EVERY FRIDAY, FOOTBALL writer John Brewin – who has clocked up countless air miles covering the European game over the past decade – looks ahead to five key fixtures from the Premier League and around the continent.
As well as explaining why you need to know about these matches, he’ll also pick out a tip for each one along with the latest William Hill prices.
This week, two of Italy’s powerhouses face off and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte returns to Stamford Bridge, while a key player from title-chasing Sevilla wants to leave for Saudi-backed Newcastle United.
AC Milan v Juventus, Serie A – 7.45pm Sunday
At risk of repetition, and considering the cakewalks that Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are enjoying in their title defences, the award for most exciting league of Europe’s big five falls between La Liga and Serie A.
Both feature actual races at the top, though with Real Madrid four points clear of Sevilla, Italy currently holds the most intrigue as Inter and Milan slug it out.
It feels like a while since Milan were properly competing for a title, and that’s because it is — when Massimiliano Allegri was their coach and a team featuring a far younger Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished second to Juventus in 2012.
Last season, Milan were in the hunt and finished runners-up but Inter won the title at a canter. The danger is that the Nerazzurri might do the same this term and so a defeat of old rivals Juve, with Allegri back at the helm and unbeaten since 27 November, is required.
The Old Lady of Turin’s primary aim is to get back into the Champions League spots, with fourth-placed Atalanta in their sights.
Milan would have gone top of the league had they not lost at home to Spezia on Monday. The Rossoneri thought they had won with an injury-time winner from Junior Messias, only for it to be ruled out before Spezia went down the other end to score.
What followed that was a tearful referee entering the Milan dressing room to apologise for making a mistake with the Messias goal and Ibrahimovic consoling him. Yet more crazy scenes in Serie A.
The players may be ageing, the standard may not be that of England but there’s always a story, and the goals seem to fly in these days (against historic type).
That left Inter in pole position, and Milan looking over their shoulders at Napoli in third. Juventus lost the Supercoppa to Inter last week but they have otherwise been unbeaten in 2022, starting with a draw at home to Napoli, and then scoring ten goals in wins over Roma, Udinese and, most recently, Sampdoria in the midweek Coppa Italia tie.
Federico Chiesa, facing a knee operation that rules him out for much of the year and Italy’s World Cups play-off, has not been missed so far. This is a huge fixture for both of these Italian giants.
John’s bet: Milan and Juventus to draw @ 21/10
Chelsea v Tottenham, Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday
Tottenham’s crazy win at Leicester could barely have contrasted more than Chelsea’s drab midweek draw with Brighton. Such is Chelsea’s recent decline that should Spurs win this London derby, and their four games in hand, then they would climb ahead of the Blues.
After two submissive performances in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, concerns were beginning to be raised about Antonio Conte’s ability to revive Tottenham and this group of players.
That ignored the Italian’s mastery of league football, as shown when he was Chelsea manager, and latterly at Inter Milan.
He is still unbeaten in the Premier League as Spurs boss and it would be little surprise to see that extended at his old club, where things are beginning to go awry for Thomas Tuchel.
John’s bet: Tottenham to win at Chelsea @ 4/1
Sevilla v Celta Vigo, La Liga – 5.30pm Saturday
Diego Carlos is the defender Newcastle want to buy to help them in their relegation battle. The Brazilian, who the transfer gossip columns say is interested in heading to Tyneside, would be foregoing a role in Sevilla’s push to win a second La Liga title in the club’s history.
Nobody could deny Carlos the chance to enrich his family for life, but the lack of romance jars.
How strong are Sevilla’s chances in any case? Wednesday’s draw with Valencia was not helpful, and kept Real Madrid four points clear. Mid-table Celta Vigo, who beat Osasuna on Wednesday, need to be swept aside if Carlos is to be posted a title-winners’ medal to his Newcastle digs in May.
John’s bet: Sevilla to beat Celta Vigo and both teams to score @ 16/5
Borussia Monchengladbach v Union Berlin, Bundesliga – 2.30pm Saturday
Last week, Borussia Monchengladbach failed to follow up that shock defeat of Bayern Munich in their first game of 2022 by missing two penalties against Bayer Leverkusen to lose 2-1.
Gladbach have dropped worryingly close to the bottom three, and that Bayern win may end up being seen as the shock of the season
They welcome a Union Berlin team fresh from celebrating a derby win over Hertha — and on the fringes of the top four — pushing for what would be an amazing achievement for such a small club.
Neither team are exactly watertight at the back so goals should be expected, as might a Union win.
John’s bet: Union to win and both teams to score @ 24/5
Metz v Nice, Ligue 1 – 12pm Sunday
The race to be best of the rest in France has seen Nice seize the initiative by winning their last four matches, to leave Marseille two points behind and competing with Strasbourg for the final Champions League place.
Nice, featuring two scions of footballing dynasties in Justin Kluivert and Khephren Thuram, play highly attractive football under Christophe Galtier, who masterminded Lille’s title triumph last season.
This weekend’s opponents, Metz, began 2022 by losing to that decent Strasbourg team and beating Reims.
The latter was a much-needed result in their fight against relegation but Nice look to have far too much for their northern French opposition.
John’s bet: Nice to beat Metz with two or more goals in the match @ 21/20
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
