A Look To The Continent

An Increased Focus 

This week our focus stretches across Europe, as we take in a trip to Spain, stopover in Germany and there is also small matter of the Turin derby in Italy. 

The Domestic Front

With Real Madrid being beaten by a sensational Kylian Mbappe goal on Tuesday night, they will have to hope for better second leg fortunes and with their Champions League hopes now hanging by a string, their attention now pivots back to domestic affairs.

Especially as Los Blancos have not had it all their own way in recent times and after being held to a goalless draw at Villarreal last weekend, it means that their gap at the top of the table has been cut to just four points.

Admittedly there is still some breathing space between themselves and Sevilla, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men cannot rest on their laurels and if they are to keep the Andalusian’s at bay, then a return to winning ways would be highly welcome.

Something that looks rather likely on Saturday, as the Santiago Bernabeu welcomes Deportivo Alaves through its doors and with this upcoming opposition struggling in the LaLiga relegation zone, they may be the perfect cannon fodder for Real Madrid.

Which is why goals will be the order of the day in Madrid and if like me you think that there will be over 3.5 in total, you can back this outcome at odds of 13/10 – a rather tempting price before Saturday’s kickoff. 

Kiss From A Rose

While although Bayern Munich playing host to Greuther Furth is an interesting top versus bottom plot in the upcoming round of Bundesliga action, the most interesting story will likely be crafted at Signal Iduna Park. 

While the man who the story is based around is none other than Marco Rose and with the now Borussia Dortmund manager previously taking charge of Borussia Moenchengladbach, it is the two teams who face each other at the weekend.

While it is fair to say that Rose’s former employers have struggled since his departure and before the next round of German top flight action, the Borussia-Park outfit currently find themselves lying 13th in the table.

Not only that, but they are only four points clear of 16th and if they were to end the season in that position, it would mean the lottery of a promotion/relegation play-off would act as the end of their campaign.

With the visitors down on their luck, the hosts will look to take full advantage and make sure that league leaders Bayern Munich are still within touching distance at the top, which means backing Dortmund to win and over 2.5 goals at 21/20 with Coral seems incredibly good value. 

Local Bragging Rights

While before the big stories unfold in both Spain and Germany, the focus of Europe’s football fraternity will be fixed on Italy and the small matter of a Turin Derby which takes place this Friday evening.

One that will see Juventus play host to local rivals Torino and with the Old Lady of Turin starting to find her voice once again, it means that Max Allegri’s men are once again in the Champions League paying positions.

A standing that comes courtesy of a current 11-game unbeaten run in Serie A – one that is subsequently the longest in the division and if this momentum continues, backing them to win the title at odds of 12/1 is not the worst bet you will ever make.

However, their immediate concern is to get the better of a mid-table Torino side and with Friday’s visitors only picking up one point from the last nine on offer and losing their last two league outings, Ivan Juric’s men will be there for the taking.

Which means if you fancy Juventus to win after starting with a handicap of a single goal, you can back this outcome at odds of 8/5. A price that although has an element of risk attached to it, should also offer plenty of reward at the final whistle.