Cremonese vs Roma

Serie A whipping boys Cremonese welcome top-four hopefuls Roma to the Stadio Giovanni Zini for a high-stakes midweek contest.

Despite equalling the longest-ever winning run in Serie A history with a 2-2 draw at Torino last time out (30), Cremonese could still pull off a late comeback and extend their top-flight status. They start this round ten points adrift of safety after going winless in the first 23 rounds (D9, L14) as the only side in Serie A yet to hit double digits. Indeed, Davide Ballardini’s men have picked up just two points in eight top-flight matches since the calendar year flipped to 2023 (D2, L6), with only Valencia and TSG Hoffenheim amassing fewer in Europe’s top-five leagues in that span. Conceding first would likely pave the way for another upset, considering the hosts have lost all seven home games after falling behind in Serie A this season.

Meanwhile, Roma overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to RB Salzburg with a 2-0 home win in the return fixture to book their tickets for the Europa League round of 16 last time out. Back to Serie A, where they boast a two-point lead on fifth-placed Lazio after going unbeaten in three consecutive league games (W2, D1), ‘I Giallorossi’ will hope to galvanize their away form against sub-par rivals. Jose Mourinho’s men have claimed just one win on their last five Serie A travels (D3, L1) and can take anything for granted despite securing a 1-0 home win in the reverse fixture. Interestingly, that triumph forms part of Roma’s 11 Serie A victories by an identical 1-0 scoreline since the start of last season, with only two sides from Europe’s five big leagues managing more in that period.

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Hellas Verona vs Fiorentina

Relegation-threatened Hellas Verona and bottom-half underachivers Fiorentina are set to square off at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in a high-stakes Serie A clash.

Hellas Verona’s mini-revival in Serie A featuring four consecutive unbeaten matches (W2, D2) ended abruptly with a 1-0 defeat at Roma last time out, leaving Marco Zaffaroni’s side on the periphery of safe placings. With 17th-placed Spezia only two points away at the start of this round, ‘I Rossoblu’ will feel confident about closing the gap as they return to the Marc’Antoio Bentegodi, where they’ve won three out of four league outings in 2023 ‘to nil’ (D1). However, they cannot let their home resurgence get the better of them, considering they’ve failed to win any of their last six meetings with Fiorentina in Serie A (D4, L2), including a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

On the other hand, Fiorentina came from a 2-0 deficit to beat Sporting Braga 3-2 in the return leg of their Europa Conference League knockout playoff contest, securing an impressive 7-2 aggregate win to set up an exciting last-16 tie against Turkish outfit Sivasspor. Going the distance in Europe could be the only saving grace for ‘La Viola’ this season, as they start this round stuck in the lower reaches after going winless in their last six Serie A matches (D2, L4). Vincenzo Italiano’s lads netted a league-low three goals during that six-game sequence, casting doubt on their hopes of extending a two-match unbeaten top-flight run at Verona (W1, D1). Conversion rate has been a genuine problem for Fiorentina this season, as witnessed by last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Empoli, where they amassed 27 attempts on goal.

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Marseille vs PSG

Stade Velodrome forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering top-table Ligue 1 six-pointer between second-placed Olympique Marseille and pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain.

Marseille bounced back from a 3-1 home loss to Nice at the start of February with back-to-back league wins over Toulouse and Clermont by an aggregate score of 5-2, closing the gap on PSG to five points in the process. No strangers to toppling the joint-record French champions, Marseille stunned PSG 2-1 in January’s Coupe de France H2H and could now beat them twice in a row for the first time in the Qatari era. Despite the odds suggesting otherwise, that’s a genuine possibility, with ‘Les Olympiens’ racking up joint-most seven wins in nine Ligue 1 outings since the restart (D1, L1). But it’s worth noting that a minority (44%) of Marseille’s points in Ligue 1 this season have come on home turf (23/52), casting doubt on their bid to upset the odds here.

In the meantime, visiting PSG ran out 4-3 winners in last weekend’s topsy-turvy home game against Lille, making it three wins in four Ligue 1 matches in February (L1). However, Christophe Galtier’s men have faltered on the road in 2023, suffering three defeats on four league travels this calendar year (W1), as many losses as in their previous 22 away fixtures (W13, D6). Adding to Galtier’s sizeable list of concerns, ‘Les Parisiens’ have conceded precisely three goals in their last two Ligue 1 outings and could make it three on the spin for the first time since 1985. To quickly downplay this hypothesis, the reigning champions have kept a clean sheet on their last three top-flight visits to Marseille (W2, D1).

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Bournemouth vs Manchester City

The upcoming Premier League encounter between relegation-battling Bournemouth and title-bidding Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium has all the makings of a lopsided affair.

After going winless in seven consecutive Premier League matches since the restart (D2, L5), Bournemouth toppled fellow bottom-half strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 on the road last weekend to steer away from the bottom three. But with only one point separating them from 18th-placed West Ham United at the start of this round, halting a three-game winless home league run is crucial (D2, L1). After overseeing back-to-back home draws in the Premier League, manager Gary O’Neil wouldn’t mind another share of the spoils against a Man City side the ‘Cherries’ have lost to in all 11 previous Premier League H2Hs. Worryingly, though, O’Neil’s charges have netted a league-low three goals since England’s top-flight resumed on Boxing Day, derailing their hopes of defying the odds this weekend.

On the other hand, Manchester City could only manage a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek as Pep Guardiola refused to make a single substitution at the Red Bull Arena. Back to Premier League duties following an underwhelming 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, the reigning champions are keen to return to winning ways and stay within a two-point distance of leaders Arsenal. But despite boasting a 100% win ratio against Bournemouth in the Premier League, a 200th away victory in the competition is anything but a foregone conclusion. The ‘Citizens’ have managed just one triumph across their last six competitive matches on hostile turf (D2, L3), scoring under 1.5 goals in each failed attempt to win.

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Everton vs Aston Villa

Everton’s battle for Premier League survival continues this weekend as out-of-sorts Aston Villa touch down at Goodison Park.

An underwhelming 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool, sandwiched by a pair of 1-0 home triumphs over Arsenal and fellow relegation rivals Leeds United, steered Everton outside the drop zone for the first time since the beginning of January. New manager Sean Dyche is on the cusp of helping the ‘Toffees’ win three consecutive home league matches without conceding for the first time in nearly four years. Yet Dyche couldn’t have picked out a worse opponent to achieve that feat, with Everton losing their last two home league H2Hs via a single-goal margin. Another defeat would see them suffer three home defeats in a row to Villa for the first time in their league history.

That prospect isn’t out of the realm of possibility, with Aston Villa going unbeaten in all seven Premier League encounters against Everton since earning top-flight promotion in 2019 (W5, D2), including three victories on the trot. Aiming at a fourth straight H2H league win for the first time since 1998, the ‘Lions’ come into proceedings amid a rough patch, having lost their last three Premier League outings, conceding 3+ goals on each occasion. On a slightly more positive note, before slumping to a 3-1 defeat at back-to-back champions Manchester City on their most recent travel, Villa had won three consecutive away league games under Unai Emery by an aggregate score of 5-1. A fourth successive away league defeat in the same manner would see Villa meet an unwanted piece of history, with the Birmingham outfit last experiencing that feat in 1958.

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Inter Milan vs Porto

Inter Milan’s pursuit of their first Champions League quarter-final berth since 2010/11 continues at Giuseppe Meazza as they entertain Porto in the first leg of their competitive-looking round-of-16 tie.

Inter Milan defied the odds in the group stages to secure a runner-up finish to Bayern Munich in a so-called ‘group of death,’ leaving runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona in their wake. Inter’s European journey last season ended at this stage, yet Simone Inzaghi’s men are hoping to turn their fortunes around after going unbeaten in five competitive matches in the build-up to this clash (W4, D1). Adding to their confidence, ‘I Nerazzurri’ have racked up a mind-blowing eight wins in their nine previous home encounters against Portuguese visitors in major European competitions (D1). On top of their stellar home record against Primeira Liga clubs, last season’s Serie A runners-up have won back-to-back Champions League home games ‘to nil’ and could make it three in a row for the first time since 2010.

Unfortunately for Inter, visiting Porto are not messing around these days, having put together ten consecutive wins in all competitions in the lead-up to this trip, including a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Rio Ave at the weekend. By extension, the ‘Eagles’ are unbeaten since October (W19, D3), while they finished top of their Champions League group ahead of non-other than Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Despite starting their group journey with a pair of losses, Porto won four straight matches down the final stretch of the autumn campaign and could make it five Champions League triumphs on the trot for only the second time in the club’s history. Moreover, Sergio Conceicao’s rock-solid backline has kept a clean sheet in seven of their last eight outings, strengthening Porto’s bid to avoid defeat at Meazza after two failed attempts.

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RB Leipzig vs Manchester City

Red Bull Arena forms the backdrop for the first leg of an exciting Champions League last-16 tie between RB Leipzig and Manchester City.

Leipzig claimed a runner-up finish behind Real Madrid in a highly-competitive Group F to return to the Champions League knockouts after a year-long absence. ‘Die Roten Bullen’ cannot escape Premier League clubs in the round of 16, with their only previous last-16 ties pitting them against English heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. After dispatching ‘Spurs’ in the 2019/20 round of 16 4-0 on aggregate, they lost both legs to the ‘Reds’ in 2020/21 by an identical 2-0 scoreline. Indeed, after winning their first three outings in the Champions League knockout stages, the Germans have lost the last three in a row without scoring. That said, Marco Rose’s men have won four straight games down the final stretch of this season’s Champions League group phase en route to setting an unprecedented feat in the club’s history. In addition to winning four consecutive matches in the competition for the first time, Leipzig ran out 2-1 winners in their only previous home meeting with Man City.

However, replicating that result looks far-fetched, with visiting Manchester City gunning for a long-awaited Champions League title on the back of a flawless Group G campaign (W4, D2). With an underwhelming 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest at the weekend leaving the ‘Citizens’ two points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s men will be out to make amends. Back-to-back English champions have been nothing short of outstanding against German opposition in the Champions League of late, racking up 14 wins in their last 17 such match-ups (D2, L1). Though their only defeat in that run coincidentally came at the Red Bull Arena, it’s worth noting they already qualified for the knockout stages going into that fixture.

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Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Anfield forms the backdrop for the first leg of a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 tie between last season’s finalists Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Seeking vengeance for last season’s grand final heartbreak (0-1), Liverpool will be looking to build on their mini-revival, having won two Premier League matches in a row following a four-game winless league start to the new calendar year (D1, L3). A massive 2-0 win at fourth-placed Newcastle United last week reignited Liverpool’s top-four hopes, helping them reduce the gap on Champions League placings to six points. However, winning Europe’s elite competition could be the only saving grace for Jurgen Klopp’s side after bowing out of both domestic cup competitions and falling out of the Premier League title race early in the season. However, the ‘Reds’ couldn’t have picked out a more formidable rival, as they’ve gone winless in their last six European clashes against Real Madrid (D1, L5), including back-to-back H2H scoring blanks at Anfield (D1, L1).

In the meantime, visiting Real Madrid ousted mid-table Osasuna 2-0 at the weekend despite lacking the services of the reigning Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema to stay within an eight-point distance of La Liga pacesetters Barcelona. After winning consecutive domestic fixtures by 2+ goals ‘to nil,’ Carlo Ancelotti’s men make this trip in high spirits, hoping to defy an underwhelming record of one win from their last seven visits to English clubs in the Champions League (D2, L4). Confidence shouldn’t be in short supply, even though Benzema will likely miss out on this trip, with ‘Los Merengues’ winning five of their last six competitive matches outside the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (L1). Ancelotti knows in-depth about dealing with Liverpool, considering he’s only lost two of his last 11 managerial meetings with the ‘Reds’ (W6, D3).

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Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium forms the backdrop for an all-London Premier League showdown between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a woeful 1-0 loss at downtrodden Serie A champions AC Milan in midweek Champions League action, making it two defeats in a row after an abysmal 4-1 thumping at the hands of Leicester City last weekend. Left to rue an early opener at the King Power Stadium, ‘Spurs’ must now play catch-up on fourth-placed Newcastle United, with two points separating the sides at the start of this round. With manager Antonio Conte yet to recover from surgery, caretaker boss Cristian Stellini is hoping to help Tottenham avoid going winless in both seasonal matches against West Ham in the Premier League for only the second time in nine seasons. Despite recording just one shutout across their last ten top-flight H2Hs, ‘Spurs’ have only lost once in that span (W5, D3).

Meanwhile, West Ham United held cross-town rivals Chelsea to a 1-1 draw last time out, extending their unbeaten league streak to three games (W1, D2). However, having won just once in seven Premier League outings since the season resumed on Boxing Day (D3, L3), the ‘Hammers’ commence this round only two points clear of 18th-placed Everton. Anxiously looking over their shoulders, David Moyes’ men face the risk of losing six Premier League London derbies away from home for the first time since 2010. West Ham’s wayward away record of one win from 11 Premier League travels this season (D3, L7), including a nine-game winless streak on the road, only strengthens this prospect.

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Newcastle United vs Liverpool

Liverpool’s stuttering attempt to secure a seventh consecutive Premier League top-four finish continues with a must-win clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United came from behind to hold bottom-half Bournemouth to a 1-1 away draw last weekend, equalling the club’s longest-ever unbeaten league run (17) in the process. But drawing five of the most recent six Premier League fixtures (W1) isn’t inspiring enough as the ‘Magpies’ bid to arrest a five-game winless home league run against Liverpool (D2, L3). Newcastle’s defensive resilience on home turf could come in handy, though, with Eddie Howe’s high-flyers conceding a league-low six goals across 11 home league outings this term. Indeed, the hosts have registered seven top-flight clean sheets at St James’ Park this term, doing so in five of their last six such match-ups. Interestingly, Newcastle’s superb Premier League run started after a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool in late August.

In the meantime, Liverpool could go unbeaten on six consecutive visits to St James’ Park for the first time in their league history, which would be a massive boost to their top-four hopes. Stuck nine points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle, albeit with a game in hand, the ‘Reds’ head into this round on the back of a morale-bolstering 2-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton earlier this week. In addition to snapping a dreadful four-match winless league start to 2023 (D1, L3), Jurgen Klopp’s men also broke a three-game scoring drought in the Premier League. However, the Merseyside giants have lost their last three away league matches, conceding precisely three goals on each occasion while scoring just one in return.

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Augsburg vs TSG Hoffenheim

WWK Arena is the venue as Augsburg and TSG Hoffenheim go head-to-head in a bottom-half Bundesliga six-pointer.

Perennial bottom-half Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg have blown hot and cold since the season resumed after the international break, with their five league matches in 2023 fluctuating between home wins (2) and away losses (3), including a 3-1 defeat at Mainz last time out. But back-to-back 1-0 victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach at the WWK Arena should fill ‘Die Fuggerstädter’ with confidence as they bid to play down a ponderous seven-game home record against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga (W1, L6). With each of those six defeats coming by multi-goal margins, Augsburg’s prospects in this fixture look bleak, more so as they still hold the second-worst home record in the Bundesliga this season (W3, D2, L5). But the chance of winning three consecutive top-flight home games for the first time since December 2019 could still serve as a powerful motive.

On the other hand, TSG Hoffenheim maintained their disastrous six-game winless start to the new calendar year with a horrendous 3-1 home defeat to Leverkusen last weekend (D1, L5), all competitions included. Despite sacking underperforming boss Andre Breitenreiter on the eve of that loss, ‘Die Kraichgauer’ failed to bounce back on new manager Pellegrino Matarazzo’s touchline debut, slipping to just two points clear of 16th-placed Hertha Berlin. Unless Matarazzo douses the flames, Hoffenheim could be staring down the barrel of a four-match losing streak in the Bundesliga for the first time in their top-flight history. Playing on the road is unlikely to inspire much confidence, though, with Hoffenheim losing their last three away league outings by an aggregate score of 12-5, conceding 3+ goals on each occasion.

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RB Salzburg vs Roma

RB Salzburg and Roma meet each other for the first time in European football as the Red Bull Arena forms the backdrop for the first leg of their Europa League knockout playoffs tie.

Salzburg’s thoroughly underwhelming Champions League group-stage campaign (W1, D3, L2), culminating with back-to-back defeats, resulted in a ninth appearance in the Europa League knockouts. A lack of match fitness could hinder Salzburg’s bid to avenge a 4-0 loss at Roma’s fellow Serie A rivals AC Milan in their last European outing and improve on their dreadful all-time UEFA record against Italian opponents (W5, D4, L11). Indeed, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ returned to action earlier in February with an underwhelming Austrian Cup quarter-final elimination to Sturm Graz before toppling Austria Lustenau 4-0 at home last weekend. That triumph may bolster Salzburg’s hopes of halting a four-game winless run in European competitions (D1, L3), their longest streak without winning in continental action since 2016.

On the other hand, Roma had to thank a come-from-behind 3-1 romping of Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets on the final matchday for securing a runner-up finish in Europa League Group C behind Real Betis. Despite registering a paltry win ratio of 50% across their six group fixtures (W3, D1, L2), ‘I Giallorossi’ have reached the Europa League knockouts for the third time in four years, making it out of this round in their last four attempts. Esteemed manager Jose Mourinho, who led Manchester United to the Europa League title in 2016/16, will aim high after helping Roma to a historic Europa Conference League triumph last term. Adding to his confidence, the Italians have found the net in 33 consecutive European matches in the lead-up to this trip. Moreover, they’ve not lost any of their six previous European clashes against Austrian opposition (W3, D3).

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Arsenal vs Manchester City

Emirates Stadium is the venue as Arsenal and Manchester City go head-to-head in a mammoth Premier League top-table six-pointer this midweek.

Not long ago, Arsenal seemed to be on the verge of waltzing away with a first Premier League title in 20 years on the back of a phenomenal 19-match league start (W16, D2, L1). However, Mikel Arteta’s men have gone winless in back-to-back top-flight games for the first time this season (D1, L1), letting second-placed Man City close the gap to only three points. Despite heading into proceedings as one of only two sides yet to lose a Premier League home fixture this season (W8, D2), the ‘Gunners’ must defy history if they’re to return to winning ways. In addition to suffering defeat in ten consecutive top-flight encounters against Man City, the London heavyweights have lost their last eight league clashes against reigning champions! Moreover, the ‘Cityzens’ remain the only Premier League side Arteta has failed to beat since quitting his assistant-manager job at the Etihad Stadium to join Arsenal in 2019 (L5).

In the meantime, Manchester City took full advantage of Arsenal’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against Brentford last weekend to bolster their title hopes with a comfortable 3-1 home triumph over Aston Villa. But despite bouncing back from a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on their last league travel, the ‘Cityzens’ may have lost Premier League top-scorer Erling Haaland to injury. With the Norwegian’s availability hanging by a thread, the visitors’ hopes of halting a dreadful three-game losing run on the road could be in jeopardy. However, Pep Guardiola, who painted his 250th Premier League match in charge of Man City with flying colors at the weekend, should be confident about toppling an Arsenal side he has defeated in the last six competitive H2Hs.

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AC Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur

AC Milan’s first foray into the Champions League round of 16 since the 2013/14 season pits them against Premier League top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadio San Siro.

Coming into the first leg of their first Champions League last-16 tie against Tottenham since an underwhelming 1-0 aggregate loss in 2010/11, AC Milan toppled Torino 1-0 at home in Serie A, ending a dismal run of seven winless matches in all competitions (D2, L5). Scudetto-winning manager Stefano Pioli has come under heavy scrutiny following Milan’s disappointing league start to the new calendar year, resulting in ‘I Rossoneri’ tumbling outside the Serie A top-four for the first time in two seasons. The reigning Italian champions will be keen to prove the abovementioned win over Torino was the beginning of their resurgence against a Tottenham side they’ve failed to beat in any of their four previous H2Hs in European football (D2, L2).

In the meantime, with Milan-linked manager Antonio Conte yet to recover from surgery, Tottenham Hotspur slipped to a disastrous 4-1 Premier League defeat at bottom-half Leicester City last weekend despite opening the scoring. ‘Spurs’ finished top of Group D, but their bid to reach the Champions League knockouts for the first time since 2019/20 was hanging by a thread until the final group-stage matchday. Conte has requested to travel with his Tottenham side to his home country, which could be a game-changer for the Londoners. Conte has racked up eight wins in his nine personal H2Hs against Milan as a manager (L1), so his presence in the dugout should bolster the visitors’ hopes of defying a topsy-turvy four-game form away from home (W2, L2).

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Villarreal vs Barcelona

La Liga pacesetters Barcelona make a daunting trip to the Estadio de la Ceramica to encounter European hopefuls Villarreal in a tricky league contest.

Following a four-match unbeaten league start to the new calendar year (W3, D1), Quique Setien’s men have lost back-to-back top-flight games, including a dreadful 3-1 defeat at rock-bottom Elche last time out. Now at the risk of losing three consecutive La Liga outings for the first time since May 2020, Villarreal will be out to defy an underwhelming five-game H2H league form against Barcelona at home (D1, L4). Though they finished on the receiving end of a 3-1 scoreline in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ remain hopeful of avoiding another catastrophe, with only Barcelona (7) conceding fewer La Liga goals than them (17) this term. Interestingly, none of Villarreal’s four post-World Cup home league encounters have ended level (W2, L2), each featuring a slender one-goal margin.

On the other hand, Barcelona have hit the ground running since a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Espanyol at the turn of the year, racking up five consecutive La Liga triumphs by an aggregate score of 8-1. Though the only goal they let in during that five-game sequence came in a 2-1 victory at Real Betis on their last league travel, the ‘Blaugrana’ will be confident of holding Villarreal scoreless on the road for the first time since 2017. Indeed, Xavi Hernandez’s men have kept a staggering 15 clean sheets in 20 La Liga fixtures this season, with no side from Europe’s top-five leagues boasting a better defensive record at the start of this round. Another triumph at La Ceramica would see Barcelona register eight competitive wins on the trot for the first time since 2017, so motivation shouldn’t be lacking.

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Cologne vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Bottom-half Cologne and top-four hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt are set to trade tackles in a handsomely-looking Bundesliga fixture at the RheinEnergieStadion.

A tepid scoreless home draw against a more heavily fancied RB Leipzig last time out preserved Cologne’s unbeaten four-game Bundesliga start to the new calendar year (W1, D3). A decent league form in 2023 may tuck the ‘Billy Goats’ into a false sense of security, but a seven-point buffer from relegation spots means there’s no room for celebration. But Steffen Baumgart’s side will be confident of at least maintaining their morale-boosting 2023 start after picking up points in six of their last seven top-flight clashes against Frankfurt (W2, D4). The continuation of their superb recent H2H record against ‘Die Adler’ would see Cologne launch a new calendar year with five unbeaten matches in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2009!

Meanwhile, visiting Eintracht Frankfurt strolled to an overwhelming 3-0 home victory over relegation-battling Hertha Berlin last weekend, taking their outrageous unbeaten league run to seven matches (W4, D3) for the first time under manager Oliver Glasner. Moreover, the visitors haven’t lost any of their last five Bundesliga away games (W2, D3), including a hat-trick of 1-1 draws in the build-up to this fixture. Glasner has turned Frankfurt into a formidable attacking unit, with only record-time Bundesliga champions (56) netting more league goals than ‘Die Adler’ (40) this term. Yet it’s worth noting that only 40% of those strikes have come on hostile turf (16/40), with Frankfurt failing to score more than once on the road since early November.

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Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid

Resurgent Celta Vigo will be looking to deliver another upset when they lock horns with long-term top-four La Liga tenants Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de Balaídos.

Celta Vigo defied the odds to pick up only their second La Liga win of the season as pre-match outsiders (W2, D2, L5), toppling Real Betis 4-3 on the road last weekend. Despite stringing together back-to-back league wins for only the second time this term, ‘Los Celestes’ can ill-afford to get complacent as they start this round just three points clear of 18th-placed Valencia. Winless in their last eight top-flight encounters against Atletico Madrid (D3, L5), Celta will be looking to buck that trend and post a third league victory on the trot for the first time in almost two years. That’s easier said than done, with Carlos Carvalhal’s side suffering five defeats in their last seven La Liga matches against Atletico on home turf (W1, D1).

In the meantime, Atletico Madrid’s pursuit of an 11th successive top-four finish in La Liga suffered another setback last weekend as Diego Simeone’s men could only manage an underwhelming 1-1 home draw against perennial relegation strugglers Getafe. That result may have extended the visitors’ unbeaten league run to four games (W2, D2), yet it also means they begin this round only three points clear of fifth-placed Rayo Vallecano. Playing on the road has not been Atletico’s strong suit this term by any stretch of the imagination, though a 1-0 beating of Osasuna on their last travel put a frustrating three-game winless away league streak to bed (D1, L2).

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Sevilla vs Mallorca

Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán is the venue as bottom-half underachievers Sevilla take on mid-table Mallorca.

Sevilla’s mini-revival in La Liga (W2) ended abruptly at the hands of table-topping Barcelona last weekend (0-3), leaving the underperforming Andalusian heavyweights only two points clear of the relegation zone at the start of this round. An immediate return home to Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, where they’ve won their last three league matches by an aggregate score of 6-1, bodes well for Sevilla’s bid to make amends for the abovementioned fiasco at the Spotify Camp Nou. There’s more reason for optimism, as ‘Los Rojiblancos’ haven’t lost any of their last five top-flight games against Mallorca (W3, D2), though this corresponding fixture in 2021/22 yielded a 0-0 scoreline. Moreover, Jorge Sampaoli’s men have gone unbeaten in all five home league clashes against sides starting this round outside the top eight (W3, D2).

In the meantime, visiting Mallorca played down the odds last weekend with a morale-boosting 1-0 home win over reigning La Liga holders Real Madrid, continuing their volatile domestic form. Indeed, the visitors have alternated between victories (4) and defeats (3) in their last seven league outings, suggesting traveling fans can never know which version of Mallorca they’re going to get on a given day. Ominously for head coach Javier Aguirre, ‘Los Piratas’ have failed to win any of their last eight away league encounters against Andalusian opponents (D3, L5) since a 2-1 triumph at Granada in 2013. Topically, they have picked up points on just two of their last seven La Liga visits to Sevilla (W1, D1, L5).

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Manchester City vs Aston Villa

Manchester City’s faltering bid to defend the Premier League title continues this weekend as mid-table Aston Villa touch down at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City squandered a glorious chance to reduce the gap on runaway leaders Arsenal last weekend, with a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur holding five points behind the ‘Gunners.’ With Mikel Arteta’s side also having a game in hand, the ‘Citizens’ cannot afford another slip-up against a Villa side they drew 1-1 against in the reverse fixture at Villa Park. Despite facing the risk of going winless in both seasonal league games against Villa for the first time since 2000/01, Man City will fall back on their outrageous 12-match H2H winning home streak in the Premier League. Despite having the league top-scorer Erlin Haaland (25) in their ranks, the hosts have only scored once in their last two top-flight outings, casting more doubt on their winning prospects.

In the meantime, visiting Aston Villa suffered an underwhelming 4-2 home defeat to out-of-sorts Leicester City last time out, ending a near-perfect four-game league start to the new calendar year (W3, D1). Amends for that result could be a strong motive as the ‘Lions’ hope to maintain a 100% win ratio in Premier League away matches under Unai Emery (W3). The Spaniard could become only the second Villa manager to win his first four top-flight games on the road. To achieve that feat, the visitors will have to defy an unwanted piece of history, having won only one of their last 29 away league fixtures against reigning top-flight holders (D6, L22). But Emery could turn Villa’s fortunes around after helping his side score in all eight Premier League games in charge.

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Leeds United vs Manchester United

Leeds United and Manchester United are set to trade tackles for the second time in a matter of days, with Elland Road forming the backdrop for the latest chapter of this long-standing Premier League rivalry.

Despite cruising to a comfortable two-goal cushion in the reverse midweek fixture, Leeds United could only manage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, taking their winless league run to eight matches (D4, L4). Yet to appoint a new permanent manager after sacking Jesse Marsch earlier this week, the ‘Whites,’ firmly embroiled in a scary relegation scrap, are back to Elland Road, where they’ve won none of their last three Premier League outings (D2, L1). Moreover, Leeds suffered a thumping 4-2 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22 but haven’t lost consecutive home league meetings with Man Utd since 1976. Scoring first won’t necessarily strengthen their case here, with only Leicester City dropping more points from winning positions than Leeds (15) this term.

On the other hand, Manchester United may have fought back to hold Leeds to a draw in midweek, yet that result knocked them down from a 13-game winning home run in all competitions. Amends for that underwhelming result could prove a powerful motive at Elland Road as the ‘Red Devils’ bid to strengthen their position in a top-four race, with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur now only four points off. However, Erik ten Hag’s men have failed to live up to expectations lately, picking up just one win in their last four outings in the Premier League (D2, L1). They have opened the scoring in four consecutive league games on the road in the lead-up to this trip, yet they’ve been victorious just twice in that run (D1, L1).

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Lazio vs Atalanta

Stadio Olimpico forms the backdrop for an exciting Serie A top-six six-pointer between Lazio and Atalanta.

After hammering Sassuolo and AC Milan 2-0 and 4-0, respectively, in mid-January, Lazio’s pursuit of a first top-four finish in Serie A since 2019/20 has suffered a couple of setbacks. A brace of 1-1 draws against Fiorentina and Hellas Verona in the last two league rounds has seen ‘I Biancocelesti’ fall one point behind fourth-placed Roma. Though Maurizio Sarri’s men are unbeaten in five straight top-flight matches ahead of the kick-off (W2, D3), you’d have to go back to 2017 for Lazio’s last home league win against Atalanta. Since then, they’ve gone winless in five straight Serie A H2Hs at the Stadio Olimpico (D3, L2), conceding 3+ goals three times in that stretch. That said, they’ve kept a clean sheet in their last two league meetings with Atalanta (W1, D1), including a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in Bergamo.

In the meantime, visiting Atalanta failed to recover from a heartbreaking 1-0 Coppa Italia defeat to Inter Milan a fortnight ago, suffering an identical loss at Sassuolo last weekend. After going unbeaten in their first five post-World Cup matches in Serie A (W3, D2), Atalanta may now go back-to-back league matches without scoring for the first time this term. However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will likely avoid that scenario, given that they’ve scored 2+ goals on three of their last four Serie A travels. Despite their free-scoring form on hostile turf, ‘La Dea’ have been victorious in just one of their five previous away league outings (D2, L2).

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Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Perennial bottom-half Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace and high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion are set to square off in a lopsided contest at Selhurst Park.

Despite being a man up for most of the second half, underperforming Crystal Palace fell to a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last weekend, stretching their underwhelming winless run in the Premier League to five matches (D2, L3). As one of just three Premier League sides yet to pick up a league victory in 2023, Palace should be concerned about their effort to extend a six-game unbeaten top-flight streak against Brighton (W2, D4). Adding to this sentiment, the ‘Eagles’ have failed to win any of their last four home league H2Hs (D3, L1), with each of those three draws yielding an identical 1-1 scoreline. The continuation of that run would see manager Patrick Vieira go six successive Premier League games for only the second time during his two-year tenure in South London.

Meanwhile, visiting Brighton & Hove Albion notched an 87th-minute winner to beat relegation-fighting Bournemouth 1-0 at home last time out, making it three wins in four Premier League matches (D1). After only losing two of their nine league outings in the build-up to this fixture (W6, D1), it’s no wonder the ‘Seagulls’ have forced his way into the Premier League top-six, with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur now within a five-point distance. Furthermore, Roberto De Zerbi’s men had registered three away league wins in a row before coming from behind to hold Leicester City to a 2-2 draw on their last top-flight travel. Given that they’ve averaged three goals per game during that span, Brighton should be confident about troubling the scoresheet.

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Arsenal vs Brentford

Premier League pacesetters Arsenal and European hopefuls Brentford are set to face each other at the Emirates Stadium in a tricky league fixture.

Following an outrageous 13-game unbeaten run in the Premier League (W11, D2), Arsenal fell to a disheartening 1-0 defeat at Sean Dyche’s Everton last time out. However, the Gunners’ fierce cross-town rivals Tottenham Hotspur did them a favor by beating second-placed Manchester City, helping Mikel Arteta’s charges keep hold of a five-point lead at the summit. Back at home after back-to-back 1-0 losses in all competitions, the hosts will fall back on their impressive nine-game unbeaten league record at the Emirates (W8, D1). Moreover, Arteta’s men have won both competitive home encounters against Brentford in the new millennium by an aggregate score of 5-2.

In the meantime, visiting Brentford thrashed relegation candidates Southampton 3-0 last weekend, extending their stellar undefeated league streak to nine games (W5, D4). With only Newcastle United (16) enjoying a longer ongoing unbeaten run in the Premier League, the ‘Bees’ will be confident about upsetting the odds again, having already outscored Man City and Liverpool during that patch. Adding to manager Thomas Frank’s confidence, his men have kept a clean sheet in their last three league outings and could make it four shutouts on the trot as a top-flight side for the first time. That’s easier said than done, as after a disastrous 3-0 home defeat in the reverse fixture, the visitors could succumb to a first-ever league double against Arsenal.

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Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur are set to face each other at the King Power Stadium in a high-stakes Premier League encounter.

After picking up just one point in their first five post-World Cup Premier League fixtures (D1, L4), Leicester City returned to winning ways last weekend with a thumping 4-2 victory at Aston Villa. Those four goals at Villa Park eclipsed Leicester’s tally of three in their first five league outings after a mid-season break. However, there’s no room for complacency as they start this round only three points clear of the relegation zone. Adding to this sentiment, Brendan Rodgers’ men have lost their last four Premier League duels against Tottenham, conceding at least three goals on each occasion at an average of four per game. By extension, the ‘Foxes’ have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 13 home meetings with ‘Spurs’ in the Premier League.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, after suffering back-to-back two-goal margin defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City, they’ve posted consecutive 1-0 league wins over Fulham and Man City to reignite their top-four hopes. With only one point separating them from fourth-placed Newcastle United ahead of the kick-off, ‘Spurs’ will be out to register three straight clean sheets in the top flight for the first time this season, having conceded 21 goals in ten previous Premier League outings. But after falling behind first on their last two league trips to Leicester, Antonio Conte’s side cannot take anything for granted. Conte will put his side’s fate in the hands of Harry Kane, who has tallied 18 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against Leicester.

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West Ham United vs Chelsea

London Stadium is the venue as relegation-battling West Ham United and mid-table Chelsea meet in an all-London Premier League fixture.

West Ham United fought back to hold Newcastle United to a 1-1 away draw last weekend, making it straight competitive games without losing (W2, D1). Indeed, David Moyes’ men have earned two points in their last two Premier League matches (W1, D1), as many as in their previous nine in the competition combined (W1, D1, L7). But if they’re to go three consecutive top-flight games without losing for the first time since October, the ‘Hammers’ must defy a dreadful run of eight defeats from their last ten London derbies in the Premier League (W1, D1). Chelsea’s visit to the London Stadium bodes well, with West Ham going unbeaten in five of their last seven top-flight H2Hs at home (W4, D1).

In the meantime, visiting Chelsea followed up a 0-0 home draw against Liverpool with another underwhelming ‘nil-nil’ stalemate against Fulham last time out, forfeiting their hopes of returning in contention for the top four. Languishing ten points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle, the ‘Blues’ face the prospect of drawing a blank in three consecutive league fixtures for the first time since a run of four in 2007. With that in mind, it’s no wonder manager Graham Potter, who has overseen just one win in the last seven matches in all competitions (D3, L3), has come under heavy scrutiny. On a more positive not, the visitors have recorded three consecutive Premier League clean sheets in the build-up to this cross-town trip.

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SCHALKE 04 VS. WOLFSBURG

Schalke 04 and Wolfsburg are set to kick things off in Bundesliga Gameweek 20 with a lopsided contest at the Veltins Arena.

Following a goalless home draw against Cologne, Schalke eked out another scoreless stalemate at Borussia Monchengladbach last time out, avoiding defeat in back-to-back Bundesliga matches for the first time since September. However, winless in all four league outings in 2023 (D2, L2), the ‘Miners’ are experiencing their second-worst points tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign (11) and are unsurprisingly stuck at the bottom. It’s not all lost yet, but Thomas Reis’ men have to launch a substantial winning streak to close an eight-point gap on 15th-placed Bochum. Wolfsburg’s visit to the Veltins Arena cannot inspire much confidence, with Schalke going winless in their last five top-flight H2Hs (D2, L3).

On the other hand, after winning six consecutive Bundesliga games by an aggregate scoreline of 22-1, Wolfsburg have lost their last two league outings, conceding six goals, four of which came in a 4-2 home defeat to Bayern Munich last weekend. All competitions included, Niko Kovac’s men have suffered three straight losses in the lead-up to this fixture, conceding 11 times in the process. However, ‘Die Wolfe’ have fond memories of their recent visits to Gelsenkirchen, having won their last two top-flight away H2Hs via multi-goal margins. Unfortunately, that’s not the whole picture, as those two wins are as many as Wolfsburg had in their 17 previous Bundesliga trips to Schalke.

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Manchester United vs Leeds United

Old Trafford forms the backdrop for the latest chapter of the long-standing rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds United. But this midweek Premier League fixture looks seemingly like a lopsided contest.

Despite Casemiro’s second-half expulsion, Manchester United claimed a 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace last weekend, extending their winning streak at home to 13 consecutive matches in all competitions. While the longest winning run since a club-record 19 home triumphs in 2011 under Sir Alex Ferguson looks promising, Casemiro’s absence is a potentially ominous sign for the hosts. Erik ten Hag’s men have lost three of their four competitive matches without the Brazilian in the line-up this season. However, the ‘Red Devils’ boast a formidable home form against Leeds, having gone unbeaten in their last 17 league H2Hs at Old Trafford (W11, D6). On top of that, only Manchester City (16) have netted more Premier League goals against Leeds than Man Utd (15) since the Whites’ top-flight return in 2020.

In the meantime, visiting Leeds United suffered a morale-crushing 1-0 away loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend, stretching their winless run in the Premier League to seven matches (D3, L4). Stuck level on points with 18th-placed Bournemouth going into this fixture, the ‘Whites’ unsurprisingly decided to cut ties with underperforming boss Jesse Marsch in the wake of another lackluster result at the City Ground. Yet to win a single post-World Cup outing in the Premier League (D3, L3), Leeds will face another uphill task as they’ve picked up just one point in eight encounters against sides starting the matchday in the top three since the beginning of the 2021/22 season (D1, L7). Moreover, the visitors are winless in their last nine midweek match-ups in the Premier League (D3, L6), conceding 30 goals in the process.

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Sandhausen vs Freiburg

Hardtwaldstadion is the venue as Sandhausen and Freiburg go head-to-head in an exciting DFB-Pokal round-of-16 tie.

Sandhausen launched their DFB-Pokal adventure with an overwhelming 4-0 triumph at fourth-tier Schwarz-Weiß Rehden but needed a nerve-shredding penalty shootout to dispatch fellow 2. Bundesliga rivals Karlsruher in the last round after an action-packed 2-2 draw. Despite posting a morale-boosting 2-1 win at Arminia Bielefeld upon the club football resumption in January, the hosts come into this fixture on the back of a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Darmstadt last time out. That hardly bodes well for Sandhausen as they bid to oust Freiburg from the DFB-Pokal for the second time in seven years after beating them on penalties in 2016. Other than that success, they have lost their two remaining encounters against this opposition in the 21st century, going down by multi-goal margins on both occasions.

On the other hand, visiting Freiburg have already gone past two second-tier rivals in this season’s DFB-Pokal, overcoming Kaiserslautern and St. Pauli via an identical 2-1 scoreline after extra-time. Last season’s beaten finalists should be confident about continuing their cup journey despite Christian Streich’s ten-man side slumping to a disastrous 5-1 Bundesliga defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. Indeed, a cup distraction may serve well for Freiburg, considering they’ve failed to impress since the Bundesliga return in 2023, going winless in three of their four league outings since the turn of the year (D1, L2). But with three of those four matches featuring over 3.5 goals, the Hardtwaldstadion crowd may be in for a treat.

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Barcelona vs Sevilla

Spotify Camp Nou forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking La Liga contest between pacesetters Barcelona and surprise relegation contenders Sevilla.

After stringing together three identical 1-0 league wins at the start of the new calendar year, Barcelona made history at Real Betis in midweek La Liga action, as a 2-1 triumph saw them win four consecutive top-flight games via a single-goal margin for the first time in the club’s history. Unbeaten in 95% of their La Liga fixtures in 2022/23 (W16, D2, L1), Xavi Hernandez’s men boast a five-point lead on second-placed Real Madrid and are increasingly heading toward their first league title since 2018/19. Yet to lose at home in La Liga this season (W7, D2), the ‘Blaugrana’ have averaged 2.37 goals per home league game since a scoreless draw against Rayo Vallecano on the opening matchday. Sevilla’s visit will likely help extend that run, with Barcelona going unbeaten in their last 19 top-flight H2Hs at home (W16, D3).

As for Sevilla, a 3-0 home win over dead-last Elche last time out saw them win back-to-back league games for the first time this season, but they’re still only two points clear of the drop zone. Playing on the road will unlikely inspire much confidence, with Sevilla picking up only two wins on their nine league travels (D3, L4) and going winless on the last four in a row (D2, L2). Arresting that run looks like a Herculean task, given that ‘Los Rojiblancos’ have failed to beat Barcelona in their last 14 league H2Hs (D4, L10), including a thumping 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in September.

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Elche vs Villarreal

La Liga top-four hopefuls Villarreal head to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero to meet basement boys Elche in a must-win league contest.

Elche’s abysmal La Liga campaign has continued after the World Cup break, as they’ve gone winless in all five league outings after the restart (D2, L3). As the only side in La Liga yet to pick up a win at the halfway point of the season (D6, L13), it’s no wonder ‘Los Franjiverdes’ already have one foot in the Segunda Division. Stuck a staggering 14 points below 17th-placed Real Valladolid, Pablo Machin’s men can at least hope to salvage some pride by defying an underwhelming nine-game La Liga form against Villarreal (W1, D4, L4). That sounds easier said than done, considering they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 24 top-flight outings since a 1-0 win against Real Betis in April 2022.

Meanwhile, Villarreal suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano earlier this week, surrendering an impressive five-game unbeaten run in La Liga action (W4, D1). Despite that setback, the visitors’ pursuit of a second top-four finish in three seasons is still on as they trail fourth-placed Atletico Madrid by three points at the start of this round. But if the ‘Yellow Submarine’ are to improve their chances in this keenly-contested race, correcting an underwhelming return of one win from their last eight away league matches (D3, L4) is a necessity. Paradoxically, only table-topping Barcelona (6) have conceded fewer goals on their La Liga travels this season than Villarreal (7), highlighting the attack as a weak link. Indeed, Quique Setien’s men have averaged only 0.87 goals per away league game in 2022/23.

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Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen

Mid-table Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen head to the WWK Arena to encounter bottom-half Augsburg in a competitive-looking fixture.

Despite taking a 1-0 at halftime last time out, Augsburg eventually found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-1 scoreline against Freiburg, surrendering points for the third time in their four most recent Bundesliga fixtures (W1, L3). Stuck only two points clear of the dreaded relegation playoff spot, ‘Die Fuggerstädter’ can at least draw some confidence from toppling Borussia Monchengladbach 1-0 in their last home league outing, ending a woeful run of four straight winless league games at WWK Arena (D2, L2). But Enrico Maaßen’s men have registered just two victories in their nine Bundesliga home matches this season (D2, L5), accounting for the lowest home wins tally in the division. Things may go from bad to worse this weekend, as Augsburg have yet to beat Leverkusen at home in the Bundesliga (D4, L7).

In the meantime, Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive run of five consecutive Bundesliga triumphs ended abruptly last weekend at the hands of Borussia Dortmund (0-2). If they’re to close a massive eight-point gap on sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and become a relevant factor in the European race, ‘Die Werkself’ must avenge a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture, their first-ever Bundesliga loss to Augsburg in their 23rd meeting (W15, D7). Yet to lose back-to-back league outings under Xabi Alonso, the visitors will rely on successive away triumphs in the top flight in which they scored 2+ goals. Another success would see them win three consecutive away games in the Bundesliga for the first time since October 2021.

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Chelsea vs Fulham

Stamford Bridge is the venue as Chelsea and Fulham lock horns in an all-London Premier League showdown.

An uneventful 0-0 home draw against fellow mid-table strugglers Liverpool last time out left Chelsea at only two wins from seven competitive matches since the restart (D2, L3). Despite hovering a whopping ten points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United, the ‘Blues’ were proactive in the January transfer window, splashing out as much as £288 million to reinforce their squad. It remains to be seen whether a 13-day gap between fixtures has been enough for manager Graham Potter to put all pieces into place as he aims to post his first-ever personal H2H win over Fulham after four failed attempts (D2, L2). Chelsea’s resilient defensive form at the Bridge could come in handy, with the ‘Pensioners’ starting this round as the only side yet to concede a first-half goal at home in the Premier League this season.

On the other hand, visiting Fulham have experienced an evident dip in form in the lead-up to this trip, going from three consecutive Premier League wins to back-to-back 1-0 defeats. Marco Silva’s men have consequently lost significant ground on the European spots, falling seven points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. But a 2-1 home win in the reverse fixture in mid-January puts the ‘Cottagers’ on the cusp of a historic achievement as they could complete their first league double over Chelsea for the first time in the 38th different campaign in which they’ve met. Scoring the opening goal could be crucial, considering Fulham’s last three Premier League away matches have seen the winner keep a clean sheet (W2, L1).

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Montpellier vs PSG

Underperforming Ligue 1 leaders PSG take a trip to the Stade de la Mosson to meet bottom-half Montpellier in a must-win contest.

Stephy Mavidid’s second-half double catapulted Montpellier to a confidence-boosting 2-0 win at Auxerre last weekend, halting their abysmal three-game losing Ligue 1 streak. But there’s no time for celebrations, as Romain Pitu’s men start this round only five points clear of 17th-placed Strasbourg. Montpellier’s underwhelming five-game winless league run on home turf (D1, L4) cannot inspire much confidence, though, and neither can the fact they’ve lost nine of their last ten top-flight encounters against PSG. After beating Auxerre, ‘La Paillade’ could register back-to-back wins in Ligue 1 for the first time since August 2022, though it’d require them to snap a three-game losing home league run against PSG. Pitu’s side ominously conceded at least three goals in each of those three defeats.

However, PSG’s bid to win a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title has experienced a false start to 2023, with Christophe Galtier’s men picking up just one victory in four league matches since the turn of the year (D1, L2). Left with ten men after Marco Verratti’s second-half expulsion, the Ligue 1 pacesetters could only manage a disheartening 1-1 home draw against Reims last weekend, allowing second-placed Lens to close the gap to a mere three points. It’s not the end of the visitors’ agony, as after losing their opening two top-flight travels in 2023, they risk starting a new calendar year with three consecutive away defeats in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2001.

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Nantes vs Marseille

Ligue 1 title-hopefuls Olympique Marseille travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire to lock horns with mid-table Nantes.

Nantes could only manage a goalless draw at Clermont Foot last weekend, but the hosts’ rock-solid defense now heads into proceedings off the back of five consecutive clean sheets in Ligue 1 (W2, D3). Despite alternating between drawing (3) and winning (2) in their five top-flight matches since the World Cup break, they are the only side in the French top-flight yet to concede after December’s resumption. That bodes well for Nantes’ effort to avoid losing back-to-back home league games against Marseille for the first time since 1993 following a 1-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22. Their penchant for sharing the spoils may also come in handy, with ‘Les Canaris’ drawing six of their last nine league outings (W2, L1).

In the meantime, Marseille fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to hold Monaco to a 1-1 home draw at the weekend, which wasn’t enough to extend their six-game winning Ligue 1 run beforehand. But Igor Tudor’s men are still in contention for what would be their first top-flight title since 2009/10, as they start this round only five points off table-topping PSG. Confidence remains high in the visiting camp after ‘Les Olympiens’ strung together three consecutive away league victories following a two-game winless run on the road (D1, L1). Indeed, they’ve only lost one of their nine Ligue 1 fixtures on hostile turf this term (W6, D2), which strengthens their hopes of beating Nantes in fourth straight Ligue 1 H2H.

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