Football Accumulator Tips

Atletico Madrid were handily beaten by Arsenal and Liverpool in the League Phase, while they were a mess defensively against Club Brugge in the last round. Spurs won all four home games on their way to finishing fourth in the first round, and they can match an Atletico side who have been far from dominant in Europe in recent seasons.

Sporting are arguably the weakest of the top-eight sides, while Bodo have won four straight European games including home and away victories over Inter Milan. The Norwegian side went to the semis in the Europa League last year, and they can see off a Sporting side who overperformed their xG numbers at a huge rate in the League Phase.

While Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 in the summer’s Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca’s tactical tweaks were key in that victory. Months on, and the Blues look to have gone backwards. PSG clearly took issue with the Blues, and they can claim some revenge after eliminating three Premier League sides on their way to last season’s final.

These two sides are meeting in the knockouts for the fifth straight year, and Real Madrid have won three of the previous four meetings, including the last two. The Spanish giants have won eight of their last 10 under new boss Arbeloa at the time of the draw, and they are one of the few sides in Europe with the individual talent to match City.

Simon: Palace should have enough firepower to take another three points against a Leeds side that has lost four and drawn three times in London since their last victory in the capital in September 2023.

Henry: Villa have been faltering, but Unai Emery’s men played well in a 1-0 win at Lille on Thursday night and they look over priced given the kind run of games that United have faced.

Alex W: Fourth-place Lyon are evens to get the better of Le Havre on Sunday, but this tie comes sandwiched between two Europa League fixtures against Celta Vigo. Lyon’s 1-1 draw in Spain on Thursday leaves them winless in five attempts and Le Havre have lost just three home Ligue 1 games all season.

Alex: Tottenham Hotspur appear to be in freefall right now and they meet a Liverpool side who have won the last four head-to-head clashes. In the last two meetings between these sides at Anfield, Liverpool have won 4-0 in the EFL Cup and 5-1 in the Premier League.

Barcelona have won all 13 of their home matches this season, but they are in the middle of a Champions League last 16 tie. They meet a Sevilla side who have scored in their last eight league games, while BTTS has landed in four straight meetings between the pair.

Suditrol could use a boost after winning only one of their last four, and they host bottom side Pescara on Sunday. The hosts have won and conceded in three of their four home meetings with the bottom five, and they drew 1-1 at the basement club earlier this season. Pescara average over a goal per game on their travels, and they’ve shown positive signs by scoring eight goals across a three-game unbeaten run.

Freiburg are strong at home, winning six of their last eight Bundesliga matches on their own ground and going 11 home games without defeat. They sit three places above Union Berlin, who have won just one of their last ten league matches and arrive on the back of five defeats in seven.

Real Betis look the best bet at home to Celta Vigo. They sit fifth and have been strong at the Villamarin, losing only one of their last eight home league games. Betis also score plenty against top-half opponents, while Celta’s defence has been shaky lately, without a clean sheet in five of their last seven. Betis should have enough to get the win.

It should be a cracking clash for two teams looking for Champions League qualification but Stuttgart, who have lost just one of their last 12 league games, just look to hold the edge.

Milan are unbeaten on their travels in Serie A this season and off the back of last week’s derby success over Inter, which has reignited their title hopes, they can get the better of an underwhelming Lazio side that have won just three of their last 13 league fixtures.

Milan are unbeaten on their travels in Serie A this season and off the back of last week’s derby success over Inter, which has reignited their title hopes, they can get the better of an underwhelming Lazio side that have won just three of their last 13 league fixtures.

Rennes have won three on the bounce under new head coach Franck Haise, with all of those victories being accompanied by clean sheets. Lille have lacked a cutting edge since the turn of the year, and with the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie against Aston Villa to come next midweek, they may go down with a whimper at Roazhon Park.

Real Sociedad look the best bet at home to Osasuna. Osasuna’s away form is weak, with only two wins in 14 trips, and they struggle for goals on the road. Sociedad are strong at home and are scoring consistently, netting in 18 of their last 19 league games. With Osasuna also looking shaky defensively, the hosts should have enough to take the points.

Sporting Gijon host third-placed Castellon, with the hosts winning only one of their clashes with the top seven. That includes a 3-1 defeat in the reverse, along with a 3-2 home defeat to Burgos and a 3-1 home loss to Malaga. The visitors are vulnerable after losing 3-1 and 4-2 in their previous two, so side with goals here in a key game for both.