Leaders Aim to Consolidate their Position in Top European Leagues this Sunday
Published April 25, 2021 by Florin P
Top placed teams in the strongest European football leagues try to consolidate their lead in games played against ambitious opponents.
The winners of the German, Italian and English top flights are known, but the race is still intense in France and Spain. The leaders have a narrow advantage in these championships and can’t afford any mistakes in the remaining rounds. The most balanced games of the week are scheduled for Sunday afternoon and they can produce big changes in the final hierarchy.
Lyon and Lille Play for the First Place in Ligue 1
Lyon and Lille are separated by just three points, after the leaders slowed down while Lyon picked up speed. The latter now have home pitch advantage in a match that could see them leapfrog several teams all the way to the first place. Odds of 11/10 offered on Lyon to defeat Lille reflect the excellent form, but also the home pitch advantage. The visitors will play carefully, but they can’t settle for a draw as PSG is just one point behind. Betting on the visitors produces odds of 13/5 at bet365 Sports which is great value.
Juventus Settles for a Champions League Berth
Juventus have finally accepted the fact that they will be unable to defend their trophy in 2021. What is left for the remaining rounds is to pick up as many points as possible to secure the Champions League berth. This is an attainable goal, as the reigning champions have a two point advantage over Napoli and four over Lazio. The latter have one game in hand, so there’s no room for error in the match between Juventus and Fiorentina. bet365 Sports prices a Fiorentina win at 5/1 and offers 1/2 on Juventus to prevail.
Draw is Unlikely in Barcelona vs Villarreal Match
Barcelona trails the leaders by five points but has a game in hand, so the championship is still within its reach. In order to win the trophy, they need to defeat Villarreal on the road, an outcome priced at 7/10 by 888 Sport. The hosts haven’t recorded a draw in the last 13 games and will not be happy with a point either. Barcelona is also hard-pressed to win because a draw will not advance their interests. If Villarreal manages to cause an upset against Barcelona, those who bet on their victory will be paid at 37/10.
Atletico Madrid Takes on its Favorite Opponent in Bilbao
Atletico Madrid has to fight hard for the chance to win the trophy after allowing a gargantuan lead go to waste. They are still well-positioned to win La Liga, but with Real Madrid and Barcelona closely behind, they can’t settle for a draw on Sunday. In the match scheduled for 8 PM UK time, they travel to Bilbao to face a team they dominated over the years. Atletico won the vast majority of the games played against the Basques and 888 Sport offers odds of 19/10 on them to win again. Meanwhile, Bilbao is priced at 31/10.
Disclaimer:
The odds mentioned here were accurate at the featured bookmakers at the hour the article was written, respectively on Wednesday, April 21 at 6 A.M. UK time.
