WhoScored Tipster: El Clasico stars among derby weekend top tips
Chelsea vs Tottenham
There’s little question as to the form side heading into this game, with Antonio Conte admitting as much, claiming that Tottenham are the best team in the country at present. The Blues, meanwhile, have lost two of their last four, failing to keep a clean sheet in 10 in the league. Their recent defeats have both come when a member of Conte’s favoured back six has been absent, with Moses missing out against Palace and both Courtois and Alonso unavailable against United. The latter pair should both be back for the short trip to Wembley, but Gary Cahill is now ruled out through illness.
Click for full team news and probable line-ups in our detailed match preview
John Terry could deputise just days after announcing that he would leave the club at the end of the season, though Zouma is perhaps more likely to get the nod. Either way Harry Kane and co. will be confident of breaching the Chelsea defence, though it seems unlikely that the league leaders will fail to score for a second successive game. My tip is for Tottenham to edge this one, but with both teams to score at a lofty 5.50.
Sporting CP vs Benfica
The Lisbon derby on Saturday holds greater significance now than it would have just a matter of weeks ago. While Sporting face a massive task to have any chance of a late title bid, victory over their local rivals would move them to within five points of top spot with four games remaining. They’ve narrowed the gap to SLB courtesy of five consecutive victories and there’s no question as to their driving force in that time.
Click for full team news and probable line-ups in our detailed match preview
Bas Dost has been in frankly sensational goalscoring form all year, taking his tally to 28 league goals for the season last time out having only made 26 appearances. The Dutchman was on the scoresheet in defeat in the reverse fixture, and odds of 2.20 to score at any time are just too good to resist.
Aston Villa vs Birmingham
What will be an emotionally charged second city derby following the tragic passing of former Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu also comes on the back of Gianfranco Zola’s resignation for the visitors. It’s little shock the Italian chose this moment to step down, with things in danger of turning even more sour for the Blues following a woeful run had they lost this match for local bragging rights.
Harry Redknapp takes the reigns and will be keen to sort out Birmingham’s defensive issues in a bid to beat the drop. Jonathan Kodjia's suspension is certainly a huge boost in that regard then, and goals may well be at a premium at Villa Park, so odds of 1.70 on under 2.5 goals may not be too high but represent a pretty safe way to boost a weekend accumulator.
Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce
The Intercontinental derby is undoubtedly the biggest rivalry in Turkey, even if these two sides are well short of their best. Fenerbahce are one point above their rivals at present, with both still hoping to finish second at best this season, though even that will be a tough ask. A draw in this game could rule them both out of a Champions League qualification spot, while any loser is all but certain to miss out.
There’s plenty at stake then, and Galatasaray will hope to make their home advantage count having done so in 6 of their last 7 meetings with Fener at the Turk Telekom Arena. This is sure to be a tight game though, with all six of said victories coming by a single goal. A repeat then, of Galatasaray to win with a one goal margin is good value at 4.50.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
The picture is pretty straightforward ahead of this upcoming Clasico. If Barcelona lose they will all but surrender the title to Real Madrid, who would open up a 6-point gap at the top with a game still in hand over the blaugrana. It would also be an awful end to an awful fortnight, having been dumped out of the Champions League and lost away to Malaga in a game that saw Neymar sent off and subsequently ruled out of the weekend’s showdown.
Click for full team news and probable line-ups in our detailed match preview
When Barca and Enrique have needed a saviour, and they certainly do at this time, Lionel Messi has stepped up to plate far more often than not this season and with 14 goals in his last 11 league games, he is running away with La Liga’s golden boot. Odds on the Argentine to score a fifth goal in his last five appearances at the Bernabeu at 2.00 represent far better value than Ronaldo (1.61) in this one then, and you can stream the game live on bet365 to watch the magician in action on Sunday night.
