Barcelona will try to separate itself from the pack in the Spanish League, while two Top-5 teams meet when Arsenal visits Leicester City in some English Premier League action. We break down the odds and bring you the top betting notes along with our predictions and picks, for the soccer action this weekend.
TOP-5 TILT
Two of the top five teams in the English Premier League table will do battle Saturday at King Power Stadium as Leicester City host Arsenal. And the visiting Gunners have hit a desperation stage, having earned just two points from their previous three league matches to retain a tenuous hold on fifth spot. They're +250 underdogs Saturday against a Leicester side (+100) that has reeled off three consecutive victories to pull to within two points of second-place Manchester City while boasting the second-best goal margin in the league. The home team has won each of the past five meetings between the clubs.
MORE TOUGH SLEDDING
A difficult start to the Italian League season is about to get even more difficult for AC Milan as they tangle with host Juventus on Sunday. AC Milan (+750) have stumbled to just four wins over their first 11 league matches in 2019-20, and are closer to the relegation zone than they are to a top-6 berth. And they'll get no quarter from a Juventus team (-225) that leads runner-up Inter by just one point atop the Serie A table. Juventus have won eight consecutive head-to-head meetings with AC Milan and have held their opponents to just four total goals over that stretch.
BARCA BOUNCEBACK
The Spanish League table is jam-packed at the moment – and Barcelona would love nothing more than to create a little separation between themselves and the pack as they host lowly Celta Vigo on Saturday. Barca (-500) find themselves in a three-way tie with Real Madrid and Real Sociedad atop the standings, with 13 teams sitting within five points of the lead. But Celta Vigo (+1200) aren't one of those clubs – they rank 18th in the standings and have lost four in a row. Barca fell 3-1 at Levante last week and will be looking to erase the sting of a shocking 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo last season.
BIG TEST FOR DORTMUND
Borussia Dortmund have done well to remain in the hunt for top spot in the Bundesliga despite not being in top form – but they'll face a stiff challenge Saturday as they visit defending champions Bayern Munich. Dortmund (+450) have won just half of their 10 domestic fixtures, but have earned points in all but one of them to surge into second place in the table, three points behind Borussia Monchengladbach. Bayern (-188), meanwhile, continue to scuffle in league play with just one win from their previous four matches. The home team has prevailed in each of the last five head-to-head meetings.
BETTING TRENDS
• Things continue to go not so well for Southampton as they host Everton on Saturday. The 18th-place club in the English Premier League table have been losing at half-time and full-time in each of their previous three home matches – and while Everton haven't fared much better so far this season, they're an intriguing play at +300 on the half-time/full-time double.
• A showdown between the top two teams in the EPL standings highlight's Sunday's domestic league calendar – and Liverpool will be looking to strike often as they welcome Manchester City to Anfield. Liverpool have scored 2+ goals in 12 straight league home matches, but have just one goal in their previous two home games vs. Man City. The hosts are +100 on the O1.5 play Sunday.
• Cagliari and Fiorentina come into Sunday's Italian League showdown having been a solid Under option in recent meetings. The teams have combined for just eight total goals in their previous five encounters, going 1-4 O/U in that stretch (with only an 88th-minute goal preventing a fifth straight Under). We like the U2.5 option for this one at -110.
• Atalanta's fairy-tale start to the Serie A calendar might be fading a little, but this team is still a dangerous away option as it travels to Sampdoria on Sunday. Atalanta have scored two or more goals in each of their past five road games in league play, while Sampdoria have conceded 19 goals through 11 games. Bettors should eye the Atalanta O2.5 play here at +240.
• Can Real Madrid continues its impressive run of defensive play in domestic games? Bettors will be keeping a close eye on the La Liga co-leaders as they visit Eibar on Saturday. Real Madrid have posted a clean sheet in five of their past seven league games and have conceded just nine goals this season. A Real Madrid shutout Saturday is installed at +162.
• The best candidate for a high-scoring affair in Spanish League action this weekend could very well be Sunday's encounter between Real Betis and visiting Sevilla. The teams have combined for 3+ goals in four of their last five meetings and are averaging 4.2 total goals per game in that span. Consider the O3.5 option here at +200.
• Look for the goals to come fast and furious in Olympiastadion Berlin on Saturday as Hertha Berlin host RB Leipzig. These teams have filled the nets in recent years, averaging a combined 5.2 goals per outing in their past five encounters. The O3.5 seems like of the safer totals plays on this weekend's Bundesliga calendar at +137, while the O4.5 offers a +333 payout.
• Eintracht Frankfurt's away struggles could be bettors' gain this weekend as the seventh-place Bundesliga club visits Freiburg. Frankfurt have been losing at half-time and full-time in five of their previous six league matches outside Commerzbank-Arena, making the Freiburg half-time/full-time double an attractive option at +333.
TEAM NEWS
* Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has undergone successful elbow surgery and is optimistic he'll be able to return to action early in 2020. Lloris suffered a dislocation to his elbow joint in a match in early October, and is expected to return to training early in the new year. Spurs are -175 home favorites for their Saturday meeting with visiting Sheffield United (+500).
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