Stake on Chelsea, Barca and Man Utd wins

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool vs Chelsea
Having rested players for a seemingly lost cause against Madrid and with the home game against Chelsea assuming priority status, the first player Brendan Rogers hauled off at the Bernabeu when he decided to give his key first teamers a run-out late on was Lucas Leiva.

It was a confirmation of how far down in the manager’s estimation Leiva has fallen, and yet leaving him out of all the games Liverpool have failed to win this season has left the midfield glaringly porous and the defence exposed. Playing Steven Gerrard as quarterback, with Henderson and Joe Allen ahead of him will leave Liverpool with vulnerabilities Jose Mourinho has surely already noticed and will be ready to exploit. Away Win

QPR vs Man City
This is a much improved QPR, both mentally and in collective application. They should never have lost to Liverpool, were worthy winners over Aston Villa and deserved something out of the Chelsea game at Stamford Bridge. Thrusting forward with determination on their relatively narrower pitch, Vargas, Austin Fey and Hoillet are capable of breaching Man City’s backline, but their own marshaled by Richard Dunne would not be able to stop the champions’ relentless probing if that probing was anywhere near its best. Away win

Swansea vs Arsenal
Swansea City play to a style that is similar to and therefore suits Arsenal’s game in every way, and when both teams are at their best Arsenal’s better individual quality and faster pace would triumph each time.

The Gunners have also shown superior stamina to most in the Premiership this season, piling on pressure and scoring late equalisers and winners against tiring opponents. In-form Swansea do however have a window of opportunity presented by the psychological blow delivered to Arsenal by Anderlecht in midweek. Draw

Man Utd vs Crystal Palace
The visitors have some of the best wing play in the Premiership, with Bolasie on one end and Zaha on the other giving full backs a torrid time. Zaha is ineligible, but that might be a blessing for Palace as Jason Puncheon should then start, a big game player. And with that makeshift central defence, Puncheon will not be the only threat as United graduate Campbell, Chamakh and super-sub Gayle will fancy a crack or two at David De Gea. United’s advantages start in the middle where Palace will dearly miss the suspended Miles Jedinak, and continue upfront where Rooney, the under pressure Van Persie and irrepressible Di Maria. Home win

SPANISH LA LIGA

Real Madrid vs Vallecano
Thankfully for Real Madrid they played a day earlier on Tuesday, and so will have rested a little more, because Vallecano are likely to pose a bigger threat than Liverpool, partly because of the mental pressure on the new league leaders to stay top.

And thankfully for Madrid, Gareth Bale will be fresh and eager to go again, and can use his pace and enthusiasm to lift Ronado, Rodriguez, Benzema and co. It is also the kind of game in which the sneaky Chicarito is worth a goal or two. Home win, Over

Almeria vs Barcelona
Surely Barcelona cannot lose this one too, after the ambush by Celta Vigo? If for nothing else, at least they should rouse themselves for the occasion during which Lionel Messi is bound to rewrite La Liga history? Surely?
Away win

Serie A

Juventus vs Parma
It was a close shave in the Champions League in midweek, but that win will have given Juventus a mighty confidence boost they shouldn’t even need in a home Serie A game. Home win

AS Roma vs Torino
Beaten fair and square in Naples last weekend, Roma return to the capital to put things right. The Champions League in midweek will have fatigued a few bodies, but their visitors can not be under any illusions. Home win

BUNDESLIGA

Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich
This used to be one of the glamour ties of the Bundesliga, but a lot has changed for one of the clubs.

Bayern will have been a little stretched by Roma in midweek, but the reigning champions are now positively flying and will get it done. The reigning champions beat AS Roma in the Champions League without having to engage second gear.

The arrival of Xabi Alonso from Spanish giants Real Madrid has made them stronger in the middle of the park while up front, Robert Lewandowski looks like he has played at Bayern forever. Away win

Dortmund vs Gladbach
Dortmund have lost to lesser sides than this strong Gladbach (Hannover, really) and only a brave man would stake a wager on them in a Bundesliga game right now, home or away, regardless of what is happening in the Champions League. I am one of those brave men. Home win

LIGUE ONE

PSG vs Marseille
Draw

St Etienne vs Monaco
Draw

Lyon vs Guigamp
Home win

Socieadad vs Atletico Madrid
Away win

Sevilla vs Levante
Home win

Getafe vs Elche
Home win

Celta Vigo vs Granada
Home win

Wolfsburg vs Hamburg
Home win

Leverkusen vs Mainz
Home win and Over

Freiburg vs Schalke 04
Away win

Hoffenheim vs Cologne
Over

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