What a weekend here! There are some great derbies, plus a rematch of the Champions League final. I’ve picked five games and given my tips, which you can use as you wish.
Schalke 2 v 2 Dortmund – Saturday 26 October – Bundesliga – Both Teams to Score (1.55)
The Ruhr Derby usually serves up plenty of entertainment and I don’t expect it to be any different this time. Schalke haven’t won either of their last two games but they have only lost one home game this season, which was against Bayern. Dortmund are fourth in the table, having drawn three of their last four league games. They lost to Inter in Champions League on Wednesday and have only won one of their last five games against Schalke. I’m going for a Draw here and I also like the look of Both Teams to Score – it’s happened in four of the last five derbies.
Atletico Madrid 1 v 0 Athletic Bilbao – Saturday 26 October – La Liga – Under 2.5 Goals (1.45)
These two sides just don’t let in goals. They have conceded five goals each in nine league games this season, which is the joint lowest figure in La Liga. In fact, Atletico have only conceded once in their last seven games in all competitions, all of which have seen Under 2.5 Goals. We had to wait for a goal in their game against Leverkusen on Tuesday but they won in the end and so did my tip. Bilbao haven’t won any of their last four games. Given their defence, it’s no surprise that there have been Under 2.5 Goals in all of their league games this season. I see a Home Win. I don’t see many goals.
Ajax 3 v 1 Feyenoord – Sunday 27 October – Eredivisie – Ajax Win and Over 2.5 Goals (1.55)
Ajax lost for the first time this season on Wednesday when they were beaten by a late Chelsea goal. However, they had won their previous eight home games this season in all competitions and are still top of the table ahead of this game. Old rivals Feyenoord, meanwhile, find themselves tenth in the standings after just one win in five league games. They won’t have much time to prepare either after their Europa League game on Thursday night. They have lost four of their last five games against Ajax and I have to go for the same again.
Liverpool 2 v 1 Tottenham – Sunday 27 October – Premier League – Liverpool Win (1.55)
We’ve got a rematch of last season’s Champions League final! Both teams won convincingly in Europe in midweek and I expect a good game here. Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the league table, having won eight of their last ten games in all competitions. They’re also on a run of 13 straight wins at Anfield, so Spurs will have to be at their very best to get something here. The visitors beat Crvena Zvezda 5-0 on Tuesday, but that was only their fourth win in 13 games this season. They have also lost eight of their last ten games on the road in the Premier League. Having been beaten three times by the Reds last season, I think it’s unlikely that Tottenham will get anything here.
PSG 3 v 0 Marseille – Sunday – PSG Win and Over 2.5 Goals (1.55)
Yet another fiery derby! PSG beat Club Brugge 5-0 on Tuesday thanks to a hat trick from Kylian Mbappe. That was their third high-scoring win in a row and you sense that they’re clicking into gear again after a tough spell. Well, even though I call it a “tough spell”, they have still won 12 out of 14 games this season! Marseille would love to bring the Parisians back down to earth. They’re fourth in Ligue 1 but have won just one of their last five games. They’ve also struggled at the Parc de Princes in recent seasons, having conceded three goals on each of their past three visits. This is a Home Win.