B/R Experts: Big-Game Predictions, February 25-27
After another excellent round of European action, domestic football takes centre stage at the weekend.
The Premier League is back after a hiatus for the FA Cup, while we also have league action in Spain, Germany and Italy.
Silverware is up for grabs in England, as Manchester United face Southampton in the EFL Cup.
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones has his finger on the pulse of English football and will give his verdict on the Premier League and EFL Cup, while Italian football guru Adam Digby is charged with deciphering what's going on in Serie A.
Spanish football expert Karl Matchett will look after La Liga, and German football authority Lars Pollmann will select his winners in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea vs. Swansea City
1 of 10
Chelsea have only lost one of their last 19 matches, and it is going to take a meltdown for them to now slip off the top of the Premier League.
They have the look of champions, particularly when it comes to home form. The Blues have won 11 of their 12 Stamford Bridge outings, scoring 33 goals along the way. That's more home goals than anyone else in the English top division.
After failing to find the net in his last three Premier League matches, it would also seem Diego Costa is due a goal.
Swansea City's biggest threat will come on the counter-attack. They have new belief when it comes to creation in the final third, and they will cause Chelsea problems if given enough space. As usual, Gylfi Sigurdsson will pose their main threat.
The sides drew 2-2 earlier in the season, but that was before Chelsea looked like the mean machine they are right now.
Prediction: 2-0
First goalscorer: Eden Hazard
Juventus vs. Empoli
2 of 10
Having established a comfortable lead in their Champions League clash with FC Porto, Juventus will be in good spirits when they return to domestic action against Empoli on Saturday evening.
The Bianconeri will be looking to register a 30th consecutive home victory in Serie A against a relegation-threatened opponent who have won just once in their previous six outings yet remain eight points above the drop zone.
With matches against Napoli and AC Milan looming, coach Massimiliano Allegri could rest his Juve starting XI, but they will still have too many guns for Empoli.
Prediction: 3-0
First goalscorer: Marko Pjaca
Bayern Munich vs. Hamburg
3 of 10
Having seen their lead over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga shrink to five points on Matchday 21, whatever momentum Bayern Munich seemingly gathered with their 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the Champions League has already waned.
Despite mostly positive results, there is still an overriding sense that the perennial German champions have yet to find their groove in 2017.
On paper, a meeting with Hamburg is the perfect opportunity to do just that, seeing as the northern Germans have often been on the receiving end of a major drubbing at the hands of the Bavarians, who scored six, five, nine, three, eight and five goals in the last six home matches in this fixture.
That said, Bayern had also beaten Hertha BSC 11 times in a row before needing the latest of late goals to come away with a point from the capital on the previous matchday.
Every streak comes to an end at some point, and Hamburg have developed into a solid Bundesliga side under head coach Markus Gisdol, beating Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig in February.
Still, the smart money is on Bayern finding a way, as they usually do.
Prediction: 2-0
First goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski
Freiburg vs. Borussia Dortmund
4 of 10
If it was not for Leipzig's energy-drink-money-infused excellence, SC Freiburg would be the promoted Bundesliga side on everybody's lips.
The Breisgau club are level on points with Leverkusen, ahead of highly rated teams such as FC Schalke 04, Borussia Monchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg and can harbour some hopes of qualifying for Europe.
In large part that is down to the club's impressive record at home, where Freiburg have won seven of 10 matches. Couple that fact with Borussia Dortmund's distinct weakness on the road this season, the Black and Yellows having won only three league away matches thus far, and a surprise may well be on the cards on Saturday afternoon.
However, the visitors have an excellent record in recent meetings, winning all eight matches against Freiburg sides coached by Christian Streich with a cumulative score of 26-3.
If there ever will be an opportunity for the charismatic 51-year-old to get over the hump against Dortmund, this is it.
Prediction: 1-1
First goalscorer: Vincenzo Grifo
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Stoke City
5 of 10
Tottenham Hotspur have to pick themselves up after crashing out of Europe at the hands of Gent.
Wembley has not proved to be a happy European home for Spurs, and an own goal from Harry Kane and red card for Dele Alli were contributing factors in their 3-2 exit on aggregate on Thursday night.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino will demand a response against Stoke, and back at White Hart Lane, he will be confident of three points.
Spurs have not lost a home league match this season, and the one positive from the loss to Gent was the sight of players other than Kane scoring (in the right net).
A lack of goals from players other than Kane has been a worry for Tottenham, but Christian Eriksen and Victor Wanyama hit the target.
We should expect a tight game here, particularly judging by Stoke's last four results: A 1-0 win, a 1-0 defeat, and back-to-back 1-1 draws.
Prediction: 1-0
First goalscorer: Harry Kane
Manchester United vs. Southampton
6 of 10
Anyone who bets against Jose Mourinho in a cup final is a brave man.
The Manchester United manager really is the Special One when it comes to a big-game masterplan; his record says it all.
He has collected 10 trophies as a manager from the 11 finals his teams have featured in.
And Mourinho already has three triumphs in the League Cup behind him from his Chelsea days. This is a competition he takes seriously—he thinks the joy of winning the season's first trophy encourages more success.
This is an afternoon when you expect Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba to step forward and make the difference. They were signed for moments like this.
Southampton won't let them have everything their own way, though. It's been a tough path to Wembley.
Saints have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool, Sunderland and Crystal Palace en route to this EFL showcase and manager Claude Puel regularly proves to have the tactics to match his opposite number.
Southampton have not been in action since February 11, and that could help them ensure this game does not become a one-sided affair.
But there is still the feeling that United can come up with the magic that clinches another trophy for Mourinho.
Prediction: 2-1
First goalscorer: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona
7 of 10
Always one of the most intriguing games of the season to watch, in recent seasons Diego Simeone has won the tactical battle of this clash—but Barcelona have still had the firepower to emerge victorious.
In truth, both teams have shown fundamental problems in their game this season, but with Atletico on a strong recent run and with their forwards finally sharing the goals, perhaps this is the match they’ll step up in and finally overcome Barca in every area.
Playing earlier than Real Madrid, and with the table-toppers having lost midweek, Barcelona could go top with a win, but La Liga has a strange habit of making teams choke when their chance comes along.
Prediction: 2-1
First goalscorer: Yannick Carrasco
Villarreal vs. Real Madrid
8 of 10
Real Madrid can’t afford anything other than a victory in this match, regardless of the outcome in the Atletico-Barca fixture.
The loss to Valencia in midweek was born of the slow start that plagued Madrid’s performances in the first half of the season, and Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane must have his side fired up from the first whistle against Villarreal.
There’s plenty of dangermen for the home team to look to in causing another upset, but they’re a bit too nice at times with their approach.
A lack of killer instinct is likely to cost Villarreal a top-four finish this season, and it will cost them the points here, too.
Prediction: 1-3
First goalscorer: Gareth Bale
Sassuolo vs. AC Milan
9 of 10
This is a fixture not to be missed. The last six meetings between Sassuolo and AC Milan have produced no fewer than 24 goals, 20 yellow cards and four players sent off.
The Rossoneri won the reverse fixture 4-3 back in October and will be looking to continue their current three-match unbeaten run.
That streak has brought them within four points of a European place, while their opponents here remain in the bottom half of the table after a difficult few months.
None of those aforementioned six previous editions of this fixture have resulted in a draw; we expect that to continue.
Prediction: 2-1
First goalscorer: Domenico Berardi
Leicester City vs. Liverpool
10 of 10
Liverpool finally looked back to their best last time out as they produced a convincing 2-0 win over Tottenham.
It brought an end to a run of form that had seen them collect just one victory from 10, but the disappointment has to be that there was no chance to build momentum.
It is difficult to understand what state this team are currently in because the gap between that Spurs fixture and this Leicester date is 16 days; which was at least enough time for the Reds to head off for some warm-weather training.
They will be fresh, and that's a key reason you have to cast aside question marks over their form and give the benefit of the doubt they will have the edge over Leicester for this one.
The champions are fighting for survival and have played three times since Jurgen Klopp's lads last kicked a ball.
Their confidence is low—they haven't scored a Premier League goal this calendar year—and the club's owners took the controversial decision to sack Claudio Ranieri on Thursday.
That was one day after a gutsy display in a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla, and it will be interesting to see what reception the players receive from the fans on the back of the departure of a hugely popular manager who did the unthinkable and delivered Premier League glory for the Foxes last season.
Loyalty in football, eh.
Prediction: 0-3
First goalscorer: Adam Lallana
