Brazil vs Paraguay

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying group leaders Brazil play host to underperforming Paraguay at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto.

A 97th-minute penalty against Brazil overturned by VAR helped the five-time world champions eke out a 1-1 draw against Ecuador last time out. Having kept their unbeaten record in the ongoing qualifying campaign intact (W11, D3), Tite’s men now return to home soil, where they’ve won all six World Cup qualifying outings so far by an aggregate score of 15-1. With four of those six triumphs yielding a full-time margin of 2+ goals, Brazil will be confident of beating Paraguay in World Cup qualifying for the third time in a row, having kept a clean sheet in both previous meetings. Like their arch-rivals Argentina, the ‘Selecao’ are entertaining the prospect of becoming the first-ever CONMEBOL nation to go unbeaten a World Cup qualifying cycle under the current 18-game format.

On the other hand, Paraguay could be waving goodbye to their hopes of making the World Cup finals for the first time since 2010 should they lose here. Sitting six points adrift of fifth-placed Uruguay with three games left, the Paraguayans have to defy their six-match winless run in away World Cup qualifiers (D3, L3) if they are to remain in contention for the inter-confederation play-offs. That’s easier said than done, especially considering that ‘Los Guaraníes’ have drawn a blank in each of their last five road trips in the ongoing cycle. Alongside continental minnows Venezuela, Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s men lament the competition-low two goals scored on foreign soil. Home and away, it has been 584 minutes of World Cup qualifying football since Paraguay last found the back of the net, further adding to their list of worries.

The post Brazil vs Paraguay appeared first on Bet888win.

Bolivia vs Chile

Estadio Hernando Siles is the venue as Bolivia and Chile go head-to-head in a potentially pivotal World Cup qualifying encounter.

With three games left for Bolivia in the ongoing qualifying cycle, a potential defeat here could strike irreversible damage on their hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals since 1994. The Bolivians have alternated between victories and defeats across their last four World Cup qualifying matches (W2, L2). Their rollercoaster performances have seen each fixture (win/lost) in that four-game run yield a full-time margin of 3+ goals, with three of them witnessing the winner keep a clean sheet. Back in La Paz, 3,640 meters above sea level, ‘La Verde’ will feel increasingly confident of maintaining their five-game unbeaten home streak in South American qualifiers (W4, D1). However, after losing three of their last four home World Cup qualifying H2Hs (W1), Cesar Farias’ men have no room for complacency.

In the meantime, Chile’s hopes of returning to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014 have been thrown into doubt after they’ve gone from three consecutive wins ‘to nil’ to back-to-back defeats. With three fixtures left, the Chileans trail the inter-confederation play-off spot by three points, meaning an upset here is highly unwanted. However, their away form in the current World Cup qualifying campaign gives head coach Martin Lasarte plenty of reason for concern, with ‘La Roja’ picking up just one victory from their seven qualifiers on hostile soil so far (D2, L4). A lack of firepower up front has seen Chile score a measly average of 0.71 goals per away World Cup qualifier. Indeed, they have yet to bag more than one goal per such contest, fuelling the travelling fans’ fears.

The post Bolivia vs Chile appeared first on Bet888win.

Japan vs Saudi Arabia

Japan and Saudi Arabia come face-to-face in a high-stake, top-table Asian World Cup qualifying at the Saitama Stadium.

A comfortable 2-0 home victory over China last time out extended Japan’s winning run in the third stage of World Cup qualifying to four matches, but they are not off the hook yet. With third-placed Australia breathing down their necks, the ‘Samuari Blue’ have to defy their two-game losing H2H run in World Cup qualifying if they are to maintain a slender one-point lead over the dreaded inter-confederation play-off spot. Luckily for head coach Hajime Moriyasu, his men are back on home turf, where they’ve won back-to-back World Cup qualifiers by an aggregate score of 4-1 following a lacklustre 1-0 defeat at the hands of Oman on Matchday 1. With both of those triumphs witnessing the deadlock broken within 13 minutes, the Saitama crowd may not have to wait long to see an opener.

As for Saudi Arabia, a hard-fought 1-0 home win over a spirited Oman side last time out helped them maintain their unbeaten start to the third stage of qualifying (W6, D1). Thanks to their eye-catching exploits, the ‘Arabian Falcons’ are on the cusp of advancing to the World Cup finals for the second edition running, with third-placed Australia lagging five points behind. But with three games left, there is no room for complacency in the Saudi Arabia camp. Herve Renard’s men have kept their away World Cup qualifiers highly competitive so far in the third stage, with each of their three such fixtures featuring under 1.5 total goals (W2, D1). Interestingly, both of their World Cup qualifying victories on hostile soil have seen them keep hold of a narrow 1-0 HT lead.

The post Japan vs Saudi Arabia appeared first on Bet888win.

Marseille vs Montpellier

Stade Vélodrome is the venue as Marseille and Montpellier go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking Coupe de France last-16 tie.

Marseille have hit a purple patch since the calendar year flipped to 2021, winning all but one of their four competitive matches (D1), including a scintillating 3-0 romping of lower-league side Chauvigny in the previous Coupe de France round. What’s more, since falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Brest in early December, ‘Les Phocéens’ have gone unbeaten in their last eight competitive games in a row (W6, D2), notably keeping five clean sheets in that period while conceding precisely once in the other three. By contrast, they have failed to keep Montpellier at bay in any of their last four Ligue 1 H2Hs, letting in an average of 1.75 goals per match.

On the other hand, Montpellier pulled off an action-packed 3-2 win over Monaco on the eve of the international break, ending a run of back-to-back Ligue 1 defeats. The visitors squeezed past fellow top-flight rivals Strasbourg 1-0 in the previous Coupe de France round back in early January, which remains their only clean sheet in five matches. Away from home, none of Montpellier’s last eight competitive fixtures have ended as a draw (W4, L4) since a 1-1 stalemate at Troyes in mid-September. Yet, a 3-1 win at Strasbourg of all teams in their most recent travel put their three-game winning streak on hostile turf to a halt.

The post Marseille vs Montpellier appeared first on Bet888win.

Zurich vs Servette

Switzerland Super League toppers Zurich will be looking to maintain their eye-catching form when they take on Servette at the Letzigrund Stadion.

Zurich enjoyed a decent warm-up campaign in January, going unbeaten in all three friendlies (W1, D2) as they look to pick up where they left off in 2021. Indeed, heading into the winter break, Zurich racked up an impressive six Switzerland Super League victories in a row, prevailing by a 2+ goal margin in each of the last three. Sitting seven points above second-placed Basel, Andre Breitenreiter’s men look to be marching towards their first top-flight title since 2008/09, with their home form speaking volumes of their outstanding domestic campaign. In fact, the hosts are the only side in Switzerland’s top-flight football yet to lose a single league match on home turf this season (W7, D2), scoring a league-high 25 goals in the process.

In the meantime, Servette enjoyed a noticeable upturn in form down the final stretch of 2021, going from five consecutive Switzerland Super League defeats to putting together five league matches without losing (W4, D1). Interestingly, five (55.56%) of their nine games won/lost in that 11-fixture sequence yielded an identical 2-1 scoreline, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest. Servette’s confidence about staging an upset here could be high. They are unbeaten in their last three league visits to Zurich (W1, D2) and are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak away from home in the Switzerland Super League. But conceding first could hinder those hopes, with ‘Les Grenats’ losing eight out of nine top-flight fixtures when falling behind this term (W1).

The post Zurich vs Servette appeared first on Bet888win.

Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United

Rock-bottom Newcastle Jets will hope to get their stuttering A-League campaign back on the rails when they take on Adelaide United at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

The Covid-19 induced match cancellations in the A-League seem to have affected Newcastle Jets’ performances as the hosts head into proceedings amid a rough patch. Barring a crushing 4-0 home victory over Wellington Phoenix in early December, they have gone winless in three of their last four league matches (D2, L1), conceding 2+ goals on each occasion. What’s more, taking the 2020/21 season into account, the ‘Jets’ have only won one of their last 11 A-League fixtures at home (D3, L7), scoring under 1.5 goals ten times in the process. Arthur Papas’ men tend to leave it late at home, having found the net beyond the 75-minute mark in both top-flight home outings this season, with four of their five goals scored on home turf thus far coming beyond half-time.

Meanwhile, Adelaide United came from behind to secure a 3-1 win against Brisbane Roar last time out, ending a run of two consecutive league matches without winning (D2). However, another conceded goal means that they’ve only kept one clean sheet in their last six A-League outings, which is a concern. Indeed, you have to go back to February 2019 to find Adelaide’s last shutout against Newcastle Jets in A-League action, with the ‘Reds’ conceding at least once in their subsequent five top-flight H2Hs. That said, they have gone unbeaten in four away league H2Hs (W3, D1) since a 2-1 loss in December 2017, winning the last two in a row by an aggregate score of 6-2.

The post Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United appeared first on Bet888win.

Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht

Anderlecht have an opportunity to gain revenge on Union Saint-Gilloise following a dreadful 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in the first half of the 2021/22 Belgium 1st Division A campaign.

Union Saint-Gilloise have taken the Belgium 1st Division A by storm in their first top-flight campaign in 48 years, as they head into proceedings harbouring a substantial nine-point lead at the summit. In addition to boasting the league-high 71% win ratio (GP24 – W17, D3, L4), the hosts are unbeaten in their last eight Division A fixtures on the trot (W6, D2), keeping five clean sheets in the process. Union SG’s tally of 21 goals conceded from 24 league matches is a comfortable league-best so far, though it’s worth noting that a majority (57%) of those goals have come at home. Connoisseurs of action-packed football will want to wait for late in the second half to watch a spectacle, with 58.33% of Union SG’s home league matches this term featuring a goal beyond the 75th minute (7/12).

On the other hand, an underwhelming 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Cercle Brugge last time out halted Anderlecht’s run of nine league games without losing (W6, D3). With fourth-placed Charleroi breathing down their necks, the visitors will be desperate to return to winning ways here and maintain a two-point lead over the last Conference League play-off spot. And there’s a reason for optimism in the travelling camp, as the ‘Purple & White’ have racked up four wins in their five Division A away fixtures (D1) since succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at Antwerp in early November, notably scoring 2+ goals in all but one of those matches. It’s also worth mentioning that Anderlecht cruised to a comprehensive 5-0 win in their last competitive away H2H back in February 2021.

The post Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht appeared first on Bet888win.

Panathinaikos vs Asteras Tripolis

Panathinaikos’ pursuit of the Greece Super League 1 play-offs continues this weekend as they take on direct rivals Asteras Tripolis at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium.

Panathinaikos have enjoyed a decent start to the new calendar year, going unbeaten in four of their five competitive matches in 2022 (W3, D1), barring a 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Volos in early January. At home, however, the ‘Greens’ have been a force to be reckoned with, racking up a resounding seven-game undefeated streak in all competitions (W6, D1) since a 3-1 loss to bitter rivals PAOK in November. Much of Panathinaikos’ remarkable form in that run of fixtures has to be pinned on a rock-solid defence that has registered six clean sheets, including five in a row ahead of this round. Topically, before playing out a 2-2 draw in their most recent league H2H at home, Ivan Jovanovic’s side had held Asteras at bay in three consecutive such fixtures (W2, D1).

On the other hand, Asteras Tripolis have hit the ground running since the calendar year flipped to 2022, putting together three consecutive league wins by an identical 1-0 scoreline. However, since securing a narrow 1-0 triumph at the expense of Smyrnis in mid-October, the visitors have gone winless in their last six top-flight road trips on the trot (D2, L2), conceding precisely once in three of those fixtures. A lack of firepower up front has seen Asteras score a measly average of 0.75 goals per Greece Super League 1 away match this season, with their tally of six goals scored from eight league travels standing for the division’s third-worst. Early goals have been at a premium in Asteras’ away league games this term as only two of their eight such contests featured a goal within 15 minutes.

The post Panathinaikos vs Asteras Tripolis appeared first on Bet888win.

Young Boys vs Lugano

Young Boys and Lugano are set to trade tackles in a top-half Switzerland Super League encounter at the Stadion Wankdorf.

Young Boys are already lagging a whopping eight points behind Switzerland Super League pacesetters Zurich after picking up just two wins in their last four league outings (D1, L1). To reduce that gap, the hosts will hope to improve upon their indifferent three-game form at home (W1, D1, L1), with each match in that sequence seeing both teams on the scoresheet. Entertaining, end-to-end football could be on the table, given that two of Young Boys’ last three home top-flight meetings with Lugano have seen over 3.5 goals and both teams scoring. But even if they concede first, David Wagner’s men should have enough strength to bounce back, having avoided defeat in all three Super League home fixtures when falling behind this season (W2, D1).

In the meantime, Lugano’s form wobble down the final stretch of 2021 saw them register just one win from their last four top-flight fixtures (D1, L2), frustratingly conceding 3+ goals in both defeats in that period. The visitors’ hopes of getting back to winning ways in domestic action look unlikely, at least based on their underwhelming six-game form away from home (W2, D1, L3). Conceding first could prove detrimental to Lugano’s hopes of avoiding defeat here, as they’ve lost all three away league matches when falling behind this term. That said, the majority (67%) of their away league goals conceded this season have come beyond half-time (8/12).

The post Young Boys vs Lugano appeared first on Bet888win.

Inter Miami vs DC United

Inter Miami and DC United are set to trade tackles in an exciting all-MLS international friendly at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Inter Miami’s preparations ahead of the new MLS season continue this weekend against a DC United they have lost to in all three previous league H2Hs, conceding six goals while scoring just one in return in that run of fixtures. But, David Beckham’s franchise cruised to an overwhelming 4-0 victory over Universitario de Deportes in their last friendly, making it two consecutive wins without conceding. Interestingly, since being held to a goalless draw to Orlando City in late August, none of Inter’s last 15 matches have ended level (W7, L8). Since a huge majority (73.33%) of those results (win/loss) witnessed the winner on the day keep a clean sheet (11), scoring first could play a vital role in determining this encounter.

Meanwhile, a 3-1 triumph over Toronto to round off the previous MLS season maintained DC United’s inconsistent form, as they’ve now alternated between victories and defeats in their last four outings (W2, L2). Delivering action from the get-go, each of those four games saw the opening goal arrive inside the first 15 minutes of play, with three of them featuring 2+ first-half goals. Similar to their opposition, only one of United’s last 11 matches has ended as a draw (W5, L5), with eight of the ten fixtures (won/lost) seeing the winner score over 2.5 goals. However, a lack of defensive strength has witnessed the ‘Black-and-Red’ keep just one clean sheet across their last five meetings with their fellow MLS rivals.

The post Inter Miami vs DC United appeared first on Bet888win.

Ross County vs Rangers

Defending Premiership champions Rangers will be looking to stay on the upwards trajectory when they take on bottom-half Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

Ross County enjoyed a stellar start to the new calendar year, cruising to a landslide 3-1 home victory over Motherwell. However, they have since lost back-to-back matches across domestic competitions, including a 2-1 loss away to Dundee United last time out. Back at the Global Energy Stadium, where they have only lost once in their previous five Premiership outings (W3, D1), the ‘Staggies’ will be aiming to stage an upset against high-flying Rangers. However, it could be easier said than done, considering that they’ve lost each of their last 11 top-flight H2Hs, conceding a staggering 33 goals across those meetings. Additionally, since a 1-1 draw in November 2016, they have lost five subsequent H2Hs at home turf in Premiership action by an aggregate score of 15-3.

In the meantime, Rangers head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having gone unbeaten in their last 12 competitive matches (W10, D2) since a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Livingston in the League Cup back in late November. In Premiership action alone, the ‘Gers’ have racked up a resounding 20-game undefeated streak since falling to a 1-0 away loss at Dundee United on Matchday 20 (W16, D4). Giovanni van Bronckhorst has based his team’s recent success on a rock-solid backline that has kept seven clean sheets in their last eight league outings. Overall this season, only Celtic (13) have let in fewer Premiership goals than Rangers (15), with their record of seven second-half conceded second to none thus far. Even if they fall behind here, Rangers should have enough character to bounce back, having won three out of for away league matches when conceding first this term (L1).

The post Ross County vs Rangers appeared first on Bet888win.

Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix

Marvel Stadium is the venue as Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix go head-to-head in their Australia FFA Cup semi-final tie.

Melbourne Victory have enjoyed a three-game unbeaten start to the new calendar year (W1, D2), including a 2-1 win over Adelaide United in the previous FFA Cup round. However, a lack of defensive proficiency has seen Tony Popovic’s men go eight competitive matches without a clean sheet, conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game. Against this backdrop, the hosts have held Wellington at bay in their last two A-League H2Hs on home turf (W1, D1), with both of them featuring under 2.5 overall goals. Indeed, the ‘Victory’ haven’t lost any of their last seven home meetings with this opposition (W3, D4) since falling to a 3-0 defeat back in April 2017, netting 2+ goals four times in the process.

On the other hand, Wellington Phoenix squeezed past Melbourne City in the previous FFA Cup round, progressing via penalties following a goalless 120 minutes of play. A 2-1 home victory over Western United last time out halted Wellington’s run of three consecutive games without winning (D1, L2 – 90mins only), two of which saw them fail to get on the scoresheet. Away from home, Ufuk Talay’s men have only won once in their last five competitive outings (D1, L3), worryingly conceding over 1.5 goals on three occasions in that sequence. With eight of their 11 goals shipped in that run of fixtures coming beyond half-time, Wellington’s second-half leaks could be a massive issue heading into this tie. Their attacking displays during that five-game run also flattered to deceive, as they netted under 1.5 goals four times.

The post Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix appeared first on Bet888win.

Celtic vs Dundee United

Premiership runners-up Celtic play host to underperforming Dundee United in a must-win league fixture at Celtic Park.

Celtic have hit the ground running since the calendar flipped to 2022, winning all three competitive outings by an aggregate score of 6-2, all of which saw them take a 2-0 half-time lead. Following an underwhelming six-game start to the season (W3, L3), the ‘Hoops’ have racked up an intimidating 16-match unbeaten run in the Premiership (W13, D3). Ahead of the kick-off, Ange Postecoglu’s men have put together three league victories by an aggregate score of 7-2, reducing the gap on pacesetters Rangers to four points in the process. What’s more, Celtic have been a force to be reckoned with at home lately, stringing together four consecutive league triumphs, including the last three in a row without conceding. Indeed, their impressive defence has conceded a league-low two goals at home this Premiership campaign so far.

On the other hand, Dundee United came from behind to defeat Ross County 2-1 at home last time out, bringing their frustrating six-game winless run to a halt. Interestingly, they scored as many goals in that encounter as they had in their previous six Premiership outings combined. But they go into this round as one of only four top-flight sides yet to smash a 20-goal barrier in the ongoing Premiership campaign (19), which stands for an underwhelming average of 0.86 goals per game. However, after drawing a blank in their last two league travels (L2), Dundee will feel insecure about their scoring prospects at Celtic Park. Encouragingly, though, they held Celtic to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season and could go unbeaten in back-to-back league H2Hs for the first time since January 2009.

The post Celtic vs Dundee United appeared first on Bet888win.

Aberdeen vs St. Johnstone

Aberdeen will be seeking some level of consistency when they take on basement boys St. Johnstone in a must-win Premiership showdown at the Pittodrie Stadium.

Aberdeen have delivered a mixed bag of performances in their last five Premiership matches (W2, D1, L2), scoring a paltry average of 0.8 goals per game in that run of fixtures. However, Aberdeen’s performances have mainly depended on where they play. While they’ve only won one of their last ten league games on the road (D2, L7), the ‘Dons’ have gone unbeaten in four home league outings (W3, D1) since 2-0 defeat at the hands of Motherwell in early November. Speaking of the epitome of ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,’ as many as 71.43% of Aberdeen’s total Premiership points this season have arrived on home turf. But following a narrow 1-0 defeat in their most recent Premiership H2H at home, the hosts face the prospect of losing back-to-back home league meetings with St. Johnstone for the first time since October 2015.

As for St. Johnstone, a run of four successive away league defeats by an aggregate score of 7-0 suggests the visitors are unlikely to replicate the aforementioned ‘2015 feat.’ Adding to this sentiment, the ‘Saints’ are winless in their last ten league matches (D2, L8) while they could suffer five consecutive away losses in Scotland’s top-flight for the first time since August 2012. Much of St. Johnstone’s hopes of avoiding that scenario will hinge on their ability to keep things tight, as they’ve bagged a league-low two away goals in their ten Premiership travels this term. On that basis, it comes as no surprise that Callum Davidson’s men have lost all 11 league matches when conceding first this season, including six on the road.

The post Aberdeen vs St. Johnstone appeared first on Bet888win.

Nantes vs Brest

Stade de la Beaujoire is the venue as Nantes and Brest go head-to-head in their one-off Coupe de France last-16 tie.

Nantes strolled to a 4-2 home victory over Lorient last time out, ending a run of two consecutive Ligue 1 matches without winning (D1, L1). However, it means that they’ve now conceded precisely twice in their last two outings after keeping back-to-back clean sheets beforehand. Despite playing against lower-league sides, ‘Les Canaris’ have kept a blank sheet in both previous Coupe de France rounds, going past Sochaux via penalties before cruising past Vitre 2-0 last time out. At home, Antoine Kombouare’s men have been too hot to handle in the front third lately, scoring 2+ goals in three of their last four home fixtures in all competitions (W3, D1). Moreover, they’ve won both previous Ligue 1 H2Hs at home by an identical 3-1 scoreline.

Meanwhile, Brest pulled off a stunning 2-0 home triumph over reigning Ligue 1 champions Lille last time out after losing back-to-back league games by 2+ goals ‘to nil’ beforehand. However, the visitors have failed to win any of their three previous away matches in all competitions (D2, L1 – 90mins only), scoring just once in that period. Breaking the deadlock could be of the utmost importance here, given that Brest’s last four competitive fixtures have seen the winner on the day keep a clean sheet and score at least twice. Unfortunately, ‘Les Pirates’ will have to defy the recent H2H record if they are to overcome this round, having lost each of their last three Ligue 1 meetings with Nantes by at least a two-goal margin despite scoring on each occasion.

The post Nantes vs Brest appeared first on Bet888win.

United States vs El Salvador

The United States will aim to solidify their place in North American World Cup qualifying when they take on sub-par El Salvador at the Lower.com Field.

With fourth-placed Panama hot on their heels following a 1-1 draw with Jamaica last time out, the United States will be looking to return to winning ways in World Cup qualifying. But the USA’s run of five consecutive H2H triumphs, including friendlies, came to a halt in the reverse fixture as they could only manage a scoreless draw in their inaugural ‘Qatar 2022’ qualifier. Now back on home turf in Columbus, the ‘USMNT’ can call upon their stellar form in front of attending home supporters, having won their last three World Cup qualifiers on domestic soil by an aggregate score of 6-1. Considering five of those six goals arrived beyond half-time, Gregg Berhalter’s men could be a nuisance for a lowly El Salvador after the break.

Indeed, the visitors have lost all three away matches in the ongoing qualifying cycle by an aggregate score of 7-2, conceding 2+ goals on each occasion. Curiously, though, El Salvador boasted a 1-0 HT lead in both previous World Cup qualifiers on hostile turf before ending up losing each fixture 2-1. With a single win to their name after the opening eight rounds (D3, L4), ‘La Selecta’ are unlikely to earn their first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1982. After failing to get on the scoresheet in eight of their last 13 internationals, El Salvador could even consider themselves lucky if they find the back of the net here. But with both of their away goals scored in the 2022 World Cup qualifying, it would be silly to put a quick-fire start past Hugo Perez’s side.

The post United States vs El Salvador appeared first on Bet888win.

Japan vs China

China will make a last-ditch attempt to save their ‘Qatar 2022’ qualification hopes when they take on high-flying Japan at the Saitama Stadium.

A run of three successive triumphs by a single-goal margin has brought Japan on the cusp of making their seventh consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals. Yet, sitting just one point clear of third-placed Australia in a highly-competitive Group B, the ‘Samuari Blue’ can ill-afford to rest on their laurels. A home encounter against a China side they have defeated in their last three meetings in all competitions comes at an opportune moment for Japan, who have experienced mixed fortunes at home in the ongoing qualifying cycle (W1, L1). With both of those matches (won/lost) seeing the deciding goal arrive beyond the 80th minute, Hajime Moriyasu’s team could leave it late against China in Saitama.

Meanwhile, barring a 3-2 home win over dead-last Vietnam on Matchday 3, China’s performances in the World Cup qualifying Group B have flattered to deceive (D2, L3). Indeed, they have played out identical 1-1 draws with Australia and Oman heading into this fixture, with both games seeing the travelling side harbour a narrow 1-0 HT lead. Adding to a sizeable list of concerns, the ‘Dragon’s Team’ have conceded precisely three goals in both third-round World Cup qualifiers away from home, including two before half-time on each occasion. They are unlikely to improve their disappointing defensive record here, given that they’ve conceded 2+ goals in five of their previous six H2Hs away from home, including the last two in a row.

The post Japan vs China appeared first on Bet888win.

Chile vs Argentina

A South American classic between Chile and Argentina at the Estadio Zorros del Desierto could determine the hosts’ hopes of reaching Qatar 2022.

Though an underwhelming 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Ecuador last time out halted Chile’s run of three successive World Cup qualifying wins, the hosts are still in the race to advance to the upcoming tournament. Sitting a point adrift of fifth-placed Peru, the Chileans could even settle for a draw here, given that they’ve failed to beat Argentina inside 90 minutes across their last 11 meetings, friendlies included (D6, L5). Scoring first would increase Chile’s chances of posting their first H2H triumph since 2008, considering their four previous World Cup qualifiers at home have seen the winner on the day keep a clean sheet (W2, L2). Since three of their last four internationals saw one of the sides fail to get on the scoresheet in matches garnering under 2.5 overall goals, end-to-end action looks improbable.

In the meantime, Argentina became the second South American nation after Brazil to book their tickets for ‘Qatar 2022’ following a ‘nil-nil’ draw with arch-rivals in November. Like the ‘Selecao,’ the Argentineans have yet to taste defeat in the ongoing World Cup qualifying campaign (W8, D5), notably keeping six clean sheets on the trot ahead of this trip. But, fancy, high-scoring fixtures have not been Argentina’s strong suit, with four of their last five World Cup qualifiers featuring under 1.5 total goals. Au contraire, both of their previous trips to Chile in the competition have yielded an identical 2-1 scoreline (W2), suggesting the goals could be flowing around after all. But without a talismanic figure in Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni’s men will face an uphill task to improve their average of 1.66 goals scored per away 2022 World Cup qualifier.

The post Chile vs Argentina appeared first on Bet888win.

Australia vs Vietnam

Australia’s hopes of avoiding joining the dreaded inter-confederation World Cup play-offs will be on the line when they take on an out-of-sorts Vietnam at the AAMI Park.

Australia’s World Cup qualifying Group B campaign got off to a flying start as they won their opening three matches by an aggregate score of 7-1. However, the Australians have since suffered a noticeable dip in form, going winless in their last three World Cup qualifiers (D2, L1), all of which saw them score one goal or less. Therefore, a home meeting with a Vietnam side they defeated 1-0 in the reverse fixture back in September will be a seemingly decent opportunity for the ‘Socceroos’ to get their stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign back on the rails. Sitting third in the group, one point adrift of second-placed Japan, they face an unpleasant prospect of missing out on the final tournament for the first time since 2002.

On the other hand, Vietnam’s hopes of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup finals have already left the realm of possibility as they’ve lost all six Group B matches by an aggregate score of 12-4. But the visitors can at least take some confidence knowing each of their four goals scored in the third stage of the qualifying arrived away from home. What’s more, the ‘Golden Star Warriors’ have kept three consecutive clean sheets on foreign soil going into this trip (W2, D1), including back-to-back scoreless draws with Thailand and Indonesia in their last two road trips. By contrast, Park Hang-Seo’s men have conceded precisely three goals in each of their previous four away matches in the World Cup qualifying, suggesting another leaky travel could be on the cards.

The post Australia vs Vietnam appeared first on Bet888win.

Paraguay vs Uruguay

Estadio General Pablo Rojas is the venue as Paraguay and Uruguay are set to battle tooth and nail to get back in contention for qualifying for Qatar 2022.

Paraguay’s hopes of returning to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2010 are hanging by a thread as they head into proceedings trailing the inter-confederation play-off spot by four points. Time is ticking for the Paraguayans, who are winless in their last five World Cup qualifying matches (D2, L3) since a 2-1 home victory over Venezuela, frustratingly drawing a blank on all five occasions. With four games left and an awkward trip to Brazil to come, ‘Los Guaraníes’ can ill-afford another slip-up here if they are to close the gap on Peru. However, you have to go back to October 2007 to find Paraguay’s last H2H victory, with Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s men going winless in their subsequent nine meetings with Uruguay in all competitions (D4, L5).

Meanwhile, after keeping two clean sheets in their last three World Cup qualifying H2Hs (W2, D1), Uruguay will feel confident about their chances of getting their stuttering ‘Qatar 2022’ qualifying campaign back on the rails. A dreadful run of four consecutive defeats in World Cup qualifiers by an aggregate score of 11-1 saw ‘La Celeste’ sack long-term manager Oscar Tabarez in December 2021. It will be up to new boss Diego Alonso to address Uruguay’s scoring problems that have seen them draw a blank in four of their last five World Cup qualifying games and inspire the nation’s hopes of reaching the upcoming tournament. Lagging a point behind fifth-placed Peru, the Uruguayans will be seeking their first away win in the ongoing cycle after five failed attempts in a row (D2, L3).

The post Paraguay vs Uruguay appeared first on Bet888win.

Ecuador vs Brazil

Ecuador will be targeting a massive step towards their first World Cup qualification since 2014 when they meet Brazil at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado.

An unexpected 2-0 victory at the expense of Chile last time out made it two World Cup qualifying wins in a row as Ecuador look to be waltzing away with the ‘Qatar 2022’ spot. With four games left, ‘La Tri’ boast a six-point lead over fifth-placed Peru and appear to be on course to reaching only their fourth-ever World Cup finals. Now back on home turf in Quito, Gustavo Alfaro’s men will be looking to build on a run of four consecutive World Cup qualifying clean sheets at home (W3, D1) and defy the odds against the continental powerhouse Brazil. That could be easier said than done, as they’ve gone winless in their last 11 H2HS (D3, L8), including a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in Porto Alegre, back in June 2021.

In the meantime, Brazil became the first South American nation to qualify for the upcoming tournament following a 1-0 home win over Colombia back in November. Having advanced to ‘Qatar 2022’ with a fistful of games to spare, the Brazilians will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record in the ongoing qualifying campaign (W11, D2) and potentially become the first side to go the entire 18-game format without a single defeat. Notably, Tite’s men have conceded just once in their last six World Cup qualifiers away from home (W4, D2) since a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Peru in their first road trip of the campaign. However, it’s worth noting that their last two World Cup qualifiers on hostile soil have yielded scoreless draws, underlining the possibility for a cagey, low-scoring fixture.

The post Ecuador vs Brazil appeared first on Bet888win.

Lebanon vs Korea Republic

Saida Municipal Stadium is the venue as Lebanon look to keep their hopes of making the upcoming World Cup finals alive versus the in-form Korea Republic.

Lebanon have followed a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Syria up with a brace of defeats by a single-goal margin, throwing their qualification hopes into doubt. After six rounds of Group A fixtures, the hosts have a single victory to their name (D2, L3), and it’s no wonder they sit a point below the coveted third spot. Additionally, they have lost both third-round World Cup qualifiers at home by a narrow one-goal margin, with each of their three goals conceded across those reverses coming on or beyond the 85th minute. The fact the ‘Cedars’ have drawn a blank in four of their last five World Cup qualifying H2Hs (D1, L4) douses any embers of optimism when it comes to a potential upset here.

Meanwhile, the Korea Republic are on the verge of securing their place at Qatar 2022 after going unbeaten in their opening six third-round World Cup qualifiers (W4, D2). The Koreans have based their stellar qualifying success on a rock-solid defence that has conceded a joint-low two goals in Group A so far. Indeed, three of their four third-round victories have yielded a clean sheet, indicating Paulo Bento’s team could be hard to penetrate here. Curiously, following a run of three consecutive defeats on foreign soil, the ‘Taegeuk Warriors’ have racked up a four-match unbeaten streak on the road (W3, D1). While each of the aforementioned three losses saw Korea concede precisely three goals per game, they have only shipped one goal in their last four travels. What’s more, they netted 3+ gaols in three of those four away matches, highlighting their scoring prowess.

The post Lebanon vs Korea Republic appeared first on Bet888win.

Empoli vs Roma

Mid-table Empoli play host to an out-of-sorts Roma at the Stadio Carlo Castellani for an intriguing Serie A encounter.

Empoli go into proceedings in the midst of a rough patch, having alternated between draws and losses across their last five Serie A outings (D3, L2), all of which saw both teams find the net. It will be up to head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli to improve his side’s slow starts after the Tuscan outfit conceded the opening goal in a league joint-high nine of their 11 Serie A home fixtures this term. But despite their recent form wobble, ‘Gli Azzurri’ have been fun to watch, especially at Carlo Castellani, where their last five league games have seen over 3.5 goals and both sides scoring. Delivering action from the get-go, seven (64%) of Empoli’s 11 Serie A home matches this season have featured at least one goal inside the opening 15 minutes.

As for Roma, a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Serie B side Lecce in midweek Coppa Italia action served to build on last weekend’s 1-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari. After putting a run of three Serie A matches without winning firmly behind (D1, L2), ‘I Giallorossi’ will pursue back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid-December. However, a lack of consistency has seen Roma alternate between victories and defeats in their last six Serie A away games (W3, L3), five of which saw the side to open the scoring go on to pick up the points. Speaking of the visitors’ away struggle, their tally of 16 defeats from 29 Serie A travels since the start of the 2020/21 season is second only to Spezia (17). Interestingly, Jose Mourinho’s men have yet to draw a league game on the road this season (W4, L6).

The post Empoli vs Roma appeared first on Bet888win.

Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona

Barcelona will be desperate to get their humiliating La Liga season back on the rails when they take on relegation-battling Deportivo Alaves at the Estadio Mendizorroza.

Coming into this matchday, Deportivo Alaves are winless in nine La Liga games (D4, L5), drawing a blank in the last two in a row as they now trail 17th-placed Mallorca by three points. With each of their last three home league matches ending level, Alaves face the prospect of drawing four consecutive La Liga fixtures at Mendizorroza for the first time in the club’s history. ‘El Glorioso’ are likely to try and keep things tight after netting a league-low 16 goals this La Liga campaign, 50% of which arrived in their 11 home matches. Despite Barcelona’s well-documented on and off-field struggle, a run of seven top-flight H2Hs without winning at home (D3, L4) douses any embers of optimism in the home camp regarding a potential upset.

Meanwhile, Barcelona seek redemption after bowing out of both Supercopa de Espana and Copa del Rey in space of a fortnight. Back to La Liga, where they sit just outside the top five, the ‘Blaugrana’ will look to build on a five-game unbeaten league streak (W2, D3) and bounce back from a dismal 1-1 draw at Granada last time out. Adding to their confidence, Xavi’s men have only lost one of their previous 21 La Liga away meetings with Basque sides (W14, D6). By contrast, they have picked up a mere two victories from their ten La Liga road trips this season (D6, L2), returning an indifferent 12-12 aggregate score from those travels. Just two of those ten fixtures have featured a goal inside the opening 15 minutes of play, highlighting the potential for a cagey beginning.

The post Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona appeared first on Bet888win.

Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich

Olympiastadion is the venue as familiar foes Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich lock horns in an exciting Bundesliga fixture.

Stuck in mid-table lethargy, Hertha have only won one of their last four Bundesliga matches (D1, L2), conceding 2+ goals three times in the process. But before losing 3-1 to Cologne in their most recent home league outing, the hosts were unbeaten in five consecutive Bundesliga games at the Olympiastadion beforehand (W3, D2). That’s the kind of form they will be looking to emulate when they face a side they’ve only beaten once in their last 21 top-flight H2Hs (D4, L16)! Regardless of the outcome, Hertha will at least be confident of troubling the scoreboard after finding the net in their last nine Bundesliga home fixtures, averaging 1.44 goals per match in that period. Their home action usually sparks into life beyond half-time, with ten of their 13 home league goals scored this term arriving in the second half of play.

In the meantime, Bayern Munich bounced back from a 2-1 home defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach with an overwhelming 4-0 win at Cologne last time out, though there’s no room for complacency here. With Borussia Dortmund closing down the gap to a mere three points, the perennial German champions have to take the situation seriously. The ‘Bavarians’ have won their last three Bundesliga away matches by an aggregate score of 12-3, netting 3+ goals on each occasion. Scoring has never been a problem for this Julian Nagelsmann’s side, as they boast an intimidating average of 3.21 goals per league game this term. Away from home, Bayern are the only side in Germany’s top-flight to have smashed a 30-goal barrier this season (31), doing so in just nine league travels so far. Curiously, they have bagged 18 first-half goals on the road this Bundesliga campaign, five more than Hertha in both halves of home action played so far.

The post Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich appeared first on Bet888win.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head in a mammoth, all-London Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s hopes of lifting their first Premier League crown have gone on the back of an underwhelming 1-1 draw at Brighton last time out, their fifth stalemate in seven league games (W1, L1). However, the ‘Blues’ are in pole position to land a top-four finish as they look to solidify their place in the run-in by extending a six-game unbeaten H2H streak in the Premier League (W5, D1). Notably, Chelsea kept five clean sheets during that six-game sequence, which was the case in both of their wins over Tottenham in their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final tie earlier this month. Despite going unbeaten in eight consecutive home league outings since a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in late September, Thomas Tuchel’s men have drawn five of their last six Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge (W1).

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur made history by turning a 2-1 deficit at 94:52 on the clock into a stunning 3-2 win at Leicester City last time out to extend their unbeaten Premier League run under new boss Antonio Conte to nine matches (W6, D3). Encouraged by their late heroics at the King Power, ‘Spurs’ will be looking to end an embarrassing streak of five competitive H2Hs without scoring. Another scoring blank here would see Tottenham fail to find the net in six successive meetings with a specific opponent for the first time in the club’s history. That’s not all, they have also won just one of their last 31 away league matches against Chelsea (D10, L20), courtesy of a 3-1 triumph in April 2018. On the bright side, they have racked up back-to-back victories in the Premier League London derbies following a run of five consecutive defeats in such contests.

The post Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur appeared first on Bet888win.

Monaco vs Montpellier

Montpellier and Monaco will lock horns in a tasty-looking Ligue 1 encounter at the Stade de la Mosson.

Montpellier have stumbled out of the blocks since the turn of the year, losing both Ligue 1 matches in 2022 by an aggregate score of 4-1 after winning four straight league games down the final stretch of 2021. Worryingly, they have lost two of their last four Ligue 1 matches at home (W2), as many defeats as they had in their previous 14 such contests (W7, D5). Entertainment has been relatively sparse in Montpellier’s recent competitive home fixtures – six of their last seven outings at the Stade de la Mosson have seen one of the sides fail to score in matches garnering under 2.5 overall goals. That said, another goal here would see ‘La Paillade’ become only the fifth Ligue 1 side to smash a 20-goal barrier at home this season, having netted 19 in their 11 home league games so far.

Meanwhile, Philippe Clement’s tenure at Monaco may have started with an underwhelming goalless draw at Nantes. However, the visitors swept newly-promoted Clermont 4-0 at home last time out to maintain their top-three hopes alive. Indeed, ‘Les Monégasques’ have racked up four victories in their last six Ligue 1 fixtures (D1, L1), as many as they had in their previous 11 in the competition (D4, L3). Monaco’s renaissance should inspire their efforts to translate their impressive home form to hostile turf, where they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in five of their last six Ligue 1 games, as many scoring blanks as in their 31 top-flight travels beforehand. There’s a good omen here, as they’ve won three of their last four league H2Hs (D1) since a 3-1 loss in October 2019.

The post Monaco vs Montpellier appeared first on Bet888win.

PSG vs Reims

Paris Saint-Germain will be aiming to solidify their position at the Ligue 1 summit when they take on a lowly Reims at the Parc des Princes.

PSG eased past Brest 2-0 at home last time out to extend their unbeaten league streak to 12 matches (W7, D5) as they seem to be waltzing away with another Ligue 1 title already in January. Bringing the 2020/21 season into the equation, ‘Les Parisiens’ have only lost one of their last 28 league games (W21, D6) while they are enjoying a 13-match undefeated streak at home in league action (W12, D1). Another clear-cut victory is well on the cards, considering that they’ve won each of their last three top-flight H2Hs by 2+ goals ‘to nil,’ scoring the opening goal within 15 minutes of play on every occasion. But even if they concede first, Paris should have enough strength to bounce back, having won all three Ligue 1 home games when falling behind this term.

On the other hand, a 1-0 home defeat to Metz last time out halted Reims’ three-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 (W1, D2), marking their fourth consecutive league match that featured under 2.5 goals. The visitors’ hopes of returning to winning ways here look to be far-fetched, given that they’ve only won one of their last 14 Ligue 1 away fixtures (D8, L4), though it’s worth noting that they are unbeaten in their last three league travels in a row (W1, D3). Having drawn a blank in back-to-back Ligue 1 outings ahead of this trip, they face the risk of going three consecutive league games without scoring for the first time since December 2020. But Oscar Garcia’s men could still avoid that scenario after finding the net in four of their last five Ligue 1 H2Hs in Paris.

The post PSG vs Reims appeared first on Bet888win.

Manchester United vs West Ham United

Manchester United and West Ham United go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Premier League showdown at Old Trafford.

Fresh from a scintillating 3-1 romping of the Premier League newcomers Brentford in midweek, Manchester United will be looking to launch a winning streak and maintain their hopes of reaching a top-four finish come May. The ‘Red Devils’ have enjoyed quite a renaissance since parting with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, going unbeaten in eight of their nine league matches in the post-Norwegian era (W5, D3). However, a return to Old Trafford may not necessarily improve Man United’s chances of winning, considering they’ve conceded first in four of their last six Premier League games at home (W3, L3). Yet, they have won 20 of their 25 Premier League home clashes against West Ham (D3, L2), going unbeaten in the last 13 in a row since a 1-0 defeat in 2007.

Meanwhile, West Ham United’s pursuit of their first-ever top-four finish in the Premier League suffered a major setback last time out as they fell to a 3-2 home loss to bottom-half Leeds United. After ending a run of three league wins beforehand, the ‘Hammers’ will fall back on their recent upturn in form on the road, having gone from four league trips without winning (D1, L3) to back-to-back away victories. Head coach David Moyes could take this match personally as he seeks his first-ever Premier League win at Old Trafford as away manager, going winless in his previous 14 attempts (D4, L10). Even if his men concede first, Moyes is unlikely to lose hopes of snatching away all three points, with West Ham winning more Premier League away games from losing positions than any other side this season (GP6 – W3, L3).

The post Manchester United vs West Ham United appeared first on Bet888win.

Southampton vs Manchester City

Manchester City will be looking to remain on the upwards curve when they take on mid-table Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Southampton’s joint-longest unbeaten run of this Premier League campaign (W2, D2) was brought to a halt last time out as they succumbed to a 3-1 away loss to Wolverhampton. Back to St. Mary’s, where they are enjoying a stellar seven-game undefeated streak in the Premier League (W4, D3), the hosts will be looking to avoid defeat in both seasonal meetings with Man City in the competition for the first time since 2002/03. Despite holding them goalless in the reverse fixture back in September (0-0), the ‘Saints’ have now won just one of their last ten top-flight H2Hs (D1, L8), drawing a blank on four of those occasions. Conceding first would undoubtedly dent Southampton’s chances of staging an upset here, given that they’ve failed to win any of their nine Premier League matches when falling behind this term (D3, L6).

On the other hand, Manchester City head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having won their last 12 Premier League games in a row by an aggregate score of 34-7. Having built a comfortable 11-point cushion at the summit, Pep Guardiola’s men seem to be waltzing away with their fifth Premier League title in six years and second on the trot. Delivering action from the get-go, Man City have broken the deadlock in more league matches (17) than any other side this season, going on to win each of them. Indeed, the reigning English champions have conceded a league-low two first-half goals in the Premier League this term, summing up their stubborn displays before half-time in a nutshell. Yet, it’s worth noting that the ‘Cityzens’ have failed to score in two of their last four league H2Hs after finding the net in 16 consecutive such contests beforehand.

The post Southampton vs Manchester City appeared first on Bet888win.

Atletico Madrid vs Valencia

Atletico Madrid and Valencia are set to face off in a tasty-looking La Liga fixture at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid’s hopes of defending the La Liga title are dwindling on the back of four defeats from their last six league matches (W1, D1). Unfortunately, that’s not the end of their downfall, as they also suffered an epic failure in the Saudi-held Supercopa de Espana before bowing out to Real Sociedad in midweek Copa del Rey action. With their title ambitions long gone, ‘Los Colchoneros’ will at least look to ensure Champions League football for next season as they sit fourth, albeit level on points with fifth-placed Sociedad. Back to the Wanda Metropolitano, where they’ve won three of their last four La Liga games ‘to nil,’ Diego Simeone’s side will be looking to extend their eye-catching 14-game unbeaten H2H run against Valencia in La Liga (W8, D6).

By contrast, Valencia will be keen to halt their worst-ever winless streak against Atletico in the competition by defying their indifferent form in their last five league matches (W2, D1, L2). Easier said than done, though, with Jose Bordalas’ side succumbing to a dreadful 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in their most recent La Liga travel, halting a two-game winning run away from home in the competition. That said, a return of two victories from their last three top-flight away fixtures equals Valencia’s haul of two wins from their 24 La Liga road trips beforehand (D9, L13). Still, ‘Los Murcielagos’ have failed to win any of their ten league visits to Simeone’s Atletico (D4, L6) while they are winless in their previous last 12 away league meetings with Madrilean sides (D2, L10), losing the last seven in a row.

The post Atletico Madrid vs Valencia appeared first on Bet888win.

BG Pathum United vs Nong Bua Pitchaya

BG Pathum United will be looking to bounce back from a poor run of form in the Thai League 1 when they take on mid-table Nong Bua Pitchaya at the BG Stadium.

Pathum United came from a 1-0 half-time deficit to hold Muang Thong United to a 2-2 away draw last time out, making it three Thai League 1 stalemates in a row. The hosts are now winless in five consecutive league games (D3, L2), falling six points behind pacesetters Buriram United in the process. However, the ‘Rabbits’ will feel confident about returning to winning ways here, having won their previous four top-flight home outings in a row by an aggregate score of 5-1, with each of their last three such triumphs yielding a narrow 1-0 scoreline. Surachai Jaturapattarapong’s men will be driven by revenge here following a dreadful 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in November. Conceding first would dent Pathum’s hopes of claiming vengeance, given that they’ve lost three out of four league games when falling behind this term (D1).

Meanwhile, Nong Bua Pitchaya eked out a 3-2 home victory over Chonburi last time out, bringing a three-game Thai League 1 winless streak to an end (D1, L2). High scoring has been a common theme in the visitors’ competitive matches this calendar year as all three have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet. That’s also been the case in their last three road trips in all competitions (W1, D1, L1), two of which witnessed the ‘Gamecocks’ score the opener with 15 minutes of play. That said, cagey entries have highlighted Nong Bua’s away Thai League 1 matches this season, with Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul’s side netting just three first-half goals in their seven top-flight travels so far.

The post BG Pathum United vs Nong Bua Pitchaya appeared first on Bet888win.

Lazio vs Atalanta

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as Lazio and Atalanta go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking Serie A encounter.

Ciro Immobile’s 106th-minute goal fired Lazio past Udinese in their Coppa Italia last-16 tie in midweek, as ‘I Biancocelesti’ have now kept back-to-back clean sheets in all competitions. Indeed, following a two-game winless start to the new calendar year (D1, L1), Maurizio Sarri’s men cruised to a landslide 3-0 victory at newly-promoted Salernitana last time out and could now win consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since mid-December. However, they have only picked up one triumph from their last four top-flight home outings (D2, L1), conceding first in each game they didn’t win in that period. Moreover, Lazio have failed to beat Atalanta in any of their previous four Serie A H2Hs held in the nation’s capital (D2, L2), shipping 3+ goals in each of the last three in a row.

In the meantime, Atalanta became the first Serie A side to keep reigning champions Inter Milan goalless last time out (0-0), extending their unbeaten league run to three games (W1, D2). Despite blowing hot and cold across their last four Serie A fixtures (W1, D2, L1), ‘La Dea’ can draw confidence from their outstanding away form this season. Coming into this matchday, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are the only side in Italy’s top-flight yet to suffer defeat on hostile turf this term (W9, D2), winning seven of their last eight league trips (D1). Worryingly, though, the visitors have drawn a blank in two of their previous three Serie A matches despite boasting the division’s third-best scoring ratio (2.1 per game) this season. But it’s worth noting that Atalanta have avoided defeat in all three away league fixtures when conceding first so far (W2, D1).

The post Lazio vs Atalanta appeared first on Bet888win.

Watford vs Norwich City

Watford and Norwich City are set to lock horns in the Premier League relegation six-pointer at Vicarage Road.

Watford’s relegation showdown versus Burnley was postponed in midweek for the second time running, giving the ‘Hornets’ extra few days to rally their troops ahead of Norwich’s visit. Joao Pedro’s last-gasp equaliser fired Watford to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United last time out, helping his side halt a run of seven consecutive Premier League defeats. Back to Vicarage Road, Claudio Ranieri’s men will be looking to end a four-game losing home streak in the Premier League and build on their recent H2H record versus Norwich. Indeed, they have won each of their last three competitive home encounters against this opposition, keeping a clean sheet twice in the process. What’s more, they have only lost one of their previous eight league matches against Norwich in league action (W5, D2), courtesy of a 3-0 reverse in the Championship in February 2015.

In the meantime, Norwich City pulled off a vital 2-1 home triumph over an out-of-sorts Everton last time out, ending a run of six Premier League defeats without scoring. Under-fire boss Dean Smith is now looking to become the first Norwich manager since Alex Neil in April 2016 to win back-to-back Premier League matches. However, the ‘Canaries’ have developed a habit of surrendering the points away from home, picking up just one win from their ten top-flight travels this season (D2, L7). Indeed, no team has scored fewer Premier League away goals than Norwich (3) this term, while the visitors’ tally of 25 goals conceded on the road is a comfortable league high. Moreover, they have scored the opening goal on fewer occasions (2) than any other Premier League side this season, which remains another glaring issue Smith has to resolve as soon as possible.

The post Watford vs Norwich City appeared first on Bet888win.

Roma vs Lecce

Stadio Olimpico plays host to an exciting Coppa Italia last-16 tie between Roma and Serie B high-flyers Lecce.

Sergio Oliveira’s first-half penalty fired Roma to a narrow 1-0 Serie A triumph over relegation-battling Cagliari over the weekend, halting their run of three consecutive matches without winning (D1, L2). Despite overcoming an out-of-sorts opponent without conceding, Roma’s recent defensive performances have flattered to deceive. Since the start of December, ‘I Giallorossi’ have kept just two clean sheets in nine matches across all competitions, conceding 2+ goals on four occasions in the process. However, Jose Mourinho’s men will have to stay compact at the back if they are to optimise their chances of winning, as all of their last six competitive home victories have been accompanied by a blank sheet. That has also been the case in two of their previous three H2H wins in the nation’s capital.

In the meantime, Lecce will be looking to beat the odds and snap an embarrassing 14-game winless run against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico (D1, L13), losing the last five in a row by an aggregate score of 14-4. ‘I Salentini’ will draw confidence from ousting Roma’s Serie A rivals Spezia in the previous Coppa Italia round, cruising to a 2-0 win away from home. Going back to September, the visitors have suffered just one defeat in their ten away matches across all competitions (W5, D4), notably keeping five clean sheets in the process. However, entertainment has been at a premium across those ten games as eight have featured under 2.5 total goals, highlighting the potential for a cagey, low-scoring affair. Still, it’s worth noting that Lecce have found the net before half-time in three of their last four competitive fixtures on hostile turf.

The post Roma vs Lecce appeared first on Bet888win.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Emirates Stadium is the venue as Arsenal and Liverpool go head-to-head in the return leg of their blockbuster English League Cup semi-final tie.

Despite falling down to 10 men only 24 minutes into their first-leg clash at Anfield, Arsenal eked out a goalless draw as there’s everything to play for in the return leg. Since a Covid-19 outbreak at the Emirates forced the postponement of their Premier League meeting with Tottenham at the weekend, the ‘Gunners’ have been given extra rest days ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the nation’s capital. That could inspire Arsenal’s efforts to improve their lacklustre H2H record at the Emirates, where they’ve only won one of their last six encounters in all competitions (D3, L2), conceding 3+ goals in 50% of them. That said, the Londoners have never lost a League Cup home showdown against Liverpool (W3, D3) while they’ve won ten of their last 12 competitive outings at the Emirates (D1, L1).

On the other hand, Liverpool cruised past the Premier League debutants Brentford 3-0 at the weekend despite lacking a host of key first-team players, making it four competitive games without losing (W2, D2). However, following a run of three consecutive away victories in all competitions, the ‘Reds’ have gone winless in their last three competitive road trips (D2, L1) despite taking the lead twice in the sequence. On the bright side, under Jurgen Klopp’s stewardship, the Merseyside heavyweights have scored more competitive goals versus Arsenal (43) than they have against any other opposition. Furthermore, Liverpool have racked up more away victories in the League Cup (56) than any other side in the competition’s history, winning each of the last three in a row. Worryingly, though, they have lost the second leg of each of their last three League Cup semi-final ties.

The post Arsenal vs Liverpool appeared first on Bet888win.

Brentford vs Manchester United

Manchester United will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on the division’s newcomers Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium.

A come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Aston Villa on New Year’s Day appears to have been a fluke, with Brentford losing their last two Premier League games by an aggregate score of 7-1, falling to a 2+ goal margin on both occasions. Despite their underwhelming form, the ‘Bees’ can draw confidence from their recent impressive showings at home, having won three of their last four league matches at the Brentford Community Stadium (L1). Though none of Brentford’s previous seven Premier League home fixtures have ended as a draw (W3, L4), those contests have been notably tight, with each of them yielding a single-goal margin at full-time. Brentford’s home action usually sparks into life beyond half-time, as witnessed by the fact eight of their 12 top-flight goals scored at home this season have come in the second half of play.

In the meantime, Manchester City could only manage a disappointing 2-2 draw at Aston Villa last time out despite boasting a two-goal lead in the 77th minute. As a result, the ‘Red Devils’ are now winless in three of their last four Premier League fixtures (D2, L1), throwing their Champions League qualification hopes into the corridor of doubt. Away from home, Ralf Rangnick’s men have only won one of their last five Premier League matches (D3, L1) despite taking the lead in two of those three draws. However, Man United can find some comfort in their encouraging top-flight form in London, having gone unbeaten in 12 consecutive league games in the nation’s capital since losing 2-0 at Arsenal in January 2020. What’s more, they remain the only Premier League side to have scored in all ten away league matches this season, averaging 1.5 goals per game.

The post Brentford vs Manchester United appeared first on Bet888win.

Inter Milan vs Empoli

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the venue as Inter Milan and Empoli go head-to-head in an intriguing Coppa Italia last-16 tie.

Inter Milan failed to build on a last-gasp Supercoppa Italiana triumph at the expense of Juventus, drawing 0-0 at Atalanta last time out. However, ‘I Nerazzurri’ head into proceedings as overwhelming favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, having won their previous eight Serie A H2Hs, including four of the last five without conceding. Additionally, Simone Inzaghi’s men have gone unbeaten in 14 consecutive domestic fixtures since falling to a 3-1 league defeat at Lazio in mid-October (W11, D3). Since a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage, the reigning Italian champions have not lost any of their last 12 competitive home games (W9, D3 – 90 mins only), notably scoring 2+ goals on nine of those occasions.

Meanwhile, following a run of three consecutive victories in all competitions, Empoli have alternated between draws and defeats in their last four league outings (D2, L2), including a 1-1 stalemate at Venezia over the weekend. There’s been plenty of end-to-end action in Empoli’s recent matches, as each of the last six has seen both teams on the scoresheet, four of which featured over 5.5 total goals. However, the visitors’ defensive frailties have seen them keep just one clean sheet in their previous ten road trips in all competitions, conceding 2+ goals six times in the process. That said, Aurelio Andreazzoli’s men have gone undefeated in their last six competitive away games (W2, D4), breaking the deadlock in five of them.

The post Inter Milan vs Empoli appeared first on Bet888win.