We break down the soccer betting odds and preview this weekend's biggest matches and with automatic Champions League berths still at stake expect some competitive tilts as Chelsea hosts Tottenham and Sevilla tries to upset Getafe. If you want soccer betting analysis we bring you the best notes, picks, predictions and soccer tips for February 21-23.
CHELSEA VS TOTTENHAM
FOURTH PLACE AT STAKE
There isn't much drama left in terms of which team will win the English Premier League title – but there's still plenty of intrigue surrounding the automatic Champions League berths as fourth-place Chelsea entertain fifth-place Tottenham on Saturday. Just one point separates the teams in the standings, with two other teams within two points of the No. 4 spot; the race becomes even more interesting if Manchester City's two-year ban from UEFA club competition is upheld.
Chelsea (-138) have shown lackluster form of late but have won three consecutive meetings and have lost just one of their last 25 home matches vs. Spurs (+350).
WERDER BREMEN VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND
THERE WILL BE GOALS
It could be a rough one for Werder Bremen as they look to climb out of the Bundesliga relegation zone Saturday against visiting Borussia Dortmund. The hosts have dropped four consecutive games overall to fall to second-last in the table, and have allowed a league-high 51 goals through their first 22 matches.
It's no surprise, that Werder Bremen are +550 underdogs against a Dortmund side (-250) that has piled up an incredible 63 goals to date and is coming off an impressive 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 matchup. But Werder Bremen are unbeaten in the past four meetings.
INTER MILAN VS SAMPDORIA
A STEP BEHIND
Inter Milan's quest to unseat Juventus atop the Italian League standings took a major hit last time out – but they're in good position to bounce back Sunday as they host Sampdoria. Inter (-334) are huge favorites this weekend after falling three points back of Juventus with last weekend's 2-1 setback at Lazio.
While Inter should cruise to a three-point win over 17th-place Sampdoria (+900), that might not be enough to gain ground; visiting Juve are big-time favorites vs. SPAL, while Lazio are expected to take care of host Genoa.
GETAFE VS SEVILLA
WHO'S NO. 3?
Sevilla are facing a bit of a climb back to respectability in the Spanish League, but they can take a major step in the right direction with a victory Sunday at Getafe. Sevilla have just two victories from their previous nine domestic matches to fall to fifth in the table, outside the window for an automatic Champions League berth.
But they remain just two points back of third-place Getafe despite their recent struggles, and could be a decent value play at +240 against a Getafe side (+130) they defeated in their prior meeting last Oct. 27. That said, the hosts have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six games at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
BETTING TRENDS
• Leicester City have seen plenty of scoring in recent league fixtures at King Power Stadium – and they could be in for another explosive affair as they host Man City on Saturday. Leicester have finished above the 2.5-goal threshold in each of their last four home games in league play. while the O2.5 isn't that appealing at -188, the O3.5 is in play here at +137.
• On the flip side, Arsenal and Everton have seen more than their share of low-scoring affairs of late as they square off Sunday at Emirates Stadium. The teams have converted the U2.5 in three consecutive encounters while combining for just three goals over that span; there are plenty of options to consider, but we favor the "No" on the "Both Teams to Score" prop (+120).
• Goals might be hard to come by in this weekend's Serie A encounter between AC Milan and host Fiorentina. These teams have slogged their way to four consecutive U2.5 results at Artemio Franchi Stadium, and with both sides ranking in the bottom half league-wide in goals in 2019-20, a fifth straight Under looks like a strong selection at -110.
• Look out for Atalanta, who bring a four-game domestic unbeaten streak into Sunday's showdown with visiting Sassuolo. Atalanta will be looking to extend their run of great play against Sassuolo, having scored a whopping 16 goals over their previous four head-to-head meetings. Taking the O2.5 on Atalanta's team total could prove profitable at -120.
• Sometimes, it's okay to lean toward a gimme play if you really have faith in it. And we truly believe in one prop for Saturday's game between host Levante and Real Madrid. Both teams have scored at least one goal in each of their previous six meetings, and we feel good about seeing that streak continue this weekend; the "Yes" on the "Both Teams to Score" play is set at -175.
• The Atletico Madrid-Villarreal rivalry has been one-sided – and not on the scoresheet. Villarreal have been at their most ill-tempered when these sides meet, having racked up 23 yellow cards in the past six meetings compared to just seven by Atletico. Add in that Villarreal out-carded Atletico in all six of those games, and we like the Villarreal -1 card handicap (+160).
• The Over in Saturday's Werder Bremen-Borussia Dortmund encounter should be a popular play, and with good reason. Not only will Dortmund's explosive offense make life difficult for Werder Bremen's league-worst defense, the sides have combined for four or more goals in each of their past four meetings. We highly recommend the O3.5 play here at -125.
• Dominant. That's the most apt description for Bayer Leverkusen's recent performances vs. Augsburg as the teams lock horns Sunday at BayArena. Host Leverkusen have won each of the previous two meetings (both at Augsburg) by a combined 7-1 count and should make for an intriguing play on the -1 handicap at +120.
TEAM NEWS
• An already challenging stretch of matches is about to become even tougher for Chelsea with word that talented midfielder N'Golo Kante will miss three weeks with a muscle injury. But three other players (Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen) will be in action this weekend against Tottenham. Abraham is a strong option at -120 to score anytime.
