Club Football Returns – Match Preview

We head back to club football this Friday night after a very packed up international break. In this post, we would be making a stop at the Spanish league, Bundesliga and the French Ligue 1. Read on for more insights on the featured matches.

SPAIN – LA LIGA

CELTA VIGO – ALAVES

The home side found themselves so close to the top of the summit with that victory over Atletico Madrid at the start of the season. Things were definitely looking bright for a team expected to struggle by many. Lately, though, it’s not been so much of a pleasurable adventure with them dropping points at the very end of matches. Since that win over Atletico, they have now gone 5 games without a win. Nevertheless, in 7 out of eight of those games have seen both teams find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Alaves head into this game after that famous but not so shocking victory over Real Madrid. A 95th-minute goal saw Madrid go behind with no time to find a reply. They stepped into the break on a boost of confidence with 4 wins from their last 6 matches. Anyways we still do expect them to drop into mid-table when the going gets tough.

PICK

Home win or draw over 1.5 goals

GERMANY – BUNDESLIGA

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT – FORTUNA DUSSELDORF

Fortuna Dusseldorf is on a very poor show of form at the moment. They had a pretty great start to the season but right now they are back in reality. It’s now three games with consecutive defeats, however, get points from Leipzig and Stuttgart as both games ended as draws. With their recent slope in form, it’s difficult seeing them survive in the top tier of German football.

The host has had an almost perfect record against Fortuna with 9 wins in the last 14 encounters. This game seems to be shaping up to have a similar outcome. Frankfurt left the league campaign for the international break on a comfortable note. They recorded wins against Hannover 96, Lazio on the continental scene (Europa league) and then Hoffenheim. The home side will be without main striker Rebic but this shouldn’t hinder from claiming all three points.

PICK

Home win

FRANCE – LIGUE 1

LYON – NIMES

Nimes has returned back to top flight kicking it off in exciting form winning Angers and Marseille in their first two games. They have also been very productive in front of the opposition goal. Their game against Toulouse saw them take a real hit and since that point on the story has been different. Against some notable teams, they have given a good account of themselves, drawing against Monaco and Bordeaux in thrilling fashion. All they lack are the killer instincts to finish off opposition teams.

Lyon would be the more grateful for both sides for the international break. Last month they beat English champions Manchester City and that result set them on a nice path that saw them gain 7points from 3 games. However, they drew with a less worthy opponent Nantes and would be looking to get back on winning ways. This international break is all the morale they need.

PICK

Home win and over 1.5 goals