Champions League Tips

Dortmund have five wins from seven home games and this should be a routine victory against a Werder Bremen side who are winless in five. The visitors have lost by two clear goals in five of their six clashes with the top eight, and Dortmund’s solid defensive record can see them cruise past Werder.

Both teams have scored in five of Atletico’s last six games, and their last cup outing saw them scrape by Atletico Baleares with a 3-2 win. Diego Simeone’s side return after a trip to Saudi Arabia and they visit a Depor side who have begun 2026 with back-to-back score draws.

Osasuna have lost eight of their 10 league trips this season, with their two away points coming at sides in the bottom four. This cup visit to Real Sociedad should be another setback for Osasuna, but they can get on the scoresheet against a side that have one home clean sheet so far this term.

Newcastle’s last two games have featured 13 goals in total, while Manchester City have seen both teams score in four of their last five games. Both teams have scored in four of the last five clashes between the pair at St James’ Park, and they’re each in good scoring form.

Over 3.5 goals has landed in 57% of Leverkusen’s away trips, and they were beaten 4-1 by Stuttgart at the weekend. The visitors have scored 12 times across their five visits to bottom-half teams, while failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches, so expect a high-scoring clash.

The Suns are the more stable team right now having won 3 in a row. Miami has lost 3 straight, by an average of more than 20 points per loss. The offense just isn’t clicking right now, backing the road team just makes way more sense here. Phoenix is the NBA’s most successful team against the spread this season, covering in almost 72% of games.

San Antonio not only won all 3 meetings this season already, but the last 2 were dominant wins by double-digits. OKC is missing Hartenstein, they rank only 21st in opponent rebounds per game this season. Look for Wembanyama and co. to exploit that here and go up 4-0 in the regular season series.

Atlanta is adjusting well post–Trae Young trade, playing stronger team defense and riding a three game winning streak behind balanced production from Jalen Johnson and company. The Lakers, meanwhile, have lost three straight, are struggling on no rest, and may be without LeBron again. With Atlanta traveling well and LA lacking stability, the Hawks hold the edge.

The Suns are the more stable team right now having won 3 in a row. Miami has lost 3 straight, by an average of more than 20 points per loss. The offense just isn’t clicking right now, backing the road team just makes way more sense here. Phoenix is the NBA’s most successful team against the spread this season, covering in almost 72% of games.

San Antonio not only won all 3 meetings this season already, but the last 2 were dominant wins by double-digits. OKC is missing Hartenstein, they rank only 21st in opponent rebounds per game this season. Look for Wembanyama and co. to exploit that here and go up 4-0 in the regular season series.

San Antonio not only won all 3 meetings this season already, but the last 2 were dominant wins by double-digits. OKC is missing Hartenstein, they rank only 21st in opponent rebounds per game this season. Look for Wembanyama and co. to exploit that here and go up 4-0 in the regular season series.

FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

La Louviere have already scored away to Antwerp this season, suffering a 3-1 defeat in the league. Tuesday’s cup clash sees Antwerp aiming to build on a fine run of form, but they’ve conceded in 10 of their 11 home league games, including against each of the bottom five.

Newcastle’s last two games have featured 13 goals in total, while Manchester City have seen both teams score in four of their last five games. Both teams have scored in four of the last five clashes between the pair at St James’ Park, and they’re each in good scoring form.

Both teams have scored in five of Atletico’s last six games, and their last cup outing saw them scrape by Atletico Baleares with a 3-2 win. Diego Simeone’s side return after a trip to Saudi Arabia and they visit a Depor side who have begun 2026 with back-to-back score draws.

Eight of Hamburg’s last nine games have finished with both teams scoring, and that run should continue against a Leverkusen side that suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday. The visitors have scored 12 times across their five visits to bottom-half teams, while failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches.

Newcastle have excelled at St James’ Park this season and head into this tie unbeaten in their last 13 matches here. They have won ten of these games, while Manchester City have only won one of their last four ties and have just one win in their last five trips to this ground.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in Heidenheim’s last seven Bundesliga games, while the visitors have conceded 2.43 goals per game on their travels this season. The hosts faced 3.4 xG in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin, while the visitors allowed 2.9 xG in their own 2-2 draw at Cologne. Both sides give up plenty of chances, conceding the two highest xG against tallies in the league, and goals should follow.

Eight of Hamburg’s last nine games have finished with both teams scoring, and that run should continue against a Leverkusen side that suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday. The visitors have scored 12 times across their five visits to bottom-half teams, while failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches.

Dortmund have five wins from seven home games and this should be a routine victory against a Werder Bremen side who are winless in five. The visitors have lost by two clear goals in five of their six clashes with the top eight, and Dortmund’s solid defensive record can see them cruise past Werder.

Manchester City have drawn three of their last four matches and two of these stalemates ended 1-1. Newcastle drew with Bournemouth at the weekend, and these sides drew 1-1 here in September 2024.

Mainz have drawn four of their last five games, including each of their previous three Bundesliga matches. Two of those games have finished 2-2, while Heidenheim shared a 2-2 draw with Cologne on Saturday.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in Heidenheim’s last seven Bundesliga games, while the visitors have conceded 2.43 goals per game on their travels this season. The hosts faced 3.4 xG in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin, while the visitors allowed 2.9 xG in their own 2-2 draw at Cologne. Both sides give up plenty of chances, conceding the two highest xG against tallies in the league, and goals should follow.

Cultural Leonesa have won only two of 10 home games in the Spanish second tier, so they’re unlikely to hold off Athletic Bilbao. However, the visitors return from the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia after a 5-0 hammering against Barcelona, and they’ve conceded in four of their last five games.

Osasuna have lost eight of their 10 league trips this season, with their two away points coming at sides in the bottom four. This cup visit to Real Sociedad should be another setback for Osasuna, but they can get on the scoresheet against a side that have one home clean sheet so far this term.

Bruno Guimaraes is Newcastle’s top goalscorer in the Premier League and comes into this tie having netted in each of his last three starts for the Magpies.

Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a major trophy by lifting the League Cup last season, and they could continue their defence of the title in positive fashion at home to Manchester City on Tuesday.The Magpies are unbeaten in their last 13 home games, winning ten, and have a solid recent record when Pep Guardiola’s side visit St James’ Park. The Citizens have only won one of their last five trips to this ground, and their 10-1 demolition of Exeter City on Saturday ended a three-game winless streak.

We are down to the final four in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and host-nation Morocco remain the team to beat as they face Nigeria in Rabat.The Atlas Lions have won 18 and drawn four of their last 22 games and have conceded just once in five games this tournament. Spurred on by the in-form Brahim Diaz, who has scored in all five games so far, they can get the better of the Super Eagles on Wednesday.

The Milanese duo of AC Milan and Inter lead the way in Serie A, but Como have excelled at the Stadio Guiseppe Sinigaglia this season and look good value to take something off their illustrious visitors.The hosts are yet to lose a home game this season and have taken ten points from the last 12 available home and away, while the Rossoneri have only won two of their last six fixtures, including a draw at 18th-placed Fiorentina in their last trip away.

PSG may be in the unfamiliar position of second in the Ligue 1 table, but they have only failed to win one of their eight home games in the league and look unlikely to drop any more points against Lille.Les Dogues have lost four of their last seven away fixtures, and their last four trips to the Parc des Princes have yielded zero points and 13 goals conceded. With Les Parisiens on a three-game winning streak in the league, back them to get another three points to keep the pressure on leaders Lens.

Crystal Palace’s FA Cup defence came to an abrupt and shocking end as they were beaten by non-league Macclesfield at the weekend, and their dismal run could continue at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.The speed of the Eagles’ collapse has made for a miserable winter at Selhurst Park, and they make the lengthy journey to the north east winless in their last nine matches. They have lost three of their last four away games and come up against a Black Cats side with the sixth-best home record in the top flight.

Talk of a potential title challenge from Aston Villa may have quietened following one point from their last two away games, but Unai Emery’s side are a force to be reckoned with at Villa Park and should claim the points against an Everton side winless in three assignments.Villa have won their last 11 home fixtures and beat the Toffees 3-2 here last season, while David Moyes’ side took just one point from meetings with Brentford and Wolves before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland on Saturday.

Juarez beat Mazatlán in their Clausura opener and they have only lost two of their last nine home games, while Guadalajara only won one of their last four away games last season.

Necaxa won their opener in the Mexico Liga MX Clausura and ended the Apertura with two wins and a draw from their last four home games. Monterrey lost their Clausura opener and their Apertura season ended with five defeats and one draw in their final six away games.

Club Leon opened the Clausura campaign with a win, but they have lost their last five away games in the Liga MX by an aggregate scoreline of 13-0, while hosts Pachuca signed off the Apertura with two wins from their final four home fixtures.

Juarez beat Mazatlán in their Clausura opener and they have only lost two of their last nine home games, while Guadalajara only won one of their last four away games last season.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in eight of Stuttgart’s last ten matches and they face an Eintracht Frankfurt side with the second best attacking record away from home in the Bundesliga, while three of their last four games have featured three or more goals.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in Heidenheim’s last seven Bundesliga games, while the visitors have conceded 2.43 goals per game on their travels this season. The hosts faced 3.4 xG in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin, while the visitors allowed 2.9 xG in their own 2-2 draw at Cologne. Both sides give up plenty of chances, conceding the two highest xG against tallies in the league, and goals should follow.

Over 3.5 goals has landed in 57% of Leverkusen’s away trips, and they were beaten 4-1 by Stuttgart at the weekend. The visitors have scored 12 times across their five visits to bottom-half teams, while failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches, so expect a high-scoring clash.

Roma have scored at least twice in three of their last four Serie A games, and they can impress going forward in Tuesday’s cup clash with Torino. The visitors have lost 2-0 at Atalanta and 2-1 at home to Udinese in their previous two games.