Newcastle United vs Southampton

St James’ Park is the venue as Newcastle United and Southampton go head-to-head in the return leg of their League Cup semi-final tie.

Joelinton’s strike midway through the second half handed Newcastle United a vital 1-0 first-leg advantage at St Mary’s Stadium last time out, with the ‘Magpies’ putting one foot in what would be their first appearance in the League Cup showpiece since 1976. Following an underwhelming 2-1 defeat to second-tier Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round, this is Newcastle’s best chance to wrap up their first major silverware since 1969. Since that loss, Eddie Howe’s men have gone unbeaten in four consecutive matches in all competitions (W3, D1), keeping a clean sheet on each occasion. Topically, Newcastle’s water-tight defense has not conceded in any of their last eight competitive home outings, bolstering the hosts’ bid to maintain an outrageous nine-game form against Southampton (W7, D1, L1).

On the other hand, Southampton edged Championship outfit Blackpool 2-1 at home in last weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie to boost their spirits ahead of this trip. Nathan Jones’ men face an uphill task to become only the third side in League Cup history to overturn a first-leg home deficit to reach the final. Indeed, the ‘Saints’ have picked up just one victory in their last 18 away encounters against Newcastle in all competitions (D4, L13), highlighting the size of the task ahead of Jones’ players. Bucking that trend would see Southampton qualify for their first-ever League Cup final, and the visitors have a reason to hope. After losing three successive away matches, they’ve won the last two via an identical 2-1 scoreline, coming from behind to prevail on both occasions.

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Manchester United vs Reading

Manchester United’s bid to win the FA Cup title for the first time since 2015/16 continues this weekend as they entertain second-tier Reading at Old Trafford.

Owners of the second-most 12 FA Cup trophies, Manchester United, come into proceedings on the back of a thumping 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal tie. It was a perfect response to a late 3-2 defeat at Arsenal in last weekend’s mouth-watering Premier League clash, which saw Erik ten Hag’s men slip 11 points behind the title race. That result knocked the ‘Red Devils’ down from an outstanding ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W9, D1), but playing at Old Trafford turns United into a different kind of beast. Indeed, ten Hag’s lads have won their last ten home outings in all competitions, while they’ve suffered just one defeat in their 39 previous home encounters against sides from outside the top-flight (W31, D7).

In stark contrast to Man Utd’s imperious form, visiting Reading slumped to a woeful 4-0 defeat at Stoke City in the build-up to this trip, falling five points adrift of the Championship playoff line. Barring a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Watford in the previous FA Cup round, the ‘Royals’ have been winless in four of their last five matches in all competitions (D2, L2), casting doubt on their hopes of staging an upset at Old Trafford. Adding to this sentiment, they’ve managed just one win in their 22 meetings with Man Utd in competitive action (D7, L14), losing the last six on the trot by an aggregate score of 15-4. If that’s not enough to derail confidence in Paul Ince’s camp, his men have suffered seven defeats in their last eight FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents (W1).

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Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt are set to trade tackles in a blockbuster top-four Bundesliga six-pointer at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich had to thank Joshua Kimmich’s last-gasp long-range stunner for rescuing a point in an underwhelming 1-1 home draw against Koln in midweek Bundesliga action. Julian Nagelsmann’s men have opened the new calendar year with back-to-back league stalemates and could go winless in their first three top-flight games of a new year for the first time since 2007. Ominously for Nagelsmann, that feat led to Felix Magath’s sacking. Desperate to avoid Magath’s fate, the ‘Bavarians’ boss can draw confidence from Bayern’s 100% unbeaten eight-game home start to the 2022/23 Bundesliga season (W5, D3). But the abovementioned draw against Koln knocked the record-time champions down from a four-match winning home league run.

With only five points separating fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and table-topping Bayern, the visitors’ unlikely win in Munich would blow the Bundesliga title race wide open. However, ‘Die Adler’ found themselves on the receiving end of a disastrous 6-1 scoreline in the reverse fixture in August, marking their second consecutive league defeat to Bayern. On a more positive note, Oliver Glasner’s charges have gone unbeaten on four straight Bundesliga travels (W2, D2) since an abysmal 3-0 loss at bottom-half Bochum in October. No strangers to defying the odds, Frankfurt have only lost one of the four Bundesliga encounters they’ve started as pre-match underdogs this season at any venue (W3, D1). Speaking of the visitors’ ever-growing confidence, their decent 31 points tally stands as their best-ever at the halfway stage of a Bundesliga season in a three-point-per-win era.

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Marseille vs Monaco

Stade Velodrome forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering Ligue 1 meeting between third-placed Olympique Marseille and fourth-placed Monaco.

Marseille’s outstanding six-game winning league streak, accompanied by 17 goals tallied, has moved them only five points within leaders PSG and reignited their hopes of lifting their first Ligue 1 title since 2009/10. The last time they won more consecutive top-flight matches was in 2014 (8), but manager Igor Tudor can draw confidence from his side’s free-scoring form in the post-World Cup period to equal that feat. Tudor’s men have netted a league joint-high 13 goals since the Ligue 1 resumption in December, scoring a whopping nine goals in two home league outings in that stretch. Adding to this sentiment, ‘Les Olympiens’ have clocked seven more points after 19 league games this season (42) than they had in their 2009/10 title-winning campaign (35).

As for Monaco, an overwhelming 7-1 home triumph over promoted Ajaccio last time out maintained their almost-perfect Ligue 1 form after the mid-season break (W3, D1), helping them stay within a five-point distance of a coveted third place. One of the most exciting teams in watch in Ligue 1, ‘Los Monégasques’ have seen four of their last five league fixtures produce over 3.5 goals and both teams scoring. They’re likely to at least hold up their end of the bargain at the Velodrome after bagging 2+ goals on their last six Ligue 1 travels. But that won’t necessarily give them an all-important three points, especially considering they’ve failed to win any of their six previous top-flight encounters against teams currently in the top-seven positions (D3, L3).

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Walsall vs Leicester City

Underperforming Premier League stalwarts Leicester City head to the Bescot Stadium to encounter fourth-tier Walsall in the FA Cup fourth round.

Walsall netted a 95th-minute winner to overcome fellow League Two adversaries Stockport County 2-1 in the last FA Cup tie to book their fourth-round tickets for the first time since 2015/16. But you’d need to go back to 2002/03 for the last time Walsall roared into the FA Cup round five, casting doubt on their hopes of maintaining a decent-looking three-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W2, D1). And while a narrow 1-0 win over Leicester in their only previous FA Cup meeting offers some hope to the ‘Saddlers,’ it’s worth noting that the fixture dates back to 1977/78. They’ve met Leicester in four competitive matches in the 21st century, losing three times via multi-goal margins (D1), most recently going down 4-1 at home in 2009.

Meanwhile, Leicester City’s bid to avoid relegation took another blow last weekend as Brighton & Hove Albion’s late equalizer held them to a 2-2 home draw, extending their winless Premier League run to five matches (D1, L4). Brendan Rodgers’ men languish only one point clear of the drop zone, so the upcoming FA Cup assignment could be a welcoming distraction, especially considering they claimed a 1-0 away win over lower-league Gillingham in the last round. That victory forms part of Leicester’s lengthy streak of 11 consecutive away games without a draw (W4, L7), eight of which featured a winning/losing margin of 2+ goals. Since seven of their last eight travels have seen the winner keep a clean sheet, scoring first could be a critical factor in this fixture.

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Girona vs Barcelona

Estadio Municipal de Montilivi is the venue as mid-table Girona and pacesetters Barcelona go head-to-head in an all-Catalan La Liga match-up.

Ten-man Girona succumbed to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at Villarreal last weekend to a 101st-minute penalty, relinquishing a club-record seven-match unbeaten run in La Liga (W3, D4). Before drawing a blank at La Ceramica, ‘Los Blanquivermells’ had enjoyed a club joint-best run of 14 consecutive scoring games in La Liga, so they’ll be confident about troubling the scoreboard. Worryingly, though, Michel’s hopes of posting his first-ever managerial triumph over Barcelona (L3) require Girona to defy their thoroughly abysmal all-time H2H record against their Catalan rivals in La Liga (W1, D3, L13). Indeed, Michel’s men have gone winless in their last three league meetings with Barcelona (D1, L3), conceding 3.2 goals per match on average, including a 2-0 defeat in their most recent top-flight H2H at home.

In the meantime, Barcelona edged ten-man Real Sociedad 1-0 in midweek Copa del Rey action, following up an identical La Liga win over Getafe last weekend to make it 12 straight unbeaten matches in all competitions (W10, D2). Xavi Hernandez’s men have hit the ground running in La Liga since a 3-1 El Clasico defeat at Real Madrid in mid-October, racking up seven wins in their subsequent eight league games (D1) to move three points clear at the top of the standings. Despite the absence of talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski to suspension, the ‘Blaugrana’ can draw confidence from going unbeaten in their last 29 La Liga encounters against fellow Catalan rivals (W21, D8) since losing to Espanyol in 2009.

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Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg

Out-of-sorts Werder Bremen and high-flying Wolfsburg will square off at the Weserstadion in an exciting Bundesliga encounter.

Despite taking an early lead against Union Berlin in midweek Bundesliga action, Werder Bremen failed to recover from a humiliating 7-1 defeat at Koln in their 2023 top-flight curtain-raiser, succumbing to a 2-1 home loss. Having lost four consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time under Ole Werner, the hosts will be out to steady the ship and arrest an equally frustrating four-game winless league run against Wolfsburg (D1, L3). Connoisseurs of action-packed football will look forward to this encounter, considering Werder’s last three Bundesliga clashes against Wolfsburg have featured over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet, averaging five goals per match. Topically, Werder’s last three home league outings have yielded an identical 2-1 scoreline (W1, L2), highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest.

On the other hand, visiting Wolfsburg dismantled relegation-battling Hertha Berlin 5-0 on the road in midweek Bundesliga action, extending their jaw-dropping unbeaten league streak to ten matches (W7, D3). More importantly, Niko Kovac’s men have won their last six Bundesliga outings in a row for the first time since 2014, while the abovementioned demolition of Hertha equalled the club’s biggest win on their travels in the Bundesliga. ‘Die Wolfe’ have been too hot to handle in the attacking third lately, netting at least two goals in eight consecutive top-flight matches in the lead-up to this trip and could make it nine on the trot for the first time in history. Equally impressive at the back, they’ve kept five clean sheets in their last six Bundesliga games!

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Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin

Olympiastadion is the venue as relegation-threatened Hertha Berlin and title hopefuls Union Berlin lock horns in a lopsided Bundesliga showdown.

It’s been a humiliating Bundesliga start to the new calendar year for perennial relegation contenders Hertha, as they followed up a 3-1 battering at Bochum with an embarrassing 5-0 home defeat to Wolfsburg in midweek league action. Under-pressure manager Sandro Schwarz is starting to feel the heat, with ‘Die Alte Dame’ sliding to the drop zone, two points adrift of safety. After conceding eight goals in their first two Bundesliga fixtures of a new calendar year for the first time in their top-flight history, Hertha couldn’t have hoped for a more challenging task to embark on a much-needed resurgence. Indeed, they’ve lost their last four encounters against Union Berlin in all competitions, conceding an alarming average of three goals per game in the process.

In the meantime, visiting Union Berlin have hit the ground running since the calendar year flipped to 2023, winning both Bundesliga outings this year ‘to one,’ including a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph at Werder Bremen in midweek. In stark contrast to their sublime form in 2023, the visitors had entered the mid-season break on a run of three straight winless league games (D1, L2). That’s arguably the main reason they start this round three points behind table-topping Bayern Munich. Yet ‘Die Eisernen’ will face a piece of unwanted history in Berlin, as they’ve won none of their three previous fixtures at the start of the second half of a Bundesliga season (D1, L2). Moreover, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven Bundesliga contests, accounting for their longest such run since March 2022.

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RB Leipzig vs Stuttgart

RB Leipzig and Stuttgart go head-to-head in a lopsided Bundesliga contest at the Red Bull Arena, with genuine top-four hopefuls encountering perennial relegation candidates.

Only a few days after holding record-time champions Bayern Munich to a 1-1 home draw in their 2023 Bundesliga opener, RB Leipzig demolished rock-bottom Schalke 6-1 in midweek league action to close the gap on leaders Munich to just four points. Taking a massive 4-0 halftime lead paved helped Lepzig stretch their outrageous unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 matches (W12, D3), setting them up nicely for what could prove a routine task for Marco Rose’s side. ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have defeated Stuttgart in all but two of their nine previous Bundesliga H2Hs (D2), including six wins in a row before a 1-1 draw in their most recent showdown on the opening matchday.

In the meantime, Stuttgart shared the spoils in a topsy-turvy 2-2 draw at TSG Hoffenheim in midweek Bundesliga action, extending their underwhelming winless league streak to three games (D2, L1). Stuck just one point clear of the dreaded relegation playoff spot, Bruno Labbadia’s charges head into proceedings as one of the worst-performing away sides in Germany’s top-flight. Indeed, ‘Die Schwaben’ are one of only two Bundesliga teams yet to win a single league match on the road this season (D4, L4), with the abovementioned draw at Hoffenheim ending their poor run of four straight defeats on hostile turf. However, they’re unlikely to build on this, considering they’ve lost all four previous Bundesliga visits to Leipzig without scoring, succumbing to multi-goal margins on the last three.

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Bayer Leverkusen vs Bochum

The two in-form sides are set to face each other at the BayArena, as Bayer Leverkusen and Bochum renew hostilities in an exciting Bundesliga match-up.

High-flying Bayer Leverkusen picked up where they left off in November, as a dramatic 3-2 win at Borussia Monchengladbach in their 2023 Bundesliga curtain-raiser stretched their winning league run to four matches. Leverkusen’s resurgence under Xabi Alonso has launched them into the upper half of the standings for the first time this season, with ‘Die Werkself’ now languishing seven points adrift of European placings. However, the Spaniard has yet to solve his side’s defensive woes. Indeed, Leverkusen’s worrying record of 28 goals conceded after the first 16 matches stands as their worst defensive start to a new top-flight campaign since 1982/83. That said, they kept Bochum at bay in both last season’s meetings in the Bundesliga (W1, D1), including a narrow 1-0 win in this corresponding fixture.

On the other hand, Bochum’s hope that the new year could bring a change in fortunes was off to a flying start as they thrashed fellow relegation rivals Hertha Berlin 3-1 at home last time out. Well, it’s fair to say that Bochum’s renaissance following a dreadful 13-game Bundesliga start (W2, D1, L10) began on the eve of the mid-season break with back-to-back single-goal margin wins. After putting together three Bundesliga triumphs for the first time since 2007, ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ could equal a club-record run of four straight top-flight wins dating back to 1980. But to achieve that, Thomas Letsch’s men will have to arrest a four-match winless Bundesliga run at the BayArena (D1, L3).

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Freiburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Top-four bidding Freiburg and surprising title candidates Eintracht Frankfurt go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Bundesliga encounter at the Europa-Park Stadion.

Freiburg headed into the mid-season break on the back of a confidence-boosting 4-1 home triumph over Union Berlin, making it four Bundesliga home wins on the trot for the first time since 2016. However, ‘Breisgau-Brasilianer’ could not have hoped for a worse start to the new calendar year as they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Wolfsburg, their heaviest loss in the top flight since a 7-0 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich in 2011. Manager Christian Streich has a more pressing issue to address, as Freiburg have picked up just one win across their last five Bundesliga meetings with Frankfurt on home soil (D2, L2). But with the hosts going into this round unbeaten in six consecutive home league outings (W5, D1), there’s a reason for optimism.

In the meantime, Eintracht Frankfurt scored twice beyond the 80th minute to seal a 3-0 home win over rock-bottom Schalke 04 on their Bundesliga return at the weekend, extending their unbeaten league run to four games (W3, D1). In doing so, Oliver Glasner’s men have closed the gap on pacesetters Bayern Munich to five points, blowing the Bundesliga title race wide open. Moreover, ‘Die Adler’ can draw further confidence from the fact they’ve only lost one of their seven away league fixtures in 2022/23 (W4, D2), scoring an average of two goals per match in the process. In fact, this is Frankfurt’s best away start to the season in a three-point-per-win era since 1964/65!

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Mainz 05 vs Borussia Dortmund

Mewa Arena plays host to a high-stakes Bundesliga showdown between out-of-form Mainz 05 and top-four hopefuls Borussia Dortmund.

Mainz launched the new calendar year the same way to capped off the last, drawing 1-1 with Stuttgart on the road to make it five straight Bundesliga matches without a win (D2, L3). Stuck in mid-table but closer t the relegation zone than European placings, ‘Die Nullfünfer’ return to the Mewa Arena for the first time in 2023, hoping to turn their underwhelming home fortunes around in the new year (W1, D4, L2). Dortmund may not necessarily be their first choice to kickstart a comeback, considering they’ve lost their last five top-flight H2Hs on home turf, failing to get on the scoresheet three times in the process. But having lost one of their five home league outings in the lead-up to this clash (W1, D3), they can at least hope to avoid defeat.

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund pulled off a dramatic 4-3 home victory over Augsburg in their 2023 Bundesliga opener, scoring precisely twice on either side of halftime. That may offer ‘Die Borussen’ some hope as they aim to defy a frustrating away league record in 2022/23 (W3, L5) and avoid losing three consecutive top-flight games on the road following a brace of two-goal margin defeats at Gladbach and Wolfsburg. Signs are not promising for under-pressure manager Edin Terzic, considering Dortmund’s disappointing haul of 28 points stands as their worst tally at the halfway point of a top-flight season since 2017/18. Terzic must be desperate for his side to open the scoring, given that they’ve lost four of their five away league matches when conceding first this term (W1).

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Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig

Veltins Arena is the venue as relegation-threatened Schalke 04 and top-four hopefuls RB Leipzig lock horns in a lopsided Bundesliga contest.

Schalke’s hopes of avoiding a swift return to Germany’s second tier took another massive blow upon the Bundesliga return in 2023 as Eintracht Frankfurt humbled them 3-0 at the weekend, leaving them pinned to the bottom of the standings. Stuck six points adrift of safety, the ‘Miners’ must relish a long-awaited home return, considering their only two Bundesliga victories this season have come at the Veltins Arena. Having suffered a staggering nine defeats in their last ten league outings (W1), Thomas Reis’ men face an uphill task of arresting an abysmal run of three consecutive top-flight H2H losses against Leipzig without scoring. Breaking the deadlock could be of the essence, considering Schalke’s last four home league fixtures have seen the winner keep a clean sheet (W1, L3).

On the other hand, RB Leipzig hauled back a 1-0 halftime deficit to hold perennial German champions Bayern Munich to a morale-boosting 1-1 home draw in their 2023 Bundesliga opener, whittling down a gap on fourth-placed Freiburg to one point. Despite falling down from an eye-catching four-match winning league streak, you’d need to go back to mid-September for Leipzig’s last Bundesliga defeat. Indeed, Marco Rose’s men head into proceedings unbeaten in nine consecutive league games (W6, D3), netting 2+ goals seven times during that sequence. However, despite going unbeaten on their last four top-flight travels (W2, D2), ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have returned only 31% of their Bundesliga points this season away from home (9/29).

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Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen

Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen are set to face each other in a heavyweight, mid-table Bundesliga clash at Borussia Park.

Borussia Monchengladbach had alternated between winning (2) and losing (2) in four Bundesliga matches preceding the World Cup break and will have to establish some consistency if they’re to work their way into the Champions League placings. Without long-serving goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who left the club to join Bayern Munich in January, Gladbach’s hopes of hauling back a five-point deficit on fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are up in the air. But despite failing to keep a clean sheet in their last four Bundesliga home matches (W3, L1), Daniel Farke’s men still hold a telling home league record in 2022/23 (W6, L2). Worryingly, though, ‘Die Fohlen’ have lost each of their last five Bundesliga encounters against Leverkusen and have conceded more top-flight goals versus this opposition since 1979 (152) than against any other side.

On the other hand, the mid-season halt came at the worst possible moment for Bayer Leverkusen as they were gathering momentum under new boss Xabi Alonso with a three-game winning Bundesliga streak. The Spaniard’s bid to turn ‘Die Werkself’ from relegation candidates into European contenders was just picking up a head of steam, with a 2-1 win at Cologne on their last Bundesliga travel ending a woeful three-game losing league run on the road. Alonso has improved Leverkusen’s sloppy rearguard, with the visitors keeping two clean sheets in their last three Bundesliga fixtures, as many as in the first 12 games of the season combined. However, except for a 3-0 demolition of Mainz 05 in late August, they’ve conceded at least once on their remaining six league travels this term.

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Borussia Dortmund vs Augsburg

Bundesliga top-four hopefuls Borussia Dortmund entertain perennial bottom-half strugglers Augsburg to Signal Iduna Park for a high-stakes encounter.

Borussia Dortmund carried a two-game losing Bundesliga streak into the World Cup break. Having fallen two points behind Champions League spots, ‘Die Borussen’ will hope to recover from their worst 15-match top-flight start since 2015/15 (W8, D1, L6). Playing at home should aid their cause, with Edin Terzic’s side going unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga fixtures at Signal Iduna Park (W4, D1), with each of those four victories coming ‘to nil.’ Conceding first could put a serious dent into Dortmund’s bid to return to winning ways, as they’ve gone winless in all three home league outings in which their opposition drew first blood this season (D2, L1). Interestingly, the hosts boast the longest unbeaten run of year-opening league contests in Bundesliga history (W13, D5).

In the meantime, visiting Augsburg entered the mid-season hiatus on the back of the longest ongoing winless run in the Bundesliga (D3, L4), languishing just a point clear of the relegation line. Encouragingly for manager Enrico Maaßen, his men have registered a clear majority (66%) of their Bundesliga points this season away from home (10/15). Against this backdrop, they’ve lost their last four league visits to Dortmund. At risk of suffering five consecutive defeats away to specific opposition for only the second time in their top-flight history, the ‘Fuggerstädter’ have to address an underwhelming three-game winless Bundesliga streak on the road (D1, L2) if they’re to avoid meeting an unwanted piece of history this weekend.

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Fiorentina vs Torino

Fiorentina and Torino are set to square off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in a mid-table Serie A contest.

Left with ten men within the opening half an hour into last weekend’s trip to Roma, Fiorentina succumbed to a clear-cut 2-0 defeat in the capital, losing further ground on the European spots. Having claimed just one triumph in their last four Serie A outings (D2, L1), ‘La Viola’ find themselves a whopping 11 points adrift of sixth-placed Roma and must launch a substantial winning streak to reignite their European hopes. Therefore, Torino’s visit to Florence could not have been timed any better, with Fiorentina impressively going unbeaten in their last 32 Serie A home matches against this opposition (W18, D14). But after a thumping 4-0 defeat in their most recent top-flight H2H, Vincenzo Italiano’s side could lose back-to-back Serie A games against ‘I Granata’ for the first time since 1983.

On the other hand, Torino grabbed an unlikely 1-0 Coppa Italia win at AC Milan on their latest competitive travel, but a morale-crippling 1-0 home loss to Spezia last weekend doused the optimism in the visiting camp. Ivan Juric’s men have been massively inconsistent on the road this season, as evidenced by their indifferent nine-game Serie A form outside the Olimpico Grande Torino (W3, D2, L4). Torino’s vulnerable backline carries much of the blame for that underwhelming away record, with the visitors yet to keep a clean sheet on the road in 2022/23. As such, it’s no surprise they’ve picked up only one win on their last seven Serie A travels (D2, L4).

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Union Berlin vs TSG Hoffenheim

Union Berlin and TSG Hoffenheim are set to trade tackles in their 2023 Bundesliga opener at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

The World Cup break came at the best possible moment for Union Berlin as they were going three Bundesliga matches without winning (D1, L2), falling out of the top four for the first time this season. Level on points with fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, Union’s bid to do one better than last season’s fifth-place finish is still alive and kicking. Much of that effort rests on their sublime home form, with Urs Fischer’s men remaining one of three sides yet to lose a single Bundesliga home game this term (W5, D2). Hoffenheim’s visit to the capital could throw that run into disarray, at least based on their perfectly balanced top-flight H2H record in Berlin (W1, D1, L1).

In the meantime, Hoffenheim must have been grateful for an extended mid-season break after suffering four defeats in five Bundesliga fixtures on the stroke of the World Cup halt (D1). Hoffenheim’s problems with inconsistent performances on the road have seen their seven away league matches in 2022/23 fluctuate between different outcomes (W2, D2, L3). Only four points clear of the relegation zone, the visitors head into proceedings desperate to improve on a thoroughly underwhelming return of one win across their last nine Bundesliga outings (D3, L5). But after keeping just one clean sheet on their previous five league travels, that looks unlikely.

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Wolfsburg vs Freiburg

Volkswagen Arena forms the backdrop for a competitive-looking top-half Bundesliga clash between Wolfsburg and Freiburg.

Wolfsburg carried an impressive four-game winning streak into the World Cup halt and could break into the top six with another win against a Freiburg side they’ve lost to in their last two Bundesliga H2Hs. Volkswagen Arena has been a fortress this season, with ‘Die Wolfe’ losing just one of their seven Bundesliga home matches (W3, D3) but none of the last four (W3, D1). Niko Kovac’s men are firing on all cylinders, having netted 2+ goals in five consecutive home league outings. Inspired by an eye-catching average of 2.14 goals per top-flight home fixture, Wolfsburg will be looking to defy a topsy-turvy four-match Bundesliga form against Freiburg (W1, D1, L2).

As for Freiburg, a 4-1 home romping of Union Berlin on the stroke of the World Cup break solidified their bid to win the Bundesliga only seven years since earning promotion from the second tier. Too hot to handle early in the season (W9, D3, L3), Christian Streich’s team went into the mid-season hiatus only four points behind perennial champions Bayern Munich and will be looking to pick up where they left off in November. However, ‘Breisgau-Brasilianer’ have struggled to impress on the road, picking up just one win in their last five Bundesliga away matches (D2, L2). With three of those five games seeing them concede 2+ goals, it’s clear Streich must address Freiburg’s defensive woes.

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Eintracht Frankfurt vs Schalke 04

Eintracht Frankfurt’s bid to secure a Bundesliga top-four finish for the second season in a row continues at the Deutsche Bank Park against dead-last Schalke 04.

A promising run of three straight Bundesliga games without losing on the stroke of the mid-season break (W2, D1) helped Frankfurt soar into the top four, courtesy of a superior goal difference to fifth-placed Union Berlin alone. Therefore, Oliver Glasner’s men have no room for complacency if they’re to build on their eye-catching four-game home league form (W3, L1) and win back-to-back home fixtures in the Bundesliga for only the second time this season. ‘Die Adler’ haven’t lost any of their last ten top-flight home encounters against Schalke (W6, D4), meaning this could be a walk in the park. But they are all too aware of their only previous Bundesliga clash against a team starting the matchday bottom of the table this term, going down 3-0 to Bochum on Gameweek 9.

On the other hand, rock-bottom Schalke suffered a comfortable 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich on the eve of the World Cup break, heading into the mid-season pause as the only Bundesliga side yet to hit double-digits this term (9). Stuck five points adrift of safety, the visitors have lost a league joint-high 67% of their top-flight matches this season (10/15) and are still waiting for their first victory on the road (D2, L5). Indeed, Thomas Reis’ men have lost their last four away league outings by an aggregate score of 9-2. Those losses form part of Schalke’s humiliating run of 35 Bundesliga away matches without winning (D10, L25) and could become the first-ever side to go winless on 36 straight top-flight travels.

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Liverpool vs Chelsea

Anfield forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering encounter between downtrodden Premier League stalwarts Liverpool and Chelsea.

Liverpool returned to winning ways in midweek FA Cup action, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and will hope to translate that defensive resilience to the Premier League. The ‘Reds’ have opened the new calendar year with back-to-back league losses for the first time since 1993, undoing the impressive work of tallying four wins down the final stretch of 2022. Jurgen Klopp’s men have conceded precisely three goals across those two defeats and could ship 3+ goals in three league matches on the trot for the first time in 70 years. Without talismanic center-back Virgil van Dijk, Klopp’s hopes of painting his 1,000th game as a manager with flying colors look a bit blunt.

Adding to this sentiment, Liverpool haven’t won any of their last five competitive meetings with Chelsea (D4, L1 – 90mins only). On top of that, the home team has won just three of the 17 previous Premier League duels between Liverpool and Chelsea (D7, L7), emphasizing the size of the task at hand. However, Chelsea’s underwhelming run of five winless away league games (D2, L3) could throw Liverpool’s bid to get back to winning ways a lifeline, with Graham Potter’s men last experiencing a longer winless streak on the road in 2015/16 (7). Additionally, the ‘Pensioners’ have picked up just two victories across their previous ten Premier League outings (D3, L5), including a narrow 1-0 home triumph over bottom-half Crystal Palace last time out.

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RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich

The Bundesliga returns to action following an extended mid-season break with a blockbuster encounter between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena.

The World Cup halt couldn’t have come at a worse moment for Leipzig as they were gathering momentum with four consecutive Bundesliga wins. Three of those four triumphs yielded a two-goal margin, which may bolster Leipzig’s spirits ahead of a must-win contest as far as their title hopes are concerned. Marco Rose’s men sit only six points adrift of pacesetters Bayern Munich, whom they’ve defeated only once in 12 Bundesliga matches. Indeed, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have gone winless in their last eight top-flight H2Hs against the perennial German champions (D4, L4) while finishing on a wrong side of a 5-3 scoreline in their Super Cup clash at the start of the season. However, with six victories from seven home league games in 2022/23 (D1), they’ve won more points on home turf than any other side (19).

In the meantime, visiting Bayern Munich carried a four-point lead over second-half Freiburg into the World Cup break off the back of an eye-catching six-game winning Bundesliga streak. All competitions included, the ‘Bavarians’ have racked up ten consecutive victories for the first time under Julian Nagelsmann. They will be looking to pick up where they left off in November by extending a three-game winning league run away from home. Continuing that record would see Naglesmann register seven successive wins for the first time as a manager. The Red Bull Arena could be the perfect venue to celebrate that milestone as Bayern have netted 4+ goals on their last to competitive visits to Leipzig (W2), claiming an overwhelming 4-1 triumph in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22.

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Atalanta vs Spezia

Gewiss Stadium is the venue as Atalanta and Spezia go head-to-head in their first-ever Coppa Italia showdown.

Atalanta reminded the world of their former selves with a record-breaking 8-2 home win over Salernitana at the weekend, becoming the first side to score eight times in a single Serie A match in over 27 years. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have enjoyed an almost-perfect three-game start to the new calendar year (W2, D1), netting at least two goals each time. Chances are good ‘La Dea’ will maintain their free-scoring form here, as they’ve bagged 3+ goals in both previous competitive home encounters against Spezia (W2). But if a last-gasp 2-2 H2H earlier this month was anything to go by, Atalanta’s bid to end a poor run of five competitive home matches without a clean sheet doesn’t look promising. o

Meanwhile, Spezia’s three-match unbeaten start to 2023 (W1, D2) could inspire their hopes of posting their first-ever competitive win over Atalanta after five unsuccessful attempts (D2, L3). Luca Gotti’s men couldn’t have timed their upturn in form on hostile turf any better, going from seven consecutive Serie A away defeats by an aggregate score of 15-2 to winning on their last two travels. But it’s worth noting that barring a 2-1 triumph at Hellas Verona in November, they’ve netted under 1.5 goals in their eight remaining away fixtures this term. Moreover, before beating Torino 1-0 on their latest travel, the visitors had been without a clean sheet on ten consecutive road trips, a run that stretches back to April 2022.

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Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Defending Premier League champions Manchester City and top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head in a high-stakes Premier League contest.

Manchester City’s bid to defend the Premier League crown took another hit at the weekend as Manchester United came from behind to beat Pep Guardiola’s side 2-1, leaving them eight points adrift of pacesetters Arsenal. At the risk of falling as low as fourth at the end of next weekend, the ‘Cityzens’ aim for revenge after suffering a league double at the hands of Tottenham last season. However, they come into proceedings winless in back-to-back home league fixtures (D1, L1) and could go three straight top-flight matches at the Etihad without winning for the first time since 2016. But it’s worth noting that before those two results, Man City had won their first seven Premier League home games this season, averaging 4.14 goals per match.

On the other hand, visiting Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby at the weekend, losing further ground on fourth-placed Man Utd. Antonio Conte’s men have only won once in their last four Premier League outings (D1, L2), falling five points behind Man Utd, who hold a game in hand. Encouragingly for ‘Spurs,’ they’ve netted nine goals on their three most recent top-flight travels, including a 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace last time out. That bodes well for Tottenham’s hopes of making history this midweek by becoming the first club to win three consecutive league encounters against a side managed by Guardiola. Adding to their confidence, the visitors have recorded four victories in their last five Premier League meetings with Man City (L1).

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Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

High-flying Manchester United take a trip to Selhurst Park to encounter mid-table Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace this midweek.

Kai Havertz’s lone strike condemned Crystal Palace to an 11th successive H2H loss to Chelsea at the weekend, marking their fourth defeat ‘to nil’ across their last five Premier League outings (W1). Stuck in mid-table, albeit closer to the relegation zone than the European spots, the ‘Eagles’ come into this matchday having lost their last home league matches without scoring and risk making it three in a row for the first time since 2017. Despite winning this corresponding fixture in 2021/22 by a narrow 1-0 scoreline, Man Utd’s visit to Selhurst Park doesn’t bode well for Palace’s bid to bounce back, as that remains their solitary home league triumph over the ‘Red Devils’ since 1991 (D4, L9). On a more positive note, they’ve been victorious in three of their last six Premier League H2Hs against United (D1, L2).

In the meantime, Man Utd pulled off a stunning blitzkrieg to beat cross-town rivals Manchester City last weekend, turning a 1-0 second-half deficit into a 2-1 win in only four minutes. Erik ten Hag’s men will take the field in a buoyant mood after stringing together nine straight victories in all competitions for the first time since 2017. Additionally, after suffering seven consecutive Premier League defeats on the road, the ‘Red Devils’ have mustered five wins on their last eight league travels (D1, L2) and could win three on the trot for the first time in over two years. It’s also worth noting that they’ve netted 2+ goals in six of their seven competitive games after the World Cup, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest.

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Deportivo Alaves vs Sevilla

Estadio Mendizorrotza is the venue as Deportivo Alaves and Sevilla go head-to-head in a competitive-looking Copa del Rey last-16 tie.

Second-tier Deportivo Alaves have won all three Copa del Rey ties this season via an identical 1-0 scoreline, most recently dispatching Sevilla’s fellow top-flight rivals Real Valladolid. But Real Oviedo’s 1-0 home victory at the weekend knocked ‘El Glorioso’ down from a three-game winning streak. Since a scoreless draw at Eibar in November, none of Alaves’ last eight competitive outings have ended level (W3, L5), with 62.5% of them featuring a 1-0 full-time scoring, highlighting the prospect of a drab low-scoring affair. Adding to this sentiment, seven of their last eight competitive home fixtures have seen one or both sides fail to score in matches garnering under 2.5 total goals.

On the other hand, Sevilla suffered a morale-damaging 2-1 defeat at fellow La Liga relegation adversaries Girona last weekend despite claiming an early advantage. Before that, Jorge Sampaoli’s side had gone unbeaten on five consecutive domestic travels (W3, D2), including a hat-trick of multi-goal margin victories ‘to nil’ at lower-league sides in this competition. With their La Liga status hanging by a thread, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ will hope devastated fans something to cheer about, and having not lost any of their last four visits to Alaves (W2, D2), this looks like a perfect place to start a renaissance. The eventuality of a low-scoring affair is underlined by the fact five of Sevilla’s last six away H2Hs against Alaves have contained two goals or fewer.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool battle it out for a place in the FA Cup round of 16 at Molineux Stadium.

Wolverhampton thought they ousted Liverpool before a controversial VAR call disallowed their late winner in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, leading this tie to a replay. Julen Lopetegui’s men were slow to react to VAR heartbreak on Merseyside, bowing out of the League Cup quarterfinals at the hands of Nottingham Forest via penalties (1-1). However, they returned to winning ways in the Premier League last weekend, scoring two unanswered second-half goals to beat fellow relegation rivals West Ham United 2-0 and hinder an underwhelming run of four winless matches (D2, L2). Worryingly, though, they’ve lost their last three competitive home encounters against Liverpool by a single-goal margin.

Liverpool’s impressive winning streak at Molineux may not count for much here, considering Jurgen Klopp’s men head into proceedings on the back of a thumping 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. These are tumultuous times for Klopp, as his men already lag way behind the current top-four sides in the Premier League, while a 3-2 loss to Manchester City in December eradicated their hopes of defending the League Cup title. If they’re to maintain their hopes of winning back-to-back FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, they’ll have to defy an ominous-looking four-match form on hostile turf, all competitions included (W1, L3). Interestingly, all four games in that span saw the winner on the day net precisely three goals.

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Swansea City vs Bristol City

A place in the FA Cup round of 16 is up for grabs as Swansea City and Bristol City go head-to-head in a replay of their third-round tie at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swansea surrendered a 1-0 halftime lead during a 1-1 draw in the original leg at Ashton Gate, but they bounced back at the weekend, cruising to a comfortable 3-1 Championship victory at Sunderland. Inconsistency remains the elephant in the room, as Swansea’s last nine competitive outings have fluctuated between different outcomes (W3, D3, L3). Speaking of a lack of consistency, after stringing together four home wins between September and October, the ‘Swans’ have managed just one triumph in their last four matches on home turf (D1, L2). High scoring has been a common theme during that sequence, with three of those four games producing over 2.5 goals.

Meanwhile, Bristol City scored precisely twice on either side of halftime to romp Birmingham City 4-2 at home last weekend, ending a frustrating run of five winless matches in domestic action (D3, L2). However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in all three games since the calendar year flipped to 2023 (W1, D2), conceding within the opening 15 minutes of play twice in that stretch. Despite going unbeaten in their last four away fixtures, three of them have finished level (W1), casting doubt on Bristol’s capacity to turn around their recent fortunes at Swansea. They have lost two of their last three visits to the Wales-based outfit (W1), with two of those three H2Hs yielding an identical 3-1 scoreline.

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Girona vs Sevilla

Girona and Sevilla are set to face each other at the Estadio Municipal de Montilivi in a high-stakes bottom-half La Liga encounter.

Girona would be silly to let their 12th place in the La Liga standings tuck them into a false sense of security as they start this round only three points clear of the relegation zone. The hosts head into proceedings on the back of six consecutive league matches without losing (W2, D4), though their last two outings have yielded an identical 2-2 scoreline versus Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano, respectively. Since an abysmal 5-3 defeat to Real Sociedad in early October, they’ve gone unbeaten in their last four home league fixtures (W1, D3) despite conceding the opening goal on three occasions in that span. Girona’s decent home form is at stake as they meet a Sevilla side they’ve lost to in three of their four previous La Liga H2Hs (W1).

Meanwhile, surprise relegation candidates Sevilla pulled off a vital 2-1 home win over Getafe last time out, halting an embarrassing run of six winless La Liga matches (D3, L3). Level on points with 18th-placed Cadiz, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ cannot take their eyes off the ball. Jorge Sampaoli’s men have picked up just one win on their last five La Liga travels (D3, L1), scoring precisely once on each occasion. But after beating Getafe, Sevilla could win back-to-back top-flight games for the first time since January 2022. There’s plenty of reason for optimism in the visiting camp, as they’ve conceded just one goal across their four meetings with Girona in La Liga.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United

Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United are set to square off at Molineux Stadium in a high-stakes Premier League relegation six-pointer.

Wolverhampton felt hard done by a controversial VAR call to rule out what would’ve been a late winner in their dramatic 2-2 FA Cup draw last weekend. Frustrations boiled over in midweek League Cup action as they hauled back a 1-0 halftime deficit to hold Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 stalemate, only to bow out on penalties. There’s no time for regrets, with Julen Lopetegui aiming to improve on his indifferent three-game managerial Premier League start (W1, D1, L1) and help Wolves whittle down a one-point gap on safety. Optimism remains high in the Spaniard’s camp, as each of his side’s three top-flight victories this season has come at the expense of sides starting the round inside the bottom six, including a 2-1 win at Everton on his league debut.

Meanwhile, West Ham posted their first competitive triumph in the post-World Cup period in the build-up to this clash, eking out a narrow 1-0 win at Brentford in last weekend’s FA Cup action. However, that’s irrelevant to their ongoing Premier League struggle, with David Moyes’ future hanging by a thread amid West Ham’s dreadful six-game winless league run (D1, L5). Level on points with 18th-placed Everton, the ‘Hammers’ start this round clear of the relegation zone on goal difference alone, highlighting growing pressure on Moyes. Encouragingly, though, they’ve won their last three Premier League encounters against Wolverhampton and could make it three H2H league wins in a row for the first time since 1958.

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

The 193rd edition of the North London derby rounds off a decisive weekend of Premier League top-half fights as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal go head-to-head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Following an underwhelming two-game run upon the Premier League return after the World Cup (D1, L1), Tottenham have steadied the ship, winning back-to-back domestic fixtures, including a 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace in their latest league outing. Antonio Conte’s side opened the scoring at Selhurst Park for the first time in eight Premier League games, which paved the way for a morale-boosting victory. Indeed, hard to be knocked off their perch, Spurs have racked up 16 wins in the last 18 top-flight matches when breaking the deadlock (D2), highlighting the importance of scoring first.

Meanwhile, Arsenal bounced back from an uneventful 0-0 league draw against Newcastle United by trouncing lower-league Oxford United 3-0 in midweek FA Cup action. But with second-placed Manchester City now within five points, the Gunners cannot afford to drop the points against a Tottenham side they’ve failed to keep at bay in only one of their last 17 Premier League H2Hs. Yet after easing past Spurs 3-1 in the reverse fixture in October, Mikel Arteta’s men could register their first top-flight double over their long-standing rivals for the first time since 2013/14. An impressive run of three straight away league victories bodes well for Arsenal’s bid to reach that flattering feat.

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Fulham vs Chelsea

Craven Cottage forms the backdrop for an all-London Premier League showdown between high-flying Fulham and out-of-sorts Chelsea.

Fulham eased past EFL Championship underachievers Hull City 2-0 in last weekend’s FA Cup action, maintaining an outrageous domestic form in the post-World Cup period. Since the Premier League resumption on Boxing Day, Marco Silva’s men have won all three league matches by an aggregate score of 6-1 and could make it four on the trot in the top flight for the first time since 1966. However, that could prove easier said than done, considering they’ve been victorious in just one of their 30 Premier League encounters against Chelsea (D10, L19), losing both top-flight H2Hs in 2021/22 without scoring. Yet following a 3-0 demolition of Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, the ‘Cottagers’ will be gunning for back-to-back victories in the Premier League London derbies for the first time since 2013.

On the other hand, visiting Chelsea found themselves on the receiving end of a 4-0 scoreline in their mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Manchester City at the weekend, only days after losing 1-0 to the same opposition in the Premier League. Winless in their last two league outings (D1, L1), the ‘Blues’ have fallen a staggering ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and could effectively rule themselves out of the Champions League race with another slip-up here. Unfortunately for the visitors, their five-game winless away run (D1, L4) cannot inspire much hope. But Graham Potter’s men have been nothing short of impressive in their recent Premier League London derbies outside Stamford Bridge, racking up nine victories in their last 11 such match-ups (D1, L1).

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AC Milan vs Torino

Mentally-crippled AC Milan welcome Serie A mid-table strugglers Torino at the Stadio San Siro for a handsomely-looking Coppa Italia last-16 tie.

You’d be forgiven for doubting Milan’s mental state ahead of this encounter, considering ‘I Rossoneri’ spurned a 2-0 lead in a heartbreaking 2-2 home league draw against Roma last time out. Despite boasting a two-goal lead in the 87th minute, Milan spurned two vital points, potentially ruling themselves out of the Serie A title race. On a more positive note, Stefano Pioli’s men have gone unbeaten in six competitive matches (W4, D2) since a 2-1 defeat away to non-other than Torino back in October. Before Roma’s outrageous late effort to pull off a draw at the weekend, Milan had won four consecutive home showdowns against domestic rivals, so there’s plenty of reason for enthusiasm in the home camp. On top of that, they’ve held Torino goalless in their last four competitive H2Hs at San Siro (W4).

On the other hand, Torino wasted a 1-0 halftime lead away to Salernitana at the weekend, managing a second successive 1-1 draw in Serie A following an identical outcome against relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in their opening fixture of 2023. Playing on the road has not been Torino’s strong suit this season by any stretch of the imagination, with ‘I Granata’ suffering four defeats across their last seven competitive travels (W1, D2). What’s even more worrying is that Ivan Juric’s men have netted under 1.5 goals six times during that seven-game sequence, casting doubt on their capacity to halt a four-match scoring drought at San Siro.

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Southampton vs Manchester City

St Mary’s Stadium forms the backdrop for a tasty-looking League Cup quarter-final tie between Southampton and Manchester City.

Premier League basement boys Southampton halted an underwhelming three-game losing streak by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in last weekend’s FA Cup tie, bolstering their spirits ahead of this clash. However, Nathan Jones’ men have lost back-to-back home outings ahead of this encounter, while they’ve suffered elimination seven times in their last eight League Cup quarter-final appearances, barring a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in 2016/17. Man City’s visit is unlikely to bring a change of fortunes, with the ‘Saints’ picking up a meager one triumph in their last 15 meetings with the ‘Cityzens’ across all competitions (D3, L11), including a brace of multi-goal margin defeats in their two most recent H2Hs. But no strangers to going the distance, three of Southampton’s last five League Cup ties have gone to penalties.

In the meantime, Manchester City swept Chelsea aside with an overwhelming 4-0 triumph in last weekend’s FA Cup showdown, maintaining their 100% unbeaten ratio in the post-World Cup period (W4, D1). Pep Guardiola’s side ousted Liverpool 3-2 in the previous League Cup round to reach the competition’s quarter-finals, where they’ve been victorious in their last eight appearances. Guardiola has proved himself a specialist in this tournament, as he has only lost two of his 29 League Cup fixtures in charge of Man City (W22, D5), with both of those defeats coming at the hands of Manchester United. Against this backdrop, the reigning Premier League champions had found themselves on the losing side in three consecutive League Cup ties against Southampton before dismantling them 3-1 in their most recent H2H back in 2019/20.

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Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to trade tackles in an exciting League Cup quarter-final tie at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest head into proceedings on the back of an underwhelming 4-1 defeat to Championship relegation strugglers Blackpool in the FA Cup last weekend, just days after winning their first Premier League game of the season at Southampton (1-0). Back at the City Ground, where they’ve not lost any of their last six competitive outings (W3, D3), the ‘Trick Trees’ are looking to avenge a narrow 1-0 league defeat earlier this season. However, they’ve lost five of their last six competitive encounters against Wolves (W1), including an embarrassing 4-0 loss in this competition in August 2021. If they defy such a disappointing H2H form, Forest could make history this midweek and reach the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1991/92.

In the meantime, Wolverhampton’s renaissance under new manager Julen Lopetegui continued last weekend as they secured a replay match in a mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Liverpool, courtesy of a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Wolves have blown hot and cold across their five competitive fixtures under Lopetegui’s stewardship (W2, D2, L1), but they’ve at least improved their attacking game. As one of the worst-performing attacks in the Premier League, the West Midlands underachievers must be pleased with themselves after averaging 1.4 goals per match under Lopetegui. Worryingly, though, they’ve made it out of only three of their last 20 League Cup ties against fellow Premier League rivals, including a narrow 1-0 triumph over Leeds United earlier this season.

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Troyes vs Marseille

Stade de l’Aube is the venue as Troyes and Olympique Marseille go head-to-head in an intrugiung Ligue 1 contest.

Troyes stood no chance against Lille in last weekend’s Coupe de France action, suffering a comfortable 2-0 defeat on the road. On a more positive note, they kicked things off in 2023 with an enthralling 3-2 Ligue 1 victory at Strasbourg, ending an abysmal run of seven straight league matches without winning (D4, L3). They’re still in a precarious position, though, with only five points separating them from the relegation zone. The hosts have established themselves as ‘stalemate specialists’ this season as their last six home league outings have ended as a draw, though just one of them finished goalless. However, Marseille should watch out for Troyes’ quick-fire openings, with Patrick Kisnorbo’s side breaking the deadlock in five of their seven scoring home league games this season (71%).

Meanwhile, fresh from securing the services of highly-rated midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi from Atalanta, Marseille will be looking to extend their stellar four-match winning league streak and solidify their position in a keenly-contested Ligue 1 top-three race. Igor Tudor’s side made light work of lower-league outfit Hyeres 2-0 in the Coupe de France at the weekend, marking their third consecutive win on the road, all competitions included. ‘Les Olympiens’ must be filled with confidence ahead of the kick-off after losing just one of their last 11 Ligue 1 encounters against Troyes (W6, D4). Adding to this sentiment, they’ve suffered just three defeats across their 27 Ligue 1 outings (W16, D8), as many losses as they’ve had on their last 22 top-flight travels (W11, D8).

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PSG vs Angers

Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG entertain basement boys Angers at the Parc des Princes in what promises to be a one-sided affair.

Christophe Galtier’s understrength PSG side eased past lower-league side Chateauroux 3-1 in the weekend’s Coupe de France to bounce back from an identical defeat at the hands of fellow Ligue 1 title hopefuls Lens last time out. That result knocked PSG down from an eye-catching 16-match unbeaten top-flight start (W14, D2), reducing the gap between them and second-placed Lens to four points. Back to the Parc des Princes, where they’ve won all but one of their eight league outings this season (D1), including the last six in a row, ‘Les Parisiens’ are looking to maintain a mightily impressive 23-game unbeaten H2H record against Angers in Ligue 1 (W16, D7). Indeed, the Parc des Princes has been an unbreachable fortress, with PSG avoiding defeat in their last 30 Ligue 1 home games (W26, D4).

In the meantime, Angers may have ousted Strasbourg from their Coupe de France at the weekend via penalties, but their hopes of securing Ligue 1 survival are hanging by a thread. Nailed to the bottom of the table, a staggering seven points away from safety, the visitors head into proceedings on the back of a disastrous nine-game losing league streak. Additionally, Abdelaziz Bouhazama’s men have failed to get on the scoresheet in their last three top-flight fixtures and run the risk of making four on the trot in Ligue 1 for the first time since 1981. That’s particularly concerning given that they’ve conceded a whopping  37 goals after 17 games in Ligue 1 in 2022/23, their highest total at this stage of a top-flight season since 1970/71!

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Inter Milan vs Parma

Inter Milan’s 2022/23 Coppa Italia action kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as they meet second-tier Parma in a seemingly routine last-16 task.

Inter Milan’s hopes of re-inserting themselves in the Scudetto race took a massive blow at the weekend as Monza’s last-gasp equalizer held them to an enthralling 2-2 Serie A draw. That result knocked them down from a three-match winning streak in domestic football, but it’s unlikely to douse the optimism in the home camp. Simone Inzaghi’s men haven’t lost any of their last five competitive encounters against Parma, albeit they’ve alternated between winning (3) and drawing (2) on each occasion. Adding to the hosts’ confidence, they’ve won six consecutive home outings across all competitions in the lead-up to this clash, keeping as many as five clean sheets in that period. But since their last two H2Hs at Meazza featured an identical 2-2 scoreline, Inter cannot take anything for granted.

As for Parma, a hard-earned 1-0 home win over fellow Serie B rivals Bari in the previous Coppa Italia round helped them set up this exciting tie, handing them an opportunity to beat Inter for the first time since September 2018. That’s easier said than done, though, as the ‘Crusaders’ come into this fixture amid a rough patch, having won just once in their last six competitive outings (D2, L3). With four of those six games containing under 2.5 total goals, you’d be right to assume a low-scoring contest is on the cards. Topically, five of Parma’s last six matches away from home have produced a maximum of two goals, highlighting the significance of the first goal.

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Manchester United vs Charlton Athletic

Manchester United and Charlton Athletic are set to trade tackles at Old Trafford in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Manchester United eased past fellow Premier League rivals Everton 3-1 in the FA Cup last time out, maintaining their 100% win ratio in post-World Cup domestic action (W5). More importantly, they have conceded just one goal during that five-game sequence, netting precisely three on three occasions. Back at Old Trafford, where they’ve won their last eight matches in all competitions, Erik ten Hag’s men are looking to build on an eye-catching record of 16 wins from 22 FA Cup quarter-final ties, including four in the last five. Charlton’s visit bodes well for that bid, considering the ‘Red Devils’ have been victorious in ten consecutive H2Hs across all competitions, though their most recent duel dates all the way back to 2007.

In the meantime, no strangers to upsetting the odds, Charlton dumped Premier League side Brighton on penalties in the last League Cup following a goalless draw. Despite going winless in back-to-back League One outings since that success (D1, L1), the ‘Addicks’ have steadied the ship in the build-up to this fixture, winning twice in succession, including a 3-1 triumph at Portsmouth on their latest travel. That victory halted Charlton’s dismal run of four straight defeats on the road, offering traveling fans a glimmer of hope regarding a potential upset at Old Trafford. But the Theatre of Dreams has historically been a formidable venue for the visitors, as they’ve claimed just one win in their last 25 visits to Man Utd (D3, L21).

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AC Milan vs Roma

Stadio San Siro is the venue as AC Milan and Roma go head-to-head in a blockbuster Serie A fixture.

Milan resumed Serie A action in the wake of the World Cup break with a 2-1 win at Salernitana, making it four straight league matches without defeat (W3, D1). With Inter Milan doing them a favor by beating pacesetters Napoli 1-0, ‘I Rossoneri’ have reduced the gap to five points, bolstering their hopes of winning back-to-back titles for the first time in the 21st century. Stefano Pioli’s men have racked up an impressive ten victories from their last 11 Serie A home outings (L1), turning San Siro into one of the most intimidating hostile venues in the country. It gets better, considering they’ve won their last three top-flight H2Hs against Roma, including a 3-1 triumph in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, and could make it four in a row against them in Serie A for the first time since 1990.

It’s uncertain whether Roma can spoil those plans despite edging Bologna 1-0 last time out, courtesy of Lorenzo Pellegrini’s fifth-minute penalty. ‘I Giallorossi’ headed into the World Cup break on a run of three winless league outings (D2, L1) but are only three points off fourth-placed Inter, meaning a first top-four finish since 2017/18 is still on the cards. After sitting out a one-game ban against Bologna, Jose Mourinho will return to the dugout seeking the continuation of Roma’s stellar form on the road. As one of very few Serie A sides with a better away record than at home in Serie A, the visitors have only lost one of their eight league games on hostile turf this term (W5, D2), winning four in a row before a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo last time out.

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