Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City

A tasty-looking midweek Premier League clash pits Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City against each other at the Amex Stadium.

Inspired by Evan Ferguson’s double, Brighton sealed a 3-1 home win over southern rivals Southampton at the weekend to cement a first-ever European qualification with two games to spare. One point in the last two rounds will suffice to catapult the ‘Seagulls’ into next season’s Europa League, yet a patchy five-game league form (W3, L2) suggests they’ll likely have to wait until the final weekend. Adding to this sentiment, Roberto De Zerbi’s men have suffered ten defeats in their 11 previous Premier League meetings with Man City (W1), losing the last three on the bounce via multi-goal margins. Furthermore, Brighton have emerged victorious in just one of their seven top-flight encounters against sides starting the round at the top of the table (L6). But if you’re a fan of omens, that solitary success came at the expense of non-other than City.

Even before Pep Guardiola’s second-string line-up edged out a downtrodden Chelsea side 1-0 last weekend, Man City had a third consecutive Premier League title in the bag, courtesy of Arsenal’s defeat at Nottingham Forest. But it takes nothing away from the visitors’ inexorable march toward a fifth league title in six years, as they’ve won 12 successive top-flight fixtures to get there. Playing on Wednesday (European time) invokes happy memories, considering the ‘Citizens’ have won their last 25 Premier League outings on this day by an outrageous aggregate scoreline of 68-11. Adding to their impressive scoring tally in Wednesday’s’ Premier League fixtures looks like a near-certainty here, with Man City averaging a whopping three goals per game in their 11 top-flight meetings with Brighton.

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Real Sociedad vs Almeria

Real Sociedad and Almeria are set to face off against each other in contrasting La Liga circumstances at the Reale Arena.

Real Sociedad’s inexorable march toward a first Champions League qualification since 2013/14 took a massive stride at the weekend as they edged out newly-crowned champions Barcelona 2-1 to extend their unbeaten league streak to six matches (W4, D2). After becoming the first Spanish side to triumph at Camp Nou this season, ‘La Real’ come into midweek proceedings harboring a five-point lead on fifth-placed Villarreal. Victory over sub-par Almeria would likely seal the deal for Imanol Alguacil’s men, who are unbeaten in their last seven home league outings (W4, D3) since a 1-0 defeat to Valladolid in early February. Despite netting by far the fewest goals among sides starting this matchday in the top four (47), Sociedad can draw confidence from scoring precisely twice in their last five home games.

In the meantime, Almeria’s problems with inconsistent performances could still come back to haunt them after their last five La Liga matches alternated between victories (3) and defeats (2). The visitors boast a four-point lead on 18th-placed Valladolid at the start of this round, meaning they’re not off the hook yet, especially considering their penchants for dropping points away from home. Alongside dead-last Elche, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ are the joint-poorest La Liga travelers this season, having amassed a mere seven points across their 17 league trips thus far (W1, D4, L12). And with that solitary win coming at fellow relegation rivals Getafe, Almeria’s prospects of defying the odds in San Sebastian look rather far-fetched. Adding to this sentiment, since defeating Getafe in late April, Rubi’s men have lost back-to-back away matches by an aggregate score of 7-3.

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Celta Vigo vs Barcelona

Girona’s pursuit of a first-ever European qualification continues at the Estadio de Balaidos as they meet bottom-half Celta Vigo in a must-win clash.

An underwhelming four-game losing league run, bookended by a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, has left Celta Vigo’s survival hopes in shatters, leaving them only four points clear of the relegation zone, with three games left. Despite Carlos Carvalhal’s effort to settle the nerves in his ranks in the build-up to this fixture, anything other than victory could throw Celta’s season into further disarray. However, his men have blown hot and cold in their last four league outings on home turf (W1, D1, L2), with 23 of their 39 La Liga points this season coming at Balaidos. Despite performing far better at home, only Valladolid and Elche lament worse points tally on their playing ground than Celta, casting doubt on their bid to complete a league double over Girona after a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.

In the meantime, Girona slumped to a late 2-1 home defeat to Villarreal last weekend, losing a potentially vital ground on the European qualification spots. With three rounds left to go, ‘Los Blanquivermells’ trail seventh-placed Bilbao by two points, highlighting the significance of defying a dismal six-game form on hostile turf (W1, D3, L2). But lower division included, the visitors are winless in their last three away league meetings with Celta (D1, L2), adding to their ever-growing problems on the road. But after drawing a blank on back-to-back La Liga travels (D1, L1), Michel’s men have netted precisely two goals in their last two away outings (W1, D1), something they could use to outmaneuver a misfiring Celta side.

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Newcastle United vs Leicester City

The stakes could not be higher for Newcastle United and Leicester City as the two sides lock horns in a season-defining Premier League fixture at St James’ Park.

Following more than a decade of longing, Newcastle brought European football back to Tyneside with a 4-1 demolition of Brighton last time out, yet landing a first Champions League qualification in over 20 years remains the club’s ultimate goal. Despite blowing hot and cold across their last three Premier League matches (W1, D1, L1), the ‘Magpies’ come into the penultimate round in the driver’s seat to ensure a top-four finish, boasting a three-point lead on fifth-placed Liverpool. Completing a first league double over Leicester since 1994/95 following a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture would seal the deal for Eddie Howe’s high-flyers. Adding to the St James’ Park faithful’s optimism, the hosts have on their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (L2).

In stark contrast to Newcastle’s eye-catching season, Leicester City are on the verge of being relegated to the Championship only seven years after lifting the Premier League crown against the odds. Since a come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Wolverhampton in April, Dean Smith’s men have won none of their last four league matches (D2, L2), conceding an alarming average of 2.75 goals per game in the process. If that’s not enough to dampen the spirits in the visiting camp, the ‘Foxes’ haven’t won their final away league game in any of the last eight seasons (D3, L5), casting further doubt on their bid to defy an ominously-looking four-game away H2H form against Newcastle in the Premier League (W1, L3). Furthermore, the visitors have conceded a whopping 41 goals on their league travels this season, their most in a season since letting 44 in the 2010/11 Championship campaign.

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West Ham United vs Leeds United

West Ham United and Leeds United are set to square off in a bottom-half Premier League contest at the London Stadium.

Fresh from securing a first European final in the 21st century, courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League semi-finals, West Ham will be out to bounce back from last weekend’s disheartening 2-0 defeat at Brentford. Despite their impressive continental form, David Moyes’ men have endured a woeful domestic campaign, best illustrated by a horrendous run of four defeats from their last five Premier League matches (W1). However, their only win in that sequence was in their most recent home outing – 1-0 against Manchester United – so they could register back-to-back top-flight triumphs at the London Stadium for the first time since October. Adding to their confidence, the ‘Hammers’ have won three of their last five Premier League meetings with Leeds (D1, L1).

Leeds United’s only win in that five-game run came in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22 (3-2), meaning they could beat West Ham away from home in consecutive top-flight seasons for the first time since 1997. But that’s easier said than done, as Sam Allardyce’s men come into proceedings winless in their last seven Premier League outings (D2, L5), six of which saw them concede at least two goals. Moreover, since an overwhelming 4-2 win at Wolverhampton in mid-March, the ‘Whites’ have lost their last four away league games by an aggregate score of 12-4, conceding precisely four times twice in this sequence. If that’s not discouraging enough, the visitors have lost all six Premier League visits to London this season!

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Bournemouth vs Manchester United

Manchester United’s hopes of returning to the Champions League after a season-long absence are on the line as they meet bottom-half Premier League outfit Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Despite suffering back-to-back two-goal margin defeats in the build-up to this fixture, Bournemouth will take the field without any pressure after securing Premier League survival with two games to spare. Gary O’Neil’s men have been a synonym for inconsistency at home in recent months, with none of their last seven home league matches ending as a draw (W3, L4). But if you’re looking for a common denominator, five of those six results (wins/losses) have seen the winner on the day prevail via multi-goal margins. Bournemouth wouldn’t mind a more evenly-contested encounter this weekend, knowing they’ve lost eight of their 11 meetings with Man Utd in the Premier League (W2, D1). The ‘Cherries’ can draw some confidence from winning their most recent home league H2H in November 2019.

On the other hand, Manchester United consolidated their top-four bid with a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, ending an uneventful run of consecutive 1-0 defeats on the road. Indeed, they’ve been the epitome of ‘Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde,’ depending on the playing ground, with only 36% of their Premier League points this season coming away from home (24/66). Erik ten Hag’s men have managed just one win on their last six league travels (D1, L4), failing to find the back of the net in each defeat. Scoring has been a problem for the ‘Red Devils’ this term, as only Aston Villa (48) have netted fewer Premier League goals than Man Utd (51) in 2022/23. Considering only 41% of those strikes have come on the road, traveling supporters have every reason for concern.

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Freiburg vs Wolfsburg

Freiburg and Wolfsburg are set to trade tackles in a high-stakes Bundesliga encounter at the Europa-Park Stadion.

These are dark times for Freiburg, who, after crashing out of the DFB-Pokal in the semi-finals, suffered back-to-back defeats in the Bundesliga to start this round three points adrift of fourth-placed Union Berlin. Despite securing Europa League qualification for the second season running, Christian Streich’s men will hope to bridge the gap in the last two rounds. Having only lost two home league matches this calendar year (W4, D3, L2), ‘Breisgau-Brasilianer’ will relish their chances in this match-up, even though both those defeats came against top-six sides. The hosts have kept a league joint-high 12 clean sheets this season and are one shutout away from equalling the club record in the top flight. But it’s worth noting they lost 6-0 in the reverse fixture in January.

In the meantime, visiting Wolfsburg bounced back from a humiliating 6-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 home win over TSG Hoffenheim last weekend, leapfrogging Bayer Leverkusen into the final European qualification spot. That woeful result at Signal Iduna Park saw Niko Kovac’s team concede as many goals as in their previous nine Bundesliga away games combined (6). However, despite winning three of their last four league outings (L1), ‘Die Wolfe’ cannot rest easy as they sit level on points with Leverkusen at the start of this round. There’s another reason for concern, with Wolfsburg going winless in their last four top-flight visits to Freiburg (D2, L2), including a goal-glutted 3-2 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22.

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Lyon vs Monaco

Groupama Stadium is the venue as Lyon and Monaco go head-to-head in a heavyweight Ligue 1 fixture.

John Textor’s presidential reign at Lyon was off to a sluggish start as Laurent Blanc’s side spurned an early lead in a 2-1 defeat at Clermont last time out, relinquishing a two-game winning Ligue 1 run. One way or another, this match-up should yield a winner, given that none of Lyon’s last league games have ended as a draw (W5, L2). Since only one of those matches (won/lost) featured a clean sheet, much of the pressure will be on the frontline. But that’s where they’ve excelled lately, netting 3+ goals in two of their last three top-flight outings at the Groupama Stadium (W2, L1). Worryingly for the home fans, ‘Les Gones’ have lost four of their six league encounters against sides starting the round in the top six this term (W2).

On the other hand, Monaco’s hopes of making up ground on third-placed Marseille are practically dead in the water following last weekend’s tepid 0-0 home draw against Lille. With only three games left to go, they trail the final Champions League qualification spot by eight points. Victory here would at least guarantee Europa League football next season, but it’s worth noting Philippe Clement’s men have only won once on their last three league travels (D1, L1). With each game in that sequence producing over 2.5 goals, a high-scoring contest could be in store. ‘Les Monégasques’ wouldn’t mind a more keenly-contested battle as long as they can secure a third consecutive top-flight win over Lyon for the first time since 1990.

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Sevilla vs Juventus

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is the venue as Sevilla and Juventus go head-to-head in the return leg of their evenly-poised Europa League semi-final tie.

Federico Gatti’s 97th-minute equalizer held Sevilla to a morale-crushing 1-1 first-leg draw last weekend, yet Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men responded well, claiming a 3-0 La Liga win at Real Valladolid at the weekend. Since securing European qualification via league football, lifting a record-extending seventh Europa League title remains Sevilla’s only route into next season’s Champions League. History firmly backs ‘Los Rojiblancos’ for success here, considering they’ve never lost a two-legged tie in the Europa League knockout stages when playing at home in the second leg, progressing from all nine such contests. Indeed, the Spaniards have racked up an eye-catching 24 victories in their last 27 home outings in the Europa League proper (D2, L1).

In the meantime, visiting Juventus squeezed past Serie A minnows Cremonese 2-0 at home last weekend to solidify their top-four chase, but the Europa League crown is their only hope of avoiding another trophyless season. However, the odds are not kind to ‘I Bianconeri,’ who have only managed two victories in their last 17 away matches against Spanish teams in the knockout stages of a major European competition (D3, L12). It’s also worth noting they kept one clean sheet across those 17 fixtures, highlighting Massimiliano Allegri’s fear over leading Juventus into the first major European final since the 2016/17 Champions League title decider. Adding to his skepticism, the Turin heavyweights have only won once on their last six road trips in all competitions (D2, L3).

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Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

St James’ Park forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Premier League showdown between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

After three consecutive victories, Newcastle’s pursuit of a coveted top-four Premier League finish has suffered back-to-back setbacks (D1, L1), allowing fifth-placed Liverpool to whittle down the gap to a single point. Taking advantage of a game in hand is crucial as Eddie Howe’s side return to St James’ Park following a goal-glutted 2-2 draw at Leeds United, seeking a fifth triumph in six home league matches (L1). However, the ‘Magpies’ couldn’t have picked a worse opposition, considering they’ve only claimed one win in their 11 meetings with Brighton in the Premier League (D6, L4), courtesy of a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Howe must address his side’s growing defensive woes after overseeing just one clean sheet in Newcastle’s last 15 top-flight outings.

In the meantime, visiting Brighton stunned title-bidding Arsenal 3-0 on the road last weekend to bounce back from an embarrassing 5-1 home loss to relegation-fighting Everton. Consistency has not been Brighton’s strong suit away from home, as their last six league matches on the road have alternated between different outcomes (W3, D1, L2). Interestingly, three of the five games (won/lost) during that sequence yielded multi-goal margins, suggesting this could be a one-street affair that may go either way. But Roberto De Zerbi’s men have been an attacking force to be reckoned with outside the Amex Stadium this term, with only Arsenal (35) netting more away goals than Brighton (33) in the 2022/23 Premier League season.

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Manchester City vs Real Madrid

Etihad Stadium forms the backdrop for the return leg of an evenly-poised Champions League semi-final tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid (1-1).
Manchester City’s pursuit of a history-defining treble took a massive stride at the weekend as they thumped Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park to take advantage of Arsenal’s home loss to Brighton and move four points clear at the Premier League summit with a game in hand. However, landing an elusive maiden Champions League title remains at the forefront of City’s minds as they look to avenge last season’s semi-final exit and reach the grand final for the second time in three years. Pep Guardiola’s men boast a formidable home record in Europe, having racked up a jaw-dropping 23 wins in their last 25 Champions League outings at the Etihad (D2) since going down to Lyon in September 2018. But if you’re a fan of omens, they’ve suffered elimination in two of their three previous Champions League semi-final ties, bowing out to Real Madrid on each occasion.

Yet Real Madrid’s superior H2H record at this stage of the tournament could be the only silver lining for ‘Los Blancos.’ A narrow 1-0 home win over Getafe last weekend was in vain as Carlo Ancelotti’s side officially surrendered La Liga supremacy to arch-rivals Barcelona, leaving the Champions League trophy as the only saving grace. Despite going into this match-up as underdogs, ‘Los Merengues’ can draw confidence from collecting two wins in their last three away matches against English sides in the Champions League knockout stages (both this term). Against this backdrop, they’ve gone winless in all four previous visits to Man City in Europe’s most prestigious competition (D2, L2), losing the last two by an aggregate score of 6-4. Playing on the road has been the visitors’ Achilles heel lately, as they’ve lost back-to-back away games in the build-up to this trip by a two-goal margin each.

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Inter Milan vs AC Milan

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the venue as Inter Milan and AC Milan go head-to-head in the return leg of their one-sided Champions League semi-final tie.

Inter Milan’s blitzkrieg inside the opening 11 minutes of play fired them to a comfortable 2-0 first-leg win last week, helping them put one foot in the Champions League final for the first time since 2010. Simone Inzaghi’s side refused to rest on their laurels after holding Milan at bay in a third straight Derby della Madonnina for the first time in the 21st century as they trounced Sassuolo 4-2 at the weekend to consolidate their top-four bid in Serie A. Inspired by an eye-catching seven-game winning streak in all competitions, ‘I Nerazzurri’ come into proceedings full of confidence, especially considering they’ve registered four shutouts in five knockout legs in this season’s Champions League. Another clean sheet would see Inter go four consecutive meetings with Milan without conceding for the first time in history.

Achieving that unwanted feat would add insult to injury after Milan followed their first-leg disaster with an underwhelming 2-0 defeat at relegation-battling Spezia at the weekend, falling four points behind the top-four places in Serie A. However, ‘I Rossoneri’ must defy history if they’re to turn this tie on its head after netting only 15 goals in 24 Champions League knockout games as the designated away side, averaging 0.6 goals per match. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that their last away win in the Champions League springtime fixtures came in 2007 (D4, L6 since). But if Stefano Pioli’s men can beat the odds, they could become only the second club in Champions League history to progress from a knockout tie after losing the first leg at home via a multi-goal margin.

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Espanyol vs Barcelona

RCDE Stadium forms the backdrop for a lopsided Derbi Barceloní as relegation-threatened Espanyol entertain runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona.

 

Espanyol can find motivation in their current three-point deficit from safety as they enter this La Liga (LL) round. Additionally, they can draw inspiration from the significant 51-point gap between them and their rivals Barcelona, marking the largest disparity in a 21st-century Derbi Barceloní. That should serve as a catalyst for Espanyol’s determination to perform better after suffering eight defeats in their last ten La Liga outings (W1, D1), including a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Sevilla in the previous round. However, ‘Los Periquitos’ have massively underperformed against their cross-town rivals this century, going unbeaten in their last 25 encounters against Barcelona in La Liga (D7, L18). If it’s any comfort, Luis Garcia’s side eked out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou.

 

That’s unlikely to change to the fact Barcelona are undefeated in their last 14 La Liga visits to Espanyol (W7, D7) since a 3-1 loss in 2007. But the visitors have gone winless in back-to-back away league matches in the lead-up to this trip (D1, L1) and could make it three on the trot in the competition for the first time under Xavi Hernandez. A lack of goals has been a massive issue for the ‘Blaugrana’ on their travels, as they’ve failed to score more than once in five of their last six away league games. But one goal may be enough to fire them to another win, considering 11 of their 26 top-flight victories this season have yielded an identical 1-0 scoreline, equalling an outright La Liga record for most such triumphs in a single campaign. 

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Monaco vs Lille

An exciting Ligue 1 encounter pits Monaco and Lille against each other at Stade Louis II this weekend.

When it looked like the wheels were falling off, a once well-oiled Monaco machine found the way to end a two-game losing Ligue 1 run with a 2-1 victory at rock-bottom Angers last weekend and preserve faint hopes of catching a third-placed Marseille. But with only four games left, ‘Los Monégasques’ cannot afford another slip-up if they’re to stand a chance of closing a six-point gap between the sides. Lille’s visit to the French principality doesn’t bode well, considering Philippe Clement’s men have failed to win four of their last five Ligue 1 H2Hs (D2, L2). On top of that, they’ve only accrued five points against sides starting this round in the top five this season (W1, D2, L4), fewer than any other European-pursuing team.

Visiting Lille slumped to a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat at Reims last time out, ending a decent-looking run of three unbeaten league matches (W2, D1) and probably destroying their hopes of securing a top-three finish. But Europa League qualification is still on the cards, as they trail fourth-placed Monaco by five points at the start of this round. Anything other than victory would likely curtail those aspirations too, but ‘Les Dogues’ don’t look capable of upsetting Stade Louis II. Indeed, Paulo Fonseca’s men have only won once on their last six Ligue 1 travels (D2, L3), netting under 1.5 goals four times in this stretch. Lille must strive for greater consistency in their away matches if they’re to secure a spot on the European stage next season. Their previous 12 top-flight away results have all varied from one another (W4, D3, L5), highlighting the need for stability and more reliable performances on the road.

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PSG vs Ajaccio

PSG and Ajaccio are set to trade tackles in contrasting Ligue 1 circumstances at the Parc des Princes.

Despite dealing with off-field turmoil, PSG thrashed Troyes 3-1 last weekend to bounce back from a 3-1 home loss to Lorient and maintain a comfortable six-point lead on second-placed Lens. With only four games left, ‘Les Parisiens’ are on course to win a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title, yet an underwhelming run of three defeats in their last four home league matches (W1) is a reason for concern. Ajaccio’s upcoming visit to Paris should provide manager Christophe Galtier with some comfort, considering his men are unbeaten in their last seven top-flight H2Hs (W4, D3), including a thumping 3-0 win in the reverse fixture. With Lionel Messi’s suspension canceled after his social media apology, the league’s most prolific attack (79 goals) should come at the third-worst defense (61) at full bore.

Anything other than victory in Paris will result in Ajaccio’s swift return to Ligue 2 after a dreadful run of nine winless league matches (D2, L7) left them a whopping 11 points adrift of safety. Scoring has emerged as the visitors’ biggest issue lately, as they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in seven of their last nine top-flight outings, contributing to a league-low record of 22 goals scored in Ligue 1 this term. To better understand Ajaccio’s scoring problems, Kylian Mbappe alone (24) has netted more league goals than the entire visiting squad in 2022/23! It only gets worse away from home, where they’ve lost each of their last six league games by an aggregate score of 15-2, conceding precisely three goals on four occasions.

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Mallorca vs Cadiz

Cadiz’s bid to avoid relegation from La Liga will be on the line when they meet mid-table Mallorca at the Visit Mallorca Estadi this weekend.

Mallorca looked poised to secure a top-half finish in La Liga not long ago before a dismal three-game winless streak (D1, L2) stopped them in their tracks. Last week’s 2-1 defeat at Girona prevented ‘Los Piratas’ from mathematically securing top-flight survival, but avenging that loss against Cadiz will do the trick. And manager Javier Aguirre would hardly accept anything less, especially after his men racked up five wins in their last eight La Liga meetings with Cadiz (D2, L1). But Mallorca’s only defeat in that run came in the reverse fixture (0-2), meaning they could suffer only their second-ever league double at the hands of this opposition. That looks far-fetched, though, with the hosts keeping Cadiz at bay in six of their last seven league encounters at home (W5, D2).

In the meantime, Cadiz’s thumping 5-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid last weekend could have substantial repercussions when it comes to their hopes of ensuring top-flight survival, as they commence this round only one point clear of 18th-placed Getafe. That abysmal result in the capital left ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ at a single win in their last eight away matches in La Liga (D3, L4). Adding to Sergio Gonzalez’s sizeable list of concerns, his men netted a poor average of 0.42 goals per game across those seven winless outings, highlighting the importance of staying solid at the back. That’s been one of Cadiz’s virtues lately, as they’ve kept a clean sheet three times on their last five La Liga travels. Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that they picked up points four times in that run (W1, D3, L1), having done so in only one of their previous five away La Liga clashes (W1, L4).

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Lazio vs Lecce

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as top-four-bidding Lazio and bottom-half Lecce go head-to-head in a lopsided Serie A showdown.

Lazio’s pursuit of a first top-four finish in Serie A since 2019/20 suffered another setback last weekend as AC Milan thumped them 2-0 without conceding a shot on target. But despite suffering three defeats in their four most recent league outings (W1), Maurizio Sarri’s men start this round three points clear of fifth-placed Milan, largely thanks to their impressive home form. ‘I Biancocelesti’ have racked up four victories in their last five home matches in Serie A (L1), keeping a clean sheet three times in this run. Indeed, only Inter Milan (10) and Bologna (12) have conceded fewer league goals on home turf than Lazio (14) this season. That’s encouraging as the home side bid to avoid losing three consecutive top-flight meetings with Lecce after back-to-back 2-1 H2H defeats.

Despite their recent H2H form, Lecce cannot draw much inspiration from their Serie A fortunes at the Stadio Olimpico, having kept Lazio at bay in just one of their 15 top-flight encounters in the capital. In addition to only winning once in that sequence, ‘I Giallorossi’ carry a disastrous five-match losing away league streak into this round, failing to hit the net in four of those five defeats. On top of their underwhelming away form, the visitors have emerged victorious only twice in their 32 away matches against sides from the capital in Serie A, most recently doing so in 2011. Marco Baroni’s men have massively underperformed against sides currently above them in the Serie A standings, losing nine of their 13 away games in such match-ups (W2, D2).

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West Ham United vs AZ Alkmaar

A place in the Europa Conference League final is up for the taking as West Ham United and AZ Alkmaar go head-to-head at the London Stadium in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

West Ham’s fifth-ever foray into the semi-finals of major European competition and second in succession following last year’s Europa League elimination to Eintracht Frankfurt comes in a perfect moment. After overseeing a first Premier League win over his former club Manchester United in over a decade, West Ham boss David Moyes will take the field in a buoyant mood, especially with his side extending their lead on the Premier League drop zone to seven points. The ‘Hammers’ arrested an abysmal three-match losing streak in the build-up to this fixture, but they can draw further confidence from their stellar Europa Conference League campaign. Barring a 1-1 first-leg draw in their quarter-final tie against Gent, they’ve won all remaining European fixtures this term, including all six at home by an aggregate score of 17-4, qualifiers included.

In the meantime, after a near-perfect Europa Conference League group-stage campaign (W5, L1), AZ Alkmaar have won three of their four knockout legs in 2023 (L1), netting precisely twice in each victory. Since a 2-0 loss to Anderlecht in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, Pascal Jansen’s men have gone unbeaten in four straight competitive outings (W3, D1), including a scoreless draw at fierce Eredivisie rivals Ajax at the weekend. However, that result only deepened AZ’s away crisis, as they’ve now failed to win three times on their last four travels in all competitions (D1, L2), drawing a blank twice in this sequence. The upcoming trip to London won’t inspire much confidence either, with AZ managing just two wins in their previous 14 European encounters against English sides (D5, L7).

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Fiorentina vs Basel

Fiorentina and Basel are set to lock horns at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final tie.

Complacency nearly got the better of Fiorentina in the quarter-finals as they succumbed to a 3-2 second-leg loss to Lech Poznan after comfortably dispatching them 4-1 in the first leg. Since capturing a place in the semi-finals of major European competition for the first time since the 2014/15 Europa League, Vincenzo Italiano’s men have lost their feet, racking up just one win in five competitive outings (D2, L2). However, Fiorentina thumped Serie A relegation candidate Sampdoria 5-0 in their most recent home match to snap a four-match winless run in Florence (D3, L1). Playing at Artemio Franchi has been their strong suit in Europe, with ‘La Viola’ finding the net in their last 14 home games on the continental front since losing 2-0 to Sevilla in 2015.

Meanwhile, Basel defied the odds to overcome a more heavily fancied Nice side 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals to set up their first semi-final appearance in major European competition since the 2012/13 Europa League. Keen to become the first Swiss club to reach the European title decider, the visitors rally their troops quickly following a disheartening 2-0 home loss to Zurich last weekend. Heiko Vogel’s men have become somewhat ‘stalemate specialists’ in the Europa Conference League, with their last four European fixtures ending level after the 90 minutes. But they’ll be confident about turning the corner here after winning back-to-back competitive away matches ‘to one.’ Moreover, Basel picked up a 2-1 win in their only previous European visit to Fiorentina.

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Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen

A mouth-watering Europa League semi-final tie pits Roma against Bayer Leverkusen, with the first leg taking place at the Stadio Olimpico this week.

Roma performed an eye-catching second-leg comeback to overcome a 1-0 deficit and outscore Feyenoord 4-2 on aggregate en route to reaching the semi-finals of major European competition for the third season in a row. Last year’s Europa Conference League winners have since experienced a noticeable dip in form, going winless in four consecutive matches in all competitions (D2, L2), including a 2-0 home defeat to Inter Milan last weekend. With a coveted fourth place in Serie A now five points away, lifting the Europa League title could be Roma’s only way to secure Champions League qualification. With Jose Mourinho at the helm, the home side’s bid to maintain an impressive record of progressing from ten of their last 11 European knockout ties looks probable. Adding to this sentiment, ‘I Giallorossi’ have only lost one of their last 24 European fixtures at the Stadio Olimpico (W17, D6).

In the meantime, visiting Bayer Leverkusen ran out 5-2 aggregate winners against Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise to book their first appearance in the semi-finals of a major European competition since 2002. Seeking their first continental trophy since winning the 1987/88 UEFA Cup, ‘Die Werkself’ come into proceedings off the back of a 2-1 Bundesliga loss to Cologne that knocked them down from an outrageous 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W10, D4). But Xabi Alonso’s men haven’t lost any of their last nine competitive games outside the BayArena (W6, D3). That run includes three Europa League knockout wins, all of which saw them concede 2+ goals at an average of 2.66 per match. Against this backdrop, the Germans have gone winless on all six European trips to meet Italian sides in the 21st century (D1, L5).

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Juventus vs Sevilla

Juventus and Sevilla are set to trade tackles in the first leg of their mouth-watering Europa League semi-final tie at the Allianz Stadium.

After a 2-1 aggregate victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League quarter-finals helped Juventus reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2013/14, ‘I Bianconeri’ aim to go one better and win the competition for the first time since 1992/93. Massimiliano Allegri’s men have rediscovered form after a five-match winless run in all competitions (D2, L3), winning their last two Serie A games by an aggregate score of 4-1. The record-time Europa League champions boast a flawless home record in the Europa League, having gone unbeaten in all 12 of their previous outings in Turin (W5, D7) while keeping six clean sheets in the process. Topically, Juventus have won back-to-back Europa League home matches by an identical 1-0 scoreline after a 1-1 draw with Nantes in the knockout playoff round.

On the other hand, visiting Sevilla proved their continental credentials by dispatching Premier League heavyweights Manchester United 5-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Despite experiencing an underwhelming La Liga campaign by their standards, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ can draw confidence from a 100% win ratio in their five previous Europa League semi-final appearances. Moreover, the Spaniards have won their last six meetings with Serie A clubs in the Europa League, with each match-up coming in the knockout stages. If that’s not encouraging enough, since Jose Luis Mendilibar’s appointment at the start of April, the Andalusian giants have only lost one of their nine outings in all competitions (W6, D2). They most recently came from a 2-1 halftime deficit to beat Espanyol 3-2 at home last weekend.

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AC Milan vs Inter Milan

The first Champions League edition of the famous Derby della Madonnina pits AC Milan and Inter Milan against each other at the Stadio San Siro in the first leg of their mouth-watering semi-final tie.

After a runner-up finish to Chelsea in Group E helped Milan reach the Champions League knockouts for the first time since 2013/14, they could now make it to their first grand final since lifting the trophy in 2006/07. Stefano Pioli’s men have ousted Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli in the last two knockout rounds, conceding just once across four legs. More importantly, since a woeful 3-1 away defeat to Udinese in Serie A two months ago, ‘I Rossoneri’ have gone unbeaten in nine consecutive games in all competitions (W4, D5), including a crucial 2-0 home triumph over Lazio in last weekend’s top-four six-pointer. However, after beating Inter 3-2 in their first encounter of the 2022/23 campaign, they’ve lost both subsequent H2Hs without scoring.

With that in mind, high-flying Inter Milan will take the field in high spirits, especially after a 2-0 victory at Roma last weekend extended their winning streak in all competitions to five matches. Simone Inzaghi’s lads were nothing short of convincing in that period, winning each game by a multi-goal margin, contributing an overwhelming aggregate score of 16-1. Following a runner-up finish to Bayern Munich in Group C, ‘I Nerazzuri’ have overcome Primeira Liga heavyweights Porto and Benfica in the last two Champions League knockout rounds to set up their first semi-final appearance since their triumphant 2009/10 season. Defensive resilience has been Inter’s hallmark this season as they’ve racked up six clean sheets in ten Champions League outings and could make it seven in a single campaign for the first time.

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Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is the venue as Real Madrid and Manchester City go head-to-head in the first leg of their blockbuster Champions League semi-final tie.

After practically surrendering domestic supremacy to arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid found some consolation in beating Osasuna 2-1 in last weekend’s Copa del Rey semi-final to set themselves up nicely for this encounter. Even though Madrid’s indifferent four-game form in all competitions (W2, L2) doesn’t inspire much confidence, Carlo Ancelotti’s men can find inspiration in their outrageous run of 13 wins from their last 16 European outings on home turf (D1, L2). Indeed, ‘Los Merengues’ have won all five home matches in this season’s Champions League, including four via multi-goal margins. Furthermore, since Mohamed Salah’s strike in Madrid’s scintillating 5-2 romping of Liverpool in the first leg of their last-16 tie, the Spaniards have gone 346 minutes of Champions League action without conceding.

On the other hand, Manchester City’s never-ending pursuit of a maiden Champions League crown has seen them go unbeaten in all ten European fixtures this term (W6, D4), including back-to-back multi-goal aggregate wins over Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in the opening two knockout rounds. However, it’s worth noting that four of Man City’s five away matches in this season’s Champions League have ended level (W1), with each draw featuring under 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a cagey, low-scoring affair. But in addition to seeking amends for last season’s heartbreaking semi-final exit at the hands of Madrid, the ‘Citizens’ could make history this midweek. After a 2-1 triumph in February 2020, Pep Guardiola’s team could become the first English side to beat ‘Los Merengues’ away from home in the Champions League on multiple occasions.

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Roma vs Inter Milan

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as Roma and Inter Milan face each other in a mouth-watering Serie A top-four six-pointer.

After a gut-wrenching 1-1 draw at Monza in midweek condemned his side to a third consecutive winless match in Serie A (D2, L1), Roma boss Jose Mourinho lashed out at the referees, which puts him at risk of missing out on Inter’s visit this weekend. Despite dropping out of the top six altogether, ‘I Giallorossi’ are still firmly in the race of a first top-four finish since 2018/19, with only two points separating them from fourth-placed Inter at the start of this round. As such, only a victory would do for the hosts, who came from behind to post a 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture, meaning they could beat Inter in back-to-back Serie A H2Hs for the first time since February 2017. Defensive resilience will be crucial, as each of Roma’s seven home league wins in 2023 has yielded a clean sheet (D1, L1).

On the other hand, visiting Inter took advantage of their top-four rivals’ midweek slip-ups to move two points clear in a coveted fourth spot with a blockbuster 6-0 romping of relegation-battling Hellas Verona on the road. That result forms part of Inter’s eye-catching run of three successive wins away from home in all competitions, all of which came by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ Since a 2-1 defeat in April 2016, ‘I Nerazzurri’ have gone unbeaten on their last five top-flight visits to the Olimpico to take on Roma (W2, D3), including a scintillating 3-0 victory in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22. But Simone Inzaghi’s men cannot rest easy yet, knowing they had conceded precisely twice in their three previous Serie A H2Hs in Rome.

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Liverpool vs Brentford

In-form Liverpool will be looking to continue their outrageous Premier League form when they take on Brentford at Anfield this weekend.

A hard-fought 1-0 home triumph over Fulham in midweek saw Liverpool string together five Premier League wins for the first time in 2022/23, moving them within a four-point distance of fourth-placed Manchester United. But securing another top-four finish still looks unlikely, especially with United boasting a game in hand, highlighting the significance of avenging a 3-1 defeat reverse defeat against Brentford. Anfield is traditionally a perfect venue to help Liverpool get the result they need, as evidenced by the Reds’ emphatic record of 12 wins in 17 home league matches this season (D4, L1). On top of that, Jurgen Klopp’s men have a track record of finishing strong, with an impressive tally of 12 victories in their last 13 matches during the month of May (D1).

In the meantime, visiting Brentford have turned the corner in the build-up to this contest, going from six consecutive Premier League games without winning (D3, L3) to back-to-back victories over bottom-half teams Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. With seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur only four points away at the beginning of this round, the ‘Bees’ still believe in their chances of securing a first-ever European finish. But defying a disappointing four-match form on the road (W1, D1, L2) needs to be addressed, which doesn’t look likely. Indeed, Thomas Frank’s men have collected just two wins in their 14 Premier League encounters against sides starting the round in the top five of the table (D5, L7). That record includes a thumping 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in this corresponding fixture last season.

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Bayer Leverkusen vs Cologne

BayArena is the venue as high-flying Bayer Leverkusen continue their pursuit of a top-six Bundesliga finish against Cologne.

With a mouth-watering Europa League semi-final tie against Roma waiting in the wings, Bayer Leverkusen will relish their rich vein of form, having avoided defeat in their last 14 outings in all competitions (W10, D4). Lifting the second-most prominent European title could be Leverkusen’s only route into next season’s Champions League after a scoreless draw at Union Berlin last time out left them eight points behind the Bundesliga top four. Nonetheless, Xabi Alonso’s men have gone from strength to strength at the BayArena since a 3-2 loss to Mainz in mid-February, winning their last four home league matches, including three via multi-goal margins. It’s also worth noting that before succumbing to a 1-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, ‘Die Werkself’ had won three consecutive top-flight H2Hs on home turf, highlighting their confidence going into this showdown.

On the other hand, visiting Cologne saw their decent-looking four-match unbeaten Bundesliga run (W2, D2) halted at the hands of Freiburg last weekend (0-1). But with seven points separating them from the relegation zone at the commencement of this round, the visitors are safe and sound in mid-table comforts, largely thanks to their mini-revival on the road. After going winless on ten Bundesliga travels between September 2022 and March 2023 (D4, L6), Steffen Bamugart’s men have won back-to-back games away from home via an identical 3-1 scoreline. Baumgart is on a personal mission here after managing just one win in his six previous touchline encounters against Leverkusen (D1, L4). Achieving that feat would see the ‘Billy Goats’ string together three straight away wins in the Bundesliga for the first time since 1996.

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Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United

Amex Stadium forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Premier League encounter between high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion and top-four-bound Manchester United.

Despite resting several first-team stars, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi oversaw an emphatic 6-0 home triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, bolstering the club’s hopes of securing a first-ever European qualification. Heading into the season’s run-in, the ‘Seagulls’ trail sixth-placed Aston Villa by two points, yet with three games in hand, they’re in a prime position to a coveted European finish. Playing at the Amex will add to Brighton’s confidence after they’ve won three of their last four home league outings (D1), netting an intimidating average of 3.5 goals per game in the process. On top of that, the hosts have emerged victorious in three of their four most recent midweek Premier League match-ups (L1), while they thrashed Man Utd 4-0 in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22.

In the meantime, Man Utd’s 1-0 home triumph over Villa last weekend put them in cruising control of their top-four fate, moving Erik ten Hag’s team seven points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool at the start of this round. With a game in hand, the ‘Red Devils’ should stroll to a third top-four finish in four seasons, yet their form woes on the road require immediate attention. They have claimed just one win on their last 13 Premier League travels to take on sides from the upper half of the table (D3, L9). Moreover, among clubs fighting for European qualification in the Premier League, only Tottenham Hotspur (35) have conceded more away goals than Man Utd (31) this term. Things are unlikely to improve at the Amex, where they’ve lost three of their five previous top-flight meetings with Brighton (W2).

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Liverpool vs Fulham

High-flying Liverpool will be looking to consolidate their European quest when they meet mid-table Fulham in a midweek Premier League showdown.

After a nerve-shredding 4-3 home win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend extended Liverpool’s winning run in the Premier League to four matches, another qualification for Europe looks like a near-certainty. In the midst of the team’s richest vein of form in 2023, the ‘Reds’ are looking to avenge a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture against Fulham and arrest an underwhelming three-match winless H2H streak against them in the Premier League (D2, L1). Jurgen Klopp’s men have thrived in midweek fixtures in recent years, racking up an eye-catching 14 victories in their last 16 such match-ups in the top flight (D1, L1), including all seven wins at Anfield. On top of that, May traditionally suits Liverpool, as they’ve won 11 of their last 12 Premier League outings played this month (D1).

In the meantime, Fulham’s form wobble in the Premier League continued last weekend as Manchester City squeezed past Marco Silva’s team 2-1, condemning them to a sixth defeat in their previous eight league matches (W2). The upcoming trip to Anfield could deepen the crisis, considering the ‘Cottagers’ have suffered seven losses in their last eight away league encounters against sides placed better than them in the table (W1). If that’s not enough to dampen the spirits in the visiting camp, an abysmal run of four defeats across their last five competitive travels (W1) could finish the job. Connoisseurs of action-packed football could still relish this contest, considering four of those five Fulham trips witnessed over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet.

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Arsenal vs Chelsea

Emirates Stadium forms the backdrop for a blockbuster all-London Premier League match-up between title-bidding Arsenal and downtrodden Chelsea.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a first Premier League title in almost two decades suffered a knockout blow last week as Manchester City dismantled Mikel Arteta’s side 4-1 in a ‘top-table six-pointer,’ condemning them to a gut-wrenching four-match winless league run (D3, L1). Growing defensive issues have rendered Arsenal’s title hopes far-fetched, with the ‘Gunners’ now conceding 2+ goals in four consecutive Premier League outings for the first time this season. Speaking of the hosts’ vulnerability at the back, only basement boys Southampton have registered fewer home clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Arsenal (3). But they’ve fared well against Chelsea in recent match-ups, winning twice in a row to open up an avenue to three straight H2H wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

In the meantime, interim boss Frank Lampard cannot catch a break, with his out-of-sorts Chelsea side coming into proceedings off the back of five competitive losses via an aggregate score of 9-1. Winless in their last six Premier League contests (D2, L4), the ‘Pensioners’ may have to reconcile with a first bottom-half finish since 1995/96 unless they can turn the corner down the final stretch. But considering they’ll take the field amid the club’s worst losing streak since 1993, even a point at the Emirates, where they won this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, could be a resounding success. Ominously, though, Chelsea’s abysmal run of form of nine losses from their last 13 travels (W1, D3) sees them stare down the barrel of 20 competitive defeats in a single season for the first time since 1987/88.

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