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford for their fifth-round FA Cup tie on Wednesday.

West Ham too had a morale-boosting result in their last match, thrashing Nottingham Forest 4–0, their biggest win in the EPL so far.

Form Guide

Manchester United

The Red Devils are on a hot streak right now, knocking Barcelona out of the Europa League and following that up with their first trophy win since 2017 as they defeated Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

The FA Cup is a competition they dominate, winning 13 of their last 15 home FA Cup matches, with their last loss at Old Trafford in the competition coming against Arsenal in 2015.

West Ham

West Ham United snapped a three-game winless streak with their win against Nottingham Forest, that win helped West Ham move two points clear of the relegation zone.

Revenge might also be on the minds of the Hammers on this trip, earlier in the season, a Marcus Rashford goal in October condemned the London side to a 1-0 loss.

Prediction

It is hard to predict anything other than a Manchester United win in this tie. David Moyes has never won in his 15 away league games at Old Trafford, while Manchester United have lost just one of their last 20 home games against West Ham United in all competitions.

With Marcus Rashford in such red-hot form, the West Ham defence will have their hands full all evening.

Our betting picks

Manchester United to win @ 1.65
Over 2.5 @ 1.73
Under 3.5 bookings @ 1.74

Sheffield United vs Tottenham

Spurs will travel to Bramall Lane to face the Blades on Wednesday evening as they look to advance past the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2017–18.

Sheffield United defeated Wrexham 3-1 in a fourth-round replay and will now face much tougher opposition in the LilyWhites.

Form Guide

Sheffield United

The Blades are in second place in the Championship and have a seven-point lead over third-place Middlesbrough. They are poised to make a return to the Premier League and will be confident as they play at home against Premier League opposition.

Tottenham

Four wins in five matches have turned the mood around at Tottenham, with the most recent victory being a 2–0 win in the London Derby against Chelsea.

However, they will be mindful of a potential banana skin when they head to Sheffield. They have not progressed beyond the fifth round of the FA Cup in the last five years and want to continue the momentum they have built in recent games by getting another win that could put them on the way to ending their title drought.

Prediction

The fact that promotion to the Premier League is a real possibility may lead to the selection of a weaker team by Sheffield United.

Regardless of that, Sheffield United will give Spurs a challenge. Spurs will adjust in either case, with their quality across the pitch being much better.

Our betting picks

Tottenham to win @ 1.79
Under 2.5 goals @ 1.74
Over 8.5 corners @ 1.28

Arsenal vs Everton

Mikel Arteta’s team will host Everton at the Emirates on Wednesday night in a Premier League matchup with revenge on the minds of the Gunners.

After defeating Leicester City 1-0 over the weekend, Arsenal kept hold of first place, while the Toffees fell back into danger of being relegated after losing to Aston Villa 2-0.

Form Guide

Arsenal

Arsenal have only won one of their last four home matches in the Premier League, and they have kept only two clean sheets in their last 16 home matches.

However, this team could become only the third Arsenal team to reach 60 points in their first 25 Premier League games with a win against Everton, underscoring just how well they have played this season.

Back-to-back victories will also have them playing with much more confidence than they had a couple of weeks ago.

Everton

Everton has slipped back into the bottom half of the table and are now in 18th place after missing out on a third home win in a row following the loss to Leeds.

The Toffees have never defeated the team at the top of the league standings on the road, and their recent road performance does not suggest that will change.

They have only managed one goal while playing away in seven straight Premier League games.

Prediction

Just like the game at Goodison Park, Arsenal should expect a physical battle against Sean Dyche’s side.

However, going by the tidy display against Leicester City last time out and the potential return of Gabriel Jesus to the squad, Arteta’s team should be able to open up a five-point advantage at the top of the EPL.

Our betting picks

Arsenal win or draw @ 1.36
Over 2.5 @ 1.80
Both teams to score @ 2.15
Over 3.5 bookings @ 1.78

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

When Barcelona plays Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday, they will be looking for an immediate response to their shocking La Liga loss to Almeria.

After losing to Almeria 1-0 on Sunday night thanks to El Bilal Toure’s game-winning goal, Barca still hold a comfortable seven-point advantage over Real Madrid thanks to Real’s 1-1 draw with their local rivals.

Form Guide

Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele’s goal helped La Blaugrana defeat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. This week, they head to the Bernabeu before playing Real Madrid in the second leg at Camp Nou on April 5.

They have now lost in successive matches after getting knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United and losing to Almeria in La Liga.

With Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati injured, they lacked creativity going forward and will have to produce a reaction against their archrivals, Real Madrid.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid have not won the Copa Del Rey title since the 2013-14 season. In this campaign, they have defeated Villarreal and Atletico Madrid to reach the final four, and they will face their biggest test yet when Barcelona come visiting.

They needed a late equaliser from teenager Alvaro Rodriguez to snatch a draw in the Madrid derby and protect their unbeaten home record.

That draw meant they missed the chance to close the gap on Barcelona who lost to Almeria. The Copa del Rey clash will be a chance for them to dent Barca’s chances of another title as they look to be running away with the league title despite their recent slip-up.

Prediction

Form often goes out the window in these contests, both teams have been unpredictable this season, with Barcelona playing better until recently.

Madrid showed some mettle of old with their display at Anfield and will need a similar performance against a Barcelona team that have been solid defensively all season. A close game is anticipated that will be decided by fine margins.

Our betting picks