Our soccer expert previews the action and shares his betting tips for the key games across Europe with AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid all in action.

 

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AS Roma vs AC Milan (Friday 18:45 UTC)

Roma welcomes Milan in this season’s first blockbuster Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico tonight. The struggling hosts will welcome an on-form away team, though both sides have come off a poor 2022/23 campaign that saw them fall short of expectations. Roma failed to secure a top-four spot or win the Europa League, while Milan bungled their title defence and just managed a Champions League place finishing 4th in the league.

Rossoneri is just one of four teams to have a hundred per cent win rate in Serie A so far and are at the head of the queue thanks to goal difference, albeit we are only on the third game week. Jose Mourinho’s men, meanwhile, began the campaign at home with a disappointing 2-2 draw against lowly Salernitana before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Hellas Verona last weekend.

Unless results pick up fast, the capital side could struggle to make a serious challenge for a top-four finish. Though they have a series of opportune games following up this clash with Milan, and the foundations are available for positive forward momentum. Their first clean sheet of the season this game would be most welcome. Milan, on the other hand, faces Internazionale next week, making the clash against Roma all the more poignant for them to keep up their form.

Romelu Lukaku's decision to turn down Inter and Milan to reunite with his former Manchester United manager Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico could prove a pivotal moment this season for Roma. The Belgian’s scoring prowess should help Giallorossi address any questions of their attacking potential upfront. Roma First Half Total - Over 0.5 at 2.39.

In stark contrast, the Milano locker room has undergone a dramatic transformation. Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined from Chelsea, while Samuel Chukwueze signed from Villareal and Yunus Musah from Valencia. However, it’s been Olivier Giroud that’s grabbed the headlines. The Frenchman has been on fire, being on the scoreboard for his last five Serie A appearances, and in the process being on track to having his longest scoring run in one of Europe's top-five leagues since 2015.

We’re on for a fantastic early-season clash in the Eternal City. But will home advantage provide enough of an edge for faltering Roma against a transformed Milan side, who have started their season in pole position.

1x2 2.83 3.19 2.72

 

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Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Bayern Munich (Saturday 16:30 UTC)

Bayern travel west to Borussia-Park and will face Mönchengladbach. The sides have had different starts to the new season, however, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Rheinlanders.

Gerardo Seoane’s side got off to a winning start this year, with a 7-0 demolition of lower-league Bersenbrück in the DFB Cup. With new arrivals, Franck Honorat, Robin Hack and Grant-Leon Ranos all scoring on their debut appearance, the new look die Fohlen are showing positive signs of gelling well. Signing from Sparta Prague over the summer for £9m, Czechia international forward Tomáš Čvančara was on the scoresheet too, and if early performances are anything to go by he may prove to be a talisman this season for the club.

However, while attacking potential may not be lacking after a further four more goals against Augsburg on the first match day of the Bundesliga, Borussia twice let a two-goal advantage slip to end the game with a draw of 4-4. Furthermore, a 3-0 defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen, has left alarm bells ringing and question marks over the side's defensive capabilities, far from ideal when the reigning champions are up next.

Though doom and gloom aside, they haven’t lost against Bayern in their last five encounters, a record which other sides can only dream of. Tripping up their Southern rivals once more would provide the formula for Gladbach to rejuvenate their campaign. They will sorely miss stalwarts Christoph Kramer, Manu Kone and captain Jonas Omlin who are all absent with injury. Match handicap +2.5 at 1.483.

The ‘Kane Effect’ is alive and well in Munich, with the Londoner being the headline act at Bayern so far in 2023/24. He’s scored three goals in his first two Bundesliga appearances after his record-breaking move from Tottenham Hotspur to the German champions. Thus allowing the Bavarians to commence their title defence with back-to-back wins over Werder Bremen and Augsburg, while only conceding one in the process. The English international captain has also had a direct hand in seven of the side's goals to date, providing an assist in his Bundesliga debut.

A solid partnership between Alphonso Davies at left-back and Kane seems to be brewing well, with the Canadian international currently leading the Bundesliga assist chart outright with three, of which two were for the rampant forward. Though the Canadian only managed four assists in 26 games last season, two of those came away at Gladbach.

With a spate of injuries and against a Bayern side that is in great form complimented by an unleashed Kane, the home side has their work cut out for them. The recent track record against this opposition club may not be enough to save them in this encounter.

1x2 7.90 6.58 1.31

Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla (Sunday 16:30 UTC)

The Civitas Metropolitan Stadium, Madrid hosts this La Liga match between sides at opposing ends of the league table. Last season’s third-place finishers, Atlético Madrid, continue their latest campaign with a round-four fixture against wayward Sevilla. There is a marked difference in performance and points that mark this clash. Colchoneros have accumulated seven points from their first three matches, placing them at number two in the table.

In contrast, Sevilla has seven points less having lost all three games, placing them at rock bottom in twentieth place, their worst start in years. Last time these clubs met in the league ended in a 6-1 victory to an at-home Atlético, a troubling memory for Sevilla fans ahead of this match.

Atlético come into this one grinning at the Civitas, following a 7-0 victory at their home ground over Rayo Vallecano. This rout follows on from a solid 3-1 win over Granada and a lukewarm  0-0 draw with Real Betis. Their home form has been outstanding in their last six La Liga matches. They’ve collected a remarkable 18 points alongside scoring 18 goals and conceding just five. This fine run of form makes them the top team in recent La Liga performance. Another 3-1 result is currently at 12.54.

French international forward Antoine Griezmann has made an immediate effect since joining from Barça for £17m over the summer, with one goal to his name thus far. Showing no signs of slowing down on the back of thirteen goals in last year's league season, he’ll undoubtedly be a key player for Colchoneros in this forthcoming fixture. Alongside Spanish international Álvaro Morata, they’ll make a dangerous duo, with the latter currently having three league goals to his name - second in the table’s tally behind Jude Bellingham’s four.

Sevilla’s last three games have been nothing short of a disappointment. Heartbreakingly they first lost the UEFA Super Cup on penalties to Manchester City after a 1-1 draw, quickly followed up by a tragic 4-3 defeat against Deportivo Alaves. In their most recent escapade, they endured another setback, losing 1-2 to Girona. Their last six La Liga away matches paint a mildly better picture, securing three wins, one draw, and two losses, though only scoring 11 goals while conceding seven.

They’ll be looking to players like Érik Lamela to turn the tide. The Argentine 2021 Puskás winner has scored three goals in his past six games, he alongside Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri will make the most credible threats in the forthcoming battle. However, it’ll be up to players such as newly arrived Loïc Badé to hold the defensive line and thwart the deluge of goals conceded against them thus far.

A tough away fixture for underachieving Sevilla. However, there is no doubt the 22/23 Europa League winners will get their season out of the starting blocks somewhere, though whether it will be against high flyers Atlético in Madrid will yet to be ascertained.

1x2 1.48 4.55 6.98

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 12:30 UTC Friday 1st September**

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