Newcastle United vs Leeds United

St James’ Park is the venue as high-flying Newcastle United and relegation-threatened Leeds United go head-to-head in an exciting Premier League match-up.

Newcastle United flew out of traps on their Boxing Day clash against Leicester City, netting twice inside the opening seven minutes of a thumping 3-0 victory at the King Power Stadium to equal the club’s best-ever record of 11 unbeaten Premier League matches (W8, D3). Having won their last six league outings in a row, the ‘Magpies’ could record seven straight top-flight triumphs for the first time since 1996, but there’s a catch. Eddie Howe’s men have been winless in their last three home league encounters against Leeds (D2, L1), in stark contrast to their sublime Premier League form at St James’ Park this term. Indeed, they head into proceedings as one of only two Premier League teams alongside leaders Arsenal yet to lose a single top-flight match on home turf in 2022/23 (W5, D3).

On the other hand, visiting Leeds United collapsed in a morale-damaging 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City on Boxing Day, slipping to 15th in the standings, only two points clear of the drop zone. The main reason behind Leeds’ embroilment in a relegation-zone drama for the second season on the trot lies with their massive form woes on hostile turf. Jesse Marsch’s men have racked up a league second-low four points on the road this term (W1, D1, L5), losing five times on their last six travels, including a 4-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the eve of the World Cup break. Moreover, after losing 1-0 to Newcastle in their most recent Premier League H2H in January, they could suffer back-to-back league defeats against this opposition for the first time since 2002.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United

Molineux Stadium is the venue as relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers and top-four hopefuls Manchester United lock horns in a high-stakes Premier League contest.

After dispatching lower-league Gillingham in the Carabao Cup 2-0, Julen Lopetegui marked his touchline debut in the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 win at Everton on Boxing Day. Rayan Ait Nouri’s stoppage-time heroics at Goodison Park helped Wolves arrest an abysmal five-match winless league run (D1, L4) and reduce the gap on safety to just one point. However, there’s no time to celebrate, as the ‘Wanderers’ are experiencing their worst top-flight start since a fateful 2003/04 top-flight relegation season. On top of that, Wolves have lost three previous three home league outings on the bounce by an aggregate score of 9-2, while they became the last side to reach a 10-goal landmark in the Premier League this term on Boxing Day!

In the meantime, Manchester United eased past Nottingham forest 3-0 in midweek Premier League action, extending their winning league streak to three matches and whittling down the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur to a single point. Yet after beating Fulham 2-1 on their latest top-flight travel, the ‘Red Devils’ could record back-to-back away league victories for the first time since August, highlighting their form woes on the road. Despite winning 50% of their Premier League fixtures on the road under Erik ten Hag (W4, D1, L3), each of those triumphs yielded a single-goal margin, suggesting they lack conviction outside Old Trafford. Another one-goal margin win would do, though, as Man United could make history on New Year’s Eve by beating Wolves in three consecutive away league H2Hs for the first time.

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Liverpool vs Leicester City

Liverpool’s bid to close the gap on the Premier League top four continues at Anfield this weekend as they encounter bottom-half underachievers Leicester City at Anfield.

Inspired by reportedly pipping fierce rivals Manchester United to the signature of PSV Eindhoven whizz-kid Cody Gakpo, Liverpool head into proceedings looking to extend their three-game winning Premier League run and tighten the noose on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. A 3-1 Boxing Day win at Aston Villa helped the ‘Reds’ climb to within a five-point distance of the Champions League places, but there’s no room for complacency. Back at Anfield, where they’ve only lost once in eight Premier League outings this season (W5, D2), Jurgen Klopp’s men are looking to build on their eye-catching 11-match home league form against Leicester (W9, D2). Having scored in their last 31 home fixtures in the Premier League, the hosts will be confident about pouring more misery on out-of-sorts Leicester.

Despite claiming back-to-back 2-0 wins at West Ham United and Everton on the eve of the World Cup break, Leicester’s hopes of steering away from the drop zone took a massive blow on Boxing Day as Newcastle United thrashed them 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. Stuck only four points clear of 18^th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, the visitors can at least draw confidence from their outrageous away form, having won their last three league matches on the road by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ With the pressure mounting on manager Brendan Rodgers, Leicester will be out to outperform a team from the upper half of the table for the first time this season and cap off a tumultuous 2022 on a high.

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West Ham United vs Brentford

London Stadium is the venue as West Ham United and Brentford lock horns in an all-London Premier League match-up.

Despite taking the lead midway through the first half on their Boxing Day trip to Arsenal, West Ham found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline at full-time, extending their losing Premier League streak to four matches. Another disappointing result left them only one point clear of the drop zone, putting manager David Moyes under heavy scrutiny ahead of West Ham’s bid to arrest a two-game losing home run in league action. Yet while they thumped Watford 4-1 in their final league match of 2021, the London Stadium faithful could witness a different narrative this time around, given that the ‘Hammers’ lost both last season’s Premier League encounters against Brentford. A similar scenario would see West Ham lose three consecutive home league outings for the first time since December 2019.

On the other hand, Brentford came close to pulling off another upset after their iconic 2-1 win at Manchester City in November, yet they spurned a 2-0 lead in an action-packed 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day. Worryingly enough, the ‘Bees’ are now winless in their last six Premier League London derbies (D4, L2), while the abovementioned toppling of Man City marked their first win in eight away league fixtures this season (D4, L3). Except for a scoreless draw at Bournemouth in early October, Thomas Frank’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet on their remaining seven top-flight travels in 2022/23, conceding 2+ goals on five occasions. Particularly vulnerable before halftime, they are one of only four sides to have shipped 10+ first-half goals this season.

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Leeds United vs Manchester City

Defending Premier League champions Manchester City take a trip to Elland Road to encounter bottom-half underachievers Leeds United in an exciting Boxing Day fixture.

Leeds United completed their pre-World Cup domestic assignments in heartbreaking fashion, becoming the first Premier League side not to win a match after taking the lead three times since Boxing Day 2012 as Tottenham Hotspur toppled them 4-3. Staring down the barrel of another season-long fight against the drop, Jesse Marsch’s men sit only two points clear of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest at the start of this round. Back at Elland Road, where they ousted Bournemouth 4-3 last time out to snap an underwhelming run of four winless home league games (D2, L2), the ‘Whites’ will be looking to stun back-to-back Premier League champions. However, it’s worth noting that Leeds lost both last season’s league meetings with Manchester City by an aggregate score of 11-0, including a 4-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture.

Meanwhile, after thumping Leeds last season, Manchester City can win consecutive away league encounters against them for the first time since 2000. Nothing less would do for Pep Guardiola’s men after they shockingly lost 2-1 to Brentford at home last time out, falling five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. The ‘Cityzens’ came out 3-2 victors against Liverpool in last week’s League Cup action, bolstering their spirits ahead of this must-win trip. However, the visitors have blown hot and cold on the road of late, racking up just two victories on their five most recent Premier League travels (D2, L1). Despite their topsy-turvy spell of form, they are still the most prolific side in the division, having netted a whopping 40 goals in 14 matches at an average of 2.85 per game.

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Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Premier League top-four hopefuls Liverpool take a trip to Villa Park to lock horns with resurgent Aston Villa in a mouth-watering Boxing Day clash.

Aston Villa may have rued the World Cup timing as new boss Unai Emery led them to back-to-back Premier League victories over Brighton and Manchester United before a six-week hiatus took the wind out of their sails. Interestingly, the ‘Lions’ scored five goals across those two matches, as many as in Steven Gerrard’s final six league games in charge, highlighting the team’s overall improvement under Emery. The Spaniard has a personal agenda here, as since beating Liverpool in his first-ever managerial clash against them, he’s gone winless in six successive encounters against the ‘Reds’ (D1, L5). And with Villa coming out victorious in four of their last six Premier League Boxing Day fixtures (L2), there’s every reason for optimism in Emery’s camp. But Villa’s embarrassing run of eight defeats from their nine previous league games against Liverpool (W1) could douse the enthusiasm.

In the meantime, Liverpool returned to competitive action after the World Cup with an action-packed 3-2 defeat at Manchester City in midweek League Cup action. In stark contrast to that result, the Merseyside heavyweights were on a tear before the mid-season break curtailed their momentum, going from consecutive Premier League losses to back-to-back triumphs. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men cannot afford to rest on their laurels, as they trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by a substantial seven points, albeit they have a game in hand. Liverpool’s eye-catching run of five successive Premier League Boxing Day victories via an aggregate score of 15-0 will boost confidence in the visiting camp. But it’s not all rosy for Klopp’s lads, given that they’ve only won once on their six Premier League travels this term (D2, L3).

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Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur

Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur are set to trade tackles in an all-London Premier League match-up at the Brentford Community Stadium on Boxing Day.

Brentford stunned the odds in their final Premier League fixture ahead of the World Cup, toppling back-to-back Manchester City 2-1 on the road to arrest a dismal run of four winless league encounters (D3, L1). Enjoying themselves in mid-table comforts, the ‘Bees’ have recorded an eye-catching unbeaten ratio of 73% across the opening 15 Premier League rounds (W4, D7, L4). However, they’ve failed to beat Tottenham in any of their last 13 meetings in all competitions (D4, L9) since a 2-0 home triumph all the way back in 1949. They could turn their H2H fortunes around in the festive period, though, having lost only two of their last 13 league matches on Boxing Day (W7, D4). Achieving that feat would see Thomas Frank’s men win consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May.

As for Tottenham, a phenomenal come-from-behind 4-3 home win over Leeds United on the eve of the mid-season break solidified Antonio Conte’s men as genuine top-four candidates. But with fifth-placed Manchester United only three points off, ‘Spurs’ are aiming to defy their indifferent seven-game away form in the Premier League this term (W3, D2, L2). Indeed, the visitors’ problems with inconsistent performances on hostile turf have seen them alternate between winning (2) and losing (2) on their last four top-flight travels. However, Boxing Day has often been kind to Tottenham as they’ve not lost any of their previous 15 Premier League outings on this day (W12, D3). But they’ve picked up just one victory in their last 15 away London derbies in the Premier League (D6, L8).

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Manchester United vs Burnley

Old Trafford forms the backdrop for Manchester United’s fourth-round EFL Cup showdown against EFL Championship pacesetters Burnley.

Despite losing both mid-season friendlies to sub-par rivals Cadiz and Rayo Vallecano, Manchester United will be confident of navigating this tie, with their World Cup stars back to the fold now. Erik ten Hag’s men thrashed Aston Villa 4-2 in the last Carabao Cup round despite trailing twice in the second half and went on to claim a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Fulham in their most recent Premier League outing. Hellbent on advancing into the next cup round, the ‘Red Devils’ can draw confidence from winning all five previous Carabao Cup ties against Burnley. However, there’s no room for complacency, with Man Utd finding themselves on the losing side in three of their last four home outings in the Carabao Cup, as many defeats as they had in their previous 36 at Old Trafford.

On the other hand, visiting Burnley may be pre-match underdogs, yet a four-game winning streak in domestic football should fill the ‘Clarets’ with confidence. Since dispatching lower-league Crawley Town 3-1 in the previous Carabao Cup round, Vincent Kompany’s men have gone from strength to strength, racking up a three-game winning run in the Championship. Still, though they are leading the way in England’s second-tier competition, Burnley must be aware of their underwhelming recent record at Old Trafford. They have lost their last two league visits to this venue via an identical 3-1 scoreline, while they’ve only managed a mere one victory across their 23 previous H2Hs at the Theatre of Dreams, all competitions included (D8, L14).

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PSIS Semarang vs Bali United

Stadion dr. H. Moch.Soebroto is the venue as PSIS Semarang and Bali United lock horns in a top-half Indonesian Liga 1 showdown.

After back-to-back wins ‘to nil’ over Persija Jakarta and PSS Sleman, PSIS Semarang fell to a somewhat expected 2-0 defeat at PSM Makassar last time out, maintaining their topsy-turvy Liga 1 form. Since a tepid goalless draw with Persis Solo in early September, none of Semarang’s seven subsequent league matches have ended level (W4, D3), with five of them (71%) seeing the winner keep a clean sheet. Much more consistent at Stadion dr. H. Moch.Soebroto, the ‘Warak Dragons’ have racked up four victories across their last five top-flight home fixtures (L1), netting 2+ goals in each triumph. Against this high-scoring backdrop, the hosts have failed to score twice across their three previous home league H2Hs against Bali (W1, D1, L1).

Meanwhile, visiting Bali United have suffered a dip in form ahead of this trip, going from three consecutive league victories to back-to-back losses despite taking the lead early in the second half on both occasions. Playing on hostile turf may help the visitors turn their fortunes around, given that they’ve won four of their last five away league fixtures (L1), including two in a row preceding this travel. Conceding the opening goal could throw a spanner in the works as the ‘Tridatu Warriors’ have lost four out of five Liga 1 contests in which their opposition drew first blood this season (W1). Adding to this sentiment, Bali’s five previous top-flight H2Hs against Semarang have all featured one or both sides failing to score in matches garnering under 2.5 total goals.

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PSG vs Quevilly Rouen

Centre d’entraînement Ooredoo plays host to PSG’s seemingly routine warm-up showdown against lower-league Quevilly-Rouen.

Fresh from overcoming Quevilly’s fellow Ligue 2 rivals Paris FC 2-1 in their opening mid-season friendly, PSG will be looking to cap off their warm-up campaign on a high despite lacking a number of first-team stars. Since a brace of low-scoring draws against Benfica and Reims in early October, Christophe Galtier’s men have hit a purple patch, racking up an intimidating eight-match winning streak. Yet it’s worth noting that five of those eight triumphs have yielded a narrow one-goal margin, suggesting PSG’s game lack conviction. That shouldn’t temper with Paris’ bid to maintain their 100% H2H win ratio against Quevilly, having won both previous duels without conceding. But with just one clean sheet from their last six outings, that narrative may change this midweek.

As for Quevilly-Rouen, a 1-1 draw with fellow second-tier opposition Laval in their solitary mid-season exhibition contest this winter has taken their unbeaten streak to two matches (W1, D1). By extension, ‘Les rouges et jaunes’ have only lost one of their last nine outings within regulation time (W4, D4), mainly due to their watertight backline. Indeed, Fabien Mercadal’s lads have registered four shutouts across their last eight matches, indicating PSG’s second-string line-up may not have a walk in the park as it may appear at first glance. Yet playing outside Stade Robert Diochon tends to throw Quevilly into disarray, as evidenced by their poor return of just one win from their last four away games (D2, L1).

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Cambodia vs Philippines

Morodok Techo National Stadium plays host to an AFF Championship Group A curtain-raiser between Cambodia and the Philippines.

Cambodia head into the tournament on the back of five consecutive winless internationals (D1, L4), including a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Malaysia earlier this month. A lack of scoring prowess poses a major threat to the Cambodians’ bid to avenge a humiliating 8-0 defeat in their most recent H2H against the Philippines back in 2013. Indeed, the ‘Angkor Warriors’ have failed to trouble the scoresheet four times across their last five outings while conceding 2+ goals on four occasions in that same timeframe. Overall, 2022 has been a massive waste for Keisuke Honda’s side as they’ve only won once in their six matches this calendar year (D1, L4), though four (67%) of them have featured over 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring affair.

In the meantime, the Philippines have hit a rough patch since a 1-0 triumph over sub-par Mongolia in June, losing back-to-back games without scoring in the aftermath, including a narrow 1-0 defeat at Vietnam last time out. Their propensity for producing low-scoring contests has seen five of the Philippines’ last six international fixtures contain under 2.5 total goals, with none of them witnessing both teams on the scoreboard. Therefore, breaking the deadlock could be of the utmost importance, especially considering it’s been over four years since the ‘Street Dogs’ last won a match in which they conceded the opening goal, doing so in a 2-1 win over Tajikistan in March 2018.

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Zhejiang Professional vs Guangzhou City

Zhejiang Professional and Guangzhou City are set to trade tackles at the Huizhou Olympic Stadium in the Chinese FA Cup round of 16.

Zhejiang Professional ousted Dalian Pro 1-0 in the previous FA Cup knockout tie, which at the time formed part of an outrageous six-game winning streak in domestic football. That run ended abruptly in the lead-up to this fixture as Zhejiang spurned a 1-0 halftime lead in a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Chengdu Rongcheng in the Chinese Super League. However, the ‘Green Giants’ come into this meeting on an eye-catching run of nine competitive matches without losing (W7, D2). Hot favorites to progress into the next FA Cup round, Jordi Vinyals’ men haven’t lost any of their last five home outings (W3, D2). However, before taking Guangzhou down 2-0 in their most recent home H2H, they had lost three successive such match-ups beforehand.

In the meantime, visiting Guangzhou City squeezed past lower-division outfit Xian Ronghai in the previous FA Cup round but have since hit a rough patch. The visitors will take the field amid an abysmal six-game winless streak, though it’s worth noting they’ve drawn their last two competitive fixtures following four defeats in a row beforehand. Scoring has been a massive problem for the ‘Blue Lions,’ as they’ve netted one goal or fewer in each of their last ten outings in all competitions. Indeed, Li Weifeng’s lads have drawn a blank on three consecutive road trips ahead of this encounter, casting doubt on their ability to fashion a genuine quarter-final challenge.

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Huddersfield Town vs Watford

Huddersfield Town’s bid to fashion a comeback following a nightmarish EFL Championship start faces another stern test as they welcome promotion hopefuls Watford at John Smith’s Stadium.

Huddersfield’s daunting-looking fixture schedule to cap off the 2022 calendar year continues on the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United last weekend. Having failed to get on the scoresheet in four of their five most recent Championship outings (W1, D1, L3), the ‘Terriers’ come into proceedings nailed to the foot of the table, six points adrift of safety. As one of only two Championship sides yet to hit a 20-goal landmark this season, Mark Fotheringham’s lads look doomed. Adding to this sentiment, out-of-sorts Huddersfield have only won once in their last four home league fixtures (D2, L1), all of which saw one or both teams fail to trouble the scoreboard in matches garnering under 2.5 total goals.

In the meantime, visiting Watford may have thrashed current Premier League leaders Arsenal 4-2 in a mid-season friendly, but more importantly, they could only manage a drab 0-0 draw against Hull City last time out. Keen to make a swift return to the Premier League, only one season after their fateful 2021/22 top-flight relegation campaign, the ‘Hornets’ hold a slender two-point lead on seventh-placed Millwall at the start of this round. Watford’s woeful four-game league form (W1, D2, L1) is a reason for concern, especially as Slaven Bilic’s men have drawn a blank three times in that sequence. On a more positive note, the visitors are unbeaten in their last three away league matches (W2, D1), keeping a clean sheet twice in the process.

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Birmingham City vs Reading

Birmingham City and Reading are set to lock horns at St. Andrew’s Stadium in a high-stakes mid-table Championship showdown.

Birmingham City returned to Championship action following a four-week break for the World Cup with a dull 0-0 draw at Blackpool last weekend. Despite extending their winless league streak to three matches (D2, L1), the ‘Blues’ have steered five points away from the drop zone and could now even dream of breaking into the playoff picture. Seeking a Premier League return for the first time since their fateful 2010/11 top-flight relegation season, John Eustace’s men currently hover five points adrift of sixth-placed Preston North End. So Birmingham can ill-afford to drop points here, even though they’ve only won one of their last five home league outings (D3, L1). But that’s easier said than done, considering they’ve suffered four defeats across their six previous Championship home clashes against Reading (W2).

On the other hand, Reading eked out a narrow 1-0 triumph against Coventry City last time out, making it two Championship wins in a row and roaring their way back into playoff contention. With only two points separating them from the playoff line, the ‘Royals’ will be out to build on a 2-1 win at Hull City on their most recent Championship travel, which helped them arrest a dreadful run of five winless away league matches (D1, L4). Omen looks good from Paul Ince’s perspective, given that the last time Reading won back-to-back away league matches in November 2021, one of the victories came at St. Andrew’s Stadium. But it’s far from rosy for the visitors, especially considering they’ve netted a measly average of 0.72 goals per away league fixture this season.

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Persija Jakarta vs Persebaya Surabaya

Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno is the venue as Persija Jakarta and Persebaya Surabaya go head-to-head in an exciting Indonesia Liga 1 encounter.

Having alternated between winning (2) and drawing (2) across four Liga 1 matches between mid-November and mid-December, Persija Jakarta slipped to a 2-0 defeat at PSIS Semarang last time out, throwing their title hopes into doubt. With five points separating them from table-topping Bali United, the ‘Kemayoran Tigers’ will be out to arrest a frustrating three-match winless H2H home league streak against Persebaya (D1, L2) and steady the ship. Too hot to handle on the home turf, Thomas Doll’s men have yet to lose a single home league fixture this term (W4, D2), conceding a league joint-low three goals across those six matches.

As for Persebaya Surabaya, a 1-1 home draw with Persik Kediri last time out condemned them to mid-table lethargy, further testifying to their topsy-turvy form. Indeed, the visitors have amassed a mere two wins from their six previous league outings (D1, L3), failing to keep a clean sheet on each occasion. Speaking of Persebaya’s problems with inconsistent performances, their last five Liga 1 away fixtures have fluctuated between victories (2) and defeats (3), with four of those five results (win/loss) yielding a single-goal margin. Conceding first would likely lead to Persebaya’s collapse, considering the ‘Green Crocodiles’ have lost all four top-flight away games in which they conceded first this season.

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Aston Villa vs Villarreal

Aston Villa and Villarreal are set to square off in an exciting exhibition match at Villa Park.

Fresh from dispatching bitter Premier League rivals Chelsea 1-0 in their third mid-season friendly, Aston Villa will be out to gather momentum ahead of their top-flight clash against Liverpool. Unai Emery’s side had endured a false two-game start to their warm-weather preparation (D1, L1), conceding 2+ goals against both Brighton and Cardiff City. However, back at Villa Park, where they thrashed Manchester United and Brentford by an aggregate score of 7-1 ahead of the World Cup break, the ‘Lions’ should feel confident. The improvement under Emery cannot be understated, as he accounts for 50% of Villa’s home league wins this season. Moreover, the ‘Lions’ have scored two goals across their two home league matches under the Spaniard, four more than in five under Steven Gerrard beforehand.

Emery will have an added motive to inspire Villa to another cruising home fixture, as he swapped Villarreal for the Birmingham outfit in November. Despite losing three of his first four competitive matches in charge of ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ without scoring (D1), Emery’s successor Quique Setien steadied the ship on the stroke of the World Cup break. Villarreal followed up a morale-boosting 1-0 La Liga win at Espanyol with a scintillating 9-0 romping of lower-league Santa Amalia in Copa del Rey. However, the Spaniards have delivered a mixed bag of performances during the mid-season halt, losing 2-1 to Fenerbahce before defeating Galatasaray 4-3 last time out. Encouragingly for Setien, his men have clocked up three victories across their four previous road trips (L1), keeping a clean sheet twice in the process.

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PSM Makassar vs Madura United

A handsomely-looking top-four Indonesia Liga 1 six-pointer pits PSM Makassar and Madura United against each other at the Gelora BJ Habibie.

PSM Makassar surrendered the top place in Liga 1 to Bali United last weekend after only managing an underwhelming scoreless draw at mid-table Bhayangkara Solo. Despite suffering a minor setback on their most recent league travel, the ‘Roosters of the East’ head into proceedings as the only side in the top flight yet to lose a single match this season (W8, D5). Much of the credit for Makassar’s high-flying domestic form goes to a watertight backline that has conceded a league-low seven goals. But after failing to keep a clean sheet in three of their last five league outings, Bernardo Tavares’ men will have to avoid complacency. A game against Madura couldn’t have come at a better time for Makassar, considering they’ve won two of their last three top-flight H2Hs via an identical 1-0 scoreline (D1).

Meanwhile, Madura United failed to build on a narrow 1-0 triumph at PSS Sleman in their most recent away league fixture, as they spurned an early 1-0 lead in a 3-1 home defeat to Bali United last time out. Since that triumph against Sleman remains Madura’s solitary success in five top-flight matches (D2, L2), it’s no surprise they’ve lost ground on pacesetters Bali. Reducing a bridgeable four-point deficit on Bali requires the ‘Runner Bull’ to overcome their topsy-turvy away record in Liga 1 (W3, D2, L2) and potentially win back-to-back league games on the road for the first time this term. That’s easier said than done, with Madura losing all six competitive visits to Makassar, including the last three in a row via an identical 1-0 scoreline.

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Bali United vs Borneo

Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium forms the backdrop for a top-table Indonesia Liga 1 six-pointer between Bali United and Borneo.

Despite falling behind 14 minutes into their weekend trip to Madura United, Bali United turned the game on its head, claiming a comfortable 3-1 victory to cement their place at the top of the Liga 1 standings. Despite winning three consecutive league matches following a disappointing run of back-to-back defeats, the ‘Tiradu Warriors’ can ill-afford to rest on their laurels. With only one point separating them from second-placed PSM Makassar, a potential slip-up here would likely result in surrendering the top place at the end of this round. However, Stefano Cugurra’s men have fared well on home turf this season, racking up five wins from seven home league fixtures (L2). Indeed, they have won three of their last four such match-ups by 3+ goals ‘to nil,’ averaging a staggering 4.33 goals per game.

On the other hand, visiting Borneo have blown hot and cold across their last seven league outings (W2, D3, L2) but are still in the title picture. Keen to bounce back from a tepid 0-0 home draw with PSS Sleman, they head to Bali looking to take all three points and their hosts’ place in the Liga 1 table. But to do that, the ‘Our Dolphin’ will have to defy a two-game winless H2H league streak against this opposition (D1, L). On a more positive note, Borneo strolled to an overwhelming 4-2 victory at PSIS Semarang on their most recent top-flight travel, ending a disastrous run of three winless away matches (D1, L2). Borneo’s defensive woes remain an issue, with Andre Gaspar’s side failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven competitive games on hostile turf.

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Thailand vs Chinese Taipei

Thammasat Stadium plays host to Thailand’s seemingly routine friendly clash against Chinese Taipei this midweek.

Thailand rounded off September’s international break with a tight 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago before kickstarting the World Cup break with an overwhelming 6-0 victory over fellow Asian rivals Myanmar last time out. Delivering action from the onset, the ‘War Elephants’ opened the scoring within 25 minutes in both those fixtures, suggesting a quick-fire start could be on the cards. That would likely pave the way for Thailand’s bid to register a third consecutive friendly win over Chinese Taipei, having defeated them via a two-goal margin in both previous H2Hs. Connoisseurs of action-packed football will be looking forward to this encounter, considering five of Thailand’s last seven home matches have contained over 2.5 goals (W5, D1, L1 – 90mins only).

In the meantime, visiting Chinese Taipei come into proceedings amid a rough patch. Indeed, since beating Hong Kong 2-0 in a friendly in June 2019, they’ve lost ten internationals in succession, alarmingly conceding 2+ goals on each occasion. Furthermore, a lack of firepower up top has seen Yeh Hsien-chung’s men fail to find the net in five of their last seven outings, casting further doubt on their hopes of upsetting the odds in Pathum Thani. Perhaps even more damningly, the visitors have lost five consecutive away games in the build-up to this trip, succumbing to multi-goal margins on four occasions, including a nightmarish 9-0 demolition at the hands of Kuwait. Having ended on the wrong side of a 4-2 scoreline on their only previous visit to Thailand, another thumping defeat emerges as a realistic prospect for the East Asian minnows.

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Borneo vs PSS Sleman

Stadion Jatidiri is the venue as Borneo and PSS Sleman go head-to-head in a seemingly routine Indonesia Liga 1 task for the home side.

Borneo bounced back from a 1-0 away defeat at Persija Jakarta by thumping bottom-half PSIS Semarang 4-2 on the road on the back of an eye-catching 3-1 halftime lead. However, consistency remains an issue for the ‘Pesut Etam,’ as they’ve picked up only two wins from their last five league fixtures (D2, L1), slipping two points below pacesetters PSM Makassar. Playing at home will boost the spirits in Andre Gaspar’s camp, considering his men have racked up six victories from their seven home matches in Liga 1 this term (D1), netting a league-high 19 goals in the process. Delivering action from the get-go, they have tallied a league second-most ten first-half goals at home this season, so it’s unsurprising they’ve opened the scoring in four of their last five league games.

On the other hand, visiting PSS Sleman succumbed to a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Madura United last time out, making it four consecutive league losses since a 2-1 home victory over Persis Solo in early September. A run of abysmal form has seen PSS drop to lower reaches, with the ‘Super Elang Jawa’ coming into this round only one point clear of the relegation zone. Unfortunately for head coach Seto Nurdiantaro, his men’s poor away league record this season (W1, D3, L2) cannot inspire much confidence. Neither can the fact his lads have failed to get on the scoresheet twice on their last three league travels (D1, L2). The visitors’ underwhelming away form will intensify fears of suffering another heavy defeat, as was the case in their only prior visit to Borneo in 2022 (0-4).

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Bhayangkara Solo vs PSM Makassar

Bhayangkara Solo and PSM Makassar are set to square off at PTIK Stadium in an exciting Indonesia Liga 1 clash behind closed doors.

Bhayangkara Solo failed to build on a 3-1 home thumping of fellow bottom-half strugglers PSS Sleman as Bali United thrashed them 3-0 last time out, casting further doubt on their hopes of securing survival. Having lost four of their six previous league outings (W1, D1), the ‘Guardians’ come into this round hovering a mere one point clear of the relegation zone and could slip to the danger territory at the end of this round. Avoiding another defeat against more heavily fancied PSM looks far-fetched, especially considering Widodo Cahyono Putro’s men have blown hot and cold across their six home league matches this season (W2, D2, L2). If nothing, high scoring has been a common theme at PTIK Stadium of late, with Bhayangkara’s last three league matches featuring over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring.

In the meantime, PSM Makassar’s noticeable improvement compared to the last season when they finished 14th has seen them go unbeaten in all 12 Ligue 1 matches this term (W8, D4). After drawing back-to-back league games 1-1, the ‘Roosters of the East’ have put together consecutive victories via a two-goal margin to assume control of the top spot in Liga 1. But there’s no room for complacency as they sit only one point clear of second-placed Bali United, mainly due to their indifferent away form. Indeed, Bernardo Tavares’ men had won their opening two league fixtures on the road by an identical 2-1 scoreline but have since drawn three consecutive top-flight contests on hostile turf. Winless on their last four competitive visits to Bhayangkara (D1, L3), they’re unlikely to turn their away fortunes around here.

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Arsenal vs AC Milan

A mouth-watering mid-season friendly at Dubai’s Al Maktoum Stadium pits Premier League pacesetters Arsenal and defending Serie A champions AC Milan against each other.

Arsenal’s second-string side fell to a dreadful 4-2 defeat to Championship outfit Watford in their opening mid-season friendly but immediately bounced back with an overwhelming 3-0 demolition of Ligue 1 heavyweights Lyon. The ‘Gunners’ will hope to stay on that upward trajectory when they take on a Milan side they’ve defeated in their last three European encounters by an aggregate scoreline of 8-1. But Arsenal’s consistency woes could throw a spanner in the works, with Mikel Arteta’s team fluctuating between victories (3) and losses (2) across their last five outings. Interestingly, six of Arsenal’s eight previous games (won/lost) have seen the winner keep a clean sheet, highlighting the importance of getting on the scoresheet first.

Meanwhile, AC Milan headed into the World Cup break riding on a decent four-match unbeaten streak (W3, D1), including a 4-0 humbling of RB Salzburg, which fired them into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013/14. However, their Scudetto title defence has stuttered, with Stefano Pioli’s side already lagging a staggering eight points behind Serie A leaders Napoli. ‘I Rossoneri’ can at least draw inspiration from an optimistic goalscoring form, as they’ve netted 2+ goals in three of their last four outings. However, a quick look at Milan’s underwhelming five-game form outside San Siro may dampen the enthusiasm (W2, D1, L2).

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Benfica vs Sevilla

Out-of-form Sevilla take a trip to Portugal to continue their mid-season warm-up as they take on Benfica at the Estádio Do Algarve in an exciting exhibition fixture.

Roger Schmidt has turned Benfica into a force to be reckoned with since taking over the managerial reins from Nelson Verissimo in the summer, with the ‘Eagles’ going unbeaten in all 27 matches under his stewardship this season (W24, D3). In addition to assuming control of the top spot in Primeira Liga (W12, D1), Benfica pulled off a massive upset in Europe to beat a star-studded PSG to a top spot in a highly-competitive Group H, leaving non-other than Juventus in their wake. Before the World Cup break trimmed their momentum, Benfica had enjoyed a stellar nine-match winning streak in all competitions, with 56% of those victories yielding multi-goal margins. Furthermore, the unplayable Portuguese giants have netted 3+ goals in six of their last eight outings!

In stark contrast to Benfica’s remarkable season, Sevilla’s sub-par seven-match La Liga start (W1, D2, L4) forced the sacking of Julen Lopetegui in early October. Jorge Sampaoli, who has returned to Andalusia for the second time, has failed to shake things up at the club, with ‘Los Rojiblancos’ experiencing an equally disappointing seven-game league record under his tutelage (W1, D3, L3). One point adrift of La Liga safety, Sevilla must have thanked God for the World Cup break, as they’ve been given an extra rest period to rally their troops and avoid further humiliation. A keenly-contested 1-1 draw with Monaco in their opening mid-season friendly yielded some positives, yet there’s not much reason for optimism. Sampaoli’s men have only won once in their last six matches (D2, L3).

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Napoli vs Crystal Palace

An intriguing mid-season friendly pits Napoli and Crystal Palace against each other for the first time at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort.

Napoli headed into the World Cup break as runaway Serie A leaders, having gone unbeaten in the opening 15 league rounds (W13, D2) to build a substantial eight-point lead on second-placed AC Milan. On top of that, Luciano Spalletti’s men secured progression into the Champions League knockout stages as Group A winners (W5, L1), highlighting their imperious form on multiple fronts. Not even a lack of several notable first-team stars was enough to knock ‘I Partenopei’ off their perch as they claimed an enthralling 3-2 victory over Antalyaspor a few days ago to extend their winning streak to four games. If there’s any downside for this high-flying Napoli team, then it’s the fact that their solitary defeat this season came at the hands of Palace’s fellow Premier League rivals, Liverpool.

Out-of-sorts Crystal Palace cannot catch a break even during the off-season. After drawing 0-0 with Brazilian side Botafogo RJ in their first mid-season friendly, they could only manage a 2-2 stalemate with Trabzonspor last time out. On a more positive note, goals on either side of halftime against the reigning Turkish champions halted Palace’s underwhelming run of three consecutive scoring blanks. Interestingly, the four-goal thriller against Trabzon witnessed as many goals as in Palace’s four previous matches combined. The friendly nature of this contest is probably the only saving grace for Patrick Vieira’s men, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in five of their last eight outings. Otherwise, they’d be in a world of trouble against one of Europe’s most in-form sides.

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Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi forms the backdrop for an all-Premier League mid-season encounter between Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Following an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Championship side Cardiff City in their opening mid-season friendly, Aston Villa shared the spoils with Brighton & Hove Albion in a dynamic 2-2 draw last time out, with all four goals in this contest arriving beyond the 65th minute. As one of the most exciting Premier League teams to watch, the ‘Lions’ have seen their last five matches produce over 2.5 goals and both teams score, highlighting the potential for an end-to-end affair. Topically, three of Villa’s five previous meetings with Chelsea have contained 3+ total goals, suggesting a high-scoring theme could indeed be the order of the day.

In the meantime, Chelsea massively underperformed on the eve of the World Cup break, losing three consecutive fixtures across all competitions, including a morale-damaging 1-0 league defeat at Newcastle United last time out. New manager Graham Potter has already found himself under heavy scrutiny after his team lost ground in the top-four race in the Premier League. With fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur eight points clear, the ‘Pensioners’ have to launch a substantial winning streak when the Premier League returns to action on Boxing Day. First things first, Potter must address Chelsea’s scoring woes during the off-season after his men failed to find the back of the net in three games on the trot. Having scored in their last 12 clashes against Villa, the Londoners should be confident of ending their scoring drought here.

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NETHERLANDS VS. ARGENTINA

Lusail Iconic Stadium is the venue as the Netherlands and Argentina battle it out for a place in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in this mouth-watering quarter-final tie.

It’s been plain sailing for the Netherlands in Qatar thus far, with Louis van Gaal’s team making it out of the group stages without losing (W2, D1) before comfortably beating the United States 3-1 in the first knockout round. Yet to lose any of their 19 internationals during van Gaal’s third stint in charge (W14, D5), the ‘Oranje’ will be confident of avenging their 2014 semi-final defeat to Argentina. Extra time excluded, they have only lost one of their nine matches against the Argentines (W4, D4), with their last two World Cup H2Hs yielding a drab 0-0 scoreline in regulation time. If you’re looking for an omen, the Dutch have progressed from their last three appearances in the World Cup quarter-finals, while they’ve never lost a game in this tournament under van Gaal (W8, D3).

In the meantime, Argentina’s adventure in Qatar suffered a stuttering start as Saudi Arabia stunned them 2-1 in a curtain-raising fixture. However, the South American heavyweights have gone from strength to strength since being knocked down from a 36-match unbeaten streak, racking up three straight wins via an aggregate score of 6-1, including a 2-1 triumph over Australia in the round of 16. On a less positive note, since losing to Uruguay in the 1930 grand final, each of Argentina’s last nine eliminations from the World Cup knockout rounds has come at the hands of European countries. On top of that, ‘La Albiceleste’ have failed to navigate their World Cup quarter-final ties in three of their last four attempts, though they did win their most recent such match-up against Belgium in 2014. With nine of their last ten wins in all competitions coming ‘to nil,’ Lionel Scaloni’s men will be keen to open the scoring.

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Croatia vs Brazil

A place in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals is at stake as Croatia and Brazil go head-to-head at Education City Stadium.

Croatia’s performances in Qatar have been far from dazzling, yet they’ve reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the third time after edging Japan on penalties in the round of 16 (1-1). Indeed, seven of their last eight knockout matches at major international tournaments have gone to extra time, with the ‘Blazers’ winning three such World Cup contests in succession via a penalty shootout. If they’re to replicate their dream run to the World Cup final in Russia four years ago, Zlatko Dalic’s side will have to defy their underwhelming five-game record against South American nations at the World Cup (W1, L4). But considering they’ve never defeated Brazil before (D1, L3), including losses in both World Cup H2Hs, that seems to be an arduous task. Moreover, they’ve conceded first in six of their last eight World Cup outings, barring goalless draws with Morocco and Belgium this winter.

On the other hand, Brazil’s scintillating first-half display against South Korea last time out paved the way for a thumping 4-1 victory, helping them switch to second gear and save energy for this fixture. Widely considered the leading candidates to win the Jules Rimet trophy for the sixth time, the ‘Selecao’ will be out to render their dreadful run of five consecutive World Cup knockout defeats at the hands of European countries. If they do so, Brazil will reach the competition’s semi-finals for the ninth time, though it’s worth noting their last three appearances in the World Cup quarter-finals have yielded defeats to UEFA nations. That said, Tite’s men will take the field on a stunning run of ten wins from their last 11 internationals (L1).

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Inter Milan vs Red Bull Salzburg

Inter Milan and Red Bull Salzburg are set to square off at the Tony Bezzina Stadium in a handsomely-looking club friendly.

Already a whopping 11 points off the Scudetto pace despite winning consecutive Serie A matches in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup, Inter Milan will have to gather momentum during the mid-season break if they’re to fashion what would be a memorable comeback. Simone Inzaghi’s men opened their warm-up campaign accordingly, demolishing sub-par Gzira 6-1 last time out on the back of a stellar 4-1 halftime lead. After failing to find the net in back-to-back competitive games in early November, ‘I Nerazzurri’ have netted 3+ goals across their last three outings, averaging a resounding five goals per match. Delivering action from the get-go, Inter noticeably scored 3+ goals before halftime twice across those three fixtures, highlighting the potential for an action-packed first half.

On the other hand, Red Bull Salzburg became the first team in the Austrian Bundesliga to book tickets for the playoff group before the Qatar World Cup, courtesy of a phenomenal 94% unbeaten ratio across their opening 16 league games (W12, D3, L1). Matthias Jaissle’s men have entered the mid-season break riding on a three-match winning streak in the Austrian top flight, with each win yielding a narrow one-goal margin. Yet there was a fluke interfering with their high-flying domestic form, with Inter’s arch-rivals AC Milan dismantling ‘Die Roten Bullen’ 4-0 in the ultimate Champions League group-stage round in November. If they’re to repair their image in the eyes of Italian fans, Salzburg will have to leave a two-game losing H2H record against Inter behind them.

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Crystal Palace vs Trabzonspor

Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort is the venue as Crystal Palace and Trabzonspor go head-to-head in a mid-season friendly.

Stuck in mid-table Premier League lethargy and with only a handful of their first-team members taking off for Qatar, Crystal Palace hoped to use mid-season preparation to rally their troops following a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on the stroke of the World Cup break. However, the ‘Eagles’ experienced a stuttering start to their warm-up campaign, drawing 0-0 with Brazilian outfit Botafogo a few days ago. Not just winless in three straight matches (D1, L2), Patrick Vieira’s team failed to get on the scoresheet on each occasion in that span. Indeed, scoring has been a genuine issue for Palace of late, with the London side netting just three goals across their last six outings, failing to find the net four times in the process.

In the meantime, reigning Super Lig champions Trabzonspor have been unrecognisable this season and are already six points off the title race in the Turkish championship. Having played out back-to-back scoring league draws as pre-match favourites in the lead-up to the Qatar showpiece, the ‘Black Sea Storm’ hoped to bounce back during the mid-season break. Yet, an underwhelming 1-1 draw with Championship strugglers Hull City was hardly a satisfying result, making it just one win in five matches for underperforming Abdullah Avci’s men (D3, L1). They’ve at least been regular on the scoring board, netting in eight successive games at an average of 1.62 goals per match. That will do them no good unless they defy a poor run of conceding in four of their last five fixtures.

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Stockport County vs Charlton Athletic

Edgeley Park is the venue as Stockport County and Charlton Athletic face each other in the replay of their second-round FA Cup tie.

The prospects looked bleak for fourth-tier Stockport County before this tie, yet an enthralling 2-2 draw in the initial contest earned them home comforts in this ‘winner takes all’ rematch. It proved a catalyst to reinvigorate mid-table League Two underachievers as they thrashed fellow fourth-tier opponents Hartlepool 5-0 on the road last time out. Moreover, barring a 2-1 home defeat to League Two pacesetters Leyton Orient in mid-November, the ‘Hatters’ have gone unbeaten in nine of their previous ten competitive fixtures (W7, D2). Stockport’s rock-solid backline has provided the backbone for the team’s recent purple patch, with Dave Challinor’s men registering an eye-catching seven clean sheets across their last ten outings. They’ll need to put on another resilient defensive showing if they’re to shut Charlton out for the first time since 1998.

Indeed, since a 3-0 trouncing 24 years ago, visiting Charlton Athletic have netted 2+ goals in six subsequent H2H encounters against Stockport, averaging 2.83 goals per game in that sequence. That’s in line with Charlton’s free-scoring form of late, with the ‘Addicks’ bagging at least two goals in four of their last six outings in all competitions. That said, Anthony Hayes’ side slipped to a 1-0 home loss to fellow League One rivals Cheltenham in the build-up to this clash. Since they’ll take the field on the back of a horrendous five-game winless streak (D2, L3), it’s no wonder the Valley powerbrokers relieved underperforming manager Ben Garner of his duties on the eve of this fixture. It’s now up to caretaker boss Hayes to inspire Charlton’s renaissance.

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