Hungary v Belgium

The Hungarians have done well to date but I feel they have gone as far as they can go, they were lucky against a very poor Portuguese team scoring deflected goals and I simply do not see them getting that lucky today.

Belgium are a top top team, certainly a lot better than Portugal and they will not make the same mistakes that the Portuguese did against the Hungarians.

Belgium are getting better, they are now starting to operate more like a team than individuals and they really can win this tournament outright.

Hungary have been entertaining, but their time is up

Belgium to win and cover spread.

Germany v Slovakia

Another tricky game but the Germans should really come out on top and I am confident that is exactly what will happen.

The spread has been set at one goal and the Germans have the team to overcome that, The Slovaks are an OK side but they showed against England that they offer very little other 11 men behind the ball when up against a top team.

The difference this time is that while England did not know how to break the Slovak down, the Germans do and once they do the Slovaks will have to come out and attack, which leaves them open to more German attacks.

I see nothing but a German win and by more than one goal.

France v Republic of Ireland

Very tricky one, but I fear that the Republic of Ireland will lose this one.

It is easy to get carried away with their win over Italy, but that was a weakened Italian team and even their A team is not much better, I backed Ireland in that game for those specific reasons, this game is very different.

France are at home, they have some great players and they still have yet to click together, if they do today then they will beat Ireland fairly easy, if they do not click today they will beat them narrowly, but win they will.

Ireland have heart and passion but the French have home advantage and better players.

France to win and cover the spread

Vitoria @ Gremio

The spread has been set quite high for this one but I am confident that Gremio have enough about then to both beat Vitoria and to cover the spread.

Gremio have won all their home games so far this season in Serie A, they have won by two goals twice, they sit third in the table, have form and momentum, now lets look at Vitoria.

They sit fifth from bottom in Serie A, they have collected just two points from a possible 15 on the road and have lost two of their three away losses by two goals or more.

Basically what we have here is a formidable home side against a weak away side, the gulf in class between these two is very evident and while the spread of 1.5 goals is quite high, this is one game were I am confident that it will be covered.

I take Gemio -1.5 goals

Hungary v Portugal

Portugal simply have to win this and despite their weak performances so far I do expect them to emerge the winners.

Portugal are a one man team, there is no way of avoiding that fact, they are a bunch of average players all focused on supplying one man, that has been their undoing for years now and I do not expect them to get anywhere near the final, but they are good enough to beat the Hungarians, who themselves have defied expectations.

But the truth is that the Hungarians are a poor team, they have done well to date, there is no denying that but even an unbalanced mentally weak Portugal side reliant on one man is enough to inflict a defeat on the Magyars.

All things considered I am taking Portugal to win this one, to cover the spread and qualify.

Ukraine v Poland

Poland should really emerge the victors in this Group C game at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille later today.

Ukraine were hopeless against Northern Ireland and surely cannot play worse, but even if they manage to improve on that dismal performance I do not see it being enough against a very well organised Poland.

Poland showed against Germany what they are capable of and if they put in that sort of performance again today they will win.

Ukraine would have to win and hope Northern Ireland get thrashed against Germany to claim third and hold an outside chance of making the next round, in better words they are almost certainly out and I can see their heads dropping if the Poles grab the first goal.

Poland have momentum and in Robert Lewandowski they have one of the best strikers in the world and I am very confident that once the dust settles Poland will have won this game.

Northern Ireland v Germany

Northern Ireland have done really well so far, their win over Ukraine was brilliant and they are full of confidence, but I am sad to say that I believe they have reached their limits and will find Germany one step too far.

The Germans took some stick from the German media and fans for drawing against Poland and they will be looking to get back to winning ways today, they have to really, otherwise a rot could set in that the world champions will find difficult to get out of.

The truth is that Germany are world champions and Northern Ireland are very limited, they may be organised and have a gritty determination, but they are up against one of the best football teams on the planet and they will find that out the hard way later today.

Whatever way I look at this, I see a convincing German win and fully expect them to cover the spread.

Argentina v Venezuela

This game looks a bit of a mismatch and come the final whistle I expect the result to bare that out.

Argentina are a genuine world class team, Venezuela are not, the Argentine's cruised into this round while Venezuela were rather fortunate.

Whatever way I look at this game I cannot see anything other than a convincing Argentine win, they simply have far too many world class players for the Venezuelans to cope with.

The spread has been set quite high but I expect the Argentine's to cover it and probably easily.

Take Argentina -1.5 goals

Peru v Colombia

I take Colombia to win this game, I simply do not rate Peru and do not think they are good enough to be competitive.

I have seen all the Copa America games and I saw Peru beat Brazil, they were very very lucky, they scored with a handball, it was a disgraceful decision to award them the goal and were lucky to be playing a Brazilian side that lacked leadership and vision.

The Peruvians only managed to beat Haiti 1-0 and that result alone tells you the level of their game, Haiti are not a good team by any stretch of the imagination, they did do well against Ecuador it must be said, however, that was their high point, do not be fooled by the win over Brazil, play that game another 10 times and they would lose every time.

Colombia are far better than Peru, that is the reality, they had already qualified when they lost to Costa Rica and they showed against the USA in the opening game how clinical they can be, they do their jobs efficiently and I expect that to be the case this evening.

I am very confident that Colombia will win this game and that they will cover the spread.

Spain v Turkey

I cannot see anything other than a Spain win today and I will be backing the Spanish to win this game convincingly.

Turkey were outplayed against Croatia and their limitations at this level were exposed for all to see, the fact that they struggled against the Croatians does not bode well for them today against Spain.

Spain should have won by more against the Czech Republic, they really made hard work of the task, the Czechs did defend in numbers but for a team of Spain's abilities it was a performance that could only be considered sub standard, yet they still won.

The spread has been set high, but I am very confident that the Spanish have enough about them to win this game by at least a couple of goals.

USA V Ecuador

This is a huge game for USA, win and they will be the semi final of Copa America and I believe that is exactly what will happen.

Ecuador are a good side, it would be foolish to think that this game will be easy for USA, it will not, the Ecuadorians deserve their place in the quarter finals, but I think they have gone as far as they can now.

The USA have one huge advantage and that is home advantage, that makes a difference and with the crowd behind them I do expect Jurgen Klinsmann's men to deliver at CenturyLink field this evening.

I take the USA to win on the spreads.

Ukraine v Northern Ireland

It really would be nice to see Northern Ireland claim the win today, but I really cannot see that happening and take Ukraine to come out on top.

Northern Ireland are probably the worst team in the competition, they did very well to make this tournament and they are definitely a plucky outfit, but they are very limited and despite being very organised, they are handicapped by their limitations.

Ukraine are not exactly world beaters I admit and it would not be the greatest shock in the world if Northern Ireland did get a result against them, but I simply do not see that happening, they did well against Germany despite losing 2-0 and I really cannot see anything other than a Ukraine win today.

The spread is set quite high but I am confident that Ukraine will overcome it.

Take Ukraine -1

Romania v Switzerland

I like the look of the Romanians in this game and take them to get the better of the Swiss.

I thought the Swiss were very lucky against 10 man Albania in their opening game and they did not convince me that they are anything special, in fact my opinion of them fell somewhat, they were simply not as good as I thought they were.

Romania I thought did themselves proud against the French, that was a hell of a tough assignment and even though they lost I felt they did quite well.

The Swiss would probably be happy with a draw in this game and the truth is I do not see them doing any better than that at best.

I am taking Romania on the spreads.

Russia v Slovakia

Russia and Slovakia go head to head in the second game of group B for these two sides, both are desperate for the win and both will see this game as their best chance to register a win.

The Russians did not convince me at all when they salvaged a draw against England, they were outplayed throughout the game and showed that they are a very average side.

Slovakia were unfortunate against Wales and while they are not any sort of world beaters, they are not as inferior to the Russians as the odds would have you believe.

I see the Slovakian's putting up a good show and matching the Russians and I take them to cover the spread today.

Chile v Panama

I cannot see anything but a Chile win here and a convincing one at that.

Chile were both very lucky and very unlucky in their 2-1 win over Bolivia, they were very unlucky because they should have won the game easily, they had more than enough chances and on any other day would have racked up a loadl of goals, they were very lucky being awarded a dubious penalty in the last seconds of the game to grab the win.

Panama are simply not in the same class as Chile, they were thumped by Argentina and were lucky to beat Bolivia and if Chile play to form then Panama will spend the evening in their own half defending.

Chile are due a comprehensive win, they owe their fans one and they deserve a change in luck, I am very confident that will happen tonight, they may only need a draw but having watched what happened to Brazil I cannot see them being complacent and fully expect them to go all out for the win.

I see Chile winning this one easily and will be taking them to cover the spread.

Austria v Hungary

The odds suggest that this is close to being a walkover for the Austrians, but I am not convinced of that.

The Austrians did qualify in style but their qualification group was hardly the strongest and since then their pre tournament games have not been overwhelming, they are not what can be considered a top class side.

The Hungarians are definitely not a top class side, but neither are they minnows like San Marino or some other tiny footballing nation, they qualified the hard way via the play offs and their qualification group was arguably no easier than the Austrians.

I will not go as far as taking the Hungarians on the money line, but I do believe they are very good value on the spreads and that will be my pick.

Take Hungary +0.5

Germany vs Ukraine

Germany and Ukraine go head-to-head in their opening game of the European Championships, with the reigning world champions Germany expected to win by at least 2 goals.

Germany ended a turbulent qualification period top of their group, above close rivals Poland, but have been inconsistent during recent friendlies, losing three of their five matches. However, Die Mannschaft faced strong opponents in each, and will be boosted after a comprehensive 4-1 win over Italy. The Germans have always had poor results in preparation for competitions, and after their dominating performance in Brazil two years ago, most would suggest the country are among favourites to lift the European trophy in France.  Although Thomas Muller has yet to score in the European Championships, the Bayern Munich striker scored nine times in qualifying and will be certainly be a considerable threat to their opponents.

Ukraine were less convincing in the preliminary stages, having to qualify for the tournament by winning their play-off fixture against Slovenia. The country has only previously featured in the Euros as hosts, and lack high-level experience compared to their German counterparts. Head coach Mykhaylo Fomenko is expected to field an attacking side, including Andriy Yarmolenko and Viktor Kovalenko, though their defence will not be strong enough and mainly consists of Ukrainian league players. Ukraine recently conceded 3 times against Romania, and Germany will certainly be able to take advantage of any frailties in the back-line.

With a strong attacking setup and significant tournament experience, I predict that Germany will beat Ukraine by at least 2 goals at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy this evening.

Wales vs Slovakia

Wales and Slovakia travel to the Stade Matmut-Atlantique in Bordeaux for the opening Group B match of the Euros, with the Welsh predicted to do well in their opening game.

Wales are featuring in their second-ever major tournament, previously appearing in the 1958 World Cup, and will be eager to provide an excellent showing for their supporters. The Dragons lost just once during qualifying, a 2-0 away defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and conceded only four goals throughout. Wales will be boosted by fitness reports, with key players Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu all returning from injury. At near-full strength, Chris Coleman’s side should possess more than enough talent to beat their opponents.

Slovakia are also playing in the Euros for the first time, though their squad appears less than convincing on paper. The country’s all-time top goalscorer Robert Vittek is absent from the team due to injury, while captain Martin Skrtel has endured a poor individual season at Liverpool. Jan Kozak’s team rely heavily on Napoli’s Marek Hamsik for their attacking play, with the Napoli midfielder scoring 5 goals in qualifying, but lack any threat elsewhere. If Hamsik is kept in check by Wales, it’s difficult to see Slovakia producing anything of note.

Overall, I predict that Wales will make a return to tournament football with a victory over Slovakia this afternoon, however, I will not be taking them on the money line.

Because this is their first game in a major tournament in over 50 years there is a chance they may succumb to the occasion, so may Slovakia for that matter, but it is an element I cannot ignore.

Therefore I am taking Wales on the spread and in the event they draw then at least the stake is returned, it is a safety net that I feel is best taken for this game because of the circumstances surrounding it.

Chile vs Bolivia

Chile and Bolivia face one another at the Gillette Stadium for their second Group D fixture, and while the Chileans should win, I cannot see Bolivia losing heavily as the spread suggests.

Despite being the current Copa America champions, Chile have been in poor form over recent months. La Roja’s results have included losses to Jamaica and Mexico, as well as defeat in their opening match of the competition against Argentina. However, the Chileans did demonstrate some excellent football on Monday, and will be hoping to restore confidence with a victory over minnows Bolivia. Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team have only lost 1 of their 11 encounters with Bolivia, and know that they will need all the points to retain a chance of progressing from the group.

Although Bolivia are considered one of the lowest-ranked teams in this year’s competition, the national team are unlikely to suffer a heavy loss this evening. As with their opponents, La Verde have also lost 5 of their previous 6 matches, and are almost certainly going to lose once more to Chile. It’s difficult to predict a significant goal margin between the two sides though, with the majority of Bolivia’s losses by no more than a couple of goals. Julio Cesar Baldivieso’s squad may not have much threat up front, but have improved their defensive discipline of late.

Overall, we expect that Chile will probably claim the victory today, but Bolivia will have a 2 goal start on the spread and that for me is just too high, therefore I am taking Bolivia to cover the spread..

France vs Romania

France will open the European Championships with their Group A match against Romania this evening, and although Les Bleus may win, we predict that Romania will not lose by 2 goals or more.

As the tournament hosts, France automatically qualified without the need to play any competitive fixtures. However, the country played friendly matches against countries in Group I, including the likes of Portugal and Denmark, and would have topped the standings based on their results. Les Bleus have been on an impressive run of form, winning 9 of their previous 10 games, with their only loss coming from England shortly after the Paris terror attacks. However, Didier Deschamps’ squad have encountered some difficulties recently, labouring in their victories over the Netherlands, Russia and Cameroon, and winning each by just a single goal margin.

Relative minnows Romania qualified for a major tournament for the first time in 8 years, having previously featured in Euro 2008 where they finished bottom of the group. The Tricolorii went undefeated in qualification stages, earning 5 wins and 5 draws, suggesting they won’t be pushovers this time around. Romania conceded the fewest number of goals of any team during that period, just 2 goals conceded in the 10 fixtures, and could frustrate a French attack that includes inconsistent striker Olivier Giroud. Despite being underdogs for the match, Anghel Iordănescu’s side were able to draw in recent friendlies against Italy and Spain, and even in defeat are unlikely to be humiliated tonight.

In summary, my prediction is that while France could take the victory and all three points, Romania will not lose by 2 goals or more and will therefore cover the spread.

Uruguay v Venezuela

It is hard to see this game ending in anything other than a Uruguay win.

Both these teams first games involved red cards and it was very interesting to see how the games evolved once the red cards had been issued.

Venezuela beat 10 man Jamaica, but they made such hard work of it, when I was watching the game it was hard to know who was really down to ten men, Jamaica were very unlucky to lose that game and Venezuela were very lucky to claim the three points.

Uruguay were down to ten men for large parts of their game against Mexico and managed to claw themselves back into the game a minute after Mexico themselves were reduced to ten men, Mexico won the game with two late goals in the 85th minute and injury time, but the Uruguayans showed a great deal of character in their loss, certainly a lot more than what today's opponents Venezuela showed in their win over Jamaica.

Uruguay will be without Luis Suarez and that is a hit, seems he may end up missing the entire tournament, but they have enough talent up front in Cavani to be able to cope without the Barcelona maestro.

Bottom line is this, Uruguay showed far more in defeat than Venezuela did in victory in their respective opening games and I do not see the Venezuelans improving, whereas I do see Uruguay putting in another good performance.

I see Uruguay winning this game and winning it comfortably, I am very confident they can cover the fairly high spread of one goal and win this game by at least a couple.

Colombia vs Paraguay

Colombia and Paraguay travel to the Rose Bowl this evening for their second Group A fixture in the Copa America, with the Colombians considered favourites to claim the win.

Colombia entered the tournament strongly on the back of three consecutive wins, including their friendly preparation match against Haiti. The team continued by beating the hosts of the Copa America Centenario, the United States, in a convincing 2-0 victory to almost certainly guarantee their chances of reaching the group stages. Colombia’s star player James Rodriguez was able to begin his tournament with confidence, registering on the score sheet in the opening game and expected to carry his team to the latter stages. Currently ranked 3rd in the world by FIFA rankings, Jose Pekerman’s squad should have more than enough quality to easily overcome their opponents. 

Paraguay cannot be deemed a threat to the Colombians after a particularly poor showing against Costa Rica at the weekend. La Albirroja managed just a single shot on target in the ninety minutes, despite relatively decent attacking talent, such as AS Roma striker Juan Iturbe. Paraguay lost their last encounter against the Colombians, and all the signs indicate that they will be defeated once again.

In summary, Group A leaders Colombia will be expected to claim all three points over Paraguay this evening, ensuring their place in the knock out stages.

Argentina vs Chile

Argentina clash with Chile in the one of the highest-profile matches of the group stage of the Copa America, with Argentina predicted to claim the victory.

Argentina have enjoyed excellent international results of late, reaching two consecutive tournament finals. La Albiceleste are currently unbeaten in their past six games, crucially including a 2-1 victory over Chile in World Cup qualifiers during March. Although the team will not start with talismanic forward Lionel Messi, who is carrying a back injury, there is plenty of world class talent in the squad. Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain may have been unimpressive in past appearances for his country, but has enjoyed a record-breaking Serie A campaign with Napoli, and should be able to take over goalscoring responsibilities. Tata Martino’s side will also be incentivised to earn a win as revenge for last year’s Copa America final, missing out on the trophy after penalties.

While Chile are the reigning Copa America champions, the team enter the Centenario edition of the competition in poor form. La Roja have lost four of their past five games, notably including a humiliating defeat to Jamaica last month. The Chilean squad features a number of young and inexperienced defensive options, while attacking stars, particularly Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, have been inconsistent recently. It appears highly unlikely that Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side will be able to overcome Argentina again, and will certainly be defeated in their opening game.

Overall, I expect Argentina to be too strong for their opponents to handle, beating Chile at the Levi’s Stadium this evening.

Internacional @ Vitoria

Vitoria welcome Internacional to the Barradão in their Brazilian Serie A fixture, with the visitors predicted to not lose the fixture this afternoon.

Vitoria have had mixed fortunes in their start to the season, currently down at 16th in the league standings. Although their travels leave much to be desired, the newly-promoted team are unbeaten at home, including an important 3-2 victory against league leaders Corinthians; their only win so far in the campaign. However, Vágner Mancini’s squad have been struggling since then, and were beaten 1-0 by Flamengo on Friday. Vitoria have the potential to grind out a draw, but the club appear unlikely to have enough to secure another three points against high-flying Internacional.

Visitors Internacional enter the fixture with plenty of confidence and unbeaten in their first five matches of the season. Inter are currently 2nd in the league, behind Corinthians on goal difference with a game to spare, and a positive result at the Barradão would place them in pole position. Argel Fucks’ side have won each match by a one goal margin, offering Vitoria the possibility of defending for a draw, though there is no chance of Inter losing. The team have conceded just a single goal so far this season, and are unlikely to slip to defeat.

Overall, I predict that Internacional’s impressive record and defence will be enough to avoid defeat today, most probably winning and with a draw the worst scenario.

Haiti vs Peru

Haiti clash with Peru at the CenturyLink Field for the opening Group B match of the Copa America, with the Peruvians expected to comfortably claim victory by at least two goals.

Ahead of the game, Peru are considered the favourites based upon their recent progress in tournaments, achieving 3rd ahead of Paraguay in last year’s Copa America. Los Incas put their World Cup qualifying struggled behind them with excellent friendly victories over Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador, and will be confident of repeating the results against the competition’s lowest-ranked country. Ricardo Gareco has decided to field a young squad that will be eager to prove themselves, knowing that a victory will be required if they are to have a chance to qualify in a group containing both Brazil and Ecuador.

The Haitian national team enter the fixture with little experience in competitions, aside from the local Caribbean Cup. Les Grenadiers have a poor record against higher-ranked opponents, losing three of their past five games, including last weekend’s friendly against Colombia. The highest goal-scorer in the current Haiti squad is Kervens Belfort with just 11 international goals, and Patrice Neveu are unlikely to pose much of a threat to teams in their Copa America debut.

I predict that Peru will easily win their opening match against minnows Haiti by a margin of at least two goals.

Paraguay vs Costa Rica

The Copa America Group A fixtures continue this afternoon, with Costa Rica expected to not lose against Paraguay at the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium.

Costa Rica have emerged as an impressive side in global football over recent years, including reaching the quarter-final stage of the 2014 World Cup. The team have lost just two of their past ten international fixtures, capping off preparation for the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Venezuela. While both countries are considered underdogs to progress, Oscar Ramirez’s side are arguably stronger than their opponents, and will be keen to capitalise on the USA’s defeat yesterday.

Although Paraguay are boosted by the absence of Costa Rica’s star goalkeeper Keylor Navas due to injury, Los Albirroja have suffered their own problems. The Paraguayan team have regularly struggled in attack, averaging less than one goal in their past ten games, and will sorely miss record goal-scorer Roque Santa Cruz. Replacement Nelson Valdez has scored just 13 times in 75 international appearances, and will be unlikely to take advantage of the Costa Rican injury crisis. Ramon Diaz's side have won only two of their games since crashing out of the Copa America last year, and it's difficult to see an improvement happening today.

Based on their recent form and expected line-ups, I do not see Costa Rica losing this match, and I predict that Costa Rica will cover the spread.

AFC Wimbledon vs Plymouth Argyle

AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth Argyle travel to Wembley Stadium for the League Two play-off final this afternoon, and I predict that Wimbledon will not be in a losing position after 90 minutes.

Despite finishing 7th place in the League Two table, Wimbledon enter the fixture on an excellent run of form. The Dons have lost just one of their last 10 matches, including a narrow 3-2 aggregate victory over rated Accrington Stanley. Neal Ardley’s squad won 2-1 in the previous fixture against Plymouth at Home Park, proving they’re capable of surpassing their opponents away from home. Wimbledon have never played a competitive fixture at Wembley before, and will be aiming to give the supporters plenty to cheer about as they continue their remarkable rise through the leagues.

Although Plymouth Argyle have beaten Wimbledon twice in all competitions this season, it’s difficult to see them finishing off the game within 90 minutes. The Pilgrims have faltered slightly in recent weeks, with an unconvincing win over Portsmouth earning their place in the play-off final. Derek Adams’ side have struggled to pick up points against teams in the top half of the table this season, and will most likely encounter difficulties against the Dons.

In summary, I expect Wimbledon to either win the match outright or take it to extra time, and cannot see the Dons losing after 90 minutes.

Portland Timbers @ Chicago Fire

Eastern Conference hosts the Western Conference as Chicago Fire welcome Portland Timbers this afternoon, with the visitors predicted to either win or draw the match.

Chicago Fire have been disappointing throughout the season so far, currently bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Veljko Paunovic’s squad have won just 2 matches of the current campaign, only narrowly edging out fellow strugglers Houston Dynamo last weekend. The Fire have scored just 9 goals in 11 games, the lowest in either division, and cannot be considered to pose too much of a threat to their opponents today.

Visitors Portland Timbers also recently ended a 3 match losing streak, emphatically beating rivals Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 on Sunday. The Timbers have encountered difficulties on the road, but have already faced some of the strongest teams over the past month, and can take some confidence from their positive attacking performances. Caleb Porter’s side have never lost against Chicago, winning 4 of their 6 matches since 2011, and are expected to take at least a share of the points at the Toyota Park once again. 

I cannot see Chicago Fire winning this match due to their disappointing showing this season, and predict that Portland Timbers will either draw or win the match.

Nurnburg V Eintracht Frankfurt

Second leg of the play off in Germany today between Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and Bundesliga 2 side Nurnburg.

These two are playing for the right to play in the top German league next season, Frankfurt finished third bottom in the top league, while Nurnburg finished third in the second division.

The first leg finished 1-1 in Frankfurt and this has set up an enticing second leg with all to play for.

Frankfurt blew the chance to leave their home ground with an advantage and face an uphill struggle to maintain their presence in the top division.

Nurnburg are quite formidable at home, they lost just the once all season on their home ground and will be confident that they can get the better of a very weak Frankfurt side.

Frankfurt lost 11 from 17 on the road and in their last ten games away they lost 8 times, they are not a team to be confident about when travelling.

Nurnburg have the exact opposite figures over their last 10 home games, winning on 8 occasions.

Now, it must be noted that Frankfurt were playing teams of a higher standard, but the first leg showed that Nurnburg have more about them, they certainly have the momentum, something that Frankfurt clearly lack.

For me this is a game that I cannot see Nurnburg losing and I will be taking them to cover the spread.

Atletico Tucuman  @ Newell’s Old Boys vs 

Newell’s Old Boys will host high-flying Atletico Tucuman at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa this afternoon, with the home team predicted to avoid defeat in their important Argentine Primera Division match.

Newell’s started the season poorly, losing 4 of their first 6 league matches, but have been slowly gaining some consistency. The team have lost only 1 of their 7 home league fixtures at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa so far, and will have gained some confidence after emphatically winning their last match 5-2 against Sansinema in the Argentina Cup. Supporters should be confident that they will manage to take at least a share of the spoils this afternoon, using the home advantage to prevent another loss.

Although visitors Atletico Tucuman are enjoying 3rd place in the league standings at the moment, Juan Manuel Azconzabal’s squad have encountered some difficulties on their travels, picking up just 2 wins in 7 attempts. Their most recent away match ended 1-1 against Temperley, a side just one position above today’s opponents Newell’s Old Boys, and it would appear doubtful that Atletico have enough to take all the points.

My prediction is that Newell’s Old Boys will not lose against Atletico Tucuman today, managing to either secure a win or at worst, a draw with their opponents.

Brann @ Molde

Molde welcome Brann this afternoon for an important Norwegian Tippeligaen fixture, with the hosts expected to comfortably win.

Hosts Molde enter the match as overwhelming favourites, undefeated at the Aker Stadion this season with 4 wins in their previous 5 home games. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side boast the most prolific attack in the Norwegian league, averaging 2 goals per match, and supporters should be confident of repeating the same result today against Brann. Molde are currently 3rd in the league standings, though a strong result could see them rise above 2nd-place Odd on goal difference, which will be a definite incentive after losing to them 2-0 earlier in the week.

Newly promoted Brann have been defying expectations during their first season returning to the top division, but cannot be considered winners for this fixture. The team have lost 3 of their last 4 matches on the road, and average less than 1 goal scored per game. Lars Arne Nilsen’s squad lack the attacking threat required to compete with the strong Molde side, and will most likely be easily overwhelmed once more.

We predict that the home side will be able to take all the points in style for this afternoon league fixture, with Molde winning by at least 2 goals.

River Plate @ Arsenal

Arsenal de Sarandi host River Plate for the evening’s Argentine Primera Division Group A match, with the hosts tipped to claim victory at the Estadio Julio H. Grondona.

The hosts enter the fixture having lost their previous league match 2-0 against Indepediente last weekend. However, Arsenal will still be expected to perform well for the game due to their impressive home record, losing just 1 of their last 7 matches in front of their supporters. Currently 4th in the Group A standings, Fernando de la Rosa’s men will be confident of continuing their run with a positive performance, taking all 3 points over their struggling opponents.

Last season’s Copa Libertadores winners have encountered several difficulties so far this campaign, languishing in 9th position. Los Millonarios have won just a single game on their travels in 7 attempts, with only 4 league victories in total. River Plate have scored just 3 times in their recent 5 games, and despite appearing to have fixed their early defensive problems, may still struggle in this fixture,

Arsenal fans should look forward a home win this evening over a lacklustre River Plate, taking all the points and pushing themselves above Indepediente into 3rd. 

Kalmar @ Djurgarden 

Djurgarden host Kalmar in the Swedish Allsvenskan at the Tele 2 Arena in Stockholm today.

The home side really should collect all three points today against a very weak Kalmar side who are currently sit third bottom in the league.

Djurgarden have won three of their four home games this season at home and apart from that one loss have knocked in a minimum of three goals in each of their home wins.

Kalmar on the other hand have yet to register a win on the road in their four road games losing two and drawing two, they have yet to score more than once in any game on their away trips and I see them struggling again today.

Djurgarden are not setting the world on fire, they are just three points ahead of Kalmar, but they are good at home and Kalmar are weak away.

Whatever way I look at this game, all I see is a home win.

Bournemouth @  Man Utd

The Premier League finally concludes this evening when Bournemouth once again travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, with the hosts expected to win by at least 2 goals.

Manchester United have struggled with some inconsistent form this season, most recently letting their hopes of Champions League qualification slip after defeat to West Ham. The Red Devils are tied on points with 5th placed Southampton, and would need just a single point to claim the automatic Europa League position, but will throw everything forward to ensure nothing is left to chance. Louis van Gaal’s team boast the second-best home record in the Premier League, and will be aiming to restore their confidence with a comprehensive victory at Old Trafford. The players know that a strong result would be needed before the crucial FA Cup final at Wembley this weekend, and a victory by at least 2 goals would achieve a much-needed morale boost.

Visitors Bournemouth have exceeded their expectations by avoiding relegation from the top division, but cannot be considered as potential winners this evening. The Cherries have been week in attack throughout the season, and will struggle to muster any sort of meaningful attack against the Premier League’s best defence. Eddie Howe’s men have already achieved their target for the campaign, and will likely be distracted with the prospect of the summer break.

In summary, Manchester United are predicted to comfortably see off Bournemouth tonight, winning by a margin of 2 goals or more.

Aalborg BK @ AGF Aarhus 

AGF Aarhus welcome Aalborg BK in a Danish Superliga fixture at the Ceres Park this evening, with the visitors considered favourites to claim victory.

Newly-promoted hosts Aarhus have been struggling in the top division of Danish football this season, and remain just three points above Esbjerg and the relegation zone. Last week, the Whites won their first game in 11 attempts, though it seems doubtful that Glen Riddersholm’s squad will be able to follow it up with a successive victory. AGF lost the season’s previous home fixture against Aalborg back in August, and will be vulnerable to another defeat with their poor defensive record.

Although visitors Aalborg lost to league leaders Copenhagen in their most recent league fixture, Lars Søndergaard’s team have been excellent over the past few weeks, winning 5 of their last 7 matches. One of their wins included a 3-0 home thrashing of 4th placed Brøndby, and another 3 points this evening would cause Aalborg to leapfrog them and claim the position. The AaB team will be motivated by the prospect of potential European qualification, and should be able to repeat their previous result at Ceres Park by brushing Aarhus aside.

Aalborg BK to cover the spread and win the evening’s match against AGF Aarhus and take all three points.

Haugesund @ Valerenga

Valerenga host high-flying Haugesund in the afternoon Norwegian Tippeligaen match, with the home team expected to claim all three points with a victory at the Ullevaal Stadion.

Valerenga had a dismal start to the season, losing their first four fixtures and dropping to the bottom of the league table. However, Kjetil Rekdal’s team have steadily improved in recent weeks, particularly with performances in front of their home support. Valerenga have comfortably won each of their past three games at the Ullevaal, and fans will be confident that their good run will continue against Haugesund. The Bohemians completed the double over their opponents last season, and will be aiming to do so once again this time round.

Haugesund are seven positions above Valerenga, currently enjoying 4th in the league standings. Although the Araberne have registered some strong results so far, Mark Dempsey’s squad have struggled on their travels this season, losing three of the last four away games. Combined with their historic difficulty against Valerenga, it’s hard to see Haugesund taking anything from today’s game.

Valerenga have put their awful start to the season firmly behind them, and maintain an excellent home record. Therefore, the hosts should be considered favourites for the match and beat Haugesund this afternoon.

Orlando City @ Sporting Kansas City

Orlando City will travel to the Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon, to face Sporting Kansas City in a fixture that the visitors are unlikely to lose.

Western Conference hosts Sporting KC enjoyed a strong start to the MLS season, initially picking up 4 victories in their first 5 matches. However, Peter Vermes’ side have not won any of their past 7 games since beating New York Red Bulls in early April, and show little sign of improving. A humiliating loss to bottom side Houston Dynamo last weekend demonstrated Sporting’s current lack of threat, and they should pose little problems for Orlando.

The Lions have also encountered their fair share of issues this season, currently suffering a 5 match run without a win. However, Orlando City continue to provide promising performances each week, and will be confident of taking something from today’s match, having drawn their past 2 games. The only previous MLS encounter between the two sides ended with a comfortable win for Orlando, and they will be eager for a repeat result today. 

Neither team enter the game in great form, but Orlando have the slight edge and should be able to earn a share of the points today at the very least. Sporting KC supporters should not expect a home win, and will extend their run to 8 matches without a victory.

Fiorentina @ Lazio

For their final match of the season, Lazio welcome Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, with the visitors expected to earn at least a point in the closely-contested fixture.

Although hosts Lazio have picked up consecutive wins against Inter Milan and Carpi this month, Simone Inzaghi’s side have struggled throughout the season and are guaranteed to finish a disappointing 8th place in the league standings. The Biancocelesti have won just five of their past thirteen home games, and despite boasting an excellent record against Fiorentina, will most likely not earn another victory today. Lazio are missing influential pair Lucas Biglia and Filip Djordjevic through suspension, and will not have enough to finish off their opponents.

Likewise, Fiorentina’s position in Serie A will not be affected by tonight’s outcome, with La Viola already securing Europa League football for next season. While frequently struggling against Lazio in the past, including losing the reverse fixture 3-1, Paulo Sousa’s squad have an impressive record away from home. Having struggled in goalless draws against lowly Chievo and Palermo in recent weeks, Fiorentina will be hopeful of finishing the campaign with a positive result in Rome this evening.

Fiorentina supporters should expect their team to earn a share of the spoils in this fixture, earning either a draw or victory against Lazio.

Tottenham Hotspur @ Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur travel to St. James’ Park this afternoon, where they will be expected to comfortably win against an already relegated Newcastle United.

While the league title has slipped from their reach in recent weeks, Spurs still have plenty to play for, and a positive result today will confirm their place above local rivals Arsenal for the first time in 21 years. The Lilywhites will be motivated to achieve the feat, and by the news that manager Mauricio Pochettino has agreed a long-term contract with the club. Travelling supporters should expect confident, attacking football as a result, including top goalscorer Harry Kane seeking to reinforce his challenge for the Golden Boot.

In stark contrast, Newcastle cannot be predicted to take anything from this match, with their fate in the Championship sealed following Sunderland’s victory earlier in the week. Several players will be focused on their futures elsewhere, and Magpies’ boss Rafa Benitez will probably be among them. Despite previously claiming victory at White Hart Lane, the Tyneside club are not going to pose any threat to Spurs, who will encounter no problems in earning all three points.

Tottenham supporters should be confident of an easy win this afternoon, bringing an excellent season to a close.

New York Red Bulls @ DC United

Friday evening’s MLS Eastern Conference game sees DC United face New York Red Bulls, with the hosts favourites to take at least a point from the fixture.

The previous encounter between the two teams was last season’s semi-finals, when the Red Bulls won both legs 1-0. DC United will therefore have additional incentive to win this evening, and would overtake their opponents in the league standings with a victory. Earlier in the week, United lost at home to New York City FC, and both players and supporters will be hoping to recover from the defeat with a positive result.

Although the Red Bulls enter the fixture in decent form, having won two of their past three matches, the team are unlikely to snatch a win. Ben Olsen’s side have been disappointing on their travels, earning just one point in five away games, with only the Western Conference’s Houston Dynamo suffering a worse record.

However the game plays out, I cannot see DC United losing and I am far more confident in this game being either a draw or a home win than the Red Bulls leaving the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium with a win.

Tromso @ Sogndal

Tromso travel to Sogndal in the Norwegian Eliteserien today in a game between two teams expected to struggle as the season unfolds.

In fairness to Sogndal they are doing far better than what I thought they would do this season and even when they have lost they have been competitive, not something you can always say about Tromso.

Sogndal registered their first win in five league games last week when they beat Aalesund 4-1 away from home, a fantastic win, that was following a very impressive 1-1 home draw with league leaders and favourites for the title, Rosenborg.

Tromso have won just once in their last five league games, losing the other four and a couple of those losses include away losses to Valerenga 4-0 and Aalesund 6-0, when Tromso lose they tend to do it in style.

Sogndal have lost just the once at home this season from four games while Tromso have not won an away game from their five games on the road, in fact, Tromso have scored just once away from home and conceded 13, while Sogndal have conceded just two goals at home.

Whatever way I look at this it screams home win and that is exactly the way I am going on this game.

Aalesunds @ Sarpsborg 08

14th placed Aalesunds travel to 9th place Sarpsborg 08 today in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

I really like the look of Sarpsborg, they may not be the most consistent team in Norway, but when they are in the mood they can beat almost anybody.

Sarpsborg did lose their most recent game away to Valerenga in a humbling 3-0 loss, however, before that they had won three on the trot including a magnificent 4-0 win over Molde, regarded as one of the best two teams in Norway, that really was an impressive performance.

Aalesunds on the other hand have won just once in their last eight league games, losing six and drawing once and in their most recent game they lost at home 4-1 to Sogndal.

Sarpsborg should be able to put the Valerenga loss behind them, it was always going to be a difficult game for them and they will bounce back, not sure the same can be said about Aalesund, they can fold quickly, have not won away from home in their four road games and scored just the once, a stark contrast to Sarpsborg home record of just one loss.

All things considered I have this game to be a home win for Sarpsborg and for them to cover the spread.

Chelsea @ Liverpool

There is a lot of history between these two and while a lot of games at this stage of the season can be classed as meaningless, especially when you have teams mid table, this is not one of them, certainly not for Liverpool anyway.

The problem for Chelsea is that they are not playing to stop anyone, they showed against Tottenham what they can do if they really try, but of course they reverted to type by losing to Sunderland in the very next game.

Chelsea would have to be at their best to beat Liverpool and I just do not see that being the case, unless it is really personal to them, they do not try.

Chelsea do not like Liverpool, that is true, but their dislike for them is not enough for them to be able to raise their game to a level that would give them victory.

Liverpool always have an advantage when at home, especially in an evening game in England and they really do not like Chelsea, a club that they find crass and provocative.

Liverpool know they have a good opportunity to get one over Chelsea and will be focussed, for Chelsea there is nothing in this for them, if they were able to stop Liverpool winning a trophy or something then they would play out of their skins, but that is not the case.

Liverpool have been the better team this season and they are up against a team that basically do not care, they have that all important home advantage and they will definitely be up for this game, certainly more than Chelsea.

All things considered I take Liverpool to cover the spread.

Stromsgodset @ Molde

Molde have hit a little bump in the road over their last couple of games and are up against a Stromsgodset side that have hit a rich vein of form.

However, I am confident that Molde will get back to winning ways today and stop the away side in their tracks and bring the current good run to an end.

Molde are one of the top sides in the Norwegian league, they are one of the favourites to win the title and until their last couple of games they had been playing to form.

It should also be noted that one of those recent losses was in the Cup and they fielded a very weakened team, they also bounced back with two wins following a massive 4-0 loss to Sarpsborg earlier in the season and I see no reason why they cannot do that again.

Stromsgodset are on a five game unbeaten run in the league, winning four of those games and so they are clearly in form, but playing away at a wounded Molde is not the ideal game to keep an unbeaten run going.

I accept that Stromsgodset are on form, but Molde are the better team, they may be showing some signs of inconsistency, but I am confident they will get back on track today and register a home win.

Man Utd @ West Ham

West Ham United will host Manchester United in their final game at the Boleyn Ground, and can be expected to dent their opponents’ chances of a top-four finish by taking a share of the points this evening.

West Ham have been a thorn in United’s side, playing the Red Devils three times this season in the Premier League and FA Cup. The Hammers drew on the first two occasions, and United were forced to throw everyone into defence to edge past them in the FA Cup replay match. The club have remained at their stadium since 1904, and the West Ham players will be desperate to give it a fitting send-off before their move to the Olympic Stadium.

While Louis van Gaal’s men are unbeaten in their past six matches in all competitions, their performances have been inconsistent and lucky at best. Without talismanic forward Anthony Martial during their match against lowly Norwich, the United attack were toothless and posed little threat. Martial remains injured, and facing a team vying for Europa League qualification, the Red Devils will struggle to create any meaningful chances.

It is hard to see United taking a a win from this highly-charged fixture, and West Ham look good to  secure either a draw or home victory tonight.

Take West Ham to cover the spread

Partick Thistle @ Dundee United 

Dundee United’s woes are not yet over, with the relegated side unlikely to win against Partick Thistle in their final home match of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

United’s fate was sealed after derby defeat to local rivals Dundee, and their status remains uncertain after news that only four players have been told they have a future at the club. Although they overcame Inverness in an excellent 3-2 victory on Friday, a repeat performance against Partick is a tall order. A demotivated team with little to play for will probably feature inexperienced youth prospects, as caretaker manager Gordon Young decides to offer some senior playing-time with nothing at stake. 

Meanwhile, Partick Thistle’s squad will enter the fixture positively, with relegation play-off positions avoided and another season in Scotland’s top division guaranteed. They will enter as favourites for the tie, having beaten United in each of their previous three league encounters this season. Alan Archibald’s side have struggled in recent weeks though, and with a number of players sidelined through injury, a draw may still be possible.

Either way, I am confident that Partick Thistle will cover the spread on this one

New England Revolution @ LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy supporters should expect to celebrate another home victory when they host Eastern Conference struggler's New England Revolution at the StubHub Center on Sunday.

The LA Galaxy have opened the season strongly, losing just one of their eight league matches, and remaining undefeated at home. Bruce Arena’s men lead MLS scoring charts with 18 goals, and will be likely to cause Revolution’s disorganised defence some serious trouble. The team have impressed home fans with large score-lines against Real Salt Lake, DC United and San Jose Earthquakes, and are set to do so once again, with striker Giovani dos Santos in excellent form recently.

New England Revolution are unlikely to pose much of a threat to their hosts, as Jay Heaps’ squad continues to search for their first away victory of the campaign. Although often avoiding defeat, the Revolution have encountered difficulties in attack, recording a remarkable seven ties in ten matches. The coach has admitted being frustrated with their problems in front of goal, and their woes will probably continue against one of the league’s tightest defensive units.

LA Galaxy are clear favourites for the victory on Sunday, with their superior attack and defence likely to overwhelm New England.

Take LA Galaxy to cover the spread

Arsenal @ Manchester City 

Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow afternoon, and will be considered favourites for the win as both teams target a top-four finish in the league.

Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping to wish a fond farewell to the City faithful with a home victory as the Citizens chase Champions League qualification, well aware that rivals United are just a single point behind. After a disappointing end to their European campaign, City will be aiming to put their frustrations behind them and retain their position. The players will be motivated to continue their efforts until the final whistle, with incoming manager Pep Guardiola certainly keeping an eye on their performances.

Although Arsenal initially boasted a strong away record this season, their recent travels have left much to be desired, including a lacklustre stalemate to relegation-threatened Sunderland. The Gunners have struggled in attack and are unlikely to frighten the City defence. Main striker Olivier Giroud has not registered a league goal since January, and rumours of a rift between Alexis Sanchez and Arsene Wenger could further disrupt their chances.

Arsenal are a team without inspiration at the moment, while the Manchester City team are keen to prove themselves to their fans after the midweek loss to Real Madrid.

All things considered I am taking Man City to cover the spread. 

Southampton @ Tottenham 

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to end their season on Sunday, with the Lilywhites looking to take all three points when hosting Ronald Koeman’s Southampton at White Hart Lane.

Despite falling just short of the Premier League title, Spurs players will be well aware that a victory would practically guarantee second-place. Significantly, the win would place the team above rivals Arsenal for the first time in 21 years, and securing the achievement in front of the home support would be a memorable result. The north London club have enjoyed an excellent campaign, and will want to reward their fans’ loyalty by ending it in style.

Southampton will be desperate to pick up a result in their bid for a Europa League qualifiers position, but have struggled on the road this season. The Saints have equal numbers of wins, draws and losses away from home, with even their recent 4-2 victory over lowly Aston Villa unconvincing. In particular, the team have conceded at least once in their past ten matches, and will likely be punished by the strong Spurs attack.

The reverse fixture at St. Mary’s Stadium in December finished in favour of Tottenham, and supporters can expect the same result again on Sunday.

Take Tottenham to win and cover the spread

Portland Timbers @ Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver Whitecaps will be hosting Portland Timbers at the BC Place this weekend, with the visitors looking good for a win in the hotly contested MLS Western Conference fixture.

Defending champions Portland Timbers enjoy a good record over their opponents, including last season’s semi-final play off win. Despite a difficult start to the current campaign, the Timbers have gone undefeated in the past three games across all competitions and will be hoping to continue their momentum on Saturday. Caleb Porter’s squad have yet to claim a win on the road, but will be motivated by their Cascadia Cup rivalry to turn out a positive result for the travelling support.

Vancouver have also endured a poor opening to the season, already falling to five league defeats. The Whitecaps’ leaky defence was a significant problem during their recent 3-2 defeat to New York City FC, and the team have shown little sign of improving. Although offering a reasonable home record, the advantage means little in this match-up, with Vancouver winning just one of their past seven games against Portland at the BC Place. 

Motivated to beat their rivals, and with a game in-hand over the Whitecaps, the Timbers are the pick to cover the spread.

Manchester United @ Norwich City

One of the weekend’s most important matches will be contested at Carrow Road Saturday, when relegation-threatened Norwich host a Manchester United side pursuing Champions League qualification.

Manchester United are favourites to take all three points in the fixture, boasting an excellent run of form over recent weeks. The Red Devils have lost just one of their last ten matches, with opposition including the likes of champions Leicester, Manchester City and West Ham. Positive results will have given the squad a significant morale boost in their push for a top-four finish, and it seems doubtful that United will squander their opportunity against a much weaker opponent.

Meanwhile, Norwich’s fortunes are bleak in comparison, having lost three consecutive matches in which they have failed to score a goal. Defeats to fellow struggler's Sunderland and Crystal Palace prove that the Canaries will not have what it takes to threaten United, and the players seem resigned to relegation. 

While Norwich were able to edge out a victory the last time these two teams met in December, it should be noted that United were in the middle of an injury crisis at the time. With their current squad nearly fully fit and desperate to qualify for Europe ahead of their local rivals, another major upset won’t be on the cards.

Truthfully, I cannot see any other result than a comfortable United win on Sunday, most likely putting at least a couple of goals past woeful Norwich.

Take United to cover the spread

Tottenham @ Chelsea

The English Premier League will be decided this evening in favour of Leicester City if Tottenham do not beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham must win, there is simply no way of getting round that and it will be a tall order against a team they have not beaten at Chelsea in 26 years, but this is not the Chelsea team of past years and neither is it the Tottenham team of years gone by.

Chelsea have been woeful this season and will end it without qualification for Europe or any silverware, quite a come down for last season's Champions, but they are very up for this game with no less than five of their players publicly stating they will not lose to Tottenham, their bitter London rivals.

Thing is this, the Chelsea players can say they will not let Tottenham win all they want, simple truth is that they are not good enough to make any sort of promise, not unless they are admitting that they have not tried all season but they will try against Tottenham.

Tottenham are a better team that Chelsea, that is a fact, they have better players, have a top class manager and are far more stable, they are not a team of ego's like Chelsea and they play for the team and not themselves.

Chelsea will come out all guns blazing but they will not be able to maintain it, they have not all season including in critical games and there is no reason to believe they can do something in this game that they have been unable to do so far.

Tottenham had a hiccup against West Brom, they should have won, but it was just one of those days, to make matters worse they have lost Dele Alli for the rest of the season through suspension, but in players like Lamela, Kane, Dembele, Eriksen and Dier, they have more than enough to over run this mediocre Chelsea side.

I do not see Tottenham losing unless they have one of them games when it goes wrong or Chelsea play like they have not all season.

All things considered I take Tottenham on the Spread.

QPR @ Burnley

Burnley will go all out this evening to beat QPR and take a massive step towards automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Burnley are now in the driving seat following Middlesbrough's weekend draw away to Birmingham and with only relegated Charlton to play on the last day of the season after this match they know that their destiny lies in their own hands.

Burnley now know that winning their last two games and they are once again a Premier League side and the riches that come with that, the idea that they could drop points against QPR seems unfathomable, but this is soccer and anything can happen.

QPR have absolutely nothing to play for, they have been win-less in their last three games which included a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Brighton, one of the three teams, along with Burnley and Middlesbrough fighting for the two automatic promotion spots.

In theory Burnley could be promoted tonight if Brighton do not win their game, though they should, simply because Brighton and Middlesbrough must face off against each come the final day of the season.

Bottom line is I see Burnley winning this game comfortably, they have the motivation, QPR do not, they are in form, QPR are not, they are at home where they have lost just twice all season against a QPR team that have registered just four wins away in 22 games.

The spread has been set high but I do not see Burnley getting a one goal lead and sitting on it, far too dangerous and do expect them to cover the high spread.

All things considered I take Burnley to win by at least two goals covering the spread  

Toronto FC @ Portland Timbers

Toronto face yet another game on the road, their 8th this season, mainly due to Stadium work, and they have done rather well to sit in third spot in the Eastern Conference and come into this game full of momentum.

Toronto beat Montreal last week 2-0, a game I watched live here in Europe and that result will have filled the entire team with belief, especially after what happened last season with Montreal and I expect them to do well this season.

Portland have had a mixed start to their season, well, a poor one, they currently sit second bottom in the Western Conference, but the current MLS Cup champions are of course better than the standings suggest.

Portland have won twice at home, drawn one and lost once, however, last season they lost just three times at home and are difficult to beat at Providence Park.

So what we have here is last seasons MLS Cup winners having a poor start to the season at home against a Toronto side that have done remarkably well considering all their games this season have been on the road.

However, I do see the home side winning and kick starting their season once and for all, Toronto will not be easy to beat, they have shown resilience all season, but Portland are a good solid team that is strong at home and I expect them to show that this evening and cover the spread.

Leicester City @ Manchester United

The romance of Leicester City winning the Premier League today is overwhelming, but that clouds the reality on the ground and I am of the opinion they will have to wait a little while longer to be crowned champions.

That Leicester thrashed Swansea City last week should not be taken as proof that they are doing fine without Jamie Vardy, Swansea were a joke, they should be ashamed, every single professional pundit in the UK condemned them for their performance, they did not try and were clearly mentally on holiday, it was probably the worst performance all season and that is saying something when you have Aston Villa in the same league.

United must win to retain any hope at all of getting an unlikely top four spot and they are not Swansea City, Leicester are up against real opponents today and it is in this sort of game that they will miss Jamie Vardy and his speed.

But lets not kid ourselves, Leicester City deserve to be champions, they have been the best team all season and United will have to be at their very best to stop them, but that is what I expect today, I do expect United to be at their best and with a fit again Wayne Rooney  back in play they will offer up a far more potent attacking force than has been the case in recent months.

United have not been the best this season, I accept that, but they have momentum, they have motivation, albeit not to same degree as Leicester, they are at home and for me they will have enough about them to inflict the fourth loss on the Foxes this season.

All things considered I am going for Man Utd to spoil Leicester's party today.

Norwich City @ Arsenal

Two clubs that really need to get the win today, Arsenal because they need to maintain a top four spot and relieve the pressure from the fans and Norwich for their survival in the Premier League

Anything less than a win today for Arsenal and they really do open the door for Man Utd to overhaul them in fourth spot, they currently sit five points above the Red Devils, who have a game in hand, so you can see how important a win would be.

It should also be noted that a whole bunch of Arsenal supporter clubs will protest today against the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

Norwich are in a relegation dog fight with Sunderland and Newcastle to avoid filling one of two relegation spots left following the relegation of Aston Villa, a loss could be devastating if the other two win, which is of course possible.

So that is the context, however, there are some basic truths that have to be recognised.

Arsenal are a far better team than Norwich City, they are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League fixtures, they finally have some pivotal players back from injury including Jack Wilshere and of course they are at home.

Norwich are third bottom, they have won just three games on the road all season, they have lost their last two games on the bounce including a loss at home 3-0 to fellow relegation struggler's Sunderland.

Basically, if Arsenal play to form today, they will win and win comfortably, but will they play to form?

I think they will, they will have a hostile crowd today as their own fans intend to protest, they are under pressure without a doubt, but that is why I believe they will play to form, they will want to change the atmosphere as soon as possible, they will want to relieve the pressure and they will want to finish the season on a high and secure a top four spot, they only way they can do that is by playing to form.

Norwich may have heart, they may have desire, but they lack the talent and players to cope with an Arsenal side capable of brushing them aside, providing Arsenal are in the mood to do so.

All things considered I am going for an Arsenal win and for them to cover the spread.  

Aalesund @ Molde

Molde host Aalesund today in the Norway Eliteserien in a game that the home team will want to win after last weeks debacle against Sarpsborg.

Molde are one of the top two teams in Norway and are expected to fight Rosenborg for the title, however, last week their start to the season came decisively off the rails in a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Sarpsborg, a loss that saw them fall four points behind Rosenborg, they simply cannot afford to fall further behind.

It was not that Molde lost that game but how they lost it, losing away from home is no disaster, but to lose 4-0 is, it was a freaky result and Molde will be looking to put that right in front of their home fans today, that you can be certain of.

Aalesund will be on a bit of a high themselves, they trashed Tromso 6-0 last week and even though they have already lost four times in their seven games this season, they have shown in glimpses that they are no walkovers, in fact they lost only 1-0 away at Rosenborg and showed that against best they are not cannon fodder.

That said, this is not the game that Aalesund will have wanted this week, they would not have wanted to travel to a wounded Molde, they will know that they will spend the vast majority of this game on the back foot and must be expecting a reaction from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer men.

I fully expect Molde to win this game, I accept that Aalesund are on a high themselves but they will be facing a team that will want to repair what happened last week and Molde are more than capable of doing just that.

The spread is set quite high at 1.5 goals, but I am very confident that Molde will overcome that and win this game by at least two goals.

Sunderland @ Stoke City

A must win game for Sunderland away at Stoke City today as they fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Stoke City are not doing so great at the moment, they have shipped in 12 goals in their last three games and are in a real bad slump, they may be safe but I am not convinced that they have mentally gone on holiday despite those recent hammering's, they are certainly not like Swansea City who are already on the beach.

The Stoke manager Mark Hughes is a passionate man and he will be devastated at recent results and he will have made his players aware of his anger, that you can be sure of and they will not another bad result in front of their home fans.

It should also be noted that the recent losses that Stoke City have suffered have been against a fantastic Tottenham team, Champions League semi finalists Man City and Europa League semi finalists Liverpool, Sunderland are certainly not in that bracket.

Sunderland have lost just once in their last seven, but they have registered just one win in those games, away to fellow relegation fighters Norwich 3-0 and I watched that game, they were definitely flattered by that result, in fact, Sunderland have won just twice in their last 13 Premier League games, hardly a team in winning form.

Sunderland have won just three times on the road from 17 games this season, not exactly the best of travellers, while Stoke have lost seven from 17 at home, not a fortress, but considering they are mid table it is what is to be expected.

I am not convinced that Sunderland will win this game, I expect to see a reaction from Stoke to their last three thrashings, Sunderland are not world beaters, in fact, they are a poor side, that is why they are in the relegation dog fight and all things considered, I am confident that we will see a very much improved performance from Stoke today.

I am taking Stoke on the spreads.

FC Koln @ Augsburg

Very tricky game between two Bundesliga sides that have not had the best season.

Augsburg are still in a little bit of a tricky situation, they are five points clear of relegation with three games to play and six teams below them, so in reality they look safe, but they cannot be too complacent and will be more desperate for the points today than what Koln are.

Koln are safe, they are on 40 points and because two teams below them play each other there is no way they can be dragged into relegation, there is a good chance that they will not come into this game totally on the ball, why would they, they have done what they needed to do.

Both teams are on winning runs, Augsburg have won their last three on the bounce while Koln have won their last two, so neither team carries any advantage with regards to form.

What this game comes down to is motivation, there is little to choose between them but it is Augsburg that have everything to play for and not Koln and whatever way you look at it, it is the home team that has the more motivation.

Because of what is at stake in this game and because Koln have nothing to play for compared to Augsburg, as well as having home advantage I am going for Augsburg to cover the spread.

Sevilla @ Shakhtar Donetsk

Europa first leg semi final featuring current holders Sevilla of Spain who travel to Ukraine to face off against Shakhtar Donetsk

On paper it would be easy to plump for Sevilla, they are looking to win this title for a third season running, with the added bonus of automatic Champions League qualification for the winners, something they will not achieve via La Liga this year.

But, football games are not won on paper and there is every reason to believe that the Spaniards will come away from this game with nothing.

Sevilla won their first La Liga match in six games when they beat bitter local rivals Real Betis in the Sevilla derby at the weekend, that win will no doubt send them in to this game with a smile on their faces, but it only masks the bad state of their game at this moment.

Shakhtar sit second in the Ukrainian league and are set to qualify for the Champions League, they have lost just once in their last 18 domestic games, they have won their last five Europa league games and of course have home advantage.

It should also be noted that their only loss in their last 18 games was against last seasons Europa League finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Sevilla are not the side they were in previous seasons, they are well beatable, their defence is no longer as strong as it was and they are now a very vulnerable team away from home.

Shakhtar are in form, they are at home, they are just as motivated as what Sevilla are and most importantly they are playing probably the weakest Sevilla side we have seen in a very long time.

All things considered, I am going for the Ukrainians to cover the spread on this game and take something back to Spain for the second leg.

Liverpool @ Villarreal

Very tricky game for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool this evening as they travel to Spain to face Villarreal in the Europa League semi final first leg.

Liverpool are a team in transition, now and then they will produce a mighty performance, as they did at Anfield in the previous round against German giants Borussia Dortmund, but too often they show their frailties, especially in defence, just as they did against Newcastle when they squandered a two goal lead, not the first time they have done that this season.

Villarreal have done well this season in Spain, they are very close to securing fourth spot and qualification to next seasons Champions League play off's and at home have lost just twice all season and that was not against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona, they actually beat the two Madrid sides and drew with Barcelona.

Liverpool will have to be at their very best and most consistent to get anything from this game, but the loss of Mamadou Sakho due to a failed drugs test is a heavy blow, it weakens their defence and casts a shadow over the whole team.

Liverpool come into this game in better form, they are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, whereas Villarreal have not won in three, but I saw Villarreal in their last game, a draw at home to Rayo Vallecano and they were very unlucky, they should have won that game in a canter, they are not in a slump by any stretch of the imagination.

All things considered I am of the opinion that Liverpool will struggle this evening, Villarreal are formidable at home while Liverpool are vulnerable and not the best travellers.

I am going for Villarreal to cover the spread.

Kalmar @ Sundsvall

This game is between two teams that were very similar last season, but that has not been the case so far this season.

Last season only one point separated these teams with Sundsvall one spot above Kalmar, both teams were just above the relegation zone and are not expected to perform much better this season.

However, Sundsvall have got off to a flyer, in fact if they win this game and results go there way then they could go top.

Kalmar have had an expected start, they sit just one place above the relegation spots and have amassed just four points from five games.

Sundsvall have won their last three games on the bounce, including impressive wins over Malmo away and second placed Orebro, really really good results.

Kalmar have won just once all season, against second from bottom Elfsborg, so it is fairly easy to see which team has form and momentum and which team does not.

The odds makers have been quite generous to be honest on Sundsvall, maybe they are expecting normal service to resume, they may be right in that, Sundsvall are unlikely to maintain this form all season, but until their form drops and they start losing it makes no sense to not take decent odds when you can.

All things considered, Sundsvall are at home, they are on a three game winning run, they could go top against a team just above the relegation zone with just one win all season, then it is Sundsvall to cover the spread for me.

Bayern Munich @ Atletico Madrid

Massive game for both clubs in the Champions League semi final first leg at the Vincente Calderon stadium this evening in Spain.

If there is ever a club that is regularly under rated it is Atletico Madrid, they are never given credit for what they have achieved over the last few years and I suspect that applies in this game as well.

The Spanish side dismissed Barcelona in the previous round, a massive achievement, but it should not have been a huge surprise.

Atletico have a very good defence, a solid midfield and a forward line that is clinical, their manager Diego Simeone, has proven he is a top manager and at home, they are formidable.

Bayern Munich are no slouches of course, they are one of Europe's elite clubs, they have probably the best manager in the world in Pep Guardiola and a team full of winners, they dominate their domestic league for fun and showed in the last round that they have character and a never die spirit coming back from a two goal deficit.

So what we have here is two huge clubs with pedigree, with world class talent and world class managers, a truly epic encounter awaits us.

You can never under estimate Bayern Munich, they are formidable, but they are clearly not as strong away from home as they are at home, especially against the top teams, whereas Atletico are very strong at home.

I do not see Atletico losing at home, I believe there is more chance of them winning this game than Bayern, I do not see why Bayern can do what Barcelona did not do and beat Diego Simeone's men in their own back yard, yes Bayern are world class, but so are Atletico.

Atletico will of course do everything they can to prevent Bayern scoring, an away goal is damaging, neither will they want to travel to Munich without an advantage, they will look to score and then probably defend that until the final whistle

Bayern will probably have most possession, but that does not convert to goals against Atletico, just ask Real Madrid and Barcelona about that and the Germans will also be looking to defend as much as they can, basically we could have a chess game on our hands.

All things considered I see a very tight game, very tactical and probably low scoring and for me the value lies in backing Atletico Madrid on the spreads.

I picked Atletico to cover the spread against Barcelona in the last round first leg and I am doing exactly the same in this game and take the Spaniards to cover the spread against the Germans.

Dumbarton @ Hibernian

This is a very important game for Hibernian and one they must win if they are to have any chance of having to play an extra play off game.

A quick explanation of how the play off's work in the Championship is required here to add some context.

Rangers are already champions and automatically promoted, however, the clubs finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th then enter the two-legged Premiership play-off. The 3rd-placed club plays the 4th-placed club, with the winner then playing the 2nd-placed club. The winner of that tie then plays against the 11th-placed Scottish Premiership club.

Now, Hibernian sit third as things stand, they are three points behind second placed Falkirk, so a win would take them level with just one game to go for both sides, but Falkirk have a seven goal better goal difference, a huge amount to make up, but a massive win today for Hibernian would see them reduce that gap.

At the very least Hibernian must win and hope they do better than Falkirk in the last game of the regular season.

Dumbarton have absolutely nothing to play for, they are third bottom and safe from relegation, there is zero motivation for them here other than pride.

So, what we have here is a home team fighting for promotion against an away team with nothing to play for, it really is as simple a that.

In 16 away games this season Dumbarton have lost 11 out of 16 games, winning just twice and worst of all, scoring just eight times, while conceding 27.

In 15 home games Hibernian have lost just once, won 12 and knocked in 31 goals, quite a significant difference compared with Dumbarton.

This will be the fourth meeting between these sides and it must be noted that when this game has been played in Dumbarton, the home side has won both games, that said, Hibernian ran out 4-2 winners when this game was played at Hibernian.

Whatever way I look at this game I see a home win all day long, not only that, I see a convincing home win, certainly by more than 1.5 goals.

I will be taking Hibernian to cover the spread on this game.

Real Madrid @ Man City

This is a historical game for Manchester City and probably one of their most important in their long history as they host Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi final.

Real Madrid need no introduction, they are European royalty, they have won the Champions League or European Cup as it used to called, more than any other team.

This is the first appearance for City in the Champions League semi finals but it does not mean they will be overawed by the occasion, this is what they have been working towards for a very long time.

It will be a very tough game for sure, but that applies to both sides, remember that in the last round Real Madrid lost the first leg away at Wolfsburg 2-0, they are no different to most teams when they play away from home against a top team.

Of course Madrid will have Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema and a whole host of other stars for the Man City defence to contend with, but Real Madrid will have to cope with Sergio Aguero, arguably the best player in the English Premier League, as well as other season internationals that City have in their squad.

So, we have two top teams, Madrid are slightly the better side, but they are away from home, both sides have suspect defences, but formidable front lines, certainly an interesting match up.

For me, the advantage lies with city, they are at home, their fan will be bouncing, they are in good form, they have momentum and they know they must take a lead to Madrid for the second leg.

Madrid will of course not be easy to beat, but they are not as solid away from home, they struggled to beat Rayo Vallecano at the weekend and had to come back from 2-0 down, they did lose away to Wolfsburg in the previous round and they are not exactly the most harmonious club around.

Gareth Bale is starting to come into his own at Madrid, but Ronaldo is not the player he once was and it is City star Aguero that I see as being the biggest player on the field this evening in Manchester.

If Madrid can contain the diminutive Argentine then they may come away with a good result, if they do not and I do not think they will, then they face an uphill task.

That does not mean that City are a one man team, far from it, City have a world class player in Kevin de Bruyne, he has made such a difference to City since he returned from injury and just like Aguero, if he is not contained, then Madrid will be in trouble.

All things considered I am backing Man City on the spreads and do see them getting a result they can take to Madrid for the second leg.

Hammarby @ Norrkoping

Last seasons Swedish Allsvenskan champions Norrkopping host Hammarby in a game that is already important to both sides despite the season being so early.

Norrkopping were stunned last Friday losing away to bottom side Falkenberg, who had lost their opening four games of the season.

It looked like Norrkopping did not take Falkenberg seriously in that game and thought that all they needed to do was turn up to collect the three points, they will not make that mistake again.

Norrkopping should be top now, but they sit in fourth spot and they have no one to blame for that other than themselves.

Hammarby sit in seventh spot and are doing as expected, they drew their last game, played at home, against second placed Jonkopings Sodra, a credible result for sure, but this game is much harder for them.

Norrkopping will be very motivated for this game, they are in front of their home fans and will be looking to repair the damage their loss to Falkenberg inflicted, they will want to get back to normal service and go back to the top of the table, albeit for probably just the one day.

Hammarby will not roll over, they are doing ok, but they are up against last seasons champions that are wounded and will find themselves on the back foot, probably from the first whistle.

I fully expect Norrkopping to win this game and collect all three points.

AC Milan @ Verona

Milan have been handed a great opportunity here to close the gap on Fiorentina and move to within three points of fifth place.

They face off against the bottom team in Serie A  and though Verona have not yet been relegated, the outlook for them does look bleak.

Milan have changed manager this season after yet another disappointing campaign, though they do face Juventus in the Italian Cup final so may end up with some silverware this season, but it is their league position that has been the biggest concern.

Verona may be fighting for their Serie A survival but with just four games to go, including this one, they are 10 points from safety, so a loss this evening would see them relegated.

So what we have is a team that has been inconsistent this season in Milan who are looking to improve their league position and build up some momentum before the Cup final against a team that will be relegated if they do not win this evening.

That tells me that Verona must score, that they must attack, which will leave them open to counter attack, it will also breed nervousness and anxiety among both the players and fans.

All things considered I think that Verona are cooked, that they will be relegated today and take AC Milan to get the win and cover the spread.

Napoli @ Roma

Napoli mathematically can still win the Italian Serie A but in all reality Juventus are now the champions and Napoli know that. Juventus are 12 points clear with three games to go, Napoli would have to win all their four remaining games and hope that Juventus lose all their remaining three, that is simply not going to happen.

Juventus winning last night will have been a body blow to the Napoli players and it would be no surprise to see that impact them somehow in this game at Roma.

Roma sit in third place in Serie A, they are four points ahead of Inter Milan and with Italian soccer only getting three champions league spots, they will not want to release their grip on that third spot.

A win tonight for Roma would see them go seven points clear of Inter with just three games to go, it basically makes it an almost certainty that they will finish at least third, so a win is what they will be after.

Napoli sit just one spot ahead of Roma in the standings and are five points clear, that would be reduced to just the two if Roma win, so Napoli, even though disappointed at almost certainly losing out on the title, will not want to allow Roma to get too close to them.

These two sides are very closely matched, there is little to separate them, however Roma have two advantages in my opinion, one, they are at home and two, Napoli will be a little down after yesterday's Juventus result.

Therefore the pick for me is Roma on the spreads.

Juventus @ Fiorentina

Massive game for both sides, Fiorentina need the win to keep their hops of European football alive and Juventus could basically wrap up the title with a win, though there is still some mathematical chance Napoli could still overhaul them, but that is very unlikely.

Juventus would go 12 points clear if they win and second place Napoli will only have four games left to play, so you can see how important a win is for Juventus, but a draw would suit them very much as well.

Fiorentina are in fifth spot, they are unlikely to finish third and grab a Champions League spot and a loss would make it almost a certainty, but they can still qualify for the Europa league and they are six points ahead of AC Milan in that regard, but a loss could open up that door for AC Milan, something that Fiorentina will want to avoid at all costs.

Both teams would probably be happy for a draw, a win would of course be welcomed by either side as explained above, but the reality is that a draw is a good result.

The problem for Fiorentina is that they are not in good form, they have won just once in their last six games while Juventus have won all their last six games, however, Fiorentina have lost just twice at home all season and are not an easy team to beat on their home patch.

This game just looks like it could be a draw to me, however having weighed up everything, the motivations for both sides, Fiorentina's home record and what is at stake I am of the opinion that there is more chance of a draw or even a home win than there is of an away win.

All things considered I am taking Fiorentina on the spreads.

Real Sociedad @ Villarreal

An interesting game this one, especially for Villarreal who need to win to keep hold of fourth spot in La Liga and a place in next seasons Champions League qualification stage.

But, they do face Liverpool in the first leg of the Europa League semi final on Thursday and there is a chance that the mind of the players could be on that game, especially when you consider that the winners of the Europa League get automatic qualification to the Champions League.

So, Villarreal have two good shots at Champions League football next season, but if they were to lose this evening, they could open the door up for Celta Vigo to close within three points of them, something they will not want to happen.

A win for Villarreal would more or less make them a certainty to claim that fourth spot with just three games to go, so they do have motivation.

Real Sociedad have nothing to play for really, they will not be getting relegated and have no chance of a European spot, that does not mean they will not try their best, but one has to question their motivation.

Villarreal are in better form than Sociedad, they are at home, they have motivation and a home win really is the way to go.

Start @ Valerenga

The bottom two in the Norwegian Eliteserien face off today in a game where both sides are desperate for points.

Start are hopeless, it must be said, they will surely be relegated, it would be a surprise if they were not and their position at the bottom of the standings is not really a shocker.

Valerenga are not hopeless, but they have had an appalling start to the season, they are much better than what their position indicates, they are certainly a better team than Start.

Valerenga did get their season back on track with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Tromso, but they then went and followed that up with a desperate 4-0 away loss to Molde and while Molde are one of the best teams in Norway, a 4-0 loss is still a very bad result for Valerenga.

That said, at least Valerenga have registered a win in their opening six games, albeit losing five, Start however have not won a singe game, their three point all come from draws.

If both teams play to form then Valerenga will win, but it is open for debate if they will play to form, but I picked Valerenga to beat Tromso and they did and the reason was because I do not feel they are beaten mentally just yet, they are still a team that can produce good football and I am very confident they will against Start this evening.

I just cannot see Start getting anything from this game other than a defeat and all things considered, I am very confident that Valerenga will win and cover the spread.

Viking @ Rosenborg

Top of the standing and title favourites Rosenborg host seventh spot Viking in a game that the home side should win comfortably.

Rosenborg are one of the two top teams in Norway, they are expected to fight it out with Molde for the title and already both those sides are performing as expected.

Viking are not expected to be challenging for the title and their return of three wins, one draw and two losses is about what one would have expected after six games.

Viking could challenge for a European qualification spot, they are not a hopeless side, certainly one of the top six, but the gap between them and Rosenborg is fairly big and that will show today, providing Rosenborg play to form of course.

It should also be noted that Viking have won all three of their away games so far this season, however, Rosenborg have won all their three home games and not conceded a single goal, a much stronger challenge for Viking than what they have faced already this season.

I accept that Viking are in form but they are facing a formidable opponent and I cannot see beyond a Rosenborg win this afternoon.

Malaga @ Atletico Madrid

This is a game that Atletico simply must win to maintain their push for the Spanish La Liga title, anything less and the chances are that their hopes of a second title in three years are over with.

Atletico sit second in the standing on the same points as Barcelona and have the same head to head, so it is all about goal difference and Barca have a far superior record there, which in effect gives them an extra point, so with just four games to go, including this one, you can see what dropped points would do.

Atletico are a top top team, they disposed of Barcelona in the Champions League and have won eight of their last nine league games, a team mentally strong and full of confidence.

Malaga are mid table and have nothing to play for, but that does not mean they will not be up for this game, they will be, all teams are up for the big games and this is a big game for Malaga.

Atletico should win this game but the spread is set at 1.5 goals and I struggle to see the Madrid outfit covering that against this Malaga side.

Malaga have only lost by more than one goal twice all season and they were not against the top teams, lets look at their record against the top three sides.

Barcelona beat them 1-0 at the Nou Camp and 2-1 in Malaga

Real Madrid drew both games home and away with Malaga

Malaga beat Atletico 1-0 in Malaga

So, you can see, that in five games against the top three Malaga have won once, drawn twice, lost twice and never lost by more than one goal.

Atletico are happy with one goal wins, though in four of their last six games they have won by more than 2 goals, but generally speaking Atletico do one goal wins for breakfast and I see that happening this evening in Spain.

So, in conclusion, I do see Atletico winning but not to cover the spread, Malaga just do not roll over against the big teams.

Newcastle @ Liverpool

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will make an emotional return today at Anfield with his beleaguered Newcastle side and will be looking to get a win against the club he won the Champions League with.

Newcastle are in serious trouble, they need points like a thirsty man need water in the desert and they showed they are ready to fight for every single point against Man City in midweek when they collected a very commendable point against far superior opposition.

Liverpool are doing rather well under Jurgen Klopp, they are in form, they are in the Europa League semi final and they are flying up the table, though it is probably a little late to grab a top four spot.

Liverpool are clearly the better team but they are up against a team fighting for their lives and these sort of games tend to be harder than when playing a better team that is already safe from relegation, beating a team fighting for premier league survival is no easy task.

Benitez has got Newcastle organised, they are no longer so easy to break down, they are showing signs of confidence and will be stern opposition today.

Today's game will be more about passion and spirit than talent or form, of course Liverpool could end up winning by three goals, they are a better team, they are at home, but Newcastle are a desperate team finally stabilising and I just do not see this being an easy game for the Reds.

All things considered I am going for Newcastle to get something from this game and to cover the spread.

Stoke City @ Man City

Man City need to keep picking up points with their bitter rivals Man Utd so close behind them in the race for a top four finish, if they do not, they could end up without Champions League football next season.

It would be silly for City to concentrate on their Champions League semi final on Tuesday and not give this game their full attention, they need to make sure that they deal with Stoke City today before they even think about Real Madrid next week.

City dropped points midweek against Newcastle and now sit just two points ahead of United, they simply cannot afford to drop points today.

Stoke City were thrashed last Monday by a very good Tottenham side and have been fending of accusations that they have basically already gone on holiday, but even though Tottenham were fantastic it did seem that Stoke were not fully engaged.

Stoke City will be looking to do better for sure and of course City will have their minds on Tuesday, but I do see this game going to form, which is bad news for Stoke.

Stoke may want to bounce back from such a beating but the truth is that they are not good enough to, City on the other hand will want to go into the Real Madrid game full of momentum.

All things considered I do see City winning this game and winning it by at least two goals.

Burnley @ Preston

Another massive game for promotion chasing Burnley, however, this could be the game that severely damages their chances.

Burnley needed a last minute goal midweek to salvage a home draw against fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and the signs are that they are starting to struggle to maintain their impressive form.

They have drawn four of their last six matches, dropping eight points and on ore than one occasion have needed last minute goals to rescue them.

Preston are not in great form themselves, they have dropped 12 points over their last six games and won just once, however, this is the sort of game that they love when at home as draws against Middlesbrough and Brighton show, both chasing promotion with Burnley.

Preston lift themselves when playing the better teams, they actually beat Burnley away and drew with Brighton away, the only loss against the top three was when they went down 1-0 to Middlesbrough.

So basically, in five games so far this season home and away Preston have lost just once, drawn three and won one.

Burnley are a very good team, but they are up against a team that does very well against the top teams in the Championship, against a team that already beaten them this season and a team that does not have the pressure on them that Burnley.

All things considered I am taking Preston to cover the spread.

Aalesunds @ Lillestrom

It is very hard to look beyond a home win in this game, especially when you consider how these two teams have started the season in Norway.

Lillestrom are strong at home, they are unbeaten this season, albeit they have just played twice at home, and ended last season with five consecutive home wins.

Aalesunds have had an awful start to the season and find themselves joint bottom, they have lost both their games away this season and lost on nine occasions on the road last season, managing just four wins.

Everything points to a home win, Lillestrom have the form, they have their formidable home record and of course because they are at home they have their fans, whereas Aalesunds are not in form, are awful away from home and show no signs of that changing.

All things considered I am confident that Lillestrom will cover the spread in this game.

Middlesbrough @ Burnley

Absolutely huge game for both sides, whoever wins this game will have taken a massive step towards automatic promotion to the richest league in the world, the English Premier League.

For some context lets look at the league standings as they currently stand.

Al have played 42 games with 4 left to play

Middlesbrough 85

Burnley 83

Brighton 81

Now, only two of these teams can grab automatic promotion and as you can see if Middlesbrough get the win then they are almost there, however, if Burnley get the win then it gets even tighter, especially if Brighton win their game, a draw would be OK and not disastrous for either side.

Both sides are in excellent form, both have been getting very late winners and it is very difficult to separate them if truth be told, however, I will be going for Burnley on the spreads.

Burnley have home advantage and that is important, the crowd will be manic this evening and out of 21 home games they have lost just twice.

Middlesbrough away have lost 7 times in 21 games on the road and drawn 4 from 21, basically they have failed to win more than 50% of time and that is telling.

That said, stats are not enough for me on their own in relation to this game, I will go on what I have personally seen and I have seen both these teams play regular this season and in recent weeks seen them in almost every game they have played and Burnley look the more confident and more accomplished as the pressure mounts.

Based on what I have seen and the respective home and away records, as well as how the spread has been set I am going for Burnley.

Vitesse @ PSV

Massive game for PSV Eindhoven this evening, they must win this game against mid table Vitesse and win it comfortably.

There are just three games to go in the Eredivisie and PSV sit second in the table on the same points as league leaders Ajax, however they are worse off on goal difference and that is critical.

There is a six goal difference between PSV and Ajax and with just three games remaining that will be very hard to close down, however, what it means in the context of this game is that PSV must not only win but win by as many goals as possible.

Vitesse do have a Europa league play off to play for and so they have an interest in this game, it is not like they have nothing to play for, but they are up against one of the giants in Dutch football and are a massive 30 points behind in the standings, that should tell you all you need to know about the difference in the teams.

I just cannot see Vitesse getting anything from this game, PSV are a far better team, they are at home, they need both a win and goals and for me this game will be all one way traffic.

All things considered I see PSV covering the spread even though it is high at 1.5 goals.

Bologna @ Napoli

Critical game for Napoli in Serie A this evening, they have to win after losing last weekend to Inter and going nine points behind leaders Juventus in the standings with just five games to go.

They at least sit five points ahead of Roma in third and a win this evening would give them a massive lift in their quest to secure automatic qualification to the champions league group stages next season.

They will also be looking to bounce back following that defeat to Inter Milan and there is no better place to do that than in front of your home fans.

Bologna sit seven points above the relegation zone and should be safe, but at this time they are not and will be looking to get some sort of result this evening, however eight losses on the road against a Napoli side that have not lost a single game at home all season tells you the scale of the task ahead of them this evening.

The spread has been set quite high at 1.5 goals, but I do see Napoli overcoming that, they must win, they are in front of their home fans, they have the very best home record in the league and in their last seven home games they have covered that spread five times and in their last three games covered it every time.

All things considered, the importance of this game, Napoli's fantastic home record, their current form at home and the context of this game I am going for Napoli to win by 2 goals or more.

Hammarby @ Djurgardens

Still very early days in the Allsvenskan but already there have been a few eye openers and both these teams have already experienced some interesting results.

For starters, Djurgardens sit at the top of the table with three wins from three, that is a surprise, though the teams they have beaten are not the top teams in Sweden, but still, three wins from three is a good start to the season by anyone's reckoning.

Hammarby have had a very mixed start, none less so than their 4-1 defeat away to Elfsborg, however, they did bounce back in their very next game beating Helsingborg 5-1, a very impressive result.

On paper it is easy to side with Djurgardens, but that is not the road I will be taking, I will be going for Hammarby, to at the very least get a draw, if not the win.

Djurgardens have had a good start yes, but it was a fairly easy opening and Hammarby should have done far better, but their last game showed me that they have finally righted the wrongs that marred their first two games of the season and I see them pushing on now.

Djurgardens may have the wins and some momentum but Hammarby are now into their groove and will provide a much sterner opposition than what Djurgardens have had to face so far.

All things considered I see Hammarby bringing the winning run of Djurgardens to an end, they look to me that they have finally clicked after a misfiring start to the season.

Tromso @ Valerenga

Valerenga have got off to a horrendous start this season losing all their opening four league games and find themselves firmly planted at the foot of the table.

This is not what was expected from Valerenga and they are better than this, it was a relief to see them win in the Cup midweek against non league Loten 4-1 an expected result of course, but it at least stopped the rot.

Valerenga must win today, their fans will be very anxious and on their backs, they simply cannot afford to register five consecutive league losses on the trot.

At least in Tromso they are facing an opposition that is very beatable, though they are unbeaten so far, recording three draws and a win.

Tromso will be closer to the bottom than the top come the end of the season and have already set their stall out with three consecutive draws before finally getting a win, their priority is simply not to lose and so far they are achieving that.

But, Valerenga are the better side despite their truly bad start and I am confident that they will finally get off the mark today and kick start their season.

Tromso will look to contain Valerenga but I do not see them doing that for the full 90 minutes.

Take Valerenga to cover the spread.

Crystal Palace @ Arsenal

Arsenal simply must win this game, a defeat would be horrendous for them, not only would it all but end their title hopes but also put their top four ambitions at risk.

The Gunners now sit fourth in the Premier League, if they do lose they will only be three points ahead of Man United with five games to go, not a position they want to find themselves in, that said, if they were to win then they would go back into third, maintain their slim title hopes and sit only three points bitter London rivals Tottenham.

A draw is no use either, Arsenal need the win whatever way it is dressed up and the chances are they will get it today against very limited opposition in Crystal Palace.

Palace have slipped down the table dramatically, they probably will not be relegated but they really cannot afford to take this game lightly, they are unbeaten in their last three games, 2 draws and a win, however, I cannot see that their recent stability will be enough to hold back Arsenal today.

For me Arsenal will win this, they are by far the better team, they are far more motivated, they are in front of their home fans and they are not facing the most formidable opposition.

The only question for me is will the Gunners cover the spread, I believe they will, it is high at 1.5 goals, but I am confident that this Arsenal team have enough about them to register a comfortable win this afternoon.

Molde @ Bodo/Glimt

Molde are one of the favourites to win the Norwegian championship this season and will be looking for the win to keep up with early pace setters Rosenborg.

In fact, it is going to be between Rosenborg and Molde who wins the title and the last thing that Molde will want is to fall behind their title rivals so early on.

Bodo / Glimt are a decent team by Norwegian standards, they may not win the title this season or even be in the race but they are fully expected to be near the top come the end of the season.

Molde have had a mixed start to the season really, they have not lost but two draws and two wins will have disappointed them, they would have hoped to have done slightly better, but still, not a bad start to the season.

Bodo / Glimt have also had a mixed start, winning twice and drawing and losing once, probably a sign of things to come, a few wins, some draws and the odd loss.

So, that is the scene set, two teams that have had OK starts who will be looking to go on a winning run, however, it is Molde I see doing that and not Bodo / Glimt.

I have seen both teams play this season and it is Molde that look the more settled, they have that look about them, they play positive attacking football and they just look the more accomplished side than what Bodo / Glimt do.

All things considered, based on what I have witnessed so far, based on quality of the respective teams I see Mode covering the spread today and getting the win.

AIK @ Norrkoping

Last seasons Allsvenskan champions Norrkoping host AIK in a clash between two of Sweden's top club sides.

Both sides have got off to OK starts, Norkopping lost their opening game away at Malmo but have since gone on to record two straight wins in their opening three games.

AIK have recorded two draws and a win in their opening three games and come into this game unbeaten, albeit behind the hosts in the league standings.

Norrkoping have more momentum at this point, two wins on the trot does that for you while AIK drawing at home 3-3 in their last game will have disappointed them.

It must be noted that AIK have beaten their hosts in their last two domestic meetings at Norrkoping's ground and will be looking for a hat trick today, however, I am confident that will not be the case today.

Norrkoping are the champions, they will be determined to retain the title, they have started winning after a bad start and will be very wound up for this game today.

AIK are stumbling slightly despite being unbeaten, they have drawn twice from their opening three games and they appear to be struggling to get into a winning pattern.

All things considered I see Norrkoping scraping out the win today, they just appear the more settled side at this time and have got into their stride quicker than what AIK have.

West Ham United @ Leicester City

The Leicester City bandwagon rolls on and on and it is now likely that they will win the Premier League title, they are simply too many points ahead, however if they were to stumble this is just the sort of game that it could happened.

Leicester have a lot of luck on their side, it must be said, they beat Sunderland last week 2-0 but when they were leading 1-0 Sunderland missed a sitter and should have equalised but of course they won and that is the sign of champions.

West Ham are a strong team, they are still fighting for a European spot and they must win today if they are to maintain their chances, a draw would not be a good result for the Hammers.

Leicester could draw this game and remain on course for the title, a draw for them would not be a devastating result, they would of course prefer to win, but their lead over Tottenham is such that they can afford to drop some points.

Both teams have match winners, Leicester have the likes of Vardy, Kante, Mahrez while West Ham have Carroll and Payet, point being is that West Ham, on paper, have just as strong a side as the Foxes and can match them on the pitch, as long as they play to form.

I cannot oppose Leicester outright, but neither can I oppose West Ham outright, either could win, but I can see West Ham getting something from the game, a draw is a strong possibility and weighing everything up I am confident that there is more chance of a draw or a West Ham win than a Leicester City win.

All things considered I am taking West Ham on the spreads.

Aston Villa @ Man Utd

Today will be the day that Villa get relegated, I simply cannot see how they will come away from Old Trafford with anything other than a beating.

United were undone against Tottenham last week that is true, however it was basically a ten minute period of madness for them that saw them collapse, however, in the FA Cup midweek against an in form West Ham they showed what they are truly capable of.

Villa have been utterly poor all season, 16 points at this stage of the season is woeful, they are a club in crisis, they have even cancelled their player of the year award, basically because there is not one they could pick.

United still harbour hopes of a top four spot and will be going all out for the win, they will be attacking from word go and even though they have been inconsistent this season, it would take some doing not to beat one of the poorest teams in the history of the Premier League.

I fully expect Louis van Gaal's men to win this game handsomely, by a minimum of two goals, probably more and the spread on offer is simply too good an opportunity to pass.

Take United to cover the spread today, it would be a big surprise t me if they failed to do so.

Middlesbrough @ Bolton

Top of the table facing off against the bottom club and it is not too difficult to pick who the winner will be.

The basic facts are that there is 56 points separating Middlesbrough at the top from Bolton at the bottom, Boro are in form, Bolton are not, in fact, I could roll out endless stats that would show that an away win is almost a certainty, but the standings tell you all you need to know.

So, Middlesbrough should win, but are they value? the short answer is no they are not, their odds are far too low and not for me.

What about the spreads, well, this is were it gets a little tricky and provides an opportunity for us.

The spreads have Middlesbrough giving up 1.5 goals, something they have managed to do on six occasions this season when away from home, a little expected considering they are top.

However, the interesting bit is this, in 20 home games Bolton have lost just once by more than 1.5 goals and they are rock bottom.

That tells me that even though Bolton are rank poor, they do not roll over at home, they obviously lose a lot, but not by a lot and to not lose by more than 1.5 goals in 19 of 20 home games is very telling to me.

Yes I think Middlesbrough will win, but they will struggle to cover the spread, Bolton simply do not lie down at home, even when losing.

Bottom line, I take Bolton minus 1.5 goals.