Football Fans are in for Treat This Weekend with Major Derbies Looming
Published March 9, 2018 by Florin P
The best European teams fight a war on two fronts, with domestic derbies spicing things up between Champions League fixtures.
After a largely uneventful weekend in which derbies were won mostly by favorites, action is reignited in major European competitions. Both the Champions League and Europa League were underway midweek, pitting some of the best teams on the continent against each other. High profile matches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with some of the most exciting games taking place in England, Scotland and Italy.
Serie A Resumes After Sad Weekend
All games were postponed last Sunday, after the untimely death of Fiorentina’s captain. Just two games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, but on Sunday the best teams lock horns in potentially deciding fixtures. Napoli has lost the derby against AS Roma and even though it stands one point clear of Juventus, the reigning champions have one game in hand. They need to do better when traveling to Inter Milan, for a match that 10bet Sportsbook expects them to win, by offering odds of 11/10.
Juventus is likely to take advantage of their rivals’ difficult match as they host Udinese with no players injured or suspended. Odds of 3/10 offered by 888 Sport accurately reflect the difference between the two teams. The hosts should normally win the match without breaking a sweat, but they had a difficult fixture midweek against Tottenham. Elsewhere, AS Roma takes on Torino on Friday, while AC Milan hopes to pick up three rare points on the road against Genoa.
The Race is on for 2nd Place in the Premier Leagues
Manchester City is 18 points clear of the runners-up and with their victory over Chelsea, they have wrapped up the season. They play on Monday against Stoke but the only thing players care about right now is the next Champions League fixture. Meanwhile, their city rivals welcome Liverpool in the most exciting match scheduled this Saturday. 10bet Sportsbook offers identical odds of 17/10 on both teams to win, while a draw is priced at 23/10.
Chelsea and Arsenal remain in London for matches against Crystal Palace and Watford, games that both are expected to win. Punters who are willing to bet on the combo will enjoy even odds by placing their wagers with 888 Sport. Tottenham is also likely to triumph on the road and Bournemouth, despite their difficult match with Juventus on Wednesday. Elsewhere, West Brom and Leicester try to return to their winning ways after claiming few points in recent weeks.
Scotland Prepares for the Ibrox Classic
No other match in Scottish football comes even remotely close to the popularity of a game between Rangers and Celtic. The latter have a significant advantage over the pack and are very likely to retain the trophy at the end of the regular season and playoffs. Having said this, a match against their archrivals is every bit as exciting today as if the two teams were playing with the trophy on the table.
Rangers has home pitch advantage, but bookmakers continue to side with the visitors who are given odds of 9/10 by 888 Sport. Celtic was recently eliminated from Europa League and struggled with absentees caused by missing and injured players. Now they are back at full strength and can field a competitive starting formation for the most anticipated match of the year.
