B/R Experts: Big-Game Predictions for January 21-22
We're in the depths of winter, but things are hotting up in the leagues around Europe, and our experts will look to point you in the way of the winners.
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones has his finger on the pulse of English football and will give his verdict on the Premier League games, Italian football guru Adam Digby is charged with the task of deciphering what's going on in Serie A, Spanish expert Karl Matchett looks after La Liga and, after the Bundesliga's hiatus, Lars Pollmann takes you through the matches in Germany.
Freiburg vs. Bayern Munich
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Even though Bayern Munich put RB Leipzig, their closest competition for a record-extending fifth Bundesliga title in a row, in their place with an impressive 3-0 beatdown on the final matchday of 2016, the league leaders know they cannot allow themselves a slump after the winter break.
A trip to the Black Forest to meet SC Freiburg looks easy enough on paper—but on paper only. In fact, Freiburg have lost just one of their last four home matches against the Bavarians and, this season, won 15 points from seven games at home despite scoring only nine goals.
Striker Maximilian Philipp is confident ahead of the match, telling the DFB website: "We can beat Bayern."
Even with favourites Jerome Boateng, Thiago Alcantara and, most likely, Arturo Vidal missing, however, it is difficult to envisage anything but a Bayern win. Freiburg will have a go and earn respect and new admirers, but the points should go to the league leaders.
Prediction: 0-2
First goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski
Liverpool vs. Swansea City
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Jurgen Klopp would not have expected to begin 2017 with three draws, a defeat and a narrow FA Cup third-round replay win over Plymouth Argyle.
The Liverpool manager is often praised for his man management, and he is going to be tested on that front, as his players cannot begin to doubt their title credentials yet.
The absence of Sadio Mane, away on international duty, is having an impact on their attacking edge, but Philippe Coutinho is returning to full fitness, and Saturday's game against Swansea City could be the one in which we see him making the difference again.
He managed five goals and five assists before his injury lay-off. This Swansea defence will not cope with him at full flight.
The Swans, the Premier League's bottom club, have lost six of their last seven matches, conceding 20 along the way and failing to score in four of them.
Prediction: 2-0
First goalscorer: Philippe Coutinho
Stoke City vs. Manchester United
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Manchester United's nine-game win streak is over, but their unbeaten run looks set to continue.
It is 16 matches since they suffered defeat, to Fenerbahce in the Europa League, and most important to United boss Jose Mourinho will be getting out of the bet365 Stadium with that record intact.
Stoke are ninth in the Premier League table following back-to-back wins over Watford and Sunderland, although a loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup was sandwiched between. Despite the cup reverse, their performance levels have improved this calendar year.
Joe Allen forced a late equaliser when the two sides met at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and a similar outcome could be on the cards.
The Potters no longer rely on set pieces and physicality, and manager Mark Hughes will fancy his side's chances of grabbing another point against his old club.
Prediction: 1-1
First goalscorer: Juan Mata
Manchester City vs. Tottenham
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This should be a day when Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino does the double over Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola.
Tottenham brought City crashing back to earth in October, ending their 100 per cent start to the campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane.
It remains one of the best performances by any team so far this season. Spurs took the game to City that day, and Victor Wanyama was especially impressive in midfield.
Guardiola and his men have never recaptured their form or confidence since that Tottenham game. They sit in fifth position, three points behind Saturday's opponents.
This game should be a cracker, and Spurs have every reason to believe they can notch another huge victory.
Prediction: 0-1
First goalscorer: Harry Kane
Real Madrid vs. Malaga
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Real Madrid’s 40-game unbeaten run ending with back-to-back defeats will be enough to give the likes of Sevilla and Barcelona hope that a crash is coming. As such, there’s nothing more important than an immediate home win for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
Malaga are almost the perfect opponent: a reasonable team but out-of-form and atrocious on the road. They haven’t yet won away this season, and it’s unlikely to change on Saturday.
It would be a surprise to see anything other than the strongest XI in a 4-3-3 after the formation and personnel changes of Real's last two games, and they should have more than enough to see off Malaga.
Prediction: 2-0
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
AC Milan vs. Napoli
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AC Milan will look to rediscover their best form when they host Napoli on Saturday evening, with Vincenzo Montella’s side having won just one of their last four Serie A outings.
Their 4-3-3 formation will mirror the visitors at San Siro, but the Rossoneri will struggle to overcome the suspensions handed to Alessio Romagnoli and Manuel Locatelli.
Without those key figures, it is difficult to see Milan getting a result against the Partenopei, who have won five of their last six matches, with their only dropped points coming in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Fiorentina.
Coach Maurizio Sarri has no injured players and no bans to consider, with in-form forward Dries Mertens looking to add to his sensational recent goal streak.
The Belgian flyer is unquestionably the best bet for an opening goalscorer, while Milan’s problems in defence perhaps make a Napoli win the most likely outcome despite their hosts' previously good record.
Prediction: 0-2
First goalscorer: Dries Mertens
Werder Bremen vs. Borussia Dortmund
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Borussia Dortmund spent the winter break trying to find a new defensive awareness and stability after going behind in seven matches in a row to close out 2016, but they arguably came out of the month-long hiatus with more questions than answers.
Roman Burki is still not ready to resume his post in goal after breaking his hand against Bayern in November, while Sven Bender picked up an ankle injury and Sokratis Papastathopoulos remains doubtful for Saturday's match against former club Werder Bremen.
The Black and Yellows won their three friendly matches ahead of the restart of the Bundesliga by a composite score of 13-2, but the defensive frailties they showed in each game will have their fans anxious— even against a pedestrian side such as Werder.
The hosts are something of an extreme version of Dortmund, with good individual quality in attack but a horrendous defence that conceded 34 goals during the first 16 matchdays of the campaign. Dortmund being without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, may not matter too much.
Andre Schurrle, still looking for his first league goal this season, will lead the line and may not get many better opportunities to open his Bundesliga account for BVB.
Prediction: 1-2
First goalscorer: Marco Reus
Arsenal vs. Burnley
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Burnley have lost their last five matches against Arsenal, and there is little reason to believe that trend is going to change on Sunday.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger tried to play up the opposition in the buildup, discussing how difficult they are to beat at Turf Moor. The problem for the Clarets is that this game is not at Turf Moor, and they don't travel well.
They have managed eight victories this season, but not one of them has come away from home.
The Gunners suffered a bumpy start to 2017 yet managed to find cruise control in a 4-0 win at Swansea last time out, so they seem to be back in the groove.
All eyes are likely to be on Alexis Sanchez following his strop after being subbed in that victory. Rumours that he could leave Arsenal in the summer continue to swirl. Expect the Chilean to shrug off those negative headlines and put in a match-winning display.
Prediction: 2-0
First goalscorer: Alexis Sanchez
Chelsea vs. Hull City
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This is Chelsea's first home game in the Premier League of 2017, and it is the perfect fixture to kick on with their title charge.
The table-toppers have won nine of their 10 home matches this season, and boss Antonio Conte will accept nothing less than another victory against Hull City on Sunday.
The Tigers have managed just one away win in the league this season, and that came at Swansea City in August. They have scored just six goals on their travels and conceded 24.
If Diego Costa is fit, he has to start for the Blues, regardless of whether his head has been turned by attention from China. He has 14 goals and five assists from 19 league outings this season; he is, quite simply, the best forward in the league.
Hull boss Marco Silva seems to have faith in Eldin Jakupovic in goal, and he will have to have the game of his life in order to leave Stamford Bridge with a smile on his face.
Prediction: 3-0
First goalscorer: Eden Hazard
Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid
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Atletico Madrid have rediscovered their winning formula recently, but it will be tested at the Nuevo San Mames on Sunday.
Athletic Bilbao have only lost once there this term, much improved on last season, though they’ve struggled to score in recent weeks—three blanks in their last four games in La Liga.
Facing the league’s second-best defence is probably not what they want, then.
Atletico aren’t likely to make too many changes from last time out, but there’s no guarantee that the clinical edge they’ll need to win the game will be present.
Prediction: 1-1
First goalscorer: Aritz Aduriz
Eibar vs. Barcelona
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Eibar has been a tough place to go this season for La Liga’s top sides, but Barcelona have the best away record in the business.
A record of three wins in their last four games, coupled with Real Madrid’s defeat to Sevilla, gives them all the motivation they need to get the job done. This will be a win-at-all-costs operation, with the free-flowing football possible but striking on the counter once Eibar have grown into the game likely to be necessary.
Allowing spaces to open up on this tight pitch is imperative if Barca’s play isn’t at a high tempo, and it’s conceivable that there’ll be just the one goal in it.
This will be a contentious one. Why not? Satisfying the conspiracy theorists for another week.
Prediction: 1-2
First goalscorer: Luis Suarez
Juventus vs. Lazio
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Having suffered a defeat against Fiorentina last time out, Juventus will be looking to bounce back against Lazio on Sunday.
The Bianconeri were outplayed by the Tuscan side, with issues in midfield causing them problems. Those could also be exploited by an opponent that impressed over the first half of 2016/17.
Lazio have won four of their last five matches in Serie A, climbing to fourth place and pressing hard for a top-three spot.
The form of wingers Keita Balde and Felipe Anderson is likely to worry Juve boss Max Allegri, who will be without the suspended Alex Sandro here. To counter that, however, the Bianconeri have Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala against a good, but not great, Aquile defence.
A victory for the home side is expected given that the Old Lady’s biggest problems have come away from Juventus Stadium.
Prediction: 2-1
First goalscorer: Miralem Pjanic
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