Our soccer expert shares betting tips and previews some of the biggest games across the mainland European continent from La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A.

 

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Atlético de Madrid vs Athletic Club (Saturday 17:30 UTC)

Los Colchoneros welcome Los Leones to the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano for what may be a pivotal battle in the contest for a coveted Champions League spot for next season. The hosts are currently 4th with 61 points, while the visitors are 5th with 58. Both sides struggled last weekend with Bilbao only snagging a point following a 1-1 result with Granada. In contrast, Madrid suffered a bloody nose losing 2-0 away to now 14th place Alavés.

Atlético have been inconsistent this season, suffering 3 defeats from the last 5 games. Following a stunning 4-2 comeback win by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals 2nd leg which ended the affair 5-4 on aggregate, the Madrid giants were seemingly left reeling from this tragedy and buckled against travelling Deportivo. Total (Corners) - Match Over 9.5 at 1.847.

However, a win this weekend would likely guarantee they return to the UCL next season. Antoine Griezmann has been vital for his club's efforts this La Liga campaign, with 13 goals and 6 assists in La Liga this season, as well as six goals in continental proceedings. Thomas Lemar, Vitolo and Memphis Depay are omitted from selection due to injury.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club have had a quietly impressive season, challenging for a Champions League spot and winning the Copa del Rey earlier this month following a penalty shootout over Mallorca after play ended 1-1. Fans will be lamenting the fact they left the Estadio de San Mamés with their side only managing a draw after they utterly dominated with 68% possession and 17 attempts on goal. Correct Score 2:2 at 15.89.

Scoring the only goal for the team that day was Gorka Guruzeta, and pundits have commended him as being the best player for the club this season by far. The Spanish forward has 14 goals and four assists in the league and his good form will be crucial for the encounter with Madrid here. The club's treatment room is clear with everyone fit to play.

Two rivals for next season's UCL clash here, in what is probably the pick of this weekend's La Liga matches. It's well expected that Madrid will have dusted themselves off after a few recent setbacks and will be a force once more. Bilbao will be looking to put the final flourish over the capital team and break into the top four to end what has been a brilliant campaign run.

1x2 1.961 3.53 3.99

 

Bayer Leverkusen vs VFB Stuttgart (Saturday 17:30 UTC)

Xabi Alonso's 2023/24 Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen put their record-breaking unbeaten run on the line against VfB Stuttgart, who come to the BayArena on Saturday looking for points to reinforce their UEFA Champions League qualifying prospects. The hosts continued their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga following a 1-1 draw with Dortmund, while Stuttgart succumbed to now 11th place Werder Bremen 2-1.

The Bundesliga champions are the first team in the league's history to go 30 games without defeat and are now also unbeaten in 45 competitive games this season. If they win their remaining four matches, they will set a new points record for a Bundesliga campaign, bettering the current top mark of 91 set by Bayern Munich in their treble-winning season of 2012/13. The side will be facing AS Roma in the Europa League semi-finals after besting West Ham 3-1 on aggregate.

Josip Stanišić was the hero of the day after he headed in the 97th-minute equaliser that silenced Signal Iduna Park and preserved Leverkusen's incredible unblemished record. The Croatian international centre-back is currently on loan from rivals Bayern Munich, though it's murmured a permanent move could be in the works. Adam Hlozek and Borja Iglesias are currently omitted from selection due to injury. Correct Score 3:2 at 19.17.

Stuttgart have had a remarkable season at club record levels this season and astoundingly comes into Matchday 31 boasting exactly 30 points more than they tallied in the whole of the 2022/23 campaign. The side's UCL ambitions were dented slightly following last weekend's loss, with the only goal for the side coming from Denis Undav which brings his tally to 17 in the league alone. Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey and Josha Vagnoman are all exempt from selection with injury.

The team have been heavily reliant on the German forward who made his international debut last month, as well as Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean has 25 goals to his name meaning he is currently 2nd in the goal-scoring charts behind Bayern's Harry Kane who currently has 33. The pair have impressively surpassed the previous record of 37 goals that former Bayern and Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann and Karl Allgöwer tallied together in the 1985/86 season. Both Teams to Score? Yes at 1.578.

A great match awaits us here as the hosts seek to conclude an unbeaten season in the league. Though with VFB in amazing form and with a record-breaking strike team up front, Bayer will have to shore up all possible defences to finish what has been their amazing season unblemished.

1x2 1.729 4.29 4.30

 

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Juventus vs AC Milan (Saturday 17:00)

La Vecchia Signora welcomes Rossoneri to the Allianz Stadium, Turin for another Il derby dei Campioni, and both teams are looking to finalize their position in the Serie A's top four. Juve is currently in 2nd position with 64 points and Milan is 2nd with 69, with the Scudetto now out of contestation following Internazionale's total victory. Recent runouts in the league concluded with the hosts drawing 2-2 with Cagliari away and AC suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to rivals Inter at the start of the week.

It's been a campaign of mixed fortunes for Juventus, though one that fans will not lament wholly as the club already has a spot in the final of the Coppa Italia with Atalanta on the 15th of May after beating Lazio 3-1 on aggregate and have a respectable position in the league. Champions League qualification is nearly a done deal for the Black & Whites; however, the club could be heading into a tumultuous period as rumours abound of Massimiliano Allegri's possible departure have been doing the rounds. A promising statistic for fans is that Juventus have kept clean sheets in three consecutive home matches. Correct Score 2:0 at 10.31.

The side travelled to Sardinia and escaped with a solitary point last weekend, despite dominating with 75% possession. The first goal came as an own one compliments of opposition defender Alberto Dossena, while Dušan Vlahović hit the back of the net once more. The Serbian international striker has had a good time of it this season, scoring 16 goals in Italy's top-flight division to make him the 2nd highest scorer thus far behind Inter's Lautaro Martinez. Mattia De Sciglio and Moise Kean are both injured, while Paul Pogba and Nicolò Fagioli are suspended.

The Rossoneri find themselves in a similar situation to Juventus, in their league campaign. The team occupies second place, with UCL qualification as the sole consolation for their season's efforts. At the start of the week, Milan lost to Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, allowing their rivals to clinch the 20th title prematurely. The match was an especially close-run affair with the statistics painting a similar picture. Ultimately tempers flared near the game's end with both Theo Hernández and Davide Calabria being sent off, so they will be exempt from selection along with Pierre Kalulu who is injured. Total - Match Over 2.5 at 2.02.

The last encounter between these sides was at the San Siro and the away team triumphed 1-0. Troubling Milan has not won in the last four matches, and more importantly, they have lost three of them. Though there is cause for optimism in that Juventus have not defeated their principal rival at home since 2019, so we will be in for an interesting ninety minutes.

1x2 2.06 3.44 3.77

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 14:00 UTC Friday 19th April**

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