Dare to Zlatan? Dare to back his PSG side
After coming so close with our Saturday night fourfold (curse you Legia) we’re going one better and throwing a pair of sure to be Feisty European derbies into our Sunday fivefold.
Galatasaray vs Fenerbache – Turkish Super Liga – 18:00
In the last ten meetings between Galatasaray and Fenerbache in the Türk Telekom Arena there have been 13 red cards. No derby in Europe has more red cards in it since 2000. These two clubs hate each other with a passion on and off the pitch. Gala didn’t say ‘Welcome To Hell’ as a joke. On the pitch they have had the upper hand recently, losing just one of the last five derbies.
This season they are struggling in the league, with just one win since the 16th of January. Fenerbache are a point off Besiktas at the top so what better way than to rub it into Gala by beating them to keep pace or go top of the table? Wait for in play to back a red card. Fener have four clean sheets in a row so maybe lean towards them winning, but I’m tipping over 2.5 goals in this at
Boavista vs Benfica – Portuguese Primeira Liga – 18:15
Boavista grabbed a badly needed victory over Maritimo last weekend to move them out of the bottom two in Portugal. So what they would’ve wanted was a nice easy game to build some momentum for the home straight. Not a game against a side in line to win the title that’ve only lost one league same since October and have the best attack in the division.
Oh.
70 goals in 26 games, the chance to go further clear at the top and one of the best goalscorers in Europe in Jonas. This is going to be ugly. Easy Benfica win at
Sparta Praha vs Slavia Praha – Czech Liga – 18:30
Not as fiery as it’s Istanbul cousin, the Prague derby kicks off half an hour after Gala and Fenerbache. It’s been one of the most evenly matched in the last few seasons. Sparta’s victory in September was their first since 2012, but they lead the overall head to head by nearly 200.
In the league this season they hold the advantage as well. They’ve a game in hand over Viktoria Plzen at the top with the gap currently at six points. and are 11 points ahead of Slavia. The home side stunned Lazio in the Europa League during the week and confidence is high. Slavia always score goals, only failing to do so four times this season. Back a Sparta victory with both teams scoring at
Milan vs Lazio – La Liga – 19:45 (Live on BT)
If you go by form, this is an easy AC victory. They’ve won seven of their last eight home games with the only blip being a 1-1 draw with Udinese. If they could’ve fixed their form in the San Siro earlier in the season, they’d still be fighting for a Champions League place. As it is, they’re 11 points off in sixth and despite beating them a few games ago, still behind city rivals Inter by six points.
By contrast to Milan’s home form, Lazio have drawn their last seven away games in all competitions and were embarrassed 3-0 by Prague midweek. Stefano Pioli has nothing left to play for really. Lazio won’t go down, but they won’t go anywhere near the European places. A bit like West Brom. They’ll want a good performance in Milan though. Back both teams to score at
PSG vs Monaco – Franch Championnat – 8pm
Do you even need me to tell you why my tip is PSG -2 at?
25 points clear, a 9-0 win last weekend and through to the Champions League quarter finals. They’ve already beaten Monaco 3-0 this season, and when Zlatan is on form he is the best out and out striker on the planet. He got four of those 9 goals. Enough said.
- Of course if one leg of this fivefold lets you down, Paddy will refund losing bets! You’re welcome