The fear of the dreaded coronavirus may have shut down Serie A matches this weekend, but football games will still be in full flow in the French, Spanish and English leagues.
Soccernet Nigeria, as per tradition, is back yet again to bring you well researched betting tips that could help you win big.
Arsenal vs West Ham
Arsenal host the Hammers at The Emirates with the visitors in a desperate hunt for points to distance themselves from the Premier League relegation zone.
But the Gunners, seated in 10th, need the points almost as bad to keep up hope of qualifying for European competition next season.
Mikel Arteta’s men are only eight points adrift of the top four, and in David Moyes’ men, the Gunners face a team who have lost five of their last eight in the league and sit outside the drop zone on goal difference alone.
The Hammers could be in more trouble by the end of the day.
Match Facts
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine Premier League home games against West Ham.
West Ham have lost each of their last five away matches in the Premier League, conceding 12 goals.
Arsenal have scored 1.78 goals per home game in the top flight this season, but have conceded in 79% of these matches.
Prediction
All the three wins Arsenal have recorded since Mikel Arteta was appointed manager came at the Emirates, so this is a great chance for them to get three more points on the board.
Tip: Arsenal to win
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona succumbed to a damaging El Clasico defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend with goals from Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz condemning the champions to their fifth defeat of the domestic campaign.
Quique Setien’s men are left playing catch-up once again in their quest to land a third consecutive La Liga title. Real Madrid have now forged into a slender one-point lead at the top of the table.
While Barca’s away form has been less than stellar, their form at Camp Nou has been near-perfect. They have won 12 and drawn one of their 13 home matches this term and are now unbeaten in 25 home La Liga games, winning 23.
Real Sociedad are a side in form, notching nine wins from their last ten matches in all competitions. But it remains to be seen how Sociedad will muster a surprise win at the grounds where they have not picked a single point in 25 years.
Match Facts
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 25 home La Liga matches, winning 23 and drawing two.
The Catalan giants have recorded 23 consecutive home victories against Real Sociedad. Txuri-urdinak last avoided defeat at Camp Nou in the 1994/95 season.
While Real Sociedad have racked up nine wins from their last ten games in all competitions, they have lost their previous two away fixtures in La Liga and five from 12 on the road this term.
Both teams have scored in six of the last seven meetings between the sides.
Prediction
It is highly impossible to oppose a Barca team that is invincible in front of their fans, but Sociedad’s excellent form shows they can rattle the hosts’ defence at some point in the tie.
Tip: Barcelona to win and over 2.5 goals
Tip: Barcelona to win and both teams to score
Lille vs Lyon
Lille may not be the prettiest side in Ligue 1, but they sure know how to get the job done with Christophe Galtier’s men on a run of five wins in their last six games.
Les Dogues are one of the few sides in France able to balance their defensive and attacking play, having netted ten goals and conceded just three during their latest run.
Lyon, though, are a difficult customer, and the visitors will take confidence in outwitting Les Dogues on penalties in a January Cup match.
Match Facts
Lille have lost just two of their last 14 home matches in Ligue 1. Those losses came against the current top two sides, Marseille and PSG.
Lyon have won once in Lille since 2008.
The visitors have lost two of their last three away games and were smashed 5-1 in midweek at home to Paris.
Prediction
Lille have an excellent home record that Lyon will have to be extraordinary on the day to halt. The hosts have lost just two of their 14 games at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Ligue 1 this season, and Lyon should be their next victim.
Tip: Lille to win
Sheffield United vs. Norwich
Sheffield United and Norwich clash on Sunday at Bramall Lane, with the hosts proving to be this campaign’s surprise package.
The Blades are focusing on trying to clinch an unlikely spot in Europe. But they have to cautious when facing the Canaries who are desperately struggling against the rising tide of relegation.
The hosts are a well-oiled unit with a solid defensive structure that has conceded just 25 league goals this season, second only to Liverpool in the defensive charts.
Chris Wilder’s side comes into this match 8th in the table, just five points adrift of the Premier League top four, but a win is not even guaranteed against a Norwich team rooted to the bottom of the table and six points from safety.
Match Facts
Six of Sheffield United’s last seven Premier League home games have seen fewer than three goals.
Sheffield United have conceded just 25 league goals this season, second only to Liverpool in the defensive charts.
Norwich have seen fewer than three goals in nine of their 14 Premier League away days.
Norwich have scored just six goals league goals away from home this season, while the Blades have averaged 1.14 goals per home game.
Prediction
We’re expecting a low scoring affair here. Sheffield United do not concede many neither do they score a lot, indicating that a few goalmouth actions are expected.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals
Strasbourg vs. PSG
Strasbourg were severely hammered last week as they bowed down to Montpellier in a 3-0 defeat, but they have to pick themselves up right away as the champions are in town.
The Alsatians have been rather unimpressive in recent weeks with just two wins in their last seven games, but they will be looking to bounce back in the best possible way here against PSG.
Strasbourg are a different outfit at the Stade de la Meinau, where they have scored 15 goals in their last seven games.
But PSG have won twelve of their last fourteen away games, scoring 42 goals along the way and they should have little trouble dispatching the struggling hosts.
Match Facts
PSG have won twelve of their last fourteen away games, scoring 42 goals along the way.
Paris’ defence has been suspect as of late though with just one clean sheet in their last eight games, 14 have been conceded in that time.
Strasbourg have scored 15 goals in their last seven home games.
Prediction
PSG have the best attack in Ligue 1, and it will be too hot for Strasbourg to contain.
Paris’ defence has been suspect as of late though with just one clean sheet in their last eight games, 14 have been conceded in that time.
Tip: Both teams to score
