Metz can make home advantage count in this first leg as they bid for an immediate return to France’s top tier. Metz have won six of their last nine home games and they lost just once at this venue in Ligue 2 all season, while Reims are in terrible form with three losses in their last four games. Metz have just one clean sheet in their last seven at home and Reims are used to playing a higher standard of opposition, so the visitors can at least strike in defeat.

This has the potential to be a high-scoring game as over 3.5 goals landed in both league meetings, and in Southend’s first play-off game. Rovers have scored multiple goals in six of their last nine home fixtures.

Orgryte have scored at least three goals in each of their last three home games, while Sandviken have conceded at least twice in three of their last five overall and have shipped eight goals in four away games in the league.

Manchester United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season and have navigated a trickier route to the final than Spurs. Their squad has plenty of players with major cup-final experience under their belts, and Tottenham head to Bilbao having registered less than one expected goal in each of their last three games. United have conceded in each of their last four games overall and in 11 of their 14 European games, so back the Old Trafford outfit to win and concede. 

Both teams have scored in five of Spezia’s previous six, while Catanzaro have scored in each of their previous eight home matches.

Inter are bidding for the title when they head to an in-form Como side, with the hosts scoring in 14 consecutive games. However, Como have struggled to keep the sides above them at bay, with over 2.5 landing in six of their eight clashes at home to the nine sides ahead of them.

Bottom side Valladolid have conceded over three goals per game on the road, while Leganes have scored nine times across their four home meetings with the bottom six.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in two-thirds of Celta’s away trips and in five of their last six league games. Getafe can play with freedom now they’re safe from the drop, so back goals here.

Bologna lost 3-2 against Fiorentina following their Coppa Italia success, while Genoa look to be on the beach. The visitors have seen 12 goals across their last three matches, so back this to be high-scoring.

The Eagles are capable of causing problems for a Liverpool side who have relaxed after winning the title. The Reds should look to thrill in their final home game ahead of lifting the trophy, but Palace scored 12 times across their final three games last season and they recently took the game to City at the Etihad in a 5-2 defeat.

Barcelona’s reckless style brought a 3-2 loss to Villarreal, while Athletic are likely bidding farewell to some key names after a brilliant season. Both sides should be encouraged to go forward, so this should be an entertaining contest.

Justin Thomas has struggled in his last two Masters starts – no surprise given the downturn in his form generally – but he ended 2024 by finishing second and third in his last two events. He’s well suited to Augusta, where his approach play and scrambling ability are huge assets.

Rory McIlroy’s first PGA Tour title came at the Charlotte venue in 2010 and he’s gone on to win the Wells Fargo Championship at the course on a further three occasions. He is comfortable at Quail Hollow and looks an obvious title threat if he can hold it together mentally.

A runner-up in 2022 and third in 2023, the exacting test which the US Open usually provides should prove to be ideal for such a marvellous ball-striker as Scottie Scheffler.

Tommy Fleetwood is one of the best exponents of links golf in the world, finishing in the top 12 in four of the last six Opens. Expect him to make another bold run at the Claret Jug come July.

Aryna Sabalenka dominated the hard courts on the WTA tour last year, winning 40 of her 49 matches on the surface, and she claimed both the Australian Open and US Open titles. She can be devastating in Melbourne, winning 27 of her last 28 matches at the Grand Slam in the last three seasons.

Iga Swiatek remains the undisputed queen of clay on the WTA tour. The Pole has won the title at Roland Garros three seasons running as well as in 2020 and she has lost just twice in 37 matches at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Last season’s ATP Tour was pretty much dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who each won two of the four Grand Slam titles, and between them it should be another stellar year. Alcaraz reigned supreme at Wimbledon, making it back-to-back titles at the All England Club, and Novak Djokovic’s obvious decline at 37 years of age makes the Spaniard a worthy favourite to rack up the hat-trick.

At the back end of a gruelling season, the US Open can sometimes throw up strange results and there are often surprises before the September silverware is eventually secured. It could, therefore, be worth going against the head of the market and hard-court specialist Daniil Medvedev ticks plenty of boxes at a nice price.

Goals could be on the cards in this fixture. Trelleborgs picked up a 5-0 win over Vasteras in their last outing, while over 2.5 goals has landed in four of Falkenbergs last five games.

Orgryte have scored at least three goals in each of their last three home games, while Sandviken have conceded at least twice in three of their last five overall and have shipped eight goals in four away games in the league.

Cremonese lead the league in Expected Goals and tend to be involved in high-scoring games, as over 2.5 goals has landed in 10 of their last 14 overall. Juve Stabia should be able to contribute as they hit 25 goals in 19 home games, so these teams can combine for at least three goals.

This has the potential to be a high-scoring game as over 3.5 goals landed in both league meetings, and in Southend’s first play-off game. Rovers have scored multiple goals in six of their last nine home fixtures.

Metz can make home advantage count in this first leg as they bid for an immediate return to France’s top tier. Metz have won six of their last nine home games and they lost just once at this venue in Ligue 2 all season, while Reims are in terrible form with three losses in their last four games. Metz have just one clean sheet in their last seven at home and Reims are used to playing a higher standard of opposition, so the visitors can at least strike in defeat.

Cremonese won more games on the road (9) than at home (7) this season, while they were victorious at six of their top seven rivals, including a 2-1 win at Juve Stabia. The hosts had the lowest Expected Goals tally in Serie B, while Cremonese lead the league in that regard. Juve Stabia have scored in 15 of their 19 home matches this season, so back the visitors to win and concede.

Manchester United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season and have navigated a trickier route to the final than Spurs. Their squad has plenty of players with major cup-final experience under their belts, and Tottenham head to Bilbao having registered less than one expected goal in each of their last three games.

Forest Green finished 15 points above Southend in the regular season and had a formidable home record, winning 15 and losing just one of their 23 games. Southend needed late equalisers in both league meetings between these two sides earlier in the campaign and their luck could run out here, back Rovers to book a spot at Wembley in normal time.

Cremonese won more games on the road (9) than at home (7) this season, while they were victorious at six of their top seven rivals, including a 2-1 win at Juve Stabia. The hosts had the lowest Expected Goals tally in Serie B, while Cremonese lead the league in that regard.

Metz can make home advantage count in this first leg as they bid for an immediate return to France’s top tier. Metz have won six of their last nine home games and they lost just once at this venue in Ligue 2 all season, while Reims are in terrible form with three losses in their last four games.

Both teams have scored in five of Spezia’s previous six, while Catanzaro have scored in each of their previous eight home matches.

Cremonese lead the league in Expected Goals and both teams have scored in eight of their last nine games. Juve Stabia have scored in 15 of their 19 home matches this season.

Both of these defences look incredibly vulnerable. Spurs have conceded in each of their last 12 Premier League games and they have just one clean sheet in their last seven assignments in all competitions. United have gone four games without a clean sheet and both teams have scored in five of their last six Europa League assignments.

Christian Doidge made a solid contribution of 12 goals in 41 games for Rovers this season. The 32-year-old was used sparingly in the final few fixtures, presumably to ensure he remained fresh for the play-offs, and he was on target in the 1-1 draw with Hartlepool last time out despite featuring for just 17 minutes. He appeals as a candidate for an anytime goal.

Bruno Fernandes has been the one shining light in Manchester United’s miserable season and he heads into the final as the joint-top scorer in the Europa League. He can make the award his own on Wednesday after netting all seven of his Europa League goals in his last eight appearances.

Forest Green finished 15 points above Southend in the regular season and had a formidable home record, winning 15 and losing just one of their 23 games. Southend needed late equalisers in both league meetings between these two sides earlier in the campaign and their luck could run out here, back Rovers to book a spot at Wembley in normal time. This also has the potential to be a high-scoring game as over 3.5 goals landed in both league meetings, and in Southend’s first play-off game. Rovers have scored multiple goals in six of their last nine home fixtures and a 3-1 home win appeals, possibly with a late Forest Green strike to kill the tie off.

Manchester United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season and have navigated a trickier route to the final than Spurs. Their squad has plenty of players with major cup-final experience under their belts, and Tottenham head to Bilbao having registered less than one expected goal in each of their last three games. Tottenham have conceded exactly twice in their last two games and face a Manchester United side that have scored exactly twice five times in the Europa League this season, but the Red Devils have conceded in 11 of their 14 continental assignments so a 2-1 United win appeals here.  

Forest Green finished 15 points above Southend in the regular season and had a formidable home record, winning 15 and losing just one of their 23 games. Southend needed late equalisers in both league meetings between these two sides earlier in the campaign and their luck could run out here, back Rovers to book a spot at Wembley in normal time.

River Plate are unbeaten in nine at home and have won their last four. They should be able to overcome Platense, who have six defeats in their last 11 away from home, but the visitors can at least grab a goal. River Plate have conceded in three of their last five home games and both teams have scored in four of the last five meetings between these two sides.