International Friendlies

Genoa sit 13th, 18 points above bottom-placed Pisa, who have just two wins this season and have lost nine of their last 11 matches. Pisa have also lost eight of their last ten home games and failed to win 20 of their last 21, highlighting their poor form.

Sporting are second with 22 wins and just one defeat, and have won their last nine home games. They are unbeaten in 11 at home and have won 16 of their last 19 there. Benfica have defensive issues away, failing to keep a clean sheet in four consecutive trips.

Monchengladbach have lost just one of their last six home games and arrive with attacking momentum, scoring at least twice in three of their last four matches. Despite sitting below Mainz in the table, their recent home form and improved scoring output support the home win selection.

Almeria have fallen to a defeat in five of their six clashes with the rest of the top five, including three defeats from three at home, and a 2-1 loss at Malaga. The visitors are unbeaten in nine, and they can secure maximum points in this trip.

Braga put a lot of energy into Thursday’s Europa League win over Real Betis and might start to take their eye off the ball in the league. Famalicao are not without a chance of pipping them to fourth place and are unbeaten in seven matches, so it’s worth backing the visitors to earn at least a point.

Jack Ogalbe: Antoine Kombouare has led Paris FC away from the drop zone with an unbeaten run, but they’ve been reliant on draws. Metz have shown fight of late, despite sitting bottom, so back this one to finish level given that neither side has much to realistically play for.

Jamie Griffith: Arsenal’s run of one win in their last five has done little to suggest they can match City, with the hosts breezing by Chelsea last weekend as they continue to chase down the Gunners.

Alex Wrigley: Liverpool have lost four of their last five games and have only won one of the last eight Merseyside derbies away from home. They have played six more games than Everton since the start of March and the Toffees have only lost one of their last five.

Joe Casey: St Mirren shocked Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final earlier this season but they have been in terrible form since then and a repeat looks unlikely in this Scottish Cup semi-final. The pair met last weekend in the league with the Bhoys grinding out a 1-0 win. Martin O’Neill’s side have only scored 13 goals in their last ten matches in all competitions.

Gareth Freeman: Brest are on a three-game losing run but performances haven’t been that bad and things may perk up when they head to woeful Nantes. Relegation seems certain for the hosts, and their terrible home record is one of the key factors in their struggles. They’ve lost 10 of their 14 Ligue 1 games at their own ground, while Brest have won five of the last seven head-to-head meetings.

Aaron Rogan: Bayern Munich have won 13 of their last 14 across all competitions, but they’ve managed only three clean sheets in that stretch. Visitors Stuttgart have scored 34 times across their 14 away trips this term, netting once in each of their five away defeats. The Bavarians have won 12 of 14 at home, so back another high-scoring win for a likely rotated Bayern side.

11 of Burnley’s 16 away games have seen over 2.5 goals land, with 27 goals scored across their seven meetings with teams in the bottom 10. The Clarets have scored in 13 of their 16 away trips, while Nottingham Forest have scored three times in all of their home victories this term, ahead of this must-win game.

Liverpool have lost four of their last five games and have only won one of the last eight Merseyside derbies away from home. They have played six more games than Everton since the start of March and the Toffees have only lost one of their last five.

Villa have scored in eight consecutive games and have found clean sheets hard to come by domestically with just one in their last six league games. Sunderland have scored in six of their lost eight away games and concede on average 1.4 goals per-game away from home in the Premier League, so goals at both teams look capable of scoring.

Manchester City beat Arsenal in the League Cup final last month and have won eight of their last ten at home, while Arsenal have lost three of their last five games.

11 of Burnley’s 16 away games have seen over 2.5 goals land, with 27 goals scored across their seven meetings with teams in the bottom 10. The Clarets have scored in 13 of their 16 away trips, while Nottingham Forest have scored three times in all of their home victories this term, ahead of this must-win game.

Over 2.5 goals looks the best bet when Monaco host Auxerre. Monaco matches are regularly high scoring, with 18 of 29 producing at least three goals and ten of 15 at home going over. Their last three have all cleared the line too. Auxerre are shaky away, conceding in four straight road trips, so Monaco should do most of the damage and Auxerre can still contribute.

Heidenheim’s matches have been high-scoring, with four or more goals in their last three games and five of their last seven. Defensive issues are clear, with Freiburg failing to keep a clean sheet in 17 of 20 matches and Heidenheim without a shutout in their last 30.

Porto’s matches have been high-scoring of late, with over 3.5 landing in four of their last six league games, with at least three goals scored in each of those. They are heavy favourites to see off a Tondela side that has lost heavily in their toughest trips this term, so back goals, given that Porto have also managed just one clean sheet across their previous six matches. 

Celtic have just two clean sheets in their last 11 domestic games and St Mirren have scored in five of their last seven. The Buddies shocked Celtic with a 3-1 win in the League Cup Final, so they should have little fear heading into this Scottish Cup semi.

Villa have scored in eight consecutive games and have found clean sheets hard to come by domestically with just one in their last six league games. Sunderland have scored in six of their lost eight away games and concede on average 1.4 goals per-game away from home in the Premier League, so goals at both teams look capable of scoring.

Bologna have scored in their last 14 away trips, and they’ve picked up more points than any other side across the last eight rounds of Serie A action. The hosts have been conceding chances at a higher rate than their results would suggest, but they’ve scored two goals per game at home this season.

Almeria have struggled against their fellow top sides, suffering five defeats in six against the rest of the top five. Both teams have scored in all six of those contests, including a 2-1 loss to fourth-placed Malaga. The visitors are on an impressive unbeaten run, and they’ve scored 21 times in their 17 away trips, but they’ve managed only one clean sheet in visits to teams in the top 10.

Celtic are in solid form with five wins and just one defeat in their last eight games. The Bhoys beat St Mirren in the league last weekend and can follow that up with a cup victory on Sunday, but the Buddies can get on the scoresheet. Celtic have just two clean sheets in their last 11 domestic games and St Mirren have scored in five of their last seven.

Bayern Munich have won 13 of their last 14 across all competitions, but they’ve managed only three clean sheets in that stretch. Visitors Stuttgart have scored 34 times across their 14 away trips this term, netting once in each of their five away defeats. The Bavarians have won 12 of 14 at home, so back another high-scoring win for a likely rotated Bayern side.

Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in three of his last five Premier League games, while he found the net in their win over Porto in midweek.

Beto scored against Brentford last time out and has four goals and an assist in his last five appearances, including three strikes in his last two fixtures.

Brian Brobbey has two goals in his last three away games for Sunderland, and he had a couple of good chances in the win over Spurs last time out without scoring. He should get a few opportunities on Sunday for the visitors and can make one count.

Jackson has scored in three of his last four starts for Bayern, and he can step up in place of Harry Kane this week, with the Englishman set to be rested once more. With Jamal Musiala returning to fitness, Jackson should get plenty of chances throughout this game.

Ousmane Dembele has scored four goals in his last three games for PSG. He scored braces against Toulouse and Liverpool while missing several clear-cut chances in the other game against the Reds in Paris.

Bayern Munich have scored exactly four times in their last four home matches, and they’ve averaged exactly four goals per home game in the league this season. Stuttgart have scored exactly once in their five away defeats this term, so look to a 4-1 win for the hosts.

Manchester City have scored at least two goals in nine of their last ten home games and beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley last month, while the Gunners have only scored three goals in their last five matches.

Bayern Munich have won 13 of their last 14 across all competitions, but they’ve managed only three clean sheets in that stretch. Visitors Stuttgart have scored 34 times across their 14 away trips this term, netting once in each of their five away defeats. The Bavarians have won 12 of 14 at home, so back another high-scoring win for a likely rotated Bayern side.

PSG have covered a -1 handicap in their last six matches in all competitions and each of their last two home games against Lyon. Les Gones have lost two of their last four Ligue 1 away games and failed to score in the other two.

Bologna have scored in their last 14 away trips, and they’ve picked up more points than any other side across the last eight rounds of Serie A action. The hosts have been conceding chances at a higher rate than their results would suggest, but they’ve scored two goals per game at home this season.

Almeria have struggled against their fellow top sides, suffering five defeats in six against the rest of the top five. Both teams have scored in all six of those contests, including a 2-1 loss to fourth-placed Malaga. The visitors are on an impressive unbeaten run, and they’ve scored 21 times in their 17 away trips, but they’ve managed only one clean sheet in visits to teams in the top 10.

Porto’s matches have been high-scoring of late, with over 3.5 landing in four of their last six league games, with at least three goals scored in each of those. They are heavy favourites to see off a Tondela side that has lost heavily in their toughest trips this term, so back goals, given that Porto have also managed just one clean sheet across their previous six matches. 

Two of the worst defences in MLS clash in a contest that should feature plenty of goals. Orlando have shipped 24 times in seven matches, while Houston have conceded 16 times in six outings. That should encourage both attacks, and over 3.5 goals looks the best bet.

Nashville have claimed 16 points from a possible 21 this season and are in flying form ahead of this clash with struggling Atlanta. The hosts have suffered five defeats in seven matches and could struggle to match Nashville, who saw off Club America in the Concacaf Champions League in midweek.

New England have won their last three home matches, including a thumping 6-1 win over Cincinnati, and they look overpriced for this clash with Columbus Crew. It’s worth siding against the visitors, who have claimed one win in seven, while the hosts are a perfect three-from-three at home this term.

Two of the worst defences in MLS clash in a contest that should feature plenty of goals. Orlando have shipped 24 times in seven matches, while Houston have conceded 16 times in six outings. That should encourage both attacks, and over 3.5 goals looks the best bet.

FC Dallas have claimed seven points from their last three matches, scoring nine goals in the process, and they should prove too strong for an inconsistent LA Galaxy outfit. Galaxy were 3-0 losers against Mexican outfit Toluca in midweek and could struggle to pick themselves up in time.