Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

A closely-contested battle for Premier League survival is heating up as Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers lock horns in a high-stakes clash at the City Ground.

March’s international break couldn’t have time at a more opportune moment for Nottingham Forest, giving them a fortnight to rally their troops following a dreadful six-game winless streak in the Premier League (D2, L4). Having won their last league match in February, Steven Cooper’s side should consider themselves lucky for commencing this round two points clear of the relegation zone. They’ll be looking to flip the script, and summoning the energy and focus that had helped them go unbeaten in their first five top-flight games of 2023 (W3, D2) could be crucial. But Wolves have been a traditionally tricky opponent to the ‘Tricky Trees,’ as witnessed by Forest’s paltry return of one win from their last eight league H2Hs (D2, L5), including a 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture at Molineux.

On the other hand, visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers slumped to a morale-devastating 4-2 home defeat to fellow relegation rivals Leeds United last time out, making it two league losses on the spin. With only three points separating them from 18th-placed West Ham United at the start of this matchday, the ‘Wanderers’ must be desperate to snap a lackluster run of three away league matches without winning (D2, L1). But it looks like Julen Lopetegui’s managerial tenure has drifted off the course, with Wolverhampton losing three of their last four league games (W1), as many defeats as in the Spaniard’s first nine in charge of the West Midlands outfit (W4, D2). On a more positive note, Lopetegui has been responsible for Wolves’ only victories in their last 18 Premier League matches on the road (D5, L11).

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Crystal Palace Vs Leicester City

Selhurst Park is the venue as Crystal Palace and Leicester City go head-to-head in a crunch Premier League bottom-half encounter.

Crystal Palace’s life after Patrick Vieira was off to a disastrous start as leaders Arsenal thumped them 4-1 in an all-London match-up a fortnight ago, likely condemning them to a season-long fight against the drop. As the only side in the Premier League yet to win a top-flight fixture in 2023 (D5, L7), the ‘Eagles’ may have waited too long to sack Vieira. It’s now up to familiar associate Roy Hodgson to pick up the pieces and help Palace get off the mark in the new calendar year. Hodgson’s first assignment will be to halt Palace’s longest winless streak in competitive action since 1981 (13) when they ominously suffered relegation at the end of the season. Leicester’s visit may come in handy, given that the Londoners have only lost one of their last six league H2Hs at Selhurst Park (W2, D3).

It’s not like the visitors are brimming with confidence after a 1-1 away draw against Brentford on the stroke of the international break saw them arrest a woeful five-match losing run in all competitions. Under-fire Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers would be better off leading his charges to a first league triumph since a 4-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in February if he’s to avoid meeting Vieira’s fate. However, it’s easier said than done, especially given a lack of firepower that’s seen the ‘Foxes’ net an alarmingly poor average of 0.4 goals per game across their last five league outings. Unfortunately for Rodgers, his men have been equally unimpressive on the other end of the pitch, as they’ll take the field as the only side in the Premier League yet to keep a clean sheet after the World Cup.

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Manchester City vs Liverpool

Saturday’s Premier League action gets underway with a mouth-watering contest between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.

With eight points deficit and a game in hand on pacesetters Arsenal, every match is a ‘must-win’ for Manchester City from now on if they’re to win a third successive Premier League title for the first time in the club’s history. Pep Guardiola’s men hit a purple patch on the eve of March’s international break, stitching together three league wins by an aggregate score of 7-1, including a keenly-contested 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace last time out. But their title credentials will face a stern test this weekend as Liverpool come to town looking to complete their first top-flight double over Man City for the first time since 2015/16 following a narrow 1-0 triumph in the reverse fixture. That’s unlikely to discourage the ‘Citizens,’ who can fall back on an outrageous 13-game H2H league form on home turf (W7, D5, L1).

Unlike their hosts, Liverpool headed into the international window on the back of a disheartening 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Bournemouth, ending a decent-looking run of five Premier League outings without losing prior (W4, D1). Despite experiencing arguably their worst domestic campaign under Jurgen Klopp, the ‘Reds’ could still waltz away with a coveted top-four finish. Coming into this matchday, they trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by seven points, but with two games in hand, another Champions League qualification is still an attainable target. However, the visitors must improve their wasteful form on the road after picking up a mere 12 points from 13 Premier League away matches this term, compared to 30 at Anfield. Indeed, Klopp’s lads have failed to get on the scoresheet on six league travels in 2022/23, compared to just one scoring blank at home.

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Georgia vs Norway

Adjarabet Arena is the venue as Georgia and Norway go head-to-head in their first Euro qualifying H2H since 1999.

Georgia might have set themselves up perfectly for the commencement of their pursuit of a first-ever European Championship qualification as an independent country by thumping Mongolia 6-1 in a friendly last weekend. Fresh from pulling off their third biggest-margin victory of all time, the ‘Crusaders’ will take the field full of confidence after racking up ten wins in 13 international outings since October 2021 (D2, L1). During that spell, Georgia gained promotion to the second tier of the UEFA Nations League, securing an alternate way to next summer’s tournament. That must be a huge relief for Georgia, considering they open their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against a Norway side they’ve lost to in all three previous meetings, including a pair of defeats in Euro 2000 qualifying.

In the meantime, Norway’s attempt to ensure their first European Championship appearance since 2000 started with a whimper rather than a bang. Without standout striker Erling Haaland, Stale Solbakken’s men suffered a demoralizing 3-0 defeat at Spain on matchday one and are now winless in four of their last five internationals (D1, L3). Haaland’s absence has been a massive problem for the Norwegians, given that they’ve registered just two wins in the nine matches Haaland has missed since 2019 (D3, L4), highlighting the Manchester City ace’s importance to Solbakken’s tactical set-up. On top of that, Norway’s defensive woes have seen them go six consecutive matches without a clean sheet, conceding multiple goals four times in that span.

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Hungary vs Bulgaria

Puskas Arena is the venue as Hungary and Bulgaria go head-to-head in an exciting Euro 2024 qualifier.

Hungary’s 1-0 win over Estonia in a friendly last January was a decent way to open the new calendar year after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. But to reach the third consecutive European Championship finals, the Hungarians must display the same fighting spirit that helped them secure a runner-up finish in last summer’s highly-competitive UEFA Nations League Group A3, alongside Italy, England, and Germany. The ‘Magyars’ thrashed England twice in that period, with those victories forming part of an eye-catching return of eight wins in their last 13 internationals (D2, L3). That’s a promising sign for Hungary as they bid to launch a European Championship qualifying campaign with a win for the first time in ten attempts (D3, L6), last achieving that feat in 1983.

On the other hand, Bulgaria slipped to a gut-wrenching 1-0 home defeat to Montenegro in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier and will be looking to bounce back against the odds. Not only have the Bulgarians drawn a blank in back-to-back internationals ahead of this trip (D1, L1), but the all-time H2H heavily favors Hungary. Indeed, the ‘Lions’ have only won four of their 25 previous encounters against fellow Balkans rivals (D8, L13), including a 3-1 thumping in their most recent clash in October 2020 as part of the UEFA Nations League. Manager Mladen Krstajic could be the catalyst to turn Bulgaria’s H2H fortunes around after going unbeaten in his first four matches in charge of the squad (W3, D1).

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Austria vs Estonia

Austria’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign continues at the TGW Arena as they square off against Baltic outsiders Estonia.

After missing out on the 2022 World Cup, Austria seemingly have no intention of skipping another major tournament, as evidenced by their emphatic 4-1 home win over Azerbaijan to kick things off in Group F. Starting a European Championship qualifying campaign on the front foot for the first time since 2010 was the perfect way for Austria to undo last summer’s underwhelming relegation from the UEFA Nations League A. Ralf Rangnick may have overseen a clear-cut triumph over Azerbaijan last time out, yet a sixth consecutive competitive game without a clean sheet overshadowed an otherwise impressive showing. Estonia’s visit to Linz could be a perfect opportunity for Austria to register a first competitive clean sheet since June 2020, having won both previous H2Hs ‘to nil.’

Meanwhile, Estonia’s pursuit of a first-ever European Championship qualification as an independent nation begins amid the team’s indifferent three-game form in 2023 (W1, D1, L1). Each of those three matches featured under 2.5 goals, suggesting the visitors could avoid another catastrophe in Euro qualifying after finishing the last cycle with a single point and a -24 goal difference (GF:2, GA:26). Interestingly, scoring has not been an issue for Estonia under manager Thomas Haberli, as they netted five goals in six 2022 World Cup qualifiers (W1, D1, L4). That was a noticeable improvement on their paltry scoring record in Euro 2020 qualifiers, though they failed to get on the scoresheet in a 1-0 loss to Hungary in the build-up to this clash.

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Sweden vs Azerbaijan

Sweden’s stuttering Euro 2024 qualifying campaign faces a seemingly manageable task as they welcome Azerbaijan to the Friends Arena.

Reaching the seventh consecutive European Championship finals won’t be a straightforward assignment for Sweden despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return from international retirement. Indeed, Belgium thrashed the Swedes 3-0 in Solna on matchday one, throwing their hopes of another Euro qualification into doubt. Despite refusing to be downbeat, Sweden boss Janne Andersson must avoid losing back-to-back matches for the second time within a year to keep in touch with the top-two places. However, that defeat to Belgium marked only Sweden’s second loss in their last 23 Euro qualifiers on home soil (W16, D5), suggesting the ‘Blagult’ should bounce back against sub-par visitors. Adding to this sentiment, they’ve won both previous competitive H2Hs ‘to nil.’

In the meantime, Azerbaijan’s bid to qualify for a first-ever European Championship started with a whimper rather than a bang, as Austria humbled them 4-1 in their Group F opener. In addition to being knocked down from a handsomely-looking five-game winning streak, the Azeri extended their woeful winless run in away Euro qualifiers to a staggering 35 matches (D4, L31). Indeed, ‘Mili komanda’ lost all four travels in the Euro 2020 qualifying cycle, though to their credit, each of those defeats came by a single-goal margin. Putting up a fight may not suffice as the visitors bid to win their first Euro qualifier since beating Malta in 2015. But scoring in their last four internationals on foreign soil (W3, L1) seems like a perfect source of inspiration.

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Moldova vs Czech Republic

Stadionul Zimbru is the venue as Moldova and the Czech Republic go head-to-head in a lopsided Euro 2024 qualifier.

Moldova and fellow Group E minnows Faroe Islands shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on matchday one, marking the Moldovans’ first home stalemate in European qualifiers since 2007 and derailing their hopes of avoiding a third consecutive bottom-place finish in a Euro qualifying campaign. Inspired by the nation’s longest-ever unbeaten run in competitive football (W3, D1) since the inaugural UEFA Nations League season, Serghei Clescenco’s men will be looking to defy the odds against a more heavily fancied Czech Republic. However, not only have the Moldovans lost both previous Euro qualifying H2Hs via multi-goal margins, but they failed to get on the scoresheet on each occasion. Adding to the home side’s worries, they’ve lost 20 consecutive meetings against current top-100 nations in competitive action.

In stark contrast to Moldova’s perennial continental struggle, the Czech Republic laid the foundation for an eighth straight Euro qualification with a thumping 3-1 home win over neighbors Poland on day one. Despite the Czechs’ fiasco in the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle, their decision to stick with long-serving manager Jaroslav Silhavy could still prove right. But anything other than a routine triumph in Moldova would probably reignite the pressure on Silhavy after his team lost four competitive matches on the trot before the abovementioned humbling of Poland. The visitors can draw further confidence from an impressive ten-game unbeaten run in games they’ve started as pre-match favorites (W7, D3). Yet, seven successive outings in competitive football without a clean sheet should serve as a reminder not to take anything for granted.

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Poland vs Albania

Albania head to the PGE Narodow to take on Poland in their opening Euro 2024 qualifying game.

After four consecutive appearances at the European Championship finals, Poland’s hopes of maintaining that impressive trend took a blow as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in their Group E opener. Having suffered back-to-back two-goal margin losses down the final stretch of their decent 2022 World Cup campaign, the Poles would’ve hoped for a better start to life under new manager Fernando Santos. Left to pick up the pieces after a dismal trip to the neighboring country, the ‘Eagles’ will be looking to reboot against an Albania side they’ve lost to only once in their 13 all-time H2Hs (W9, D3) while winning each of the last seven in a row by an aggregate score of 11-2.

But with five of those seven matches yielding a narrow 1-0 scoreline, visiting Albania will fancy their chances of starting a potentially historic Euro qualifying campaign on the front foot. Ranked 44 places below their hosts (#22) in FIFA rankings, the Albanians (#66) will likely have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to break their horrendous streak against Poland. On a more positive note, Albania claimed a 2-0 win over Armenia in November, ending an embarrassing ten-match losing run (D5, L5), suggesting a second-ever win at the start of a Euro qualification campaign could be on the cards. To quickly douse the optimism, Sylvinho’s men have only won once in their last ten away outings (D3, L6).

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Netherlands vs Gibraltar

The Netherlands will be looking to get their ill-fated Euro 2024 qualifying Group B campaign underway when they take on Gibraltar at De Kuip.

Ronald Koeman’s second spell in charge of the Dutch national team couldn’t have started any worse as 2022 World Cup runners-up France thrashed them 4-0 in their opening Group B outing. Taking the road to encounter continental minnows Gibraltar seems like a prime opportunity for Koeman’s men to return to winning ways after beating this micro country 6-0 and 7-0, respectively, in 2022 World Cup qualifying. Before departing for Qatar to take place in the World Cup, the hosts were flawless at home, going unbeaten in nine consecutive home matches, including friendlies (W7, D2). It’s worth noting that five of those seven victories yielded multi-goal margins, suggesting the Netherlands could bounce back with an emphatic win. Nothing less would do for Koeman, who blasted his players in the post-France interview.

In the meantime, avoiding another humiliation is perhaps the only realistic goal for Gibraltar, who succumbed to a 3-0 home defeat to Greece at the start of their third European Championship qualifying campaign. The visitors have encountered no luck in their Euro qualifiers thus far, losing all 19 by an aggregate score of 90-5. Gibraltar’s abysmal average of 4.73 goals conceded per Euro qualifier should douse any ember of optimism ahead of their trip to face off against the world’s sixth-ranked nation. Adding to this sentiment, ‘Los Llanis’ have lost their last seven away internationals by an aggregate score of 33-3, conceding at least three goals on each occasion. But after completing the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign without scoring on foreign soil (L4), getting on the scoresheet could be a standout achievement for Julio Cesar Ribas’ side.

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Luxembourg vs Portugal

Luxembourg and Portugal are set to trade tackles in a lopsided Euro 2024 qualifying Group J encounter at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Luxembourg defied their status as group outsiders in a morale-boosting 0-0 away draw against Slovakia in their Group J opener, marking a fifth share of the spoils in their last six internationals (W1). Low scoring has been a common theme, though, with three of their four most recent outings under 1.5 total goals. Unfortunately, another stalemate won’t help Luxembourg arrest an underwhelming run of eight successive Euro qualifiers without a victory (D2, L6). Indeed, the qualifying stages are where the ‘Red Lions’ usually collapse, as evidenced by their abysmal return of four wins in their last 59 qualifiers (D5, L50). That includes a disappointing three-match losing home streak in Euro qualification campaigns, a run ominously bookended by a 2-0 defeat to non-other than Portugal.

Unlike their hosts, Portugal enjoyed a stellar start to their Group J journey, dispatching lowly Liechtenstein 4-0 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half brace. After impressing on his touchline debut, new boss Roberto Martinez will be looking to help Portugal overcome an indifferent form across their last four competitive games on hostile turf (W1, D2, L1). Facing Luxembourg could be just what the doctor ordered, with the ‘Selecao’ winning all 12 H2Hs in the 21st century, friendlies included. The two nations most recently met in the 2022 World Cup qualifying, with Portugal winning both legs by an aggregate score of 8-1, including a 3-1 triumph in Luxembourg’s backyard. It’s also worth noting that the visitors have only lost one away Euro qualifier since 2011 (W7, D1).

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Northern Ireland vs Finland

Northern Ireland and Finland will lock horns in a lopsided Euro 2024 qualifier at Windsor Park in Belfast after experiencing contrasting fortunes in their Group H openers.

Northern Ireland didn’t break a sweat in their Group H curtain-raiser, easing past the world’s worst team, San Marino, 2-0 on the road to set the tone for a potentially history-defining qualifying campaign. Not only have ‘Norn Iron’ appeared at the Euro finals once in their history, but they failed to reach the tournament in 2020. In September 2022, Northern Ireland won their most recent home game, defeating Kosovo in the UEFA Nations League. However, they’ve not won back-to-back home matches since registering three in a row between March and September 2019. Michael O’Neil’s side could buck that trend here, considering they’ve not lost any of their last four encounters against Finland (W2, D2) since going down in a friendly in 2003.

Meanwhile, visiting Finland put on a fight on their day-one trip to Denmark but eventually slipped to a 3-1 defeat, extending their underwhelming winless run to five matches (D2, L3). While they must bounce back to rally their chances of securing a second consecutive Euro qualification for the first time in the nation’s history, that’s easier said than done. The visitors have lost their last three away matches in European Championship qualifying. On top of that, after being outclassed by Denmark on matchday one, Finland could lose their first two matches in qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 2010. Considering they’ve lost three of their five away games against Northern Ireland (W1 D1), that seems inevitable.

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Malta vs Italy

Euro 2020 winners Italy make a short journey to the Ta’Qali National Stadium to encounter continental minnows Malta in a must-win Euro 2024 qualifying Group C showdown.

Malta unsurprisingly slipped to a 2-1 loss at North Macedonia in their opening qualifying Group C outing, extending their infamous losing run in Euro qualifiers to ten matches. The hosts will have to defy the odds to make it stop, yet after losing all eight previous competitive meetings with Italy, that’s unlikely to happen. Moreover, they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in their last four H2Hs, which stands in stark contrast to their recent scoring exploits. Indeed, Michele Marcolini’s men have found the net in seven of their last eight internationals, including friendlies, though the only scoring blank in this sequence ominously came at home. However, the ‘Knights of Malta’ have lost their last three home qualifying matches for major tournaments (World Cup & Euros), succumbing to at least a four-goal margin on each occasion.

In the meantime, Italy didn’t only fail to bounce back from a busted attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Cup against England last time out, but they suffered a first home defeat in a Euro qualifier since 1999 (1-2). Despite continuing their qualifying Group C campaign as favorites to seal a top-two finish, Roberto Mancini’s men must be aware of the prospect of suffering back-to-back defeats in Euro qualifiers for the first time since 1983. Bringing a dismal 2-0 loss to Austria in a friendly into the equation, ‘Gli Azzurri’ may now lose three straight internationals for the first time in over a decade. However, unbeaten in their last 20 Euro qualifying games on hostile turf (W16, D4) since 2006, the Italians will be confident of returning to winning ways.

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England vs Ukraine

Wembley Stadium forms the backdrop for an exciting Euro 2024 qualifying Group C encounter between England and Ukraine.

England’s effort to reach the fourth consecutive European Championship finals was off to a flyer. Gareth Southgate’s side avenged a Euro 2020 heartbreak with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Italy on matchday one, boosting the confidence following a gut-wrenching 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit. Worryingly, though, the ‘Three Lions’ are winless in their last three home internationals (D2, L1) and could make it four in a row without a win on home soil for the first time since 2011. What’s even more shocking is that they conceded at least three goals in two of those three matches. But their bid to get back to winning ways should be safe and sound, considering the Euro 2022 runners-up have never lost a game against Ukraine at home (W3, D1).

On the other hand, Ukraine warmed up for this fixture with a 2-0 triumph over Brentford’s second team last time out, with this marking their first competitive encounter since Scotland pipped them to UEFA Nations League promotion in September. Caretaker manager Ruslan Rotan will be desperate to put that disappointment behind them and inspire Ukraine to a much-needed strong start as they also bid to secure their fourth straight Euro qualification. Rotan can draw confidence from his side’s impressive form on the road during the previous Euro qualifying campaign that saw them go unbeaten on all four travels (W2, D2). Home and away, the Ukrainians have suffered only two defeats in their last 19 Euro qualifiers (W13, D4), with both failures coming to Spain during the Euro 2016 qualifying cycle.

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Kazakhstan vs Denmark

Astana Arena is the venue as Kazakhstan and Denmark go head-to-head in a lopsided Euro 2024 qualifying Group H contest.

Kazakhstan’s bid to qualify for the first European Championship finals as an independent nation was off to a sluggish start. Magomed Adiyev’s men lost 2-1 at home to Slovenia in their opening qualifying match despite leading at halftime, making it four defeats in a row. Moreover, they’re now winless in their last ten qualifying games for major international tournaments (D3, L7). Ending that underwhelming run looks unlikely from Kazakhstan’s point of view, given that they’ve lost all four previous meetings with Denmark by an aggregate score of 12-3, all of which came in World Cup qualifying. Adiyev’s next concern is a fragile backline that has failed to keep a clean sheet in seven consecutive outings (W2, D1, L4), conceding at least twice in the last four.

In the meantime, Rasmus Hojlund’s hat-trick in his first-ever start for Denmark inspired ‘Danish Dynamite’ to a 3-1 home win over Finland in their curtain-raising qualifier, helping them put a nightmarish 2022 World Cup campaign behind them. Hojlund’s heroics guided Kasper Hjulmand’s men to a fifth win in their last seven outings in UEFA competitions (L2), which seems like a confidence-boosting run. The visitors need all encouragement they can get following a woeful spell of form on foreign soil, having suffered three defeats on their last five travels. But it’s worth noting that each loss in that run came against sides ranked better than Kazakhstan in the FIFA rankings.

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Scotland vs Cyprus

Hampden Park forms the backdrop as Scotland and Cyprus lock horns in the opening game of their Euro 2024 qualification Group A campaign.

Despite missing out on the 2022 World Cup, Scotland will take the field in high spirits after winning their UEFA Nations League group last summer (W4, D1, L1) to earn promotion to the competition’s top-tier. Though a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly contest last time out arrested Scotland’s decent four-match unbeaten streak (W3, D1), the hosts should still be in a prime position to get their Group A campaign off to a flying start. Indeed, the ‘Tartan Terriers’ have each of their six historical meetings with Cyprus in all competitions, netting multiple goals on each occasion. What’s more, Steve Clarke’s men have lost just one of their last 16 home outings in all competitions (W11, D4), underlining their status as pre-match favorites.

In the meantime, visiting Cyprus blew hot and cold in their final four internationals of 2022 (W2, L2) as they embark on an uphill task to secure European Championship qualification for the first time in the nation’s history. Flying out of the traps is crucial, but after losing all three previous visits to Scotland in qualifiers for major tournaments, that’s easier said than done. Cyprus’ painful memories of their historical visits to British soil stretch beyond the Scottish borders. They’ve lost all nine away qualification meetings with British opposition by an aggregate score of 32-4. On a more positive note, Temur Ketsbaia’s men have emerged victorious in their first match across their past two European Championship qualification campaigns.

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Gibraltar vs Greece

Gibraltar’s third qualification campaign for the European Championship finals kicks off at the Estádio Algarve against Greece.

Paired with some of the continent’s heaviest hitters, including France and the Netherlands, in Group B, FIFA’s 200th-ranked Gibraltar must make the most out of their curtain-raising meeting with Greece to avoid another bottom-place finish in Euro qualifiers. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Gibraltar lost all 18 Euro qualifiers in their two previous qualification campaigns by an aggregate score of 87-5, accounting for a disastrous average of 4.83 goals conceded per game. There’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, though, as Julio Cesar Ribas’ men racked up back-to-back wins over Liechtenstein and Andorra last November to arrest a dismal 23-game winless run in international football (D6, L17). That’s a small consolation for ‘Los Llanis,’ given they’ve yet to pick up a single point in qualification matches for elite tournaments (L38).

Meanwhile, visiting Greece will be looking to play down their underwhelming place in FIFA’s men’s rankings (#51) and secure a first Euro qualification since 2012. However, Greek football has been in steady decline over the past decade, with their last appearance at a major tournament dating back to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Indeed, in addition to failing to qualify for the two most recent Euro finals, the Euro 2004 winners won only five of their 20 fixtures in those two qualification campaigns (D5, L10). Hopes of bouncing back are as low as it gets after Gus Poyet’s men went winless in three consecutive away matches toward the end of the last calendar year (D1, L2), including a lackluster 1-0 defeat at Cyprus on their most recent competitive travel.

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France vs Netherlands

Get ready for a footballing extravaganza at the iconic Stade de France as two of Europe’s heavyweights, France and the Netherlands, lock horns in an opening Euro 2024 qualification Group B encounter.

As France kick off their 2024 Euro qualification campaign, all eyes are on Didier Deschamps, who looks to bounce back from their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. The opening clash between the top two FIFA-ranked sides in Group B marks the beginning of a new era for the French national team. With the recent resignation of the French football federation president, Noel le Graet, and the retirement of several key players, including former captain Hugo Lloris, it’s up to new skipper Kylian Mbappe to lead this new-look French squad. After becoming only the second player in history to net a hat-trick in the World Cup final, Mbappe will be keen to help ‘Les Bleus’ build on an impressive six-game H2H run against the Netherlands (W5, L1).

Meanwhile, like their hosts, the Netherlands’ World Cup journey ended at the hands of Argentina in the quarter-finals, bringing Louis van Gaal’s third managerial tenure at the ‘Oranje’ to a halt. However, facing France in a qualifier brings back unpleasant memories for the Dutch, as they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, in part due to two defeats ‘to nil’ against ‘Les Bleus’ during the qualifying stage. New boss Koeman will be hoping for a different outcome this time around, especially given his team’s impressive recent form, having not suffered a 90-minute defeat since June 2021, with 14 wins and six draws to their name across the last 20 internationals. Moreover, the visitors have won their last three competitive away matches, including two via multi-goal margins.

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Italy vs England

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering Euro 2024 qualifier between Euro 2020 finalists Italy and England.

Despite failing to navigate Italy’s way to the 2022 World Cup, head coach Roberto Mancini has kept hold of his job by the skin of his teeth as he looks to remedy that by helping ‘Gli Azzurri’ qualify for the tournament they won in 2021. Indeed, Italy’s journey to Euro 2024 incidentally kickstarts against an England side they defeated in the Euro 2020 grand final. That success, though it came via penalties, forms part of Italy’s impressive six-game unbeaten streak against the ‘Three Lions’ (W3, D3). It’s also worth noting that they last lost a home match against this opposition in 1961, while they’ve not lost a European Championship qualifying fixture on home turf since 1999! If that’s not enough to boost the hosts’ confidence, they won’t have to look beyond the fact their last defeat in a Euro qualifier anywhere dates back to 2006 (W34, D6).

Shattering Italy’s formidable form in Euro qualifiers will require England to bounce back from a heartbreaking 2022 World Cup quarter-final elimination at the hands of France. Amends for a demoralizing Euro 2020 defeat could prove a powerful incentive for Gareth Southgate, who’s one triumph away from becoming only the third England manager to hit a 50-win landmark. But like his Italy counterpart Mancini, Southgate’s job hangs by a thread after the ‘Three Lions’ suffered a shock UEFA Nations League relegation to League B last summer and failed to make a standout result in Qatar afterward. England’s underwhelming away showings in 2022 saw them go winless on all three continental travels (D1, L2), failing to score in both defeats in that sequence.

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Republic of Ireland vs Latvia

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is the venue as the Republic of Ireland and Latvia go head-to-head in a low-profile international friendly.

After failing to qualify for any major tournament since Euro 2016, the Republic of Ireland will be desperate to turn things around in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers. However, Stephen Kenny’s men have performed in patches lately, alternating between victories (2) and defeats (2) in their last four internationals following a 1-1 away draw against Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022. Despite their ever-growing problems with inconsistent performances, the ‘Boys in Green’ have been regular ‘entertainment providers,’ with three of their last four outings seeing over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet. Another high-scoring contest is well on the cards, considering each of their five historic meetings with Latvia has featured at least three goals, with Ireland coming out on top every time.

In the meantime, Baltic minnows Latvia seek amends for a lackluster four-game form down the final stretch of the last calendar year (D2, L2 – 90mins only) as they hope to mount an unlikely Euro 2024 qualification challenge later this month. Yet to reach the World Cup finals, the Latvians at least qualified for the European Championship in 2004, which to this date remains an unmatched achievement in the country’s football history. Given Latvia’s astonishing seven-match unbeaten run away from home (W4, D3), there’s hope they could turn their fortunes around. Defensively robust, Dainis Kazakevics’ men have kept an eye-catching four clean shetes on their last seven international travels, conceding precisely once on two the remaining three. That newly-discovered defensive resilience could help the visitors avoid conceding 2+ goals against Ireland for the first time.

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Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Emirates Stadium is the venue as Arsenal and Crystal Palace face off against each other in an all-London Premier League showdown.

Back to domestic proceedings following a morale-crushing Europa League elimination to Sporting Lisbon on penalties, Arsenal will be keen to strengthen their pursuit of a first Premier League title in two decades. With Manchester City engaged in FA Cup duties, Mikel Arteta’s side could go eight points clear at the summit if they can extend an impressive five-game winless league streak. Unlike some previous years, the ‘Gunners’ have been ruthless in the Premier League London derbies this season, winning eight out of nine such match-ups (D1) and could become the first team in the competition’s history to win nine in a single campaign. But there’s a reason for a cautious approach, considering they’ve gone winless in their last four home league meetings with Palace (D3, L1).

However, Crystal Palace slumped to a 2-0 defeat in a reverse fixture at Selhurst Park and could lose both seasonal clashes against Arsenal in the Premier League for the first time since 2017/18. The ‘Eagles’ parted company with underperforming manager Patrick Vieira in the lead-up to this clash following a dreadful 11-game winless league run (D5, L6). As the only Premier League side yet to win a single top-flight game in 2023, Palace may consider themselves lucky for starting this round three points clear of the relegation zone. But after losing four of their last five away league matches (D1), including three without a replay, the visitors’ freefall seems likely to continue this weekend. Adding to this sentiment, they’ve managed just one win in eight Premier League London derbies this season (D2, L5).

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Chelsea vs Everton

Stamford Bridge forms the backdrop for a tasty-looking Premier League clash between Chelsea and Everton.

Chelsea’s mini-revival, consisting of back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since mid-October and Champions League quarter-final qualification, has brought the optimism back to the Bridge faithful’s faces. After netting under 1.5 goals in their first ten league matches in 2023, Graham Potter’s side thumped Leicester City 3-1 last weekend, scoring as many goals in that outing as they had in their seven previous league games combined. Everton’s visit to Stamford Bridge bodes well for Chelsea’s bid to stay on the upward trajectory, considering they’ve not lost any of their last 27 Premier League home H2Hs (W15, D12) since going down in 1994. Emulating a 1-0 win from the reverse fixture would see the ‘Pensioners’ record three consecutive home clean sheets in all competitions for the first time since September 2021.

As for Everton, last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Brentford may have helped them snap a three-game winless Premier League run (D1, L2), but they still begin this round only one point clear of the relegation zone. Since Sean Dyche’s appointment earlier this year, only five teams have picked up more Premier League points than Everton (10 – W3, D1, L3), but it has nothing to do with their wasteful away form. Indeed, before holding Nottingham Forest to a 2-2 draw on their last travel, the ‘Toffees’ had lost three consecutive away league matches by 2+ goals ‘to nil’ and are still waiting for their first top-flight triumph on the road since October (D3, L6). By extension, they’ve won just two of their last 30 Premier League games on hostile turf (D8, L20), underlining their status as pre-match outsiders.

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Manchester City vs Burnley

Manchester City’s pursuit of their second FA Cup trophy under Pep Guardiola continues this weekend as they welcome second-tier Burnley to the Etihad Stadium for an exciting quarter-final tie.

Manchester City have been relentless in the FA Cup so far, winning all three opening ties without a replay, including an overwhelming 3-0 triumph at Burnley’s fellow Championship rivals Bristol City last time out. Guardiola’s men have gone from strength to strength in the warm-up for this match, winning five straight games in all competitions, including a scintillating 7-0 romping of RB Leipzig in midweek Champions League action. The ‘Citizens’ are unbeaten in their last nine competitive outings (W7, D2) since a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in early February, which bodes well for their effort to maintain a four-game winning FA Cup streak against Burnley. On top of that, Man City have won their last ten home fixtures in the FA Cup by an aggregate score of 41-4.

In the meantime, visiting Burnely dispatched Premier League strugglers Bournemouth in the maiden FA Cup round with an impressive 4-2 away win before overcoming lower-league outfits Ipswich Town and Fleetwood Town in the last two rounds. Having reached the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time since 2002/03, the ‘Clarets’ are looking to do one better and move into their first semi-finals since 1973/74. But to achieve that goal, Burnley will have to win an away game against Man City for the first time since 1973, going winless on their last 16 competitive visits to the ‘Citizens’ (D4, L12). But Vincent Kompany’s men won’t be short of confidence as they head into proceedings unbeaten in all 16 matches across all competitions in 2023 (W12, D4).

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Brentford vs Leicester City

Relegation-battling Leeds United head to Molineux Stadium to take on potential relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers in a high-stakes Premier League fixture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ disappointing Premier League campaign continued last weekend with a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United as they start this round only three points clear of the relegation zone. Manager Julen Lopetegui will undoubtedly be relieved to return to Molineux, given that Wolves have won three of their last four home league matches ‘to nil’ (L1). However, the ‘Wanderers’ have gone winless in ten consecutive top-flight home games in which they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet (D2, L8). And while Lopetegui boasts a 100% win ratio in two managerial encounters against his Leeds counterpart Javi Garcia, his men have lost their last two meetings with the ‘Whites’ in the Premier League after going unbeaten in six straight league H2Hs beforehand (W5, D1).

Meanwhile, Leeds United and Brighton shared the spoils in a topsy-turvy 2-2 draw last weekend, leaving the ‘Whites’ one point adrift of Premier League safety. Commencing this round in the drop one may not necessarily be a bad omen for Leeds, considering they’ve won each of their last three league games when starting the matchday in the bottom three. The visitors have acquired four points from three league matches under newly-appointed Garcia (W1, D1, L1), as many as in the previous ten under sacked manager Jesse Marsch (D4, L6). However, the new boss must find a recipe to galvanize Leeds’ form on the road, with no side picking up fewer away wins (1) and away points (6) in the Premier League this term than the ‘Whites.’ Indeed, they’re winless on their last seven league travels (D2, L5).

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Brentford vs Leicester City

Gtech Community Stadium plays host to an intriguing Premier League contest between Brentford and Leicester City.

Brentford immediately bounced back from an underwhelming 1-0 defeat away to Everton, steamrolling to a 2-0 victory at Southampton in midweek Premier League action. Back to the Gtech Community Stadium after back-to-back road trips, the ‘Bees’ are looking to post their first-ever Premier League win over Leicester after three straight failed attempts (D1, L2), including an action-packed 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in August. Stretching beyond the Premier League boarders, they’re winless in their last seven league H2Hs (D2, L5). However, Thomas Frank’s men have been nothing short of impressive at home this season, losing just one of their 13 Premier League home matches (W7, D5) and are unbeaten in the last nine in a row (W5, D4) since going down to pacesetters Arsenal in September.

In stark contrast to Brentford’s outstanding season, visiting Leicester City cannot catch a break as they come into this round on the back of five consecutive losses in all competitions, including a 3-1 league defeat to Chelsea last time out. Having lost four successive Premier League matches in the build-up to this trip, the ‘Foxes’ should consider themselves lucky for starting this round outside the bottom three, albeit they’re level on points with 18th-placed Bournemouth. Despite beating West Ham United 2-0 in their last Premier League game in London, the visitors haven’t won back-to-back top-flight games in the capital since December 2020. Halting that streak will require Leicester to defy a ponderous five-game away league form (W1, L4).

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Aston Villa vs Bournemouth

Aston Villa and Bournemouth are set to trade tackles at Villa Park in an exciting Premier League showdown.

Aston Villa’s two-game winning streak in the Premier League ended last weekend as they spurned an early lead in a 1-1 away draw at West Ham United. Back to Villa Park, where they’ve experienced mixed fortunes in their last four league outings (W2, L2), the ‘Lions’ are looking to arrest a dreadful four-match losing H2H run against Bournemouth in the Premier League. Worryingly for manager Unai Emery, his charges have picked up just two wins in their last ten top-flight encounters against promoted sides (D3, L5) and are winless in all three such match-ups this season (D1, L2). However, there’s no reason for panic in the Villa camp, considering they’ve scored in all 13 league fixtures under Emery, marking the second-best scoring start for a new manager in Premier League history.

In the meantime, visiting Bournemouth stunned Liverpool 1-0 last weekend, halting an underwhelming run of back-to-back league defeats, but they still commence this round in the drop zone. Level on points with 16th-placed Leicester City, the ‘Cherries’ could move to safety at the end of this round, though it would likely require them to defy a woeful record of seven defeats in their last eight Premier League away matches (W1). Conceding first would probably throw such hopes under the bus, with Gary O’Neil’s men suffering eight losses on nine league travels after falling behind this season (W1). But before jumping the gun, it’s worth noting that Bournemouth have netted precisely twice in their last four Premier League meetings with Villa.

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Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United

Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United are set to lock horns at the City Ground in a lopsided Premier League contest.

Nottingham Forest’s tormenting battle for Premier League survival took another blow last weekend as a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur condemned Steve Cooper’s side to a fifth consecutive league game without winning (D2, L3). Left to pick up the slacks following another uneventful attacking showing, the ‘Tricky Trees’ start this round only two points clear of 18th-placed Bournemouth. Playing on Friday (European time) doesn’t suit Forest, as witnessed by their abysmal run of one win from their last 11 such league fixtures (D6, L4). On a more positive note, they’ve won back-to-back home league meetings with Newcastle, which may inspire their bid to beat the ‘Magpies’ in the Premier League for the first time in history, having gone winless in all nine previous attempts (D3, L6).

In the meantime, visiting Newcastle United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-1 home triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, halting a disappointing run of five winless league games (D3, L2). Despite starting this matchday four points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham, the ‘Magpies’ can draw confidence from boasting two games in hand, leaving a long-awaited Champions League qualification up for grabs. However, Eddie Howe’s men must improve their embarrassing away form after going winless on their last four Premier League travels (D3, L1). A lack of firepower saw Newcastle fail to get on the scoresheet three times during that four-game sequence, highlighting a poor-performing frontline as the team’s weak link.

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Freiburg vs Juventus

A 1-0 first-leg loss in Turin puts Freiburg in a precarious situation heading into the return leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at the Europa-Park Stadion.

Freiburg should consider themselves lucky for going down to a single-goal margin at the Allianz Stadium, considering they faced 20 shots on goal while producing only one themselves. But they did well to recover last weekend, eking out a 2-1 home triumph over TSG Hoffenheim to stay relevant in the Bundesliga top-four race. Interestingly, the Germans have never lost the second leg of a major European knockout tie (W2, D2), turning around a 1-0 first-leg deficit once before! There’s more reason for optimism in Christian Streich’s camp. The Europa-Park Stadion has been a fortress this season, with Freiburg going unbeaten in 15 consecutive home games in all competitions (W11, D4) since a 3-1 league loss to Borussia Dortmund in August.

As for Juventus, the first-leg success in Italy should grant them safe passage into the quarter-finals, considering they’ve progressed from each of their last nine European knockout ties when winning the first leg. Massimiliano Allegri’s side rediscovered their scoring touch at the weekend, demolishing Serie A whipping boys Sampdoria 4-2 at home, making it five wins in their last six competitive outings (L1). The upcoming trip to Freiburg will only add to Juventus’ growing confidence, as they’ve suffered just one defeat in their nine previous European matches against German clubs (W5, D3), winning the last three in a row without conceding. Scoring first could prove crucial, given that Juve’s four most recent competitive away games have been won/lost ‘to nil’ (W3, L1).

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Southampton vs Brentford

St Mary’s Stadium is the venue as Southampton and Brentford face each other in a high-stakes Premier League contest.

Southampton’s survival battle picks up momentum under new manager Ruben Selles, with last weekend’s heroic 0-0 away draw at Manchester United marking their third clean sheet in four Premier League matches under the Spaniard’s tutelage (W2, D1, L1). Entertainment has been relatively sparse, though, as each of those four games featured under 1.5 total goals, highlighting the potential for another low-scoring contest. The ‘Saints’ wouldn’t mind that scenario if it helps them avenge a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. Despite lamenting fewer home points (9) and triumphs (2) than any other Premier League side this term, Southampton could win back-to-back top-flight outings at St Mary’s for the first time since February 2022 after dispatching Leicester City 1-0 last time out.

As for Brentford, last weekend’s gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat at relegation-battling Everton ended their impressive 12-game unbeaten run in the Premier League (W6, D6), derailing their chances of a first-ever European qualification. Desperate to bounce back, the ‘Bees’ come into proceedings seeking their maiden midweek Premier League victory after seven failed attempts (D2, L5). But after going winless in their last three away league matches (D2, L1) and failing to score in two, Thomas Frank’s men have to rally behind their leader if they’re to avenge a horrendous 4-1 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22. Conceding the opening goal could throw those hopes under the bus, considering they’ve gone winless in all eight Premier League away games after falling behind this term (D4, L4).

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Porto vs Inter Milan

Porto will look to overhaul a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they meet Inter Milan in the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Estadio do Dragao.

Despite losing three of their five Champions League clashes against Inter, Porto have gone unbeaten in both home H2Hs (W1, D1), suggesting they could turn this tie on its head. Adding to this sentiment, Sergio Conceicao’s men have racked up a jaw-dropping nine wins in their last ten home outings in all competitions (W1), seven of which yielded multi-goal margins. If that’s not enough to settle the nerves in the ‘Dragons’ camp, they’ve won their last four home meetings with Italian sides in European football. That bodes well as they bid to overcome a disappointing record of six eliminations from seven Champions League two-legged ties after losing the first leg. But they must be all too aware of an underwhelming run of four defeats across six home matches in the Champions League knockout stages.

On the other hand, Inter Milan’s effort to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010/11 received a boost in the first leg, yet they’ve since flattered to deceive. A 2-0 home Serie A win over Lecce sandwiched brace of single-goal margin defeats to sub-par Spezia and Bologna cannot inspire much confidence in the visiting camp. However, ‘I Nerazzurri’ will fall back on the fact they’ve progressed from four out of five Champions League two-legged ties after winning the first leg. Moreover, Simone Inzaghi’s men have been victorious in four of their last seven away games in the Champions League knockout stages (L3), having gone winless in their first ten beforehand. Yet Inter’s recent travel sickness has seen them fail to win any of their last three competitive away matches (D1, L2).+

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Manchester City vs RB Leipzig

A place in the Champions League quarter-finals is up for grabs as Manchester City and RB Leipzig go head-to-head in the return leg of their evenly-poised last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City wasted a 1-0 halftime lead in a 1-1 first-leg draw in Germany, compromising their chances of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the sixth season on the trot. But Pep Guardiola’s men have since gone into overdrive, winning four consecutive matches in domestic competitions, including the last three ‘to nil.’ That sounds promising as they bid to defy an underwhelming four-game European form against German opponents (W1, D2, L1). Adding to the home side’s confidence, they’ve racked up an eye-catching 21 wins across their last 23 Champions League matches at the Etihad (D2) and could equal the longest unbeaten home run in Europe’s elite competition featuring the Premier League clubs. That’s almost inevitable, as they’ve won seven of their last eight home outings in the Champions League knockout stages.

On the other hand, RB Leipzig have blown hot and cold in three Bundesliga games since the first-leg draw (W2, L1), with each match containing over 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest. Yet ‘Die Roten Bullen’ wouldn’t mind a change in the script if that allows them to maintain a five-match unbeaten streak in the Champions League (W4, D1) and advance into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2019/20. That seems a bit far-fetched, though, as Marco Rose’s men have lost their last three Champions League visits to England, conceding a staggering 13 goals in the process, at an average of 4.3 per game. But on the bright side, the Germans have only lost once in their last ten competitive away fixtures (W6, D3), conceding under 1.5 goals on seven occasions.

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AC Milan vs Salernitana

Serie A top-four hopefuls AC Milan welcome bottom-half strugglers Salernitana to the Stadio San Siro for a high-stakes league showdown.

AC Milan stood their ground to hold Tottenham Hotspur to a goalless draw in London in midweek Champions League action, defending a slender first-leg lead to reach the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in over a decade. So the spirits must be high in the home camp, even though last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina knocked them down from a three-match winning streak in Serie A. Embroiled in an evenly-contested top-four race, ‘I Rossoneri’ started this round level on points with second-placed Inter Milan, therefore, there’s little room for mistakes. Salernitana could fall perfect victim to Milan’s desperate need for points, considering the reigning Italian champions have won five of their seven Serie A H2Hs (D1, L1). Adding to Stefano Pioli’s confidence, his men have gone unbeaten in four of their five league encounters against side commencing the round in the bottom five this term (W3, D1).

On the other hand, Salernitana’s woeful run of two victories from their last 13 Serie A fixtures (D3, L8) leaves them exposed to the prospect of being sucked into the relegation scrap as they head into proceedings only six points clear of the drop zone. But after losing three consecutive league matches without scoring, Paulo Sousa’s men have gone unbeaten in the last two (W2, D1), keeping a clean sheet on each occasion. Another shutout would see them go three consecutive top-flight games without conceding, though it looks seemingly unlikely. Indeed, the visitors have let in at least two goals in their last five Serie A meetings with Milan. On the upside, though, after succumbing to a humiliating 8-2 defeat at Atalanta in mid-January, they’ve conceded just twice on their subsequent three league travels.

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Manchester United vs Southampton

Premier League basement boys Southampton head to Old Trafford to take on top-four hopefuls Manchester United in a lopsided contest.

Manchester United picked themselves up from a humiliating 7-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool last weekend by ousting Real Betis 3-1 at home in midweek Europa League action. Despite falling down from a four-game undefeated run in the Premier League (W3, D1), Erik ten Hag’s men must be confident of returning to winning ways at Old Trafford, where they’ve gone unbeaten in their last 20 competitive outings (W18, D2). Adding to this sentiment, the ‘Red Devils’ have had Southampton’s number of late, holding the ‘Saints’ winless in 14 consecutive H2Hs in all competitions (W7, D7) since a 1-0 home loss in 2016. They’re likely to paint the continuation of that impressive streak with flying colors after netting 2+ goals in all but two of their matches in 2023 (W14, D3, L2).

In the meantime, visiting Southampton may have found the formula to secure Premier League survival under new boss Ruben Selles, who has led them to two victories in three top-flight games at the helm (L1). But Selles has been an ‘entertainment killer,’ as each of those three matches (won/lost) featured an identical 1-0 scoreline, highlighting the importance of breaking the deadlock. That may not necessarily be the case at Old Trafford, considering the ‘Saints’ have lost more points from winning positions (36) against Man Utd than any other side in Premier League history. But it’s not all lost for the visitors yet, as they come into proceedings as the only side in the league to have won over 50% of their Premier League points on the road this season (12/21).

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Fulham vs Arsenal

Craven Cottage is the venue as Fulham and Arsenal go head-to-head in an all-London Premier League match-up.

Fulham’s bid to secure a European finish for the first time in over a decade took a hit last weekend as a 3-2 defeat at cross-town rivals Brentford knocked them down from a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League (W3, D2), leaving the ‘Cottagers’ four points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool at the start of this round. Despite their overwhelming desire to bounce back, Marco Silva’s men are all too aware of their embarrassing 18-game form against sides commencing a Premier League matchday at the top of the table (W2, L16), including nine defeats in a row. But they’ve only lost three of their 13 home league matches this season (W6, D4), although their three-game Premier League form at Craven Cottage doesn’t look promising (W1, D1, L1).

On the other hand, Premier League pacesetters Arsenal have gone into overdrive since a 3-1 home loss to Manchester City in mid-February, racking up a four-match winning league streak, bookended by a sensational come-from-behind 3-2 home win over Bournemouth last weekend. Mikel Arteta’s men translated their free-scoring domestic form to the European stage, as they held Sporting Lisbon to an action-packed 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie in midweek, meaning they’ve scored 2+ goals in four of their last five games. Conceding first should not derail Arsenal’s hopes of extending their nine-game unbeaten Premier League run against Fulham (W7, D2), as they’ve won a league-high five matches from losing positions this season.

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Bayern Munich vs Augsburg

Allianz Arena is the venue as Bayern Munich and Augsburg face each other in what promises to be a one-sided Bundesliga affair.

Back to the Bundesliga after dispatching Ligue 1 holders PSG from the Champions League 3-0 on aggregate, perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th consecutive league title. The ‘Bavarians’ have won their last two league fixtures but are still level on points with second-placed Borussia Dortmund ahead of Augsburg’s visit to town. Despite the odds, this might not be a walk in the park for Bayern, considering they’ve lost two of their three Bundesliga H2Hs under Julian Nagelsmann (W1), having lost as many in their first 20 top-flight encounters against them. But they’ve been ruthless against Augsburg at home, winning nine of their 11 league clashes against them at the Allianz Arena (D1, L1), including the last three in a row.

Meanwhile, visiting Augsburg go into proceedings seeking their first Bundesliga points on the road in 2023 after losing their first four away league games this calendar year. The visitors’ fragile defense conceded at least three goals in three of those four defeats, which could prove a problem against the league’s most prolific attack. Speaking of Augsburg’s defensive woes, they’ve only kept one clean sheet across 11 Bundesliga travels this term, conceding 2+ goals eight times. The ‘Fuggerstädter’ will be desperate to fly out of the traps, knowing they’ve lost six out of seven away league matches in which they’ve shipped the opening goal this term (D1). But after drawing a blank in four of their last six top-flight H2Hs away to Bayern, that seems highly unlikely.

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Spezia vs Inter Milan

Serie A runners-up Inter Milan take a routinely-looking trip to the Stadio Alberto Picco to encounter relegation-battling Spezia.

Last weekend’s underwhelming 0-0 draw against direct relegation rivals Hellas Verona left Spezia flirting with the drop zone, as they start this round only three points clear of 18th-placed Verona. Newly-appointed boss Leonardo Semplici has drawn both Serie A games in charge of the ‘Aquilotti,’ taking Spezia’s woeful winless league run to seven matches (D3, L4). Back to Alberto Picco, where they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in their last five top-flight outings (D2, L3), Semplici’s men are unlikely to defy their disastrous five-game H2H record against Inter in Serie A (D1, L4). Indeed, the hosts are winless in their last nine home league games (D5, L4), suggesting the visiting side could have a walk in the park in Liguria.

In the meantime, Inter Milan bounced back from a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Bologna with a comfortable 2-0 home triumph over Lecce last time out, moving three points clear of fifth-placed AC Milan. However, Simone Inzaghi’s men have faltered on their recent league travels, picking up just one win in their last four away matches (D2, L1). Adding to their ongoing travel sickness, ‘I Nerazzurri’ have racked up just one win on their six most recent Serie A visits to Liguria (D4, L1). What’s even more concerning for the ambitious visitors is that they’ve failed to score in their last two Serie A away fixtures and could make it three scoring blanks in a row for the first time since 2013.

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Lille vs Lyon

Lille’s 200th Ligue 1 match at their famous Stade Pierre-Mauroy pits them against fierce rivals Lyon.

Lille’s rise up the Ligue 1 ladder took a minor blow last weekend as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Lens, bookending a patchy three-game league form (W1, D1, L1). However, LOSC’s pursuit of another European finish is still alive and kicking, with only one point separating them from the top five ahead of this round. Back to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, where they’ve not lost since August (W9, D3), ‘Les Dogues’ will be confident about extending an eye-catching 15-game home form against visiting Lyon (W7, D7, L1). Connoisseurs of action-packed football may want to look elsewhere for entertainment, considering Lille’s last three home league meetings with this opposition have featured under 2.5 goals (W1, D2).

On the other hand, Lyon’s frustrating mid-table struggle continued with a tepid 0-0 home draw against Lorient last time out, leaving them seven points adrift of fifth-placed Rennes at the start of this round. Worryingly for head coach Laurent Blanc, his men have lost all four previous away league encounters against sides entering the given matchday in the top seven, each time succumbing to a single-goal margin loss. On a more positive note, ‘Les Gones’ ran out 1-0 victors in the reverse fixture, snapping an abysmal streak of 11 consecutive top-flight H2Hs without winning (D5, L6). Lyon’s recent away form is another reason for optimism because they’ve been victorious on three of their last four league travels (L1), beating their hosts on the day by a two-goal margin on each occasion.

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AEK Larnaca vs West Ham United

AEK Arena is the venue as AEK Larnaca and West Ham United go head-to-head in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie.

A 1-0 aggregate success over Ukrainian side Dnipro-1 in the Europa Conference League knockout playoffs helped AEK Larnaca make history by reaching a round of 16 of a major European competition for the first time. Excluding qualifiers, the Cypriot giants have assembled a club-record four-match undefeated run in European football (W1, D3), bolstering their hopes of upsetting the odds in their first-ever continental tie versus English opposition. Moreover, they’ve kept a clean sheet in their last two Europa Conference League outings and could make it three shutouts in a row for the first time in their European history. Indeed, they’ve been rock-solid on home turf lately, stringing together 12 competitive home matches without losing (W10, D2).

Despite being stuck only one point clear of the Premier League drop zone following last weekend’s dreadful 4-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United could still secure European football next season through the Europa Conference League. David Moyes’ men have qualified for the round of 16 as the only side in the competition to have won all six group fixtures, doing so by an aggregate score of 13-4. However, West Ham’s travels sickness that’s seen them go winless on their last four road trips (D1, L3) threatens to curtail their sublime continental form. To stop that from happening, the ‘Irons’ will rely on their decent record of only two defeats in their last 11 away European matches (W7, D2).

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