- As I missed sending you the weekend’s research ( I was hacked and robbed 29th Jan and it really affected me badly), I’ll send today’s Premier League research and some additional matches from other leagues. Problems today? London Derby. North East Derby. Derbies can see form lines thrown out the window. Ask the Bees yesterday!
- Review/Preview : https://youtu.be/URxOGKzsjMI.
ENGLAND: Premier League
20:00 – Chelsea v West Ham – 1.36 Chelsea
- Stamford Bridge is set to ignite on Monday night as Chelsea and West Ham United lock horns in a crucial London derby. Chelsea, currently occupying sixth place, are desperate to arrest a worrying slump in form that has seen them win just once in their last seven Premier League outings. A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last time out has left them teetering on the brink of dropping out of the European places. Their saving grace? A strong home record, having lost just once in their last 16 matches at Stamford Bridge across all competitions. The added incentive of facing their London rivals, against whom they boast a dominant record at home (just one defeat in 19 H2Hs), should further fuel their determination.
- West Ham, meanwhile, arrive at Stamford Bridge with their own set of concerns. Their recent form has been patchy, with four losses in their last six across all competitions. They’ll be haunted by memories of their last two encounters with Chelsea, a 5-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge last season followed by a 3-0 loss earlier this campaign. The prospect of losing three consecutive league H2Hs for the first time since 2011 looms large. Manager David Moyes will be hoping to pull off a tactical masterclass against his former club, but history is not on his side. Former Chelsea managers returning to Stamford Bridge have a dismal record, failing to secure a single Premier League victory in 22 attempts.
- Key players will undoubtedly shape the outcome of this encounter. Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson will be looking to continue his impressive form against West Ham, having been involved in six goals across their last two meetings. For West Ham, Emerson, a former Chelsea player, will be eager to make his mark, with a history of scoring crucial goals in London derbies.
- Conclusion:
- While Chelsea’s recent form has been a cause for concern, their strong home record and dominant history against West Ham at Stamford Bridge make them the favorites for this match. West Ham’s struggles on the road and their inability to overcome Chelsea in recent encounters suggest they will struggle to get a result. A narrow Chelsea victory seems the most likely outcome. A potential correct score prediction would be 2-1 to Chelsea. Betting angles to consider include over 2.5 goals given Chelsea’s attacking capabilities and West Ham’s defensive vulnerabilities, and both teams to score, reflecting both sides’ attacking threat.
- Key Stats:
- Chelsea have lost only one of their last 19 home league matches against West Ham.
- West Ham have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Chelsea have scored in 10 of their 11 home matches this season.
- West Ham have conceded at least one goal in 11 of their 12 away matches this season.
- There have been at least 3 goals in total in each of the last 10 games that Chelsea has won at home.
- 8 of the last 10 games between Chelsea and West Ham United have ended up with an odd number of goals.
- Chelsea have scored the opening goal of the game in their last 7 home games.
- There have been 3 or more goals scored in each of Chelsea’s last 4 games.
- There has been a first half goal scored in each of Chelsea’s last 7 games.
- Betting Insights:
- Over 2.5 goals
- Both teams to score
- First half goal
ENGLAND: Championship
20:00 – Middlesbrough v Sunderland – 2.30 Middlesbrough
- Northeast Derby: Sunderland Look to Extend Unbeaten Run Against Middlesbrough
- The Riverside Stadium is set for a fiery clash on Monday as Middlesbrough and Sunderland meet in a crucial Championship encounter. Sunderland, enjoying a five-match unbeaten streak, are looking to solidify their playoff position and potentially close the gap on the automatic promotion spots. Their recent form has been impressive, culminating in a 2-2 draw against Plymouth Argyle. They currently sit comfortably in fourth place, holding a healthy buffer within the playoff zone.
- Middlesbrough, however, have ambitions of their own. Currently occupying sixth place, they are eager to close the gap on the top two and secure a playoff berth. Their last outing resulted in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Preston North End, a result they will be eager to bounce back from in front of their home crowd. They will have to overcome a strong Sunderland side, who beat them earlier in the season 1-0.
- The spotlight will be on the key players. Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor has been a constant threat, bagging nine goals this season. Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath will be equally dangerous, having found the net 11 times, making him one of the league’s top scorers.
- At home, Middlesbrough have been a force to reckon with, boasting a six-match unbeaten streak. Sunderland, however, have proven their mettle on the road, with a solid away record this season. This sets the stage for an intriguing battle.
- Conclusion:
- This promises to be a closely contested encounter. Sunderland’s strong recent form and solid away record make them slight favorites, but Middlesbrough’s home form cannot be discounted. A score draw seems a likely outcome, perhaps 1-1 or 2-2. Given Middlesbrough’s recent home games have been low-scoring, under 2.5 goals could be an interesting betting angle. Both teams have potent attacking threats, making “both teams to score” another viable option.
- Key Stats:
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last five league matches.
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six home league matches.
- Emmanuel Latte Lath has scored in 31% of Championship games this season.
- There have been fewer than 3 goals scored in total in each of Middlesbrough’s last 4 home games.
- Middlesbrough hasn’t conceded in 4 of their last 6 home games against Sunderland.
- Betting Insights:
- Under 2.5 goals
- Both teams to score
- First half goal
ITALY: Serie A
19:45 – Cagliari v Lazio – 2.00 Lazio
- Cagliari’s fight for Serie A survival continues as they face a daunting challenge against Lazio at the Sardegna Arena. Just a point above the relegation zone, Cagliari’s recent form has been patchy, with a brief spell of positivity followed by a disappointing defeat to Torino. Their struggles are evident at both ends of the pitch. They’ve conceded two or more goals in 12 games this season, a worrying statistic that highlights their defensive vulnerabilities. Equally concerning is their attacking impotence, having failed to score in nine league matches already – a joint club record at this stage of the season.
- Lazio, despite recent losses, will be confident heading into this fixture. Their midweek Europa League game allowed manager Marco Baroni to rest key players, prioritizing their Serie A campaign. Currently sitting comfortably in fourth place, their focus is firmly on securing that coveted Champions League spot. History is firmly on Lazio’s side. They boast an unbeaten run of 19 Serie A matches against Cagliari, including five consecutive away wins. A win here would be a significant step towards their goal and extend their unbeaten streak against Cagliari to a club record.
- The game features some interesting player dynamics. Cagliari’s Roberto Piccoli has a knack for late goals, with three of his five strikes coming in the final 15 minutes. Lazio’s Mario Gila, known for his early cautions, will need to be disciplined to avoid another suspension.
- Conclusion:
- Lazio’s dominant record against Cagliari, coupled with the home side’s struggles, makes the visitors clear favorites. A comfortable away win for Lazio appears the most likely outcome. A potential correct score prediction would be 0-2 to Lazio. Given Cagliari’s defensive frailty and Lazio’s attacking prowess, over 2.5 goals is a strong betting angle. Lazio’s tendency to be involved in high-scoring games, coupled with Cagliari’s struggles to keep clean sheets suggests both teams to score is unlikely.
- Key Stats:
- Cagliari have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 8 matches.
- Cagliari have conceded at least one goal in 9 of their 11 home matches.
- Cagliari have failed to score in 6 of their 11 home matches.
- Lazio are unbeaten in their last 19 Serie A matches against Cagliari.
- Lazio have won each of their last five away league games against Cagliari.
- 14 of Lazio’s 22 league games this season saw both teams score.
SPAIN: LaLiga
20:00 – Girona v Las Palmas – 1.57 Girona
- Girona will be looking to reignite their European ambitions when they host Las Palmas at the Montilivi. Fresh off their inaugural Champions League campaign, albeit a disappointing one, Girona have endured a slump in form, losing their last four matches in all competitions. These losses have seen them slip outside the top six in La Liga. However, their strong home record against Las Palmas, remaining unbeaten in their last five encounters at the Montilivi, gives them cause for optimism. A recent defeat at home to Sevilla, however, means they are in danger of consecutive home losses for the first time since May 2023.
- Las Palmas, on the other hand, are in a dismal run of form, failing to win any of their four matches this year. This has seen them slide closer to the relegation zone. Discipline has been a major issue, with two red cards in their last two league games. Manager Diego Martínez will be desperate to address this issue and capitalize on their relatively solid away form, where only Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have managed to defeat them in their last six outings. They have also performed well on the road against top-half sides this season.
- Key players to watch include Girona’s Arnaut Danjuma, who recently scored against Arsenal, and Las Palmas’ Adnan Januzaj, who has been making an impact off the bench and will be looking for a start against a side he has scored against in the past.
- Conclusion:
- Despite their recent struggles, Girona’s strong home record against Las Palmas and the visitors’ own poor form make the home side favorites. A narrow Girona victory is predicted, perhaps 1-0 or 2-1. Given Girona’s attacking capabilities and Las Palmas’ defensive vulnerabilities, over 2.5 goals could be a potential betting angle. Given Las Palmas’s recent games, both teams to score looks unlikely.
- Key Stats:
- Girona have avoided defeat in each of their last five home H2Hs against Las Palmas.
- Girona have lost their last four matches in all competitions.
- Las Palmas are winless in their last four competitive matches.
- Las Palmas have only lost to Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in their last six away league games.
- Girona won seven of their nine La Liga games as favourites this season.
- Betting Insights:
- Over 2.5 goals
- First half goal