
B/R Experts Predict Top Matches in World Football for Weekend Jan. 17-18
Arsenal will be looking to build on their comfortable win over Stoke City last weekend, but the prospect of facing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium is a daunting one.
The Gunners came unstuck at the same venue last season, with the Premier League champions running out 6-3 winners.
Swansea City lost star striker Wilfried Bony to the reigning champions on Wednesday and will play host to Chelsea in their first match without him.
Manchester United suffered a first home defeat to Southampton in 27 years last time out, and they will be looking to bounce back at Queens Park Rangers, who have not beaten the Red Devils since a 4-1 win at Old Trafford on New Year's Day 1992.
In Serie A, third-placed Lazio will be hoping to move away from the teams below them in the hunt for the Champions League with a win over fourth-placed Napoli at the Olimpico.
Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to celebrate his latest Ballon d'Or award with a victory for Real Madrid at Getafe.
Do you agree with our experts' predictions for the weekend matches? Let us know in the comments section below.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Manchester United
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Alex Livie: QPR 2-1 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Charlie Austin
QPR have been truly awful on the road, but they have won five times at Loftus Road and can cause more woe for Louis van Gaal.
Karl Matchett: QPR 1-2 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Charlie Austin
QPR to go all out and try and shock United but ultimately fall short as they are pretty rubbish.
Sam Tighe: QPR 1-3 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
Harry Redknapp's charges are poor away from home and need Loftus Road points, but Manchester United will make the alarm bells ring with a comfortable victory here.
Will Tidey: QPR 1-3 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Angel Di Maria
QPR are doomed! Doomed, I tell ye! They're good at home, but United will be desperate for a win after their Southampton shutout.
Mike Cummings: QPR 1-2 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
Compared to their away form, QPR's record at home is quite good. But Manchester United will have enough attacking options to take the points.
Jerrad Peters: QPR 0-2 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
Queens Park Rangers have yet to win a match in 2015 and should provide Manchester United with the ideal opportunity to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Southampton. That said, goals have been hard to come by for the Red Devils of late; they have found the back of the net just three times in their last four matches.
Alex Dimond: QPR 2-2 Manchester United
First goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
As bad as they are away from home—and they are awful—QPR are entertaining and hard to beat at home. United could discover, like Manchester City earlier in the season, that Loftus Road is a hard place to win.
Swansea City vs. Chelsea
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Alex Livie: Swansea 0-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
This has the look of a decent test for Chelsea on paper, but it is one they will pass with flying colours.
Karl Matchett: Swansea 0-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Loic Remy
Just watch for all the headlines about how Swansea are lacking scoring threat without Wilfried Bony.
Sam Tighe: Swansea 1-3 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
Now definitely weaker sans Wilfried Bony, Swansea's season will take a predictable turn.
Will Tidey: Swansea 1-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
Chelsea's march continues, with Costa predictably putting a ball in Swansea's Welsh onion basket.
Mike Cummings: Swansea 0-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
No Bony, no party. Chelsea to win comfortably away from home.
Jerrad Peters: Swansea 1-3 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
Without a win in their last three Premier League matches Swansea aren't in the best from as they prepare to take on leaders Chelsea, who have posted back-to-back clean sheets since that New Year's Day debacle at White Hart Lane.
Alex Dimond: Swansea 1-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
They would have been without Wilfried Bony regardless of his move, but without him, Swansea City still look short of goalscoring threat; Chelsea should edge to a hard-fought victory.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal
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Alex Livie: Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Santi Cazorla
The Gunners can do their London rivals Chelsea a huge favour by dealing a blow to the champions' title defence.
Karl Matchett: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Sergio Aguero
Three wins in four? Arsenal fans will be starting to think they have a chance of winning the title again. City to bring them back down to earth.
Sam Tighe: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Alexis Sanchez
I don't trust Arsenal to win a game they maybe should (City have no strikers), and the Gunners' full-back issues could be an Achilles' heel.
Will Tidey: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Danny Welbeck
Welbz to nick one early, but City to fire back and win this one.
Mike Cummings: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: David Silva
Arsenal's record against top sides isn't quite as deplorable as it was last season, but claiming a result at the Etihad is still beyond the Gunners.
Jerrad Peters: Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Olivier Giroud
Manchester City haven't won without Yaya Toure since last April, and the talismanic midfielder happens to be on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Arsenal have a chance to take advantage of a short-handed City side, which also includes an only partially fit Sergio Aguero.
Alex Dimond: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Sergio Aguero
The two sides drew earlier in the season, but Manchester City are in full-on title-pursuit mode now and should have the attacking threat to canter to a relatively comfortable three points.
Lazio vs. Napoli
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Alex Livie: Lazio 1-2 Napoli
First goalscorer: Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli are likely to be licking their wounds after their defeat to Juventus last weekend, but they can get back on track with a win in the Eternal City.
Karl Matchett: Lazio 2-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Stefano Mauri
Another disappointing result for Napoli coming up as their time as a Champions League club wanes.
Sam Tighe: Lazio 2-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Miroslav Klose
Lazio look a contender for the third-best side in Serie A this season—the crown Napoli once held. A victory here outlines the shift.
Will Tidey: Lazio 1-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Gonzalo Higuain
An entertaining draw is my predictable prediction here.
Mike Cummings: Lazio 1-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Stefano Mauri
The race for third place is on. Lazio can make a decisive statement of intent with a win, but I'll plump for a score draw instead.
Jerrad Peters: Lazio 1-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Filip Djordjevic
Lazio come into this match riding a wave of good form, while Napoli will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Juventus. Points shared.
Alex Dimond: Lazio 2-1 Napoli
First goalscorer: Antonio Candreva
After throwing away a two-goal advantage in the Rome derby, Lazio will want to make amends this week. Currently looking vibrant and incisive in attack, that may be enough to propel them to victory over Napoli.
Getafe vs. Real Madrid
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Alex Livie: Getafe 0-2 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Real are leading the way in La Liga and Getafe will have no answers to Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Karl Matchett: Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was a little irked not to score last time out, so expect a minimum of six shots during this match. Real will have no trouble beating Getafe, who are without a win in eight in La Liga.
Sam Tighe: Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: James Rodriguez
Getafe are a very average side and Real Madrid are a very good one. It might be something of a derby, but the home side will be overpowered.
Will Tidey: Getafe 0-4 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale's heart celebration gets another airing. The Welshman will probably be booed soon afterward, however.
Mike Cummings: Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Their winning run is a distant memory and their Copa del Rey title defence is done early, but this is a chance for Real Madrid to start a new streak.
Jerrad Peters: Getafe 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid haven't made the best of starts to 2015 but should have little trouble taking all three points from their local rivals on Sunday. Fresh off another Ballon d'Or victory, Cristiano Ronaldo could have a match-winning performance in store.
Alex Dimond: Getafe 0-2 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Barcelona's victory over Atletico Madrid sharpened the title race in La Liga, and Real Madrid need to ensure there are no slip-ups over the next few weeks. Getafe have a decent record at home against Los Blancos, but Real will find a way to win this one—perhaps behind their recently re-crowned Ballon d'Or winner.
Latest Standings
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| Week's Total | Total | |
| Mike Cummings | 8 | 145 |
| Karl Matchett | 5 | 127 |
| Sam Tighe | 4 | 124 |
| Alex Livie | 5 | 120 |
| Alex Dimond | 5 | 119 |
| Jerrad Peters | 6 | 114 |
| Will Tidey | 5 | 94 |
Correct result: One point
Correct first goalscorer: Two points
Correct scoreline: Three points









